Portable backgrounds

[Chris Saper]

Moderators note: This thread was split from the Photo Reference Critique section.


HI Jane,

Yep, she's just beautiful. You should just go straight to St Croix! There's always a story to be told with an introspective gaze out a window, but those mulliion shadows are always problematic.

I also like the lighting in the third, with both warm and cool light sources.

I am doing more these days to control my background color and value. ( Actually I was driving past the party store recently, and they were selling out all the old rental linens - cigarette burns-figure out how old those must have been- tears, indelible stains - for $5 for a 60 " round to $12 for a 120" banquet length. I bought 7 or 8 in luscious colors. The bill was about $32 )

I mentioned the Giotto system in the thread on traveling. I got mine at Photomark in Phoenix, but you could probably find them less expensively than the $210 or so I paid, if you hunt a bit. I put those tripods to versatile use- they go up 11" so you can get a separate head to accept a light/umbrella if you wish.

Here's what they look like, and the specs: http://www.hpmarketingcorp.com/giottos.html

Model No: 0802328
11' Air Cushioned stand.
Two 11'4 section stands, three piece 10'bar, heavy duty case
Minimum height 40" , bar widths: 39.7", 79.4",119.1"
Weighs 12 lbs
Supports 22 lbs
Tube diameters: 28,25,22,19 mm
Leg tube diameter 22mm.
Maximum leg spread 50.2" Closed length 37.8"

Congratulations!

[Sharon Knettell]

Hi Jane,

Google background stands and you will come up with a range of prices, from$64 from www.bhphoto.com, no specs, looks unadjustable to $120 at http://sell-it-on-the-net.com.

There is quite a range of prices and specs.
Carrying cases are useful as well.

Mine is an old Morris Co. that I cannot find, but it is height adjustable and takes fabric up to 60" wide. That is perfect for me because upholstery fabric comes in that width. I have tons of 3 yards lengths in lots of colors, especially grey blues and greens. I find velvet or velveteen works best.

[Jane Bradley]

Thanks Chris and Sharon for the information and links for the background systems. This is very helpful!!

[Holly Snyder]

Hi Jane,

Your soon to be daughter-in-law would indeed be very fun to paint. Hopefully you'll get a chance to visit them soon!

For background stands, I wanted to mention another build-it-yourself option. Not sturdy like the others, but it does the trick, and is portable and very cheap, and I'm sure the design could be substantially improved. I bought 1/2" PVC pipe at Home Depot with various t-connectors (in the sprinkler area). I cut the pieces into 2' and 1' sections (shown are only 2' sections, so the size shown is ~ 4' x 6'), and can mix and match to accomodate a tall standing model, or a wide sitting model, etc. Most pieces have one side of the t-connector primed (the purple stuff) and glued (also in the sprinkler area), for extra strength. Then I have some straight unglued lengths of pipe and extra t-connectors for whatever design I want to make. Grown-up legos, or something like that.

Clothespins work great to hold shorter pieces of material on. I did fly with this, and the box was opened but unharmed, as they could be construed as pipe bombs I suppose.

I hope I haven't jacked your thread, perhaps Mike will split this off.

Cheers,

Holly