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Double Your Light Stand As A Portable Backdrop Mount System
In the following article, Martin Kimeldorf will show us how to make a backdrop stand that can be mounted on your I-carry-it-anyway lightstand.
I don’t like to carry a ton of photo stuff. The notion of trucking around 2 lights stands and a cross bar, with backgrounds, plus tripod and additional light stands for off-camera flash…well, it just ain’t me, not at my age. I went into my head-shed and tried to work with an existing light stand (costing $20 $45) and materials found at my local hardware and fabric outlet. I now have a lightweight, portable set up for less than 1/3 the cost of the commercial ones. Plus it is smaller than most being only 6 feet across. I can remain mobile.
Materials
First, I purchased 3 backgrounds black, white and gray from Joanne’s Fabric and Craft outlet. They are 6 feet across and 9 feet long for about $45+tax total. I purchased a second light stand from B&H for $45, plus a case $45, and a sand bag $14.
Udi’s favorite material included PVC, glue, and a few small spring clamps for about $25. And my favorite material was added: black duct tape. Thought it was first time with PVC, I only spilled the glue once…
The steps and sequence is roughly captured with my small Sony point and shoot, which has a decent macro capability. So don’t judge the lighting on this one. Actual time to assemble the PVC kit was about 20 minutes.
In the image below you will find The Portable Background Stand broken down and ready to go. Colored items are small plastic clamps ($1.50-ish) for holding fabric to the cross member of the T bar. Total length is 6 when assembled, in this position the longest side is 4 feet, so it fits easily in the car.
The Build
1. Most critical first step is to find a T-stem which fits snugly over your light stand tip.
Later, file down flanges, see finger where points. Then I fit a larger, reinforce PVC tube over the down-part of the T joint.
2. The parts: A larger PVC fits over bottom of T joint B. Then slip A over the upper part of the light stand, pressing B down over the metal tip.
C Extension is 1 foot long and is not glued. D is glued into E Long Pipe. E is 4 feet long and glued into the cross part of the T-stem.
3. After each gluing, I wiped out inside so it would not interfere with removal of side extensions C Extension from E Long Pipe.
4. Main parts shown glued up.
5. Strengthen intersection of cross bar and stem with tape. Improves rigidity, and safety.
6. Small cheapo clamps work great
7. Final assembly mounted on light stand. I taped ends of removable extensions, so I’d quickly know which end to insert in the main T. And it gives a more finished look.
8. Here the portable background holder is paired with a gray cloth purchased for $15 from local fabric store.
Conclusion
Partner eyes glaze over whenever I mention pixels, photographs, or strobes. Now the junky background is finally covered up. Perhaps I’ll try for a DIY model next…
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Get Yourself a Strobe:
More Backdrop Stands:
- Home Made Cheap DIY Backdrop Stand
- Super easy hardware store light-backdrop stand
- PVC Backdrop/Light Stand
- DIY Ghetto-Fab Portable Backdrop Stand
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Comments
Great Tips
Great Site and Great tips.
I use pearlesent tissue paper which can be taked behind a subject and thrown away that works well.
Regards
Camera
http://www.disposableweddingcamera.net
Backdrop stand
You could get a piece of round wooden dowel about 2' long that will fit snugly inside the pvc pipe (get oak, at home depot they are about $2 for 2'). put a 6"piece into the "T" going down and pit the rest inside the "T" going across. This will stiffen the whole "T" assembly for about 2-3 oz. of weight and no tape. Also, I would not glue it all together, but rather leave it so as to be disassembled each time. The wooden dowels can be secured inside the pipe pieces with a small spot of glue (not pvc glue). You could also put full-length dowel into the two cross-pieces and have the dowel meet in the middle of the "T". This would stop the top from bowing. I have made several PVC constructions using this method and it works well.
John
Humm...
"Perhaps I’ll try for a DIY model next…"
LOFL
I know what you mean about the model
Seriously, I bust out laughing at your final line.
I know what you mean about the model. My spouse will rarely sit for me anymore, either.
I really am working on a DIY. And what's more, it doesn't talk.
I bought a 1/2 mannequin for $3, a mannequin head for $2 and I'm now looking to get the head painted to be life-like. It may be the best DIY yet.
Great minds...
Light Stand Clips
If you cut 3 inch pieces of the same size PVC pipe and slit them lengthwise, you can use them as clips to hold material on the crossbar. Just snap them on.
They fit neatly and hold well. Good Luck
hmm
I would move the model away from the background and light it properly. The idea of backdrop stand seems nice, but the presented photo looks awful (because of lighting)!
Great suggestions for the project
I liked the idea of inserting dowels, however upon reflection I realized it would not make it shorter to fit in my bag. The end pieces are removable and thus it can fit in my bag if I were to reduce the size of the down stem on the "T". I do like the idea stiffening it with dowels.
The idea about using PVC as a clamp seems most inventive.
Apologies for the picts at the end, candid though it was of my favorite subject (my wife). I generally shoot while I create and haven't time to set things up properly, will try to do better in future contributions.
Giant reflector
Along these lines, you can even expand on this much more.
Create a square or boxed frame, the size of a single white bedsheet.
Glue an extension part to a piece that is used to fix the pipes to walls etc. The extension part goes over the light stand while clamped to the frame.
Add the bedsheet and you've got yourself a giant white reflector.
With a black sheet, it's a light eater, or a flag to block background light from spreading forward (model/fashion photography).
The same wall mounts can be used to tension the fabric.
Glue them together back to back and you can even join two of these to make a nice V-shape. Or add a black sheet to the lower part of the reflector to avoid to much reflection spilling up from the floor.
Much more convenient to store or take on location.
I guess I should post some pics...
re: Giant reflector
looks like a cool idea. any pictures will be appreciated.
The nice thing is that you can have one side black and one side white to make a sort of two in one reflector/flag
That's it exactly! Just
That's it exactly!
Just ordered some extra fabric. Now waiting for the glue to finish. Will try to post some nice pics tomorrow.
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