An Introduction To Studio Flash Lighting

Posted on February 14, 2012 by admin

A studio set up, no matter how big or small, is on just about every photographers’ wish list. Especially those who have developed a taste for indoor photography. Your studio set up can be as simple as two studio flash mounts and a seamless paper backdrop to an elaborate multi-flash systems and muslin backdrops.

STUDIO FLASH HEADS

Though continuous light from household lamps may work, when shooting in a studio, you may want to invest is a few studio flashes. The flashes do not have to be expensive, just strong enough to enhance the lighting used during photo shoots. Studio flash heads are ideal for anyone who wants to get serious about shooting in a studio setting, taking portraits or product shots.

Studio flash heads are powerful and can be controlled by using umbrellas and soft boxes, which will diffuse the flash. These will also help soften shadows while still getting a reasonable exposure with a small aperture setting.

When shooting product action shots, such as spilling or splashing water, use a studio flash head to freeze the action. Pair the flash head with a very fast exposure time to make the action look like it has been frozen in time.

Studio flash heads also help make a portrait look sharper when set at similar settings to those used to freeze action. To use set your camera to 1/100 second at f/32 with an ISO setting of 200.

Since studio flash heads recycle faster, they are perfect when you want to take multiple shots back-to-back. A fast recycle time is needed when shooting portraits, because you want to catch every emotion, smile and expression (without blinking) as possible.

Unless you plan on making studio photography your career of choice, you do not need to purchase any of the top range lights. Top gear is designed to be more powerful and more reliable to be used all day, everyday, which is needed for professional studio photographers. Low end lighting is still powerful enough to use with DSLR cameras and still just as reliable for a non-professional’s needs. Many of the low end lights last more than 10 years, while others can last even longer. Even the low end lights have a longer, more reliable lifetime than some portable battery flashguns.

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Muslin Backdrops & Green Screens

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

You’ve probably seen the use of green screen techniques in movies but you might not know that you can use a muslin backdrop or chroma key paint to create a neutral background. This allows you to add different backdrops later. Muslin and chroma key paint each have their advantages and disadvantages, including their cost. For the most part however, you can get professional results by using either technique.

Muslin

Muslin backdrops are most effective when it’s used to only cover a medium to large sized space. Once muslin cloth has been washed, it can develop wrinkles and distortion due to shrinkage that can appear in your final picture. Fortunately, when it is used, muslin has a matte finish that does not cause light distortion from flash bounce or from ambient light. If your muslin cloth has developed minor wrinkles, you may be able to iron them out gently to get a bit more use out of the cloth. Muslin cloth, usually available in neutral colors like white, can easily be found at a local craft supply store. Painting muslin cloth with Chroma Key paint can give your muslin cloth the perfect green color for changing backgrounds later.

Green Screen

Green screen backdrops, also referred to as chroma key backdrops, are most commonly used in movies that have a lot of special effects but the technique can also be useful for professional and amateur photographers. When a green screen is used as a background for common portrait photography, the possibilities for adding a picturesque image behind your subject are endless. Green screens can also be rented if you have particular budgetary constraints or you don’t need the use of a green background frequently.

Once you have an image of an actor or other object in front of a green screen, you’ll use a photo editing program to simply replace the green with an image of your choosing. It’s important to remember not to have actors wear any type of clothing that is green, because those areas too, will be replaced.

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7 Hot Tips : Food Photography!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

You too, can make enticing images of food, whether you write about food or write recipes. Here are several suggestions for making your images of food into your own version of food pornography.

1. Choose the best looking pieces of food to photograph. Like human subjects, food needs to look its best in order to be as enticing as possible in an image. In contrast to the entire sensory experience of food in real life, an image needs to capture taste, smell and touch. This means you need to avoid fruit or vegetables that have obvious signs of damage.

2. Enhancement can be useful. Unlike normal food images that are meant to make a meal look healthy, food photography is all about making food look large and luscious. If your chosen food will be displayed in a bowl, make sure the food reaches the top of the bowl or use something under the food to prop it up in the bowl, making it appear larger. This can be accomplished simply by putting a smaller bowl or cup inverted under the food in the bowl.

Photo : Andrea Acailawen

3. Use more than one piece. Shooting several pieces of the same food gives the impression of abundance.

4. Use garnish. Adding a garnish to any dish is a way to add lingerie to the image. A garnish adds subtle hints or highlights, rather than overt color or pizazz. If you’re shooting a main dish that contains a specific herb, consider adding a garnish of that herb, in its fresh form. If you don’t have herbs available, just a sprinkle of pepper can add a touch of class to a dish.

5. Flatter your subject with light. Lighting that doesn’t compliment your subject is useless, particularly if you take the shot with an on-board flash. Expensive equipment isn’t necessary to get a great shot however, because outdoor natural light can be very effective.

6. Use a shallow depth of field.

7. Use a white seamless photography backdrop. High key shots of food are the most effective especially when  used in advertising and marketing arenas. A seamless white backdrop will draw your viewers attention right in on the product every time!

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Be Lucky & Get Photography Backdrops and Equipments for free!

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

Good News to all Experts and Beginners in Photography! BackdropExpress.com is giving away Photography Backdrops and Equipments for free. Just follow instructions shown below to grab this great opportunity. See you on Facebook! Good Luck!

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Quick Tip : Light Modifiers For High Key Lighting

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

A solid white background, such as seamless paper is used when shooting high key lighting. This type of shot can also be used against a solid white wall or similar, simple background. The placement and number of lights used are huge factors when trying to achieve the best possible high key lighting photography.

Let’s take a look at a sample studio set up to see how shoot using high key lighting. For this sample you will need nine-foot white seamless background paper. A three or four light setup will also be needed. Place two of the lights approximately two to three feet away from the backdrop to highlight and illuminate the background. These lights should be set at a 45-degree angle toward the background.

Place the key light, also referred to as the main light, off to one side of the subject at approximately five feet away. This light should also be set at a 45-degree angle to the subject. Set the fill light on the opposite side from the key light at the same distance and angle.

Your background lights should be set at least one F-stop over the lighting on the subject. For example, if you are shooting the subject at F/11, set the background lighting at F/16. If you are shooting in a large studio or warehouse, you can place the subject further away from the background, but set the background lighting two or three stops over the subject lighting. When shooting in smaller areas, the use of gobos can help prevent strobe flares on the edge of your subjects.

Use a light meter on your subject to produce an overall setting of F/11. The settings of each light will depend upon the types of lights you are using, but the overall setting should be the F/11.

A soft box work best in high key lighting setups over other light modifiers. If your studio is narrow, select a shallow soft box. If space is not an issue try experimenting with a Photoflex soft box. There are different makes and models of soft boxes available, in all shapes and sizes, making it possible to find the best one for your photographic needs.

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Advantages Of Muslin And Seamless Paper Backdrops

Posted on January 18, 2012 by admin

The use of a backdrop in photography is something a photographer cannot work without. A physical backdrop, such as one made out of  seamless paper backdrops or muslin backdrops (a woven cotton fabric) is one that the photographer can set up in his studio or on location. The digital backdrop is one that is placed in the photograph post production, using a computer program.

Each type of  photography backdrop has both positive and negative features. Learn the different features, benefits and disadvantages of each type of backdrop before buying or utilizing one. Once you know the differences and features, you will be able to determine which backdrop is best for your style, needs and preferences.

Solid Colored Muslin Backdrop

A solid colored backdrop will give a more formal look, which is great for shooting an identification card or inanimate objects. Remember, paper backdrops can crinkle, rip or look dirty and must be replaced when it starts to look worn.

A muslin or cloth backdrop can be used over and over again. This type of backdrop is selected by photographers who want to use the backdrop for a long period of time. The fabric can be dyed almost any color or texture and can be easily washed when it gets dirty. However, muslin can easily wrinkle and may need to be steamed before hanging. If needed, multiple muslin backdrops can be placed on one backdrop stand.

Seamless Paper Backdrops

Adding a backdrop digitally can be used when you want to make the backdrop appear more fashionable or artsy. The main benefit of using digital backgrounds is that your choices are limitless as far as colors, scenes and objects. The downside is that digital backdrops sometimes appear to be too mechanized when mixed with a great photograph. If not done properly, a digital backdrop can look natural; however, sometimes it may not look as fluent as a physical one.

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Green Screen Photo Contest Winners Announced!

Posted on January 9, 2012 by admin

This contest proved very difficult to judge due to all of the great submissions we received.  Thanks to all who participated!

Below you will find the winning entries. (click to view larger)

First Place:

Elisa DeGraff

We really loved the amount of effort, and creativity Elisa put into her entry.  Not only did she take the photo on a green screen backdrop, but she also created a  very unique way of displaying her photos, with front page headlines, in a newspaper layout format.  We appreciate the extra effort!

Second Place:

Kenny Steele

We really like how the subject of this photo seems to fit right into the ambiance, and time period of the backdrop.  Perspective, and composition of the background, with the subject was also done quite well.  Good job Kenny!

Third Place:

Carcan Studios – Miami

Great job of extracting the model from the green screen, and we loved the gritty contrast of the digital background.  Good work!

If your photo was selected as a winner, please send an email to info@backdropexpress with your full name, shipping address, your choice of digital background disc set and “Green Screen Photo Winner” as the subject line.  We will ship out all prizes via ground shipping.

Prizes:

1st Prize: (1) 107″ Chroma Key Green Seamless Paper Background + 3 Digital Background Disc Sets

2nd Prize: (1) 53″ Chroma Key Green Seamless Paper Background + 2 Digital Background Disc Sets

3rd Prize: (1) 53″ Chroma Key Green Seamless Paper Background + 1 Digital Background Disc Sets

Disclaimer: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Backdrop Express and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used by Backdrop Express.
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How To Use A Studio Flash For Photo Shoots

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

Photographers investing in a photography studio set-up should include studio flashes. The studio environment does not provide the same amount of light you would get if shooting outside; studio flashes make up for this.

Photo : Mark Squires

Invest in a white seamless photography backdrops. White reflects more light and helps avoid unwanted color casts.  To change your photographic backdrop from white, use movable colored studio backgrounds. Harsh shadows can easily ruin a photo. To avoid unwanted shadows place the studio flash in front of and a bit to the side of your subject. Adjust the head of the flash up and down until you achieve the optimal fill light.

It’s a good idea to bounce the studio flash’s light to create a softer light on your subject. Bounce the flash off the wall, ceiling or one of your photographic backdrops.

Don’t put your subject right in front of backdrops for photography. Make sure it’s six-feet away if the seamless background paper is highly light reflective. If you place your subject too close will create harsh shadows.

Make use of a rail system for studio flashes. A rail system allows you move your flash to different locations, saving time and making the shoot easier.

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What Kind Of Photo Backdrop Should I Buy?

Posted on December 30, 2011 by admin

The right photographic backdrop can make a huge difference in the professional appearance of your photos. Since there are many options when purchasing these photo backdrops you will first want to have a mental composition of how you want your final shot to appear, so you can make informed choices based on your unique needs.

Photo : Andrew Maidanik

Some people say the first and only consideration when choosing backgrounds for photography is cost. Prices vary widely based on size and style, but the cheapest may not always be the best. If it doesn’t suit your needs or doesn’t light properly you’re not saving money. With size for seamless background paper, sometimes bigger is better as you’ll want to allow plenty of shot framing flexibility. You may think you’re doing a head shot, but could get into trouble if your subject decides on a full body shot and you can’t cover the background.

Different materials are used in photographic backdrops. Muslin backdrops are a  light weight, washable and usually cost-effective. Muslin can come in a solid colors, or hand painted faux finished in a variety of colors. Photographic canvas is tougher and heavier; it’s also more durable as to last longer. Some photographers use vinyl and velvet backdrops for studio backdrops because of their ability to soak up light. While seamless background paper tears more easily, it doesn’t have the wrinkle concerns of fabric.

Collapsible Backdrop

If you’re doing many on-location shots, you’ll want some type of collapsible backdrops that is easily carried. Collapsible backgrounds usually pop out to a size of only six to eight feet and doesn’t need much of a  support system. Studio backgrounds can be somewhat larger, heavier and more elaborate to allow you more discretion in the use of shots and lighting.

For green screen, or chroma key photography tehcniques, you’ll need a solid green or blue color that is unlikely to be found in clothing. After the green screen photography session with your subject, in post production you can easily replace the chroma key background color(s) and replace them with a digital background.

As you can see, the question of which photographic background to choose can have a lot of answers. The selection process should start with a mental picture so you’ll know exactly which photographic background is best for your real picture.

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Types Of Backdrops Used In Photography

Posted on December 29, 2011 by admin

A photograph can appear unfinished in the absence of  photography backdrop or if it does not complement the subject. Many times a photographer is so focused on what is happening with the subject that the backdrop gets lost or forgotten. But the backdrop is an integral part of the photograph. Photography backdrops can provide  solid, neutral color scheme or it can add a  vibrant color to the photograph, add dimension or create a unique addition.

Photo : Sam Samantha

Seamless paper backdrops are made in large rolls that can be pulled down when shooting a photograph. Though, this type of backdrop is rather inexpensive, it may have to be replaced as the paper tears…Seamless photographic paper comes in a variety of widths (107″, 53″, etc.) and lengths (50 yds., 12 yds.) to suit your photographic needs.

Muslin backdrops are those made out of a light weight, cotton fabric and are still rather inexpensive in price. This type of backdrop can be attached to a backdrop support system and easily transported by folding and placing in a box or carrying case. Muslin backdrops can also be dyed in any color, with or without the use of textures to create a unique background effect.

Photo : Mike Henry

Photographic canvas can add beauty to the background of a photograph. A faux finish can be added to the canvas with a variety of color combination for that unique hand-painted look.

When ordering backdrop, select one in a size that will give you one two feet additional room for moving the object around in the camera’s frame. Many studio cloth backgrounds measure 12 feet by 10 ft. and while lint-resistant can provide you with one of the most professional and durable backdrops on the market today.

Textural and diffusive backdrops will softly diffuse the light around your subject. This can provide a special effect that creates a pattern with diffused lighting.

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