This photograph was taken with the help of my youngest daughter, Izzy. She very kindly agreed to hold up this old picture frame so I could take a shot of a colourful market as we looked down at it from a bridge overhead.
This was the ideal scene for the effect I wanted to achieve. Izzy was certainly impressed with the results and framing a photograph like this is very straightforward.
Even though I am very happy with the result, this shot was my ‘reserve’ image. All week I have been playing with Photoshop trying to create a clever typography-style portrait of my family. I cannot deny the harsh truth: the results were dreadful. I instead resorted to this very easy, but effective photographic trick.
Taking this image was very simple. I bought an old picture frame from a charity shop for £1. I then looked around for good locations that would give me a good, colourful subject that I could highlight within the frame.
The picture was taken at dusk with a shutter speed of 1/100 of a second, aperture set to f7 and ISO was 6400. As you can see, my young assistant did a marvellous job of holding the frame in place.
Once back at home, I opened the image up in Photoshop and created a black and white adjustment layer. This converted the entire image to black and white. I then selected the ‘paint brush’ tool and carefully painted the colour back-in, within the boundary of the frame. Aside from cropping the picture, I have done nothing else to it.
I hope you like the picture. I think this is a very simple but effective way of creating a fun photograph. It’s an approach that could be adapted for all sorts of scenarios.Â
Have you ever attempted taking a picture this way? have you any tips for framing an image? if so please do leave a comment below. I’d be especially keen to hear from if you try this trick yourself.
This post has been added to the #MySundayPhoto linky hosted on the Photalife blog. Do follow the link and take a look at the linky yourself.
16 thoughts on “Framing a subject. A simple photography trick when all else goes wrong!”
It looks great! It’s not something I’ve ever thought of doing, but I would be tempted to give it a go.
Thanks Sarah. The beauty of this is that anyone can give it a go. You don’t need to worry about the editing, just frame your subject and you’ll get a great image.
Such a fantastic technique. Thanks for the Photoshop tips. I need to have a go with it soon!
Go on Paul, I challenge you to give it a shot yourself. It’s such a straightforward technique.
Hi John, I love your creativity! This isn’t something I’ve seen done before and it’s so simple. At first look, I thought you’d done some clever framing using a mirror, but then realised your image was missing. This is something I would like to try sometime for sure, my problem would probably be finding a willing helper.
#MySundayPhoto
xx
Ah, no, not using a mirror at all! It’s a really easy idea isn’t it? Go on Debs, I think you should try it for yourself.
So clever and effective John. Would never have thought to try this.
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
Go on Darren, try it yourself. You know you want to. . .
Clever shot. I’ve never tried anything like this, and generally use picmonkey for my editing. But I know they can now do things like painting colour back in so should try it.
Oh I used to use Picmonkey. It is easier to use that Photoshop but it’s functionality is a lot more limited. Anyway, do give it a try. It’s such a straightforward trick and works well.
That is a brilliant photo! Such a clever idea!
I think I might have to give it a try! x
Do it Kim! It’s really so easy. you don’t need to do any of the technical stuff with Photoshop if that’s not your thing. Just use a frame. It’s so easy.
Such a clever idea X #mysundayphoto
It was so simple to do. Thoroughly recommend giving it a try if you get the chance.
that’s a fab idea, well done Izzy #mysundayphoto
what a great result from what seems a simple idea, but getting it right would not be quite so easy. Never envisaged market stalls having lights on them, but then I never go to a street market. #MySundayPhoto