Background

When shooting either a still photograph or a moving film, the background as well as lighting play an important role in the final composition of the picture or movie. Many amateur photographers tend to overlook this important requirement. A number of props and equipment are available for creating a good background, with the most vital being the background light. The background light is usually placed behind or above the main object being photographed. This light is positioned so that the light is focused, reflected or bounced towards the background.

Of the main studio background lighting prop is usually the tripod on which the light is mounted. A wide umbrella, usually white, placed around the lighting unit, helps in properly directing the light. The angle, elevation and direction of the light can be changed as per the photographer’s discretion. The lights can be adjusted for soft or hard lighting effects. The usage of pure white daylight bulbs ensures that all the colors of the various objects within the shot’s frame are accurately reproduced. This property is measured through the color-rendering index (CRI). A CRI above 90 is preferred.

Other than the lights, flat drop-sceneries or 3-dimensional sets can be incorporated into the background as well. This background can be a flat board mounted on a stand or a curtain. It is the background that gives the image depth and an interesting ambience. Photo background and backdrop support systems are supported on twin tripod stands, with a horizontal connector between them on which the background can be draped and checked for realism.