Using frames to add depth and dimension to photos.

1. Using Frames
Photo I
Ms. Young

2. Framing draws attention to the subject by blocking other
parts of the image with something else in the scene

3. Common frames
Human

4. Benefits of
Frames
1. Gives the photo
context.
What you use as a frame should tell
your viewer something about the
place use are photographing.
What context does this image provide?
What is happening? Where is she?
Where is she going? How does the
FRAME suggest these things?

5. Benefits of
Framing
2. Gives a sense of depth
and layers.
Framing places part of your shot
in the foreground and something
else in the background. This
creates depth and gives your
viewer more than one layer to look
at.
Does the carousel feel close or far
away? What creates that feeling?
How many frames are in this shot?

6. Benefits of
Framing
3. Leads the eye to the
main focal point.
Effective frames bring your viewer’s
eye into what you want them to see.
Additionally, frames tend to cause
eyes to linger on an image.
Who is the subject here? How do you
know? Does having more than one
element framed add to or detract
from the image?

7. Benefits of
Framing
4. Intrigues your viewer.
Clever framing can leave your
viewer wondering a little bit, and
craving more. Sometimes, it is what
you can’t see in a photo that draws
you to it.
What questions do you have?
Where is your eye drawn in this
photo? Why is this frame effective?

8. Techniques for Framing
 Use
foregrounds.
Foregrounds add a view-point
to pictures. They tell the story
from the photographer’s
perspective. You can use your
foreground to help point your
viewer’s eyes to your subject.
Why are these foregrounds
effective? How do they help tell
the story of the photograph?

9. Techniques for Framing
 Use your
environment.
Look around you! Windows,
doors, branches, mirrors, your
hands, fences, etc. all create
great frames. You just have to
see them!

10. Techniques for Framing
 Tell a story.
Framing tells your viewer what
you want them to see. Using
effective frames can also
include environmental
elements that help your viewer
see the story you want them to
observe.
What is the story here? What
is the relationship between the
subjects? Where are they?
What are they doing?

11. Techniques for Framing
 Use your depth of field.
High DOF makes more of your
image in focus, giving you
more possibility for frames. A
narrow DOF creates less
focus in your image, which can
turn environmental elements
into natural frames.

12. POP QUIZ!Which setting on your camera do you change to adjust your depth of
field?
Shallow/Narrow DOF Deep/High DOF
APERATURE
aka F-STOP!

13. Techniques for Framing
 Follow other guidelines.
Don’t forget about the other lessons
you’ve learned. You should still look
for patterns, lines, shapes, good light,
simple backgrounds, interesting
angles, etc. All of these things,
working together with frames, make
your photographs effective.

22. Final tips for
framing
-Get creative. Look for frames.
Anything that lets you look through
one thing at another thing makes a
frame.
-Find frames that have meaning. Your
frames should relate to your subject.
-Play with your DOF. If you want the
foreground in focus, you need a small
aperture. If you want the background
in focus, you need a large aperture.
-Emphasize your subject. Don’t let
your frame take away from the focal
point of your photograph. A frame is a
detail. It shouldn’t be distracting.