A New Technique

[yairh20]

I learned a new technique a couple of months ago and tried it out and i'm finally putting the picture up. What I did was, my cousin was with me on this hike and he was wearing a black shirt so i had him stand behind the flower and had his shirt out of focus to give this black BG look.



C&C welcome.

[Shooter Tiff]

That looks great. there are a couple of things on the flower that are a little distracting.
Is this all natural light then?
I'll have to try that technique.

[yairh20]

yes it's all natural light, and what distracting things are there on the flower?

[mjs1973]

A great technique! I started doing this a couple years ago, after reading about a National Geographic photog who carried a piece of black velvet with him when he went to shoot in the rain forest. The next time I went to the store, I picked up a piece of black felt to carry in my bag. I have since picked up a couple yards of black velvet. It a little heavier than the felt so I don't take it with me very often, but I do use it for shooting lots of things in my "studio". The velvet really soaks up the light much better than the felt. I will take it outside with me to shoot flowers in the yard. I just hang it over a lawn chair behind the flowers and shoot away.

I really like this photo. The colors really stand out on the black BG, and I like the lighting on the flower.

[yairh20]

thank you for the idea about the velvet, next time i pass a fabric store i'll pick some up.

[susaan]

Love that you left the bug in,-good idea,will try the cloth in back,thanks.

[Frog]

I use a folding black thing, I got from Ben Franklin but it would be difficult to hike with so the velvet sounds like a good idea.
I think your flower needs more space at top but is otherwise good.

[drg]

Many photographers carry a black jacket (windbreaker or the like) or a T-shirt. I've resorted to leather jackets even when needed.
There are folding reflectors that have black matte side whcih lets you cover all the bases from background to fill reflector!

Nice composition, could use a more Depth of Field.

[Shooter Tiff]

yes it's all natural light, and what distracting things are there on the flower?

there is something in the purple part on the left hand side and in the white in the middle. I can't quite make out what they are.

[yairh20]

Shooter, they are two tiny flies. Frog, the BG is compleatly black, all i have to do is go into photoshop and add some black on the top!

[Don Schaeffer]

Black shirt must have been hot. But you are clever.

[yairh20]

thank you, and don, he almost dehidrated, probobly should have brought water. ;)