Lens-Artists Challenge #304 – Behind
This week’s Lens-Artists challenge is all about what happens behind the scenes. More specifically, Ritva asks us to think about how we compose our images by paying attention to what goes behind our subjects. She wrote, “The background serves as the canvas against which the subject stands out.” So, I will show you how I work my backgrounds to make my image subjects stand out.
Dragonflies are beautiful insects to photograph as long as you are patient. They are habitual creatures that enjoy returning to their favorite location. So, if you see one hanging onto a branch, you can try to get close. If they fly away, rest assured they will come back. That gives you time to consider your composition and choose your background, as I did in this photo. I positioned myself so my background would be blurred and dark when I captured the image. The next photo also took advantage of my proximity to the insect to blur the background.
As Ritva pointed out, simplicity is another way to bring your subject to your image’s spotlight. When you couple that with a serene background, your eyes cannot run away from the subject. My subjects were evident in the following two photos by keeping the background uncluttered. The serene water offers a perfect background in the Morning Stretch photo. I put my camera on the ground for the Texas Thistle and used that vantage point to highlight the flower against the blue sky. The color contrast accentuated my subject.
The following two photos use a technique some photographers call “see-through.” The idea is to look for your subject through a blurred background and/or foreground. I “found” the Bluebonnets in the first photo by staying low and having the foreground blurred. The dark background also served to highlight the Bluebonnets‘ bright colors. In the other photo, the foreground and background were blurred, and the complementary colors of the Prairie Verbenas stood out against the yellow flowers.
Finally, I want to show a landscape scene where the background is the main subject. In this case, I made sure the foreground was blurred. The light in the background helped accentuate my subject.
Last week, Donna (of Wind Kisses) got us all to think about our “Connections.” The responses we saw here covered many topics, and some were very personal. In all of them, though, your photos took my breath away. They were such beautiful images.
I look forward to seeing how you respond to Ritva’s background challenge this week. Be sure to check Ritva’s post for more information and inspiration, and don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when responding to it so we can easily find it in the Reader.
Next week, I will be your host. I hope you will join me in that challenge. Check back here on Saturday at 12 noon (EDT in the USA). Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
I leave you with John Ruskin’s words: “Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” All you need to do is have your camera to capture that beauty and share it with us.
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Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Egídio, your images are beautiful and you explained the technique you used so well that this could be part two of the challenge. I am always in awe when someone captures dragonflies, loved how you gave guidance as how to take the shot and how work the background to it
Egidio Leitao
Ritva, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I appreciate that.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
🙂
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Loved these, commented directly to your page.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for making this Saturday an excellent day. I appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Anne Sandler
Wow, Egidio what a great response for this challenge. Your images are beautiful!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Anne. Ritva’s examples and directions were so clear.
Leya
Excellent photography and explanations, Egidio. You master all kinds of photography – always a treat coming here.
Egidio Leitao
Ann-Christine, your encouragement and support are wonderful. Many thanks!
JohnRH
Great selections well photographed. ‘The stretch’ and landscape pathway are among my many faves. 👏
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, John. I love watching turtles, too, but they tend to be very suspicious of humans.
margaret21
These are great. You were lucky (or thoughtful more likely!) that the backgrounds obliged by keeping themselves simple.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Margaret. Sometimes, we can control how much we include in the background, but not always.
Wind Kisses
You always bring it my friend. I love the way you organized your thoughts to give us additional guidance to Ritva’s theme. Your photos, stunning! I learned that little tidbit about dragonflies when I was on Oak Creek in Sedona one day with my camera. It just kept coming back. I have so many photos of that day, thinking I was lucky, but realized it is their habit. A great image of yours. My favorites are the prairie verbena, because your technique does make it pop, and the Fall light, just because… Well done, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Donna, you always raise me up with your kindness and compliments. Many thanks!
Writing to Freedom
Beautiful images (especially the flowers) Egidio and great demonstration of focus and backgrounds to highlight your subjects.
Egidio Leitao
Brad, I appreciate your kindness. Your feedback is much appreciated. Thank you.
Writing to Freedom
You’re most welcome!
Tina Schell
Beautifully shown and well-explained Egídio. The dragonfly is fantastic as is the bug that follows it. And I loved the flower image with blur in front. Very clever!
Egidio Leitao
I’m so happy you liked them, Tina. I appreciate the compliment. Thank you.
nesfelicio
Wonderful images and great examples of background mastery, Egidio.
Thank you for sharing your thought process in making these shots.
Egidio Leitao
Nes, thank you for the detailed response. It is good to read the thought process helps. I appreciate your feedback.
I.V. Greco
Great images and wonderful example of the importance background.
Egidio Leitao
I.V., thank you so much for the feedback.
tobyo
Beautiful images! Such vibrant colors.
Egidio Leitao
Many thanks!
Rebecca Cuningham
Excellent shots for the challenge!
Egidio Leitao
Many thanks, Rebecca. I appreciate the feedback.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Beautiful images and insights Egidio, I especially love the way you captured the wonderful dragonfly 😊
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Xenia. I enjoy chasing dragonflies and damselflies.
photobyjohnbo
Egidio, that last image is stunning, but I got the most from your tip about dragonflies returning to a spot. I’ll remember that the next time the little bugger flies away just as I get ready to shoot. >grin<
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, John. I attended a workshop from a Houston photographer. He taught me how to photograph dragonflies in flight. It was fun doing it.
solaner
Wonderful images, Egídio. Well done 👍
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, André.
solaner
You‘re welcome 😊
pattimoed
Another terrific post, Egidio! Lovely examples and descriptions of your technique. I love your insect and flower images and the “morning stretch” made me smile. Well-observed and beautifully captured–all of them!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Patti. I had a great time writing this post.
I. J. Khanewala
Lovely macros. And as for that last one, just lovely
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the compliment, I.J. I appreciated it.
Marie A Bailey
Beautiful images, Egidio. The one of the dragonfly is stunning. My husband has been posting bamboo poles in our yards for the dragonflies to use as “hunting perches.” It’s fun to watch them.
Egidio Leitao
Marie, you’ll have a great time with the dragonflies in your yard. Thanks for the compliment.
SoyBend
I especially liked the one of the fence and fall leaves, Egidio. Lovely lines and color.
Egidio Leitao
That was a special view, too. Thanks for the comment.
Leanne Cole
Wonderful Egidio. I love the macro shots with the blurry background, they are fantastic.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Leanne.