What do you do when there is a tree/electric pole/etc that you can't exclude?

[New Daddy]

What do you do when there is a tree/electric pole/etc that you can't exclude from the frame in outdoor people photography (environmental portrait for example)?

I see many of them ending up on top of one of my subject's head. I think I have done it in the past probably thinking that I can hide as much of the hideous pole/tree behind my subject. (TBH, I only learned that a tree or a pole sprouting out from the top of a person's head is bad composition recently, and ever since have become conscious about it.)

Often you can re-compose so the eye-sore is not sitting on top of a subject's head, but there is only so much you can do and the tree/pole has to end up somewhere in the frame. Maybe it's because I've become so conscious of tree and poles in a composition, but when there is a tree/pole anywhere in the photo, it looks so distracting.

What's a good way to compose a scene when there is a not-so-pretty tree/electric pole/traffic sign/you name it in the scene that you just can't exclude?

[Donald]

1. Go for the shot and rely on your post-processing skills to clone it out.
2. Work the scene (i.e. Move about; Look at the angles; Create the picture in your head before you ever press the shutter) and find out if and how you can make the shot work.
3. Build the tree/pole; etc into the image. Make it a part of the scene. Remember, a good image is made up of everything in the frame. If something's there just because you couldn't find a way to exclude it, then that is obvious ... and invariably destroys the image. So, instead of trying to hide the 'offending' object, enhance it.

When out walking my dog yesterday morning, I saw a picture. Despite walking past that same spot hundreds of times, I had never seen the picture before. It has a telephone pole and 3 (or it might be 4) trees on the skyline in it. I know exactly what the finished image looks like and the pole will be a significant part of it. Now I just need the time and the right sky to serve as a backdrop.

[chauncey]

Can you say...Photoshop? Or move the subjects away from the offensive object. Either/Or

[davidedric]

I think you are quite right to look at composition as the best way to avoid the problem, but sometimes it just isn't possible.

That, of course, is where Post Processing comes in. I don't know what PP tools you may have, but Photoshop Elements (with content aware healing) and Lightroom 5 (must be version 5) have pretty good tools for getting rid of things you don't want. If you have the full Photoshop or Creative Suite then you don't need me to tell you that!

Regards,

Dave

P.S. I think we were all typing together!

[loosecanon]

I sometimes take a second shot having moved camera position so as to have image material to use in cloning out objects

[Manfred M]

I would quite agree with what the others have written so far; try to avoid the problem by either positioning your subjects in a way to avoid the issue or try to adjust your shooting position to ensure that it doesn't happen. As others have already suggested, post-processing tools can help here.

Here is a shot where I was too busy concentrating on taking the picture to notice the issues in the background (light sticking out of the head and another one on the right of the subject). Two or three minutes in Photoshop CC and the offending material was removed:


Before:






After:

[New Daddy]

It looks like post-editing is probably the way to go.

I have LR4, which doesn't have cloning tool. LR5 has it, so all I have to do is upgrade my LR.
But, isn't cloning time consuming? Even the routine PP (exposure adjustment, WB shift, rotation, etc.) can't be done in a breeze. I'm not sure cloning is something I'd like to incorporate into my PP workflow on a routine basis.

[New Daddy]

Here is a shot where I was too busy concentrating on taking the picture to notice the issues in the background (light sticking out of the head and another one on the right of the subject). Two or three minutes in Photoshop CC and the offending material was removed:

I don't have Photoshop CC, so I have no idea how powerful it is, but it only too two or three minutes to clone it out? That's really quick.

[Donald]

I'm not sure cloning is something I'd like to incorporate into my PP workflow on a routine basis.

Exactly. Which is where your skill at composing the image in teh first place comes into play. The less work you create for yourself in PP, the better. you should want PP to be the part of image making that brings out the best in the already good picture you have captured. It shouldn't be thought of a tool to make up for our lack of skill with the camera.

As Manfred says, cloning is easy once you've practiced for a while.

[Manfred M]

Photoshop (especially versions 5 and up, with content aware fill) make this really. I used the clone stamp to break break the area between the subject and objects I was going to remove and then selected the offending object and used the "content aware fill" functionality.

Two or three minutes is all it does take, once you are proficient at it. Photoshop is as powerful as things get for image editing.

[davidedric]

Manfred - I can't see you after image!

[Manfred M]

It looks like post-editing is probably the way to go.

I have LR4, which doesn't have cloning tool. LR5 has it, so all I have to do is upgrade my LR.
But, isn't cloning time consuming? Even the routine PP (exposure adjustment, WB shift, rotation, etc.) can't be done in a breeze. I'm not sure cloning is something I'd like to incorporate into my PP workflow on a routine basis.

Everything is time consuming when you first start out, but as you get your techniques (and there are many here) down, you will find things go quickly. I tend to not use Lightroom for much, so can't comment on how well the clone tool works.

[Manfred M]

Manfred - I can't see you after image!

Sorry; link got broken but I've updated it.

[chauncey]

Under normal circumstances Manfred I'd be looking at the camera but, she is so attractive...

[pnodrog]

Under normal circumstances Manfred I'd be looking at the camera but, she is so attractive...

Yes Manfred a photographer of your experience should know it is bad practice to have two competing points of interest in a photograph.

[Manfred M]

Yes Manfred a photographer of your experience should know it is bad practice to have two competing points of interest in a photograph.

I hope that this works better....





These images were taken at a small flash workshop we were attending, just over three years ago.

[pnodrog]

It looks like post-editing is probably the way to go.

I have LR4, which doesn't have cloning tool. LR5 has it, so all I have to do is upgrade my LR.
But, isn't cloning time consuming? Even the routine PP (exposure adjustment, WB shift, rotation, etc.) can't be done in a breeze. I'm not sure cloning is something I'd like to incorporate into my PP workflow on a routine basis.

Yes I have no hesitation in taking a photograph that I know I will be modifying some intrusive element either by cloning or toning it down so it no longer catches the eye. For simple corrections including cloning I do it all using Lightroom 4 but for more intricate or difficult changes I do the edit with Photoshop. In Manfreds example I would probably have just stayed with Lightroom but if for some other reason I was going to use Photoshop I would also have used it for this bit of cloning in preference to Lightroom. The size that the final image will be viewed at is also a factor - a clumsy clone that is obvious on a large screen maybe completely unnoticed and totally satisfactory on a small print.

You have solved the main problem in that you are now aware of the poles etc and can at least decide on your preferred approach for each photo. I do a Real Estate photography and it is thought of as false advertising to clone out anything and it is surprising how much you can do to avoid or minimize unwanted elements. Hiding an ugly feature by using a shrub to screen it as you take the shot is common practice.

[davidedric]

Ermm.... What is she bouncing the flash off?

[Manfred M]

Ermm.... What is she bouncing the flash off?

Large, white underneath overhang about 15 ft / 5m above her head.

[Andrew76]

I'm not sure cloning is something I'd like to incorporate into my PP workflow on a routine basis.

I truly hope that having to clone wouldn't become a routine part of your PP workflow either! But really, in the very few instances it's necessary, it's not as difficult, or time consuming as it may sound.