Part 1 Section 5 - Foreground, Middle Ground, & Background
Welcome to the next part of our mini blog series! We're going to continue to teach you more about important aspects of photography composition which you'll want to understand before you begin your journey of becoming a well-seasoned photographer.
There are three essentials portions in a composition and those three are; you guessed it, foreground, middle ground, and background. In this section we're going to dissect each of them and explain the role each of them plays in your overall image and story telling. After reading the descriptions of each below, test yourself and identify each portion in this photo.
Section 5: Foreground, Middle Ground, & Background
Foreground is the closet part in the scene to the camera. Including interesting elements in the foreground will add depth to your photos and it also serves as an entry point for your viewers eyes.
Middle ground is well, in the middle of course, and provides relative context to the overall scene you're trying to capture. It adds layers to your composition and supports the main subject at hand.
Background is the furthest portion in your scene and you always want to implement something that it complements the main subject and you need to make sure it's not overwhelmed by distracting elements. The background contributes to the overall mood and visual balance of the entire image.
Answers: Tree branch, lake and forest, and background is the mountains! Notice the natural leading lines of the lake and tree line guiding your eyes throughout the frame.
How to Use Each Layer Effectively
We'll start at the front with foreground. Leading lines, which we covered in section two of this series, are essential for capturing an alluring foreground. Establishing leading lines or shapes will guide the viewers eyes into the photograph as they begin to explore all the details. Create depth by incorporating rocks, flowers, or water to begin adding necessary layers for your compositions. Use the foreground to frame your main subject because it will add context and immediacy for the viewer.
As we hop into the middle of the composition it's likely this is where your main subject will be. You'll want to choose elements in the middle ground to compliment and support your main subject so it adds richness and complexity to the narrative. The middle ground is also a great place to provide a sense of scale for viewers to be able to gauge the size and importance of your main subject. With the continued use of leading lines your audience's eyes will be traveling effortlessly through your photos.
The background of your images should strictly be used as a complementary piece to your main subject. You want to avoid overpowering elements and focus on having the background enhance the mood and message of your photograph. You can utilize depth of field and blur the background if necessary to create a larger sense of depth and bring even more focus to the main subject. It's all about balancing the three while combining the other sections in this series to frame masterpieces such as this one below.
The bushes play a vital role in the foreground and you can notice natural leading lines in play (the stone path) bringing you into the middle ground of the frame. This image is also a great representation of the Rule of Thirds. Overall this composition is evenly balanced throughout the entire frame and the viewer is able to seamlessly navigate from the front to back with ease.
The viewer can feel the mood and visually understand the powerful narrative behind the image thanks to the photographer using all of these techniques with proficient precision. We urge you to practice these techniques and use this knowledge to perfect your craft.
