How do macro photographers create smooth, complementary backgrounds in wildlife shots?
Asked 3/11/2017
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In some wildlife macro photos, the subject stands out against a very smooth background whose color seems to complement the subject perfectly. How is that look usually created? Is it mainly careful composition and shallow depth of field, or is digital editing commonly involved? Also, are the soft background textures typically natural, and do photographers ever use techniques like shaping leaves or using gels/flash to influence the background color?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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He describes his Macro process on his blog. https://pbertner.wordpress.com/how-i-shoot-macro/
While you selected a few that have that effect, many don't. I don't think its anything more than composing the piece, being patient, and waiting for the specimen to be in the right contrast area with the right lighting. He does mention occasionally using flashes for fill. The other thing specific to your question he says is,
"For example, by using a larger aperture and rolling a leaf, the edge can fade away, leaving a smooth green foreground."
It sounds like he also shoots predominately free-hand but with lots and lots of different manual focuses deliberately trying to not get edge to edge sharpness but a sharp focus area and then very soft everywhere else. I half-expected him to say he tilt shifts or uses something like a lensbaby at times.
Originally by user27243. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27243
9y ago
0
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This look is usually created in-camera, not mainly by heavy digital manipulation. The key factors are:
- very shallow depth of field
- careful choice of shooting angle and background
- lots of attempts, selecting the frame where the subject lines up with a plain, complementary area
The background texture is often natural but rendered very soft because it is far out of focus. According to the cited blog, the photographer may also shape elements in the scene, such as rolling a leaf so its edge fades into a smooth green foreground/background.
Flash may be used for fill, but the provided answers do not support gels as the main reason for those background colors.
Also, smooth blur is not only about shooting at f/2.8. Longer focal lengths can produce very soft backgrounds even at smaller apertures, and the shooting angle matters a lot. In macro work, many frames may be made with slightly different manual focus and composition choices to get a sharp subject area with very soft surroundings.
So the effect is mostly: patient fieldcraft, background selection, shallow focus, and sometimes subtle scene arrangement.
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