Any suggestions for when background and surrounding foreground are ugly?

[Holland]

I know the blur the background technique using a telephoto lens and large aperture, but what other techniques do you use to deal with background and foregrounds that are less desirable? Are there composition techniques that you've found that work well?

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[Big Mike]

It would really depend on your location and situation. If there is a less-ugly spot use that and do the best with what you have...or move to a new location.

You could shoot upward at your subject and use the sky and the background or shoot down onto your subject and use the ground. Or you could get close and eliminate both the foreground & background.