National Geographic photos

[SDguy]

Does anyone here get National Geographic magazine? Have you noticed this trend of using stark white backgrounds in their photos? I first saw this horrible idea in an article about hummingbirds. It was awful. All the birds looked like they were cutouts. Now, in the latest issue, nudibranchs on plain white backgrounds. Yuck. It looks like the photos were taken in a studio on white canvas Is this some popular photography trend that I don't know about?

 

[J. Montgomery]

I thought the nudibranch pictures were cool.

I don't have a subscription, but someone linked to the website in another thread.

 

[SDguy]

Really? I mean, sure, the actual nudis themselves were great, but......imagine your avatar subject on a white background....

 

[abereefur]

i went to the website and saw what you're talking about... the white shots are too unnatural. there's a couple on black backgrounds that look better.

 

[jwedehase]

For those who don't want to spend the time to find the link:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/nudibranchs/doubilet-photography

I actually don't mind it. I like being able to see the nudibranch in its entirety, without camouflage or any other visual distraction.

 

[Phyl]

Yeah, Hi-Key photography has hit the aquarium industry, I guess! I think they look very cool. Unnatural (of course), but still cool.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12588146#post12588146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Phyl
Unnatural (of course), but still cool.

Maybe that's just my issue with it....it's sterile/unnatural.

FWIW, I think it looks worse in print than online....

 

[Toddrtrex]

At first I didn't mind them, but then when I saw the other pictures that didn't have the white background I really started to dislike the white ones.

 

[caseyjones]

At the end of that issue was a behind the scenes on how they got the nudi pics and you are right, he had a portable underwater studio which is mainly a large white box. I thought the pics were pretty cool.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I thought they did a great job. Photography comes in many mediums, and the final display is very crucial. Perhaps you should explore other techniques to make your pictures photographs.

 

[Viaje]

I didn't have any problem with the black background, if I had done that, it would have been to express exactly how lovely the animals were. The simplicity of the photographs does a great job showing how easy it is to make nudibranchs look jawdropping.

 

[BrandonS]

This trend, I believe, started in Europe for portrait pictures.

 

[this is me]

I do quite a bit of portrait work.
These hi-key and low-key portrait of nudibranch work for me.

 

[kar93]

I like the way the white background shows off the colours but it doesn't really do it for me. I think black would have been better.

 

[FishDad2]

I think they look cool but prefer the natural look as a general rule. This style is fine on occasion, particularly to highlight something as peculiar to the general public as nudibranchs.

That said though, I can see myself getting tired of the white backgrounds once the novelty of it wears off.