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You're also getting a great
new 9' X 12' Raw Muslin Background / Backdrop to start you off! This is a great starter
background for those of us who are just begining to realize the
importance of backdrops to good photography. Raw muslin is a
lovely cream color (sort of like this background color), and
has been used in its raw state as a favorite of photographers
for decades. Be advised that this is a brand new, top quality,
100% pure cotton muslin (unlike the cheap recycled and cotton
blend so-called "muslins" that others have been selling
online recently). Also, you can easily dye and/or paint raw muslin
to create beautiful custom backgrounds that sell for up to $450.00!
Of course, you can paint, sponge, or dye this great muslin, too,
if you like, but raw muslin is one of today's most popular background
colors. What IS a "Muslin" you may ask? Muslin is a
type of cotton material that is light weight, easily hung, draped,
stretched, folded, or rolled. It's easy to paint and dye, and
relatively inexpensive. Unlike paper rolls, it can be washed
whenever necessary (as with all 100% cotton items, you can expect
a 5% 10% shrinkage after the first wash); and unlike canvas,
it won't crack, peel, dent, or dry out.You'll likely acquire
several different color muslins as your photographic needs advance.
But if your budget won't stretch to buy additional backgrounds,
you add to your background creativity by using a bed sheet (iron
it first, so all the wrinkles are gone), or a wall, or buy some
cheap material at a local fabric store (use solid colors, or
mellow blends; avoid loud or busy patterns or designs - they
just detract from your subject. You want your background to compliment
your subject, not overpower it). Set your victim (um, your "subject,"
that is:) at least 4-6 feet in front of your background (whatever
it may be), and place your background strobe behind your subject
(hidden from the camera's view, of course). No need to spend
a fortune to get great pictures, just be imaginative and creative
with the equipment you have. Please note that this muslin does
not come hemmed or with a loop sewn across the top (however,
it's a simple matter to make a loop - to insert a background
cross bar through - with a few safety pins (real photographers
improvise:), or you can sew one yourself, if you're handy); it
really doesn't matter, though, because we never show the outside
edges of our backgrounds in our pictures, anyway.
Why, you may ask, do we need
a 12 foot muslin background when we only have an 8 1/2 foot high
Background Support Set? Good question. The answer? Because, as
a photographer, I know that we often want to curve a few feet
of our background material onto the floor under our subjects.
This allows us to make full-length shots of a standing (or sitting)
subject, and have the background continue under their feet. Also,
it allows us to curve the background material along the floor
(also under our subjects) to eliminate the horizon line (e.g.,
the line where the wall or background meets the floor); it may
sound a bit esoteric to you now, but as soon as you start using
background support sets, and discover all the neat stuff we can
do with it, it'll become clear to you. Things like these are
one of the reasons why you're better off acquiring your photographic
equipment from a photographer, instead of from just someone
trying to "sell" you photographic equipment, because
a photographer knows why something is important (or NOT
important) for you to have, and how you can use it to
improve your photography. Of course, "you da boss,"
because it's your hard-earned money you're spending -
so you decide what to buy, and from whom to buy it (however,
since PhotoSource3 not only knows photography, is willing to
help you, and also has the best prices; it's really a
no-brainer:)!
Read some more about backgrounds....
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