#Black backgrounds how to

Light difference between subject and background.These factors will determine how dark the background will be: If there is too little contrast in a scene when you are squinting at it this will be more noticeable. Highlights will stand out more.īy looking at a scene in this way you will have a type of preview of what your photograph can look like. you will not see much of the detail in the darker areas. To help you see if there will be enough contrast in a scene, squint your eyes and look at the scene. Photo By: Kevin Landwer-Johan Try Squinting! If you prefer natural portrait backgrounds, you can still achieve black backgrounds. In a portrait or still life setup, you control the lighting and background. The most important thing is to see when the light is right. This means more tweaking in post to get a photo with a real dark background. Our cameras are able to record more detail. Think about how you will post process your image beforehand. This is a good skill for any type of photography.

#Black backgrounds how to

You need to understand how to see the difference in the light value that is on your subject and your background.ĭoing this requires that you ignore some of the detail that you can see, so you begin to see more as your camera does. To be able to perceive when you can achieve a photo with a black background you need to know when the light is right. Our cameras are beginning to give results comparable to what we see with our eyes. Nowadays, we are able to make photos with more detail in the shadows and highlights. Early digital cameras and all film were able to capture a more limited range of tones in a single frame. Our modern digital cameras are capable to record a very wide dynamic range. Photo By: Kevin Landwer-Johan Figuring Out When the Light Is Right I had to position the model carefully to hide lights in the tunnel behind her. You don’t actually need too much contrast for dark backgrounds. Yet, If there is contrast, with more light on your subject than on the background, you can still create black backgrounds. If you are looking at a scene with even light and not too much contrast it should be easy to imagine. Then think about how your camera will record it. Consider what you can see based on how the light is falling on your subject. I encourage my students to look at light first. Our eyes see a wider range of tone and light values than our cameras can record in a single exposure. What we see with our eyes and what our cameras record can be very different. What If Your Backgrounds Never Look Black