Framing is a powerful compositional element. Not to be confused with the frame you put around your printed photo before hanging it on the wall. This is the type of framing that you do when you take the photograph. Framing is when you use objects in the foreground to surround (even partially) your subject.
And, it’s a great way to:
- create depth
- isolate your subject
- direct attention to your subject
- create a sense of context for your subject and scene
The Bottle House of Calico Ghost Town, CA.
Scotty's Castle, Death Valley, CA
The glass bottles in the Bottle House are arranged into a few different designs. When I was photographing the Star design, I framed it with a broken bottle on the opposite wall of the house. At Scotty’s Castle, was able to walk around the fence and frame the clock tower with the wrought iron.
When you’re framing your composition, you need to be aware of what’s around you and your subject. Any material can work as a framing element if you can find the right angle.
Monument Valley, Utah
- Walls
- Doorways
- Arches
- Trees, branches, plants, foliage, etc
- People
- And so much more
Try it out and be patient. When you’re framing your photograph, you’re no longer taking a snap shot and your photography will really improve.
Additional Photographs:
Rock of Cashel, Ireland
Hiker, framed by rocks.
Valerie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Applied Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2000. In 2005, she founded Valerie Hayken Photography & Design. Visit
From reading your blogs I’ve learned many things about taking photos but one of the oddest for me is how much I like “wide open spaces” type of pictures. In your last blog I loved the dry lake bed photo and in this blog that photo at the top of the page is perfect. It brings on the feeling of quiet calm and I think your right the framing really makes it like your right in the picture.
That’s great! Now that you know what you like, you can focus (pardon the pun) on taking those shots. Both the images you pointed out were taken with a wide angle lens. So, when you’re shooting, think about reaching for your widest lens first.