black background

[talktoanil]

Hi
how to get a black backgrounds when taking macro shots of flowers?
i have seen many macros having black background, also seen a lot of milk drop experiments and people have black background which makes the splash of milk look good.

so how do they get this perfect black background ?
any tricks ?

Eg Photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29349907@N05/3811429044/
.
like this.how to get such black ?

[flavio]

I use a piece of non-reflective black cotton cloth either outside or in a box I prepared for that purpose. My box has three holes for smooth illumination (top and sides).

That is an amateur workaround for the task. I'm also interested to learn other solutions to the problem.

[mipo]

I use a few yards/meters of black velvet.
Please have a look at the results.

Digital Photography School - Photography Forums - mipo's Album: Orchids

[sjlarue]

What ever is at hand.

I went to a nature photo competition during the spring and I had bought one of those 5in1 reflectors/diffusers on the way down. I wasn't planning on using it for the competition, but one of the pictures that I was looking for as one of my entries was a macro shot of a white trillium. I found it, but the BG was terrible. I thought "I need something black." Then I remembered that the 5in1 was in a black canvas carry bag. It was just the right size and with a little global corrections in CS3, I got second place.



Here's another with the same technique on a different day.



But I am getting some black velvet at some point soon. It is really a better product to use.

[Michael 4c]

I have heard photographers will wear a black jacket and would use that for the backdrop.If you have to travel lite, If not a couple of yards of black Velvet is pretty cheap.

[sjlarue]

Originally Posted by Michael 4c

I have heard photographers will wear a black jacket and would use that for the backdrop.If you have to travel lite, If not a couple of yards of black Velvet is pretty cheap.

I wonder if that is why S. Kelby is always wearing black. I have never seen him in any other color. He's to cheap to buy some felt.

[Elmo]

Using a flash as primary light will generally produce black backgrounds

[davidglevine]

I use a pair of SB-R200 on my camera as light,combinded with a higher shutter speed 1/500 seems pretty good This has the effect of making the background dark if there is no reflective surface close.

This one was taken at 1/160 which was plenty for the dim evening light



This next one at 1/640
But it was a brighter day so some of the background came through, easy fixed in photoshop, I decided I actually like it as it was, Some color burning was added in post.