Tutorial: Backdrops

As you know, I tend to use backdrops quite a lot when photographing my BJD's. I find them very useful, especially when the weather isn't it's best and having the ability to sit on a chair to photograph my dolls at eyelevel instead of getting down on the ground is definitely an advantage to someone of my age!

I generally use a clothes rack behind my kitchen table (but a card table works just as well). Then I pop the top of the backdrop over the clothes rack and hold it in place on the bar with Bluetac and lay the remaining backdrop on the table.

However, today I am using my bookcase behind my ironing board!

As you can see, there's nothing fancy used here, I try and keep things as simple as I can and use things I have on hand.

The rack folds up out of the way when I'm not using it and the backdrops are rolled up together and stored in a PVC tube (we had some left after bathroom renovations).

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T FOLD THEM. You can iron them on the back side if they wrinkle a bit, but if they have been folded they stretch slightly on the fold line and don't iron completely flat.

I don't have a steady hand, so I always use a tripod. If you need more tips on how to photograph your dolls, drop by HERE, it's a lovely blog and Martha shares some very easy to follow tips that have certainly been a great help to me.

My finished photo with Bon Bon, Truffles and Gum Drop showing off their new pants! I'm pretty pleased with the way this one turned out, as I photographed it RAW and used my photo editing programme to crop etc., before bringing it down to 1000 pixels wide / 72dpi. If you would like to see it at 1000 pixels, just click on the photo.

Taken the same way (RAW), with a different backdrop and edited with a different programme. So I don't think the editing makes as much difference as actually shooting using the RAW format. Love to hear your thoughts, how do you take your photos?

Have a great weekend!

Hugs,

X

200th Post

I can hardly believe I've been blogging about dolls for a little over two years, with just the occasional slice of downtime to enjoy holidays and complete our renovations.

When I first launched my blog, I wasn't too sure which direction it would take and whether I would just post about my dolls or add some personal stuff and I am sure my friend Diane was the only one who actually bothered to read it.

I had little interest in other social media, and even now I avoid Facebook like the plague. So it's just my blog and the rare visit to Flickr, but I do enjoy writing, I guess to some extent it's rather like talking to yourself and I am quite used to that, seeing as hubby has had a bad case of "man ears" for years!

However, in saying that it would be nice to nurture more interest in this blog. So if you’ve found the occasional tutorial helpful, my waffle or photos interesting, please share my blog address with a friend.

More importantly, please feel free to ask questions, post comments and suggestions. Your input helps me provide content that you are interested in and besides that, I've got to admit it, I just love hearing from my readers.

Now I really wanted to do something special to celebrate this event, but for the life of me, I couldn't think of what to do, so here I am saying THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR STICKING AROUND THIS PAST TWO YEARS and hopefully you will continue to stop by and help me celebrate in a better way in another 200 posts.
Hugs,
X

The Boys New Clothes

It's been a busy time around here of late. The entertainment room is finally finished and all the furniture has been returned to it's rightful place. I am so pleased with the floor, the country oak planks look fabulous, they were so easy to lay (thank heavens) and we're glad we decided to paint the walls and complete the panelling first.

I have been knitting in the evening and sewing every spare minute during the day as I had a few custom orders that needed to be completed quickly. Now those garments are all on their way to respective clients, I am able to enjoy a little dolly time myself. I had placed a rather extravagant clothes order with Iplehouse and it's arrived, so I've managed to dress the boys in clothes that were more befitting lads of their age. (It was just as well Iplehouse had so many available at great discounts, otherwise I would have blown my budget completely.)



Yesterday, hubby and I took some well earned R&R and went to see "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" and although the story line wasn't quite as good as the first, we both really enjoyed it, especially the dancing. Lunch was delicious, and much better than last time, as we found a new place to eat with a good variety of dishes on the menu!

Today, I realised I am almost at my 200th post, so I'll have to think about doing something special, not sure what, but I will think of something you can be sure. :)

Hope you are all well and enjoying life!
Hugs,
X