Good Picture, Bad Background

[cjmoelder]

I love this image but I hate the background. I was contemplating doing a couple of things and need some suggestions.

1) Taking the background out completely (might look fake)
2) Blurring the background

I was also thinking of doing a soft spotlight. Do you think that would look dumb?

I appreciate your help. I am very new at this and an amateur photographer.

Celia

[Tom K]

Hi Celia

I would try cloning out part of the backround then blur the rest.
The image that you posted is much to small to download and work with.

Tom :)

[frank abramonte]

Celia, I would select the background and apply a gaussian blur.
Also do a little brightness/contrast adjustment.


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1XpdXAodIHTYSio9a0lObAJp2ebKJ_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1XpdXAodIHTYSio9a0lObAJp2ebKJ)

[Diana]

Hi Celia,

Here's another version that brings all the focus on the two subjects. Duplicate the background layer with Ctrl-J and on the duplicate, use the Lasso tool to select the background up somewhat close to the subjects. Then fill that selection with black. Then take the Burn tool and set the exposure around 50% and brush up closer to the subjects edges to darken the background that wasn't filled with black to blend the background and subjects together.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1cr50ZFVHnfmnanCMt02UrCy0nT7W1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1cr50ZFVHnfmnanCMt02UrCy0nT7W1)

Unless you need the image a certain size or dimensions, I'd crop some of the top off. I also added a vignette to this one:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Hb0P7bQALpRrxVilk3TLKnK3uYqr0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Hb0P7bQALpRrxVilk3TLKnK3uYqr0)

Diana

[cjmoelder]

Those ideas are awesome. I am going to experiment.

[Juergen D]

I also think that it is better to remove the background clutter altogether. In my example I went for a rather bright, contrasting background. I believe it makes the faces stand out better.

Juergen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1CKTSBE956BrpUNsC1h0hBwCF9TB1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1CKTSBE956BrpUNsC1h0hBwCF9TB1)