When making a person’s portrait, people often end up with a photo like the one above. Instead, they are looking for an image like the one below.
Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 1000, ƒ/4.8, 1/500
As you can easily see, the background in the first photo is quite distracting and competes with the face of the person. In the second photo, some people might even say the subject just “pops” out of the picture.
Notice the camera settings are identical.
The difference is the distance the subject is to the background. For example, in the first photo, the person is right next to the background, and in the next one, the subject is 30 feet away from the background.
If you have a very distracting background like the brick wall, move the subject very far away to be able to throw the background out of focus.
Even if the background is a plain solid color wall, pull the person away from it, so you do not see the wall’s texture.
Reading Time: 3 minutesOne of the most valuable advice I give aspiring photojournalists, videographers, and writers is to learn to pitch their ideas well. It’s not just about having talent—it’s about showing people you can deliver…
Reading Time: 4 minutesThat quote is from James Allen, a British philosophical writer known for his inspirational books and poetry and as a pioneer of the self-help movement. His best-known work, ‘As a Man Thinketh,’ has been…
Reading Time: 4 minutesEditor note: we still have two slots available for this trip in January. Go to Storytellers Abroad to see how to register and come with us to Peru. Lima, Peru, is a desert. The…
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.