The Strobist and many others recommend using a black tile to place your subject on when doing close up studio photography. It’s great advice, providing you can find one that’s a) big enough and b) not in a pack of 5 for £20! I bought some black cardboard Kassett storage boxes from Ikea recently, and reached for one when testing a studio setup. I just wanted something matte black to stand my subject on but it wasn’t...

Well, here we go. Every blog has to start somewhere and this one starts here. I can’t be certain where this is going to lead, but I do have some ideas, so let’s just roll with it.