Low Key Photography: Hey All,...been trying to get the black background without a backdrop. I got a new flash unit for christmas and desided to try again. This time I think I'm close.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

Hey All,...been trying to get the black background without a backdrop. I got a new flash unit for christmas and desided to try again. This time I think I'm close. Any suggestions on the darker shadows? or is that an accepted bi-product?

Black Back ground no back drop

JoboX Loc: Liverpool UK

Lens Cap wrote:

Hey All,...been trying to get the black background without a backdrop. I got a new flash unit for christmas and desided to try again. This time I think I'm close. Any suggestions on the darker shadows? or is that an accepted bi-product?

Depends on what your after... using one speedlight close to subject and between 1/8th and 1/16th power you will get drama with strong hard shadows, If you are going for super detail and no shadows you will end up needing quite a few speedlights to light up the shadow areas but still keeping the background dark...

Your exif data is missing so cant really tell can you post with data to analyse

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Your shot is underexposed.

Remember, it's the DIFFERENCE in background and foreground light that will make this shot...not the overall AMOUNT of light.

You just need to have the light on the flowers 3 or 4 stops ABOVE the light on the background.

Here is a quickie video showing it being done in a lighted room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91gU93J2Q8k

I hope you don't mind...I took a shot at upping the exposure in LR...it turned out fine.

JoboX Loc: Liverpool UK

rpavich wrote:

Your shot is underexposed.

Remember, it's the DIFFERENCE in background and foreground light that will make this shot...not the overall AMOUNT of light.

You just need to have the light on the flowers 3 or 4 stops ABOVE the light on the background.

Here is a quickie video showing it being done in a lighted room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91gU93J2Q8k

I hope you don't mind...I took a shot at upping the exposure in LR...it turned out fine.

The shadow below the petal would only be removed by adding a 2nd speedlight.... the background remains dark if you balance the light fall off rate, Doms video demonstates one light set up with dark shadows not removing strong shadows... enough Light on the subject is the key... Dom has another video explaining further will try to find the link...rpavich you will love this as it makes shooting this type of shot easier you don't have to fumble about in the dark trying to focus if you know what I mean.
1. one light set up
2. two light setup
3. two lights positioning
4 Camera in auto settings
You could also add deflectors to bounce light around...
It depends on how much drama or definition you want in your shot

The background light has nothing to do with this technique... you can have a white background and still get this result and I have used doms technique in strong daylight sun (when we get it) Using high F16-F32

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

JoboX and rpavich

Thanks for your comments. I have watched the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91gU93J2Q8k video (prior) with not much sucess. I have used he settings he suggests, I still see the background in the image.... How far away should I be from the background? ...(I am approx 5 ft) All the info I have gathered online makes sense...I just haven't been able to pull it off....JoboX I hope you can find that other video.....

JoboX Loc: Liverpool UK

Lens Cap wrote:

JoboX and rpavich

Thanks for your comments. I have watched the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91gU93J2Q8k video (prior) with not much sucess. I have used he settings he suggests, I still see the background in the image.... How far away should I be from the background? ...(I am approx 5 ft) All the info I have gathered online makes sense...I just haven't been able to pull it off....JoboX I hope you can find that other video.....

My settings are F22 if you can get higher F32 even better as you will get less light fall off and eliminate the background altogether. (that is your issue if shooting F5)
ISO 100 Shutter 1/200 white balance set to flash, and get the lights in 12 inches from subject / object to start moving forward and back as required... set deflectors below to bounce light if you only have one light. Flash power between 1/16th and 1/8th and see the difference it makes. I will hunt the video in the morning as it is a little past my bedtime and I have work tomorrow

you can get in as close as your lens will focus or move back as far as you want and zoom in, it is the light that sets the shot

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

JoboX wrote:

Dom has another video explaining further will try to find the link...rpavich you will love this as it makes shooting this type of shot easier you don't have to fumble about in the dark trying to focus if you know what I mean.

I'd LOVE to see that if you can find it.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Lens Cap wrote:

Hey All,...been trying to get the black background without a backdrop. I got a new flash unit for christmas and desided to try again. This time I think I'm close. Any suggestions on the darker shadows? or is that an accepted bi-product?

A shot like this can easily be done using one flash. You just have to correct your exposure. As far as the shadows go using a reflector can bounce light into the shadow areas. Any white material will do. You can easily make a reflector by covering a piece of cardboard with a piece of white paper or aluminum foil if you want a stronger amount of light and you have a reflector. Learning how to use simple tools will make you a much better image maker. Learning how to control light will make you an expert image maker. Another thing you can do is diffuse your light source. You can make a cheap diffuser using wax paper. Get an old cheap picture frame and cover it with wax paper and hold it in front of your flash. This will diffuse your flash and give you a softer quality light. You can also use tissue paper or any thin white fabric. Remember, the material you use to diffuse should be a white white. Any colored material will give you a color cast. Have fun experimenting.

JoboX Loc: Liverpool UK

silver wrote:

quote=Lens Cap Hey All,...been trying to get the ... (show quote)

Hi Silver.... what angle would you have the single flash and deflectors set at to get all round light??
I notice the original shot is at about 45 degrees on 2 planes. could you supply an example and setup for 1 light set up with reflectors (nothing major just a quick 5 min setup) as I have struggled with this in the past that is why I have ended up using 3 to get all around light so this would be invaluable to all hedgehoggers.

Do you deflect the light and bounce back to avoid overspill at the varying angles??

Still looking for the Dom video I didn't realise he had done so many... then again it is good to revisit the old videos

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

JoboX, I set up again last night and will upload some of those images (at work right now) to show you but, I noticed something. When I set the Fstop to 22 then set the shutter to say320....When I put the flash on it sets the shutter to 180 and I cant change it higher....is this because of shutter sync?....Is this the problem?

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

Here is one I took yesterday I believe it had a flash...it kicked my shutter down to 180.....and there is plenty of background visable

JoboX Loc: Liverpool UK

Lens Cap wrote:

Here is one I took yesterday I believe it had a flash...it kicked my shutter down to 180.....and there is plenty of background visable

Try reducing the power on the speedlight gradually and make sure you set your in camera flash to manual at about 1/32 or 1/64 the speedlight must be in manual slave mode when you shoot this will trigger the speedlight and not add to the shot.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

JoboX, thanks for your help I will try this later this week....still digging out snow....but thanks for all of your input...I will let you know how I make out....This type of lighing interests me especialy from a portrait point of view....

JoboX Loc: Liverpool UK

Lens Cap wrote:

JoboX, thanks for your help I will try this later this week....still digging out snow....but thanks for all of your input...I will let you know how I make out....This type of lighing interests me especialy from a portrait point of view....

Sorry should have added 1/200 is the max shutter speed and that is more than adequate (unless you have fast synch) so only alter Apeture and light power to balance ...small apeture more speedlight power... large apeture less speedlight power... camera flash well below speedlight flash so it doesnt add to the shot. Keep ISO to 100.. This type of lighting is brilliant for rembrant lighting... you will be amazed with the results,I have taken quite a few with 1 light setups that turn out amazing without any PP. Good luck and keep us posted.

budrakey

Why not just use a piece of black velvet and simplify things? I have done this for years with much success.