Framing Your Subject
Psalm 121:1
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?”
“I lift up my eyes…”
Where we direct our eyes matters.
In photography, you are learning how to direct someone's eyes toward the most important part of your photograph.
When someone looks at your picture, ask yourself:
Where will their eyes go first?
As photographers, we can be intentional about what we want people to see.
Photography Focus: Framing Your Subject
Have you ever looked through a window and noticed how the window seems to create a picture around what you see?
Photographers can do the same thing! This technique is called framing.
Discuss
What Is Framing?
Framing is when you use something already in the scene to create a frame around your subject.
Your subject is the person, animal, or object that you want people to notice most in your photograph.
A frame helps guide the viewer’s eyes toward your subject.
You can find frames almost anywhere!
Some examples are:
- Doorways
- Windows
- Tree branches
- Fences
- Arches
- Playground equipment
- Railings
- Chairs
- Shelves
- Your own hands
You don't always need to frame the entire subject. Sometimes a frame can be along the top, bottom, or sides of your photograph.
Why Use a Frame?
A frame can make a photograph more interesting.
Instead of simply taking a picture of your friend standing outside, imagine taking the picture while your friend is standing inside a doorway.
Now the doorway naturally surrounds your friend and helps your eyes go directly to them.
No frame: 👧
With a frame: 🚪👧🚪
The frame is helping tell your eyes:
“Look right here!”
Class Game: Find a Frame! 🔎
It's time for a photography hunt!
Your teacher will give you a few minutes to look around the classroom or approved area.
Your mission is to find as many natural frames as you can.
Look for things like:
🚪 A doorway
🪟 A window
🪑 The opening underneath a chair
📚 A space between books
🙌 Your hands
When you find one, figure out how you could position a subject inside the frame.
Challenge Round
Can you find:
1. An obvious frame
Something easy, like a doorway or window.
2. A hidden frame
Something most people wouldn't immediately think of as a frame.
3. A creative frame
Use something in an unusual way to frame your subject.
4. A human frame
Can you use your hands, arms, or another safe idea to create a frame?
Be creative! A photographer sees possibilities that other people might walk right past.
Before You Take the Picture
Remember these three steps:
1. Find your subject.
What do you want us to look at?
2. Find your frame.
What can you place around or near your subject?
3. Check your picture.
Does the frame help your eyes go toward the subject?
Then...
📸 TAKE THE SHOT!
Homework
Take 2 Framed Photos
Take 2 photographs using framing.
Photo #1: Use an easy-to-recognize frame, such as a doorway, window, or arch.
Photo #2: Get creative! Find an unusual frame around your house, outside, or somewhere you visit.
Before you submit your photos, ask yourself:
“Does my frame help people notice my subject?”
This Week's Photographer Challenge
Don't just look at what's in front of you.
Look around it.
You might discover the perfect frame!