Homemade Backdrops
Anyone who has had any exposure to still life photography or studio work will know just how expensive backdrops can be. I have a couple from Kate Backdrops company, one of which I use very often.
I’ve been hankering after a few more. I find the addition of new props and new backgrounds often sparks a flurry of creativity. At least the desire to use the new additions immediately spikes a renewed endeavour and lifts one out of any photographic slump. With half an eye on wanting some new lenses (I’d like an 85mm and a tele zoom ideally) money saving is uttermost in my mind. With a new commission from a gin producer just landed my creativity needed a boost. A new backdrop, in a colour I don’t own, was required. I had a blinding thought – I’ll make my own!
Examples and instructions abound on YouTube. These usually revolve around painting, using sponges and so forth. However, the idea that some, ultra cheap, dust sheets and some fabric dye could work and be easier to create than needing space for the, invariably, messy paint job.
A set of three cotton dustsheets were duly sourced from Amazon (£25.99) and four packs of dye at £3.73 each. Total cost £41.42. Oh and two 25p tubes of salt from Waitrose. Colours ordered were Ocean Blue (for the Gin Commission), Plum Red, Espresso Brown and Sandy Beige.
I didn’t want to use dyes for washing machines as the colour would be uniform. I was after something a little more creatively patchy. Each dust sheet was cut in two, damped and then scrunched up before placing in a tub with the dye. I experimented first with the Sandy Beige, but this didn’t produce anything I thought I could use – too light. So this was re-dipped in the Expresso Brown. More experimentation - keeping the inner portion of the sheet above the main body of dye for example to produce a vignette. Plum Red and Espresso Brown combined produced exactly what I was after. As did the blue mixed with the red.
The soaking in the dye takes just 45 minutes. The natural drying rather longer. Over a weekend I produced six different backdrops for just £6.90 each. Total bargain. Was I pleased with the results? You betcha! They do need a bit of ironing mind.
