BetterPhoto Q&A
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Patricia Seif		outside lighting for portraits/chroma key backdrop will be setting up an OUTSIDE studio with chroma key backdrop, need to know the best lighting situation for outside shots. I have not pruchassed any items as yet. Will need backdrop frame at least 12' wide and 10' tall. The chroma key material will be "driven on" with the motorcycle so I will need to be careful no grease or oil marks are on the backdrop. Suggest best material for this kind of shot (paper, muslin, ???)After photo is taken, biker choses where him and his bike want to be > Strugis? Hawaii beach? Greeen medows? Sunset? Having Photoshop CS I will then put them wherever they want. With the ChromaKey, I need to have near perfect lighting (no shadows) Please advise thanks Patty To love this question, log in above January 01, 2005

Doug Elliott		Patty, What a great way to start the New Year. I would suggest you get a people popper set up. It has two stands and a multi piece cross bar. These stands allow you to go up to eleven feet in height and will accommodate eleven foot rolls of paper, or twelve foot muslins backgrounds, and it all comes in handy carrying bag. There are a number of good units on the market. For your background I would suggest the paper. You might think about cutting part of the front of the roll and lay it down where you are going to roll the motorcycle, then cut the paper from around the wheels. It will save you a lot of time in Photoshop, you might want to put down a cloth or some other protection until your customer is in position, and then remove it. Again, time to be saved in PhotoShop. Now let’s talk about your lighting set up. Please consider setting your lights high so they throw the shadows down. Place them at a 45 degree angle to you subject, this will through shadows to the sides and out of the view of the camera. When you watch the evening weather, the studio lights are about eight to ten feet above the weather man. His shadow is on the floor. He is also standing about ten feet from the chroma-key flat. Since you are wanting to shot out side or it s not an option, you have just entered the Excedrin zone. You are asking for a great many headaches, and no-good way to solve them. You need to be able to control the light. If you can shoot in an old barn, or an old warehouse, this would be best. If this option is not available to you, you will want to consider building a couple of soft panel to go over your set. You can make one with ¾ PVC and a white flat bed sheet. Use ¾ inch elastic at 45 degree angle at the corners to be able to stretch the sheet tight. This will allow you to have a soft even light when the sun is out. You will have to clamp it some kind of support. You can get holder that will clamp them to light stands. Make sure you some kind of sand bags, to weigh the stands down. I hope these ideas are helpful. Good luck. Blessing for a prosperous today, tomorrow, and the rest of the year. Doug To love this comment, log in above January 05, 2005

Rhonda L. Tolar		I wish I could remember the name of the company that does this. My husband and I are motorcycle riders, we frequent motorcycle rallys. At the big rallys, especially the H.O.G. rallys, there is always a company that has set up for photographing bikes. It is all set up in an enclosed tent type enviroment. The enclosure is probably only 8 or 9 feet high, but 10 to 15 feet long. All the lights and camera are outside of the tent, only the fronts are put in openings. This keeps any reflection of the camera and photographer from appearing in the chrome. They have different backgrounds for you to choose from, because they are shooting, printing and selling right on the spot, they don't have time for photoshop enhancements. I hope some of this information might help you. Good luck! Motorcycle photography done good is a great sell! We bikers are very proud of our bikes! To love this comment, log in above January 06, 2005

Patricia Seif		Thank you everyone for your responses.. so ok I now realize that I will need a tent, no problem, I am thinking about 12 X 16 feet. Now about the lighting...something that will make the subject look natural > aka standing on the beach with sunlight in your hair! When you will be standing under a white tent surrounded by artificial light.And yes there will be CHROME and therefore REFLECTIONS so again the type of lighting will be crucial. I wish that I could attend a school for portrait lighting, I'd take it in a minute (somrthing I wasent interested in before) So any suggestions are welcome and specific lighting materials > unbrella light vs soft box etc. The main objective or selling point is to be able to walk away with your print which can be done with a good printer, a laptop and Photoshop program. I will also have pre-made mattes to present the photo. I appreciate all the help and suggestions that you can give me, thanks again To love this comment, log in above January 06, 2005

Rhonda L. Tolar		I was searching the internet to see if I could find the company that I was telling you about. I found the following: http://www.motorcyclephotoclass.com/ I could not find the one I was looking for, but I will keep looking. You might want to search H.O.G. rallys for a list of venders. I will keep looking. As far as lighting goes, I think I would use soft boxes, or umbrellas, the more indirect the better. To love this comment, log in above January 06, 2005

Doug Elliott		Patty, You are in luck to take a portrait photography course. The Texas School which is a week long school on how to do portraits, or any of the other 30 courses. Check out what is available at the following website. www.tppa.org. If you have any questions please email me at Douge1957@hotmail.com I have attended for the last two years and will be there again this year. Doug To love this comment, log in above January 06, 2005

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