100 Steps to IYP - Lesson 7 - Creativ...

100 Steps to IYP - Lesson 7 - Creative Framing

Posted by: Prajneet In: Frames| Photography| photography tips

Have you ever looked at a photo in a photo frame, or maybe a properly enlarged and framed picture? Doesn’t it look nicer than an unframed print on paper? What is it about a frame that makes the picture look so much nicer? Whatever it may be, the fact is that frames are a great tool to make a good picture look even better. But why always frame later? Why not frame the picture, within itself? I’m talking about framing while composing the picture.

TIP 1: Use the surroundings to frame your subject… I think the best way to explain this one would be through pictures.

TIP 2: Make creative use of bokeh…

For those who are not aware, bokeh refers to the intentional blurring of a part of a photograph (usually the background) by using a shallow depth of field. Although most people prefer to blur the background in order to isolate the subject, blurred foreground elements can make very interesting frames.

TIP 3: Use Photoshop! Exactly! Although there are countless ways of framing your subject using elements from the environment, it is not necessary that you have to do that. You can always frame the subject later, and this is where photoshop comes in. Again, there are countless ways to create frames in photoshop. The pictures below should give an idea.

There are so many creative ways to ‘frame’ your subject that it really isn’t possible to categorise them and put them up separately. For example, you can look through a window, or use a shape cut-out, or arrange the elements by hand in a way such that it lends symmetry and gives a framed look, or you can use arches in old buildings, and so on and so forth.

Just this one tip can be implemented in so many ways that it deserved a separate post. I would love to see how you do it, so go ahead, post a link in the comments. I look forward to lots from you.