Comments on: Quick Tip: Pay Attention To Your Background http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/ A Photography Resource for the Aspiring Hobbyist Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:22:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Alan Cook http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-37859 Alan Cook Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:21:14 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-37859 Great point to consider. Thanks for the reminder. Great point to consider. Thanks for the reminder.

]]> By: Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9391 Brian Auer Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:31:14 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9391 That's a good point, most camera viewfinders don't show more than 90 or 95% of the actual frame. Of course, it's always easier to take care of things on the edges (cropping) than in the middle of the frame (cloning). That’s a good point, most camera viewfinders don’t show more than 90 or 95% of the actual frame. Of course, it’s always easier to take care of things on the edges (cropping) than in the middle of the frame (cloning).

]]> By: Tim Solley http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9389 Tim Solley Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:05:44 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9389 Let's not forget that for those of us shooting with cameras with a viewfinder that doesn't cover 100% of the frame, that you should also pay attention to what might show up on the fringes of the shot that you can't see when looking through the viewfinder. I've had more than one shot ruined because something showed up that wasn't in the viewfinder. Let’s not forget that for those of us shooting with cameras with a viewfinder that doesn’t cover 100% of the frame, that you should also pay attention to what might show up on the fringes of the shot that you can’t see when looking through the viewfinder. I’ve had more than one shot ruined because something showed up that wasn’t in the viewfinder.

]]> By: Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9378 Brian Auer Thu, 04 Oct 2007 06:22:57 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9378 Well said Jim, and great tips for controlling your background. It seems like no matter how careful I am, there's always the occasional something that slips by. As for cloning, I've never been really good at it -- don't know why, I just can't do it well. Maybe that's a good thing though. Well said Jim, and great tips for controlling your background. It seems like no matter how careful I am, there’s always the occasional something that slips by. As for cloning, I’ve never been really good at it — don’t know why, I just can’t do it well. Maybe that’s a good thing though.

]]> By: Jim Goldstein http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9376 Jim Goldstein Thu, 04 Oct 2007 05:48:22 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/2007/10/04/quick-tip-pay-attention-to-your-background/#comment-9376 In order to manage a distracting background there are a few factors to consider: 1. What is your chosen f-stop to manage your depth of field. 2. What lens are you using and what kind of bokeh will it produce? 3. Are there color or contrast distractions between your subject and background? 4. Can you move to avoid a conflict between background and foreground? Sometimes #4 isn't required if you can manage the DOF correctly. As for being in control... that is true, but its impossible sometimes to catch every distracting element to a photo. Looking through a viewfinder is not the easiest of tasks sometimes, particularly when looking for very minute problem areas. Counter to my recent post on how much photographers shoot, it pays to get a variety of shots slightly different than the one previous to give yourself options as to which image is the ideal candidate. If all else fails if you miss something on your edges then you can always clone it out with Photoshop. I can't believe I just said that :) In order to manage a distracting background there are a few factors to consider:
1. What is your chosen f-stop to manage your depth of field.
2. What lens are you using and what kind of bokeh will it produce?
3. Are there color or contrast distractions between your subject and background?
4. Can you move to avoid a conflict between background and foreground?

Sometimes #4 isn’t required if you can manage the DOF correctly.

As for being in control… that is true, but its impossible sometimes to catch every distracting element to a photo. Looking through a viewfinder is not the easiest of tasks sometimes, particularly when looking for very minute problem areas. Counter to my recent post on how much photographers shoot, it pays to get a variety of shots slightly different than the one previous to give yourself options as to which image is the ideal candidate. If all else fails if you miss something on your edges then you can always clone it out with Photoshop. I can’t believe I just said that :)

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