As a bit of background for those new to this challenge, the host selects a specific technique to try. The technique may be brand new for some or just a challenge to be creative or practice for others. Previous techniques have covered quite a bit of ground:
1. Low key
2. Motion blur
3. Split toning
4. Flipped reflections
5. Long exposure
6. Professional looking portraits
7. Mini portraits
8. Rim lighting
9. High/fast shutter speed
10. Vintage in modern
11. Double/multiple exposure
12. Forced perspective
13. Zoom burst
14. Multiplicity
15. Panning photography
16. ICM
17. Shaped bokeh
18. B&W
19. High key
20. In the night
21. One-light lighting
22. Refractions
23. Selective color
24. Tilt-shift
25. Into the sun/flare photography
As you can see, the possibilities are endless! It could even be specific techniques in processing. The host is the photographer who won the last challenge.
Technique 26 = Shooting with a White Background
A few weeks ago I found myself taking a lot of photos of vegetables and I ended up shooting a number of them against a white background in order to really put the focus on the color and shape of the vegetable, without any distraction from the background.
Since then I’ve also been noticing a number of portraits that have been done against a plain white background and they definitely have a distinctive look to them.
Apart from the look it gives the actual shot, shooting against a white background also helps isolate the subject, and can make it easier to extract if you want to use it in constructing a composite image.
So, the challenge here is to shoot something with a white background. It can be a person, an object, or a collection of objects (or people), and you can use whatever white background material works for you, natural or artificial lighting to create that lovely white background, or you can use post processing to clean up and brighten your background, or use a combination of all the above.
Here are a few links with more info about shooting with a white background:
These links go from a few simple tips, to more detailed and complex instructions so don’t be intimidated and just make it as complex or simple as you like.
Here are a few samples of photos with white backgrounds that I’ve found on this 365 project:
This challenge starts Sunday, June 1st and will finish Sunday June 15th. Pictures for the challenge should be shot and posted within that time frame. Please tag your photos technique26.
Voting will begin on June 16th and the winner announced on June 19th.
Constructive & kind feedback is encouraged. Feel free to share tips, suggestions or how you were able to get the terrific photo you did. Posting your photo on this thread is encouraged but not required.
To post a photo on this thread:
1) Go to your page that has the photo you would like to post.
2) Find the code located toward the bottom right side of your page. The code is on the right side of the word "share".
Copy that code and paste it in this thread.
I hope you have fun trying this technique and look forward to seeing your photos.
@frantic Yes, for some reason they do not show up as active links and need to be copied and pasted...if someone knows how to make them active please let me know. Also, I notice that if I search for Technique 26 this thread doesn't show up and I'm not sure how to tag a discussion thread so, if anyone knows the trick to that, I'd also appreciate them letting me know.
I think this is perfect given Amazon think that they've patented this - not that I have the specific studio lights or even an 85mm lens or the other gizmos they use! Great choice.
Enter as often as you like as long as the photos were all taken in the specified time frame.
@mcrt Granting that patent was, in my opinion, silly but, it appears to be for a very specific set up...if I were worried about infringing the patent, I'd just have to be sure to turn my lights on in a different order than they specify in their patent description.
@rebecka Yes, sorry, but the pictures have to be taken during the contest time framework. The idea is to encourage people to get the camera out and practice and an already taken shot doesn't really do that.
Well, I think it is white enough for the challenge as this is meant to be a pretty relaxed take on the white background. You could probably lighten it up in post processing if you had a mind to do so.
I am posting this here but I am not sure if I am suppose to use a certain tag on the photo. Could someone tell me if I just need to post here or tag with something.
Finally got my white background. I had the sun behind me and was on the ground shooting up towards the blown out sky with my 105 macro lens. ISO 200, f/3.2, 1/250 second. Underexposed by 2/3 and flash dialed down 2/3 stop. This is the only shot that ended up with the white background to rest were slightly blue still or the flower was blown out also.
For the lighting in this shot I used an iPad app called softbox, I had my husband hold the iPad directly above the balls. This is straight out of camera
@morrisphotos
You need to tag with Technique26 so your photo will show up in the collection of photos for the challenge. After, if you want, you can search technique26 to see all the other photos entered, as not everyone posts them to this thread.
Tweets ahoy!
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If anyone want's to know, I use a mosquito net in front of a window, to get the white background!
Can we have more than one entry?
Enter as often as you like as long as the photos were all taken in the specified time frame.
@mcrt Granting that patent was, in my opinion, silly but, it appears to be for a very specific set up...if I were worried about infringing the patent, I'd just have to be sure to turn my lights on in a different order than they specify in their patent description.
I wanted to try something a little different, kind of liked how this came out.
Another version I tried
Hmmm I got shadows, :-(
I used a 50mm lens and an aperture of f2.5 my shutter speed was 1/500 a second and ISO 250
You need to tag with Technique26 so your photo will show up in the collection of photos for the challenge. After, if you want, you can search technique26 to see all the other photos entered, as not everyone posts them to this thread.