We all love a photo that tells a story. In stories we talk about sub plots. Subplots can relate to the main plot and enrich in it many ways.

It can prelude the main plot and help create emotional attachment to the characters. It can contradict the main plot and provide irony. It can resonate with the main plot, making its point stronger.

In photography we have subject and background (or far plain). The background can relate to the subject, in similar ways that a sub plot relates to a main plot.

To illustrate that point I decided to use images with shaped bokeh.

I chose using the shaped bokeh technique for several reasons. Firstly, this technique give a lot of emphasis to the background to begin with. For such an image to be good the background should have some meaning. The second reason I chose Shaped Bokeh is that using it enable you to have (almost) complete creativity control over what show up in your background.

In the 7 images below I will explore the relations between subject and (super-awesome-shaped-bokeh background). 

1. Resonate

In resonanting the main subject is echoed on the backround. Echo can be excat duplicate or a similar object. By amyroseking.

2. Compliment

When complimenting a subject, the background will show somthing that makes the subject more complete, drops Vs. umbrella; headphones Vs. walkman, or in our example, notes Vs. piano.By aliveandclicking.

3. Enlighten

Enlightening sheds light on a scene. The drivers above could have been in any relations, the hearts tell us there are lovers. This method is very popular with the heart shaped bokeh, and will also work with human couples.By jerneedog, jessicamcdade.

4. Counter

Countering helps you change the meaning of the subject. In the image above a monster becomes a lovable doll. By flickrfanmk2007

The hearts on that image cetrently take away some of the fear factor on the scene. By cybr_sonia.

5. Overload

This one's kind of slf explenatory :) By -jzl-.

If you wanna get into shaped bokeh shots see a DIY tutorial here.