An Experiment in Black - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/03/2005 10:55:25 PM · #1

So I have taken a few shots with black poster paper and dark rooms and such, but nothing has given me a background that *stays* black but remains noticable (doesn't quite become black negative space). I have been considering spending the money on a few yards of black velvet, but wanted to see what around the house I could work with to just test some things out on.

I remembered that I had gotten a very nice black fleece blanket from one of our customers (we service the hotel industry) and figured that would be good to work with if I spent the time to really clean up any stray hair and such. But what to shoot on it?

ME: How about your really black, somewhat mirrored sunglasses?

Myself: OK, that could be interesting.

ME: And under the hot halogens with the slaves as fill too...

Myself: Yeah, whatever.

I: Go get Mike and take a reflection shot while you're at it.

Myself: Your pushing it. He'll never help.

But off I go to try anyway.

Here's the result. I'm not especially happy with it, as the sunglasses are chipped, the blanket had dog hair, the black unblacked some and my ineptitude with curves is REALLY starting to bunch up my shorts. So the reflections came out somewhat solarized/posterized. Anyone know where I can get more than a flash-in-the-pan page worth of information on how to best use curves and decide what's too much/too little?

Oh yeah, hopin' for comments too! ;-)
Jan 3 pic a day: Sunglasses@Night.

Message edited by author 2005-01-03 22:56:42.

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

01/03/2005 11:55:09 PM · #2

this is a good idea, and the reflections don't look solarized on my monitor.. but i'm not sure if this monitor is properly calibrated. given that, the only things i would say are that you might be able to clone out that dust/hair that you mentioned, and i feel like the black sunglasses blending straight into the black background creates a sense of confusion. i think this may be a hard thing to pull off considering the precise lighting that may be needed to pull off a strong contrast (unless that's not your main concern), but i know one of my favorites on this site is a black on black by DrJOnes, called Plastic Surgery (won't link, to avoid derailing/hijacking the thread). i could be entirely off, as i think this monitor tends toward the dark side (not unlike darth vader... okay, lame joke)

Message edited by author 2005-01-03 23:59:22.

parrothead

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

01/03/2005 11:57:44 PM · #3

Post the original arc.

01/04/2005 09:10:13 PM · #4

Here is the original.
Straight from RAW, converted to 640@72dpi, saved for web.

Happy Coloring and thanx for helping out!

01/08/2005 07:54:36 PM · #5

Revisiting this one after learning about photoshop burn/dodge mask layers. I think this came out closer to my original vision. It's still a banged up subject tho. Oh, yes. Playing with marquee borders as well, just for the heck of it.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

01/08/2005 08:04:30 PM · #6

I think it looks pretty cool, but I hate that border.
The expression of the guy on the right side (for the viewer) is great. It reminds moe of Bob Sapp from K1. :)

Edit: Hey, that's you isn't it. :)

Message edited by author 2005-01-08 20:06:34.