Keep an eye on the backdrop

Whether you’re shooting in your garden, or in a park or an arboretum, there are often plenty of distractions in the background to contend with. It’s easy to focus on the colourful star of your shot, but check in the distance for fence posts, tree trunks, signs and people that will be all too noticeable in the final image. A telephoto lens can help to concentrate the view, and makes it easier to conceal distractions – a micro-movement of the camera may be it all it needs. If you’re using a zoom lens, always refocus after you’ve changed the focal length – zooming can cause the focus to shift, and it is often hard to notice this in the viewfinder at the time of shooting. A fairly wide aperture (such as f/4 or f/5.6) also helps to soften distant details.