a photograph is about what you include
and what you leave out
the boundary
framing sets the boundary
everything inside it becomes the photograph
everything outside it disappears
change the frame
and the image changes
what framing does
framing decides
what is visible
what is hidden
what feels important
it is not decoration
it is selection
composition
composition is how what you include is arranged
where things sit
how they relate
how the eye moves
it gives structure to the frame
what changes
small changes matter
move slightly
step closer
step back
a subject can become
clear
confused
balanced
unstable
nothing in the scene changes
only your position
the mistake
beginners try to include everything
more context
more detail
more elements
but more is rarely better
it is less clear
what to look for
start by removing
then arrange what remains
look for
edges
overlap
spacing
balance
not rules
relationships
framing defines the boundary
balance holds it together
next: balance in composition
previous: how to see which photos work
related: aperture and depth of field explained