Black Is Definately Better!

[stanleo]

I just rescaped my 29g aquarium. Took some very good advice from Joshwainwright (thanks Josh!) and went with an all black background instead of the aquascape one I was using. The difference was striking! I also rearranged some of my plants. What do you think?
 
Before

 
After

 

[Mikey1]

i personally like the before

 

[Brilly91]

Id have to agree, the before looks better in my opinion.

 

[JenJ]

Hmm...I'm not sure, the black does look a little murky. How about painting the back blue? Keeps some of the brightness without the busyness of the old background?

 

[NeonBlueLeon]

I personally love the black background.  The reason is the scaped background draws attention away from the point of interest, in this case, your scape.  The black background allows your artwork to stand out!  With the scaped background, I feel like there's just too much color and an uncontrolled visual depth.  Like in music, "Anyone can play a lot of notes, but a true artist knows when not to play a note."
 
Nice work!

 

[Zikofski]

aaw no the black is definably better in my opinion brings out the colour of the plants and wood stunning tank good job

 

[KirkyArcher]

I like your black background too but then I'm just a tad bias 

 

[stanleo]

Thanks for the comments. Kirky, I love your tank. Very active with all the fish.
 
JenJ, I actually also made a blue background but I liked how the colors popped better with the black. I might spend a week with the black and then spend a week with the blue to see which I like better but I have a feeling that the black is my fave

 

[daizeUK]

I like black backgrounds. 
 
I find that they don't always work well with camera flash as it can appear washed-out.  I'm trying to take more of my photos with a tripod and no flash, then you can really see how a deep black background really does make plants pop.
 
I also find that black can seem to make reflections worse in a brightly lit room, I'm trying to work out how to solve this problem as I love a dark tank but I get loads of reflections!

 

[garyspence84]

Yip, black background does it for me. Looks awesome! Much better. Your tank has a lot more definition now with your plants and fish. Can actually see your scape now (which looks good by the way).

I painted the back of my tank with black gloss a few months ago and I wish I done it years ago!

 

[Lunar Jetman]

This just reminds me of HHGTTG...

"Every time you try to operate one of these weird black controls, which are labelled in black on a black background, a small black light lights up black to let you know you've done it."

 

[Zikofski]

off topic a tad but @daizeUK the reflections are caused by the glass, not the black but the black just amplifies them like the plants , i find the only way to eliminate that is to close curtains turn lights off, i am using a tripod DSLR and i dont use my flash either if you can play with settings in manual just play around if not without flash on its own in auto will work just make sure the focal part is on the tank not above or below

 

[DreamertK]

I'd like to add to the DSLR - +tripod, possibly use aperture priority maybe 6.4 and if the fish become blurry switch to shutter priority of 1/30 or 1/45. Will really bring out those natural shadows. If it's just a point+shoot, I'm not too sure how to direct you on that one except possibly using photoshop to darken the image a bit. The flash is extremely distracting.
 
I really like the new planting arrangement - moving the little ones in front as opposed to around the tree, less busy on the right side with those taller ones moved back.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Definitely like the black background and plants arranged. Very striking and dramatic. 

 

[stanleo]

Thanks for the camera tips! I have a small tabletop tripod and will try to use that. Thanks also for all the compliments. This site has helped me out a lot!