Sunrise, Sunset, Landscape, Lighthouse, Flowers and Fine Art Photography by Dave Collins

Fences can be used in several ways to enhance a photographic composition but three stand out. The first is to add interest to an otherwise plain composition. The photograph of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse at sunrise is a good example of this.

Photo #1 "Cape Hatteras Lighthouse With Light On" © Dave Collins Technical Data Camera - Minolta Maxxum 450Si Lens - Minolta 35-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Film - Kodak Royal Gold 100 film

While the subject of the photograph is the lighthouse, the hurricane fence on the left fills out the composition, makes the photograph more interesting and does not detract from the main subject. In fact, it enhances the overall composition. In addition to filling out the composition, the fence adds a sense of place so the viewer can tell they are standing on the beach in front of the dune looking at the lighthouse. As an aside, the sea oats around the fence tend to soften the impact of the relatively ugly hurricane fence.

The second way a fence can be used to enhance a composition is to emphasize the subject as shown in this photograph of the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse.

Photo #2 "Ocracoke Island Lighthouse" © Dave Collins Technical Data Camera - Minolta Maxxum 450Si Lens - Minolta 35-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Film - Kodak Royal Gold 100 film

Short of hanging over the fence in a very awkward position, there is almost no way to photograph the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse without the fence. This photograph was taken from a position close in to the fence. The white picket fence leads the viewer's eye toward the subject of the photograph, the lighthouse. The fence helps to emphasize the subject of the photograph. Adding emphasis to the subject of a photograph is a very important use of objects in a photograph. Because of the straight line effect of fences, they can be used very well to draw the viewer's eye to the subject, thus enhancing the subject. In this case, the white of the fence is a natural lead in to the white of the lighthouse itself.

Finally, a fence can be an integral part of photographic composition. Often, a fence can have an interesting design of its own and make an otherwise boring picture a good photograph. The third photograph of the sunrise on the Outer Banks is an example of this.

Photo #3 "Sunrise on the Outer Banks" © Dave Collins Technical Data Camera - Minolta Maxxum 450Si Lens - Minolta 35-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Film - Kodak Royal Gold 100 film

The sunrise, while it is very pretty would be boring without the fence in the foreground. The fence is a hurricane fence. It was put up to protect and enhance the dune, not for its looks. Silhouetting the fence against the sunrise makes the fence an interesting subject and makes the entire composition work. Without the fence, the sunrise would loose a lot of interest. Without the sunrise, the fence would be ugly. In addition, the fence adds a location and depth to the shot. The fence, then, is integral to the overall composition of the photograph.

So, the next time you feel frustrated because no matter how you look at a scene, you can't eliminate a fence and still include all that you want, think about how the fence itself might enhance the composition and improve the final photograph.

© 1999 By Dave Collins All rights are reserved.