Photography Tip #2: Watch your backgrounds!

I was discussing with my wife the other day on how often I find excellent photos that are ruined because the photographer took no time to consider one of the most important elements in a photo: the background. I've heard a photographer once say, "There are two basic elements to a photo: the subject and the background". Most people don't find a problem picking out their subject that they want to capture in the photograph, but many of them do so in haste, without considering what is behind them. Here are some quick pointers on how you can instantly improve your images just by focusing on the background:

1. Be patient- In most cases, a bad photo is taken because the photographer did not take the time to set up the shot. If the shot is rushed, then chances are you're going to have that great photo of your friend or family member with an unsightly pole or stick jutting out of their heads, or another distracted element connected to them. When this situation occurs, take time to examine your scene before you take the shot.

2. Move around- Sometimes people forget that they can move when they have the camera. If you look through your camera's viewfinder or LCD screen and notice that the background behind your subject is ugly or obtrusive, then move around and re-frame your subject. Its amazing what moving one step to the left or right can do to a photo!

3. Blur the Background- Ever notice a really cool shot with a blurry background? Well, there's a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo that goes into how that's actually done, but for the start, I'll say that if you have a portrait mode (the picture of a person's head) on your camera, try using that to give the background a little blur. This will help take attention off of anything that might be distracting in the background. The portrait mode usually tries to blur that background for you. it also helps to get closer to your subject for this to work. Give it a try sometimes, and see how it works. In later posts, we'll talk about how you can blur that background yourself without crossing your fingers that the camera's figured it out or not.

4. Tell your subject to move- Okay, maybe this won't work if its a building, tree or monument, but if you're photographing people or smaller "moveable" things, this can be a photosaver. If you look and notice that your friend is standing in front of a couple of bushes that make him look like a devil with horns, ask him to move to a better position. This get's harder with groups, but if the photo is majorly important, its worth the effort in asking.

5. Keep your eyes peeled- If you are going to an event or are in a place where you are planning to take photos, pay attention to places or scenes that might offer a good background for your shot. With people, this usually should be a non-distracting element such as a plain wall or perhaps an element which compliments your subject (like something that would bring out the color in their eyes, etc.). There are many options here and the limits are only your creativity. The key is to make certain that whatever you put behind your subject doesn't steal the show, so to speak.

These are just a few basic tips to the topic of backgrounds. In the future, I'll be adding other tips as well, so stay tuned for lots more!