Faramir always tried to get his father's approval, he defended Osgiliath from an attack, defending a city that his brother Boromir had re conquered lately. But there were too few so Boromir and his men have to intervene. Faramir was again a failure for his father. When Denethor himself talked about sending Boromir to Rivendell at Elrond's urgent meeting, Faramir tried to volunteer, but again Denethor didn't let him. So now Boromir was part of the Fellowship, somewhere in the middle-earth, while Faramir and his rangers were in the Ithilien, hunting the little groups of allies of the dark tower, that everyday walk past the Ithilien to arrive to Mordor