Steve SCHOFIELD & Background

I think that the background of a photo is something that I tend to focus on a lot when faced with a photograph. I like photos that either have a complex subject and a simple background and vice versa.

Here's a photo I admire due to the background usage.

As you can see, the subject is obviously the Storm Trooper. What I find really strengthens the picture is the simplicity of the background. The funny thing is that there is a lot of detail in the background, yet it stays simple with the basic color contrasts. It's also a background that is an urban area. Because of the background, it brings up a lot of questions for the viewer. Questions such as, "What is this Storm Trooper doing in such an area?"

The great thing about this photo is just how comfortably the subject fits in the photo. Although it is not at all normal to find a Storm Trooper in an airport-esque building, it seems to really fit, with the colors that the background and subject have.


This photo is also an interesting one regarding everything going on outside of the subjects. The foreground, as well as the background can always tell you some obvious things about the photo. For example the setting. In this photo, your attention could be directed to the poster by the girl's head, describing Oklahoma's Semi Centennial Celebration.

I also like the background in this photo. The tree and street lights give it a nice little setting. It helps remind me of the childish games we would play with the other kids in our neighborhood. Of course, it may be apparent that the children are playing, however, the background of a road with street lights in the background seems to help me understand the "story" behind it.