Photographic tips - keep an eye on the background!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341705)
Rockingham, Australia
July 31, 2022 6:45am CST
My husband and I take photos at horse endurance rides. I have only been helping with the photos for a relatively short while but I’m learning all the time. Mostly now, my photos are adequate and I sell nearly as many as Vince does.
Trying to have an uncluttered background is important but not always possible. Some backgrounds can be very distracting.
Can you see what the problem is with this photo? Luckily, Vince was able to use his processing skills to completely erase the dog. Did you notice it before I mentioned it? I’d be keen to know.
33 people like this
34 responses
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
31 Jul 22
@Ladyduck I didn’t notice the poop pile until you mentioned getting rid of it.
@PhredWreck I actually like the tree there but the part right above her hat would be a nice part to edit out.
What apps or sites do you use to remove things in the images. I could use things like that!
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471968)
• Switzerland
31 Jul 22
@PhredWreck No more tree! Well done! Now let's place the horse on another background, but that it's a bit more tricky.
5 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
1 Aug 22
@JudyEv Is that what it's doing? (Yes, I had to look again.)
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
31 Jul 22
First thing I noticed was the dog: it gave me a chuckle, but I didn't notice the pile of horsehit until someone else mentioned it.
5 people like this
@yanzalong (18987)
• Indonesia
1 Aug 22
I love making the background blurred and focus on the target image.
2 people like this
@yanzalong (18987)
• Indonesia
2 Aug 22
@JudyEv There are a few photo applications the phone that can make it for smartphones with basic software.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55901)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Aug 22
@JudyEv Hee hee - oh that's true. Horse poo everywhere. Interestingly we drove to a nursery yesterday and at the end of the street there was a horse arena/school. There was only parking on the street for the nursery . . . we had to watch our step - dried horse poo dusting everywhere!!
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
31 Jul 22
The only camera I own is my iPhone and it has a portrait feature wherein I can adjust my focus on the subject and blurs out the background and another feature completely changes the background into total blackness. The feature is only for still photos. If the subject is moving, the feature won't work.
3 people like this
@Fleura (30539)
• United Kingdom
31 Jul 22
Well obviously since you mentioned a problem I knew to expect something! And yes I did notice the dog, it almost looks as though the horse is sniffing the dog, though at first I didn't notice that the dog is on a leash. And I hadn't noticed the droppings either until @LadyDuck mentioned removing that!
2 people like this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
1 Aug 22
I was looking so intently at the horse that I didn't even notice the dog. It's nice that he erased it for you.
2 people like this
@didinedhia (8470)
• Algeria
1 Aug 22
I guess thats all what im doing but my picture is awfull
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (181948)
• United States
31 Jul 22
Yes, I see what you mean. The dog does detract a bit from the photo.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
1 Aug 22
Little dog in right side looking at photo. That's good, you sell as much as your husband.!
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
2 Aug 22
@JudyEv
Yes indeed. Well, lucky your husband knows how to erase it.
1 person likes this
@luisga814 (7138)
• Quezon City, Philippines
31 Jul 22
Yes. The angle of the horse is somewhat about to eat the dog. Am I right?
2 people like this
@luisga814 (7138)
• Quezon City, Philippines
1 Aug 22
@JudyEv Yes. It's a coincidence.
1 person likes this