While studying, a lecturer presented a class on creativity. He set a very large wooden frame before us and asked us to make our way to the other side of the frame one by one. I thought to myself that most students would simply climb through. You put things in frames, right?
I was in for a surprise: some walked around, some went under, some climbed through, and others moved the frame out of the way and then walked across the space. It was an interesting observation of human behavior, and a reminder to me that frames are more than simply boxes with holes.
Frames fascinate me. They are versatile, flexible items that serve many uses. And unlike the traditional wooden, plastic or steel frames used in homes and offices, all created matter can be used as a potential frame. Plant life, humans, man-made structures and even the elements can serve as a photographer’s frame.
Frames achieve four goals in a subtle but non-intrusive manner:
- They draw the eye toward a particular element of the subject.
- They highlight a feature within the frame.
- They create a barrier between unwanted subject matter and the important focal point.
- They create depth.
The photographers below have used frames to achieve these four goals:
For next week’s PhotoPlay post, get your camera, head out and find a subject to frame. While out and about consider the following:
- What frames appeal to you most?
- Does this preference reveal anything to you about the way in which you frame people, God, or elements of your life?
Drop your link into my comment box by Wednesday the 23rd. I look forward to seeing your creativity displayed in the gallery!
“Empty Frame” photo by Andross. Used with permission. Post written by Claire Burge.
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Claire, this is a fun challenge. I’ll have to think about the philosophical framing question.
Can you say more about the difference between your first frame point and the second? To my untrained ears, they sound the same. I’m guessing they aren’t.
I love the challenge! I will be walking with wide open eyes!
oh, I like this one! looking forward to playing along!
Oh, dude! I’m so in on this one! I’m going to have some fun with it! And I look forward to discovering the answers to your questions. Thanks Claire!
Some people do this so naturally (I’m not one of them). But it CAN be learned. It takes a shift in thinking, a search for something you didn’t know you wanted or needed.
My favorite frame is the second picture (the building framed through the (?) sculpture).
And that main photo for the post is just fun. I love the colors.
oh this is how i see so much in my life …i would relish a chance to play friend…
Oh super exciting. Can’t wait…
Very fun! I’m looking…
It would be very helpful if we could put a frame on things that really count. In this life we are living we’ve lost our focus on important things. Only when its too late do we realize what we’ve missed.
Sam, well spotted on that one. Yes, they are very similar but there is a distinct difference between the two. In the first one, the frame is the first point of contact for the eye and it then leads the eye to something else within the frame. In the second one, the eye does not make contact with the frame. It settles directly on the object. However if the frame was not there, it would not have happenned.
This is quite technical and I am still only noticing it in my shots after I have taken them.I am starting to practice it and it is making a difference to the way I compose my pictures.
Becky, Kelly and Dan I look forward to seeing your posts. Kelly yours is in fact waiting for me… I love this part the most: opening up and receiving the surprise.
LL, interesting that you should pinpoint the second one. When I chose it I thought of your Philadelphia photos that you took a while back. It reminded me of one of your building shots.
I like the way you say “a search for something you didn’t know you wanted or needed…” This reminds me of the work of the Holy Spirit. He prompts us to find that something we didn’t necessarily think we needed but it turns out to be the exact thing that brings fulfillment.
Jessica, ELK and Laura I am looking forward to seeing yor shots. I have seen a few frames in all three of your images before.
Walter I like that idea of framing the important things: what types of things do you think we should be framing? I wonder if frames can also not be dangerous?
Isn’t that funny. It reminded me of my Philadelphia photo too.
I find that remarkable, actually, that we both thought in the same direction!
Now, when I consider the frame I used for mine, it says a few things about the way I view life…
- try not blame your circumstances as far as a creative response goes… there is always something available to make cool things happen, even if it comes by your own hand (no pun originally intended, but after I thought of it I intended it
)
- have fun, even if you are good at being serious (don’t feel you have to be “perfect” either, because this frees you to step outside of expectations… your own and others’)
I’m not always so great at living these things, but they are ways-to-live that fascinate and inspire me.
Playing for the first time.
Sandra, welcome. Look forward to your post in my comments : )
Going to give this a try …
really happy about that susan!
That looks like fun!
I remember doing this once before by framing a small cloud between two tree branches in such a way that the branches almost looked like they were holding the cloud.
I’m not a member of HCB right now… do you need to be a member in order to participate in any of these activities? (PhotoPlay, Random Acts of Poetry, etc.)
It would be really cool if I could participate as well, though I probably don’t have enough time to join in this particular one…
Hi Claire.
I like the skyscraper one.
I came to your post at HCB today. Just yesterday I posted a photo from the tunnel near my backyard. I went and moved it up for easy viewing. eternalnow [dot]blogspot [dot]com
Amanda you are more than welcome to join in. Of course we encourage membership but we do not exclude anybody. And this goes for RAP as well.
I look forward to your post, either this time or next.
Bob G, briliant! I will link back to you. Thanks for shufffling the post. I am glad that great minds were thinking alike.
http://sagemountain.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/for-photoplay-frame-it/
Ooops. Sorry, that was sent before it was finished. Thanks, Claire, for the inspiration.
LL, what can I say… great minds think alike : )
I can relate to what you are saying on both the points you have made. I sometimes get very serious and searching out fun can be the best way to overcome it.
Creative response… I am wrestling with this at the moment. I am battling my own creativity at present. We are both feeling very wounded. I think I might just take your words to heart and stop blaming my circumstances which I have been doing of late.
Claire, this message spoke to me on a lot of different levels. I’m prone to ramble and it’s due (in a loose sense) to lack of framing.
I looked at some of the pictures I’ve taken over the years, and I can find none that have an intentional “framing” affect, though I saw a couple that may have been awesome if I’d taken advantage of what was there.
Posts that make you go “Hmm…”
-l2s/Mike H
Mike I just want to check… was your signature a link to your post for photo play?
It is a broken one. I have been to your blog but cannot find anything specific for photoplay. Just do not want to leave you out.
Haven’t gotten to the posting for photo play, yet. Looked at the link again. When I hover over it, it looks good (correct URL). But, it IS broken when you click on it. Please feel free to “un-link” it. Still learning the appropriate execution of the tags in Wordpress. Appreciate the catch.
Kris, are you the lady in the mirror?
Mike, yes I too went back into my archives. Hmmm describes it so well.
Hindsight is always so rich. ; )
I am glad that the post spoke to you on so many levels.
No, the lady in the mirror was a teammate on a community development trip. We had just a little time to do some shopping and this was one of the wonderful places we visited. We were taken through a maze of halls and stairways to this ’secret’ room. Farther on it opened to a patio where several weavers were working. It was magical.
It has been great fun going back through my archives and looking into everyone else’s, too. It’s a great educational adventure!
Mike, I love your background photos!
I just missed the deadline (work has that effect, doesn’t it?). Oh well.
I look forward to future PhotoPlays, for sure!
Kris I love discoveries like that on travelling trips. I often find that in moments like that, I actually put the camera away. I just want to be in the moment with no distractions.
Amanda, send your link through. We can include it.
Interesting. I wrote a post on framing a few weeks ago, focused on how we help others frame their lives. (http://unfinishedwork.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/framers/). But this is another interesting perspective and, although I missed the photo challenge, am going to play around with the idea with some photos! (Sorry I am late commenting here but I really enjoyed this post and the follow-up photos!)
Dianne, no worries about missing it. There will be another but please share your images.
Heading over to your blog post now…