What is Framing?

The frame of a photo is the background and foreground of a photo that give it depth, dimension and contextual storytelling. To explain framing better, lets look at some examples.

The Frame in action

This photo from Grove City Men's lacrosse is a perfect example of creating your own frame in a photo. Our person of interest or subject is number #22 in the middle. To highlight this player, we have the focus of the camera blurring out the foreground automatically, but we as photographers can use framing as a technique to further highlight our subject.

To frame my subject, I used a gap between other lacrosse players in the huddle who were closer to me to add depth and a second dimension to my photo of #22. Framing a photo is using your surroundings to add depth to a photo that you otherwise couldn't get without a second object.

Can you find the frame of this photo?

If you said the linemen closer to the photo, you'd be right! A common athletic photography practice is utilizing other players to create a frame for your player of interest!

What are the benefits of framing?

Employing this practice can bring a few new details to your photography

1. It helps ensure that the subject is the main subject of the image. The frame serves as a boundary that helps maintain the viewer’s focus on the photographer's intended subject of the photo
2. It adds depth to your photos. This can bring a flat, 2D photo into a 3rd dimensional realm that gives the audience more things to look at
3. The frame can add contextual storytelling to your photo. In my first photo, it would have looked odd If I only got #22 without the other players standing in the middle of the field. Utilizing framing with the other players in the huddle gives the context of the photo.

Find more here

5 Composition Tips for Sports Photography - Lloyd Belcher Visuals

The Importance of Framing in Photography: Techniques and Tips