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09/10/2005 04:41:48 PM · #1 |
Everybody seems to be doing it - but how is it done? :-)
Like in these shots;
What I'm talking about is that effect of having the main subject isolated in the foreground, and a solid black background behind it with no shadows.
Is this a black cloth draped over something? - What is the subject placed on? What sort of lighting?
In my attempts at this, I think lighting is the key, but any help would be appreciated. |
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09/10/2005 04:43:56 PM · #2 |
I use a piece of flat black felt draped in the background, ideally further from the camera than the camera is from the subject.
 
Message edited by author 2005-09-10 16:45:24. |
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09/10/2005 05:03:18 PM · #3 |
I do about the same as strangeghost, except I use black seamless background paper.
   
It helps if you 'feather' the lighting too. IOW, turn the lights so they light the subject but not the background.
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09/10/2005 05:11:23 PM · #4 |
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09/10/2005 05:16:33 PM · #5 |
| Robert, I hope you got yourself a gallery somewhere. Your stuff is simply awesome. |
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09/10/2005 05:21:56 PM · #6 |
yep, sure do...have to find sometime to update soon, everything in it is pretty old...or get a bigger site...well some day. Thanks, John!
Message edited by author 2005-09-10 17:22:19.
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09/10/2005 05:26:40 PM · #7 |
Thanks for all the replies and advice - And excellent shots! See, I *knew* I needed to learn about black backgrounds :)
Do you normally extend the cloth/paper out so it curves in under the subject (similar to the way studio portrait backdrops work?)
For this one; Are they resting directly on the cloth and the shot taken from above? - Or are you taking them from the front with them supported vertically and the cloth some distance behind?
I like the way there are no background shadows, it makes the masks look like they're floating.
I've been trying straightfoward shots of objects on plain backgrounds (I have sheets of white paper taped together)
I've been playing around with long exposure and light-painting to see how this affects the shot. For example, I had hours of fun last night in a dark room with an 8 second shutter, a maglite, and a speedlight.... :-D |
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09/10/2005 06:34:07 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
Everybody seems to be doing it - but how is it done? :-)
Like in these shots;
....
What I'm talking about is that effect of having the main subject isolated in the foreground, and a solid black background behind it with no shadows.
Is this a black cloth draped over something? - What is the subject placed on? What sort of lighting?
In my attempts at this, I think lighting is the key, but any help would be appreciated. |
Glad you liked mine!
The background for this one is a piece of black cardboard cuved behind the razor, lightning is on the right hand side, paralell to the background so it gets the lowest possible ligth.
You'll need to play hard with levels so you get a real dark black background. Try to get the background as out of focus as feasible so it gets smoother (has no texture) and move the left histogram arrow gently.
Hope it helps. |
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