Learn about photo framing so that your travel shots look as good as postcards. The rule of thirds, composition tips, positioning your subjects … Here’s a close-up on photo framing.

Horizontal or vertical

Horizontal format is recommended for landscapes, while vertical is mostly used for portraits and landscapes where the focus is on an up-and-down element, such as a waterfall or a church tower.

The rule of thirds

When taking a picture of a wide open space (sand, mountains, water), framing is key. Make the grid appear on your viewfinder and use the rule of thirds: the screen is divided into 9 squares. Place the horizon on the highest horizontal line – never in the centre. Your subjects (or foreground) will be to the side of one of the intersections. For a portrait, apply the same rule, placing your model’s eyes at an intersection on your grid.

5 points to improve your framing

1. Plan your foregrounds to provide some contrast: a tree next to the water or a net stranded on the beach will give your photo some perspective.
2. Leave space in front of your subjects’ eyes, especially if they are moving.
3. Play with the scenery: two posts from a bridge, an opening in a bush or line of trees will provide you with natural, visually pleasing framing.
4. Create a point of reference: The presence of a person in your photo will highlight the immensity of the landscape before you (river, mountain, desert).
5. Guide the viewer’s eye by using the natural lines of your landscape, such as a path leading to a building, or a dock heading out to a lake.

Re-framing … at home

If your photos didn’t turn out, don’t worry! If you take high definition photos (8-10 megapixels or more), you can always make up for it by reframing your shots with an image processing software. The photos will be a lower resolution, but still good enough for printing in the classic format.