Backdrop for bike photos?
06-24-14, 06:47 PM
#1
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Backdrop for bike photos?
I've noticed many photos of member's bicycles with a stockade fence as the backdrop.
Would this be considered "de rigueur"?
Or am I nuts?
Would this be considered "de rigueur"?
Or am I nuts?
06-24-14, 06:51 PM
#2
Senior Member
I wouldn't say nuts, but I think garage door backgrounds are the most common.
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06-24-14, 07:01 PM
#3
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Brick walls and trees work.
06-24-14, 07:09 PM
#4
Still learning
Salem?
Lotsa brick everywhere and why not a pier on the water or the rocky beaches?
Lotsa brick everywhere and why not a pier on the water or the rocky beaches?
06-24-14, 07:12 PM
#5
~>~
And one does not have to travel to a sylvan glade or dramatic cliff to snap one.
Pics:
-Bandera
06-24-14, 07:20 PM
#6
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Plus, the garage door backdrop makes the pic all about the bike and not about the photography/scenery/staging/artistic expression etc.
Drive side out.
Neutral background.
Framed so bike fills the shot.
Then we can really see the bike!
Drive side out.
Neutral background.
Framed so bike fills the shot.
Then we can really see the bike!
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06-24-14, 07:28 PM
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06-24-14, 07:30 PM
#10
Still learning
A long telephoto helps to reduce the depth of field and focus on the bike.
06-24-14, 07:47 PM
#11
Senior Member
I just took a photo with my phone camera with the bike against a white garage door & sunshine causes crazy shadows. I do like grass or some "unbusy" background. I haven't reinstalled the kickstand on my most recent acquisition so I've got to lean it on things.
is this a signal that you'll be posting photos soon?
is this a signal that you'll be posting photos soon?
06-24-14, 07:51 PM
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06-24-14, 08:43 PM
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@55/Rad - great pics! Space is nice as is the ability to make the bike sit still for a pic without doing a Arty Johnson.
I prefer garage doors for the same reasons stated. I tried brick but the colors have to be right and the bricks are a bit busy.
[IMG][IMG]
BF_Drive Side_Wide by superissimo_83,
[IMG]
P7070974 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
I prefer garage doors for the same reasons stated. I tried brick but the colors have to be right and the bricks are a bit busy.
[IMG][IMG]
BF_Drive Side_Wide by superissimo_83,[IMG]
P7070974 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
06-24-14, 08:55 PM
#15
Former Hoarder
I do like a good brick background as well.
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06-24-14, 10:11 PM
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Stopped for a piece of "pi", along Chicago's beautiful lake front!
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06-24-14, 11:55 PM
#17
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I think you get a lot of this because people want a clean background and feel a need to lean their bikes against something. Some times this can lead to unflatering lighting
I find an easy way to get a clean background with nice soft even light (often a pleasing look for specular/shiny subjects) is to put the bike just on the edge of the shade and have the shaded area be the background. In the middle day of the just inside the open garage door often works well.
As oddjob said telephoto helps to reduce the depth of field, as well a wide aperture.
I think 55RAD has a good look with his space images but not every one will have the space or lights for this kind on imaging
yea I can photograph bikes better than I can wrench them
I find an easy way to get a clean background with nice soft even light (often a pleasing look for specular/shiny subjects) is to put the bike just on the edge of the shade and have the shaded area be the background. In the middle day of the just inside the open garage door often works well.
As oddjob said telephoto helps to reduce the depth of field, as well a wide aperture.
I think 55RAD has a good look with his space images but not every one will have the space or lights for this kind on imaging
yea I can photograph bikes better than I can wrench them
06-25-14, 12:59 AM
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someone once said to take bike pics in the shade on a sunny day, and that's worked for me. i prefer an interesting and solid background.
- drive side
- chain on the big ring and a smaller rear cog
- bottle in the cage
- tire labels either at 12:00 or 6:00
- pedals ... um ... wherever
- drive side
- chain on the big ring and a smaller rear cog
- bottle in the cage
- tire labels either at 12:00 or 6:00
- pedals ... um ... wherever
06-25-14, 02:30 AM
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A solid background helps show off the bike and is less distracting. Fences often don't work when the vertical lines interfere witht he horizontal lines of the bike. Often times I prefer to see a bike in situ. northbend in particular is great at this (and rides in some beautiful country to provide some stunning backdrops). It's also nice too when a backdrop makes sense with the bike.
I confess that I am a terrible photographer with a poor camera, but I try:
(The top tube not aligning with the horizontal line behind it bothers me in this photo but I include it as a case study.)
(Not my car.)
I confess that I am a terrible photographer with a poor camera, but I try:
(The top tube not aligning with the horizontal line behind it bothers me in this photo but I include it as a case study.)
(Not my car.)
Last edited by gaucho777; 06-25-14 at 02:33 AM.
06-25-14, 05:51 AM
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One thing I find interesting is that the same people tend to use the same backdrops. I can sometimes tell on CL or the Bay who is the seller just from the backdrop.
06-25-14, 06:50 AM
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Yeah. There's limited choice 'round here. It's either the garage door or the rhododendrons in the back. This was a departure for me. The old graveyard down the street. It was nice and quiet.
06-25-14, 07:05 AM
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I think you get a lot of this because people want a clean background and feel a need to lean their bikes against something. Some times this can lead to unflatering lighting
I find an easy way to get a clean background with nice soft even light (often a pleasing look for specular/shiny subjects) is to put the bike just on the edge of the shade and have the shaded area be the background. In the middle day of the just inside the open garage door often works well.
As oddjob said telephoto helps to reduce the depth of field, as well a wide aperture.
I find an easy way to get a clean background with nice soft even light (often a pleasing look for specular/shiny subjects) is to put the bike just on the edge of the shade and have the shaded area be the background. In the middle day of the just inside the open garage door often works well.
As oddjob said telephoto helps to reduce the depth of field, as well a wide aperture.
06-25-14, 07:28 AM
#25
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You mean the naked fat guy who manages to get his reflection in all his auctions?
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