Distracting elements refer to any visual elements within a photograph that draw the viewer's attention away from the main subject and detract from the overall composition. 

Distracting elements can be anything within the frame that is visually jarring or irrelevant, such as a bright or busy background, bright colours, particularly red, cluttered foreground, or extraneous objects or people. 

They can also include technical issues such as lens flare or motion blur. Distracting elements can make an image feel cluttered or confusing, and can weaken the impact of the main subject. 

To avoid distracting elements, photographers should pay close attention to the composition and framing of their shots, and carefully consider the placement and relationship of all visual elements within the frame. 

Techniques such as selective focus or careful use of depth of field can also help to isolate the main subject and minimize the impact of distracting elements. Post-processing tools such as cropping or cloning can be used to remove or reduce distracting elements after the image has been captured.