Kodiak Brown Bear COY captured by Z 9 / Z600f4TC w/Z2x
The background is where we place our subject, the stage for our star! It is an essential element in telling the story, filling in the holes, and telling the viewer whatever it is we feel needs to be said about the subject. It can make the subject pop or blend, obvious or mysterious. Can we use it for scale? Most folks know the size of a gull, so all those Glaucous-winged Gulls not only make this COY (cub of the year) visually pop, but tell ya it’s small. Real small! The salmon it has could do that too, but the size of a salmon is not only not commonly known, but they range in size themselves (this is a Pink). The challenge is the DoF, enough so you know they are gulls, but not so much that all those eyes and yellow bills grab your eye. When you are afforded the opportunity, ask yourself, background for scale?