Photography By Michelle

If you’re enthusiastic about photography – and wish to move your photography to a whole new, higher level – the key to success would be the photography background!

One of the important distinctions between amateur and pro photography is the pro has learned to control and manipulate the photography background – where the amateur focuses all their consideration on the subject and usually merely lets the background come about on its own.

Have you ever been so caught up in your model and lighting and so on that (when you look at the completed shot) you see a huge waste can – right behind your subject – spilling rubbish all over the ground? In every photograph? Plus you didn’t even see it during the photo sitting!

Or, have you been guilty of having tree branches seeming to erupt out of the subject’s head, similar to horns?

They are stupid errors which are easily fixed and will quickly enhance your photography’s impact.

The unpleasant news is we do not in actuality notice how much better our images are! Let’s face it; if you don’t have garbage or horns and so on, you never pause to consider how significantly better your photograph is…you just do not notice. Our attention only comes to bear if we overlook something and screw up (we all do on occasion).

If you would like respect for your creative activities, you can’t allow these problems into your photography. It is a simple fix…only remember to think about the background and all 4 corners in the viewfinder before you press the shutter button – next you modify accordingly.

For those who have a hard time remembering, acquire a strip of masking tape and jot down – in huge black lettering – “CHECK THE BACKDROP”. Next stick the masking tape to the rear of your camera. It will help prompt you until it turns into a habit.

You will never realize how many images you have rescued, but it’s well worth the effort.

The following most simple photography background procedure – to make your subject “pop” out of your shot – is to isolate them.

I am positive you have seen photography where the subject is in clear, razor-sharp focus – but the backdrop is totally out of focus and is nothing but a wash of color.

It is accomplished by controlling the depth of field.

Depth of field establishes how much of your shot is in focus. There are actually complete books written regarding this area (heck, I penned one myself!) but the easiest ways to achieve this “wash of color” technique are to:

1. Employ the longest focal length lens possible.
2. Open it up to the widest aperture possible – this is the lowest f-stop numeral.
3. Place the backdrop as far behind the model as is doable. Or place the model as far in front of the background as you are able to.

Obviously each one of the 3 procedures has quite a few variables. By adjusting the options open to you, you can make your photography background as focused or de-focused as you would like. There is no right or wrong.

Entirely out of focus, partially in focus, sharp as a tack…this is now where your creative eye comes into play.

Once you’ve mastered the “in camera” methods of controlling your backdrops, then it is time to consider creating some cloth backgrounds. This would give your work a pro “studio” look.

A very good quality background can literally cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Therefore, rather than shelling out the big bucks, I recommend creating your own. Fortunately a photography background is straightforward to create and can be made for pennies on the dollar.

Pay attention to your photography background and you can be shooting pro quality photography almost immediately.