This week, Amy invites us to explore framing, which is at the very heart of photography. It’s the little voice that pops into our heads when we peer through the viewfinder and identify the subject. It asks us: “Why are you taking this shot?” “What is it that you want to show your viewer?”
Framing is a technique that helps us lead the viewer’s eye towards our subject. Framing can also reveal the details in the scene, and/or give an image depth by highlighting the foreground and background.
Frames can include shooting through foliage, through windows, arches, or doors, and down corridors or tunnels. In my collection this week, I’m highlighting shots which use different frames to “draw” the viewer into the scene. Which ones do you think are the most effective?
A Corridor
This “long” shot down a corridor in Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin frames the image, and highlights the miserable conditions of prisoners during the Irish Rebellion. I was also hoping that viewers would be curious about this place and want to know more.
In Jail, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin
A Doorway
The Palácio de Queluz outside Lisbon was modeled after the Palace of Versailles. It functioned as a summer home for Portuguese royalty. This shot through a series of doorways highlights the massive size of the palace and its opulence and draws the viewers’ attention through the doors to a series of rooms.
Framing the Palace, Sintra, Portugal
Fences and Trees
This shot draws the viewer’s eyes down the road to a covered bridge. The trees and fence provide natural frames in the shot and help guide the viewer’s eyes to the main focus of the image–the covered bridge.
Country Lane Bridge, Pine Island, NJ
Architectural Frames
Sometimes architecture can frame a shot. In this last image, I used the Sydney Harbor Bridge to frame the image and provide depth and context. I also cropped the image on the left so that the bridge was the main focus in the background and the tourists in the foreground.
Framing Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Australia
Amy’s challenge has made me more aware of the photographic frames I’ve used in the past. It also reminds me of the importance of framing every time I take a shot. If framing is done correctly, it should make the viewer curious about the subject. Curiosity, in fact, is an important goal because it makes the image linger in the viewer’s mind and encourages the viewer to take a second and third look.
We hope you join Amy’s photo “conversation” on Framing the Shot this week. Please stop by Amy’s site to view her beautiful “framing” shots. Remember to link your post to Amy’s and tag it Lens-Artists to help us find it in the WP Reader.
If you’re new to the challenges, click here to learn how to join us.
Next week, it’s Tina’s turn to lead the challenge, so be sure to visit her blog for her next “shot” of creative inspiration. As always, Amy, Tina, Ann-Christine, and I thank you for your support of our challenge!
Categories: Photography
Very well framed all round, Patti. I especially love the covered bridge, and the angle that invites us to press on along the lane and cross.
Thank you, Tish! I cropped the “bridge” shot a bit and cut out some extraneous road and land beyond the angled poles. Glad you like the final result!
Cropping can make such a difference, can’t it. I crop pretty much every photo I take.
Sounds familiar, Tish. 🙂
One of my favorite compositions…and yours are lovely. My favorites are the first and the last…nicely framed 😉
I appreciate your feedback, Dawn! At some point framing became more automatic for me, so I was glad to think about it in a more deliberate way. I hope you join us this week. 🙂
I’ve been thinking about it all day! lol
It does take some thought–for sure!
Kilmainham Gaol is so poignant.
Thank you so much, Cybele. 🙂 I really appreciate your thoughts and the song! You must have a Celtic spirit! It imbues your photography too. I love it!
Scots and Irish on mom’s side. This true story always touched me. She never remarried after he was executed ( by the English) during the uprising.
Really! Your grandmother? That’s amazing. What a family history! My Irish side of the family was in America by then.
nice song – thanks for sharing it here
thanks and based on a true story of Grace Gifford
I will look for that. Thanks!
Even better 😉
Beautiful frames Patti, I especially love the way the light travels through the old stone corridor in your first image 🙂💖 xxx
It was so eerie in there! I’m so glad you responded to that shot, Tranature. It was a haunting place and had a vital part in Irish history. Thanks again for your thoughts!
Great frames and descriptions of each one. Your photo of the covered bridge makes me feel like I could step onto the picture and walk down that road to the bridge.
Hi, E/E! I’m so glad you like “the bridge.” It is a very inviting spot in rural NJ…believe it or not! Poor NJ. So many people think it’s ugly and industrial, but there is great beauty there too. Thanks for your thoughts!
Beautiful selections for frames, Patti! Framing Sydney Harbor Bridge is my favorite. 🙂
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Hi, Amy. Thank you very much! The harbor bridge is a beautiful spot. I will post a link to my post as soon as I can.
No rush, Patti.
A beautiful selection Patti!
Many thanks, Aletta for your kind words!
These are terrific Patti, as is your description of framing and its importance. I really loved the first image which definitely leads us into the structure and makes us curious about the prisoners who were sent there and why. Well done as always.
Aw…thank you so much, Tina! I was really “haunted” by the Gaol. What a sad place filled with pain and misery. It permeated the place. The Gaol intrigued me because of its place in Irish history/the Uprising. Well worth a visit.
I really appreciate your framing “lessons” – and agree about the curiosity factor. The first photo with the doorway at the end does pull my eye – and my interest – to what may lie beyond. I also think that, when framed in just a certain way, a photo can tell a story all on its own. Cropping can help (or hinder!) that process. Your photos are so well lit too. 🙂
So true, Oneletter…I totally agree with your point about framing and cropping. It’s so tricky to crop just the right amount. I’m still working on that. I also agree with your point about “telling a story.” I think all good shots do that. I really appreciate your thoughts!
Thanks! Sometimes the cropping and framing can be the most fun part – like the icing on the cake so to speak.
Very true. It can really sharpen the impact.
Love these different frames, Patti!
Thank you so much, Sue. 🙂
😊😊
Too hard to pick a favourite!
🙂 🙂 I’m so glad you stopped by, MM.
These are all great images, and I love the way you’ve woven them into your post. Much to think about!
Wow, Su! Many thanks! I’m delighted.
I love the way the light in the first one seems to be running along the edges of the stone walkway. The light in the second was also quite nice. These are all wonderful examples of framing, Patti.
janet
Thank you so much, Janet! I am delighted!
Beautiful pictures framed Patti!!!
Thank you very much, Paulo. I hope you join us!
That first is so atmospheric, Patti! And I love the sheen on the floor that ‘leads in’ to the second. 🙂 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Thank you, Jo. It was a chilling place. I’m glad some of the atmosphere came through in the shot. Have a great weekend too–in the UK–or wherever you are now. 🙂
Melting in the Algarve, Patti 🤗🏖️ xx
Still hot, eh? I hope it starts to cool off.
I am really enjoying the responses to this challenge. It is so interesting from a photography point of view and I feel I have much to learn. I shall take a stab at this challenge I think Thank you for inspiring me with your wonderful photos.
Thank you so much, Anne. We’re all learning, believe me! I hope you join us!
Love the corridor shots Patti 🙂
Thank you so much, Brian. I’m delighted. Two very different corridors with very different moods!
Exactly. Made me go looking for mine to “steal” your idea 🙂
I’ll look for that post. 🙂
🙂
Great photos, great framing. Nicely done.
Thank you very much, John. 🙂 🙂 I’m delighted to hear that.
Wonderful examples!!
Thank you so much, Nora. I’m smiling now!
A great post, Patti, and all amazing frames and shots. It is hard to pick favorites, but the first one from the gaol in Dublin, and the doorway in Lisbon also gives me that gorgeous feeling when light falls on the floor. And I so agree that it feels good having to think about how we really do to frame our shots – it is easy to just forget about thinking and do things automatically.
Thank you so much, AC. It’s hard to pick a favorite among yours, too! I think being more deliberate about our “frames” is helpful. This challenge really shows us how many frames there are! I love seeing examples from other people’s work.
I totally agree – looking at other people’s works is very inspiring!
Great use of framing Patti. I love the way the eye is drawn down the corridor and through the door and how the bridge invites you to walk through.
Thank you so much, Wendy. 🙂 I had fun searching through my archives and fiddling with these shots. I appreciate your thoughtful comment!
Glad you joined us!
Very nice selection, Patti.. Rather partial to the shot inside the palace at Sintra.
Thank you so much, Arkenaten. 🙂 That palace was gorgeous, as you can see. I’m so glad you enjoyed the collection.
There is something so compelling about looking through a series of doors all the way to the end…it leads you to wonder what’s around all those doorways? These are elegant, all of them.
Hi, Judy. Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate your thoughtful comment. It’s so true about the doorways. It harkens back to fairy tales when Alice is opening all those doors! It’s very much like a fairytale.
Beautifully framed shots, Patti. I especially like the one with the fences and trees.
Thank you so much, Sue. 🙂 🙂 That one seems to be popular this week.
Hi Patti. Love how you weave in words of photographic wisdom through your post. I find cropping effectively can really enhance an image and delete distracting factors for the viewer. The bridge scene really speaks of leading lines that beautiful frame and lead the eye to the subject. I usually don’t like hydro lines in a photo and try to avoid them like the plague, but they really do work here. 🙂
Many thanks, Olga, for your thoughtful reply! I’m delighted that the “bridge” shot spoke to you. I hope you join us this week!
nice variety and enjoyed the different frames (learned a little too – so thanks) and my favorite today is “Framing Sydney Harbor Bridge,” because of the people – such a one of a kind shot –
Thank you so much. I’m glad you like that one! I loved the people too. I appreciate your thoughts and that you joined us.
😊☀️
Nice. My personal favorite is the first one shot in Dublin because I have to that site as well and I like how you have interpreted it.
Thank you so much! I was chilled by the gaol. I’m sure you were too. I appreciate your thoughts!
I’m LQys concened about taking a photo with strangers in it.
I don’t want to upset anyone. I’m glad you were able to get that photo.
It’s my favotire, Patty. It’s a very natural looking photograph.
Isadora 😎
Me, too, Isadora. But the pros say we should just get over it and do it. 😛😛 Thanks too for your thoughts on that one.
that shoud be – always – Grrrr spell check : – (
Hi, Patti. I liked your corridor and doorway pictures, but I also have a special reserved place and particular fondness for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Hi, Henry. Thank you! The Harbor Bridge is a great landmark, isn’t it?
Yes! I also love the bridge’s nickname: “The Coathanger”!
Love it! I never heard that before!!
The image of Kilmainham Gaol jail is amazing. In keeping with my love of nature, the covered bridge shot is my favorite!
Thank you so much, Cindy. I really appreciate your thoughts. Glad you like them!