A good picture tells you a story. Maybe it makes you feel happy, sad, hopeful or confused. As a photographer, the trick is to use the tools at your disposal to tell that story.
All the photos in the image below were taken on the same day. They are actually the same stalk of flowers, yet they look so different, and each one tells a different story.
My favorite image is definitely the one in the center. I love the rich contrast of the yellow flowers against the blue sky. It feels like summer. In contrast, to me the image in the upper right, with the lighter background has a feeling of hope, this sense of reaching upward.
Is it better to fuzz out the background or leave it crisp and clear? I guess it depends on what you really want the viewer to see.
