Backdrops for the media/video room

Interest Groups Photography
#1

I just recently purchased a pro white backdrop of which I only need a few feet of. I was thinking about rigging together a simple mount for it (unless somebody has stands) that we can use to set up the remaining backdrop in the media room. It shouldn’t take up much space, I would prefer it be portable/removable, and also not interfere with the bluescreen. I could fab something up alongside the whiteboard mounts that we desparately need.

Reason I suggest this, is because basically everything else is in place to have a nice small studio To practice in. If it works out well, I wouldn’t mind purchasing some other (non-white) backdrops. Additionally, we can have workshops where myself (or anyone else with a camera that is interested) could take headshots/portraits for folks and show them how it’s done. These could be used for resumes/cv’s, etc.

Anywho, just a thought. Lemme know what yall think. I know the room is already pretty cramped right now so if it’s done it will need to not add to that.

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#2

I’m all for that. Every time I walk by the room I think about trying a photo shoot in there.

1 Like
#3

Same here I wish I would have had the idea sooner lol

#4

That is what is nice about the blue screen. Take a pictures and add your
background.

We could make something like the lecture hall where you can roll it up.

#5

@Lampy had lights on loan to the AV Room, I believe he also has a back drop stand. This message should hopefully bring him into the conversation on his willingness to loan his backdrop stand.

Keep on keeping on,
Nick

#6

I was thinking the same, that would be a great way to upgrade what we can do in there.

#7

Yes I have been meaning to bring them back to the space for months. I took them home to do some family photos over the holidays.

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#8

Blue screen works… But it’s not always perfect and adds a pretty complex
step to post production. If people want a “low key” option I would suggest
“storm grey” backdrop paper. Easy to black out but also easy to leave in
just enough grey to give a sense of depth.

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#9

I am now intrigued. Of course I’ve known of blue (or green) screen compositing, but never really thought about how to do it. Is there a reasonable way to do this in Photoshop for a still image?

Thanks.

 Chris
#10

If you’re only doing a still image, it’s almost not worth it. Doing a manual mask would give much better results, and not take that long unless you have some really crazy edge geometry.

#11

by really crazy he means hair. :slight_smile: so only take pictures of bald people, they are easy.

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#12

One of the biggest issues with blue/green screen is that it’s difficult to
light the screen and subject separately in a way that they are both lit
well yet there is no blue/green light reflecting onto the subject (think
early 90’s blue/green screen failures). For portraits, in particular, this
can be a huge issue because any blue/green tint to the skin tends to make
subjects look ill or unnatural. Additionally, as mentioned in a previous
post, this involves another step (or more) to post processing that many are
unable or perhaps simply unwilling to take.

In other news - The light box setup went well, I will be posting pictures
and more info about that later. The plan is to leave it up at the space to
use, if at all possible. It would be ideal to have it left out and set up
for anyone to walk up and be able to take decent pictures of their objects.
Even images taken with cell phones this way turned out pretty fantastic.
However, with space limited and other peopel’s projects going on, it will
be simple to dissasemble and store once I finish up some last few minor
modifications. It would be really nice if it was kept up somewhere though…
Not only because it would be nice for makers to make a thing and then snap
a great photo of it, but assembling/disassembling can be harsh on the
backdrop (causing crinkles, fingerprints, other defects) and will overall
shorten it’s lifespan.

For the backdrop - talked with many members this weekend about this. They
all had really great ideas and feedback, and we walked all over the space
figuring out our different options of what kind of mount to make and where
to place/store it. One of the best options that has come up so far is to
fab a portable stand that will be on casters, easy to dissasemble and store
(along with backdrops) in a corner if necessesary. An ideal place to set
this up is the far back corner of the hands-on room where the chairs/white
boards are. This is still under discussion/debate so if this is not cool
for you please do not freak out and assume people are trying to take over
the HOC, as that is not in any way the plan. :wink:

Pics incoming. Ideas and suggestions are welcome.

2 Likes
#13

Most of these still need post/white-balance, but here you go.

Flickr album with more pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127406173@N04/

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1 Like