Photography with Kristen Duke~ Framing the shot

Thank you SO much for voting on that little poll last week! It helps me a lot to know why you keep coming back for more photography lessons. 255 people said they have a dslr and just want better pics of their family–I LOVE it! To the 87+52 (kinda blurred the lines on one question) of you who don’t have a dslr, I feel bad that most of my tutorials are aimed at those WITH them. For really great photography, you will need that, but there are definitely things to do to improve before you do (I hope today’s lesson applies to you). To the 53 of you that have a photography business and want to improve, glad you are here, and glad I can help.

With that said, I thought I’d go creative and talk about unique ways to frame your shot to add a little interest. I was just lost in blogland yesterday and stumbled upon a photographers website who spoke about an instructor she had that questioned why she framed her shot a certain way. It was of a building and it was a pull back shot of that building. She said she liked various features on the building and he suggested she find a way to creatively document the building verses just a big pull back shot. Using angles and depth of field to our advantage can make a shot go from great to WOW.

When I took my daughter out for her one year pics, I posted a bunch on my blog and asked to hear favorites (because she is my child, they are all my favorites and I couldn’t decifer objectively). So many people said this was their favorite shot:

What makes this shot unique amongst the others is that I crouched down in the field of flowers and got some of them inbetween us. I set my focal point on her face and with a low aperture, it blurs those flowers inbetween and gives a really cool look.

Last weekend, I was with my family at a lakehouse. I was risky and decided to take my zoom lens out on the boat to get some fun shots of the kids being pulled on the tube. I got lots of cool shots, but one of my favorites was not planned. When the boat turned and the ladder got in my way. I was annoyed at the time, but then I saw that it was actually framing them quite nicely.

With my focus on them (my dad, brother, and nephew) and having the bars in my frame, but blurred, made this shot more interesting than the one before….

Don’t you think?

I try to find interesting things in my shoot to include. I love this shot of a couple cuddling, but I was on a stairwell above the tree and moved enough to get the flowers nicely framed around them.

It’s almost like you are being sneaky–hiding behind something so as to give the appearance that they don’t know you are there, or that the viewer of the image is made to think that the subject didn’t realize you were watching.

Think of objects that might otherwise get in your way and use them to be creative.

I didn’t take this below, (because I’m in it) but I love how the bars of the stairwell frame our faces.

(Image taken by Tricia Dunlap, see more here).

I think I already shared this one, but I love it, so will again. Turn a chain link fence into a piece of your art!

You catchin’ my drift? Get creative, get sneaky, get some cool shots!

P.S. Does anyone live near Champaign, Illinois? I’m headed there in a few weeks. If so, check here.

Comments

1

April says:

July 22, 2010 at 12:52 pm

Fun pictures. thanks for sharing your views.

2

Amanda Joy says:

July 22, 2010 at 2:54 pm

Awesome! I just took some photos with my point and shoot of the kids at grandma's farm. I used the chain link fence to frame the shot and turned it B&W. I love it, if only my hubby wasn't squinting:) Check it out http://www.joyinthejumble.com/2010/07/on-funny-farm.html
Hopefully for Christmas I will get a Canon Rebel and will be able to take better photos; because of all the options.

3

Lyndee says:

July 22, 2010 at 3:56 pm

What is a dlsr?

4

ShadowCase says:

July 22, 2010 at 5:31 pm

Love all of your photography–so creative and inspiring. I'm hoping to upgrade my camera one of these days so that I can (attempt to) take awesome pictures like these!

5

Kristen Duke Photography says:

July 22, 2010 at 5:31 pm

Digital single lens reflex (dslr). Sorry, mentioned it before…. it is basically a "big camera" or non point and shoot. Able to attach lenses, etc.

6

Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique says:

July 23, 2010 at 12:10 am

Kristen i am loving your photography tips and it has inspired me to really get into photography.

I wan to be able to document my girls life with beautiful photos taken by me :)

I am actually thinking of getting a DSLR but not quite sure which one would suit a beginner like me would love if you could give me some recommendations?

7

Juli says:

July 23, 2010 at 4:10 pm

Great post! I love that last shot and the one of your daughter is so cute! :)

8

Lorie says:

July 26, 2010 at 5:25 am

Beautiful pictures! I actually know one of those couples and all of the family shots were great!

It is so funny to look at pictures on the web and see someone you know!!

9

Anonymous says:

July 27, 2010 at 12:27 am

Thanks again for the great photo tips, love it every week!

10

cjflake says:

July 27, 2010 at 3:11 pm

What kind of DSLR do you recommend? I am looking to upgrade to a new camera soon?

11

Delia says:

July 28, 2010 at 4:52 am

I love this! It has inspired me. Thank you so much.

12

Bonnie @ House of Grace says:

July 29, 2010 at 5:06 am

I love your blog!! I am your newest follower. I would love to pick you some camera tips from you. I just got my first slr last year and I still only use auto.
Bonnie :)

13

Gabby says:

October 22, 2010 at 3:56 am

Very interesting post.

14

Gabby says:

October 22, 2010 at 3:56 am

P.S. I just recently got a DSLR for the first time and am trying to learn how to take better photos of my family.