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06/22/2009 10:32:18 AM · #1 |
I've seen a number of shots with, typically white, pure single colour backgrounds. (The turtle one in the Zoo challenge is a case in point).
How is this acheived? |
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06/22/2009 10:43:18 AM · #2 |
Usually with a white backdrop, and then adjustements to brighten it to a pure white. I did that with some shots for work. I bought a large roll of background paper at a camera store, suspended it from the wall to the floor, with a gentle curve in it, and then selectively adjusted to get rid of the shadows and inconsistent spots. Even lighting is the most difficult part of it.
Message edited by author 2009-06-22 10:45:43. |
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06/22/2009 10:55:58 AM · #3 |
I use at least 2 off-camera flashes. Point one at the backdrop and increase the flash power (or adjust aperture) until the backdrop is over-exposed, without spilling and washing out edge detail on the subject. Use the other flash on the subject.
Then it's a matter of balancing the lighting between the background and the subject to minimise shadows and get a nice even lighting across the whole backdrop
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06/22/2009 11:01:18 AM · #4 |
| thanks folks - kinda guessed it would involve buying more stuff :-) |
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06/22/2009 11:07:55 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by ineedauniquename:
thanks folks - kinda guessed it would involve buying more stuff :-) |
I found it was quicker and easier, and the results looked more realistic when I used the correct lighting technique, as opposed to Photoshop post-processing to remove the background.
tbh, I think my off-camera flash set-up cost about $50 or something. You can use cheap flashes and a couple of remote triggers. Check out strobist for a great intro to off-camera flash techniques. It changed my life ;-) |
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06/22/2009 11:16:22 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by ineedauniquename:
thanks folks - kinda guessed it would involve buying more stuff :-) |
Buy a decent flash for your Nikon, you won't regret it! Especially not with Nikons Creative Ligthing System =) |
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06/22/2009 12:04:39 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by ineedauniquename:
thanks folks - kinda guessed it would involve buying more stuff :-) |
Not neccessarily. Since you are shooting Nikon, you might be using Nikon Capture NX to process your RAW files. If so, then you can very easily change the background using control points like I did here...
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background darkened to black - - - - original with cluttered background
This took only a few minutes to achieve with Nikon Capture NX. I would imagine that the background could have gone the other direction to white also, and maybe even to a colored background although I haven't tried that yet.
If you are not using Capture NX then you might want to consider getting this extremely powerful program. Capture NX2 is out now and I'll will be upgrading to it very soon. |
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06/22/2009 12:12:44 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by JH:
I found it was quicker and easier, and the results looked more realistic when I used the correct lighting technique, as opposed to Photoshop post-processing to remove the background. |
Agreed. The above copier pic was a good effort, but would have been easier with better lighting. I used a combination of on camera flash, bounced from the low ceiling, and the fluorescent lights that were already in the room. I had reflectors to the right and left of the copier. It still took some editing to get the background to this state. |
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06/22/2009 12:12:54 PM · #9 |
this is my setup:
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Message edited by author 2009-06-22 12:15:01. |
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06/22/2009 03:16:23 PM · #10 |
You can always do still life photos that are smaller in scale with a large sheet of paper.
All of these were shot with a piece of paper no bigger than 24" x 36". The two apple shots were window lit with a white piece of paper for a reflection. |
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06/22/2009 05:28:49 PM · #11 |
| Along the same lines of this, if you're going for a black background, black velvet works wonders for absorbing all the light. |
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06/23/2009 11:27:58 AM · #12 |
>>>
Not neccessarily. Since you are shooting Nikon, you might be using Nikon Capture NX to process your RAW files.
<<<
Nice, I've tried Capture NX kinda found the control points to be a bit hit and miss, sometimes they work real good other times they just select circular areas. Presumably it worked for your example because there was very little green or black in the flower.
impressive though, I shall have a play around. Decent flash(s) and lots of carboard etc on the horizon though.
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06/24/2009 05:13:08 PM · #13 |
I usually light my backdrop 1 to 1.5 stops hotter than the foreground. So if I am getting f11 on the background the foreground is from f6.3 to f8.0.
Message edited by author 2009-06-24 17:13:24.
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