Gravity Backdrop Alternatives

[Dork Knight]

Hello,

I've been considering a few options for backdrops for location work and I do like the look of the Gravity Backdrops;
https://www.facebook.com/gravitybackdrops/

I guess something close to 2m x 2m would be good, perhaps a little less but I couldn't justify £350 for the standard size from Gravity.

The Calumet Hand-Painted Muslin looks like it might be okay but hard to tell from the picture, the only thing with this one is that it's massive;
https://www.wexphotovideo.com/calumet-10-x-12ft-elephant-hand-painted-muslin-background-1634032/

Hand painted would be nice but an alternative like the following could be an option (which might have actually been considered if one side was white);
https://www.wexphotovideo.com/lasto...ible-reversible-background-ironworks-1645623/

If anyone has any alternatives then I would appreciate your input.

Thank You,

Jason

 

[paul williams]

I've always been of the opinion that as a background is, well just a background, it should be an economic and usually out of focus item! Many years ago (over 20) I bought some cloth backgrounds from a company called Colourscape and they still appear to be going strong, that's both the backgrounds I bought and the company!

 

[Dork Knight]

I'll take a look at Colourscape, thank you.

 

[sep9001]

I've always been of the opinion that as a background is, well just a background, it should be an economic and usually out of focus item! Many years ago (over 20) I bought some cloth backgrounds from a company called Colourscape and they still appear to be going strong, that's both the backgrounds I bought and the company!

Paul,

Do you have any examples photos with the backdrops please?

Thanks

OP: Sorry to post on your thread.
Thanks

 

[rsh1960]

How about a green screen backdrop

 

[Dork Knight]

No worries Kev, ask away...

Robin, a green screen wouldn't be of any use I'm afraid as I'll be shooting film with minimal editing (perhaps I should have mentioned that and thank you for posting).

 

[Garry Edwards]

No worries Kev, ask away...

Robin, a green screen wouldn't be of any use I'm afraid as I'll be shooting film with minimal editing (perhaps I should have mentioned that and thank you for posting).

Well, if that's the case you won't be able to achieve the heavily photoshopped results on their website either...

 

[Dork Knight]

I'm not really looking for that Garry, with the hand painted backdrops you should hopefully have different layers and tones of paint, therefore when the light hits the backdrop you should get those tones coming through.

Anyway it looks like I've found an alternative from Siberia of all places if I decide to go for one.

Thanks for everyones input.

 

[paul williams]

Paul,

Do you have any examples photos with the backdrops please?

Thanks

OP: Sorry to post on your thread.
Thanks

Actually I use mostly the black cloth or grey vinyl these days, but sifting back through some old shots, came across these which shows one of the clouded ones (candy) during a set-up for head and shoulder & baby session some time ago. When these were bought many years ago, they didn't have the 3 inch hem to take a pole, so I fitted them with canvas eyelets to allow me to use hooks. I don't know what the quality of the current production is like, but at £30.50 for an 8 x 8 foot clouded it has to be worth a shot - certainly mine have lasted the test of time, indeed I think I might get a darker clouded one myself!