southpawboston

i wouldn't go that far, but i have found that the best backdrops for photographing bikes are solid backgrounds that contrast with the color of the bike. for example, don't photograph a dark bike against a shade-tree background. likewise, don't photograph a white bike in the sun. backgrounds with complex patterns like picket fences can obscure the lines of the bike. the best photos of bikes i've seen are taken against a solid backdrop like a sheet.

i spent hours trying to get good bike pics against a "pretty" grassy/tree filled background. they usually come out poorly. now i just photograph my bikes against the side of my rather unsightly house, but the solid blue background contrasts well with most bikes.