“Frame” Your Photograph

This week’s topic is for people who are having difficulty  “seeing” their photo.  You often hear people say, ”That person has an eye for a good photograph.” In most cases their “eye” was developed through trial and error and did not happen by accident. Many people have difficulty “seeing” the finished photograph though the camera’s viewfinder..or in the cases today..on the viewing screen of the smaller digital cameras. 

Here is a simple solution for those who need that help “framing” their photo.  It may seems strange at first, but it does have a lot of common sense.  The solution…purchase a small black wooden frame..a 5×7 would be perfect..and take it with you without the glass, of course.

Many times you see painters and other artists using a frame, or using their hands,  to frame their painting before they begin. Why not photographers?

A black frame works best because it gives you a very sharp defined edge to see through.  Use this frame as you walk round trying to find the best angle for your photograph, whether it be a scene or a table top,  and look through the frame so that what you see through the frame is what you want on the final photograph. The dollar stores would be a good source for a cheap frame.

See how easy it looks…You can hold the frame close to you and but you get better results it you hold it almost at arms length. This really sents off the frame in the scene before you. Then you can visualize your final photograph. With the zoom lens on your camera it is very easy then to fill the frame or the screen on your camera with exactly what you see in the frame you are holding in front of you.

As elementary as it may sounds, it really works great for those people who are having problems “seeing” the finished photograph. Try it sometime.

Coming next week:  more help to “see your photograph.”