One surefire way to make an image more appealing is to introduce foreground subject matter that calls attention to, and frames, the main subject in the background. This technique is often referred to as framing with a frame. It is one of the simplest ways to create both depth and perspective in a composition. Opportunities to use framing with a frame abound: tree branches, fences, large boulders, framing through someone’s feet or hands, tall grasses, and blooming flowers, just to name a few.

There are two ways to create the framing-with-a-frame effect, both highly dependent on the right aperture choice. If you want your foreground frame to be sharp, then, more often than not, you’ll need a wide-angle lens combined with a small aperture of f/16 or f/22. If, on the other hand, you want your foreground frame to comprise out-of-focus tones or colors, use a telephoto lens combined with a large aperture.

To use this technique successfully, it’s important to avoid using a foreground subject/frame that distracts the eye. For example, if your foreground frame consists of out-of-focus pink flowers that clash with sharply focused orange flowers and lines of textured tree bark, it might be more of a distraction than a frame that leads the eye to your subject in the background.

Think about whether your frame adds something necessary to the composition or is just an “extra” element that detracts from your main subject. Ask yourself the following: If I removed the foreground frame, would I miss it? If the answer is a resounding yes, then the frame is a good choice. If, on the other hand, it only serves to distract, then it’s obviously not a good idea. As a general rule of thumb, a foreground frame should not dominate the composition. Its role should be limited to calling attention to the main subject.