"See" Before You Shoot
Beware of Distracting Background Elements!

For some reason, "tunnel vision" plagues all of us as photographers. When we look through the camera viewfinder, we usually focus our eye on the person or object that is in the center of our composition. Many times, however, we are surprised when we later review our pictures and notice distracting objects in the background that weren't apparent to us at the time of exposure.

The image to the right is a typical example. The post directly behind the subject's head that seems so obvious in the finished photograph, probably wasn't even noticed when the picture was taken.

Practice scanning the entire frame before clicking the shutter button. And when possible, try to eliminate distracting foreground and background elements. With a little practice, this technique can become second nature. Move the mouse over the photo to reveal the same subject captured with a clear, uncluttered background.