Background too distracting?

[Jammers]

Hi, This picture was taken mid morning. I've just got a couple of questions:

1) Is the person in the background a distraction to the main subject? Should I crop?

2) In taking portraits, would you inform the person that you'll be taking a picture? I tried to get a natural look, so I didn't, although we got friendly during the trip.

Thanks for your thoughts, in advance!

F5.6
ISO 100
1/200
Focal length 76mm

[WooD]

I'd try to clone the other person out completely.

I think the subject came out good candid.

[ricklumpas]

I agree with Wood that you should clone the person out completely.

[SusanH1970]

I agree with the previous posters. I'd clone out the rope growing out of his shoulder, too.

[daddyoproductions]

Don't know that there's enough there to clone him out and have it look okay...unless you're better than me at cloning, which I hope you are Anyway, you can do a layer to lower the contrast and brightness a bit on the background if you can't clone him out. Sometimes you just have to take the shot. Seems a bit soft though?

[Jammers]

thanks all for your suggestions

I've managed to clone out the rope !
However guess I'm not that skilled to clone out the background.

I've reduced the contrast/ brightness of the background as suggested by Daddyoproductions (thanks for the tip!) and have uploaded the changes.

Not sure if I did an ok enough job tho!

[Jammers]

Originally Posted by daddyoproductions

Don't know that there's enough there to clone him out and have it look okay...unless you're better than me at cloning, which I hope you are Anyway, you can do a layer to lower the contrast and brightness a bit on the background if you can't clone him out. Sometimes you just have to take the shot. Seems a bit soft though?

Thanks daddyoproductions. Not sure what you mean by 'seems a bit soft' though.

[Murtasma]

I don't find the person in the background to be that distracting. I think the background would have been less distracting if you went wider with your candid shot. This would give some context to the image, them being on a boat which you can tell from the water but the context would be stronger if some of he hull was included as well. The fact that the person in the background has their head chopped off is what I find particularly distracting in the image.

I would also be more aware of shutter speed while out on the waves like this, there is a lack of sharpness probably from the waves rocking the boats.

Looks like you had a really nice time out there on the water! Thanks for sharing!

[daddyoproductions]

You could try to use the unsharp mask to sharpen the main subject a bit. But don't go overboard with this as it will become too obvious. Also, a little guassian blur on the background will help give the impression of a shallower depth of field which will draw more attention to your subject.