Digital Speed Challenge #586 - All About The Background

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This week's theme is: ALL ABOUT THE BACKGROUND.

I'm looking for images in which the photographer intentionally used the background to create a more beautiful or more interesting photo. . It could be a background that includes things that supports the main subject, and makes the image more interesting, and keeps the viewer's eyes moving around as they explore the entire composition. . Or it can the the opposite of that - a background that is "plain" or blurred out, and therefore allows the subject to stand out prominently.

The challenge begins when posted and will end on Monday, December 16, 2019 at midnight Eastern Standard Time (which is 05:00 Tuesday, Dec. 17 Greenwich Mean Time). . The winner will be announced the next day.

CHALLENGE RULES:
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. .1. . Camera: . Any DIGITAL CAMERA is allowed, (not just DSLR).
. .2. . Time: . Any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.
. .3. . Size: . See standard P.O.T.N. Image Posting Rules.
. .4. . Post Processing: . Do whatever you like and the host will decide if it works.
. .5. . Posting: . ONE PHOTO per photographer in each challenge.
. .6. . Details: . Show camera model & lens used. Post brief EXIF data including ISO, shutter speed and aperture used.
. .7. . Commenting: . Please, NO COMMENTING DURING CHALLENGE. Feel free to comment in this thread after a winner is declared.
. .8. . Content: . Keep it clean, and both Family and Work safe.
. .9. . Have questions? . PM me.
10. . Have FUN!

* THE WINNER ALWAYS SETS THE THEME FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE, POSTS IT AND JUDGES IT - BE PREPARED! A new challenge should be posted ASAP after you have been declared the winner.
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Fountain Fun

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …ain%20Fun-X2.jpg&lb=1&s=A

Abuse of Power

At Yellowstone Falls

The Mt. Washington Valley.

Photo from Eidelweiss's gallery.

McGalliard Park, Valdese, NC

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Nine entries this week - that's great!

Thanks to all who participated and helped to make this a fun and interesting challenge.

The winner is Ed - a.k.a. dilorenzo1954 - because of the way the background and his subject are interacting. . The visual connection between subject and background is very strong.

Runners up are Just Whistle, Darkslinger, and TeamSpeed.

I look forward to a new challenge from Ed. . He is certainly no stranger to hosting challenges!

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Hye5 wrote in post #18971749

Hosted photo: posted by Hye5 in
./showthread.php?p=189​71749&i=i257334312
forum: Competitions

I appreciate the point of view from which you took this. . It gives the scene an imposing look, which I'm sure is quite realistic. . It's difficult to capture extreme topography in a way that makes the viewer feel the way you did when you were there, yet you pulled it off very successfully! . Love the "God Rays" ..... don't think I've ever seen them so vertical before!

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just whistle wrote in post #18971811

Hosted photo: posted by just whistle in
./showthread.php?p=189​71811&i=i236527336
forum: Competitions

This is absolutely stunning! . I can only imagine how painstakingly you arranged and positioned that flower so that none of the petals would look awkward. . And your use of color is amazing - such a nice range, but all within the blue palette. . The black background is the perfect backdrop against which to show this perfectly arranged still life. . This image is a brilliant example of fine art.

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dilorenzo1954 wrote in post #18972814
Fountain Fun

Our winner! . Again, I love the way the background and your subject are interacting with one another - what a fun pic!

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Jason C wrote in post #18973054
Abuse of Power

Jason, the car zipping by on the cross street definitely makes for something interesting in the background! . The shutter speed you used created just the right amount of motion blur, so that it is readily apparent to the viewer that the car is in motion. . Thanks for sharing!

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Timphoto wrote in post #18973069
At Yellowstone Falls

Hosted photo: posted by Timphoto in
./showthread.php?p=189​73069&i=i16854135
forum: Competitions

Tim - this is a very interesting image, given the topic of our challenge. . It actually has two backgrounds! . If you consider the photographer to be the main subject, then the group of people that she is photographing is the first background layer, but then we have the famous falls behind them, creating a 2nd background layer. . How cool is that?! . I love to see people enjoying themselves and each other at Yellowstone!

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Eidelweiss wrote in post #18973454
The Mt. Washington Valley.

Gallery photo:
posted by Eidelweiss originally in forum: Competitions

Chris - that's a really beautiful scene! . I like the way the mountain ridges span their way all across the frame. . This gives a sense of endless mountains. . Makes me want to be there!
The snow atop the highest ridge adds so much visual interest to the image. . The foreground forest looks better because that snow is there behind it, and the blue sky looks better because that band of white snow is there to meet it. . When I think of what this scene would look like with no snow, it just isn't the same at all. . That background element is what makes the pic all that it is!

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darkslinger wrote in post #18973751

Hosted photo: posted by darkslinger in
./showthread.php?p=189​73751&i=i193458267
forum: Competitions

This is definitely all about the background! . There is so much going on in the background that I keep looking at the people and objects back there, because there is much to draw the viewer's interest. . I think black & white was definitely the way to go here, as it unifies everything in the frame and keeps the composition from being too "busy", visually.
One thing I like in particular is the person out in the middle of the street - the one holding the bag. . The separation between the bag and her (or his?) body is essential. . If there was not that bit of open space between her leg and the bag, it just wouldn't be nearly as appealing. . Great timing on that!

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TeamSpeed wrote in post #18973773

Hosted photo: posted by TeamSpeed in
./showthread.php?p=189​73773&i=i154266152
forum: Competitions

Cary - this image definitely fits the challenge's theme, as it really is all about the background. . And what a background it is! . The angle from which you shot this causes the ocean to have a very imposing look, and how small and insignificant humans can appear when shown against its power and vastness - I love it!

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OldCrow wrote in post #18974439
McGalliard Park, Valdese, NC

Hosted photo: posted by OldCrow in
./showthread.php?p=189​74439&i=i36352600
forum: Competitions

Don, This photo brings back many fond memories of the days when my friends and I would road-trip around Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, and encounter beautiful old structures such as this. . There is so much history back there - I'm sure that place has many tales to tell! . Is it a mill, or a house, or an inn? . Or did it serve multiple functions back in its heyday?

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Congratulations Ed and to the runners up.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18976601
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. Is it a mill, or a house, or an inn? . Or did it serve multiple functions back in its heyday?
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It was always a family mill as far as I know Tom.

Tom, thank you for the runner up position, and also for your thoughtful commentary and fun challenge! It’s so good to see so many participants. Congrats to Ed, that is such a fun shot! Well done to everyone.

Thanks for the runner up nod Tom! Great pic dilorenzo1954! Interesting comments Tom, I was more focused on the worker with his white shirt staring off down the alley. i didn't even register the person with the bag until you pointed them out...sometimes luck is with you

Thanks for you comments Tom. I was pleased to see you picked up both "backgrounds."