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(Dark Photography refers to photos with dark colors and tones. It’s sometimes called low-key
photography.)
Taking beautiful dark photos may seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.
In this article, you’ll discover eight secrets for gorgeous dark photos.
It might be confusing.
But if you want to capture stunning dark photos…
Here’s why:
In dark photography, you want to give your subject a subtle glow. But you don’t want your subject to be
completely illuminated.
A single light source is perfect for dark photography.
Plus, you can adjust a single light source–so that it shows only part of your subject.
Your light source can be anything: a flash, a strobe, a window, even a streetlight. All of these can be used for
gorgeous dark photography.
Now, you need to be careful about how you position your light.
Bottom line?
You have to capture details in the light areas of your photos–and render the dark areas of your photos a rich
black.
First, make sure you have the ISO set low (in the ISO 50 to ISO 200 range). This will prevent the shot from
becoming grainy.
Finally…
You see, the RAW file format is far better at capturing detail. Especially in areas of transition between light
and dark.
With RAW, you’ll be able to lighten the main parts of your image–creating that gorgeous, dramatic dark
photography look that everyone loves.
RAW allows for you to do a lot with post processing.
So:
Carefully underexpose.
(If you struggling to change any of these camera settings, check your camera manual–it’ll give detailed
instructions.)
Why?
In dark photography, you’re often working in low-light conditions. And a tripod is essential for stopping
camera shake.
This will allow you to take photos without touching your camera.
And it’ll stop any camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button.
(If you don’t want to purchase a remote trigger, don’t worry. You can also use the self-timer feature on your
camera. This will allow you to trigger the shutter in advance.)
Just remember:
In fact, not using a dark background is probably the single easiest way to ruin your dark photos.
Or it can be artificial:
A small board.
In fact, an artificial black background is perfect for on-the-fly dark photography. You just place it behind your
subject, and–voila!–you can take some gorgeous low-key photos.
A simple black background is the key to beautiful low-key photography. Photo by Mathew Macquarrie.
The background doesn’t have to be expensive. You can use a piece of black fabric. Or you can paint a small
board.
Basically, you just need something lightweight–which you can easily place behind your subject.
This way, the light can fall on the subject–without lightening the background.
The rule of thirds states that the best compositions place the subject off center.
Specifically, you should place the subject a third of the way into the photo.
Now, the rule of thirds comes with some helpful gridlines, shown below:
Notice how the tulip stem runs along a gridline–and the tulip petals are positioned at a gridline intersection.
The key is to frame the photo so your subject lies along a gridline–or sits at the intersection of two gridlines.
If you can do this, your dark photography will look so much better.
I’d also recommend you leave some empty space around your subject.
You see, negative space gives your subject room to breathe. And it draws attention to the main subject of the
image–making the photo far more powerful.
This spoon is placed a third of the way into the frame–and the photo has a lot of negative space. Photo by Mike Kenneally.
Because you want to evoke an emotion in the viewer. You want to draw them in.
Then think about how you can convey that mood. Use all of the tools that you have at your disposal: lighting,
composition, background, and more.
For instance, you can use lighting to create different types of drama.
The light in this photo gives a mystical feel.
A more subtle light will give a mysterious feel. Whereas a brighter strobe will create a deeply dramatic scene.
But…
Did you know that you can get some ultra-creative dark photos at night?
At night, you already have a black background. The key is to find a light source.
For instance, look for streetlights. Then wait for someone to walk underneath them–before taking the shot!
Car headlights can also work well.
You can even take some shots using neon lights–which you can find in storefront windows.
In fact, I recommend getting creative with other light sources. Try flashlights, campfires, lighters, and more.
Now, you’ll need to make sure the light source is quite close to your subject. Otherwise, your subject will be a
bit too dark–and this will ruin your images.
Nothing major.
Or, for a more subtle look, simply drop the black slider.
You also need to brighten the subject (so that they’ll stand out).
Use post-processing to darken the background and make your subject pop. Photo by Kev Costello.
Now, these adjustments are basic. You can do them in any post-processing app or program.
Just remember: