Colored backgrounds or colored lighting?

Hey all,

Well, as I try to budget for my home studio setup, I'm not sure where to start with my backgrounds. I have read that seamless paper works really well and does not distract too much from the subject. I would like to try it (and probably will), but there are about 8000 different colors, if not more. I was wondering... is there a lot of difference between colored paper and white (or some variant of gray) paper with a colored background light?

If I can start with one color background and use colored gels, that's going to be a lot easier.

Thanks a lot,
-Deva

I went with a completely different approach, continuous lighting.

For a backdrop, I have a choice of two. One is pure black cloth, and one is about 18% gray cloth. Both are pretty soft and fuzzy and not much light is reflected.

I kind of like the gray background best. I can throw a normal backlight on it, or I can actually project a light on it from behind the cloth. It is just thin enough that a colored flood lamp lights it nicely, I just have to put them where I want with respect to the subject.

---Bob Gross---

Either way will work use gels on the background light & adjust the f/stop to get the effect or color you want.

Hey guys,

Wow Bob, I like your "from behind" method. I haven't heard of that one before, but it sounds like it gives really cool results. I can't wait to get some basic equiptment so that I can't start experimenting as well.

Vegas Poboy, thanks for the input. I'm going to purchase the gels, so I think I'll start from there. You mentioned adjusting the f/stop to get the effect of color I want. What exactly do you mean by that? You don't mean the f/stop on the camera, do you? I'm going to assume that you are talking about the power output on the light. More or less light will cause the gel to give a different hue to the light. If you mean otherwise, please elaborate. I'm still trying to get used to all of this lighting stuff.

Thanks,
-Deva

Actually, "cool results" is one thing that continuous lighting does not do. Lights get pretty warm, and this would not make good sense for Sacramento in the summertime.

My lights burn about two kilowatts, so that makes a nice studio heater for the winter.

If you can find a nice piece of light gray fabric, you can guess whether light will shine through it or not. The trick is in finding a piece that is large enough.

I was motivated by one commercial photo that I had seen. A famous musician was posed with some bright yellow "blobs" of light in a dark background. I was lined up to shoot an amatuer musician, and I went after similar sorts of lighting.

If you use a normal background light, then either you have to place it up high or else hide it behind the subject. With my rig, I can put the background light behind the background and shining somewhat toward the camera. I know it sounds weird, but it works.

---Bob Gross---

LOL! No, continuous lighting in the summer here would not be good... that just might kill the AC for good. But I can still try the method (in theory) with a strobe. Actually, looking at my (future) studio, there may not be room behind my background for that. But it's something I will be keeping in mind. I hear that studios can evolve and change over time.

-Deva

Vegas Poboy, thanks for the input. I'm going to purchase the gels, so I think I'll start from there. You mentioned adjusting the f/stop to get the effect of color I want. What exactly do you mean by that? You don't mean the f/stop on the camera, do you? I'm going to assume that you are talking about the power output on the light. More or less light will cause the gel to give a different hue to the light.

Yes adjusting the power output & the gels can give you a wide range of effects.