My advice for anyone with a camera . . .
Eliminate the background noise

You can solve the problem of photography background noise in two easy steps:

#1 – Pay Attention To Detail.

#2 – Move Yourself.

I’m a voyeur. Looking at pictures is one of my favorite things to do and I don’t even have to know the people in them. Sometimes I spend hours hopping from site to site looking at photos that catch my eye. Most of the photos I’m intrigued by are ordinary snapshots from everyday life. But, I also have a really annoying habit of ruining a perfectly good picture by noticing the background. I think that before I notice the subject, I notice the pile of unwashed dishes or the giant dump truck in the background of a photo and immediately it is tainted in my eye.

I am not a professional, but I feel like the fact that I take an average of 175 pictures a week (really), mostly for recreation, gives me some self proclaimed right to give little bits of advice. Background noise doesn’t bother everyone, but it bothers me – so here I go.

#1 – Pay Attention to Detail
This advice works in all areas of your life, but in photography it is key. It’s much more simple that you think. When you look through the viewfinder, try to notice EVERYTHING. Not only your subject, but anything that will show up in your shot.

#2 – Move Yourself
I think sometimes people are worried they will ruin the moment by asking their subject to move or reposition themselves and sometimes that is true. But, you can almost always move yourself and still avoid the background mess. Even if it is just a matter of zooming in closer to your subject.

To give some examples I headed out the door this afternoon with 2/3 of my kids and our pooch. It was a yucky cloudy day and none of these are great shots, but I think this might help illustrate my point. I took one picture with a distracting background and then leaving my subject in the same spot, I moved myself and took another crack at it.

Power Lines

We started out walk by an intersection with a zillion power lines. Even out of focus they are a distraction.

By simply standing a little taller and moving myself to the right, most of the lines are taken out. Normally I would threaten my children to look happier, but this was an experiment, so I cut her some slack.

Signs

Even though this sign is kind of fitting for my kids, it is a distraction.

By moving (myself) to the left, I avoided the background noise. I consider the fence and post both fine as they are an element of the photo.

Construction

The park by our house has been "under construction" since before we moved. Doesn't look close to finished either. Not a nice background.

Stepping closer to my little moster and changing my angle eliminates the distraction (unless patchy grass distracts you - I think Hank Hill would shudder).

 Construction Fence

Orange Fence = BAD! And the fence post looks like an antenna coming from her head.

I stepped closer and changed my angle and way less distraction (more patchy grass).

 Trash Cans

Trash Can - Oh how I hate a trash can background. Seething.

I moved to the other side of the table and it's all better.

 More Construction

That damn orange fence!

I'll take houses over orange construction fence any day!