Tuesday, January 17, 2012

How can I stage a realistic-seeming jungle shoot without an actual jungle?

Question

How can I take photos of a model in a jungle or tropical setting, in my own "backyard"? I want the effect to look real, not like a fake backdrop.

Answer

  • Find a stock background image that has the look you're after.

  • Shoot your model on a plain background. Make sure the direction and color of the light matches as closely as possible

  • extract the model from the background. Using a dark green background might make the masking easier.

-or-

  • shoot in a park or backyard with lots of greenery, using a shallow DOF to hide the fact it isn't a real jungle (or as Imre suggested, shoot at night)

  • hire or borrow some palms or ferns to use in the foreground. I think this would "sell" the idea it's a jungle, with the background too fuzzy to give away it's not.

or a long shot, but if you have a local zoo, they may have some areas you could use that have ferns, bamboo or other "jungle" looking greenery.

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