This is Part 3 of the Roots of Photography, based on the book The Photographer’s Eye by John Szarkowski, about what makes photography unique in the world.

The Frame: Adding Meaning

Last week we talked about the details. After deciding on this, we then have to determine where the edges of the photograph will be. The edges determine the context. Here, the photographer defines the content, implying relationships between elements and creating shapes among the elements. The edges (or cropping) show what the photographer thought was most important.

Szarkowski compared the scene we have to choose from as similar to a Japanese scroll painting. As it unrolls, it shows an infinite number of potential croppings. The photographer then chooses the cropping according to the meaning he or she is trying to portray.

The central act of photography, the act of choosing and eliminating, forces a concentration on the picture edge – the line that separates in from out – and on the shapes that are created by it. ~ The Photographer’s Eye, John Szarkowski

In the image above, I wanted to show the reflection of the sky in the Gulf of Mexico at sunset. Through camera positioning, and framing, I created two rectangles, a smaller one showing the sky and a larger one showing the water. What is left out is the sandy beach, the homes behind them, and the birds and people watching the sunset with me.

Reflection 

How aware are you of what is left out of your images? Do you choose your crops carefully to add meaning to your images? What practices could you incorporate to be more aware of the edges?

How does this apply to your life? What do you allow in and what do you leave out?

Exercises 

Here are 5 ways to use photography to add meaning.

1. Slowly pivot your camera around a scene to see the scrolling view. How many potential cropping opportunities do you see? Take at least 3 different images. How does the cropping change the context or meaning of the scene?

2. With your camera on a tripod, pan your camera 180 degrees left to right, taking five to ten consecutive shots of a scene. You could stitch these shots together, creating one panoramic shot. But first, view them separately and see how each stands on its own.

3. Photograph two people in a situation where there are more than two present (leaving out the other people). How does your framing create a relationship between the two?

4. Take a photograph where background shapes or other elements add meaning to the scene, i.e., people at a rally with signs, animals in a zoo, food at a farmers market.

5. Explore the work of other photographers who add meaning through their framing, like Edward Burtynsky, who shows how nature is transformed by industry.

Additional Resources 

The Americans, a book by Robert Frank