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How to shoot Black Background video? – with light only on the subject
I understand there are some issues when shooting with a black background.
We want to shoot a single subject with (probably) a single light… on a totally black set…
We are looking for the dramatic effect of highlighting the subject with a totally black background.
1 – What are the issues when shooting with a totally black background?
2 – We have tried using black fabric as the background but it never really looks black… and any imperfection reflects light… what are some tips to get this effect?
3 – I see people on TV all the time with black backgrounds… only the subject is lit… how do they do this?
Thanks for any info.
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4 Replies
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Is this a full body shot or a head & shoulders shot or something in between?
If it’s not a full body shot, consider shooting at night (as long as you don’t live in the city, that is). Odds are that you can get creative enough with your camera angles that you won’t need a backdrop.
If you do need the fabric though, just like shooting for chromakey, the trick is to get the fabric back far enough from the talent so that no light spills on it.
HTH. -
As Mike mentioned, get the subject as far away from the backdrop as possible. When lighting the subject, be sure to light from the side and flag off the spill light so it won’t fall on the backdrop. If the subject is looking directly into the camera, you’ll need light from both sides (unless you’re going for the dramatic look); if they’re looking to one side, light them from the direction they are looking. Move the lights around to get the look you want.
Good Luck
Mark
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when I was a working still photographer I had2 basic backrounds. Black and pure white. This way I could adjust lighting to get lots of shades and grades inbetween.
I found black backround paper to be a pure black (at least it used to be 25 years ago). Light from the side and as Mike stated keep the light off the backround. You migh even consider using a small fill from the back high and angeled down to seperate hair and outline the subject. You might even need 2 one per side set at about a 45 degree angle from the subject. That will help seperate the subject from the backround but the first thing is to get the subject off the backround no less than 5 or 6 feet. Then set your key light almost 90 degrees to the side of the subject. Set you fill about 45 to 60 degrees on the other side of the subject and if need be use something small and weak at the camera to use as a catch light (puts a little sparkle in the eyes and helps to define the nose). Keep the lighting off the backround and look at it thru a monitor to see what you get. Adjust as necessary. IIRC the seamless paper backround paper comes in 12 foot rolls. Should be enough width but you canalways hang 2 pieces and overlap the seam a couple of inches an tape it together from the back. Used to do it all the time.
TEST TEST TEST before the shoot.
Don -
I bought about a half a bolt of black felt-like cloth from a fabric store. It sucks up light big time. As this thread has suggested, I will move it further back and get an even blacker background.
ken wood
camarillo, ca
the states
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