It’s amazing how structure can be applied from one type of composition to another. I’m thinking about how we teach new Toastmasters to write a speech, using the sandwich illustration. The top slice of bread is your introduction. the middle is the topic. and the bottom is your closing. Isn’t that sort of what Patti is proposing we do in this challenge. At least that’s what I thought of at first read. If any of you are Toastmasters then you know the phrase, Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you’ve told them!

Okay, I got off topic! Confession time again. I usually don’t think of this type of composition when I’m photographing. In fact, I don’t think of composition at all. I just move my camera until I have an image I like. With that in mind, here are my examples:

I’m hoping that you can easily see what my subject is. The foreground is the small patch of dirt before the tree roots. The middle, or subject, are the tree roots (because they caught my eye) and the background is the creek and vegetation on the bank. Now I’m thinking that I should have gotten lower and included more of the foreground. What do you think?

This one is a bit easier–at least for me! The patch of grass is the foreground. The girl is the middle or subject. The pond and other shore is the background. Did I get it right?

Finally.

The broad shadowed lines are the foreground that leads you into the picture. As the lines change direction, they become the middle, accenting the subject (the building) and lead you around to the continuing structure in the background.

Thanks Patti! You’ve got me thinking about how I compose a picture and why. I never thought in terms of creating a composition, but I guess I’ve been doing that. Now it’s your turn. Please link to Patti’s original challenge and use the Lens-Artists tag when you respond.

Speaking of responses, I totally enjoyed seeing all your cell phone photographs as challenged by Tina. Now I’m ready to use my phone more. Next week Sofia will be presenting the challenge, so look for it! In the meantime, stay safe and be resilient.

29 thoughts on “Lens Artists Challenge #392: Framing Your Shots”

  1. Hiya! I loved the sandwich analogy! It’s perfect! My favourite of these three shots is the creek. You asked what we think… I took a photography course eons ago and the instructor constantly preached “go low”. ‘Though I understand the merit of shooting on one’s belly, I like your shot exactly as it is. I did wonder, though, if you’d walked closer to the roots and taken a closer shot looking straight down on them? Exposed tree roots are infinitely appealing, aren’t they?

    Confession: I opened your blog page and, before reading a word, I had a nice long look at your shots. When I looked at the creek image, I thought foreground, roots; middle ground, creek, background, shrubs. I’ve a lot to learn, that’s for sure.

    This is a really great post! pp

    Thanks Pam!

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  2. Anne, you got it very precisely in all shots. I don’t usually think of those there elements and compose with that in mind. I compose the way I like the scene to be viewed. The tree roots and the building are amazing compositions in your gallery here.

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  4. Like you, i dont think much about composition when i am taking the photograph, but i can see it just comes natural to you. I particularly like the second one

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  5. Nice shots, Anne! I also don’t think of any rules when taking the picture. But the funny thing is that when I had to select the pictures for this challenge, I had to pay attention in choosing ones which clearly showed the 3 “grounds”. About toastmasters..I’ve never been part of that club but I like the sandwich analogy and the “tell them” sequence! Thanks for sharing that.

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  11. I like that sandwich analogy a lot 🙂 Your instructions to Toastmasters (‘Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you’ve told them!’) apply much more widely – I was advised to do exactly when I first started having to do presentations and speak in public at conferences etc. for work. All your photos fit the challenge I think – my favourite is the middle one of the girl by the lake.

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