DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Flowers with Black Background

Started 5 months ago | Photos
Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Flowers with Black Background
3

Thanks to all the suggestions from this group on my previous post. I took a lot of want you suggested and took it into the field. This past week I captured a few flowers on my family walks. I am really happy with how they turned out. Olympus OMD EM1-3 with Olympus 60mm macro and Goddox TT330 with a 1/4 CTO gel on the flash. I believe I had the flash on the hot shoe.

Take a look and let me know if you see room for improvements, C&C is welcomed.

Thanks for looking, and until next time........

-- hide signature --

I take photos, not particularly good photos, mostly abstract photos. Yeah abstract is what I would call them, you might call them blurry.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
ken_in_nh Senior Member • Posts: 2,399
Re: Flowers with Black Background

Why the fascination with black backgrounds.  I find them ok for studio photography,  but in the field???

BSiler Contributing Member • Posts: 762
Re: Flowers with Black Background

Nice shots! The first one is a little too dark for me, but the others are great. I gathered from your post that you may have a means of shooting with the flash off-camera. If that's not the case, then I'd recommend a hot shoe cable like this one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1244608-REG/vello_ocs_op3ii_off_camera_ttl_flash_cord.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=CjwKCAjwtKmaBhBMEiwAyINuwC4jStO6gbpsnn3UuK4A4RWOGyyj0LSd3D-PktdDMrVDBHmC50JwTRoCjjcQAvD_BwE

A cable like that is easy to take into the field and especially easy to use with the cameral on a small tripod.  Repositioning a hand-held flash gives you a way to easily experiment with light coming from different directions and different distances.

Have fun!

 BSiler's gear list:BSiler's gear list
Nikon Z7 II Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm F2.8G IF-ED VR Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III Nikon 500mm F5.6E PF Nikon Z 24-70mm F4 +2 more
BlueRay2 Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816
Re: Flowers with Black Background

in my opinion, there is nothing like natural light and a good macro lens - no flash. i have purchased a great Canon flash a few years ago and never touched it because i rather use the available ambient light, even in the weddings. sorry to say this but your photos seem to be underexposed and dull on my laptop screen.

-- hide signature --

The eye sees all but the mind shows us what we want. w, Shakespeare

OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Flowers with Black Background

ken_in_nh wrote:

Why the fascination with black backgrounds. I find them ok for studio photography, but in the field???

Welp, I recently started to use the flash I bought a year or so ago.  I figured I would try to learn how to control the ambient light while shooting outside on a sunny day (which seems to be about 95% of the time where I live).

-- hide signature --

I take photos, not particularly good photos, mostly abstract photos. Yeah abstract is what I would call them, you might call them blurry.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Flowers with Black Background
1

BSiler wrote:

Nice shots! The first one is a little too dark for me, but the others are great. I gathered from your post that you may have a means of shooting with the flash off-camera. If that's not the case, then I'd recommend a hot shoe cable like this one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1244608-REG/vello_ocs_op3ii_off_camera_ttl_flash_cord.html?ap=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=CjwKCAjwtKmaBhBMEiwAyINuwC4jStO6gbpsnn3UuK4A4RWOGyyj0LSd3D-PktdDMrVDBHmC50JwTRoCjjcQAvD_BwE

A cable like that is easy to take into the field and especially easy to use with the cameral on a small tripod. Repositioning a hand-held flash gives you a way to easily experiment with light coming from different directions and different distances.

Have fun!

I would agree the first image is underexposed. Yes I have a wireless trigger for the flash, Godox X2T trigger and Godox TT350 flash.  I'm still learning how to use them but its a fun learning process.

-- hide signature --

I take photos, not particularly good photos, mostly abstract photos. Yeah abstract is what I would call them, you might call them blurry.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Flowers with Black Background

BlueRay2 wrote:

in my opinion, there is nothing like natural light and a good macro lens - no flash. i have purchased a great Canon flash a few years ago and never touched it because i rather use the available ambient light, even in the weddings. sorry to say this but your photos seem to be underexposed and dull on my laptop screen.

I agree the use of natural light can and does produce amazing results.

-- hide signature --

I take photos, not particularly good photos, mostly abstract photos. Yeah abstract is what I would call them, you might call them blurry.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
richj20 Forum Pro • Posts: 10,181
Re: Flowers with Black Background

Dann-Oh wrote:

Take a look and let me know if you see room for improvements, C&C is welcomed.

Those are nice flowers. A couple are a bit underexposed.

For a variety of framing, consider giving a bit more room around the flower.

And including another part of the plant.

-- hide signature --
ken_in_nh Senior Member • Posts: 2,399
Re: Flowers with Black Background

Love the second one...

ken_in_nh Senior Member • Posts: 2,399
Re: Flowers with Black Background

Dann-Oh wrote:

ken_in_nh wrote:

Why the fascination with black backgrounds. I find them ok for studio photography, but in the field???

Welp, I recently started to use the flash I bought a year or so ago. I figured I would try to learn how to control the ambient light while shooting outside on a sunny day (which seems to be about 95% of the time where I live).

OK.  Makes sense, but make some with ambient light, too, then compare.  Black vs natural background is a personal taste consideration of course.  No right answer.

OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Flowers with Black Background

ken_in_nh wrote:

Dann-Oh wrote:

ken_in_nh wrote:

Why the fascination with black backgrounds. I find them ok for studio photography, but in the field???

Welp, I recently started to use the flash I bought a year or so ago. I figured I would try to learn how to control the ambient light while shooting outside on a sunny day (which seems to be about 95% of the time where I live).

OK. Makes sense, but make some with ambient light, too, then compare. Black vs natural background is a personal taste consideration of course. No right answer.

Agreed. The good thing is these plants are on our family evening walk route so I get the opportunity to take a look at the flowers nearly daily.

-- hide signature --

I take photos, not particularly good photos, mostly abstract photos. Yeah abstract is what I would call them, you might call them blurry.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Flowers with Black Background

richj20 wrote:

Dann-Oh wrote:

Take a look and let me know if you see room for improvements, C&C is welcomed.

Those are nice flowers. A couple are a bit underexposed.

For a variety of framing, consider giving a bit more room around the flower.

And including another part of the plant.

Oh wow, the Cereus Peruvianus (the flower looks like the Dragon Fruit we have at my place). We have not had the fruits split open like that.  Ill have to bug my neighbors about photographing some of their various cactus, I think one has a Beaver Tail and another has a Madagascar Palm.

-- hide signature --

I take photos, not particularly good photos, mostly abstract photos. Yeah abstract is what I would call them, you might call them blurry.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
richj20 Forum Pro • Posts: 10,181
Re: Flowers with Black Background

ken_in_nh wrote:

Love the second one...

They are very photogenic flowers!

-- hide signature --
richj20 Forum Pro • Posts: 10,181
Re: Flowers with Black Background

Dann-Oh wrote:

Oh wow, the Cereus Peruvianus (the flower looks like the Dragon Fruit we have at my place). We have not had the fruits split open like that.

I haven't seen many fruits open that wide in my garden (I had four plants at that time).

Ill have to bug my neighbors about photographing some of their various cactus, I think one has a Beaver Tail and another has a Madagascar Palm.

Cactus flowers are wonderful to photograph. Especially the ones that open at night. Against a black background they are quite spectacular.

It's fun to photograph them in their stages of opening.

-- hide signature --
Rodger in Edmonton
Rodger in Edmonton Veteran Member • Posts: 4,599
Re: Flowers with Black Background

You have sound ideas and good subjects, avoid border clutter and distractions in the dark areas

Try light painting in bulb  with something like a small Coast white LED pen light - IMHO you will find much more appealing textures and tones.

You can go to minimum focus distance no pablum. Its not my first BBQ and some of my best flower shots are light painted - check it out - if you want some examples let me know .

it gives a3 d charm that flash cannot.

Put the flower in a dark room with black paper background at have at it.

It really works well and each shot has its own character, I usually use a 100 - 200 ISO for max flexibility of time and exposure.

-- hide signature --

Best Regards, Rodger
Save Lives - Be an Organ or Stem Cell Donor.
Quaecumque vera

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads