"I have never taken a picture for any other reason than at that moment, it made me happy to do so." -Jacques-Henri Lartigue
2015 is marching right along. I cannot believe it will soon be April. Since we are getting into warmer weather, it will be easier to get out to get some great photos. Let me encourage you to call someone from the photo club, and go out together to look for this month's challenge. It is so much more fun if you have a fellow photographer with you. The added benefit is that you both see things differently, and sharing your perspective helps the other person grow. You might even learn something from the other person too! Imagine that! You will get extra points if you call someone to go with you, and get 10 extra points if you actually bring one of your pictures to the April challenge.
This month is a technical challenge that I think you are going to find is a lot of fun. We will be exploring the technical aspect of using
natural frames to highlight our subjects. Natural frames are found everywhere. You just have to be on your toes to spot them. In photography, a natural frame is anything that forms a border, or part of a border around your subject. It can be a tree, tree branches, bushes, doorways, arches, archways, a bridge, or slats of a fence. Using them in photos can help draw the viewer's eye into your image, and create a sense of depth, dimension, and importance.
April challenge: natural framing of a subject
Rules:
- No Archival photos. All photos MUST be taken between the March and April meetings
- No more than 2 pictures may be submitted
- Any form of media is acceptable: print, CD, thumb drive
- If asked, be able to explain about data (Aperture, Shutter speed, ISO, focal point)
- Explain any special information about the photo...how it was taken, and the post processing.
Here are some examples to help you get started:
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| The frame in this photo is the tree to the left, and the bush to the right. |
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| The pipe frames this little boy quite nicely. |
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| Does anyone recognize this person?...the window, and the tiny slats in the window act as a nice frame here, sort of a frame within a frame. |
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| Photo by Stephanie DeFranco...she used the columns to frame her subject here...do you recognize this person too? |
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| Another window frame. |
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| The tree and the stairs frame this subject. |
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| Bricks surrounding the cat frame her quite nicely...the mortar acts as leading lines drawing your eye into the subject. |
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| The rearview mirror frames this subject. This is what you do when you are the passenger, and are bored...take selfies. |
I hope these examples help you formulate how to use natural frames found in nature, and architecture to draw the viewer's eye to your subject. It is fun to see how you, as the photographer, can create a one of a kind photo using objects found in everyday life. Look, seek, find, and photograph. You will be glad you did! I cannot wait to see what you find to naturally frame your photos. Go out, and get clicking.
