filling the frame?

[RustySterling]

As I think about this more and more, I think it's a matter of what do you want to fill the frame with. AFAIC a frame is always full, but what impact does it have. Let's say you are shooting at junk yard, so you take a photo of a pile of junk. All that junk fills the frame. But does the frame have any impact? Is there a focal point that your eye goes to or does it wander aimlessly around the frame looking at the different pieces of junk?

Maybe there is one piece of junk that stands out from the rest. Let's say a tricycle in the midst of old auto parts. So then you have a compare/contrast situation. But telling the story, showing the oddity is all in the framing.

Here's another possible example: Your assignment, get a shot of a dog waiting for his owner. You could fill the frame with a shot of the dog, but does that tell the story? Probably not.

Now take a shot of the dog sitting and staring down an expanse of road. You could have the dog in one corner of the frame and the road filling the rest of the frame. In my mind the frame is filled even if the expanse of road is empty. And you've told a story. You show a dog starring down and empty road and the dog appears to be waiting for someone or something to show up.

So filling a frame can be a very subjective thing. It's all in the eye of the shooter and the viewer. As I said before, a frame is always full. The question is what is it full of?

[vandergus]

Here's another possible example: Your assignment, get a shot of a dog waiting for his owner. You could fill the frame with a shot of the dog, but does that tell the story? Probably not.

Now take a shot of the dog sitting and staring down an expanse of road. You could have the dog in one corner of the frame and the road filling the rest of the frame. In my mind the frame is filled even if the expanse of road is empty. And you've told a story. You show a dog starring down and empty road and the dog appears to be waiting for someone or something to show up.

I like your example Rusty. Kind of what I was trying to say, just in more concrete terms.

[liverlipsyyz]

great advice, everyone! thanks!