The grey (and black) Lastolite backdrop is coming and I am a little excited.
The potential is nearly endless, even if the actual item is bland, utilitarian even. The lure of the Pewter/Walnut is still strong and I may still get one if this experiment works out, but my gut says my burgeoning “style” will be catered for here.
In my minds eye the frame is tight, full and animated, therefore the background is only a support to the subject. This support can come in a few forms, from manipulation of the background colour or tone, to vignetting or shaping and even wholesale replacement.
The next element is framing.
I will not be stubborn adout it, but if I can, I will push to make the humble square my framing shape of choice. The square is again subtle in application, but strong in effect. It invokes in me a compositional freedom that no other shape can.
Any one of these images works on some level, which cannot be said for a rectangle which is too opinionated and is not possible with a vertical, which is the most restricting shape.
The square allows for relaxed horizontal shooting, then square framing after. An easy and ideal work flow.
Tight cropping is also powerful in this format.
The third element of my style may be the triptych.
Above is a simple example of this, but a true triptych can tell a story using more abstract elements mixed with standard portraits.
The triptych gives me the ability to show three sides of the same subject, either as a matching set of images or a deliberately different set, exaggrating the disperate moods, interests, props or poses of the subject.
The square facilitates the triptych, being the perfect shape to form an elongated rectangle (my other favourite format) and then the grey base allows subtle background shifts to bring these elements together harmoniously.