This week and this week's questions are simply building the stage

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Jemimah Shepherd
5 years ago
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1 Dame Dana s SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR DOLLHOUSE MUSE PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH Week one Today s subject: Creating a Stage Hey everyone! Did everyone get their pdf for today s class ok? Lets start class... We have 4 weeks of photography classes. Each week we will take one basic concept and build until you have a completed stage, lighting, basic camera under- standing and then a few tips in actual manipulation of that photo. This week we are building the basic stage background. Now before we start... Is anyone using this class for miniatures rather then a 5-6"" doll?" The only change right now for the stage is to buy Two pieces of foam core board so that your floor (base) is equally as high as the back. This way you can take a straight down photo shot (which we will explain in coming weeks) Otherwise everything else is the same. The purpose of this class is to build an easy backdrop (stage) for your doll. We need something that will provide a nice neutral background to showcase your doll and blend. Now since we are doing the castle theme I went with concrete/mortar color walls. But with lighting you can correct that (remember lighting is next week) This week and this week's questions are simply building the stage There are 3 types of stages that I use. 1. The basic backdrop we are learning today 2. A photographic paper background (as seen in many of my photos the gradient blue to white or black to white) 3. Will explain a little later The 1st type we are learning today The 2nd type is easily bought on ebay under photographic supplies (basically a large sheet of gradient paper dark to light) The cost of this sheet is about $50 and scratches very easily. But with a little care can easily take care of the bulk of your needs. I would suggest going with the blue or black as the others tend to distract rather then compliment your doll or subject. Like you see in a photography studio. You know... when you sit a person in a real photography studio and right behind the person the *painting* is a lighter color... like a halo and then the paint dabs grow increasing darker out to the edge!

2 Well... if you are crafty (which I can't do - but many can paint) this is easily accomplished by using the base stage we are making today. And instead of spraying with fleck paint you literally take a brush and make your halo in the middle and then do little dabs of paint color blending outward. 1. Spray fleck backdrop we are making in class 2. Photographic background bought on ebay 3. The paint dab backdrop I just described, which is done on the stage we are making today I make dolls I don't do miniatures or make room boxes so for mei need a setting that would showcase my doll and be easily available for lifting (light weight) in case I wanted to cart it outside or better lighting in the house or just moving it around my studio. And for want of storage space it easily folds in half for vertical storing I came up with the Foam core stage. Here are the basic directions... Step #1 Purchase a large foam core board. About 1/3 of the way up from the bottom score a line horizontally across then simply crease it and fold your foam core board into a *L* shape. (I put a piece of tape along both sides for a simple joint to hold) Q What thickness of foam core? A Any thickness you want - I use 1/4" for ease of scoring the line Q How do you keep it at 90 degree angle? A I put a piece of tape at each side on the bottom - a photo of this on the pdf working on your backdrop If you are Moonyeen --- whose mind I can see working all the way over here across the country --- you will probably be making mini brick mortar and wood flooring and little wooden floor boards cutting a window the correct height and then adding a stained glass window so that you can shine a back light through the window and fall on your doll for additional lighting cause its all electrified <G> Then there is me and I'm glad I just found foam core board so...its up to the good old fake cement stone grey wall and (its also a great neutral color for your doll - more on that in a moment) Soooo Stage is assembled. Time to color -- Get the Fleck Spray found in the Home Depot or a paint department.

3 The Reason I use fleck spray is that when you blur it out a tiny bit is is soft. Q What can I do if I can t find Fleck Spray? A You could spray your backdrop a matte grey, then maybe drop little tiny bits of sand on it and re-spray so that it gives it texture that is basically what the Fleck Spray does) Q Is this the color you use for everything not just Cc projects. A Lisa - I use this color yes for most - except when I use the blue photographic paper background Q What IS Fleck Spray? A "Harriette - the fleck spray is a solid color spray, with tiny bits of black/white/grey particles in it so that when you spray" it all comes out and looks like tiny bits of cement. Q would magic brick work also? A yup Q is it an uneven surface? A yes and that is important! If you have a flat spray and the light bounces off it some times makes a weird camera reading (as in the digital camera has a hard time focusing) Soooo if you have matte background that is darker and the light absorbs, the camera lens focuses on the doll (***note** ) I am telling you Exactly how I do it - with two different cameras here. I am not a professional photographer <G>) but if you like my photos - then I'm going to tell you how I did it. Alrighty... Now that you have those two basics down... here are some random tips and side notes I use two camera's...one cheap one good. For easy every day... it s a Canon Powershot Sd870 which is digital For good... Nikon Coolpix 8700 with inter changeble lenses, and more functions then I've figured out in 3 years (this is a subject we go over in an upcoming class) but just wanted to prove that you can use an inexpensive camera with a few tips and tricks and still achieve good results. The Keys?? Lighting Steady focus

4 How to *help* the photo in photo progam and of course a tripod if you need one! Evelyne gifted me with a great tiny tripod when she was here "like 3 tall." I like to move around a lot though and handhold the majority of my photos. I'm not shakey yet so it seems to work with me! If you spray your *stage* a darker color near the seam line at the bottom when you are angling shots from above it brings the floor into a better perspective or when you are doing shots straight on it doesn't make the dolls seem quite so tall and out of scale. Recap: 1. Make your stage 2. Spray your stage as we discussed but use an extra heavy coating of color near seam line to make it seem like a floor and not have your doll floating in space 3. If you want your doll *floating* in space then use an orange background so that you can easily select your doll in your photoshop program and place her in a faery scene (BUT no worries - that is in the last class). Ok - that is the basics for the stage... before I go into a few more tips Q By making the seam darker you just spray more paint? A Dolores yes! just heavier - you don't want a distinct line --- more of a blended line For those of you that took my stain glass window class in the 10 minute tutorial on Cc I took a photo of the package of Shrinky Dinks that you run through your computer and then shrink for those that want to add that stain glass window! It was $13 and only 4 sheets so pricey But very cool! Now for next class...again on lighting... you need to make a decision 1. Go to the photographers studio/store and buy 3 directional light/stands and the correct light bulbs that give white light in photographs Or... Go to the thrift store find 3 gooseneck (adjustable) lights on stands and use regular light bulbs. (I really have both... and I like the golden soft lighting... so I use the thrift store lights 90% of the time). My thinking on using those... and the coloring/lighting they use. 1. If you want a perfect photo of your Doll -- use the white lights. It will show off the correct colors, the perfect painting job, and the beautiful hair and decorations

5 2. If you want a mood/scene with your miniature person with shadows and shading and mystery use the thrift store lighting and pose your creation so that she is stopped in a moment of time. Capture that fleeting feeling you were trying to recreate when you made the doll. (hahah - guess which one I'm passionate about) The point is the lessons you learn this month will apply to both but I will lean toward romantic photos. That is all for today s class as I was determined to stick to subject matter on stages not props or lighting (that is next week) then actual posing and camera tricks. Then the last week on computer help COMMENT I have two Ott-lites A (Ott lites are perfect - true light coloring) Sooooo today is the short but simple class but the necessary foundation upon which to build. See you next week. Notes compiled by Moonyeen Moller Moonlight Miniatures

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