Backgrounds for Photos ...


 
In the past few years of painting models for both commissions and to sell on the shop, I've been slowly taking more time over the photography of the finished models. Originally it was just so I'd have a decent picture for my own portfolio, and use a plain white background. But over time I made some basic quick-n-dirty bases and backgrounds to show the model in a setting. I kept them pretty generic at first; a simple grassy base and rock backdrop and a road surface with a grey concrete backdrop. Not great, but as a start, I was encouraged by the results. It set the model off nicely and, especially for the shop, offered an impression of the model in a game setting.
 

 
After these very basic versions, I made two more, both with much more detail to them. In each case they were a little rushed, but again, showed promise and did (in my own opinion) look a step up from the previous ones. So far they've been okay, but I've noticed that they could be with having more area of depth. As you can see with the street scene, the road surface is only about 3-4 inches. Not too bad for single figures maybe, but with multiple models or vehicles, it doesn't give me much room.
 

 
And so, I'm beginning my MKIII backgrounds, these ones having a good 6-7 inches of area. Okay, not tons of space, but a little better (I hope).

Their main forms are from two identical boxes (Whiskas 40 pack pouch food, for reference!), which I trimmed and strenghened with some of the cut-offs. I'm still keeping it simple with the styles; sticking with a generic grass + rock combo and the generic street scene; the latter looking just grungy enough that it could pass for modern or dystopian. If they turn out okay, I may put together a sci-fi one.
 


 
Again, you can see that I haven't strayed too far from the look of the previous street - shopfront, brick wall, strip of pavement. I do intent to add some more detailing though, with a small window and a corrugated shutter, possibly some light in the shop window to add a little accent glow. Regardless, I still need to get some form to them first. So there will be a few more posts in the future, but for now it's the early stages.

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