How to use the framing technique to improve your travel photos

The framing technique in photography is a powerful composition technique that will improve your travel photos. In this blog post, you'll learn more about what framing in photography is, how to use it to improve your travel photos and see different travel photos examples for which I used the framing technique.

Table of Contents

• What is the framing technique in photography?
• Types of frames for travel photography
  • Architectural framing
  • Natural framing
  • Use light and shadows as a frame
• Using framing to enhance your photos
  • Use framing to convey depth
  • Add context by framing the main subject
  • Use contrast in the frame to spark feelings
  • Fill negative space by adding a frame
• Final tips for using the framing composition technique in photography
• Conclusion

What is the framing technique in photography?

Use the framing technique in your photos to either emphasize the main subject of a photo or to add context and draw the attention of the viewer to it. You can even convey different kinds of emotions and feelings by using frames wisely.

When using the framing in your photos, you’ll usually place the frame itself in either the foreground or the middle section of your photo, while the main subject is usually placed in the middle section or the background.

Generally, there are two different kinds of frames: partial or full frames. The difference between those is well visible in the two photos below that I’ll cover more a bit further down the blog post.

The photo on the left uses a full frame, the window, for the main subject, while the one on the right uses a partial frame, which is composed of the branches of trees.

Types of frames for travel photography

You can use almost anything as framing element for your photo. In this chapter, I’ll highlight the most important types of frames that you’ll encounter mostly while traveling and that are easy to replicate.

Architectural framing

The concept of architectural framing simply refers to using architecture as a frame for the main subject.

The easiest place to use architectural framing is during a city trip. In the photo below, I used the buildings as a frame for the Empire State Building in New York. For this photo, I waited for a green light at a pedestrian crossing and quickly framed and took the photo from the center of the street.

The above photo is an example of a partial frame consisting of the buildings to the right and left and the tree at the bottom, but it does not contain any framing element at the top.

A second way to use architectural framing is to use doors or windows as a frame, like I did in this photo that I took at the abandoned Heilstätten Grabowsee in Germany. I got the photo while walking by an abandoned event hall, and the open window revealed the grand piano on the stage.

Natural framing

Natural framing refers to using anything in nature as a frame. This can be anything like the branches of trees hanging into the frame or rock formations, for example. This framing technique works for cityscapes and landscapes alike.

Here’s a photo of an unfinished skyscraper in Tirana, Albania. I used the branches of trees as a partial natural frame to cover the boring sky.

Use light and shadows as a frame

I discovered this abandoned dentist’s chair at the abandoned Beelitz Heilstätten in a building that was used as a film location for A Cure for Wellness. The photo is a good example of how to use lights and shadows as a frame.

You can clearly see that I used the light that shines into the dark room from the window as a circular frame for the chair. Using Lightroom mobile, which I reviewed in my blog, I brightened the light a bit to emphasize the frame event more

Additionally, the light rays demonstrate the leading lines photo composition technique. The bright light at the top of the window attracts the attention of the viewer. Then the light rays direct the viewer towards the chair which itself is framed by the light.

Using framing to enhance your travel photos

Use framing to convey depth

I took the photo below in an abandoned manor house in Estonia. The wall with the door acts as a frame for the rooms and behind the wall. By using the door as a frame, I can convey how huge this abandoned manor in Estonia really is, and the viewer is drawn into the scene.

If you use this framing technique to convey depth, try to place something at the center of the frame like either a bright light from the window, like I did in this photo. But it could also be the opposite: something dark. That could convey even more depth.

Add context by framing the main subject

I’ve mentioned this photo earlier as an example for architectural framing. But it’s also a good example of how to add context to a photo. It clearly states that someone was walking by the building, looked into it and made an interesting observation or discovery. Moreover, the window sashes also act as leading lines towards the main subject.

So whenever you discover something, don’t just photograph it but use the surroundings of the place as a frame in your photo to give more context about where you discovered the subject.

Use contrast in the frame to spark feelings

To convey negative feelings like fear or isolation, use a high-contrast frame. In the photo below, the dark window frame against the brightly lit background creates a sense of unease. Depending on the viewer, the photo can convey e.g. sadness because the person can’t watch the show from the street level where it would be much more impressive.

On the other hand, if you’d use a low contrast and color rich frame, this may convey exactly the opposite: harmony and happiness. To darken the frame and add more contrast, you can use any photo editing app that allows you to use brushes, like Adobe Lightroom mobile, which is my favorite photo editing app.

Fill negative space by adding a frame

I got this photo during a trip to Tirana, the capital city of Albania. The shell of the building was an interesting photo spot. But the clear blue sky was a bit boring and just creates a sort of negative space. So I looked for something that I can use to fill that negative space: the branches of a tree act as a partial frame for the main subject.

By using the branches as a frame, I could cover at least a bit of the boring sky. If the sky had been cloudy, I would have used another technique: either, I would have captured a long exposure with blurred clouds. Alternatively, if you want to create a fine art black and white photo, I also wouldn’t use frames here.

I’d rather capture the clear blue sky and turn it to a black sky with a bright building shell in the front as a contrast. But that’s a different story.

If you take a close look at the above photo, you’ll also see another photo composition technique used: the rule of thirds. The top of the skyscraper is in the left third of the frame.

Final tips for using the framing composition technique in photography

The framing technique is a simple composition technique that will enhance your photos if you mind a few things. First, remember that the focus (pun intended) of your photo is still the main subject and not the frame. So try to avoid any distractions, like objects, on the frame itself. The frame should be simple and draw the attention to the main subject.

Secondly, the ideal position of the frame in a photo composition is at the foreground or the middle of the scene. If you place at in the background, it may cover too much of the scene and actually take the attention from the main subject.

I also recommend turning on grid lines as a compositional aid when composing a photo using the framing technique. ProCamera app, which is one of my most favorite camera apps I’ve been using for years, offers different types of grid lines that are of great help when composing photos. I’ve posted ProCamera App review in the blog that I regularly update.

Conclusion

The framing technique in photography is a powerful concept when composing a photo. By using frames, you'll draw the eye of the viewer towards the main subject, you can add context and depth to a photo and also spark certain feelings. Just give it a try!

Once you mastered the art of using framing in your travel photos, consider learning the composition technique of using leading lines.