How do you get a dark background in a low key image?

[rob-nikon]

I've found some Black Swans that are local to me, and I've been trying to get a low key image of the Black Swan but i've been struggling to get a dark enough background without any distracting elements to it. So far I've got an image I'm happy with but the background has really been produced in Lightroom 4 by adding negative exposure using the adjustment brush.


Low Key Black Swan at Woburn by Rob'81, on Flickr

What I would really like to do would be get it right in camera rather than in post processing. This has made me think what would be the best way to do this, so far I have thought of a few ideas. A small DoF using a wide open aperture, using a polariser to cut light reflecting off the water and background or the possible use of flash to illuminate the swan but not the background. I've never used flash for nature photography and I'm not sure if I like the idea of using it.

I was wondering if anyone could give me a little point in the right direction with this.

 

[Pookeyhead]

The only way to do this in camera is actually have a dark background, or shoot the swan against a darker background, but have a big difference in lighting between the swan and back ground. If the swan was lit by sunlight, but the background was in shade, that would do it. There's no other way. If you imagine that the swan was out in the middle of a pond, lit my sunlight... but the opposite shore was a copse of trees in the shade.. that would give the effect you want, but it would still probably need some adjustment in post process to get it truly black.

 

[Phil V]

The only way to do this in camera is actually have a dark background, or shoot the swan against a darker background, but have a big difference in lighting between the swan and back groud. If the swan was lit by sunlight, but the background was in shade, that would do it. There's no other way.

There's no other way...
Except flash!

I like the shot, it looks good on my iphone screen but to get that in camera, the circumstances would be quite rare., described above by David

And the flash couldn't just be on camera either, to get that nice rim light would take some effort, probably an assistant with a monopod or longer pole, and no guarantee the swan wouldn't be upset by a long pole in the vicinity.

 

[Pookeyhead]

There's no other way...
Except flash!

Would look a bit flat unless it's off camera flash.. and that may be tricky... but yes, you could. I have no real problem with what he's actually done, except the swan would look great rim lit... but that's a case of just being in the right place, and the right time, with the right light... not really something you can plan for.

 

[david357]

Agree with David and Phil, but you could try to swing things in your favour for a better in-camera shot by visiting the pond/lake river either early in the morning or late afternoon, and shooting the swan with the sun behind it - that would give a nice rim-lit image.

Then it depends what the background is, down purely to luck, but if it happens to be a copse or hill, you would have just what you want.

 

[Phil V]

Agree with David and Phil, but you could try to swing things in your favour for a better in-camera shot by visiting the pond/lake river either early in the morning or late afternoon, and shooting the swan with the sun behind it - that would give a nice rim-lit image.

Then it depends what the background is, down purely to luck, but if it happens to be a copse or hill, you would have just what you want.

Thinking about this. A compass, the right time of day, bread and a bit of luck might get you close.
If you've got a smartphone, the photographers ephemeris or separate apps for compass and sunset times.

 

[arclight]

Helps if you can find somewhere with a naturally dark background (e.g. large conifers) that is also in shade. If you can get that with sun or strong light falling on your subject the background will underexpose.

 

[rob-nikon]

Thanks for all the replies, I think you are all right that's is time of day and finding areas in shade for the background. The pond is quite small (about 40m x 80m) and I get all around it so hopefully I can get the sun in the right place.