Aditya Nair and Raj Lalwani tell you several tricks you can try, to ensure that a weak background does not distract from that otherwise perfect photograph you wish to make.
How many times have you captured the perfect moment and later, realised that there is a tiny element in the background that is really distracting? After all, photography is not just about capturing the subject… what surrounds the subject can make the difference between a great photograph and a missed opportunity. Here are 15 ways in which you can solve a problematic background.
1. Identify Clutter
The first step to getting rid of cluttered backgrounds is to understand that there is a problem, in the first place. Does the backdrop compete with the subject in any way? Or are the elements in the background brighter or more noticeable than the intended subject? Is the subject getting merged? Asking the right questions will help you decide your subsequent approach.
2. Make Your Subject
Pop A wide aperture like f/2.8 blurs the background and renders it out of focus. This not only eliminates unwanted distractions, but also emphasises the subject itself. If you do not have a fast lens that can shoot at f/2.8, do not worry. Simply refer to the sub-story on the subsequent pages, to find out more ways to throw backgrounds out of focus.
3. Go Slow to Let it all Blur Out
Put your camera on a tripod and use a really slow shutterspeed. If there are people in the background, they will be reduced to mere blurs. You do need to ask your subject to stay still during the exposure. You can also use this trick while shooting crowded places. This will make the crowd seem like a smooth, colourful blur while still conveying a sense of place.
Using the Flash to Effectively Control Cluttered Backgrounds
4. Pan the Camera
Panning is a technique wherein you follow the movement of a subject while using a slow shutterspeed. In the final image, the moving subject is sharp, while the background takes on a motion blur. This gets rid of any distracting elements. However, you must remember that the colour of this blurred background is important too, and must not distract.
5. Move the Subject
When shooting a portrait, if you find the background to be distracting, you can always ask your subject to move to a more suitable location. What’s quite fascinating is that this ‘suitable’ location is usually only a few steps away.
6. Shoot from a Lower Angle
Moving the subject is not always a practical solution. Instead, change the angle from which you are shooting. Adopt an ant’s eye view and shoot from a really low angle, such that the sky becomes your background. While this may make your subject taller or more imposing, you can use the perspective creatively to create drama. You can even ask your subject to stand on an elevated platform or stool, while you make a close-up of their face, with the sky as a backdrop. Remember that the sky may get completely blown out. If you want to avoid this, underexpose the photograph and add some fill flash to help illuminate the subject.
7. Or From Up Above
Want to photograph a group of people, but the ambience is not good enough? If you cannot find the right kind of wall to pose them against, simply ask them to lie on the ground! You can stand at a height or even climb a building to get a quirky, non-distracting background.
8. Experiment with Different Formats
Horizontal photographs show us the peripheral area around the subject as well. A vertical photo, instead, gives you the ability to exclude and eliminate any such disturbing elements. Also, ask yourself whether a different aspect ratio will help portray the subject better. Most compact and mirrorless cameras (and some DSLRs) allow you to change the aspect ratio you shoot. A square frame can reduce the unwanted clutter to the left or right of your subject. Alternatively, if the sky is too bland, a 16:9 crop may help you eliminate it.
9. When in Doubt, Get Close
Sometimes, you may want to emphasise one subject, but the photo shows so much of the surroundings that the viewer does not understand what you are trying to convey. At such times, it is always better to move closer to the subject, such that the background only adds to the story.
10. Try Extreme Close-ups
The simplest way to have a clutterfree background is to have no background! Fill the frame completely with the subject. You can use a macro lens or the Macro mode of your compact camera to do this. Alternatively, a telephoto lens or a superzoom camera can work well too. Just remember that when you are working at such close distances or with large focal lengths, the chances of camera shake increase, so watch your settings carefully
11. Use Telephoto Lenses to Compress
Besides filling the frame, telephoto lenses also make the background appear closer to your subject. Combined with the fact that they allow you to blur backgrounds easily, this can look a lot more pleasing.
12. Alter the Lighting
Shoot at a different time or find a spot where the lighting complements the subject, instead of letting the backdrop snatch attention. If you are shooting early in the morning, you will notice that light filters through trees and falls only on certain areas. Now, if you position your subject such that it receives the light directly, you can Spot meter from the subject and underexpose the frame. This will make the backdrop much darker. Alternatively, if the subject is in shade and the background is much brighter, Spot Meter from the subject again. This will overexpose the background and make it almost white. Both the above effects can be recreated with artificial lighting, as well.
13. Make your own Background
You may want to consider carrying a background along with you. Black, grey and white chart paper can make some simple, but nice backdrops. While shooting macro photos, a sky blue or a green background may be useful.
14. Keep Both Eyes Open
Sometimes, the subject and background may work really well together, but someone may walk into the backdrop, thus spoiling the composition. To avoid such accidents, keep both your eyes open while shooting. One eye can look through the viewfinder, and you can use your other eye to observe the rest of the scene, so that you know if any distractions are moving into your frame.
15. And Finally…
Wait! We often forget this really simple step. If the element you want to get rid of is a person or a vehicle you can simply wait for them to move out of your frame and then shoot. Or you can ask them to move. A great background must add to the subject, rather than taking anything away from it. The tips given here will help you direct the viewer’s attention straight to the subject. However, the choice of which one to use, while decluttering the background, largely depends on what you are shooting.
This article originally appeared in the August 2012 issue of Better Photography.