Crafting with Kids

If you’re interested in photography – and wish to move your photos to a whole new, higher level – the important thing to success is the photography background!

Among the vital distinctions between beginner and expert photography is that the pro has learned to control and manipulate the photography background – where the beginner focuses all their attention on the model and frequently simply lets the background come about on its own.

Have you ever been so caught up in your model and lighting and so on that (when you take a look at the finished photograph) you discover an enormous trash can – behind your model – spilling trash all over the ground? In every photo? And you didn’t even see it in the course of the photo shoot!

Or, maybe you’ve been guilty of having tree branches appearing to erupt from the model’s head, similar to horns?

They are ridiculous blunders which can be effortlessly fixed and can rapidly boost your photography’s effectiveness.

The bad news is we don’t in actuality see how much better our images are! Let us face it; if you do not have litter or horns and so on, you never stop to consider how much better your photo is…you just don’t notice. Our attention only comes to bear if we overlook something and screw up (we all do sometimes).

If you’d like admiration for your creative activities, you CANNOT allow these problems into your photos. This is a simple fix…only remember to look at the backdrop and all 4 corners inside the viewfinder before you push the shutter button – after that you fine-tune appropriately.

For those who have a difficult time remembering, take a strip of masking tape and record – in large black print – “CHECK THE BACKGROUND”. And then stick the tape to the rear of the camera. This will help jog your memory you until it turns into a habit.

You will never be aware of the number of photos you’ve saved, but it’s worth the effort.

The following most simple photography background practice – to make your model “explode” from our image – would be to isolate them.

I’m certain you’ve seen photos where the model is in clear, sharp focus – however the background is totally out of focus and is only a wash of color.

That’s done with controlling the depth of field.

Depth of field determines how much of the photograph is in focus. You will find whole books written re this photo technique (heck, I penned one myself!) but the easiest ways to accomplish this “wash of color” technique are to:

1. Employ the greatest focal length lens possible.
2. Open it up to the widest aperture workable – this will be the lowest f-stop numeral.
3. Make the background as far behind the model as is feasible. Or locate the model as far in front of the background as you can.

Obviously each of the 3 steps has quite a few variables. Through adjusting the choices available to you, you can make your photography background as focused or unfocused as you require. There’s no right or wrong.

Completely out of focus, moderately in focus, sharp as a tack…that is where your inventive eye comes into the picture.

As soon as you’ve mastered your “in camera” methods of controlling your backgrounds, next it is time to think about getting a few cloth backgrounds. This can give your photography a professional “photo studio” appearance.

A first rate quality background can literally cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. So, as opposed to shelling out the big bucks, I recommend making your own. Fortunately a photography background is easy to make and can be made for pennies on the dollar.

Pay attention to your photography background and you can be capturing pro level photos almost immediately.

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