View Full Version : Question about backdrops.. Need advice


Pat Engh
October 1st, 2009, 08:54 AM
We're going to do a shoot in a couple weeks. The topic is youth sports. We're using a host for the video that talks about different topics involving youth sports and coaching. We're going to do the shoot both outdoors and indoors... but for the indoor shoot, we want to have a nice backdrop made - a collage of kids or something cool designed. If this was printed at Kinkos or SignAroma would this work with video light up nicely?

Jonathan Levin
October 1st, 2009, 09:32 AM
How about this:

Keep it real simple and use a muslin or rembrandt background to keep the interest in the person on camera. Really nice simple lighting on main subject.

After that, shoot some B roll stuff of the collage thing that you were going to use as the background and use that to hide edits, which if your shooting kids, you'll no doubt have lots of.

Mostly, you just don't want to busy of a background, and definitely through it out of focus, if the space you are shooting allows.

Jonathan

Oren Arieli
October 1st, 2009, 11:59 AM
I second the suggestion to keep the background simple and defocused. Unless you've got a large-chip camera or lens adapter, you'll probably have a sharply focused background competing for attention with the foreground subjects. You can always try pop-up Botero photographic backgrounds.

Pat Engh
October 1st, 2009, 12:14 PM
Thanks for the input... I kinda agree with you a bit. The reason I had the idea was after watching the show PTI on ESPN i thought it would look cool to design something like what they use with pictures of youth sports kids/coaches... see below


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/pengh/tony-796087.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/pengh/6a00e552be6df088330105362d1120970b-.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/pengh/6a00e552be6df088330105362d1120970b-.jpg

what do you think?

Grinner Hester
October 1st, 2009, 12:27 PM
I like those. You may wanna shoot em over a keyable source so you can change or animate the background(s). I found a cheap polyester drop on ebay that works great indoors and outdoors and over the years I have found a roll of linolium is your buddy if wanting a portable cyc. Just paint the back side of it ultimatte green (or blue), roll it up when not in use and un roll it & hang it with C stands when ready to shoot.