subscribe 0330 333 1113I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI 24 August 2019 17Backgroundsfor
productshots
ClaireGillo,
APActingTechniqueEditor
‘If you’reafteraninteresting
backgroundorsurfacetoshootan
objecton,thenwallpapersamples
andfabriccutsaretheperfectsolution.
ManyDIYstoresonlychargea small
fee(orfree)totakesamples.Fabric,
whenboughtbya coupleof metres
in a haberdashery,canbeaslittleas
penniesdependingonyourselection.
Anotherfavouriteof mineforclose-up,
still-lifesubjectsis toshootmysubject
againstbrightcolourfulcard.Mykids
loveit tooasonceI’mfinishedtheythen
addthecreasedordamaged pieces to
their arts and crafts box.’A4DIYbounce
reflector
IanPack(www.packshots.biz)
Thiswillcostyou£2tomake.Iansays:
‘A bouncecardorreflectorwillsoften
thelightfromyourSpeedlite.Very
usefulwhenthere’snosuitablewallor
ceilingtobouncelightfrom.Thisone
is veryeasytomakefroma sheetof
self-adhesivewhitecraftfoamfor
children,2mmaluminiumflorist’swire
andbrightsilverplastic.Thewhiteside
givesa softerlight,whereasthebright
side reflects light with more contrast.’Makeyourown
lightbox
AmyDavies,APFeaturesEditor
‘It’sreallysimpletomakeyourown
lightbox.Allyouneedis a pieceof
greaseproofpaperstuckagainsta
window!Justrememberyou’llneedto
tapeyoursubjecttothewindowsothis
techniqueonlyworksforsmallobjects.
Forlargersubjectsgeta cardboardbox,
cuta holein thebottom,tapeovera
sheetof greaseproofpapertightly,
andlightfrom below using a strong
LED light.’Don’ttravel
JoStephen(jostephen
photography.
wordpress.com)
andCarlaWakins
(carlawatkins
photography.com)
BothJoandCarlaon
Facebookadvisenotto
gofar.Notonlywillyou
reduceyourcostsbut
you’realsohavinga
greenerphotoshoot.
Josays:‘Shootmacro;
thereareinfinite
landscapesin a small
areaandyoucan
reduceyourcarbon
footprintbyreducing
travelaswellas
familiarisingyourself
withthenaturethat
is oftenoverlooked.’
Carlasays:‘Challenge
yourselftoget 20
differentphotosin a
reallysmallarea– your
backgarden,living
room,orwithina
one-minutewalkfrom
your front door.’Child’sarmbands
TinaClaffey(www.tinaclaffey.com)
If youwanttogetdownlowbutdon’thavea tripod
thatdoesthejob(oryoudon’twanttogetit dirty),
thena greattipis tousea child’sarmbandassupport.
TinaClaffeyrevealedthatsheusesthistechnique
toAPActingTechniqueEditorTracyCalderwhen
photographingsuperclose-upsin bogs!Tinais the
authorofTapestryof Light - Ireland’s Bogs & Wetlands
As Never Seen Before.© IAN PACK© CALIRE GILLO© DAVID TIPLING/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA GETT Y IMAGES© CL AIRE GILLO©CLAIRE GILLO