The Heart of the Photograph

Another consideration, which we’ll explore more in Chapter 17, is your choice of frame: both the orientation of it and the proportions, or aspect ratio, of it. Some frames are more appropriate than others for conveying certain kinds of energy; one frame might exaggerate the energy while another subdues it. A long, vertical waterfall, for example, might be nice in a horizontal frame, showing the context of the surrounding jungle. But if the intention for the image is more about the power of that waterfall and less about context, then a vertical frame allows the vertical movement of that waterfall to increase that energy. And if you wanted to make it feel even more powerful, you could use a longer frame, like a 9:16 ratio rather than the more standard ...