Distracting Background

[mikerob2334]

Went to a car show today and got some shots in while we were there. Everything was packed so close you couldn't get a shot without a distracting background. This one really bothers me. I've tried adding blur to it in post, but if I add enough to make it less distracting the car looks like a toy. Any other ideas? just a lot of tedious cloning?
P4012223 by mikerob2334, on Flickr
Exif data

Camera Olympus E-620
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 14 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV

[mikerob2334]

Here's the one that I blurred the background on(very quickly) to see how it would look.


P4012223 copy by mikerob2334, on Flickr

[UlpilotSC]

Good job on the blurred background. I've done that before and its not always easy... Not sure how you did yours but I blurred one whole image, and left one share, and then erased part of one so the other showed through. It was tough in some areas, and left a slight halo, but I can't see a halo in you web version.
It improved the shot though, makes the car stand out.

[mikerob2334]

Originally Posted by UlpilotSC

Good job on the blurred background. I've done that before and its not always easy... Not sure how you did yours but I blurred one whole image, and left one share, and then erased part of one so the other showed through. It was tough in some areas, and left a slight halo, but I can't see a halo in you web version.
It improved the shot though, makes the car stand out.

Thanks, that's exactly how I did this one. I've started another, cloning everything out. That much blur just made it look off to me.

[edbayani]

good job on the bg. but you could improve it more by selecting the car and put it in another layer. you will notice that the bg has different planes. the building is the farthest, then the small building with the road sign. the tree branch on top right and the tent with the car. if you can separate these four in different layers, you can blur the building the most. next the small building and the tent would be the least blur and maybe desaturate with the sponge tool the tent a bit to separate it from the hood. the tree branch can either be left as is, or a teeny bit blurred. if you can do this, it will look more realistic.

[audiman90]

Crop the top and straighten the photo and it will be far less distracting. Initially after looking at the car my eye falls on the uprights of the building and I find myself wondering why it is falling over. the my eye looks all around to see what else is not quite right.
Once it is straightened and the top of the building removed then you take no notice of it.

[wulf]

You can also draw focus to the car with a couple of other tricks. Try desaturating the background a bit (not all they way; just enough to ensure the car is a little more vivid). You could also add a vignette effect (a touch of darkening round the edges).

Wulf

[mikerob2334]

Originally Posted by edbayani

good job on the bg. but you could improve it more by selecting the car and put it in another layer. you will notice that the bg has different planes. the building is the farthest, then the small building with the road sign. the tree branch on top right and the tent with the car. if you can separate these four in different layers, you can blur the building the most. next the small building and the tent would be the least blur and maybe desaturate with the sponge tool the tent a bit to separate it from the hood. the tree branch can either be left as is, or a teeny bit blurred. if you can do this, it will look more realistic.

I hadn't thought of doing this, I'll give it a try tonight.

Originally Posted by audiman90

Crop the top and straighten the photo and it will be far less distracting. Initially after looking at the car my eye falls on the uprights of the building and I find myself wondering why it is falling over. the my eye looks all around to see what else is not quite right.
Once it is straightened and the top of the building removed then you take no notice of it.

The photo is actually straight as far as level, etc. I think what you're seeing is some lens distortion due to the focal length and that the building actually IS falling. They did a face lift on it, but didn't fix the structural elements. I'll play with it though and see how it looks.

Originally Posted by wulf

You can also draw focus to the car with a couple of other tricks. Try desaturating the background a bit (not all they way; just enough to ensure the car is a little more vivid). You could also add a vignette effect (a touch of darkening round the edges).

Wulf

I'll try both of these as well tonight. Separate and combined. Guess I should have used one of those toilet paper roll lenses and it would have been right straight out of camera


Thanks everyone!

[sk66]

I'd definitely go with the desaturation...it's the harsh/uncomplimentary pink which makes it so distracting.