How important is it to have a black or white ceiling in a studio? I'm looking at space right now where the previous tennant had an odd pink/plum tone there, but the landlord is carping about not painting again. The rest of the walls are white, which is fine.
Also, there is industrial carpeting in the space. Is putting down plexiglass over this an option to start? Or will I ruin mass amounts of paper if I do?
I think it depends on ceiling height. I have a 9ft. white ceiling in my studio. It causes a few problems and limitations, but I can work around it. It is an accoustic tile ceiling and I'm thinking about stapling black paper to it to minimize light bounce.
Unless you have a hard surface under the paper, you'll go thru a ton of paper. High heels take a massive toll on paper if carpet is underneath. I have a laminate floor laid on top of the commercial grade carpet. It was inexpensive, easy to lay, and can be used along with a backdrop for a different look (see page 243 for a sample).
This was shot with the laminate floor along with black paper as a background.
I'm in an apartment with typical beige walls and they were causing me troubles. I bought black fabric and hung it so it would cover the ceiling and walls when needed. They are easily removed when not needed.
They are not totally blackout but effectively eliminate and colorization caused by the rooms walls.
I get much deeper shadows since installation. I would much rather have the option of filling shadows than have the room do it for me in an uncontrolled manner.
I do know that John E. has carpeting in his studio and he puts paper down and then covers it with Plexiglas.
I find the laminate flooring offers different possibilities for looks as Ken has shown. Funny, I too have a shot of a woman sitting on the floor holding her knees but with white paper behind.
I do have some issues with the white walls and ceiling and am planning to install a black curtain around the perimeter of the room that I can draw to where I need it.
Thanks guys. The ceiling in the studio I'm looking at is about 14-15 feet high. Not sure if I'll be able to get it painted or not. Very hard surface, though - so stapling is not an option. Any other ideas? how about hanging a thin black sheet or some such?
I'll make sure I get black curtains for the perimeter.
if you hang paper/fabric/etc. on the ceiling or walls, make sure you can take them down or gather them up. i remember that a cool look for a dorm when i was in college (decades ago) was to hang a parachute on the ceiling, which glowed when the ceiling lights were turned on. but it was an incredible fire hazard....
BlueEyesPhoto wrote:
Now here's a weird one . . . Since a lot of people use their garage as a studio, has anyone tried using a storage unit? Like one of the AC ones? I know my brother used to use one for band practice, so I don't think something as unbtrusive as a studio would be a problem . . . but has anyone done that?
Its funny you mention that....
I am in the process now of possibly purchasing what is described as a "storage condo", which is basically a fancy storage unit. It has central AC, heat, a 10' garage door, an entrance door, is 15' wide x 30' deep, and for the price is quite reasonable. I may actually get two side by side and put a door in the middle.
Here is an example of the steel wall I have setup in the studio. The flooring is made of interlocking subflooring. Eventually, I plan to paint it gray to mimick concrete.
Here's a closer shot.
Heres a sample with using a blue gel to tint the steel.
I am actually bumping this but will add something to the mix.....
Show my studio? Here is what I was doing a long time ago. It is my home made production slate sandwiched between bars and tone and coherant black segments in much of what you see on TV today - but never see. When I shot that pic I knew I had a studio. From a different perspective guys.....
Here is one of my models, some more eye candy. I know I have many pics of Dalila but here is Sabrina - actually upgraded to actress due to her first drama segment shot last summer:
What the hell..... Here is another model that is actually hosting a music video show of mine. She likes this shot so here it is - and I had a processed one that is better but I can't find it.....so sue me.....
That ugly guy above is me and was taken during a shoot that was used for a music video for an old rock act I reserected. It is about this girl called Marilyn and we set up most of the woman's shots in my little studio.
These above are all video captures. I did shoot some actual shots that were not supposed to amount to anything as it was just for the video, but here is one.....
Anyways, I finally uploaded video of how we shot some of that. Here you can see the real lighting - continous - and my flashes as props with me snapping away and babbling incoherently while Dalila writhes around the paper. I also included the actual music video segment we used for that setup so you can see the whole thing through. Worth the 9MB download, if only to oogle at my Jennifer Lopes lookalike..... Click the link below for the video:
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