Photography By Michelle

Archive for July 23rd, 2010

One of the easiest ways to separate your photography from “the crowd” would be to concentrate more on your photography background.

Current cameras are so highly developed that nearly anybody can get a reasonably exposed, in focus photograph. Notice, I said reasonably exposed and in focus …even with the super technology we’ve got these days, we still ought to understand a bit regarding good, old fashioned photography tactics so as to rise above the group in the snapshot level and start moving into the realm of art.

First up is a technique for giving your projects a professional appearance. That’s done with a pro photography background.

Let’s face it, for those who have a beautiful, white, black or hand painted “Old Masters” style background, you will instantly leap ahead of the snapshot crowd and will quickly turn out to be the go to photographer in the area.

As soon as your relatives and friends need a pleasant photograph, they will think of YOU. (And, they will stop hiding when they see you approaching – you KNOW what I mean.)

The best part re using a photography background is that it makes it possible to control what is occurring behind your model. You will have no more “horns” protruding out of their head – no more distracting elements like traffic, other people and even litter on the ground.

One perceived drawback to using a photography background is that everybody assumes it’s essential to have a large photo studio including a bunch of expensive professional lighting to make it work.

This is not true!

Aided by the careful use of your on camera flash, several reflectors and possibly even a mirror or mirror finished plastic, it is possible to produce the equivalent of a five light set!

I’ve seen it accomplished and in the completed photograph, you can’t tell it had been all reflectors and mirrors.

By the way, as an alternative to your on camera flash, an identical result can be accomplished by means of the sun as the light source. Hang your background from the branches of a tree, set up a number of reflectors and shoot away! Your family members will think it had been all done in a photo studio!

The fundamentals that ought to be in any photographer’s arsenal are – at the very minimum – a white background, a black one as well as a gray “Old Masters” type.

The white one could be a bed sheet, piece of muslin, canvas or any white fabric. Don’t fold it up or you will not like the outcome – the white will be inclined to show wrinkles and creases. To start with, iron the background and then roll it on a tube. (Purchase a little PVC piping at a nearby “do it yourself” store. Something like 3 or 4 inches in diameter should do nicely.)

The black photography background can once more be any type of fabric, however “Duck Canvas” is my favorite. Using black, wrinkles are not as much of an issue, but the background – actually ALL the backdrops – need to be rolled up as well.

With the “Old Masters” variety, I like to recommend gray because by striking it with a colored light source, gray is an easy color to change. In this way, you can make any color background you require.

Try getting a little photography background fabric and shoot a few pictures of a loved one. You will not regret it!