Foreground Interest

Usually, when getting to know someone, it helps to know a little bit about them so we can judge for ourselves whether or not they are someone we want to get to know better.  We run down our list of 20 questions asking increasingly more personal questions as the time goes on.  We seek to establish trust and common ground - a connection.  

Often the best way to figure someone out is to learn about their past - where they've been, what they've done and where they've come from. We ask about their families: Do they have siblings?  Are they an only child? We ask about their hobbies: Do they like to go camping?  Do they like Rock and Roll or Country music?  We interview them so to speak. 

This interchange may take five minutes.  It may take 5 hours.  But, at the end of that first conversation, we pretty much know whether or not we want to pursue a friendship with that person.  With that in mind, most of us usually put our very best foot forward when meeting new people.  We want them to like us.  We want them to give us a second chance.  

So it is with photography. 

When a photographer makes an image, they hope that the image will make people want to take a second look.  They want people to be intrigued with the art they've created.  They want the story they tell to be compelling enough to keep people coming back for more.  They hope their images get people talking about them - in a good way.

There are many ways to accomplish this, but one in particular has to do with using the foreground to enhance the image.  Just like our personal history provides a glimpse into the rest of our story, the foreground can help to tell your image's story - as in these images below:

In this first image, the placement of the dog in the foreground adds to the fun of the picture - as does the dollop of soap suds on his head.  That the dog is even in the image at all tells us that this particular pet is an important part of the family - so much so that he has the privilege of getting in on the bubble bath too.  His presence also adds insight into this bubble-bath-jumping boy's life.  Suddenly you know more about this boy than you would have otherwise.

Ah, Aldi Bear!  Not only can you tell that she likes playing t-ball, but you can tell that she LOVES playing t-ball with the boys.  Had our little buddy not been in the foreground of this image, you might speculate that her expression is one of pride - a "Yea! I did it!" sort of grin.  But by including her pal in the foreground, that expression suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.  And it doesn't take much detective work to figure out what's going through her mind!  

See how much more interesting things can be when we pay attention to the foreground?

Adding foreground interest is not solely for telling a story.  It can also help to add a sense of depth or size to an image.  Take a look at these examples below:

The flags in the foreground in this image help to emphasize the height of the Wrigley Building in Chicago.  It helps to know that the flag poles themselves are massive.  Seeing the building towering above them almost makes my neck hurt.

You landscape photographers will love this one.  I took this image while hiking in Yosemite National Park.  Including these boulders in the foreground of the image helped to give a sense of depth and enormity to the distant mountains below.  With that frame of reference, you realize just how high up I was.  Had I taken this image right at the edge without including any of the boulders in the foreground, the image would not be nearly as dramatic.

What I wouldn't give to be sitting on those beach chairs right now! While I love the color in this image, it doesn't quite do it for me. There's zero depth.  It's way too flat looking for my taste.

Now, that's much better!  Do you see how adding the boy in the foreground and placing the girl between the boy and the chairs helps to add a 3 dimensional quality?  Flat and boring no more!  Not only has depth and dimension been added, but also a sense of place, energy, and adventure.  You now feel like you are part of the story - like you are right in the middle of it all doging the flinging mud.  

Isn't this foreground stuff fun!

There's still more.  I want to show you one more way to use foreground interest to impact your images.  At times I like to use tall grasses or bushes in the foreground to frame my subject and add a dreamy feel to the image.  Let's use Julie as our model this time around.

In this first image, I shot through the tall grasses framing the shot so that just her face was free of the foreground distraction.  Since the bottom half of the image is lighter, your eye is drawn to the darker part of the image where her face and smile just happens to glow.

In this image I love how the tall grasses mimic the motion of the wind blowing through her hair.  Again, I left her face mostly free of the grasses to draw attention where it should be.  This is definitely a creative shot where you'll either love it or hate it.  Can you guess where I stand?

That about covers it.

Of course, I can't resist one last example: Meet Candy Cat (our neighbor's cat who sometimes thinks he's our cat).