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New to macro, tips for getting black background

Started 6 months ago | Questions thread
c h u n k
c h u n k Senior Member • Posts: 2,042
Re: New to macro, tips for getting black background

Dann-Oh wrote:

Hey all,

Recently I started getting into macro. I am currently using Olympus OMD EM1-3 camera body with either the 60mm F2.8 macro or the 30mm F3.5 macro lenses. I also recently bought the Flashpoint MF12 for macro. I am really enjoying the journey so far, I am still just working with single image files. I have attempted Flowers and Mushroom photos (link the imgur albums)

I am wondering if you guys and gals could help me figure out an easy way to get a black background. I was able to get the black background on the flowers but I has to stop down to F16 (apparently that's too much for micro 4/3 sensors) and then I just basically dumped the black slider to the far left. The flower images were nearly black without a flash so I think I am doing something right.

Is there a better way to get a black background?

Thanks for the tips I look forward to the journey.

Assuming you are thinking of images you see of flowers or mushrooms outside where the bg is dark to black?

Typically, with settings often used in macro, it completely drowns out all ambient light and the subject is lit with flash or, like I know is done with mushrooms a lot, the camera is mounted on a tripod (or tripod alternative) and the mushrooms are light painted with flashlights etc.

I suggest trying that. Set your fstop to f8 - f/10 and shutter speed at max sync which will make everything black, then light what ya want. Kind of funny because I go to lengths to light the background/avoid black backgrounds.

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 c h u n k's gear list:c h u n k's gear list
Canon EOS 70D Canon 6D Mark II Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Tamron AF 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) +7 more
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