CAPTAIN SINBAD
Contributor
Scubaboard! Any tips on how to get a well lit macro subject framed against a dark / black backdrop?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Getting dark backgrounds
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bvanant
Contributor
fastest shutter speed you can sync at, and try to shoot into blank water. A small f stop (high number like f:22) will make any background in the picture in focus and that is not good.
Bill
Bill
As Bill said, try to shoot into blank water. The best way to do that is to get your lens below the subject and point upward into the water column. This nudibranch was on a kelp frond. I held the kelp in front of my port and shot it while pointing upward about 45° with my camera set at f22, 1/250.
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CAPTAIN SINBAD
Contributor
Thanks everyone. Max, what kind of lens were you using in that pic?
Luko
Contributor
Max got it right but sometimes it's difficult to have the critter right on top of the hill that will allow you shoot upwards.
There's also a way to ensure the background will not be lit and kept black.
1- make sure you are at smallest aperture f/18 minimum
2- set your speed the faster you can though allowing to sync your strobe light, typically 1/250s
3 - that's where it's interesting : set your strobes close inside (yes almost looking at you) so that only the front (or back, call it as you wish) edge of the light beam lights up your critter but NOT the background. It's also important that the light doesn't come directly into your lens, hence the strobes need to be positioned roughly parallel to the housing, turned down and towards you. You'll know you have the correct strobe position when you are blinded.
There's also a way to ensure the background will not be lit and kept black.
1- make sure you are at smallest aperture f/18 minimum
2- set your speed the faster you can though allowing to sync your strobe light, typically 1/250s
3 - that's where it's interesting : set your strobes close inside (yes almost looking at you) so that only the front (or back, call it as you wish) edge of the light beam lights up your critter but NOT the background. It's also important that the light doesn't come directly into your lens, hence the strobes need to be positioned roughly parallel to the housing, turned down and towards you. You'll know you have the correct strobe position when you are blinded.
Nikon 60mm with a 1.4 teleconverter. I've been having some luck recently using a 105mm with a 5T close up lens.
As Luco said, you can turn your strobes in if you can't shoot up.
PatW
Contributor
Rather than run a small aperture, I would limit light by running a low ISO setting. A high f stop will result in a loss of resolution because of diffraction.
Thank you for posting this question. It's something I've always wanted to know but have never asked
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