Photo Tip: Clean up your backgrounds

One of the great things about being a parent is finding your kids doing something especially cute. Often, our first reaction is to grab the camera and try to capture the moment.

Today, I have two tips for you along those lines. First, and most important, is to take the shot as quickly as possible. Sometimes trying to get the perfect angle or composition will cause you to miss the moment. So don't hesitate to capture a couple of shots right away.

Second, pay attention to your background and other things that might be cluttering up the picture. Look for stuff that will distract the viewer's eye from the real focus of the photo -- things like toys lying on the floor, people walking around, bright objects, etc.

See if you can change your position to get a less-distracting background, or pick up items that don't need to be in the photo. Maybe a different perspective will remove some of the problems, too, like crouching down to take the shot.

Look at this photo of my daughter coloring. What is the first thing you notice?


Did you see the dolls? Or the bright yellow toy bin? Maybe the chairs in the background?

There's an awful lot to distract the eye in that photo! Chances are the first thing you saw was something other than my daughter coloring.

For a better photo, I took the dolls off of the table, moved the rocking chair on the right out of the way, and then moved the container of crayons from the left side of the table to the right. Finally, I changed my camera angle by squatting a little and moving to the left.

Here is the resulting photo.


Much better, isn't it? By changing my perspective, I made the background a blank wall. Now the photo has only the subject and what she is doing. There isn't anything to distract you from what I wanted to capture in the photo.

Here's another photo taken in a more real-world situation. I had taken my kids to a local park and my daughter was having a blast on some of the playground equipment. I set up to take the shot where there wasn't anything in the background. I purposefully left out the rest of the playground, the kids, and anything else that would divert the eye.


So to recap, when taking a photo many times what you leave out is just as important as what you leave in. And if it's one of those spur-of-the-moment photos, remember to take a couple of shots immediately (so you will at least have something) and then look for how you can improve the photo.

Photo Tip: Protect your camera gear from high-humidity

Today I ran into a common problem which can not only ruin your photos, but also ruin your sensitive camera equipment. It was very humid when I got to the park this morning. What's wrong with that? Well, when you pull your camera from your dry, air-conditioned car into a moist, humid environment it will cause water to condense around and inside your camera.

When this happens, if you look through your camera's eyepiece, it will look like your camera is filled with fog. All of your photos will be affected until the condensation evaporates.

Worst yet, the condensation may also form on the electronic circuits inside your camera, which may damage it. And there is no worse feeling for a photographer than to have your camera break on you. I have had a camera break on me twice, and I don't ever want it to happen again!

So how do you prevent the condensation? The easiest way is to keep your camera in its closed bag and let it naturally adjust to the humidity. The warmer, moister air will seep through the bag slowly and the camera will adjust naturally over the next 30 minutes to an hour.

But what if you don't have that long? As a freelancer, I often find myself without that much time, showing up to a location and having to take pictures soon afterwards. Under these circumstances, I unzip my bag partially, but don't open it up. In other words, I make it a little easier for the humid air to get inside and the adjustment to take place.

Usually after 10 or 15 minutes I will take my camera out. If there is no condensation on the lens, then I will turn it on try using it. But if there is condensation, then I wait for it to disappear before turning on the camera. Wiping it off my help the outside of your lens, but doesn't do anything for what may be inside.

What if you don't have camera bag to keep your gear in? For most of you I expect this will be the case. I suggest you wrap your camera with a shirt or a towel, or put it in a purse, handbag, or duffel bag instead before heading out into the humid air. Then follow the same steps as before.

Take care to use these same procedures when going from the moist, humid outdoors into a cool, dry house or building.

Cold weather can also cause problems, especially when going from temperatures below freezing into a warm house, and vice versa. Be sure to follow these same instructions, and be prepared to wait longer before pulling your camera out. The more extreme the different temperatures are the longer your camera will take to adjust.

Let's get this started right!

I have always loved my family and sports, but I stumbled upon my love of photography by accident. The desire to take better photos of my kids led me to where I am today -- a freelance photographer with a love of family and sports photography.

Friends always ask me how they can take better photos, and this blog is one way I hope to help. For things about my wife and kids, see my other blog, The d'Aquin Clan. But for tips about creating better photos, please come here!

For those of you who are sticklers, let me give a little more background. Currently, I am a member of Sportsshooter.com, an online community of professional sports and photojournalists. When I had my own full-time photography business, I was also a member of the Professional Photographers of America. Now, I have a 9-to-5 job that comfortably pays the bills and I do freelance work for fun!