A good background can be as simple as a blank canvas that makes your subject stand out, or it can have something to say about the environment, light, or whatever you want really. Usually it should not overpower your main subject. Instead it should play the supporting role.
To my mind a good background is one of the key features that distinguishes a disposable snapshot from something you can be proud of and revisit again and again.
For this challenge you may post up to three of your own photos with your favorite backgrounds. You can post all at once, or one at a time. All photos need to be of garden subjects, flowers, insects, birds, fungi and so on. No humans or pets, please.
Although not mandatory, Including some details on how and why the image was shot is meriting, so is any post processing notes. All pictures must be at least 1000 pixels wide.
The price is mostly fame, but I will distribute 25, 15, and 10 acorns respectively from my personal stash on the top 3 photographers. Only one price per contender. Even if your photo doesn't win, I will highlight all images that I find exceptional, so you will still get noticed.
I will be the sole judge of this little informal contest. As such the contest is not open to me or Joshua, but all others are encouraged to come and play:
UPDATED:
Thanks to Asa's, Charlotte's and Dirt's most generous donations, the new photo prices are:
85 acorns for the winner
55 for second place
36 for third place
Example images:
A plain and simple background. Orange-tip Butterfly on tulip 'Brown Sugar'.
Nikon D300 + Sigma 150 macro, ISO 200, 1/2 s, f/11, Tripod, uncropped
Sunset colors. The gradient in the background sets the mood.
Muscari botryoides
Nikon D300 + Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR+ 1.7 TC, ISO 200, 1/30 s, f/4.8, Tripod, uncropped
Bokeh. Backlight bleeding through the canopy in my garden. Iris 'Fuori dal Coro'
Nikon D300 + Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR+ 1.7 TC, ISO 200, 1/13 s s, f/11, Tripod, uncropped
Let the fun begin!
