Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

How can you subdue a highly saturated background?

1. By increasing the distance from the subject

2. By blocking the light reaching the background

3. By adding more colors

4. By reducing the size of the background

The correct answer is: By blocking the light reaching the background

Blocking the light reaching the background is an effective method to subdue a highly saturated background. This technique works by limiting the intensity of light that illuminates the background elements, thereby reducing their visual impact and vibrancy. When less light hits the background, the colors become less intensified and more subdued, creating a more harmonious balance with the subject in the foreground. This is particularly useful when you want to ensure the subject stands out and the background does not distract from the focal point of the photo. Increasing the distance from the subject can affect perspective and depth of field but does not inherently change the saturation of the background. Adding more colors would actually enhance the saturation rather than subduing it. Reducing the size of the background could create a more compact frame, but it does not address the saturation directly. Therefore, blocking the light is the most effective and targeted approach for managing a highly saturated background.