Photography
c/photography is a community centered on the practice of amateur and professional photography. You can come here to discuss the gear, the technique and the culture related to the art of photography. You can also share your work, appreciate the others' and constructively critique each others work.
Please, be sure to read the rules before posting.
THE RULES
- Be nice to each other
This Lemmy Community is open to civil, friendly discussion about our common interest, photography. Excessively rude, mean, unfriendly, or hostile conduct is not permitted.
- Keep content on topic
All discussion threads must be photography related such as latest gear or art news, gear acquisition advices, photography related questions, etc...
- No politics or religion
This Lemmy Community is about photography and discussion around photography, not religion or politics.
- No classified ads or job offers
All is in the title. This is a casual discussion community.
- No spam or self-promotion
One post, one photo in the limit of 3 pictures in a 24 hours timespan. Do not flood the community with your pictures. Be patient, select your best work, and enjoy.
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If you want contructive critiques, use [Critique Wanted] in your title.
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Flair NSFW posts (nudity, gore, ...)
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Do not share your portfolio (instagram, flickr, or else...)
The aim of this community is to invite everyone to discuss around your photography. If you drop everything with one link, this become pointless. Portfolio posts will be deleted. You can however share your portfolio link in the comment section if another member wants to see more of your work.
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All of my props and backdrops came from thrift shops, close-out sales. Most of them are unique and intricate fabrics or bedsheets; the plain white is my go-to for people or objects (it still has the mark from an old hospital that closed down).
I hung a bedsheet over paracord tied to two coat racks. This works very well but the challenge is keeping the sheets wrinkle-free. Enter iron.
folding screen that I got at thrift store was reproduced by a friend using louvered closet doors she purchased at a hardware store.
I also used the biggest 3M reusable wall hook and used a cheap tension rod to hold a bedsheet.
have a look at an Ikea catalog for ideas as well. I purchased their big aluminum (i think) hooks and screwed them on the wall to hang seasonal props and bunting.
EDIT: Craft and Fabric stores are always advertising sales. If you have time, check out their fabric-by-the yard sale or pre-primed canvas. The canvas can be double purpose: backdrop and create artwork. I have several: propped on an easel, leaning on a wall, etc. It’s lightweight enough to be portable if you don’t frame it. Have fun!
Great tips, thank you!
What’s your lighting setup?
I have a combination of:
(borrowed) softbox lighting kit by Torjim: the portable and lightweight one, for when I need to move around depending on what I’m taking a photo of (my uncle is the real photographer, I’m just a hobbyist).
all my lighting is from Ikea: the backlight is a reading lamp (i think), same with the other two lamps (swivel). I chose them because of the base (tripod, adjustable) and weight.
-my old foam core is from Staples and when JoAnn was closing their stores, I bought more foam core there
umbrella is from goodwill
the white paper from my light box came from Ikea (kids’ drawing paper roll)
translucent plastic sheet, plexiglass from hardware store
all of my equipment is DIY that I learned from school or my uncle.
we also used a lot of clamps, clamp lights and binder clips, foil sheets from craft store (only if it’s on sale) and my uncle cut up a car sunshade once for his soft box
cardboard from grocery store and liquor stores (free)
my uncle has used a combo of white bowls, milk glass, cookie sheets as a reflector piece; my mom’s silicone funnel as a flash diffuser (she’s still mad at him) which is better than paper
if you can get your hands on vellum, they’re quite useful, too
We try to be frugal so we can spend the money on lenses.
Expensive equipment does not make someone either a photographer, or professional. Remember, Ansel Adams did not have 103 megapixel full frame Leica.