Technical Tuesday - White Sheet Backdrop

This is a very simple and cheap technique.  All you will need is a king size white sheet, some shop clamps and a place or a structure to hang it on.  A king size white sheet at Wal-Mart is $16, Harbor Freight carries  the spring loaded clamps I use, $5 for 22 clamps, and for the structure...just find something to clamp it to that doesn't block light from shining through the back.  You could use an awning, a porch, a swing set, etc...  I haven't used this technique in a while but it is a really effective look, especially with black and white work.

Once you have the sheet hung and there is nothing blocking the light from landing on the sheet you can focus on your exposure.  To get the exposure you want, first step back and look at your subject, then decide what part you want to expose for.  Then move in close and get your exposure only for the part of the subject that you want to expose correctly.  Shooting directly into a white background can be very tricky for your cameras light meter.  That's why its important to get in tight and expose only for the section of your subject that is most important.  Most likely this will be their skin.  But its your image, expose for what ever you want.

The image on the right was made using this technique.  With the sunlight not falling directly on the sheet it offers a nice soft look to the image.  And look at the beautiful highlights on his skin, very soft and it wraps right around his face.

This image was made in the same manner but the sunlight was falling directly on the sheet.  You can see how it offers a blown out look to the image.  It softens the edge of the skin, but is a much harder light.  I really like how it wraps around her cheeks in a much more high dynamic look.

Moving in tight gives your image a different look, but still retains the feel that it has shot wide.

Next time I'll discuss shooting on the other side of the sheet.