Tomwils wrote:
I applied all the suggestions provided in response to the original post and this is what I came up with. The ISO must have been pretty high, too high, but I don't see it in the EXIF. I used a blackboard background, tripod, and remote shutter release. Now, I love the result, but going to 100% shows a lot of noise that I didn't see. I never look at a photo at more than full screen. The printed photo on 8.5 x 11 looks great, in my inexperienced opinion. Anyway, as always, critiques welcome.
I don't think that is noise in the background. I think that, because of the very high ISO you are picking up detail in the background. When I go for a blacked out look, I use a dark or black background; but I also select my subject and then paint the background black in photoshop. Sometimes you can get the same effect without painting by selecting the background and then reducing the exposure to the background. It has to be pretty dark from the start to work with this method. I would suggest an ISO setting somewhere in the 200-400 range or less since you are indoors and using a tripod. Having said all that I like your photo. The whites are a bit overpowering to me; but you are getting there.