Foreground Framing / Dirty Frame

Watch as an animation →

Tags

In plain words

An object close to the camera, or another person's shoulder, is shot blurred across the edge of the frame. It adds depth and gives a feeling of peeking in or of the other person being right beside you. A shot that focuses on one character with a bit of the other's shoulder in frame is called a "dirty single."

When to use it

Over-the-shoulder shots in dialogue scenes, peeking shots through leaves, glass, or shelves, and ad shots with a blurry prop across the front of a product. Surrounding the subject with a door or window is a frame within a frame; foreground framing only covers part of the edge.

One-click prompt

Static medium shot over the blurred shoulder of a man in a navy coat in the left foreground, framing a woman laughing across a small café table in sharp focus, an out-of-focus coffee cup and window reflections along the bottom edge, dirty frame, shallow depth of field, locked-off camera.

Tell the AI like this

dirty frame, blurred shoulder in the left foreground, subject in sharp focus behind

Recommended for scenes like these

Techniques that pair well

Example videos

Over The Shoulder Vs Dirty Single (camera angles defined) — Explainer: A short look at how an over-the-shoulder shot differs from a dirty single.
Master the 'Dirty Foreground' Photography Technique: Composition Secrets Revealed! — Explainer: See how to create depth by placing objects like branches or glass in front of the lens.
The Over The Shoulder Shot in Film (and How to Shoot a Dialogue Scene) #overtheshoulder — Explainer: See film examples of shooting a dialogue scene with the other person's shoulder in the frame.

See it in real films and ads

StudioBinder — Foreground in Film (foreground framing)

AI-made examples

OpenAI Sora 2 prompt guide (example prompt that specifies the foreground)

← Asymmetrical BalanceHard cut →