There are fundamental differences between how the eye sees and how the camera sees. If we can understand those differences, we can be aware of what makes a photograph good. Relationships between elements in a photograph determine the photo’s success and appeal.

A photograph has edges; the real world does not.

Consider the relationship between objects in the photograph and the edges of the frame.

In a portrait, what does it imply if a subject is partially cut off by the frame, perfectly centered, or fills the frame completely? This relationship can add meaning to your image.

The frame of the photo can be like a window to another world. Photographers can use scale and perspective to energize the space or create tension. We can contain and isolate an object by capturing it’s full length in the frame. But if we let the object extend beyond the edges, we allow the viewer to imagine the world beyond the frame.