This contest is going to emphasize an often neglected aspect of photography, the background. Backgrounds can be used to compliment the entire result or to draw attention to certain aspects of the subject. Some backgrounds can even be distracting and lower viewers' opinions.

Your goal is to take a picture of a static object on an entirely black background. The only colors should be that of the subject, and the solid black background. The photo has to be taken with a real background (So no post-editing to remove the background and make it black!)

If you are looking for some inspiration, check out this contest we had on Pxleyes 3 years ago.

PS: It's very important to vote on every entry, the more votes we get, the more accurate the rankings will be. Also, when you see something on someone's entry that can be improved, let them know. That way, we can learn new skills from each other!

PS #2: the user profile pages have been updated, check them out by clicking on a person's name!

Staaan avatarLevel 20
Staaan

If you have any questions/suggestions/comments about this contest, reply to this comment!

Good luck! 👇

Olga.L avatarLevel 17Bronze awardGold awardGold award
1 out of 38
66%

Seduction created by Olga.L

Oftentimes when I go to shoot flowers I take a black muslin cloth stretched over cardboard to place behind the flowers as this eliminates the background busyness. This is how I got the black background in this photograph.

13 reactions
Olga.L avatarLevel 17Gold awardGold awardSilver award
2 out of 38
65%

The Champ created by Olga.L

6 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12Bronze awardSilver award
3 out of 38
65%

Fuchsia created by Vibeke

9 reactions
eugen avatarLevel 7Bronze award
4 out of 38
65%

Surreal repair created by eugen

4 reactions
eugen avatarLevel 7Bronze award
5 out of 38
65%

The end created by eugen

8 reactions
eugen avatarLevel 7
6 out of 38
64%

Sweet still life created by eugen

6 reactions
Olga.L avatarLevel 17Diamond award
7 out of 38
63%

Lunch created by Olga.L

Olga.L avatarLevel 17
8 out of 38
63%

Dancer created by Olga.L

2 reactions
eugen avatarLevel 7
9 out of 38
63%

Lights and shadows created by eugen

7 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16
10 out of 38
61%

Catman's armour created by Zizounai

2 reactions
kyricom avatarLevel 13
11 out of 38
61%

Moment of Impact created by kyricom

2 reactions
iquraishi avatarLevel 9
12 out of 38
59%

scream! created by iquraishi

my nephew!

2 reactions
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
13 out of 38
59%

Dance of Love created by Wayne-Cheah

2 reactions
Olga.L avatarLevel 17
14 out of 38
59%

Exotica created by Olga.L

Zizounai avatarLevel 16
15 out of 38
58%

Wired created by Zizounai

2 reactions
TroyMcClure avatarLevel 8
16 out of 38
57%

Double portrait created by TroyMcClure

Mother and daughter

3 reactions
MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
17 out of 38
57%

Coffee Money created by MyMindsEye

4 reactions
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
18 out of 38
57%

Music of the Night created by Wayne-Cheah

5 reactions
Olga.L avatarLevel 17
Olga.L

This post stopped me in my tracks and I love the creative expression you have shown. I personally see an aesthetic beauty to this image with the smooth oval curve juxtaposed against the white ivory keys which are in contrast sharp...sharp and smooth, very nice. The lighting and exposure are well handled although there is a bit of blowout on her back (Upper R)with soft movement shown in the wisps of hair teasing our eyes in the corner. Through this image, you have shared with us your interpretation of what Music of the Night is all about and it is up to us to delve deeper into it and exercise our imaginations. Thank you.

1 reaction
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
Wayne-Cheah replied to Olga.L :

Thanks for your even more creative interpretation. The "model" is my daughter, BTW. She was playing the piano in a black dress and I saw the "creative" opportunity.

1 reaction
Olga.L avatarLevel 17
Olga.L replied to Wayne-Cheah :

...........and you succeeded!

kyricom avatarLevel 13
kyricom

This is a very nice shot!

1 reaction
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
Wayne-Cheah replied to kyricom :

Thanks.

Vibeke avatarLevel 12
19 out of 38
57%

Girls having fun created by Vibeke

6 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16
20 out of 38
57%

The Eye created by Zizounai

4 reactions
Vibeke avatarLevel 12
21 out of 38
57%

Fairy Michelia created by Vibeke

eugen avatarLevel 7
22 out of 38
57%

At the end of the day... created by eugen

3 reactions
iquraishi avatarLevel 9
23 out of 38
56%

Swag! 100%! created by iquraishi

2 reactions
kyricom avatarLevel 13Silver awardSilver awardHeart award
24 out of 38
56%

Calla Lily created by kyricom

3 reactions
Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
25 out of 38
56%

Dark Novel created by Wayne-Cheah

aipics avatarLevel 8
26 out of 38
55%

Bee and the flower created by aipics

1 reaction
kyricom avatarLevel 13
27 out of 38
55%

Out of the Dark created by kyricom

1 reaction
Vibeke avatarLevel 12
28 out of 38
55%

Neighbours Cat created by Vibeke

MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
29 out of 38
55%

High Heel created by MyMindsEye

kyricom avatarLevel 13
30 out of 38
55%

Slice of the Moon created by kyricom

MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
31 out of 38
54%

Retired Professional created by MyMindsEye

Wayne-Cheah avatarLevel 12
32 out of 38
53%

Olé! created by Wayne-Cheah

MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
33 out of 38
53%

First? created by MyMindsEye

Vibeke avatarLevel 12
34 out of 38
53%

Chrysanthemums created by Vibeke

MyMindsEye avatarLevel 12
35 out of 38
52%

Rack-em. created by MyMindsEye

Merlin avatarLevel 16
36 out of 38
51%

Fireworks in my garden created by Merlin

3 reactions
Zizounai avatarLevel 16
37 out of 38
51%

Lady bug, lady bug created by Zizounai

Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home, Your house in on fire and your children are gone, All except one and that's little Ann, For she crept under the frying pan...

kyricom avatarLevel 13
38 out of 38
46%

Friendly Pooch created by kyricom

1 reaction

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