Subject/Background relationship.

[work2well]

On a recent visit to Memphis, TN, more specifically, to Gracelands, I was asked by a couple of groups of other visitors, to take a picture of them, with their camera, with the building as the backdrop. Not necessarily a difficult job, but I was forced to ask myself...

Would the result be better, if I stood far enough back, to get the building in, and have the group as being fairly small, or, get closer to the group, so you could see them better, and have them in front of some non-descript building?

As time was short enough to allow only one shot, I opted for seeing the whole building, with a small group in front, as that is what they had come from somewhere else, to visit.

What would anybody else do?

[OsmosisStudios]

Ive had a few opportunities to do this kind of thing. Generally speaking I stand back far enough to get the people and the background, take a shot like that, then zoom in on the people and get a different shot there. If time permits: get creative! Down low, up high, etc.

[work2well]

Admittedly, if had a lens capable of 180degree vision, I could get close, and down low, enough to see them and the whole building in the shot, but lacking that capability, which do reckon would be the better composition?

[OsmosisStudios]

Without seeing examples, it's impossible to tell.

You dont need 180 degrees of view (unless the *whole* building is a block long and youre standing right at the front door!). Even an 18mm (on a crop-body) should be capable of what I had in mind.

[Benji]

Get the best of both worlds by moving the group out from the building 50 or 75 feet and use a wide angle lens. Fill most of the frame with the group. The building will be "small" in the background because you are 75 feet away from it, but it will still "all" be in the composition.

Benji

[wulf]

It depends on the building. For that kind of shot, you want to capture a sense of place but, if the building has distinctive features, you may not need to show that much of it, particularly if there will be other shots that set the scene in general terms.

Also, consider getting the group to step a bit further away from the building as Benji suggests above.

Wulf

[work2well]

OK, thanks a lot for all of your recommendations.