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ArticleHow to frame photos to make them eye-catching? Ideas and examples of creative framing
A properly taken photo does not require spending a lot of time and energy on processing, but for this to happen, many factors must be taken into account, and one of them is framing. Thanks to it, you can not only capture a particular subject well, but also tell a story that the viewer will be able to read. How to frame photos? What should every photographer keep in mind?
How to frame photos?
One of the basic principles of photo framing is the so-called strong points, which are determined by horizontal and vertical tripartition of the photo. According to this method, the most important elements of a photograph should be located at the intersections of the previously guided lines. How do you crop your photo well? It may seem difficult, since this technique requires imagination, but as you develop your skills, the principle of strong points becomes obvious.
Before photographing a scene or model, imagine two lines vertically and horizontally intersecting the image you see. The result of this visualization will be nine squares, and at the points where they meet, four strong points will be formed, and it is in these squares that the most important objects of the image should be located. Most cameras allow you to divide the photograph, which greatly facilitates taking a great frame.
Why is it worth remembering the principle of tri-partitioning? Strong points attract the attention of the viewer first. If the elements there are interesting, then the viewer will stay longer to study the photograph more closely. If these areas are not very attractive, the observer will consider the work as stiff and unworthy of attention.
The principle of strong points stands in opposition to the central composition. According to many specialists, placing the most important element in the center of the photo makes the image boring, static and distracts the viewer from the rest of the photograph. It is worth remembering to use several strong points when framing. These can be, for example, two intersections horizontal to each other. However, do not use all points, as there is a risk of creating a central frame.
The arm of the bridge runs along the vertical line (the first from the left), the beginning of the bridge is on the lower strong point (on the vertical line on the left), and the end is on the first point on the vertical right line
How to frame photos of people?
Framing photos of people is an important aspect of portrait photography that can significantly affect the final look and quality of the photograph. How to frame photos of people in an effective and aesthetically pleasing way? First of all, focus on the model’s face, trying to get the right close-up. The eyes are especially important, so make sure they are sharp and clearly visible.
Cropping to the face will allow you to capture emotions and details. Try to avoid cropping important body parts, such as hands, feet or arms. For portraits, it is usually recommended to crop from the top of the head to the shoulders or from the top of the head to the waist. Also make sure the model is well placed in the frame and the background does not dominate the main subject. Avoid too much empty space around the model unless it is an intended artistic effect.
If you want to create a more creative photo, don’t limit yourself to one perspective. Try different angles, from above, from the side, from below. Pay attention to the background – it must fit the subject of the photo and not distract from the model. Often, blurring the background (Bokeh effect) can help focus attention on the main subject. Finally, the most important thing: remember about lighting. Choose the right light that will create favorable shadows and highlight the model’s assets.
The woman and the color of her hair stand out clearly against the background, which has an interesting texture but does not dominate the photograph. The blur around the head nicely exposes the model’s face, and her figure is not in the center of the image, but slightly to the right, which draws the eye in.
How to frame a photo? Golden division
The golden division is referred to as the divine proportion and is used in many fields – humanities, arts and sciences. Its definition sounds very puzzling to many people, since the idea is to divide a segment into two parts, so that the ratio of the length of the longer straight line to the shorter one is the same as that of the whole segment to the longer part. How do you apply this convoluted theory in framing a photo without doing calculations? The procedure is very similar to the principle of tripartition.
The first step is to visualize yourself dividing the photo into three equal parts vertically and horizontally, that is, to create nine squares in your imagination. The essential subject of the photo should be on the left or right side, so that the remaining 2-3 horizontal lines (6 squares) are left unfilled.
While in a tri-division the photographer has as many as four strong points at his disposal, the divine proportion usually uses two intersections. Keep in mind that the given proportions are conventional and sticking to rigidly set rules is not necessary. A big help will certainly be the automatic division of the frame by the camera.
The main subject of the photo is the silhouette of the dog, which is located in the right part of the photograph. The eye is mainly attracted by its head, located in the strong point of the photo
How to frame photos in Photoshop?
Photo cropping can be done not only at the shooting stage, but also at the editing stage. There are many photo editing tools, including Photoshop. It is a photographic multitasking, which is used by both amateurs and more experienced photographers. How to crop photos in Photoshop? On the Tools menu, select Cropping, then select the appropriate area of the photo using the displayed border. On the Control bar, you can indicate such values as size, aspect ratio and overlays (golden division, tri-partition). Additional settings include:
- preview automatically to the center,
- classic mode, using standard Framing tools,
- show cropped area – if the function is not enabled, only the final area can be seen,
- enable cropped area – allows you to apply a tint to the cropped areas,
- remove cropped pixels.
After selecting all the preferred enhancements, confirm the changes.
Even if you fail to crop the photo while taking the picture and something unexpected appears in the background, graphics programs and mobile apps will help you correct any mistakes.
How to frame photos well? There are many methods that can be used when working with the camera or editing photographs. However, the most important thing is to think about the message. That way, among the available techniques for framing a photo, you can choose the one that best exposes the assumptions you made earlier.
