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11/27/2008 06:34:36 PM · #1 |
Being a poor college student, I cant afford a professional studio setup. I'd like to experiment with portraits, and I was wondering if y'all had any advice on what I could buy to make a backdrop (for cheap). I was thinking I could buy a couple of yards of black velvet or some kind of textured fabric? I know that is really pathetic, but I'm just trying to improvise here...
Any suggestions? I just want to take simple portraits, nothing too fancy. I'd like a plain black background.
Thanks! |
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11/27/2008 06:42:37 PM · #2 |
Katie
Everyone starts somewhere. not everyone on this site is a Rich, highly succesful photographer (and those that are often remember what it was like to start out.)
Black velvet. I have seen it used by many and works well for the dramatic shot. A good start and many people like that backdrop as well.
Also, search some of the past threads. There was one a while ago about people buying material and making their own, as then they could customise the colours to what they wanted. They were doing 3m by 6m backdrops (full length etc) cheap, and getting some great results. Maybe someone will remember the link........ |
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11/27/2008 06:49:54 PM · #3 |
thanks for the quick response. We're going by hobby lobby tomorrow and I will definitely find some black velvet and try it out.
Thanks again =) |
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11/27/2008 09:23:09 PM · #4 |
Check this thread.
Message edited by author 2008-11-28 02:24:11. |
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11/28/2008 04:48:23 AM · #5 |
light is the key to photography. Can you light well/properly? If not the bg there is won't help much.
Some creative thinking and you can often just use the room in you're in as the bg.
lowes sells a 4x8 sheet of melamine coverd masonite for $10 in the paneling department. it can be used as -is for high key or painted.
collect pop cans or CDs and assemble a BG out of them
go to walmart or ikea and look at bed sheets - a queen flat sheet can be had for $5-10 and works well.
While you're there check out the curtain department - you're looking for 'sheers' - white see thru curtains.
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11/28/2008 04:54:03 AM · #6 |
fabric store, good will store, art department at school, may have cheap bg.
being a student it is a challenge but you have to do the "Heart Break Ridge" theme...improvise, adapt, overcome.
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11/28/2008 07:21:09 AM · #7 |
| I've been experimenting with digital backdrops. A steady hand, some useful technique lessons and a couple of digital downloads (Day3 Digital), and I can now have whatever backdrop I want at the switch of a layer. |
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11/28/2008 07:25:24 AM · #8 |
| If you're going to be shooting some headshot/closeup type of pictures, while at Hobby Lobby, go over to the poster board section. They have some good sized boards with all sorts of colors, and cost something like $6 each. |
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11/28/2008 07:41:43 AM · #9 |
Not meaning to hijack, but.....
Has anyone heard from  idnic lately. I notice her last post was two months ago??
I got so used seeing her on threads like this one, that it seems odd not to see a post from her.
Message edited by author 2008-11-28 12:43:43. |
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11/28/2008 02:15:47 PM · #10 |
[thumb]742692[/thumb]You can try my wall paper idea.. i do not recomend using super glue though..... all Lowes are getting rid of their wall paper so you can pic up the rolls for 5 dollars each I used mine on panel but dont recomend it, the paper doesn't stuck so I superglued it, cause that was all I had handy and.. am very impatient.. glue worked, just lost some skin in the process..
Message edited by author 2008-11-28 19:18:23. |
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11/28/2008 02:21:41 PM · #11 |
My backdrops?
One black bedsheet.
One white one.
I think I paid about 12 dollars for the pair of em at Walmart. I also bought a couple of clamps to hold them to the rafters in my basement.
I need another light for the white one but the black one works really well. White is nice because you can use gels over your light source to change the color. Cost? Sample packs are free if you are patient are they are the perfect size for use on flashes. You can also purchase a sample pack at some camera stores. (5 dollars or so?)
Message edited by author 2008-11-28 19:22:11.
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11/28/2008 02:34:00 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Citadel:
My backdrops?
One black bedsheet.
One white one.
I think I paid about 12 dollars for the pair of em at Walmart. I also bought a couple of clamps to hold them to the rafters in my basement.
I need another light for the white one but the black one works really well. White is nice because you can use gels over your light source to change the color. Cost? Sample packs are free if you are patient are they are the perfect size for use on flashes. You can also purchase a sample pack at some camera stores. (5 dollars or so?) |
Everytime i have tried a sheet you can tell it's a sheet.. can i see some that yall have done with a basic white and black sheet?. I used material from the hobby lobby to do this one, this is the 1st and only I think one that I used material for. I didn't think it was bad for the 1st time and where and how I did it.. now you want to tak DYI riggs.. this one was.. everything down to the iorn on sticky tape cause I can't sew to make it bigger... then I cloned the seam out.. haha |
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11/28/2008 02:43:04 PM · #13 |
With white you need to throw a lot of light at it. I generally don't use white (here anyways) except for advanced editing challenges so I can brighten up the background considerably.
eg.
With this image you can see my editing if you look closely so I totally agree with the "I can tell there's a sheet there" statement.
Like I said, I need another flash so I can brighten up the background adequately. Hmm...now that I think of it, I do have another flash now. I guess I need to get another stand. :)
I keep hearing about using paper but I have yet to find anything big enough.
Message edited by author 2008-11-28 19:44:47.
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11/28/2008 02:54:43 PM · #14 |
I bought some white cotton fabric a while back and have used it once. I haven't gotten a good look at the results yet, but it was good enough to be edited to look good. I found an awesome wide panel of black velvet at Hobby Lobby but I didn't get it cause i'm cheap =0. I think that's the truth of the matter. I'm not poor, I'm cheap.
Anywaayyyy thanks for all the suggestions, I'm definitely going to keep them in mind.
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11/28/2008 02:57:41 PM · #15 |
I don't think any one has mention Strobist in this thread but they are a great resource for inexpensive and portable lighting. I think they have some good info on backgrounds too if I am not mistaken. //strobist.blogspot.com/
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11/28/2008 02:59:22 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Citadel:
With white you need to throw a lot of light at it. I generally don't use white (here anyways) except for advanced editing challenges so I can brighten up the background considerably.
eg.
With this image you can see my editing if you look closely so I totally agree with the "I can tell there's a sheet there" statement.
Like I said, I need another flash so I can brighten up the background adequately. Hmm...now that I think of it, I do have another flash now. I guess I need to get another stand. :)
I keep hearing about using paper but I have yet to find anything big enough. |
if you try out the paper, let me know how that works, I have seen online how you can get a roll for like 20-25 bucks.. |
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11/28/2008 06:01:17 PM · #17 |
| You could get rolls of 8, 10, or 12 foot rolls of white photo paper, hang a shower curtain rod. Or just use a plain white wall in your house to create sharp contrast of an out line of your subject. Then you can create any back drop in photo shop, back lite it in layers then drag who or what you shoot in to the scene you shot. |
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