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S90: Macro with black background??

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jands

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Using the S90 I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to get a macro shot with a black background. Has anyone succeeded in this?
 
It would really help to know the problems you experience or the results of your efforts to take such a shot.
 
jands said:
Using the S90 I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to get a macro shot with a black background. Has anyone succeeded in this?
Click to expand...
Is the camera having problems focusing? If so, you may not have enough contrast between subject and background for the lens to focus. If this isn't the problem, then please give more info.
 
Sorry, yes, more info.

Experience..complete newbie.

Focusing is not a problem. I just can't get the background black and the subject nicely exposed.

I am supposed to be using a fast shutter speed and small aperture to get this effect.

I have tried it with Ap at f8, Tv at 1/1000, and various settings.

I have also adjusted the flash power from low to bright.

But, I just can't get a nicely exposed subject with a black background.

Could it be that for this I need a smaller aperture than the S90 has (f22 maybe)??
 
You need to apply exposure compensation. The meter will want to overexpose the black to neutral gray so you need to dial in negative compensation. Try -1 or -2 or something in between.
 
Thanks, will work on that.

I just tried some more, and am finding two problems.

With the flash at the lowest setting, I can get a reasonably black background, but the subject is also poorly lit. When I increase the flash to medium, the subject is lit up like a light bulb. I used f8 and 1/1000 for those.
 
What is the black background? Is it reflective or matte? Better that it's matte and absorbs rather than reflect light.

You can try a couple of things. Try spot metering on the subject with no exposure compensation but negative flash exposure compensation.

Or shoot in manual mode at ISO 80 with small aperture and whatever speed gives good exposure.

You can also try using an external light to illuminate the subject and avoid the flash all together.

Lots of ways to so this. It just takes a little experimenting.
 
jands said:
No, there is no background. It is open space. I trying to create to macro shots where the subject is beautifully lit and exposed, and the entire background (space behind the subject) is black.
Click to expand...
Ahh...I misunderstood your problem.

I think the max flash sync on the S90 is 1/500 so that is the fastest shutter speed. You need to make sure the space behind the subject is clear...no walls or objects which will be illuminated by the flash. Stay in ISO 80. Take photos using spot metering and then adjust the flash exposure compensation until the subject looks well exposed. The key is to have nothing in the background for the flash to illuminate and to have a dark room with no ambient light. You can try to shoot in manual at a higher than 1/500 shutter speed to see what happens...I'm not sure if the camera will try to override or not or if the subject won't be properly exposed.
 
Here is a sample I just took with my S70. Dark bathroom but back wall is about 4 feet away from the finger (would be better to be 10 feet away). Using ISO 100. f/8 and my max sync speed is 1/250 so that's what I used in manual mode. Centerweight metering with -2 flash compensation. And when I tried a higher shutter speed, it always came back to 1/250. Please ignore the less than alluring subject.

 
Thanks so much for your help.

Adjusting the flash exposure made a big difference. I took this photo in my office, with the lights on. The background is black, the subject is lit (could be better), but I think I now how to improve it. The only problem now is working on the focusing issue (this one is out of focus).

 
I figured this out for myself with my S90 after seeing this post. Also shooting my finger:) I have it set on manual at 1/500 and F2. Flash set on minimum. Macro. As you can see it's not totally black, mainly because the room is dimly day lit (closed blinds). Darker room would yield blacker background. Second picture is PP'd in Photoshop with the background blackened using levels tool and unsharp mask added. Looks pretty nice for 10 minutes of effort. Now to find something more interesting to shoot than my finger...



PP'd in Photoshop

 
Progress:











Now, I need to take this outside, in daylight, and practice this on bugs siting on leaves. Like this guy is doing:

 
jands said:
Now, I need to take this outside, in daylight, and practice
Click to expand...
Exactly!

When I bought my first SLR years ago (EOS 5) I was expecting all my photos to rival Ansel Adams. Oh how I was sorely disappointed. I bought a couple of books and started to take notes on every shot I took and then bought a mini-cassette recorder and made verbal notes (easier than writing) about each shot and then I debriefed myself when I got the slides back and made more notes.

I still don't come close to Ansel, but I'm a lot better and am happier with my photos. Lots of practice and learning from mistakes.

And digital really makes the process go much more quickly due to instant feedback.

Good luck.
 
here's one way that should work..
I've only read enough to get an idea of your desires.

Firstly.... Shoot at the largest finest the cam will do.

Then move back from the subject,zoom to full,and move the cam as close as possible and still be able to focus..

Set flash at medium (just a starting point) .....

Try shooting at near 1/500 ...

You'll need a dark long empty space behind the subject.....

This should get you exactly what you desire,but for one aspect.

It obviously won't be macro..

You can hope the sharpness will allow a 100% crop,to get in close....

Otherwise the ideal for the dark,and macro function you seek.

You'd need to use a Lens ring flash attachment,which isn't going to work with the S90.

Or that is,not without a lot of jury rigging.....
--
Being blessed with sight,does not bestow seeing.
Sir,Hamington
 
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