AusBonsai

I posted a photo of this Rosemary about a month ago and today I intended to take another because there were a few more flowers out. I thought I would use two different background colours to see if there were any marked benefits in one colour over another.
I was using a blue (or blueish) background for a number of years but a storm put paid to that. I then moved to black for a short period and most recently I have been using a grey background.
Anyway, first up is the grey.

The flowers looked a bit washed out and the jins and shari didn't really stand out. So I tried the black.
I thought it was interesting.

Massive difference! It is interesting, hey. Really changed the look completely to a fuller looking tree with the flowers really putting on a show! Very cool and a good tip for the future.

The darker background definitely wins this contest. In saying that, I've seen way too many people use black badly. I'm pleased to see that your tree is well lit without losing detail. Often a dark grey is a good option as well....

Can you pull back and show us a view of the surrounding environment, so people can get a hint on how to best utilise the light please?

As an example, here's one from Sergio Cuan. Very dramatic, but yours looks more like natural light, yes?

Hi Watto
A general rule that's easy to follow is to contrast the colour your high-lighting, eg; [flowers, foliage, wood]
Its just the colour on the opposite side of a colour wheel.
Simple choices are always best which is probably why most people go to black or white.
However contrasting all your flowering trees means you'll have to whip up lots more backdrops.
Good luck with finding time to do that.

I don't think I will have all the colours of the rainbow to use Robb but another blue could be on the menu.
Mel - I take all my photos outside and if you see my pre-crop photos they are a bit "cluttered". Just because you and I are mates I will show you, but don't show anyone else. I do need to wait until the sun is in an OK place before taking the photos though.

It may be more due to light/sun position etc.. given they are outside shots rather than the backgrounds but I actually like the contrast/texture in the pot on the first image Watto ... it seems to have flattened out a bit in the one with the black background. I still think the darker background gives the tree a boost though. I have said it before, but I really like your rosemary(s). Always nice to see them.

Thanks Watto, I promise I won't show anyone.

I thought that you'd taken the shot outside, it's pretty tough getting such good overall light, and I commend you!

I have always liked a black back ground makeS the trees pop in any colour. Great looking Rosemary too
Cheers
Kirky

Dark grey looks good without the harshness of black


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Nice pics watto and thanks for the added info
choosing the right background is always a compromise

Ken

x2 for dark grey. The tree stands out, but the intensity of the black is no longer a dominating feature.

Gavin

I normally use grey as it is a neutral colour and brings out the highlights and shadows in the subject.

If I use black, the lighting for the subject is more difficult to achieve a similar result.It does give it more contrast if the lighting is correct.

The attached photo has a grey background and if it were black I would loose a lot of detail in the subject.

Black does have the advantage of reducing shadows from a flash but if you printed the photo it uses lots of black ink.

Peter

Thankyou all for your contributions, all very worthy.
The reason I asked was that for me, the grey background makes the pot look better and the foliage is better, I think. With the black the deadwood and the flowers look better. So it is always a compromise trying to highlight a particular aspect of the tree.
I think it also worth noting that exhibitions are all a bit bland with the choices of background colour, something for exhibition organisers to think about hopefully.