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LOW KEY PHOTOGRAPHY – Black And White Photography With Sugar And Cup



This video shows you how to create a stunning low key photo using grains of sugar. Ray Scott uses a macro ring flash to freeze the action and incorporates low light angles for long shadows. He also underexposes the images for the low key effect.

When in studio or in the field Ray uses Canon gear. This is a choice he made years ago knowing that he was buying into a system that he could grow into. His go to camera is the Canon EOS 6D with the second camera being a Canon 5D. Lenses used are all L series f/4 except for the 100mm macro f/2.8L lens. They are the 16-35mm f/4L wide angle, 24-105mm f/4 walk around and the 70-200mm f/4L medium telephoto. These lenses round out the kit which is carried about with either a Lowepro Urban Reporter 250 messenger bag for city shooting or a Lowepro Sling Bag for landscape field work. While Ray does more camera handholding than before due to the image stabilization capabilities of his various lenses, he still is a believer in using his Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod. It’s light and it is sturdy. In studio Ray now uses Westcott constant lighting for good clean balanced lighting.

Ray is a firm believer in exposing himself to as much photography and its history as possible. By looking at other people’s photos, he has gained a big appreciation of what this medium has to offer. Ray doesn’t think that “copying” someone else’s style is a good thing but rather feels that exposing oneself to others work can work as a teaching and inspirational tool. With this in mind, Ray has amassed a list of favorite photographers that he uses for inspiration. Some of these artistic photographers are Galen Rowell, Ansel Adams, Frans Lanting, Annie Leibovitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Freeman Patterson, William Neill and Richard Avedon.

One of the playlists on this channel is called “neighbourhood photographer” which covers tutorials shot in urban and suburban areas. It’s always a challenge to see different things of interest when you’ve been to an area many times yet this is the best way to create good images. You need to return to familiar locations many times. To do so, Ray often drives by car to an area but when he really wants to cover ground yet see things more clearly, he uses his bicycle…bike…and explores the given place.

Whether shooting landscape, macro, portrait or abstract images, Ray always tries to be aware of his surroundings to capture the best pictures possible. Part of this workflow means he is very aware of composition and uses various tips, such as the rule of thirds, as a good starting point in composing. He also likes to break rules from time to time to add new effects to his photos. Being aware of angles, shadows, shapes, lines, textures, patterns and colours goes a long way to making good pictures. He is also a big believer in “getting out there” and shooting as much as possible as it is the only way to improve and flex one’s imagination. His message is it doesn’t matter if you do your photography in the city, suburbs country, mountains or by the sea, just make sure you do it and follow your artistic passion.

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50 responses to “LOW KEY PHOTOGRAPHY – Black And White Photography With Sugar And Cup”

  10. I just tried for I think 2.5 hours, and I did it. I almost got the same picture you got. Although the sugar isn't very sharp in my picture, I still thrilled it worked. Thank you for your great tutorials.

  11. Great video. It's good to see you go through what I do too! I suspect you're more patient than me. Definitely going to try a series … adding the milk and then the sugar. Cheers Rob

  20. Great job Ray. Thanks. I might try that but adding milk to the sugar too…. I'm thinking that putting the cup on Perspex and shooting in portrait mode to include the reflection might also be interesting. I'll let you know how I get on…

  21. Great video! Shows exactly how different angles can make an image go from just ok to profound. If you just keep digging, you are bound to strike gold. Love the tutorials on your channel sir.

  37. Hi ray,
    Thanks again for the email you sent me.
    I'm really looking forward to it my friend.
    And if it becomes as you always have it will certainly be a success.
    A heartfelt friendly greeting from the Netherlands,
    Toine

  44. Great project and love your style. For me, I think an extra light shining on the spoon would really make it pop, not too bright, just enough to say, back light the rim of the spoon. What do you think?

  47. I saw the thumbnail for the video and before I read anything I thought "That’s Ray's work." I mean that as a compliment, I think when a photographer has reached a point where his work is instantly recognisable he has achieved something we are all after.

    I remember doing something not dissimilar about five or six years ago when I was on a course. It was a droplet of water hitting a holly berry. It was a macro shot and if you’ve ever tried to catch the moment water hits something you know it requires patience and a small pipettes. I used HSS of about 1/2000 just to get the compressed pre-explosion look.

    An absolutely brilliant video and you final image definitely had the "Wow!" factor. Once again you have inspired me to give it a try. Thank you Ray.

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