Black Backgrounds for Underwater Macro
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2024
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This video tutorial shows you how to create black backgrounds in underwater macro photos, along with minimizing backscatter. No special gear is required - just some basic techniques and knowledge.
Contrary to intuition, we can shoot black backgrounds underwater in the middle of the day. The secret lies in composing your subject with open water in the background, careful lighting, and some other adjustments I share in the video.
I use many of the black background graphics in this presentation during photo workshop presentations, so you can think of this video as a personal one-on-one workshop.
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0:12 - Intro
1:18 - 3 Tips for Black Backgrounds
1:40 - Open Water Behind Subject
3:40 - Use a Fast Shutter Speed
4:58 - Precise Strobe Positioning
6:44 - Outro
Thanks for watching!
Brent
#underwaterphotography #macro #tutorial
What other underwater photo techniques do you want to learn?!
How about shooting with a snoot?
@@atlantisdiveresorts Yea! That would be very handy in Dumaguete. Will add it to the list!
Do you know any fish habits that make better pictures. Like some fish sit into the currents, so it is easier to take head on shots.
@@MarcWdives That's a really good idea. There are so many behaviors to look for, just like where different fish species sit in current. Adding it to the list. Now just for some time to film!
@@BrentDurand Can you film it in the next 2 months, I am going to Puerto Gallera in 2 months ;-) Just kidding take your time.
Brent, you are the most well spoken person out there doing tutorials. I appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. I especially like how you show your camera propped into the position you are describing in your video to show what the rig will look like.
Thanks for the feedback Michael - really appreciate it. And totally agree on the strobe positioning diagrams. That's the huge benefit to video and private Skype workshops - you can actually show exactly what you need to do. Maybe one day we'll be able to demonstrate underwater too!
I’m so glad I found you on YT. You do a great job explaining without leaving us with . “ how do you do that? “
Thanks Steven, very kind! Fuel to keep making videos 😎
Thank you, great advice. I'm just about to begin my uw photography moving up from a gopro.
I have bought a used entry level rig compact camera. Looking forward to trying this out
Hi Gary - Taking it to the next level - very exciting! Glad you're finding these videos helpful.
I love your tutorials! Thank you so much. I’ve been shooting an iPhone XS with the kraken case for a while. And finally stepped up my game to a real camera this week and after watching some of your videos I feel like I’ve gotten to the next level! Thanks so much!
Hi Dan - Thanks for the kind words - glad that the tutorials are helping as you learn on the new system. There's a lot here. You can also sign up for my newsletter for news on all new tutorials: tutorials.brentdurand.com/lens-life-newsletter/
Another brilliant video - thanks so much!
Thanks Finn!
Great tutorials Brent...well done always. In this one though, I missed the part where you talked about aperture. I can sync up to 1/250 on my Sony A7r2, but that mean I need to open my aperture on my 90mm macro, which means shallower DOF! Have to decrease the shutter sp, in order to increase that Depth of Field. Sometimes a bit confusing using Shutter sp to blacken background, at the expense of DOF! I guess it the strobe positioning that will save the day for me?
Hi Peter - thanks for the kind words. There are two things to discuss in response to your question.
1) Your photo settings concepts are correct: if you use a fast shutter speed you will need to open the aperture to let in more light, resulting in less depth of field.
2) But.... for underwater macro it doesn't matter if you use both a fast shutter speed AND a high aperture for maximum depth of field. The reason is because your strobe/light is close to the subject and so bright that it lights the entire scene. Since the scene is lit by strobe light you do not need to worry about the lack of ambient light. So yes, strobe positioning will make all the difference for macro here. Below are a couple videos that will help more on these subjects.
Strobe Positioning: th-cam.com/video/YEcbVIgUanY/w-d-xo.html
Exposure: th-cam.com/video/SC6o00h53Xo/w-d-xo.html
Practice Settings at Home (the concepts you mentioned above): th-cam.com/video/121X2vePY5A/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps!
@@BrentDurand Ah, perfect! On the way to. Cozumel at the end of the week and will definitely "macro up" using your tips.. Thanks so much man!! Keep up the great vids...I'm definitely a fan!!
Thanks for the insightful content. How about if I only have a single strobe, is it okay to point it on a similar position as what was mentioned in the video?
Hi Ara, Yes, however you will likely want to reduce the angle so that you create less shadow on the opposite side of the strobe. If you haven't yet, watch the single strobe section of my Strobe Positioning video: th-cam.com/video/YEcbVIgUanY/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps!
Useful and helpful video as always. Thank you so much!
Right now I'm shutting up with a Nikon D780 What lens do you recommend for macro? 60mm or 105mm?
Depends what you're trying to shoot but most divers will go for the 60mm as their first Nikon macro lens.
Brent what od you think of the new tg 7 ? for macro?
Hello
Many thanks and great tuto !
You share potential shutter speed all around 1/200 to 1/320 I could test with my DSLR.
What about the aperture ? Do you fix value close to F16? In ordre to avoid more Light or F8? Or F2.8? To fix blur all around the subject ...
And then in that case I suppose the ISO are automatique?
Thanks in advance
Hi Mike - thanks for the kind words. I always suggesting shooting in manual mode when using strobes. This means your aperture will be fixed, anywhere between f/16 and f/32, depending on the subject, lens, and whether you're using a diopter. F/22 is a good starting point. ISO should also be fixed at 100 or 200 maximum. I've got some more information in the full tutorial here: tutorials.brentdurand.com/how-to-create-black-backgrounds/
Hope this helps!
Very nice and informative tutorials. Learn heaps from watching your videos
Alan Tsang Thanks for the feedback Alan - glad you’re learning from these!
Thanks for sharing the tutorial... very well thoughts Congrats !
Thanks for the kind words. I hope you're able to watch all of the tutorials on the channel!
Hii
Whats the best strobe position when using single strobe for a black background??
I have a very detailed answer and graphics, plus a video on the topic, in this article: tutorials.brentdurand.com/underwater-strobe-positioning/
Hope that helps!
@@BrentDurand thanks brent...the article is really very helpful...ill try the single strobe wide angle and macro during my upcoming dive trip to tioman islands and get back to you for more advice...thanks mate!!
on my sealife micro 3,0 i dont have a shutterspeed but how do i make macro pictures is that still a option?
Yes, just compose a close-up scene, being sure not to get closer than the minimum focus distance, and the auto exposure will take care of the rest. That said, you may need to work the angles and lighting to try and achieve a black background with automatic settings.
@@BrentDurand i can bring the iso down so the background so i can use 2 2500 lights to lighten up the animal right?
@@BrentDurand are you active on instagram or anything?
@@rickpost2846 Yes exactly! This will work well if most of the scene (that the camera uses to meter exposure) is the subject/foreground lit by your lights.
Can you make a video for strobe settings when using fiber optic cables my strobe is Sea&sea ys-1
Born To Dive UAE I’ll try, but it’s tough to find time for this between work and trying to get in the ocean myself!
What about F the aperture? if i'm using canon g7x mark ii and shooting macro, what is the best setting for Aperture and Shutter Speed? thanks
Due to the video specifically talking about black backgrounds as it pertains to macro photography, you will want to be shooting with a very small aperture such as F22. Similarly, with macro photography you want to control that lighting and make it as controlled as possible by your strobes, so you will want the fastest shutter speed that can still sync with your strobes, which is commonly 1/250th.
Tks from Brazil
I learn your content．thank you !
So glad to hear! This helps me to make more videos, thank you!
Would this work for macro video?
Absolutely
This was very helpful. Thanks for teaching me a new thing
You're welcome, Sharif! If you haven't seen it yet, I have many more tutorials on my website at tutorials.brentdurand.com. Enjoy!
Hi! i just starting out underwater photography with a g7x mark 2! I have a flood light and no strobes! is it still possible to achieve such pictures with internal flash ?
Absolutely. You can shoot with the constant light (flood light) or your internal flash. You'll need to be very close for the internal flash and make sure you don't get a shadow from the housing lens port. Good luck!
@@BrentDurand thanks so much XD
thanks for the tips
You're very welcome - hope you find them useful!
🎉thankyou
great - thx
Great tips ! Thanks for sharing 🤙
Never2old-SD thanks! Happy to share these tutorials and the image review videos 👌
thank you sir
You're welcome 🤙
AWESOME!!!
Thanks!
why not mention small aperture? this also increases DOF. good video otherwise :)
A great point! Most folks are using a small aperture when shooting macro anyways and instruction seems less intimidating when minimizing the variables needed for this style shot. But 100% correct on the small apertures.
...and DO NOT take your subject and place it on top of a rock...!
Yes! First and foremost in underwater photography -> don’t harass the marine life!
I learn your content．thank you !
You're welcome!