Ok so how is this done?

[r1rider01]

I've searched for days on here and can't really figure out how this is done.

Your subject (person, fruit, thing, etcc..) in the forground is lit up and clear as can be, but the background is pure black or mostly black.

Same goes for creating say ebay images, so you have either a clear black or white background?

Is it all PP?

If you have links please post them, really interested in these types of shots.

Thanks

[BuddhaPi]

black backdrop perhaps or white

[Dennismc]

backdrops, proper lighting.

On product shots, usually done in a light box. Three sides and back are covered, in white, and the whole thing is lite up bright.

Its all about lighting and placement of lights. Lots to read and understand on that subject alone.

You can make a solid black background appear pure white just by blowing it out with a light during the shot even..

[r1rider01]

Well i have a lightbox...but it has grey and blue backdrop only. I used it yesterday and i could see all the strands from the backdrop fibers....maybe i didn't have enough lights....but then again, to much light and my item will reflect all the light (photographing a 3GS to sell).

trial and error i guess

[dakwegmo]

It could be any number of things, or a combination of them. In essence, you're controlling the exposure of your exposing for your subject, while either over- or under-exposing the background.

For a black background, you would underexpose the background, and for a white background you would over-expose it. You'll get a lot cleaner results if you start with a neutral background, but you could have a gray background, and with properly controlled flash, make it appear either white or black in your shot.

Another option is to simply put the subject against a black or white background. Also, there is likely some post processing involved, but not necessarily.

[Jim Poor]

Black background is simple. Move the subject far enough away from everything that the flash doesn't hit it.


This was done on a gray background. The only changes in post were to remove part of her body on the left.





For white background, I recommend Zack Arias and his tutorial on white seamless.

zarias.com :: The blog of editorial photographer Zack Arias White Seamless Tutorial :: Part 1 :: Gear & Space It's six or seven parts long and easily adaptable to products if you pay attention.

This was done on a white background:

[RichardTaylor]

It can be both.
It is the lighting and background.

(1) Shot at a garden nursery with a P&S camera.
The back ground was a white canvas awning with a little bit of hazy sky in the corner, along with a few faint distracting elements.
The distracting elements were cloned out and a curves adjust applied to turn the "slightly creamy" background to white.

Camera Canon PowerShot G11
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 6.1 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

(2) Entirely in camera.
In our garden in broad daylight on a bright sunny day.
Exposure was selected to kill the daylight, especially that on the background. .
The real aperture was approx 2 stops less as I was shooting at 1:1 with a macro lens.
Lighting provided by a diffused off camera flash.


Camera Canon EOS 350D Digital
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200) Maximum synch speed
Aperture f/29.0
Focal Length 100 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Fired

(3) Shot in our family room.
In camera only with a probably bit of a curves tweak when PPing.
Sheet of black paper was used as a backdrop.
Available light, window on the left and a white reflector on the right.

Camera Canon EOS 5D
Exposure 1
Aperture f/22.0
Focal Length 105 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

(4) All in camera. Shot on a suburban street.
Available backlight. The backround was in dark shaddow.

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture f/4
Focal Length 180 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Flash did not fire

The other alternative, especially for smaller subjects, is to use a light
tent. I have never used one.

[AnonymousKiwi1]

This shot was taken in my garden, mid morning, bright sunlight.
I had only had my DSLR for a short time when I took this photo, so it was set on Auto. Lucky me, the camera exposed for the mantis out in the bright light. The tree behind was only lightly shadowed, but this was the result. And I was thrilled.



Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 105 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias -5/3 EV
Flash No Flash

[r1rider01]

Thanks guys...i'll do some more playing around.