p.2 #1 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
I actually mis-read the original premise, think that you were going to want to change backgrounds and based my answer on that. That you want to settle on one extreme or the other is misguided. Why limit yourself and why not do whatever best supports your predetermined vision and more importantly, your subject. And, are you really going to insist on a black background when a client needs something else for how they're going to use the image?
p.2 #3 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
cgardner wrote:
The straight answer would be "none of the above".
Look up the word "hypothetical"......I was presenting such a scenario. Trying to get others input on the matter. If you don't have an answer of either of the choices why cant you just move along.
p.2 #4 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
I'm reminded of the scene in the 1986 film Stand By Me where the boys are sitting around the campfire and someone asks the hypothetical question, "If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?" Vern answers, "That's easy: Pez. Cherry-flavored Pez."
No one needed to point out that adding stawberry and grape to the menu would prevent boredom; no one mentioned that cherry-flavored Pez lack the essential amino acids that the human body can't synthesize, and that a diet exclusively made up of Pez would lead to malnutrition and eventual death; and no one said, "It's a pointless question because one would never be restricted to just one food for the rest of his life."
Instead they just moved on to the next important question: Who would win in a fight; Superman or Mighty Mouse?
p.2 #6 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
RDKirk wrote:
I prefer low-key portraits, so if I had to live with one background, it would be black.
Be interesting to see if any kind of study has ever been done regarding peoples reaction of one to the other. Peter Hurley and Zack Arias almost always use white. Forsomething that is going on the wall, black for something like a headshot for work purposes white...I guess
p.2 #7 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
The background is the other half of the visual experience.
It has to work with the subject and the intent of the image.
More intense lighting with less contrast tends to work better with lighter backgrounds.
Contrasty lighting tends to work better with darker backgrounds.
Limiting one self to one or the other is so far beyond the realm of real photography as to be a non-subject. (in this man's view)
p.2 #8 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
Michaelparris wrote:
Be interesting to see if any kind of study has ever been done regarding peoples reaction of one to the other. Peter Hurley and Zack Arias almost always use white. For something that is going on the wall, black for something like a headshot for work purposes white...I guess
The choice of their background color is specifically dependent on the intended usage.
For head shots, white is cleaner and just looks more presentable. The white isn't distracting, nor does it "weigh down" the image that a head shot on black can. I only shoot head shots on solid black or solid white, but within that, the choice of background is dependent on what the image is going to be used for. When I shoot head shots for actors or corporate, it's on white. If we have a little more creative freedom, or if the client specifically asks for black, we go for black (although I'll sometimes still shoot on white just to cover the bases). For example, I work with musicians. They always say they want a black head shot, but I find they always end up using what we shot on white a majority of the time. It seems to be more adaptable. But they love shooting on black because it has more *pop* which appeals with their inner Rockstar.
Zack shoots on his white seamless setup because he can get tons of mileage out of that format - you can crop close, or you can expand the white horizontally to make posters and flyers, or vertically for flyers and posters as well and also web uses (banners, etc). It's clean, he can shoot head to toe. He shoots on white because the client can get versatility from an image on all white. Plus, you can clip the image better and drop the subject of the image in other things; magazine articles, fake backgrounds, etc. Shooting on white and expanding the border can also make it look like your studio is much larger than it really is. It also helps with perception
When I shoot, I only offer three color options with studio shooting; black, white, or a shade of gray (though I find I avoid mentioning gray as much as possible - I love shooting on white or black. I don't usually offer other color backgrounds, although I can with selected gels should the client inquire.
p.2 #9 · Which do you prefer solid black or pure white BG.
I prefer black in that it provides a certain contrast to color that white just doesn't do as well, at least not for me. When I have a more monotone subject, white seems to serve as a better backdrop. If you were to give me one choice for all of eternity, I choose black.
