Photo by: Julie Waterhouse

Frame & Composition: Activity 4

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Collect one image where the photographer has placed the main subject off center and retained a sense of balance and one image where the photographer has placed the main subject off center and created a sense of imbalance. Discuss the possible intentions of the photographer in creating each image.

•This photo gives the best description of  visual weight. Even though the horses are set to the left of the image the horses are defined more then the background. 

Create four images, placing the focal point and/or visual weight in different areas of the frame. Discuss whether each image is balanced.

Photo by: Rebekah N. Romero

This image would be a photo that the visual weight is clustered. The eye is not really free to roam around in the photo since there is so much to look at in the image, from the different building, to the water, and the boat.

Photo by: Rebekah N. Romero

The image to the right is a good example of visual weight. The eyes is drawn to the man in the water where he is surrounded by the ocean and the city is far in distance.


The picture on the bottom, it is also a great example for visual weight and focal point. The main focus is on the flower, the viewers eyes is not all around the image it is directed straight to the flower.

Photo by: Rebekah N. Romero

Photo by: Rebekah N. Romero

 This image examples visual weight. Right away the eye is directed to the boat, but if you notice that the main subject (the boat) is to the right of the image rather than the center of the image.

Frame & Composition Activity 3:
Blog EntryFind two examples of Photographs that follow the Rule of Thirds and two examples that do not. Comment briefly on why and how you think the composition works.

Photo By: Alan Cleaver

Photo By: Melinda Seckington

Rule of Thirds- Compositional technique for making a photograph interesting and dynamic. A photographer can position the elements near the lines and intersection of a grid. A photographer would use Rule of Thirds to produce images, which are more engaging and balanced.

Example of non rule of third by Kassim Tejan

Frame & Composition Activity 2

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Read the following passage taken from the book The Photographer’s Eye by John Szarkowski and answer the questions below.

‘To quote out of context is the essence of the photographer’s craft. His central problem is a simple one: what shall he include, what shall he reject? The line of decision between in and out is the picture’s edge. While the draughtsman starts with the middle of the sheet, the photographer starts with the frame. The photograph’s edge defines content. It isolates unexpected juxtapositions. By surrounding two facts, it creates a relationship. The edge of the photograph dissects familiar forms, and shows their unfamiliar fragment. It creates the shapes that surround objects. The photographer edits the meanings and the patterns of the world through an imaginary frame. This frame is the beginning of his picture’s geometry. It is to the photograph as the cushion is to the billiard table.’

Q. What does John Szarkowski mean when he says that photographers are quoting ‘out of context’ when they make photographic pictures? 

A: What John Szarkowski means by 'out of context' is without unwanted surrounding details, getting full frame of the central idea.

Q. The frame often ‘dissects familiar forms’. At the end of the last century photography was having a major impact on Art. Impressionist artists such as Degas were influenced by what they saw. Look at these examples of Degas work, which clearly shows the influence of Photography, and explain why the public might have been shocked to see such paintings. 
A: The reason people saw such an amazing is because of the details of the painting, the types of composition is used such as rule of third.

Important: Find another example of a painting that you feel was influenced by photography and include it in you're posting!

Vincent Van Gogh

Gustave Caillbotte
Paris Street; Rainy Day 1886/87

Frame & Composition Activity 1

Blog Post 1

Photo By: Loren Zemlicka

Look through assorted photographic websites and observe how many photographers have moved in very close to their subjects. By employing this technique the photographer is said to ‘fill the frame’ and make their photographs more dramatic.Find two examples of how photographers seek simple backgrounds to remove unwanted detail and to help keep the emphasis or ‘focal point’ on the subject. Attach two images you find to your reply to this discussion.  

Photo By: Vasanthi Balson 

These two photographers took great emphasis into their subject. Taking the focus onto the subject and have little or no background.