How to make a photophone with your own hands?

Who doesn't want beautiful photos? And for this, first of all, you need a good photophone. From this publication you will learn how to make a structure made of wood, how to arrange a background for a photo shoot on a cardboard basis, and also create paper options from textiles, wallpaper, laminate, and other improvised means.

Do-it-yourself wooden decoration can be made from a board, or you can simply from a piece of plywood. This design attracts attention with its originality, unique pattern of the natural base. Such a photophone is more intended for photographing objects made in loft and rustic styles, as well as products made in Provence and country styles, and in other directions.

To get a wooden photo background, make the following blanks:

• purchase a board at a building store (choose the most textured tree);
• stock up on nails, hammer, sandpaper;
• buy a corset (you will need it for brushing) and a brush (preferably a wide flat shape);
• prepare wood stain and acrylic paints in different shades.

The workpiece will be more interesting if fibers and veins stand out on the board. If you have chosen a narrow board, you can saw it and use special rods, nails and a hammer to connect several planks to obtain a wide canvas. The ideal photophone comes out with a size of 0.6x0.6 m.

The good thing about the wooden structure for a photophone is that it can be made double-sided. Consider one of the simplest ways to decorate a board for photography - staining with stain. First of all, take a special metal brush (brush) and start brushing the wood.

It is necessary to "comb" the board until the pattern appears clearly on it (highlighting the rings). You will have to work hard to comb out the soft, loose fibers, but the results will be worth it. Wear a respirator or mask, as there will be plenty of wood dust.

For a smoother base, sand the wood. Then wipe the board dry, then walk over it with a damp sponge or cotton rag. If you want a double-sided background, treat the other side of the structure in the same way.

Now paint each side with wood stain in different colors, for example, make one photophone under the "mocha", and paint the other with "hazelnut". Finish the work again with sandpaper: go over the surface with sandpaper - this will lighten the wood a little and make an even layer.

For a brighter design, use acrylic paints. The preparation technology for painting is the same as for staining with stain.

Cardboard serves as the basis for a photo background for concrete, wood imitation, it is a good basis for different color designs. Such products are easy to make at home using cardboard from large boxes. If necessary, dense sheets are connected with special fasteners.

Typically, this design is used for photographing small handmade toys, spools with multi-colored threads, wooden products, and so on.

And here's how to make a photophone for concrete on a cardboard base:

• prepare thick cardboard (at least 2-3 mm in thickness), putty (preferably acrylic), spatula and black color;
• use a color scheme to create a gray putty;
• using a spatula or other device (a piece of plastic is also suitable), apply the mixture to the cardboard in random movements, applying light pressure to the surface.

To get a more interesting texture, you can spray black color on the resulting gray background at the end - get an imitation of spilled ink. You can use such a photophone after drying for 12 hours. The only drawback of cardboard is that it quickly deteriorates due to the fact that it absorbs moisture well.

With paper you can make monochrome photography backdrops. The easiest way is to stick whatman paper on cardboard or plywood, the white background is ready. It is easy to turn such a base into a black background. The paper canvas will easily absorb paint of any color. Paper is the simplest and cheapest option for creating photo zones. It will help you create rare footage. For paper decoration of backgrounds, in addition to whatman paper, it is good to use wallpaper, paper with a corrugated structure, newspapers, and so on.

Interesting pictures can be obtained on craft paper. Such a background is perfect for still lifes, demonstration of hands with manicure, jewelry, and other piece things. Kraft paper is sold in building stores or craft stores. For the best effect, you can wrinkle it a little. Paper backdrops may look unusual, but they are not very practical. And if the cardboard can withstand several photographs due to its denser texture, then the paper is not very strong and quite easily soiled. Most likely, you can use this design only once - it all depends on the quality.

As you have already seen, it is not difficult to make the most beautiful photophone for subject shooting.You can independently make a stand for demonstrating any things, and make a background for a beautiful manicure, jewelry, as well as an installation for photographing children's clothes.

The most ordinary wallpaper, depending on the pattern, can create the desired design for photography. This is the easiest way to make a photography backdrop in your home environment. Ease and simplicity is that such a base can not be covered with anything, not processed in any way - the texture and pattern of modern wallpaper looks great in the photo. In order not to specifically buy new rolls, do not throw away the remnants of wallpaper after repair - these scraps will serve you well for your favorite hobby. With their help, you can create a background for marble, brick.

Sometimes the photographer is interested not so much in the drawing as in the texture of the surface. Wallpaper is usually glued to plywood or fixed with a construction or furniture stapler to cardboard. In the latter case, it is important to stretch the paper well.

Blankets, scarves and stoles, silk pillowcases and curtains, tablecloths and towels, even sweaters with an interesting knitted pattern are suitable for a fabric photophone, you can just take a white sheet. The main thing is to use natural fabrics and choose soft colors. Fabric backdrops are not universal designs for photography, but they are a great solution for experimentation. For example, a knitted blanket or sweater with braids is perfect for a composition made from a cup of tea with lemon. Soft toys made of felt or crocheted or knitted look good on fabric photo backgrounds.

Light gauze, on which there is a bowl of nuts, and next to an open book and chamomile - such a composition will create a feeling of lightness and will make you relax. There is no limit to your imagination in the creation of textile photography backdrops. Choose fabrics with different textures, using burlap, chiffon, organza and other options - for the perfect photo in this category, a large selection of materials. The textile background is associated with warmth, soulfulness and homeliness. However, a pure white sheet will add austerity and restraint to your compositions.

You can even make a photophone from a laminate. It is preferable to use a material of light colors. You don't have to buy it on purpose (although it is sold individually in building stores), but you can take the planks that remained after repairs in your apartment or in the home of your relatives and friends.

Such a basis will be useful to you, first of all, for photographing food compositions. Many people prefer to take such photos against a plywood background, but laminate is a better option in this case. Plywood is capable of absorbing moisture and swells quickly, and laminate flooring lasts a long time.

In the apartment you can find many things that will help in creating a photo background.

• Following the example of wallpaper, self-adhesive film is used.... This base with various prints and textures will set the mood during the subject shooting not only for the master photographer, but also for the audience who will see the finished photos. With the help of self-adhesive, you can replenish the collection of photo backgrounds with stands for marble, stone, wood, as well as for other natural materials. The film is glued onto cardboard or plywood or hardboard. Various decorative things in the form of spools of thread, buttons, small bunches of wild flowers harmoniously fit into the composition against such a background.

• Decorative ceiling panels look good in the frame. They are made of wood and plastic and are sold in squares. So, for a photophone you need 4-9 such squares.In product photography, such panels still serve as a good reflector, which is very valuable for the photographer.

• For a photo frame, you can also use ceramic tiles. Moreover, for this you can not create a separate shield, but simply use a corner on the wall in the bathroom. Against this background, glasses with soft drinks with ice, vases of flowers, personal hygiene items and clothes look good.

• Often photographers are looking for something to create a metal surface for product photography.... So, an ordinary metal shield will serve as a background for the photo. An aluminum sheet can be purchased at a hardware store.

You can make a photophone either from an old box or a wooden pallet, ceramics, a metal shield, or from napkins and New Year's tinsel. Use Christmas garlands, other interesting lighting, wax candles as additional elements. Apply rain and confetti where appropriate. Such an airy background will give your photo a holiday mood and lightness. Confetti circles can also be made by hand by cutting them out of colored paper. A scaly background can be created from napkins, wrapping paper, foil.

Ribbon and lace ideas will also create an air of lightness and airiness in your compositions. Against such a background, it is appropriate to take off glasses of champagne and wedding rings, and you can also convey all the charm of a child's theme, starting from the birth of a baby.

The purpose of subject photography is not only to make the viewer see the object or product, but also to feel the mood that the photographer wanted to convey. A photo even without faces should be positive and evoke certain emotions. For a photographic background, you can use an old wooden table, original textured fabric, pieces of natural and artificial materials of different texture. Sometimes a ready-made photophone can be found right in the natural environment - it can be fallen leaves in the fall or the bark of an old tree.

In a word, so as not to splurge on additional elements and props for photography, show your imagination and at home create your own collection of backgrounds at minimal cost, but with original, maybe even exclusive ideas. Or look around and find something that is sure to "hook" the viewer.

For information on how to make a budget photophone with your own hands, see the next video.