Moose Loc: North Carolina

I attended a presentation where the photographer showed several great, award winning photos with a black background. Also, Snowy Egrets on a white background. The background was not added by PP, but was done within the camera. There was some explanation on how he did it, but being the novice I am, I didn't undertand how it was done. Surely it can't be done on a sunny day, or can it? Hopefully, kind folks, you can give me some instruction on how the white or black background is accomplished. Thanks.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I'm not aware of any in camera process that could put a certain background of any kind on any image other than DOF differences. I think what you saw is either shot with the background or is added later but maybe there is something out there I'm not aware of.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

I wish I had taken the time to ask this professional exactly how he did it. I know it was in camera as he detests PP. There was something about setting the aperature based on a shady area, but what he did I don't know. Thanks for your response.

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

Is it possible to take several exposures and put them together in the camera itself? If so maybe that is the way it was being done. Just speculation and bouncing an idea around.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Beyond my understanding. Sounds like PP to me.

J. R. WEEMS Loc: Winchester, Virginia

Detests PP?? I can't help but wonder what he thought a darkroom was for??? Sounds like BS to me. :lol:

AVarley Loc: Central Valley, California

I'm not sure how to "white out" a background in-camera, but I do "blackout backgrounds" using Aperture Priority mode setting. In Aperture Priority mode you open up the aperture ... set it to a low f/number. Move in physically close to the subject you want in focus and have as much distance to any objects behind it possible. If you can shoot from an angle in which the objects behind your flower are darkish in color, when the background blurs, your subject will pop more. Example below taken mid-afternoon, my backyard. This is a potted plant that sits on the patio table. (Blooming so nicely one day, I went out with my camera and experimented a bit.)
I imagine you could try to "white out" a background with same f/stop, longer focal length 200-400mm?, big time daylight, and I bet the camera comes up with something like ISO 100 AND 1/120th give or take. (guessing!)

Koemen Dahlia, aperature priority f/5.6 at 75mm focal length, camera chose: 1/60, ISO 1600 -- produced black background

Moose Loc: North Carolina

Folks, I'm sure that I didn't do a very good job of explaining. A photographer friend of mine, who attended the same presentation, provided the following information. I still do not understand it, but maybe you will and can help me remove the fog from my brain.

"If a background is getting about the same light as the subject (properly metered), it won't be dark or light (unless it is already black or white). Gene likes to setup in a position where the background in in shadows (front to near side lighting), but to avoid the distraction of details in the background, he uses a wide aperture. He wants a background (shade) that is at a lower EV than the subject (sun lit). His exposure only considers the subject. Sunny day=EV 15 with ISO 100, Gray bird= f/4 @1/1600th sec. If you were using auto-exposure (he doesn't), white bird= open up 2 stops (forces 1/7500th sec to go back to 1/1600th: black bird= close down 2 stops (forces 1/640th to go back to 1/1600th). That's why he uses manual f/4 and 1/1600th sec with ISO 100, because, even though you are using spot metering mode, you may not know which color of bird you are going to lock on to.
Cloudy but bright and no shadows is EV13, so open up two stops from Sunny 16 Rule, heavy overcast is EV12, 3 stops, etc. If you shoot at ISO 200, stop down a stop from these."

tinosa Loc: Grand Rapids Michigan

I took this shot a while back.
Flowers in full sun and background in full shade. spot exposure on the flower equals black background.

a little longer exposure reveals some of the real background

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

If he uses Nikon - sounds like he used a multiple exposure - underexpose a dark space make sure nothing is in focus take pic.....change exposure go wait for bird shoot bird......hmmmm I think this guy is pulling your leg.......to use ME's like this would be extraordinarly tedious and difficult....unless the birds are tethered / captive and ain't going anywhere.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Yes all this I get and yet (sight unseen) if the image appears as if the bird is framed against either an all white or all black background that means (to me) that there are at least two shots on one frame.....doable

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

right but neither of these examples demonstrate the point of this thread

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

you would do the same only reversed

Moose Loc: North Carolina

Tinosa, I think you've provided the answer. I do remember him having a setup just like you described, and using spot exposure. I'm assuming that this same process would work with a white background as well. The "pro" said it was a simple process, which you've seem to have proven with your pictures. Did you adjust the EV by -2 or more fstops to make it as close to pure black as possible?

Hope you get a chance to try a white background.
Thanks for getting back.

Moose Loc: North Carolina

He is uses either a Nikon D3 or another pro level Nikon.
I think Tinosa, in the previous response has the answer.
Thanks for getting back. I'm almost sure that this was not a composite of two or more pictures. Thanks for getting back.