Fake Backdrop

[Chablis]

Hi Damien

 

I would like to create a fake backdrop in a thunder gray seamless paper - so it looks like a studio set up ready to photograph I guess - light coming from camera left

 

Like this without the model in it:

http://flickrhivemind.net/blackmagic.cgi?id=5020938724&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflickrhivemind.net%2FUser%2FKurt%20Dressler%20Photography%2FInteresting%3Fsearch_type%3DUser%3Btextinput%3DKurt%20Dressler%20Photography%3Bphoto_type%3D250%3Bmethod%3DGET%3Bnoform%3Dt%3Bsort%3DInterestingness%23pic5020938724&user=&flickrurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/35493352@N02/5020938724

[Chablis]

This is a better picture of what I want

[Damien Symonds]

Sorry I didn't get to this last night.  State of Origin, you know.

In the first one, there's some slight mottling; but it's not evident in the second one.  Should there be mottling?  Or are we talking about a fairly smooth gradient?

[Chablis]

HAHA, and maybe a bit too much rum?  I'm after a fairly smooth look

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, no trouble.

And how will you use it?  I mean, how will you photograph your subjects if not in front of actual thunder grey seamless?

[Chablis]

A plain white wall

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, so you're thinking that you'd like to be able to do this if you had a fake grey backdrop?

[Chablis]

I guess - only I want more space like in the ballet dancer picture - is it the same principle? - I think it's the shadow where the paper curves at the bottom that i'm not sure how to achieve

 

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, no trouble.  Can you show me one of the white-background photos, so I can experiment?

[Chablis]

This one has a peach backrop - I have a white wall I sometimes use - but not a great example of a full length pic.

[Damien Symonds]

No, sorry, we can't use that.  If the wall isn't white, it has to at least be markedly lighter than the lightest hair.

[Chablis]

O dear - there goes that idea then

 

[Damien Symonds]

You don't have any full-length examples from your white wall?

[Chablis]

No - I was thinking of just having a digital backdrop I could use whenever - I haven't got an actual pic at the moment

[Chablis]

Could you do something with a black background?

 

[Damien Symonds]

I fear it's unlikely, because there won't be any natural shadow falling on a black one?

[Chablis]

I had a play - but struggling with some banding in the shadow.

[Damien Symonds]

The shadow around the bottom of the fabric is what looks fakest.

This why you need to shoot against white, I think.  So that you can use the natural shadows.

[Chablis]

Will definitely keep that in mind for next time - thank you