STAND IN THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S FOOTSTEPS: Angle, Framing, and Light

This exercise introduces students to the artistic language and construction of photography. Photographers make decisions about composition and content when creating an image. To have a photographer communicate his or her ideas clearly, an artist considers numerous details when making the exposure and when printing the photograph in the darkroom. Angle, framing, and light are three important considerations.

The Carolina movie theater for sale, Spruce Pine Gelatin silver print © Debbie Fleming Caffery 1999

Angle is a term that commonly refers to the vantage point or direction from which the artist photographs the subject. Have students spend five minutes just looking at the photographs, and then ask them to respond to the following:

• Select an image.
• Discuss from what angle the photographer took the picture.
• What effect does the angle have on the way you view the image?
• How would the photograph have changed if it were taken from a different angle?
• Why do you think this angle was chosen? Explain your reasoning.

Listener Aya Cash, age 17, takes a support call from an anonymous youth during her shift at Youthline Silver dye bleach print © Lauren Greenfield 1999

Framing is another technique that affects the composition and content of a photograph. The photographer frames the subject, determining where the edges of the image will be. Through framing, the photographer decides what is and is not included within the picture.

• Select an image.
• Discuss framing through the following questions:
• To what in the photograph does the frame draw your attention?
• What do you think might be outside the frame of this photograph?
• Why do you think this particular frame was chosen?
• What details within the frame contribute to your knowledge of the community depicted?

Light is one of the most powerful photographic influences. It reveals details, creates shadows, and often contributes to the mood or feeling of the work.

• Observe the quality of light in the images:
• How would you describe the light in a chosen photograph (for example, natural, artificial, bright, harsh, soft, etc.)? What leads you to this conclusion?
• From what direction is the light coming? How do you know?
• Does the light contribute to the mood or feeling of the work? If so, how?
• How does light contribute to a sense of this place and community?

http://www.creativephotography.org    This page last updated September 24, 2000.   oncenter@ccp.arizona.edu