Is there a cheap route to High Key?
Discussion
I'd like to try getting some good portraits of the kids on a white high key background, but looking into the cost of purpose-made white backgrounds, they seem to come out at £150 or so upwards, which I really can't justify just for a little amateur home project.
Is there anything I can use as a cheap and cheerful alternative that will let me get most of the results for a fraction of the cost? Would a plain white vinyl shower curtain work at all, or would it just look crap?
Is there anything I can use as a cheap and cheerful alternative that will let me get most of the results for a fraction of the cost? Would a plain white vinyl shower curtain work at all, or would it just look crap?
Check out my topic on this for some of Stigmund Freuds links
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I went and bought an Interfit kit together with backdrop, and it's ace. A little narrow for getting a full family on, but you could always use paper. I bought a 10ft wide roll for about £30.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I went and bought an Interfit kit together with backdrop, and it's ace. A little narrow for getting a full family on, but you could always use paper. I bought a 10ft wide roll for about £30.
Just a very large piece of white fabric would get you started.
Some of my images done that way are in this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=10...
Some of my images done that way are in this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=10...
For ultimate cheapness why not just work up against a white wall? I painted my garage white for this reason. £10 for a big tub of dulux paint.

This was just shot with on camera flash with the wall as the background;

The white floor does come in handy but a plain white sheet would do just as well.


This was just shot with on camera flash with the wall as the background;

The white floor does come in handy but a plain white sheet would do just as well.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 24th February 18:40
I've got one of the lastolite Hilite backgrounds (6x7) that you fire a flash head into. Not cheap (which is what you asked for) but pretty portable and really effective.
Few MPEG4 videos on techniques at
http://www.lastolite.com/hilite-backgrounds.php
You sometimes see them for sale on the bay of evil
Few MPEG4 videos on techniques at
http://www.lastolite.com/hilite-backgrounds.php
You sometimes see them for sale on the bay of evil
Big white sheet, biggest you can get, and some bright lights.
We have been using a big white sheet (9'x20') for portraits and events for over 4 years (on our second one now).
We can lend you one if you can make your way to Marlow and bring it back laundered (costs us ~£6 to get cleaned each time).
Only just bought a vinyl background at Focus on Sunday...
We have been using a big white sheet (9'x20') for portraits and events for over 4 years (on our second one now).
We can lend you one if you can make your way to Marlow and bring it back laundered (costs us ~£6 to get cleaned each time).
Only just bought a vinyl background at Focus on Sunday...
Bee_Jay said:
We have been using a big white sheet (9'x20') for portraits and events for over 4 years (on our second one now).
We can lend you one if you can make your way to Marlow and bring it back laundered (costs us ~£6 to get cleaned each time).
I may well take you up on that offer, thanks!We can lend you one if you can make your way to Marlow and bring it back laundered (costs us ~£6 to get cleaned each time).
Kermit power said:
Bee_Jay said:
We have been using a big white sheet (9'x20') for portraits and events for over 4 years (on our second one now).
We can lend you one if you can make your way to Marlow and bring it back laundered (costs us ~£6 to get cleaned each time).
I may well take you up on that offer, thanks!We can lend you one if you can make your way to Marlow and bring it back laundered (costs us ~£6 to get cleaned each time).
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff







