Digital Backgrounds in Photography

Who'd of thunk it? Using an old TV screen like this to make a photo like this....

👇

Some say that showing the 'secrets' of behind the scenes ruins the magic. In a sense it does, but it doesn't help others learn how to improve or try new techniques. In the past, I've used my laptop screen with pretty good success. However, I could only do little figures and not something like the above Watch Tower.

I tried some more fun shots before I dismantled the TV and put it back in storage. I don't have the room to leave it set up.

The one below is similar. I used an AI generated image of a desert and placed this minifigure and her horse on top of a piece of wrinkled paper bag I had. I used my cell phone flashlight to light her up from an angle and there it was....

A warrior traveling in the desert.

I had one more I tried. I set this Pegasus and the warrior on a mirror close to the TV so I could 'shoot' her flying on her steed.

I chose a photo of mine from the archives to use of clouds.

It came out pretty good, but I had to use a 'mist' brush to cover up the lines where the mirror met the screen. I did a slight radial blur of the background.

I need to try this again. Her face and the reflection of the light on her face are awkward. But the idea seems sound. Maybe next time I can put them on a tilt to imitate flying.

In portrait photography [which I have no care to do -- I tried it and failed], Digital Backgrounds are used. As they can be for Still Life Photography too.

The backgrounds can be digital printed items, or a smart TV like I used. I've even used scrapbook paper for backgrounds.

I've also used scraps of wood that I've painted and textured.

It worked well.

I really prefer to 'make' my own backdrops but I enjoy using all the tools I can. I do have a light box too. I'll probably shake the dust off from that and explore some created scenes with that.

I did this last year, it was quite fun to create a story without words.

The Interview

Since our temps dropped to very cold again. I may explore some of my old methods and try some new methods of photography.

I should really really ... gather some items and do some more still life shots.

There is just so much one can have fun with.

Have a good day. 

Yuck

Well there it is. I've officially gotten the first cold in years. At least 12 years to be exact. It pretty much took me down and out of commission for a few days.

Interestingly enough, I never had a fever, just a throat that felt like I'd swallowed glass. I felt like someone ran over me with a dump truck. 

I was able to do chores, so I must have been doing pretty okay.

I spent time sleeping in the spare room and reading books. 

I think I got enough sleep over the last few days that I won't need to sleep for at least a month now.

I felt better today, the sore throat was gone the head wasn't quite as stuffy, but the body still felt a bit slow and worn out. Which meant more reading. 

Tomorrow the heater dude is supposed to come and replace the intake fan motor. I've surveyed the driveway and figure he can turn his van around in one spot and thankfully, the ice melted off the driveway this afternoon.

I hope it all goes well. Thursday night there is a snow storm predicted of 6 to 10 inches. No problem as long as I can get to town and grab a few items.

I still feel yuck-y. But my voice has returned and evening chores were not a big deal, I just hauled hay and water slowly.

I know I'm not up to par as I haven't even picked up my camera since Saturday! [I did though this afternoon...]

I've been having a blast with the light box.

Below, 

Manny the Mannequin adopts a bunch of wooden animals....

Manny now realizes that he will 
have to feed his menagerie!

 A ring holder?

A St. Clair Pear glass paper weight.

During my resty-sleepy-nappy-time, I watched some tutorials on Toy Photography I really enjoyed the videos by a person that goes by SirDork. He explained how to to 'action' shots with still toys and I decided to try it. 

I also watched videos of other Toy Photographers who made huge elaborate sets for their toys.

Some were toy collectors and their ages surprised me.

What better thing to do with toys when you collect them, than to make sets and enjoy playing again?

This was my first try at a very simple set up. A snowball fight between cast off toys that a neighbor kid gave me long ago... I did it this evening after chores.

Now back to chillin' and resting.

Can't wait to get to full steam ahead!

Stuck inside....

If you like birds and bird photography, there is a guy called David M Bird that does bird photography using characters made from acorns and sticks. I'm probably never going to be a genius like him, but he was a Lego designer who started his own photography business doing these wildly popular photos. If I am having a grumpy day, all I have to do is pop over to his site and look at his fun photos.

There is also a Flickr photographer who is doing the same thing with his Lego characters. This is fascinating in the fact that in order to do this sort of photography, one really needs to study birds and get familiar with what they like to eat and how they arrive at a feeding station.

Below is my sad attempt at a first try of putting a Lego figure on the stump with feed just outside my window.
These are study shots so I can sit at the table and watch the birds behavior. Are they afraid of the Lego figure?
They don't seem to be.
I have been putting a wee bit of feed every day this winter on this stump next to the porch so I could see which seed they liked best and which birds came to the stump.

The Tufted Titmouse will come for peanuts and some other delicious seeds.

The Junco seems a bit more skittish. They are only on the stump for a nanosecond before flying off.

The Blue Jay has no shyness at all.

I used a paper clip I bent to fit through the foot of the Lego figure and then stuck it in a crack on the edge of the stump. 

I'm going to try this again but put a hole more in the center of the stump and surround the figure with delicious seeds.

It will be a fun experiment. Hubby loves watching too. He gives me a commentary on who is visiting the stump and what they are eating as he bemoans the cost of birdseed.

I changed it up a bit and stuck my green dragon in the stump and put seeds around it. The birds were very wary of the Dragon. But by the end of the day, the seed was gone.

I had to wait for a follow up call from the eye surgeon's tech. I hate waiting. I dislike waiting inside next to the phone even more. However, we have to use a land line. Archaic I know. But cell phones don't always work in our Hollow. The land line works with 911 and the cell can't be depended on.

My one eye was still dilated and so the welcomed sunlight was a painful.

My hubby was playing Eye Guard. He told me I could NOT go out to hike or run about and that I needed to Rest that eye and let it heal.

The surgeon had said I could go back to my regular activities 24 hrs later, but I decided to keep Mr. Eye Guard happy and stay around the house except for feeding the mules.

I decided to try some Still Life. I was bored out of my gourd. I am not one to sit in the house for days on end. After two weeks of being careful and being Watched by the Ever Present Hubby, I had to engage my mind in fun projects.

My first try at the light box.
Something for Valentine's Day

That gave me another idea. This time I just tore apart things and made this ---->
I set it on the floor.

And shot straight down. The Gardener is spelling out L O V E in flowers and fence pieces.

I couldn't resist one more effort of doing something more with the Gardener ...

Surprise!
I couldn't resist having a meat eating Dilophosaurus enter the garden and offer the Gardner some flowers. [The dinosaur is a Lego knock off. The real Lego Dino is way above affordable.]

I did a lot more experimenting with the light box and by early afternoon, I decided to rest my eyes and listen to music.

This morning dawned clear and bright. As someone said: 

I can see clearly now ... the fog is gone!
Gone are the cataracts that had me blind
It's going to be a bright bright 
bright
beautiful day....

I think I'll go Exploring some ice formations!