Flower and Background

[DianaT]

The picture I am posting is just a quick handheld snap I took in a hotel garden just so I could try to find this variety of hibiscus at home. I fell in love with the flower. So there was no effort to make it a real photo.

But in looking at it, it brings up a question in my mind. While I love the flower pictures with the soft blured backgrounds and or the ones taken with a solid background, I started looking at this background and really liked it.

Does anyone else ever like the busy natural background in a flower shot? I hope the next time I am at this hotel, the flower will be there so I can try and work with it---or at least another flower just like it----can't find this one locally, yet.

Just curious what others think---I often like what no one else likes.

Thanks
Diane

[Bonish Photo]

For just a quick snapshot, I like this shot alot!

This background doesnt seem to distract from the main subject that much, probably because its such a contrasting color and one that only amplifies the yellows of the hibiscus.

I like the shot. Usually when backgrounds distract from the main picture are ones that keep drawing you eye away from the main subject. This background does not do that.

[DianaT]

For just a quick snapshot, I like this shot alot!

This background doesnt seem to distract from the main subject that much, probably because its such a contrasting color and one that only amplifies the yellows of the hibiscus.

I like the shot. Usually when backgrounds distract from the main picture are ones that keep drawing you eye away from the main subject. This background does not do that.

Thanks for your input. I liked the natural look, but if it wasn't all so much the same green, it probably would distract more.

Diane

[bwc]

Howdy Diane,

The green foliage background doesn't seem to distract, but it does. There are plenty of lines and angles that are competing in this photograph to be of any use to one except the casual snap shooter. If you ever purchase one, or get the chance to photograph it the shop and want to do a study the background needs to be one color and subdued or move in close and fill the frame. In close-up or macro photography the beauty of something is revealed in it's details. Just like humans, as a bunch we are a mob but when one get to know one person the beauty of that person shines through the mob, this is simply an analogy.
There is also a very short depth of field selection here also. This would be in tune if it were a painting.

[Tusker]

The picture I am posting is just a quick handheld snap I took in a hotel garden just so I could try to find this variety of hibiscus at home. I fell in love with the flower. So there was no effort to make it a real photo.

But in looking at it, it brings up a question in my mind. While I love the flower pictures with the soft blured backgrounds and or the ones taken with a solid background, I started looking at this background and really liked it.

Does anyone else ever like the busy natural background in a flower shot? I hope the next time I am at this hotel, the flower will be there so I can try and work with it---or at least another flower just like it----can't find this one locally, yet.

Just curious what others think---I often like what no one else likes.

Thanks
Diane

Diane, sometimes I do, other times I don't. Here is one I captured last Spring. I had been watching this in the back yard, waiting for it to come out. Then one morning I stepped out on the deck and there it was. Our first Lilly ever. It was planted next to the kennel and I did NOT want the fence in the background so I clipped this piece of foam core to the kennel fence. Some like it, others don't. We do and it is framed on the wall as well. If YOU like it, then it is right. And I like yours as well.

[oTTer]

The lily is a better shot of the two. The background isn't competing, but in the case of the yellow flower, it's a matter of the flower being amongst the greenery, so other than picking it and holding it away from everything else, it would be hard to get any kind of depth of field (that's what it looks like to me). Lily shot, the background supports the subject without saying, "wait, I'm here too".

This background isn't going to win any prizes, but at least it's not shouting for attention. The fence is I think what makes the background unattractive, but hopefully the flower is the focus of the picture.

[MMX]

But in looking at it, it brings up a question in my mind. While I love the flower pictures with the soft blured backgrounds and or the ones taken with a solid background, I started looking at this background and really liked it.

Does anyone else ever like the busy natural background in a flower shot? I hope the next time I am at this hotel, the flower will be there so I can try and work with it---or at least another flower just like it----can't find this one locally, yet.

The background really doesn´t distract the viewer´s attention, but the reason is very simple - the main object is very bright and it´s in the center, so it doesn´t lead the eyes anywhere else. Try another composition and the result will be quite different (for the best effect of chaos try to find a dark flower on lighter background).

[Stan Z.]

When I took a course on macro photography at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, the instructor urged us to use a piece of black construction paper behind the blossom......cut a slit in the paper up to the middle of the sheet, cut a small hole at the end of the slit, and wrap the paper behind the blossom......voila- no distracting background.

Just another technique to think about...

Stan Z.