Have you ever tried making use of a frame in your photography? Incorporating a frame into a picture can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. A foreground element is usually used to create the frame. Examples of this can be found in tree branches, a window frame, a fence, rows of trees, a door and many more.

The purpose of a frame is to separate your main subject and produce an appealing composition. A frame is many times a means of adding depth to an image. The appearance of the frame is up to you. You can opt to keep the detail of the frame, as in a wall, branch, or fence, or let the frame go dark, as in a window frame.

When you are composing a shot, keep your eyes open to foreground (and sometimes, even middle or background) objects that can be used as a natural frame. You may need to physically back up a bit, kneel down for a more pleasant composition, or zoom in to include your subject within your chosen frame.

You can also use image editing software to create a frame without the camera. By combining two or more pictures into one image, you can create spectacular effects. The possibilities are up to you!

Be cautious though when doing this. While there is nothing wrong with incorporating certain aspects of different pictures into one, be careful about utilizing artificial frames on familiar landscapes and scenes.

As an extreme example, don’t frame the Washington Monument with the Great Wall of China. Unless your goal is to create dissonance within your viewers’ minds, a picture with an intense difference will only come across as strange.

Next time you go to take that photograph, check out what you might be able to use as a natural frame. Experiment with this, and if you have any doubts, take one photo with a frame and one without. I bet you’ll find you eye drawn to the one making use of a natural frame.