Composition Guide

Framing the Subject, Changing Point of View

Framing and Composition

Photo One

Our eyes and brain work together to capture the visual world around us. The eye has no boundaries; it scans the scene changing focus seamlessly. We are not consciously aware of the process. If we want to see something, we do. The images stream into our brain like a video image, constant and uninterrupted.

A still camera is different, very different.
The camera captures the scene in a restricted rectangular frame. The photographer uses the window the camera looks through to decide where to place that frame.
Our eyes see the world in three dimentions (stereo vision). We perceive a sense of distance and perspective. The camera converts this world into a flat two-dimensional image.
The camera captures the scene in chunks of time: short time to freeze motion or long time to blur motion.

The photographer has many creative choices.
Once the technical aspects of lighting and exposure are resolved, the photographer can use many tools to interpret the scene and create exciting, compelling images.

Cropping in the camera
Maximize your capture
Move in close
Capture Details
Object placement
Edges
Breaking the frame
Balance
Foreground/ Background
Size, position and point of view
Line form color
Light and shadow
Motion
Focus


Take Ownership for Everything in the Frame

Experiment while you shoot...
Framing: making order out of the chaos
The photographer sees the complete scene and must decide what to include and more importantly, what to exclude. This visual editing isn't always obvious. The photographer should experiment and try many options to determine what best represents the vision they want to share.
Horizontal or Vertical
Most cameras take rectangular images, not square or circular. Computer printers call it landscape and portrait, referring to the photographic composition. Most cameras are designed to take horizontal images by default. It is up to the photographer to rotate the camera to see what the composition can be. Look for design elements such as strong linear elements that lend themselves to horizontal or vertical placement. The photographer needs to pay attention to placement of shapes and lines in the frame. It is not always obvious what orientation is best, so try them all.
Angles and different points of view
Tilting the camera and placing the camera high or low in relation to the subject can alter the viewers perception of the image.