Gallery: look behind [you] your subject
A good photograph is knowing where to stand
Ansel Adams
There’s a common mistake most of us make when starting out in photography. We spot an interesting subject, point the camera and take the picture. Great, we think, but what we often fail to do is take notice of what is behind our subject. The classic example is the person with a telegraph pole or lamppost sticking out of their head, but there are plenty of other distractions we fail to spot when pressing the shutter. The problem is that our brain has a habit of filtering out unnecessary information seen by our eyes, but the camera captures everything.
Or does it?
There are some tricks we can learn to improve our backgrounds. One obvious one is blurring them, using a wide aperture or zooming in from a distance to decrease the depth of field. An even simpler one is to change our viewpoint, stepping a little to the side perhaps to eliminate distractions. Time of day plays a part too; as the light changes, so the scene does too. And taking a minimalist approach eliminates all distractions, allowing your subject to shine.
For Ritva’s Lens Artists challenge on this subject, I’ve chosen some examples to illustrate the importance of backgrounds.
Timing
When we take a photo can make all the difference. This first example, from my recent visit to Kotor, has nothing to do with photographic skill and everything to do with timing.
When I got up on my first morning in the city it was raining. But I was impressed, despite the poor weather, by the view from my hotel window, looking across the Square of Arms to the Sea Gate in the town walls. Beyond lay the Bay of Kotor and mountains draped in clouds. I had to take a photo to send to my husband at home.
But within half an hour the scene had changed, and I took a very different photo. On this occasion the background itself became the subject of a photo. Both images have something to say about the town. One focuses on its attractiveness and history, the other on the impact tourism is having here. One is a simple record of a place, the other makes a statement about it.
Depth of field
This is a favourite technique of mine, enabling me to isolate a subject from its background. At the same time, I usually like to ensure that even when blurred the background is still clear enough to place that subject in context. Here are a few examples:
The blurred background in this shot of a poppy at Klis Fortress in Croatia retains enough detail to show that it is just one among many wildflowers.
In this shot of an iris in the botanic gardens in Cagliari I’ve used a blurred flower in the background to frame the one that forms the main subject of the photo.
This Himalayan cherry in the mountains above Pokhara in Nepal is shown in context thanks to the blurred mountain in the background.
I had fun with this one! A restaurant we visited in Seattle had a display of fishing flies. Using a macro setting I photographed the one nearest us so that it filled my frame. The customers sitting beyond it can still be made out, despite being blurred. As a result the scale of the fishing fly becomes confusing and messes with the viewer’s perceptions. I can assure though you that this is a real fishing fly and only about an inch in length!
Sometimes however it can be effective to blur the background so much that nothing is clear. Here the little gecko I spotted at one of our Madagascar hotels is allowed to shine without any distractions.
Making choices
We always have choices in photography, and that is true of our backgrounds as much as any other aspect of the shot.
Here are two shots of the Bowman sculpture in Chicago. On this occasion I was torn. Do I photograph the sculpture itself, framing it with a blurred flower in the foreground?
Or do I use it as a background for the flower itself? I tried both versions and kept both, unsure which I liked best. Which do you prefer?
I faced a similar dilemma a few years ago photographing the dome of Les Invalides from the garden of the Rodin Museum in Paris. I’ve used both versions in my feature image, and again, I’m interested to know your opinions on the two shots?
Position
Where you position yourself when you take a photo influences the background, of course. Making the best choice can often change an ordinary shot into one with much more impact.
This dragonfly was resting on a pole at a jetty on Skadar Lake in Montenegro. It posed patiently while several of us took photos. My first version from straight on has a nicely blurred background but it could be anywhere.
By moving around to the side I could include the lake in the background, a version I personally prefer even if it shows less of the dragonfly. Which is your favourite?
By getting down low when taking this shot of the sculpture of Helmer Hanssen in Tromsø I’ve been able to include the mountains that surround the town. Although some buildings are still visible, the mountains dominate and are an appropriate background for this polar explorer.
And shooting this hibiscus in Bandipur, Nepal, from below ensured there are no distractions in the background, only sky.
Background as subject
In certain shots however, the background is the subject, most notably when photographing a dramatic sky. It helps to have something in the foreground to give context, but the background is always the star of the show!
In this sunset shot, taken at a hotel in Negril, Jamaica, the chairs and umbrella in the foreground add interest. But we’re in no doubt that this is primarily a photograph of the sky, even though that is the background element of the image.
And here in Arenal, Costa Rica, at sunrise, it isn’t the volcano that forms the main subject but the beautifully lit clouds behind and above it.
While I’m always drawn to bougainvillea and have many photos to prove it, in the case of this shot it was the beautiful wall behind that ensured I added this example, in Cartagena, to my collection.
Editing
Finally, we can have some fun with editing software or apps and change the background completely. I photographed this farmer at a demonstration of traditional sugar cane pressing in Costa Rica. The background was of the corral in which the demo took place. Using an app called ‘Remove BG’ I was able to change that to an outdoor setting, with a background taken in a completely different country! Now he poses with a backdrop of the Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca, taken from a window in the former monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The edges aren’t perfect, despite some follow-up remedial work in Photoshop Elements, but it shows what can be achieved.
And here’s my friend Karl messing around at a viewpoint above Kotor Bay. Or is he about to tumble backwards down into the streets of Chicago?!
I had fun with those final images, but I also enjoyed being challenged to consider the decisions I make about the background to my images. Thank you Ritva, this has been a great topic to explore!
52 Comments
Annie Berger
So, so many facets to take into account when taking a picture. I’m realizing that now the more we travel and also after reading your essays on photography, Sarah.
You may think I’m crazy but I prefer the blurred Invalides building in the feature shot but the blurred flower in the sculpture shot.
Sarah Wilkie
Not crazy at all Annie 😀 I’m probably with you on the sculpture at least but I like both versions of the Invalides!
wetanddustyroads
Thank you for explaining how you can make a background part of your photo. I like your flower photos where the background is a little blurred. You make photography sound like so much fun Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Photography IS fun!! I’m glad you liked the explanations and the flower photos 🙂
Sofia Alves
Interesting and full of wonderful photos, I really enjoyed your take on the challenge, Sarah. I think both photos on your feature image work and they are excellent examples of how important it is to think about backgrounds. The cruiser is an eyesore and your gecko, adorable.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sofia 😊 I do agree about the gecko – those day geckos were among my favourite creatures in Madagascar!
Leanne Cole
I like how you have done that first one Sarah, a really good way to show the background. They do all look great.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Leanne – I did feel that pair of shots made the point pretty well 😀
Leya
Excellent post, Sarah – examples and explanations all well thought through. That cruiser really hit me, and I loved your last experiments! The wall in Cartagena is a dream to photograph against. Loved it from start to finish.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Ann-Christine 😊 You can imagine how much that cruise ship hit me too, having seen the view without it just 30 minutes or so earlier! Cartagena is full of beautifully painted walls, but that was one of the loveliest I found there 🙂
Klausbernd
Dear Sarah
It doesn’t matter if the background is kind of real or edited with AI or with other means of manipulation. What matters is the aesthetics of the picture.
We would say, the background has to make the foreground to stand out.
Thanks for showing us your pictures
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I agree with you about how the background has to make the foreground stand out most of the time, but sometimes it’s fun to turn that around and make the background the main subject 😀
Mari Nicholson
I’m just so jealous! But I will try and remember your hints and advice on how not to have unwanted objects in a photo (something I still manage to do without even trying). Great post.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Mari 😊 Now we have digital photography it’s possible to check for those unwanted objects even AFTER we’ve taken the shot and have another try!
Anonymous
Enjoyed very much reading this post. I am trying to improve my photo taking, even though most of the time I can’t see my phone screen very clearly. You have given me food for thought for how to consider the scene in front of me instead of just stabbing the button and hoping that I will have something decent to look at when I get home 😆
One of the things you mention that I am trying to do more of is moving my body – changing the height at which I snap shots.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m so pleased to hear you think these tips will be of value to you. I know what you mean about seeing the image in your phone screen, that’s one reason I rarely use my phone for ‘serious’ photography and always buy a camera with a viewfinder as well as a screen! Good luck with your efforts 😀
Marie
While I love the detail of the dragonfly, I think I prefer it with the lake background. I’d be drawn to that Cartagena wall too!
Sarah Wilkie
The lake seems to be winning that particular debate, although it isn’t unanimous! And Cartagena was full of beautifully painted walls 🙂
pattimoed
What a great collection, Sarah, and wonderful descriptions of your compositional techniques. Really terrific. And then, you included the experiments, which are a lot of fun. The one with Karl is priceless!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Patti, I’m so glad you enjoyed these 😊
grandmisadventures
This is such a fun collection- I love how you bring out what is in front and behind and the completely different perspective it gives. And the picture of your friend Karl is fantastic! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Meg 😊 I can always rely on Karl to clown around a bit – I’m sure given time I could find some other fun backgrounds for that shot!
photobyjohnbo
Well done, Sarah! Nice work on the background replacements, especially the gentleman from Costa Rica.
I just got done commenting to Leanne Cole about how I hope I’m over taking photos of people with fountains and Eiffel Towers coming out of their heads, but I’m not immune from other background faux pas. >grin<
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 😀 I guess we all make mistakes from time to time, however experienced we are! Glad you liked the Costa Rica edit, I had fun with that one 😀
Teresa
Very well done and wonderfully presented, Sarah. This is a fantastic post for the topic.
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thanks so much Teresa 😊
restlessjo
A thoughtfully composed post, Sarah, and I enjoyed your examples. I thought I’d prefer the unblurred photo of that sculpture, but when I looked again it was the unblurred flower I preferred. And that cruise ship- an abomination!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Jo 😊 It’s interesting that you changed your mind on the sculpture on looking again. I can never make up my mind on those two! And yes, that ship is indeed an abomination. I didn’t mind the smaller ones that came in to the port so much, they were much less domineering, but that particular one was way too big for such a small town!
JohnRH
Great selections and comparisons. Flower shots are among my many faves.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 🙂
Easymalc
You’ve just explained why photography is a true art form Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you Malcolm 😊
Tina Schell
Excellent post Sarah, a great exploration of the ways background influences an image. Your 2 closing examples gave me a big smile!!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Tina, I’m glad you enjoyed my ‘playing around’ shots 😀
Andrea R Huelsenbeck
I prefer the photo at the top where the dome is in focus. I like the one that shows the dragonfly’s wings better than the one that shows the lake. And flower vs. sculpture–I love both!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for the feedback Andrea 🙂 Opinion seems to be split on the sculpture but most people so far have preferred the dragonfly with the lake – it’s all so subjective!
Monkey's Tale
I always love macro flower shots with a blurred or slightly blurred background, but I do prefer the statue with the blurred flower in that example. Interesting how the background can add so much to a picture. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie 😀 Opinion seems to be fairly divided on that sculpture shot, which may explain why I can’t make up my own mind!
margaret21
I think I need to come back to this post to squeeze the pips from it – you’ve been very thorough and interesting as usual. The one that makes the most impact is the cruise ship photo. It makes the point about their negative impact on the communities they call in on so very well, and with quite a light touch.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret – I’m chuffed you’ve seen enough in this to merit a return visit 😀 That cruise ship amazed me – I went to the bathroom to get ready for the day and when I returned that great hulking thing was there! On the other days there were smaller ships which weren’t visible over the town walls, but even so the passengers made an impact on the town 🙁
margaret21
Yes, and spent almost nothing ….
Sarah Wilkie
Very true
Egídio
Excellent post, photos, and explanations, Sarah. All images clearly show how much care you put into capturing them. Now to your questions… I prefer the flower over the sculpture. The dragonfly with the lake in the background is perfect!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much 😊 It just shows how opinions can vary, as Anne (below) opted for the sculpture over the flower!
Alison
Fascinating Sarah, I can see you’ve had fun with this challenge. Love how you changed the flower and statue around. Remove BG app sounds interesting and fun. Also the view from your room in Kotor is fantastic. The same thing happened in Sarande, with the cruise ship in the bay.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Alison 😀 Yes, I had lots of fun, especially with the Remove BG app. The cruise ships are really too much for Kotor, or at least huge ones like this are. It’s only a small town and gets a bit overwhelmed with all the groups being shown around. It’s much better in the evening when they’re all back on board!
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
The header says it all.Your editing of locations behind the subject demonstrated how they tell the story – how much it shows us. You know your way around this theme, no doubt about it. Great response. Your photos are always high standard.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Ritva 😊 I guess I do think quite a bit about the background to my shots but your challenge has made me even more conscious of it!
Sue
Oh, fantastic post, Sarah…a very comprehensive discussion on backgrounds and how they can contribute to or distract from the main image. Certainly inspiring!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Sue, I’m so glad to have inspired!
Anne Sandler
This post educates, inspires and is just beautiful Sarah. I appreciate how you changed the background in two of your pictures. Putting a subject in a different background sure changes the context. Regarding the Bowman sculpture, I like the sculpture as the subject and therefore in focus. Great response to this challenge.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Anne, I really appreciate all your feedback 😊