Background Textures and Patterns

Just as natural backgrounds make a big difference, backgrounds you choose have a big effect. We had Nicole hold her pose while our daring intern Mike flipped new backgrounds in and out at blinding speed. This is one reason we didn't use commercial backgrounds — they are too large to flip in and out that fast. Plus we didn't need large backgrounds, so art-store paper was cheaper and easier.

Bottom Line: if you can, choose your backgrounds so your subject resonates nicely with them.

100mm, f19, large studio softbox on left, reflector on right

Left

Right

Crumpled wrapping paper. People use wrinkled paper for backgrounds, but it always looks to me like wrinkled paper.

The black marbled paper is nice, but it blends too much with her hair in this lighting.

Green marbled paper is brighter, but pretty busy for a background. It kind of refuses to BE background.

Pink marbled paper. If Nicole looks mildly seasick against this background - remember, she could not see the which background was in place, so this impression is in the eye of the beholder.

Strong striations. Good colors for her, but too much going on.

Cross hatching. Also good colors for this photo buy the pattern makes you wonder what it is - fish net? shower curtain?

Green paper with little colored metallic spots. Sure, why not? Festive.

A roughly painted bulls eye pattern. Why? An allusion to classical painting of saints?

Saint