Framing

Framing is one of the easier techniques to understand, even if it may not be the easiest to execute correctly. Basically, use objects within your photo to crate a frame.  These can be anything, but you want them to stay at the edges of the image to draw the eye in wherever the main focus is.  Usually it is best if these framing objects are either darker or less in focus than the main focal point so that they do not draw too much attention.  Frames can be only on the sides (like the photo of the house), only top/bottom (like the one with the grave marker) or all around (like the one with the pond.  Generally, frames are in the foreground (closer to you) and the main focus in in the middle ground or background.  The main point should be in focus, though, which is why this can be difficult to execute.

Here are a few examples.