Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Photographic Techniques
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monkfish
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Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by monkfish »

Alright folks.

I have just invested a few pounds in a graduated background for shooting models on.

For those of you who are not familiar - this is what one of those things is :

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No, I won't be shooting funny shoes with it - this is just to demonstrate what one is an how it is used.

So I would like to ask anyone if they have had practise at using such a prop and if there are any tips or advice you could pass on for my first "shoot"...

Thanking you in advance
Rich
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Shunter
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by Shunter »

Now i can see why your pics look great on your blog...Excellent set up and one i am very envious of.
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by SeaBee »

Agree with Shunter! And we should be asking YOU for tips, looking at that shoe shot!
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by monkfish »

Hahaha, sorry guys, i think i have mislead you!

That's not my set up or my photo...i pinched it from a shop website to demonstrate what i'm going to try and achieve!

Should have written that in my original post :)

Although the shot's on my website are my own, so thanks fir the compliments Shunter :D
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by Shunter »

monkfish wrote:Hahaha, sorry guys, i think i have mislead you!

That's not my set up or my photo...i pinched it from a shop website to demonstrate what i'm going to try and achieve!

Should have written that in my original post :)

Although the shot's on my website are my own, so thanks fir the compliments Shunter :D
No worries Rich the pics deserve the comments. So you are looking at wanting to spend some serious coin then....Well i hope you get it as it will be so much easier to get great shots.
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by monkfish »

Hopefully not too much.

The background cost me £30 so about 50Au$ i guess.

I already have the flash units and camera, i was wondering if any of the other photoboffins on here have ever used one and could offer any advice on how to use the background effectively

That or i'm going to spend a day experimenting :)
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by SeaBee »

Hey, it's the digital era - experimenting is so much more on now! No longer costing you film and processing to experiment...

From your other shots I've seen, you'll most likely nail it off the bat. Full confidence. Good depth of field, good lighting and you're a for away, I'd guess...
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by monkfish »

SeaBee wrote:Hey, it's the digital era - experimenting is so much more on now! No longer costing you film and processing to experiment...

From your other shots I've seen, you'll most likely nail it off the bat. Full confidence. Good depth of field, good lighting and you're a for away, I'd guess...
Haha thanks Seebee :)

Well i'm going to give it a good go. Not sure about the lighting yet, I have some flash until to work with, but no decemt way of diffusing them. I did find a 50cm umbrella for a little cash online so i might grab one of those and see what i can do.

Experimenting to see what you get is half the fun tho :)
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by biercemountain »

I have the benefit of a pretty good set up at work that I can use to photograph my models. We've got tungsten lights with large diffuser boxes on them so I don't use a flash. The downside to this is the heat. As far as the gradient background, I just shoot on white, then silo the item and drop in whatever background suits me using Photoshop.

As for diffusing your lights monkfish, you might want to look into a diffusion tent. You put the subject inside this tent and the walls of it diffuse the light quite effectively.
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Re: Graduated Photo Backgrounds.

Post by monkfish »

biercemountain wrote: As for diffusing your lights monkfish, you might want to look into a diffusion tent. You put the subject inside this tent and the walls of it diffuse the light quite effectively.
Thanks for the thoughts Bierce.

I've got a small diffusion tent, but don't like using it. I find it restrictive for shooting models as it inhibits angles you can shoot at.

Tungsten lamps would be a real luxury! Any chance i can borrow yours? :D
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