So, I learned early on in photography that backgrounds are a significant part of the photograph. It is basic Photo 101 stuff to talk about “mergers” and distracting backgrounds.
Now, with portraits, it is easy to get comfortable with completely solid backgrounds. They’re easy, let’s face it.
So…
Whenever possible, I really try to do something ever-so-slightly different.
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Would it have been just fine on a solid background? Sure. But anyone can do the “safe” option. And they usually will.
If I can encourage young photographers to do anything: don’t shoot in a box. On a portrait? What could possibly be more boring than flat roll paper!
Is it risky? Yes, it is. My AD (art director) might come back and hate it. And it has happened before.
But the times when they come back pleasantly surprised is more often.
Dumb ideas can always break down. But dumb ideas sometimes invent lightbulbs, WD-40, and airplanes.
Stay tuned…
-Noah D.
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PS: The lighting used in these head-shots might be seriously confusing without a diagram. These photos are (as you can see in the group photo) taken at night. Basically, it’s a single softbox shot down a huge row of windows on almost full power. The resulting light looks like one giant window light.
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Other photographer friends posting a photo a day for 2013:
Jeff Montgomery
Mike James
Ashel Parsons
