B for Background

Controlling picture backgrounds

– The reasons why

A picture has the potential to either sing or sag with the assistance of the background. For me, the background is a real make or break issue for a cohesive and integrated picture.

Right – A Flamenco bar in Granada, Southern Spain  

This type of location will always provide a challenge for the photographer looking for a sympathetic background and helpful lighting. The challenge is to abstract meaning from the whole that still has meaning to the viewer.

The word “background” could also mean:

•        Context
•        Circumstances
•        Relationship

Changing Camera position – controlling picture backgrounds

There is of course the possibility that you do not have the opportunity to change the background by moving the camera viewpoint position. There is always the cliched joke about the camera club judge saying this picture would have been better taken 3 feet the left and the photographer replying 3 feet to the left would have been over the cliff edge. So it is not always possible when it is worth investigating.

What is your Intent for the picture, how are you going to control picture backgrounds?

The background for pictures of the descriptive reality type is likely to be exactly as found without any intervening or tidying by the photographer, to tell the truth in a most complete and candid way.  With an interpretative picture the photographer will make a picture that is the expression of what they saw and felt at the taking stage plus potential post-processing to aid the look to be achieved.

Hot Hint

The camera position and angle of view by necessity dictate the background.

The 4 things you need to know about controlling picture backgrounds

This approach to controlling backgrounds will be helpful in making the right decisions whether to: press the button and take the picture; find a new viewpoint or walk on by.

1) Is this particular background necessary to help make an effective picture with emotional impact?

2) Is there a more appropriate background from a different viewpoint of the same subject?

3) If the background is integral to the picture, how much depth of field is required to draw the foreground and background together?

4) Is it possible to blur the background with Depth of Field to remove distractions, if required?

Embedding Skill Exercise – Controlling picture backgrounds

Street photography is a great way to learn about appropriate backgrounds. Take a series of shots in an urban situation with the aim of the bringing the foreground and background of the shot together to help tell a story. 

Hot Hints

The background is an equal and integral part of the pictures message to the viewer.

If the subject is right but the background is not helping, look for a different viewpoint to supply a more sympathetic background.

Changing the background by moving to a different viewpoint and the meaning of the picture may also be transformed.

How to fine-tune a viewpoint

Quite often the first viewpoint you choose may not be the best one for the most effective and expressive picture. Having found the optimum viewpoint (one among many possibilities to you), it will usually need fine tuning. Very often a small change in the position of the camera from left to right, up or down can have a quite dramatic influence the effectiveness of the picture. One of the aims of fine tuning is to make life easier in the post-processing by looking at the edges and corners of the pictures to ensure there are no hidden gremlins waiting to be cropped out later in the process.

Hot Hint

Photography is the art of leaving things out, it is a subtractive composition.

ABC of CameraWork Core Content 

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