Very nice photos, Lindsey.

Jim

AAAhhhh I'm happy to see a concern for background, very cool
Here's a few tricks to try:
For those of your with focus area options, try using the center focus. Some Cam.'s use multi - focus points as light readings.
For those of you who have film stock options try a slower film speed and place the background in the shade or shadow.
If you have shutter priority, make it faster.
If you have apeture priority, close it down.

These tricks will allow for brighter exposure on your subjects, leaving the blacks or grays, darker.
Remember contrast is good, but with lighting differences, a similiar colour can be used.
Distance the subject from background to reduce shadows or/and soften the light source.



This one being exposed for the yellows, no after effects. In this, notice the yellows seem over exposed.


This one has been colour and Temp. adjusted.


Cropped, exposure dropped, black level increased.

See a few more of my finished projects: http://www.behance.net/AlbertD...

sugarcane said:I'm with Carol on the over the pool ,first shot..beautiful combo of the turquoise and purple with
the texture of the water..nice job, Jim!

I'm with these folks. The water always makes for a more vibrant shot.
If possible bring the exposure down a bit, you should get a little more definition in it. Watch the shadows next time. :)

Hey Jim, try using Photoshop to paint out the wires. It can be some work, but well worth it in the end.