A famous photographer that shows element definition

Alongside composition and the rule of thirds, framing is one of the key elements of photography that every artist needs to know. Framing in photography refers to the technique of drawing focus to the subject in the photo by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene.

Line

Lines in an image perform several powerful functions for the photographer. Texture

Texture communicates to the audience how an object physically feels.

• Smooth, gentle textures will evoke a softer feeling
• Rough, hard textures will evoke a harsh feeling

Like many of the other elements of photography, texture is an element that is found everywhere.

Frames can be located in the center of the picture or alongside its edges. Frames can be made from a variety of objects and forms, and photographers often use branches, tunnels, arches, windows or even people to make a frame. Famous photographers often used framing to achieve a variety of effects. And together with stunning visual examples from the Picfair community, will show you where and how to use them in your image compositions.

So let's get started:

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1 Line

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Lines are a great starting point when thinking about formal elements, as they are almost everywhere.

Start by looking for lines in your composition that can guide the viewer through your shot or to a specific focal point.

However, you can add space effectively when shooting almost any photographic subject.

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A combination of formal elements

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Once you've got a good handle on the formal elements and how they work, you can begin to apply them to your shots across many image subjects.

But you don’t need to invest in a drone or a fancy macro lens to shoot patterns. Your image is considered low-contrast if it is mostly composed of mid-tones and there are little bright highlights or dark shadows.

Photos can also be classified as either high-key or low-key:

• High-key images are mostly composed of bright tones
• Low-key images are mostly composed of dark tones

Light is another one of the main pillars of photography which makes it a rather extensive topic.

You can draw textures out of all kinds of surfaces and environments. This clever way of framing the objects created the dramatic effect and made the photo stand out among the numerous depictions of the same valley.

Yasuhiro Ishimoto – Katsura Villa Portfolio

Japanese artist Yasuhiro Ishimoto proved that landscape scenery can be wonderfully framed with architectural objects as well.

In this scenario, the photographer can use their composition to give one of these elements more or less visual weight or they can exclude one entirely. From here, you can develop your ability to use these elements together in your images which will create much more complex arrangements.

Which element of photography do you find most effective?

By using the doors of the police van for framing the photographer is giving the viewer more information about the location where the photo is taken thus shifting the attention from the subject to the surrounding space.

Henri Cartier-Bresson – Hyeres, France

In this famous photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson we can see how the artist used the stairways to frame the bicyclist in motion.

The composition is giving the viewers just a glimpse into the photographer’s world while simultaneously leaving them wanting more.

Thomas Leuthard – Untitled

Thomas Leuthard used framing to provide his photos with a sense of depth and multiple layers. Each texture is a new piece of visual information and contributes to the overall feeling of the image.

5.

How much is too much? By understanding shape, you can start to visualize your scenes as an arrangement of many different shapes. The image represents a symbol of both affection and idolization as the main subject appears almost saintly surrounded by the white halo.

Lee Friedlander – Maria, Las Vegas

American artist Lee Friedlander is known for his America by Car series in which he often used objects like car windows to frame everything he saw on his road trip trough the vast country.

Framing can provide the context for the photo and tell the viewers something about the person or a place where it was made.