Snap Tip #5

After being out of the office last week, we're back this week with Snap Tip #5!  Yay!  So now you have read your manual (right???), you know to get closer and get lower, you know how to use your flash outside, and you now how FAR your flash is effective...Yay for you!!!  So here is the next tip:

Snap Tip #5 is "Watch the Background"

Now you're going to say "Well I thought you said to always get closer and get lower."   Well, not always.  While many times it will greatly help your image, sometimes it does not.  Every time you compose an image, you are making decisions about how to frame it.  In the examples below, you will see how I decided not to get so low, in order to have a more plain background.

In the first shot, I had gotten close to Ava, and was down low.  As soon as I snapped the picture, I realized that all the little posts in the background and the open sky on the right in the background was a bit distracting. 

 

I simply moved back just a couple of feet, and shot from a little higher, which in turn puts all the focus back on Ava. Now keep in mind that neither of these are perfect, I am just using these two shots to illustrate what I am talking about.

This same rule can be used anywhere you are. It could be that your baby is sitting on the floor, and in the background you have the dining room table and chair legs. By moving a little bit, you may be able to have a wall, or the back of a lounge chair in the background...anything that is a little simpler.

So, get out there, and see what you can do with backgrounds!  Happy Snapping!!!!

 

Lets Review!!!

Snap Tip #1 - Find Your Manual and have it handy!

Snap Tip #2 - Get Close and Get Low

Snap Tip #3 - Know the Effective Range of Your Flash

Snap Tip #4 - Use Your Flash Outdoors

Snap Tip #5 - Watch your Background.