February's Photography Challenge: Framing

February's challenge:

• Shoot a new photograph using framing as an element.
• The title doesn't really matter but I'd like to avoid using 'x challenge' and its name because it's a little more than a group activity, it' is our group's content.

Continue reading for details and examples.

Framing is the technique of drawing attention to the subject of your image by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene.

Using this technique creates a dramatic effect by bringing added focus to the main subject. The technique can be applied in a plethora of ways and there really aren't any limits to what you can use. You can use windows and doors, tree branches and shrubbery, people and shadows, fences, etc. The list goes on and on and on...

Surrounding the subject in a frame doesn't necessarily mean that you need use four sides, three, two, or even one will suffice, as you will see in the following examples:

Photo credit:

Framing with fences, etc...

The wood fence frame helps to bring greater focus on the tiger. You can use any object you can think of, it's all about creativity. There's a photograph of Queen Elizabeth shot through the spokes of a wheel.

Here's an example using buildings: Westminster framed.

Photo credit:

Using trees and shrubbery

The tree in the foreground frames a distant object and also gives a point of reference. Here are some other examples:

The dried frame of loss

Framed by Nature

Framed fox at Hulshorsterzand

Using framing will greatly increase the effectiveness of your images but you'll want to be careful from becoming gimmicky, like always shooting portraits through the spokes of a wheel or chain link fence or whatever.