Shutter Sisters

Framing Tells Half The Story

By

I was late to a live acoustic music show at a little coffee shop, and I found a seat somewhat removed from the other patrons and the band.  During the performance, I happened to glance over to my left, and that’s when I saw her, absentmindedly playing with her hair, soaking in the music, with the late afternoon light from the window subtly illuminating her from behind.  Instantly smitten, I turned my lens towards her, carefully composed the shot and clicked.

I am a big fan of shooting from the hip, but for this photo, I was very intentional about the way I arranged the visual elements of the image.  I wanted the viewer to know that I was at a distance from the subject, that most likely she was a stranger, and by framing the shot within an actual environmental border (the dark outline of the wall on the left, the top of a chair below, and the gentleman on the right), there is a sense that I, the photographer, am looking in from the outside.

In post-processing, I actually considered cropping out the dark borders to zoom in more on the subject.  Doing so, however, didn’t tell the story I wanted to convey–namely, that this was one of those random encounters with beauty that I often observe admiringly from a distance, hesitant to get any closer for fear that detection of my presence would chase the moment away.  I was glad that I composed the shot as intentionally as I did, because in this case, the framing really does tell half the story, at least for me.

How have you used framing to tell your story?  Have you ever framed your subjects in borders already present in the environment?  Please share with us your images and any tips you may have for framing.

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And come back tomorrow when we announce the new word for our One Word Project for August!

Comments

  1. It’s a beautiful picture, perfectly composed (although what is that on the right? ;-)) The picture does raise a question for me that I hope you don’t mind me asking, because I’ve been pondering it in relation to my own website too – is it okay to take photos of strangers and to post them on public websites? I don’t know the background for your picture – perhaps she was not a stranger to you, perhaps you had her permission. It’s really just a general question inspired by what you wrote here. I hope you aren’t offended by it.

  8. Hi, Sarah (Comment #1)! To answer your question about taking photos of strangers, here is an answer: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.05/start.html?pg=10

    I think everyone in the room was aware of my camera. This was actually a benefit for a local photographer who was diagnosed with cancer, and he was there taking photos of everyone, so that raised my comfort level as well. There are situations in which I don’t take out my camera, but it’s usually based on a gut feeling. Some people ask strangers permission before or after they take the photo. If you do that, I’d go for after as once you’ve asked permission, it will be hard to get a candid shot of them.

    Hope that helps!

  9. I love this post. I love the expression, and how engrossed in the music she is. I wonder how much more I love this shot after hearing the story. but I also liked the story I was telling myself.

    I too have a thing for shooting strangers in coffee shops;
    I saw these girls early one morning and made up an elaborate story in my head about their relationship. When I uploaded the photos – I saw her reflection and thought that told enough of the story – so I cropped her out in post.
    http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/2/23/coffeeshop-peek.html

    This was at the same cafe – a bit more abstract.
    http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/2/25/diner-creep.html

    I use my focus lock button all the time to be able to crop a scene how I want.

  10. I’m usually very conscious of framing because I’m bad with Photoshop and I prefer to limit my post-processing needs. I took this photo a few years ago, in NYC, on film. I was standing on the bridge over the lake and saw this couple on a sweet romantic boat ride. I wanted to get their picture but I didn’t want the distraction of everyone else on the lake. I think I found a pretty good solution. I was able to isolate them on the lake while still maintaining the distant point of view.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/4849449715/ (The quality isn’t that great because of the scan.)

  13. I adore this photo and love what you had to say about framing. i don’t have a good example of this, but have mentally filed this away to use in the future!