HOW TO FIX YOUR FRAMING!

Learn how to create images with added impact using these tried and trusted techniques and expert insights from Jon Adams and Andrew James

If there's one thing that separates a successful photo from a so-so effort, it's composition. Whether it's a scenic landscape, a portrait, an architectural study or a wildlife picture. how you frame up and arrange your shot is the most defining element in terms of the impact it has on the viewer.

A smartphone in the right hands will always capture a better shot than a top-end camera in the wrong hands, and this is because composition is the photographer's primary weapon. Other factors play their part, like having good light and sharpness in the right areas, but none of that matters if you haven't composed the shot effectively to create a balanced frame; and how you compose an image can also help communicate the story you want to tell.

As the great Ansel Adams once said, "There are always two people in every picture: the photographer viewer." With your choice of composition. you need to cover both perspectives framing the shot so that it works for you, and communicating the contents of the frame effectively for the viewer.

In this feature we'll break down the art of framing into seven bite-sized chunks. and share techniques and tips that you can start putting into practice the next time you're out with your camera.

1 CROP OUT THE CLUTTER
Keep the frame simple by excluding elements you don't need

A busy, cluttered frame can be confusing for a viewer, so when you come across a scene that you think has potential as a shot, think about why it has potential - what are the major ingredients that attracted your eye and made you reach for your camera? Make a mental note, and log these elements, as they're the things that made you consider picking up your camera in the first place, and are therefore what your shot is about.