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Backgrounds

The devastating effect backgrounds

could have on  wildlife images.

Text and Images by Eric J. Landsberg

Special Thanks to S.M. Grobler -  Edited

For printing 
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The purpose of this article is to provide aspiring wildlife photographers with some guidelines on how to improve their Image designing skills. Paying attention to the background and the effect this might have on the final image.

Paying attention to the background detail is as important as choosing the correct subject. Poor background selection could have a devastating affect on the image and cause excellent opportunities to be discarded. I prefer images depicting the subject close-up, with an out-of-focus backdrop.

Brownhooded Kingfisher

(Halcyon albiventris)

How many wildlife photographers consider the background before depressing the shutter release button? This is probably the lease considered aspect by most aspiring wildlife photographers when designing an image; all emphasis is placed on the subject. We are so excited with the subject at hand that we totally ignore the background. As mentioned above I prefer the totally out-of-focus background, but sometimes it is essential to provide the viewer with more background detail to ensure the viewer has sense of place, providing not only the subject but also the habitat.

In urban environments manmade objects provide some of the most challenging backgrounds you could imagine, and most of these manmade objects could also be found in Nature Reserves. As a wildlife photographer you have to ensure that these objects are excluded from the backdrop. We will examine some common mistakes with regards to the Background, and hopefully you will be able to eliminate these mistakes in order to produce well-designed images.

Unnatural Objects

This could be any object that is not normally found in the subjects natural environment; electric pylons, walls, buildings, and even trees. Why trees? Eucalyptus trees are not indigenous to South Africa, and images with Lions and Eucalyptus trees will not produce the most outstanding images. The Eucalyptus trees do not form part of the traditional African landscape.

Burchell's Zebra

(Equus burchellii)

Zebra with blurred electric pylons and power lines.

Even blurred Power lines can ruin the image.

Burchell's Zebra

(Equus burchellii)

Look carefully at this image and you will notice the

unnatural structure (electric pylons) above the

Zebras left ear.

In small Nature Reserves close to civilisation power lines and other obstructive object could be readily available, and its up to the wildlife photographer to ensure that these manmade objects are excluded from the composition. Consider the background, and be careful not to concentrate on the subject only.

With computer software you might be able to remove the unnatural structures, but the aim of Wildlife Photography is to produce outstanding images in the subjects natural environment.

Exotic flora unfortunately forms a part of the diversity of flora found in South Africa. And conservation organisations are taking great pains to eradicate these exotic alien species. Fortunately not all unnatural objects will be destructive to the image.

Cattle Egret

(Bubulcus ibis)

Cattle Igret on Eucalyptus tree remains.

The Cattle Igret is standing on a flat surface that was created by a chainsaw used to remove the alien vegetation. Fortunately this does not have a big impact on the final image and you would be able to get away with this intervention of man on nature.

Although unnatural objects or human interference in nature should not always be discarded. If the aim of the image is to depict the co-existents of nature vs. man it would be perfect to have unnatural objects as part of the composition. Even in National Parks unnatural object occur on a regular basis along the unnatural road you already travel on. Beware of vehicle tracks if you are composing an image with a road included, this could also ruin an image. Always be on the lookout for unnatural objects, and if wildlife photography is the primary goal, try to avoid or hide the object behind the subject. Avoid the following when creating wildlife images - Roads, electric pylons, telephone lines, buildings, structures, and modified natural objects trees being cut off, just to mention a few. Yes you might be able to remove any of the unwanted objects from the image digitally, but if you compose the image without including these objects before depressing the shutter button the resulting image will be more rewarding.

Natural Objects

Even Natural objects could also lead to images ending up in the recycle bin; images that are cluttered with busy backgrounds are just as unpleasing as the images with unnatural objects. Twigs, leaves and even animals could potentially destroy the perfect image. It should be clear that the entire image is important not only the subject, the background forms an integral part of the image. Even with totally blurred backgrounds, choosing the correct background is as important as the subject at hand.

Brownhooded Kingfisher

(Halcyon albiventris)

Be careful of cluttered backgrounds this could have a

devastating affect on the image.

Severely cluttered backgrounds should be avoided. The image above clearly illustrates the devastating effect cluttered backgrounds could have on images. Changing your position or waiting for the subject to move to a more suitable background can eliminate distracting objects and cluttered backgrounds. Not all is lost, if the cluttered background is well behind the subject you might be able to produce some interesting out-of-focus backdrops. But be careful of highlights, even with out-of-focus backdrops, highlights might produce streaks across the image.

Most consumer SLR cameras only have frame coverage of ±95%, which means that you only see ±95% of the final image through the viewfinder. But even with professional equipment with 100% frame coverage, it is easy to miss small objects protruding into the edge of the frame. Make a habit of checking the frame edge every time you compose an image to ensure the image will be clear of unwanted objects that crept into the frame. The images above illustrate the effect these small objects might have on the image, the image on the left has an object protruding into the frame at the bottom left corner. Recomposing and pay attention to the background can easily eliminate the object from the final image.

Burchell's Zebra

(Equus burchellii)

Sometimes patience is the only requirement to ensure success. This is illustrated with the Burchell's Zebra images above. The rest of the Zebra heard was passing behind the main subject and this resulted in the devastating affect the passing Zebras had on the left image. Having patience and allowing the heard to pass behind the main subject easily rectified this problem. The destructive Zebra tail might have been a branch swinging in the breeze; in that case timing would be the most appropriate solution, waiting for the branches to swing out of the frame before capturing the image.

Remember, be patient and ensure that the background will complement the final image. Examine the background carefully for any light or dark sections, and eliminate these elements by changing your position or hiding the section behind the main subject. Ensure that the frame edge will be clear of any unwanted objects. Ensuring that all these unwanted elements are excluded from the final composition could dramatically improve the artistic quality of your images.