How to build a light WALL

[petermichelson]

Hello everyone,

I shoot window mannequins against a white (paper) background. As of now I have to remove this background in Photoshop manually because it always appears gray, even though the mannequin is lit properly.

Now I want to build a light wall behind the mannequin so that the background is basically overexposed. Does anyone know of a good way to do that (alternatives)? My front light is halogen so I need to stick to the same light temperature.

Thanks a lot for your input.
Pete

[mbellot]

Why not just light the background with another light/strobe so that its 2-3 stops above the manequin exposure settings?

[milleker]

I'd have to agree with mbellot - for the same price you can get another strobe. Heck, you could get two low end or used bees for what it would cost in time and materials.

But, if you're stubborn like me ;) there was a nice video on the Photovision subscription disc two discs ago on how they used a metal pipe frame and track lighting to make a light wall. That thing was at least 10x10' or so. Beautiful light, so - if you built something like that you would have a background and a gi-normous light box.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

[Benji]

You need to put one or more halogen lights onto the background so they will meter one stop more than what your main light meter reading is.

These suckers get hot (as you know) so don't get them too close to the paper or they may set it on fire! (Been there, done that, set off smoke detectors!!!)

Benji

[chtgrubbs]

You can buy large silks (diffusions screens) and light them from behind, but it would be far cheaper to buy two more lights and overlight your seamless.