Black Plexy

Black Plexiglas is highly reflective, and it adds a dynamic element to many kinds of images. You have to provide enough light on the subject so the reflection is discernable, and it’s also important to make sure the surface of the Plexiglas is clean and free of scratches. This kind of material shows scratches readily, so handle it very carefully.

Plexiglas comes in 4 x 8 feet sheets, but most plastics suppliers will cut it down for you. I find that a quarter of the sheet -- 2 x 4 feet -- is a good size for a great many subjects. The thickness I use is 1/8 inch which keeps the cost and the weight down.

Protective adhesive paper protects both sides of the Plexiglas, and I remove just one piece of paper. Because black Plexy is opaque, you can’t see through the material. Removing only one of the protective adhesive papers means you can use that side for photography while the other side remains protected. If and when the exposed side of the Plexy gets scuffed or scratched, you can then remove the paper from the other side. In this way, you can extend the life of the material for photographic purposes.

The portrait of my young model, below, was

taken with a small softbox with a moderately priced flash head from Paul C. Buff. It created very diffused butterfly lighting (which refers to the subtle butterfly-like shadow beneath the nose). The softbox was placed in front of and above the girl, and I was careful to avoid any unwanted reflections from the lightsource in the Plexy. That’s one thing you have to be aware of: Plexiglas is just like a mirror in that it reflects everything. Even though it’s black, the surface of it is as reflective as a sheet of glass or a mirror. It shows everything.

For the tarantula below, I used a ringflash mounted on the camera because the light that emanates from this kind of flash unit envelopes the arachnid with light. Notice the ventral side -- the portion we can see -- has good detail. An overhead softbox or a portable flash would have left the underside of the spider in shadow that would have blended with the Plexy. I photographed the rose with illumination from a softbox. In this situation, because the flower was lying on the Plexiglas, I made sure the weight of the rose didn’t push down too much on the petals and the green leaves. This is a concern with delicate flowers because their shape can be distorted. I actually used a small, rectangular pencil eraser on which the flower rested. That elevated the flower just enough so the petals and the leaves weren’t distorted by the weight of the flower. §

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October 6 - 13, 2022

UPCOMING PHOTO WORKSHOPS

Snowy Owl Workshop

Upclose and personal encounters with these stunning birds in flight. Learn how to expose for white on white wintry conditions.

January 5 - 9, 2023

Winter Wildlife Workshop

Photograph beautiful North American mammals plus a snow leopard in natural environments. Mountain lions, red foxes, arctic foxes, bobcats, lynx, wolves and more are in their full winter coats. This is a very special workshop.

January 17 - 21, 2023

Carnival in Venice Workshop

Photograph outrageous costumes in a medieval environment! Incredible colors, design, and creativity in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Learn how to use off-camera flash, photograph models in sumptuous interiors, produce great images at night, and all the while enjoying Italian cuisine. This is a workshop not to be missed!

February 12 - 18, 2023