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<blockquote data-quote="BackdoorArts" data-source="post: 277512" data-attributes="member: 9240">Agreed.&nbsp; You don't always want to remove distracting background, particularly when it sets a scene.&nbsp; The key is to make it less distracting.&nbsp; I usually use the brush tool in ACR/LR to selectively lower the contrast and then darken or lighten to the point where it can be seen, but it's almost lost in a vignette (dodge and burn are useful as well).&nbsp; In your example the DoF is sufficient that focus is not a distraction, but in cases where it is I will duplicate the layer and apply a field blur to the photo, add a layer mask, invert it to hide everything and then paint in bokeh where it once wasn't.&nbsp; An example of that from my 365 is a photo I took of a blind artisan caning a chair <a href="http://nikonites.com/project-365-daily-photos/19252-jakes-backdoor-hippie-palooza-2014-edition-23.html#post275248" target="_blank">found in this post</a>.&nbsp; The original background was just too sharp and bright, so I toned it down and softened the focus so that you'd be better drawn to the foreground.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="BackdoorArts, post: 277512, member: 9240"] Agreed. You don't always want to remove distracting background, particularly when it sets a scene. The key is to make it less distracting. I usually use the brush tool in ACR/LR to selectively lower the contrast and then darken or lighten to the point where it can be seen, but it's almost lost in a vignette (dodge and burn are useful as well). In your example the DoF is sufficient that focus is not a distraction, but in cases where it is I will duplicate the layer and apply a field blur to the photo, add a layer mask, invert it to hide everything and then paint in bokeh where it once wasn't. An example of that from my 365 is a photo I took of a blind artisan caning a chair [URL="http://nikonites.com/project-365-daily-photos/19252-jakes-backdoor-hippie-palooza-2014-edition-23.html#post275248"]found in this post[/URL]. The original background was just too sharp and bright, so I toned it down and softened the focus so that you'd be better drawn to the foreground. [/QUOTE]

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