Home Made Photography Projects.

[dennykyser]

Ok, I was wondering who makes things for there photography needs. Like diffusers, reflectors, Posing stools, posing tables. I like tinkering and was hoping to get some ideas while the weather is stall bad and keeping me inside.

[IanD]

Den,
A month ago I made a role up back drop frame to put behind my birds when taking their pictures. Worked great until the ciaque and the ringneck attatcked it and shredded the backdrop material. Now they use it as a play stand and have chewed the beejeezes out of it. Oh well, spring is just around the corner...can take them outside to pose :lol:

[robertwgross]

Posing structures were cut out of solid pine lumber, screwed together, and then simply covered with black velvet-like fabric.

Light reflectors were made out a thin sheet aluminum (sold as roof flashing metal at the home supply store). Bent sheets were riveted to hold into position.

Light diffusers were made out of various plastic diffuser sheets sold for ceiling lamp fixtures. Others were made out of fiberglas air filter material.

Eight-foot stands were made out the steel stands on quartz work lights (sold for $10-$20 each). Crossbars (to hold backdrop material between two stands) were aluminum U-channel. Gray backdrop material was purchased at an ordinary fabric store. Black backdrop material was purchased at a pro photo equipment store, and it is inferior to the gray stuff.

---Bob Gross---

[dennykyser]

Very Helpful Tips.

What kind of Gray fabric did you purchase and what size?

[robertwgross]

Gray fabric? (gulp)

I am no fabric expert. I went to an ordinary fabric store and looked at velvet (high priced) and velveteen (medium priced). But they had very little of it in a gray color and zero of it in a wide width. Most photographers want a width of 8 feet for a backdrop.

I looked at the online vendors of such fabric, but I didn't know what they were trying to sell me. Fortunately, I consulted with my sister-in-law (a Home Economics -- Textiles major in college). She went right to it in some store and then sent me a piece that was 8 by 8 feet. The color is about 18% gray or slightly darker, and if you put a strong colored light behind it, the color will show through (which is what I wanted for a back illumination effect). The gray color has a little randomness to it, which is good for a backdrop. This is much cheaper and lighter than real velvet, and I don't know exactly what it is called nor how much it costs, but it wasn't more than $25 in all.

I just built up the stands and hardware around it.

---Bob Gross---

[dennykyser]

Thanks Bob