Art consists of limitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.
G. K. Chesterton
I don’t believe for a moment that Chesterton really means that a picture frame is always more beautiful than the art it surrounds. No; what he is saying is that what matters is what you choose to include and what to leave out. And in photography, when you choose to fill the frame with your subject, leaving out everything that surrounds it, several things happen.
Firstly, the viewer has no context, no sense of this subject within a bigger setting. That can be a positive or negative thing. Do you want the viewer to have that context as part of the story you want your image to tell? Or is it an unnecessary distraction?
Secondly, as I have indicated, you remove all distractions and by doing so force the viewer to look only at this one thing. This can be very impactful.
And thirdly, you often achieve an effect I especially enjoy, that of a harmonious monochromatic colour image, as some of my shots below will demonstrate.
Anne has asked for some full frame images for this week’s Lens Artists challenge. She makes another point about this style of photography that I really like: ‘Most of my images in this post extend beyond the frame, meaning their stories continue beyond the confines of the image boundaries.’ Isn’t that a powerful idea, stimulating the viewer’s imagination to create their own context, their own stories?!
For my selection I’ll start with a shot from my recent trip to Madagascar. But the remainder come from a quick trawl through my archives. Some you may have seen before, for which I apologise. But they were the best examples I could find to illustrate the impact that filling the frame can have.
My feature photo is of an orchid at the Finca Romelia in Colombia, cropped to emphasise the beautiful heart of the flower.
Pandanus frog, Andisibe, Madagascar
This tiny frog, about 2.5 cm, is endemic to Madagascar. It lives only in the pools of water created between the leaves of the pandanus or screw pine, hence its name. This was an essential frame-filling shot. If I’d stood further back to show the whole plant in context you wouldn’t have noticed the frog. Although it could be argued that by including the plant I’ve placed the frog in context?
Cactus with ants near the Salt Cathedral, Zipaquirá, Colombia
Similar to the previous shot, this one fills the frame with the cactus, drawing attention to the tiny ants.
In Mount Rainier National Park, WA
I’ve used this one before, but it’s too good an example of the monochrome colour effect I mentioned above not to repeat it here.
Hot air balloon near Marrakech
No need to include the sky to ‘explain’ this shot; it’s immediately obvious what it is without the need for any context.
Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Filling the frame with the leading edge of the glacier emphasises its beautiful colours and ice formations, although it doesn’t show its scale as well as a wider shot would do.
Tree trunk and roots, Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Focusing just on one aspect of the tree serves to turn it from living thing into a sculptural work of art.
On Michigan Avenue, Chicago
This is a detail of the building occupied by the Burberry fashion group’s flagship store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Its design reflects their iconic check motif. The full frame approach turns this into a semi-abstract design rather than architecture.
In Muttrah Souk, Muscat, Oman
Filling the frame with goods on this stall in the souk increases the impact of their bright colours. In this instance, there’s no need to show any more of the scene; it’s obvious I think that this is in a market.
Old car at a roadside coffee shop near Yakima, WA
This shot makes the colour the star while also emphasising the car’s rusty condition.
Crab at Deception State Park, WA
This close-up allows you to see the detail of the crab’s claws while creating another monochromatic sem-abstract image.
At the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Nairobi
And finally, another repeat showing for a favourite image. I love zooming in on elephants to show the details of their skin and lovely eyes.
49 Comments
grandmisadventures
I think you’re right about full frame pictures making an impact- you really see something, every detail and every shape, and it makes it seem so much more personal than it would farther away. Great full frame pictures 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you like these shots (and agree with my thoughts on full frame photography!)
Ju-Lyn
This is a conversation I’ve had many times in the attempt to appreciate that which is before me. As I learn more, I realise how much more there is to uncover, and it does help in the unpacking and admiration of the presented work. I have to admit though, in many art galleries (I am thinking specifically of the National Gallery in London), some of the frames of the artwork are the stars!
P/S I love your ants on cactus!
Sarah Wilkie
Oh that’s interesting to hear! I confess I find those traditional heavy art gallery frames too much of a distraction from the work, I prefer a less obtrusive look 🙂
SoyBend
I was looking forward to seeing your take on this challenge, Sarah. The macro orchid picture is beautiful. Also liked the colors and lines of the hot air balloon.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Siobhan 😊
Sofia Alves
Excellent post, Sarah. I like how you have filled your frames differently, some so close they are almost abstracts, others like the Souk one, are obvious of what they are. It’s a style that suits you and you excell at.
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you so much Sofia 😊 I think that’s an interesting distinction between the abstract and more representational images.
susurrus
I have lots of favourites here – but the one I like best is the Mount Rainier leaves (hostas?)
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I’m rather fond of that photo myself but I don’t think they’re hostas. A Google lens search suggests Indian poke aka corn lily, which would fit with the location (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veratrum_viride)
Lakshmi Bhat
Fascinating and beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m pleased you liked this 🙂
Mike and Kellye Hefner
This is a wonderful full-frame gallery, Sarah! They are all beautiful, but my favorite is the plants in Olympic National Park. My second favorite is the glacier in Torres del Paine National Park. It looks like a modern painting.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Kellye 😊 You’ve picked up on som e of my own favourites!
Anonymous
Very nice shots Sarah. I think the elephant is the pick for me. Those eyelashes…
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – elephants do have amazing eyes!
Monkey's Tale
Beautiful pictures and I like your explanation of fill the frame. I love the elephant and the souk. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Maggie 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed the explanation as well as the shots. And the elephant takes ‘first prize’ this week I reckon!
Monkey's Tale
Hard to beat an elephant 😊
janet
I liked all of these beauties, Sarah, but the two that stood out to me were the balloon and the elephant. Well done as usual.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Janet 🙂 I think the elephant is emerging as the ‘winner’ this week but I’m happy you picked out the balloon shot too!
Egídio
So many wonderful photos, Sarah. It’s really hard to choose only one as a favorite. Excellent post and photos!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed seeing them 🙂
tobyo
These are all great! I especially like the bright green cactus with ants. I love that green. I also love the old Ford truck. Nicely done!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, it’s always interesting to hear which ones are favourites – both the truck and cactus are popular it seems!
gaiainaction
So interesting, I was only recently looking at this very aspect of choosing how to photograph or show your subject for the best effect, and whether to frame it or not, I love your close-ups, especially the monochrome colour one. And the way you framed your subject in the Muttrah souk photo, very effective.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – it’s great to hear that you find this concept of interest too 🙂 I find I’m often drawn to take shots like that souk one when I see colourful market stalls, especially with fabrics!
gaiainaction
Yes Sarah, and we can find examples everywhere, but I also found that while in India there were such colourful shots to be found, so beautiful. The way you photographed that really draws the eye to detail.
Marie
Hard to choose – they’re all perfect for the challenge … but I might go for the cactus with ants – or the glaciers!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Marie 😊 Glad you like the ants shot – I was amazed when I looked closely and spotted them there!
JohnRH
GREAT selections, as always. I like the blue ice, old Ford, elephant, et al. Excellent.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much John – those all seem to be emerging as general favourites this week 🙂
thehungrytravellers.blog
Oh how can anyone not adore that elephant shot!? Although the car grille shot is striking too – somehow completely finished off perfectly by the off centre license plate.
Sarah Wilkie
All the elephants there were so adorable, as you can imagine! And yes, I like the wonky license plate too 😉
jazzibee
A great sense of abstract art this week! Great images!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much – I do enjoy creating these slightly abstract images 🙂
Anonymous
Wonderful examples, Sarah! I’m torn between the Ford and the elephant!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
margaret21
These are all full of impact: I think I particularly like your plant and ice examples.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret, glad you liked them 😀
Tina Schell
Some wonderful examples this week Sarah. Loved your opener and the yellow car especially.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Tina, glad you enjoyed my examples 😀
Wind Kisses
A great gallery Sarah, and you brought power to what filling the frame means. The glaciers were fantastic. I loved the lines of the tree foots and the bright colors of the souk in Omen. Pieces of the whole define our travels today.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Donna 😊 I love that point about ‘pieces of the whole’, a great phrase!
Anne Sandler
Wow, Sarah you took this challenge and turned it into beauty. I absolutely your orchid image. You’ve given me a new way to process macros of flowers. You are correct that we don’t need to see the entire scene to understand the subject and its surroundings.
philosophy through photography
Love you examples and explanation.
Muttrah Souk and old car -my fav
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I always enjoy hearing which shots especially appeal to people 🙂
philosophy through photography
You are welcome, Sara W.
Good morning from India.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne – it is a great choice of theme and a style of photography I really enjoy, so I had fun digging out these shots for you 🙂