I wanted it small in the frame!
by Mark ~ April 3rd, 2007. Filed under: Environment, art, birds, composition, field techniques, nature photography, technique, wildlife.
You have heard it before – fill the frame with your subject. The theory behind that suggestion is to maximize impact, reduce distractions. But I personally think filling the frame with your main subject all of the time can lead to stale imagery. Quite often I want to portray a subject in its environment because I think it tells more about where an animal lives versus a close up shot. Both can be effective.
It hits on one of my pet peeves in photo critique/judging where the feedback you might get is – “I wish the bird was larger in the frame.” Does anyone consider that perhaps it was purposefully shot that way, even if one had the capability to get closer? It isn’t some rationale for not having enough focal length. And even if you don’t have the ability to get a closer shot, I think it is much harder to make a shot work with a subject in surrounding habitat. You may have a lot of distractions to content with.
Bright sticks and multiple high contrast areas are usually the enemies in these types of shots. You still want the viewers eye to be drawn to your subject, but also allowed to wander in the frame exploring the habitat. Harsh lighting conditions or overly bright backgrounds can get in the way quite easily. So we have to be weary of this in the field. Sometimes all it takes is a little patience for the subject to move into a different area of the habitat that has a much more complimentary setting.
So the next time you face this criticism – stand proud – say ‘Back off Bozo – some things were just meant to be!!’
April 3rd, 2007 at
Sigh! It happens all of the time. People confuse guidelines with rules. Personally, when done right, I feel negative space or ‘context’ space is warranted and interesting.
April 3rd, 2007 at
marvelous photos that are right up my alley.. just beautiful, they show a bird in their environs, which to me are a crucial part of an image.. remove the environs, there would BE no birds! Portraits have their place in the sheme of things but to me they’re quite static and even a few green leaves can add so much life to a static image. I’m glad you posted this after our email conversation because I take alot of heat for my habitat shots.. and I’ll remember the ‘back off bozo’ retort, too funny!
Long live small in the frame shots!
April 4th, 2007 at
Excellent points. I’ve always felt necessary to get a bird as close up as possible (although a lot of times this is to help for identification).
I think a lot of photographers overthink their shots, though. Most of my favorite pictures are the ones I’ve practically stumbled across, catching a bird just doing its thing.
April 4th, 2007 at
As you imply, I think that showing the surrounding environment and still keeping the composition clean while supportive and complimentary to the main subject is far more difficult than close up shots!
April 7th, 2007 at
Hey bozo, … don’t you know you are suppose to fill the frame?
I most certainly agree with what you have written, and get so irritated at times when the preaching starts and when someone starts their critiquing of your image, never thinking or considering what your intentions were to begin with.
Love all of the ones you have shown here, and especially the first and third image.
That first one is killer!
April 8th, 2007 at
Thanks for the comment on my blog Mark. I really like your photos. The 1st bird on the rock in the fog is a shot I haven’t seen before. Very cool. Great environmental portraits.
April 9th, 2007 at
If every photographer shot according to the “rules,” we’d die of boredom. I love closeups, but anyone can visit an apiary or zoo and capture those. A bird captured in its natural environment offers viewers a peek into another world. This sparrow photo is a perfect example of this. You tiptoed into his world and out again, and the results are a beautiful glimpse into its habitat.
(*By the way, Mikey sent me…)
April 9th, 2007 at
Suggesting that one should always “fill the frame with your subject” is comparable to saying you should always shoot in the morning light, or you should only shoot things that are beige. It would be a ridiculously arbitrary way to limit your view the world!
April 24th, 2007 at
Well, heck. From my perspective you DID fill the frame with the subject–which most certainly includes the environment in these cases. Seems to me traditional guidelines are often too narrow in their definition of the term “subject matter.” Phooey on them anyway…
At any rate, all very nicely done. I love these images!
November 2nd, 2007 at
[...] you do not always have to fill the frame to make your subject interesting. Read Mark’s post, “I Wanted It Small In The Frame!” His images are some of the best that you will find, … anywhere! And tell him that ol’ [...]