Those who follow me on Instagram (follow me at darrenrowse) will have seen this one already but I thought it’d be a fun one to share again – to make a point.
Check the backgrounds of your shots before shooting!
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25 Responses to “Check the Background of Your Shots Before Shooting” - Add Yours
May 8th, 2012 at 6:17 am
I am definitely a stickler for poles coming out of people’s heads in shots, and also for not having the horizon bisect a person’s head. Background along with lighting make or break any shot, assuming the subject is good.
If you do get some intruder in the background of a shot you otherwise really like, I put up a brief tutorial and example of how using the Clone Stamp tool can clean up that background:
http://jasoncollinphotography.com/blog/2011/3/24/photography-tip-use-photoshop-clone-stamp-tool-to-clean-back.html
May 8th, 2012 at 6:44 am
Really great point — all of a sudden phantom hands show up — where did that come from??? Oh wait, that’s the ring bearer, and he’s doing what??? Why is grandma’s foot sticking out like that? Why is this uncle or that aunt always sneaking into every shot?
However, some great outtakes can be found too, like when the bridal party is goofing off around the corner and they don’t notice you are taking pictures of the bride and groom… or the dad photographing you photographing his daughter.
May 8th, 2012 at 6:50 am
Hi, Thanks for the reminder. So much to learn, it is so fun experimenting though!
http://www.livingdisney.com/
http://www.explore-disney-resorts.com/downtown-disney-orlando.html
http://lpsfunblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/savannah-and-alex-go-on-date.html
May 8th, 2012 at 7:09 am
I get the point, but I actually like this photo! It was obviously intentionally shot this way for this section, but its very interesting
May 8th, 2012 at 7:22 am
Have to give a small smile, my mil remarried recently and she has a the security spikes along her garden wall coming out of each ear in almost every garden photograph!!! The question is… how on earth did the photographer achieve that, if he wasn’t doing it on purpose surely he would have missed “the special effect” more often. Great tip… incredible error!!!
May 8th, 2012 at 8:36 am
This is even better:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zibri/336335200/
May 8th, 2012 at 10:52 am
Hello!
This one was loaded with “power lines”. I had no idea how bad until I looked at it at home, cloned most of them out. I don’t keep the really bad backgrounds….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lendog64/6888775241/
May 8th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
This is a good thought,
even the best pictures without the proper background makes it awkward.
http://raghavendra-mobilephotography.blogspot.com/2012/04/beautiful-lily-flower-in-pond.html
May 8th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I was trying to get a shot of the zulu lady with a bowl on her head. When I got home I saw the guy behind the car with such a mischievious look on his face it gives the shot an extra story so I left him in:
http://wildlifeencounters.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Zulus-and-Zulu-village-scenes/G0000CUFsk4Bu0UU/I0000uaN1alsiEYg
May 8th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Very funny picture. It could may be do with a plane or UFO flying over as well to complete the picture. But a good reminder to not just focus solely on the subject.
May 8th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Hi
Aside from the obvious of not having weird things coming out of peoples heads and the like, I always look at the background to see how it can compliment the picture and try my best to frame it by moving around, changing levels etc. In this shot of San Diego at night, I wanted the masts of the sail boats to from the city.
http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/the-motion-of-the-ocean/
May 9th, 2012 at 2:36 am
But sometimes you are shooting so fast that there is no time and I would still like a picture!
http://blogs.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/2012/05/a-peek-into-the-malaysian-culture-and-social-media.html
May 9th, 2012 at 6:42 am
Completely independently (I SWEAR!!:!!), just yesterday, I posted something similar to my blog:
http://journal.nearbennett.com/2012/05/07/pro-tip-17-pay-attention-to-your-background/
May 9th, 2012 at 10:34 am
I like this image. Except for the “headpiece”.
May 9th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
I was inspired. Here’s my “I wanna be like Darren on Instagram” pic.
http://instagr.am/p/KYoMQzmvnS/
May 9th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
I get the point, but I actually like this photo! It was obviously intentionally shot this way for this section, but its very interesting
May 9th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
I like this image
May 11th, 2012 at 1:24 am
Is that grass at the foot of the light pole or is it stubble on your dome?
It is tough to remember to look past the subject and scan the background for distractions. I have to force myself to remember to look. Slight angle adjustments often do the trick. Making the subject move is often more awkward and usually ruins the spontaneity of the shot.
May 11th, 2012 at 2:55 am
This can be used creatively, too. It helps to make it obvious, so it doesn’t look like an accident, and you don’t look like a schmoe.
May 11th, 2012 at 4:08 am
I shot a wedding group photo by a port a potty, next to a beautiful ’40′s home (backyard reception, lots of people, hence the “john”). I didnt see it until it was too late. I did my best to make it inconspicuous, in photoshop.
May 11th, 2012 at 8:14 am
its always challenging to capture critters freestanding in space without a decent background but if you move your position a bit & use a lens aperture that blurs the available backdrop you can get the object to stand out
May 12th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Do not forget to check the foreground as well (look for the pink)
May 14th, 2012 at 12:18 am
Love this one, good point :]
May 14th, 2012 at 7:19 am
Seem similar posts before, but always good to remind us about the basics. Thanks, the examples were amusing
August 26th, 2012 at 7:53 am
hahaha that’s funny. yea i’m always checking background. i’m anal that way.
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