Project 52, Week 19, Background

If you hadn't noticed before, this week should surely bring to light that many of the elements of composition are overlapping.  For example, you can't consider Simplicity without looking at the Background, which is this week's topic.  We also considered the Backgroud when we concentrated on Depth and Dimension.

The Background is the area behind the main subject, the area farthest from the camera.  Sometimes it is the subject of the photograph.  It's one of the most important compositional elements because it's always there even if you can't see it in the final composition.

Things to consider:

• Most important - The background should compliment the subject, not compete with it.
• Sometimes a contrasting background supports the subject better than a coordinating one.
• The background should not be cluttered.  Unless you want it to be.
• The background may be blurred (remember depth of field) or sharp.
• Maybe you want to fill the frame with the subject and eliminate the background altogether.
• Maybe you want the background to tower over the subject to add perspective or mood.
• Don't focus (pun) so hard on the subject that you forget to check the background.  Is that a tree growing out of her head?  Is that guy back there picking his nose?  Is that bush just plain ugly or what?

Suggested Readings and Pictorial Examples:

1. Backgrounds by Jim Zuckerman from MAC-ON-CAMPUS
2. Don't Forget to Do a Background Check by Rhonda Callow from Bright Hub
3. Composition from CyberCollege (not specifically on still photography or backgrounds but several pertinent tidbits with good examples)
4. Background and Foreground from Steve's Digicam
5. Less Can Be More  from Kathleen Clemons Photographpy
6. Controlling the Background by Tony Northrup from Northrup Photography  (Note that this isn't a tutorial on lighting.)