can not find back drop

[chris]

hi

i have been out and got my self some back drops and some 1 want me to take some photos were they will b standing up and some of the photos there will b about 20 people on them

but i can not find a back drop your any fabric that is big enough

as any 1 got any idears for me ??

[wulf]

What kind of group is it? Maybe there is a natural context that would be as good as (and easier to use) than a suitably sized backdrop? Or get them to all stand very close together...

Wulf

[chris]

it is a dancing group

[googlit]

is there a studio or something similar where they do practices or performances? you may try doing a portrait there...

or, like wulf suggested, find somewhere outside and interesting. I saw a fantastic portrait of a choral group in the woods—the members were all over the place, peeking out from behind trees, standing in front of them... it was a very neat shot. It's good to step outside the bounds every now and again. That's when you get the 'wow' shots.

other example (found on flickr):


If your heart is set on using a backdrop, I'm not sure where you could find a single cloth that large without sewing a few together... ask at specialty art stores and craft stores. You can probably find canvas that large, but it likely comes with a hefty price tag. This is just speculation, however, as I haven't gone looking for any lately.

[Saralonde]

Maybe check an inexpensive store (like Walmart here) and pick up some king size sheets. I can't think of a way to hang them without a seam though, unless you have someone stand in front of the joined area. Otherwise the above suggestions sound good.

[jiminyClickit]

chris,

If you have a hardware / paint store nearby, they'll likely have canvas dropcloths 10' x 20' and larger. Phone around - good luck.

[smc1377]

I just went to by neighborhood chain fabric store (Jo Ann's Fabric) and bought a large piece of black Muslin for a large product shot I had to do. They do have it in white in really large sizes, as in, the width is a good 10-12 feet wide and the length came on a fabric bolt of like 15-20 yards.

So if the group were to take up like 15 feet of space, just buy at least 5 yards of this material and hang it length-wise. It's rather cheap. I really can't find anything online that can come close to the price at the fabric store. Depending on how you are hanging it, you might need to find someone with a sewing machine to help you out.

That would be what I'd do if I *had* to get a large backdrop. I'd also go with black for a dance group. I just think that their dance outfits are already bright enough as it is that the black backdrop would really contrast the outfits nicely. Also, I take pictures with a touring dance competition and their stage backdrop is black and it sure does makes for nice action photos.

However, with all that said, I'm thinking that a dance group would look so much better incorporating the studio into the background somehow if you can find the perfect spot.

[chris]

thanx for all the help

[AnneWynne]

Originally Posted by smc1377

I just went to by neighborhood chain fabric store (Jo Ann's Fabric) and bought a large piece of black Muslin for a large product shot I had to do. They do have it in white in really large sizes, as in, the width is a good 10-12 feet wide and the length came on a fabric bolt of like 15-20 yards.

So if the group were to take up like 15 feet of space, just buy at least 5 yards of this material and hang it length-wise. It's rather cheap.

Couple of hints for purchasing fabric from a true fabricholic:

Get on the JoAnn's snail mailing list. You will get flyers with 40% off coupons on a regular basis...These can usually be used on a "single cut" of fabric (if it is not already on sale), which means that if you purchase the whole bolt, it is considered a single cut, so you get the bolt at 40% off. If you also sign up online you will get coupons for signing up and for online orders.

The really wide material at Joann's is backing for quilts, so you will find it in the quilt fabric section.

Hobby Lobby also carries fabrics. If you sign up for their online flyers, you get a 40-50% off any purchase every other week (the other weeks the couplon is item class specific).

A friend of mine uses knit fabric, with seams, for his backdrops and the seams do not show. He has a support built of PVC and clamps the fabric to the screen, then streetches it forward, clamping it onto the forward extensions of the base of the backdrop support. This causes the fabric to curve rather than having a distinct break where it hits the floor, providing a lovely backdrop with no distractions to detract from the full-length portraits he does.

Anne

[imagesbyjk]

I made my own. The problem with fabric stores like Joanne's is that you'll have a hard time finding pieces of muslin large enough to make a decent sized backdrop out of. Check out http://www.chicagocanvas.com/ they have all kinds of stuff you can use for backdrops. I have mine suspended by a track system which is actually a hospital curtain track. I attach it with spring clips (you know those heavy duty paper clips) so if someone happens to step on the backdrop it comes out of the clips before it tears down my track. I dyed the muslin with RIT dye. My main bg is 10'x20'.