The Photography Background – An Indispensible Photo Resource!

Among the simplest ways to separate your photos from “the crowd” is to concentrate more on your photography background.

Contemporary cameras are so advanced that almost everybody will get a reasonably exposed, in focus shot. Note, I said reasonably exposed and in focus …even when using the superior equipment we’ve got these days, we still ought to find out a bit about good, old fashioned photography techniques 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 photos a professional look. That is done with a professional photography background.

Let us face it, if you have a beautiful, white, black or hand painted “Old Masters” style background, you will immediately soar ahead of the “grabbed shot” crowd and can quickly turn into the go to photographer in your area.

When your friends and relatives would like a pleasant photo, they’ll think of YOU. (And more, they’ll stop hiding if they notice you coming – you KNOW what I mean.)

The best part regarding using a photography background is that it helps you manage what is occurring behind your model. You will see no more “horns” sticking out of their head – no more annoying elements like cars, other people or even just trash on the ground.

One perceived disadvantage regarding using a photography background is that everyone assumes you need to use a big studio and also a bunch of high-priced pro lighting to make it work.

This is not true!

Aided by the wise use of your on camera flash, a few reflectors and maybe even a mirror or mirror finished plastic, it is possible to bring about the equivalent of a 5 light arrangement!

I’ve seen it accomplished and on the finished shot, 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 sun as your light source. Drape your background over the branches of a tree, employ a number of reflectors and shoot away! Your family members will think it was all done in a studio!

The fundamentals that should be in any shooter’s collection are – at the very minimum – a white background, a black one and a gray “Old Masters” type.

The white one could be a bed sheet, piece of muslin, canvas or another white material. You should not fold it up or you will not like the results – the white will be inclined to show wrinkles and creases. At the outset, iron the background after which you can roll it on a cylindar. (Purchase some PVC piping at any nearby DIY store. About 3 or four inches in diameter ought to work nicely.)

The black photography background can yet again be any kind of material, however “Duck Canvas” is my favorite. With black, wrinkles are less of a concern, but the background – actually ALL your backgrounds – ought to be rolled up as well.

With the “Old Masters” type, I recommend gray since by hitting it with a colored light source, gray is a simple color to alter. In this way, you can make any color background you choose.

Test buying some photography background material and shoot two or three pictures of a loved one. You will never look back!

Tags: backdrop, photo, photo background, photo backgrounds, photography, photography background

The Photography Background – The Fastest Route To Better Photos!

If you happen to be serious about photography – and want to get your photos to a whole new, higher level – the important thing to success often is the photography background!

One of the vital distinctions between beginner and professional photography is the pro has learned to manage and manipulate the photography background – where the beginner focuses all their consideration on the model and usually just lets the background come about on its own.

Have you ever been so caught up in your model and lights and so forth that (when you have a look at the completed photograph) you discover a huge trash can – right behind your model – spilling trash all over the ground? In every photo? Plus you didn’t even see it during the photo session!

Or, have you been guilty of having tree branches seeming to erupt from the model’s head, resembling horns?

They are stupid blunders which can be easily resolved and can promptly boost your photography’s impact.

The bad news is we don’t really observe how much better our images are! Let’s face it; if you do not have litter or horns and so forth, you never pause to consider how significantly better your photo is…you just do not notice. Our attention only comes to bear if we overlook something and mess up (all of us do sometimes).

If you would like admiration for your creative undertakings, you CANNOT allow these problems into your photos. It is really a simple repair…just remember to check out the background and every one of the 4 corners inside the viewfinder before you click the shutter button – after that you tweak accordingly.

In case you have a hard time remembering, acquire a piece of masking tape and record – in huge black print – “CHECK THE SURROUNDINGS”. Next attach the tape on the backside of your camera. This will help remind you until it becomes a habit.

You won’t ever realize how many images you’ve rescued, however it’s definitely worth the effort.

The next most straightforward photography background procedure – to make your model “explode” out of your picture – is to isolate them.

I am sure you’ve seen photos where the model is in clear, razor-sharp focus – but the backdrop is totally out of focus and is nothing but a wash of color.

That is accomplished by manipulating the depth of field.

Depth of field establishes how much of your photograph is in focus. One can find complete textbooks written concerning this subject (heck, I penned one myself!) but the easiest ways to achieve this “wash of color” technique are to:

1. Use the longest focal length lens possible.
2. Open it up to the widest aperture possible – this will be the lowest f-stop number.
3. Place the backdrop as far to the rear of the model as is feasible. Or position the model as far in front of the backdrop as you can.

Without a doubt each one of the three tips has quite a few variables. Through adjusting the variables presented to you, you can make your photography background as focused or de-focused as you want. There is not any right or wrong.

Entirely out of focus, partially in focus, sharp as a tack…this is now the point where your inventive eye comes into the picture.

After you’ve mastered your “in camera” methods of manipulating the backdrops, next it is time to think about creating a few cloth backdrops. This would give your projects an expert “studio” appearance.

A first rate quality backdrop can literally cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. So, in lieu of dishing out the big bucks, I recommend creating your own. Happily a photography background is straightforward to create and can be made for pennies on the dollar.

Pay attention to your photography background and you can be capturing pro level photos very quickly.

Tags: backdrop, photo, photo background, photography, photography backgrounds