What does it mean to fill the frame, and what is a "frame" anyway?
We are not talking about the actual "picture frame"-one that you put a print into and hang on your wall. In composition, framing is what is in the actual photo. The edge of the photograph is the edge of the frame, and within those edges are the people, scene, or combination of both that you chose to capture.
The actual scene and subjects within that frame are affected by how you frame it and what you decide to include and exclude.
So-why should I "fill" the frame?
If you look at an image of a person, landscape or other object, if that person, landscape or object takes up the most room in the image, then you quickly realize what is most important in the image, and what the subject should be. Your eye is immediately drawn to whatever fills the frame the most.
Often when photographing, we just click away and do not intentionally decide what we want to be front and center. If we are photographing our children in sports for example, we click away to be sure to get them in the image but often get a lot of distracting elements in the background or foreground. This causes us to question what the subject is supposed to be, creates distraction and confusion as to what we are supposed to be focusing on.
Because it is confusing and distracting, the viewer does not know where to look and the image can lose impact. Intention is key when deciding what to photograph.
Fill the frame to reduce the busyness of the image, have more impact, and help your viewer know what to focus on.
How did we do with the following images?
The intention of the first one was to show the entire room to get a "feel" for the event. What is the subject, though? All the people? For me, this has little impact even though it is telling the story of the event. It also leaves the viewer wondering what to focus on.
What do you think the subject is of this next image? Does this image have impact and/or any distractions?
In this image, the frame is "filled", and the focus is on the bottom right objects. They are the subjects and focal point. The background elements are also part of the story and are not distracting. If they were not "blurred out", they would have been distracting and the viewer would not know which area to focus on. It would have been too busy.
How do you fill a frame?
1. What is your intention for the image? Think about this first. Do you want to tell the story in general and make the entire image the subject? Most of the time, this will be done in event or landscape photography, not in portrait photography, as seen in the first image above.
2. Either get close to your subject by moving yourself, or zoom in as seen in the second image. I moved close to the objects, zoomed in, and used a shallow depth of field in order to make the focus on the objects.
What should you include in your frame and why?
1. It is not necessary to include a lot of things in order to fill the frame
Think about your intention first, then decide what elements will add to the story of the photograph, what will distract and compose accordingly.
2. Be selective
As mentioned above, choose what will have impact in your image. What is it's purpose? Everything needs to be there for a reason. If it is distracting, take it out. If it is relevant, include it, and choose your subject and make it the focus.
3. Be aware of the background and foreground
Notice what is behind your subject and what is in front. Pay attention to your surroundings because they can either be distracting or provide relevance to your subject.
This next image is an example of how I did fill the frame with the lead ballerina, but the two dancers in the background are distracting. They really are not relevant to the image. I should have used different camera settings to make them less distracting.
This image of the happy couple shows how I did fill the frame with them, but also used the background to tell part of the story. It is not "blurred out", but in focus. Is it relevant to the image? Yes! Is it distracting? No-the background does not have busy elements in it, but was important to tell the story of the couple. They held their reception at a golf course and having an image the represented that was important to them. The background is relevant, not distracting and has a purpose. Plus, the viewer knows what the subject is at first glance of the image.
To recap-
1. What is your intention for the photograph? What story do you want to tell?
2. Be selective about what goes in your image-check your background and foreground and decide what elements are important and relevant to your subject.
3. Exclude those elements that are not important so your image will not be too busy, or adjust your camera settings so they will not be distracting.
4. Fill the frame with your subject so your viewer will know what the subject is as soon as they see it.
5. Everything in your frame needs to have a purpose; a reason to be there.
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