Natural Composition Framing
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I am interested in learning more about natural composition and subject framing. Basically, methods to bring the natural landscape or contour in to the picture to highlight the subject. Anyone have examples of things you’ve done in this regard? I’m trying to get better at noticing the nature surroundings prior to shooting.
It would be great to see more fishing picture examples, post em if you got em.
Here is my best example so far . . . I wanted to highlight the Sears Tower in Chicago and found that the drawbridge going up created an acute angle with the bridge, thus framing the subject nicely. Adds more interest than just shooting the building.
Another example of a guide and fisher (Mom), framed at the “V” of the natural tree line. Placing the subject in a funnel position which draws the eyes in.
A rooster, framed next to a natural structure/gate, along the left 2/3rds.
Nice shots Neal..
I like to think about composition in terms of how your eye might wander around the frame.
For example, I think in the boat shot and with the chicken I would have put the subject more to one side.
With the anglers shifted to the left of the frame and the chicken to the right.
This would make you follow the subject eyeline.Composition is very subjective of course and it’s easy to comment from a distance.. 😉
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Good subject Neal and something I don’t consider nearly often enough, often a bit difficult when you spend so much time in boats and there’s little to use as a frame. Its another one of those things you need to be alert to so the opportunity can be seized.
Another bit of natural faming.
And this is one my personal favourites. Bob Wyatt and Simon Chu.
Morsie
David – your comment about making the eye wonder and then follow is exactly what I’m after. It is amazing how the art of composition can add so much to a photograph. Thanks for the advice.
Morsie – that shot of the boat framed by trees is the kind of fishing shot I’m thinking about. Nice capture.
edit: you must have been adding more images while I was typing the reply, good stuff – all.
This link http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm from John Lovett has been my go-to principle piece on composition for some time. I have even redrawn it myself by hand in an attempt to understand the principles of design. As I broaden my shoots to outdoors, it is often a challenge to remember composition, balance, harmony, edges, lines, and direction. However, when they come together (and if I remember to think about them in the rage of excitement) it adds to final image “in camera”, which makes post production much easier. Less crop and cram and more originality. Lately, I’ve been trying to go for some natural framing effects like employing trees, leaves, boats, people etc., who knows what will turn up.
Interesting piece Neal and vital for landscape (and other) photography where you have time to compose. Worth studying. At all other times I consider horizon position and the rule of thirds in some way to be my main “speed” composition elements. But there are always exceptions, and cropping.
Here’s a couple of samples of backgrounds I like that frame the subject.
This is using the weight and darkness of the clouds to create a mood.
And this one is hot with the background blown a bit to make everything a bit airy.
Both shots would be different if I followed the rule of thirds exactly.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Morsie, that shot of Bob & Si is a ripper !
Looks like fishing in Middle earth..
Awesome..
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Thanks guys, not that one, but I did send the guys a copy of this one each for their walls, Simon, Bob, and Carl McNeil – I like it even better – it was one of those “light” moments. It was in the “year of the mouse”.
I would like to add this pic to the mix…
I was trying to make everything other than the face of the big female seem less intrusive, thus leaving just that bock in the middle of the pic. Creating “noise” to draw your attention to something quite.
Dont know if it worked, but was a try…
David, I really like how you employ the sky as a big framing element and mention that it too can add “weight” and “mood”. Very intriguing . . . never really thought about weight in my compositions but it does speak to “balance” and I see how one could use it for creative framing. Thanks again.
Mike – if you keep up on those safari trips, I suspect we are going to eventually here about your new 300/400 lens purchase 😉
Mike, I’ve used the 500 a few times (borrowed off Canon ;)) and it’s an awesome lens.
Also worth a look if you want to do wildlife stuff is the 400 5.6 – it’s slower by a stop, but saves about 5000 $$ and is much lighter..
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Mike I have both the 400 5.6 and the 500 f4
Both are simply fantastic, each has its strengths and having both allows me to pick which one to take/use on any given day depending on various things.
As for the 500.Its a beast
But worth it
Mind you the 400s no slouch either.
Both have uses beyond wildlife
400 and 500 on the water, can you tell which was taken with which?
Another option is the 100-400 L. Not as fast focusing as the above, not quite as sharp nor does it take TCs as well, but thats such a small thing, given its versatility.
WOW, John. Beast of equipment.
Not only is that 500mm one Badass lens . . . BUT . . . you also managed to give a great example of natural framing with that brush in the background and the rack framing your head on the first photograph. That’s a Trifecta my fiend. Strong work. 😀
Flat out wonderful shots! I am often glad my interests are not in wildlife photography, it’s much simpler in the controlled studio with macro lenses, ha.
This is an example that I think might apply – nothing as great as some of these other shots but I think it turned out nicely.
Dave Z was nice enough to let me join him on a float through some PA water, which has a mix of urban (read: bridges) and wilderness. We pulled over to fish a run and I was able to snap this shot.
Goal was to contrast the straight lines of the bridge with the curve of the boat.
Beautiful boat goes without saying – Dave’s obviously got some talent for this thing.
Thanks Bob,
Mark I took a moment to straighten the horizon. Hope you don’t mind. Nice work for the subject. Lost a little overall quality in translation.
Morsie
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