Natural Framingby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 01 Oct 2007 11:15 PM I've touched on how to use natural lighting to enhance your photos, but what about natural framing. No, I'm not referring to the way your older son's arms perfectly frame his younger brother's head while he has him in his daily choke hold (don't tell me that only happened with my brothers). I'm talking about taking a moment to examine elements that can be used to create a natural frame--be it tree branches, a pillar, or a wall. Take a look around before you snap a shot of your subject (regardless of if you are indoors or out). The number of objects that serve as natural framing options may surprise you. Examples: If you are planning to go leap peeping this fall try to find two trees that are spaced fairly close together. Have your subject stand between the two trunks (perhaps wrapping his or her arms around them). Presto! Instant frame. If you can't find two trees, then look for low-hanging branches or a patch of grass surrounded by a field of wildflowers. The patch of grass can isolate your subject from the flowers, which can serve as the frame. A weathered door or a couple pieces of lumber leaning against a building can also serve as a creative frame. Look for linear objects. Our eyes naturally follow lines when looking at an image. Use this to your advantage by adding linear objects to your photographs. For example, my daughter took a liking to ponies this summer. Consequently, we visited a few farms where she could ride to her heart' content. After snapping dozens of pictures of her on the back of the pony I captured a real keeper of her standing near a fence post. The fence line in the foreground acted as a natural arrow pointing straight to my daughter. The same can be done using a long stretch of railroad tracks that lead into a mountain. The point of this blog is simply to remind you to be aware of your surroundings when framing your shots. I often get caught up in the excitement of the moment and neglect to see all of the incredible natural resources that can help enhance my pictures. Remember to look at the big picture. Eliminate the dead space and unwanted distractions in the background of your photos and concentrate on incorporating items that can add some spice to an ordinary shot. Related Articles: Snapping Frameworthy Shots Of Your Kids More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures Cameras: Knowing When To Upgrade Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera Getting Digital Pictures To Friends And Family FAST! Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags framing, pictures, photography, picture tips, tips on framing Discuss this article
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