The Photography Background – More Important Than You Think!

by CameraDude

 

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One of the simplest ways to separate your work from “the crowd” would be to focus more on your photography background.

Current cameras are so highly developed that nearly anyone will get a reasonably exposed, in focus photo. Note, I said reasonably exposed and in focus …even aided by the super equipment we’ve got today, we still need to understand a lttle bit concerning good, old fashioned photography procedures as a way to rise above the crowd in the “grabbed shot” level and begin to move into the realm of fine art.

First up is a technique for giving your photography an expert look. That is done with a pro photography background.

Let’s face it, when you’ve got a beautiful,  white, black or hand painted “Old Masters” style backdrop, you will instantly jump ahead of the “grabbed shot” crowd and can rapidly become the go to shooter in your area.

When your relatives and friends desire a nice photo, they’ll think of YOU. (And, they’ll stop hiding when they see you coming – you KNOW what I mean.)

The best part about using a photography background
is that it helps you manage what is going on to the rear of your model. There will be no more “horns” sticking out of their head – no more distracting elements like cars, people or just litter on the ground.

One perceived downside regarding using a photography background is that everyone assumes that you must use a big studio along with a bunch of costly pro lighting to make it work.

This is not the situation!

Aided by the judicious use of  your on camera flash, a few reflectors and perhaps even a mirror or mirror finished plastic, it is possible to produce the equivalent of a five light arrangement!

I have seen it accomplished and on the completed photograph, you cannot tell it was all reflectors and mirrors.

By the way, as opposed to your on camera flash, exactly the same result could be accomplished by means of the sunlight as the light source. Suspend your background from the limbs of a tree, set up a few reflectors and shoot away! Your pals will think it was all done in a photo studio!

The essentials that should be in every shooter’s collection are – at the very least – a white backdrop, a black one and also a gray “Old Masters” type.

The white one can be a bed sheet, piece of muslin, canvas or any other white material. Do not fold it up or you won’t like the  results – the white will be apt to show wrinkles and creases. To start with, iron the backdrop after which you can roll it onto a cylindar. (Buy some PVC piping at any nearby “do it yourself” store. About 3 or 4 inches in diameter should do nicely.)

The black photography background can again be any type of material, however “Duck Canvas” is my favorite. Using black, wrinkles are less of an issue, but the background – actually ALL your backgrounds – need to be rolled up as well.

For the “Old Masters” style, I like to recommend gray because by hitting it with a colored light source, gray is an easy color to modify. Using this method, you may create any color backdrop you desire.

Test getting a little photography backgroundfabric and shoot a number of images of a loved one. You’ll not regret it!

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