Why Build a Backdrop Support or Set to Photograph Your Miniatures?
If your model or miniature scenes are featured in photographs for blogs, magazines, competitions or your own enjoyment, an easy way to take better photos is to set up a 'set' to photograph your scenes. Just like a television, movie or photo studio, a set without a ceiling, and lacking full walls, will allow you to get better angled views and lighting of your settings or your miniatures.
Determining the Best Size for a Miniature Set
The size of your miniature set will need to be determined by a number of factors:
- What is your tallest model or miniature? - Your set should allow enough space above the height of your tallest subject to allow you to 'hide' the fact that the set has no roof in your photos. For an adaptable set for photographing classic scale model horses, and 1:12 scale and smaller miniatures, I used a back set height of 11 inches which allows me to use standard height wallpapers, many of which are just under 11 inches tall, or 8 1/2 x 11 backdrop photos against the back wall.
- How Deep Do You Need Your Set to Be? - the depth of your set can always be extended out the front if necessary, so choose a depth for your set that allows you to work with the majority of your miniatures. I set my set depth to be eight inches, allowing me to photograph something larger than a miniature bed without needing to extend the set.
- How Wide Should Your Set Be? - the width of my set is determined a bit by the overhead light I use which has two stand legs. I made my set 14 inches wide to fit between the legs of my overhead light. This width gives me a good support for fairly wide backdrops, and I don't need to use all of the set at once if I don't want to. Fourteen inches in 1:12 scale is fourteen feet, which is a good depth to allow me to get the effect of a room setting without crowding items.
- Check Your Camera Lens to See How Large a Set You Need - If you are using a digital camera with changeable lenses (DSLR) you can use any size set you need. If you are using a point and shoot camera, you may be restricted by how wide or how 'zoomed' or enlarged your photo can be with your single lens on its zoom or macro setting. To determine how large an area your camera can focus on, choose a miniature from your collection and set it on a table up against a wall, with a large piece of paper in front of it. Set your camera on a tripod and use two water glasses on the table with your miniature to see how far to each side your camera will focus when you are focussed on your miniature. At some point, the glasses will not be in your photo. This may help you determine how large a set you can use with your camera. Of course if you stand back and use your point and shoot camera in 'landscape' mode you will have a much wider photo, but your miniatures may be too small to see clearly on a wider set.
