How to take a photo with a dark background and a prominent subject?

Lead: Some readers asked how to take photos with dark background and prominent subject. In fact, the theory behind it is not difficult, and beginners can easily do it. Now let's learn shooting skills together!

How to take a photo with a dark background and a prominent subject, there are two main skills:

1. Use black background in Studio.

2. Use a flash to "calender" outdoors.

First, the use of black background in the studio.

This should be familiar to everyone, right? In studio, just use black or dark background board/paper, plus flash or studio lighting to illuminate the main body.

However, in order to make the background darker, we can turn off or dim the indoor light source, keep the background as far away from the main body as possible, and avoid flashing lights to illuminate the background. The shutter should also be adjusted quickly to avoid absorbing living light. Flash output and aperture will affect the brightness of the subject, and we can adjust it ourselves.

Remember, in a dark environment, the aperture/flash affects the brightness of the subject and the shutter affects the brightness of the background.

2. "Calendering" outdoors with a flash.

The principle of "calendering" technology is very simple. Use the manual mode (M-Mode) to reduce ISO. First, measure the background, reduce the exposure (the aperture is as small as f/ 16, the shutter is set to 1/250 seconds [please refer to the flash synchronization shutter at the back of the article], and then the background darkens), and then illuminate the subject with the flash, but pay attention, because the background has been decided. The flash needs to use the maximum output (manual11) to make the subject have enough brightness. If the light is not enough, the flash can be moved closer to the main body. In order to make the main body have better effect, it is suggested to use the soft light equipment of flash.

Wait ... if we strengthen the calendering technology, ...

Yes, if we strengthen calendering to darken the background until the background is completely darkened, we can only use flash to fill the light, so as to take photos with dark background on either side!

Pay attention to the flash synchronization shutter speed.

Most cameras also have the maximum "flash synchronous shutter speed", which is usually 1/200 seconds or 1/250 seconds. Our shutter speed must be equal to or less than this number, otherwise the photo will be half black and half bright!