About Backdrops
Backdrops are an important tool for any photographer, stage director or film crew to use in their day-to-day jobs. Whether a small high school wants to put on a play or a professional photographer is looking to take some breathtaking portraits, backdrops can be a cheap way to do this. They give us the backgrounds we see in our photos and make the special effects we see on the big screen possible.
Function
Backdrops are any type of material hung behind a photo shoot, or on stage during a play, to create a scene that is not really there. They create the illusion for the audience that the play is taking place somewhere else. In pictures, they make the person appear to be somewhere else, such as on the beach or in an amusement park. This is especially popular in tourist locations.
Uses
In photography, backdrops are used to make the picture more appealing. Tourists often want pictures taken with the location they are visiting in the background. They can also be a solid color instead of using an image. These are popular for photos taken for a school yearbook. In theater, backdrops often help the audience understand where the character is supposed to be. They could show a forest, city building or even the moon, depending on where the action is taking place.
Types
Backdrops can be any range of sizes, shapes and colors. It all depends on what you are trying to depict. Often backdrops are made completely from linen. They work better at creating the right lighting for a photo. Usually they are put on poles to let them hang down behind the person getting his or her picture taken. On stage they may be hung, painted onto the set or attached to wood or cardboard.
Green Screen
A green screen is a special type of backdrop used most often in the movies. When actors are filmed in front of a green screen, a computer can go in later and add any background it wants. This is useful for showing scenes in places the actors can't get to, for example, outer space. It's also popular for creating creatures and science fiction landscapes.
Potential
There are many ways you can benefit from backdrops, even if you're not an actor. Weddings and family portraits are a great time to use a backdrop. When you have your photos made, you can use a variety of beautiful backgrounds to create more interest. Senior pictures in high school can be taken against different backdrops to show the person in his or her favorite locations. They're also useful for taking photos of the whole family to put on Christmas cards.
Tags: green screen, high school, somewhere else, taking place, They also
