BACK STORY

When telling an overall picture story the background is equally as important as the middle ground and the foreground. If rightly used, backgrounds can truly complement the foreground subject(s). However, they have the ability to easily overpower the middle ground and foreground elements, in the process becoming the lead story. Special thought should always be placed when deciding what to use as a background. Rule of the thumb is to avoid destructive backgrounds; if you want the foreground subject to stand out. In such situations plain backgrounds are recommended or the use of wide apertures and long focal lengths to throw destructive backgrounds out of focus. Before releasing the shutter, I am always wary of clashing colors, destructive lines, and the most common one of people that don’t belong. It helps changing your angles (though am always accused of not doing the same) or even moving the subject all together, to either include or omit some elements in the background. Another solution is to just create your own! By either using various backdrops like in studio shoots, or adding backgrounds during post-processing. Whatever you do, make your background tell an exciting story of the complete picture.

I was focusing on the newly weds' hands when I noticed my little friend in the background. I decided to include her in the frame as I found her curious expression thought-provoking.         

   Camera - CANON EOS 7D

   Focal Length - 135mm
   Shutter Speed - 1/60 sec
   Aperture - f/5.7 

   ISO/Film - 200
   Category - Wedding 
   Uploaded - July 1st 2013  
   Taken - June 1st 2013

   Location - Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi
   Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi