Someone asked me about what my travel studio looks like. This is instead a picture of the full studio (which I moved to another location for a few weeks and had to pack up anyways). The big bag and the backdrop set are my "traveling" section. It's really impressive what that big bag can carry.
Well your comment below makes me want to integrate my backdrops with my wood floors now. Sometimes things are so obvious you can't even see them...
"Great use of your space and I love those beautiful wood floors. You have a perfect setup of natural light shots. "
So I did a few tests over the week-end with the idea of using the wood floor with various backdrops. Basically gel driven backdrops along with solid color materials. I'm not too sure what the solution is so i put together this little html page.
I was wondering if you would have any suggestions for me ?
{only if you have time of course...}
I think I will post it in this forumn also... http://bm8.net/my_studio/flooring/flooring.htm
This morning I also picked up on your idea of having black curtains to control background spill. Great idea. I think I could possibly integrate that also with yet another windsurfing mast... In fact your post if full of great idea's. Would it be possible to get a larger pic of Studio_wDiagram00047.jpg and 93
I didn't understand what was happening in your high tech. mounting though ?
Hope this is not too much to ask but your studio setup and resulting photo's really inspire me. More importantly they show the possibilities of what one can achieve with a home studio.
I guess to complete the perfect setup I would have to marry your daughter though, but that's a whole other post *wink*...
In answer to a few of your comments and questions...
A few notes on the process of getting the backdrop{s} to merge with the
flooring. How do we achieve a nice smooth transition ? I'm not so sure you can or necessarily want to have a smooth transition between the backdrop and the wood floor. The two are quite different materials/texture etc. (not that it would be impossible to do.) Using the natural lighting in the room, with those beautiful wood floors and simple furniture that doesn't detract from the model is what I would shoot for.
I could find mickey mouse and minimalist solutions but would really like long term and professional studio like solution with maximum flexibility.
Case1:
White backdrop meeting the floor in a rolled up fashion.
Its not bad but could be better. Was thinking of putting down a plexiglas but then the models space is restricted to a 4x8 space... Not good. I could always tape the edge but the edges don't last long on seam less...
Not sure what to do ? I thought the room was 31' long. Seems like plenty of space to pull the seamless out over the floor and place a sheet of plexiglas over it. You're bigger problem might be "Where do I store the plexi when its not in use?) The rolled up look really doesn't work for me.
The other problem shown below is the lighting separation of the floor.
{ie: light to dark..}
I think this could be solved by putting an umbrella overhead which would
light up the entire floor and part of the backdrop as well. {?} To be tested.
I would prefer not to see the cracks in the flooring. Not sure what you mean by this "lighting separation of the floor." I don't do anything special to light the floor. I only focus on lighting the backdrop and the model. The lighting on the floor just seems to fall into place (I do watch for the background light to cast shadows of the seamless/floor.)
Case 2:
Lighting the backdrop. The floor takes on the same color ?
Now if I use the overhead lighting solution stated above I'm probably going to
have color conflicts with white winning out...
It will be fine if we don't do a full body shot but otherwise ?
Hmm, what to do ? The wood floor may appear a bit strange when hit with the gels unless the whole image takes on the gelled look.
Here's a closer view of the rolled up effect.
So this won't work. On a side note though I got to say I like how uniform the pink gel is The floor would be acceptable like this but not the double edge of the seamless roll. I agree.
Non-gel'ed backdrop.
Once again the dual floor lighting effect. Once again I think an overhead should solve this with some spill onto the backdrop...
I typically like a clean background unless I want a busy background for a specific purpose. That's one of the reasons that I like the combination of the seamless and plexiglas (with the plexiglas adding a sense of depth to the image.) Because its simple and doesn't detract from the model or clothing.
Got in a local tissue store.
6 feet high and sewn together with 3 seams.
Its only used to block out light though.
It was cheap.
Try and get the kind that isn't shiny just in case you may
want to use it as a quick backdrop.
Barrie
cbfount wrote:
Great dialog, lots of nice posts.
Barrie, can you post a source for the wide black felt you are using?
(I know John said he found his on ebay--I haven't had success)
Thanks in advance.
Thanks! I'm sure that would be a cheaper way for me to go. I was looking for 9' wide felt, but coming up empty. I haven't ruled out commando cloth, but want to see some of the different varieties (not sure if it actually stops light).
cbfount wrote:
Thanks! I'm sure that would be a cheaper way for me to go. I was looking for 9' wide felt, but coming up empty. I haven't ruled out commando cloth, but want to see some of the different varieties (not sure if it actually stops light).
cbfount,
Here's a few links to the material that I found on ebay.
The material feels like a felt and is fairly heavy. To hang it, I picked up something like a shower curatin track that the hospitals use to hang the privacy drapes in the emergency room (between the cubicles.) It comes with a chain and hook with a little cart with wheels that runs in the track. I picked up a brass grommet kit and tools to put the brass rings in the material from Home Depot for under $20.
Thanks John. Is this like commando cloth or Duvetyne? I purchased some fairly heavy black muslin, but as you know, it doesn't block light very well--for blacking out a room. It works great as black backdrop, however.
cbfount wrote:
Thanks John. Is this like commando cloth or Duvetyne? I purchased some fairly heavy black muslin, but as you know, it doesn't block light very well--for blacking out a room. It works great as black backdrop, however.
I'm not familiar with Commando Cloth or Duvetyne. The material that I recieved is similar to felt, very heavy and non-reflective. It really absorbs the light. Why not call them and talk to them about it?
When it comes to backdrops, is there any one that is universally versatile or would the most flexible, yet minimum quanitity be 3:
• White
• Gray - I've been told with gels can be made to appear different colors
• Black
Oh yeah, and are these things washable/ I am thinking about the black material [or something like it] that JohnE mentioned above and some plexi.
Also, any advantage to going with white plexi as opposed to clear to be able to use the clear on any color?
When it comes to backdrops, is there any one that is universally versatile or would the most flexible, yet minimum quanitity be 3:
• White
• Gray - I've been told with gels can be made to appear different colors
• Black
Oh yeah, and are these things washable/ I am thinking about the black material [or something like it] that JohnE mentioned above and some plexi.
Also, any advantage to going with white plexi as opposed to clear to be able to use the clear on any color?
Thanks,
Jorge
Jorge,
These are all good questions.
I'm glad there's people like John to help us out.
Here's my 2 cents worth backed up by a few pics.
This link was initially about flooring but also talks about backdrops.
I would suggest that the best solution is buying seamless paper the exact 3 colors you mentioned above. Later on you can add other specific colors.
Don't try to re-create gray form black. I've had a hell of a time with that.
You need a least two strobes and a lot of patience.
I'm going to buy a gray backdrop.
If you want to get creative look at my Photo #3 in the above link.
I'm pretty proud of the uniform color which shows it can be done !
Mind you there's two other problems.
One is that the floor takes on the same color {see photo #2} and two is that in these pictures I don't have the "main" light on yet. Maybe that would help cancel out some of the floor problem but I "know" it will also spill over onto the backdrop and may contaminate the pink. {I'll have to try this...}
So again another case for a solid seamless color. Less hassel..
The other solution is photo #4 where you use "materials".
Take a close look and now you're dealing with creases and ironing...
Bleh... Nevertheless sometimes material has its advantages.
John gave me specific reeasons why he went with the white and black plexi. See previous posts.
I went with the clear for the reasons you stated. http://bm8.net/5/diane.jpg
Not a very good picture but you can see the advantages right off.
It also does a great job of keeping your backdrop {seamless} in place.
Disadvantage is that it forces you onto a 4'x8' mini platform which I really don't like. {ie: if you want to stay within the 4x8}.
Good luck.
Drop me a line if you need more help as I'm presently doing several differnet tests in this area...
Barrie
ilegales wrote:
JohnE you are a truly very helpful guy...and wonderful photographer..
I started this thread just to see some setups...but its become much more than that..thanks to people like yourself..
I am still in the middle of deciding about some lighting equipment....in the UK it costs too much so will probably end up shipping in some ABs to uk..
Keep up your splended work John
Regards
Alejandro
Thanks Alejandro. Your kind compliments are appreciated.
Hey..for those of you that have been really creative your your studios. I would love to highlight some of them (with the pics you have) on my makeshiftphotos site. If you could EMAIL ME (the pms fill up too fast) or go to http://www.network54.com/Index/33048 and post some of them there.
I am hoping to be able to start highlights of photographers on the makeshiftphoto.com page with photos of their studio, gear and portfolio.
