Vinyl Backdrop Wanted

[Maria Michael]

Hi all.

I need to get a white vinyl backdrop to use when attending the outdoor shows to photograph dogs.

Ideally it needs to be at least 3m wide by 6m long. Although if anyone has one to sell please let me know as I maybe able to use something smaller.

Again, Ideally it needs to be white however i am going to want a black one later so if anyone has a black one, then please let me know.

Thanks.
Maria 

[Michael Martin]

Vinyl is great, I have one set up at the moment, but it is heavy, long and not very portable. Just consider how you are going to transport a 3m tube. Another option would be a hilite.

[Gary Evans]

Hilites are good but for dog shows I would choose vinyl every time.   

If it helps, many years ago I was required to take a 3.5m canvas on a pole to certain events and as I drove a Ford Fiesta at the time I used the roof bars with a pipe attached and slid the background into the pipe.   This method served me well for a coule of years

[Maria Michael]

Thanks Michael and Gary.

When I attend shows they tend to be large country fairs and this means taking a Gazebo (another investment for 2012 as the cheap one i had has died!) along with many other items so the pole is not a problem. I also drive a 4x4 and have a trailer which I sometimes use.

For sometime now I have used the fabric backdrop but muddy feet combined with at least one incident of dog pee is not good. Especially when at a two day event! I meet a guy recently who had a vinyl and he told me how he can just wipe it down. I have to wash mine and iron it each time. Also because fabric is so soft, each time a new dog and owner comes their weight can shift the fabric causing folds or ripples. Some of these issues i am sure I could reduce by taking a bit more time but at most shows people are queuing and time is limited.

I did look at the hilite however it is much more expensive and I have to say, after looking at both, i like you Gary felt vinyl would be better.

Thanks for the advice though Michael it is always helpful to get a different view on things.

[Gemma French]

Hi Maria,

I might be getting rid of my white one at the end of the month, it's very large and heavy though. I'm in Kent, any good?

Gemma

[Maria Michael]

Hi Gemma

Thanks for your message. I guess the questions I have are,

1) how big is big?
2) Is it in good condition
3) How much will you want for it?

Kent is quite far however I am happy to collect or cover cost of postage if it is what I need.

You can send me a personal message if you prefer at contact@detheo.com

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks again
Maria

[TURTLEC]

If its going to be for digs and use outdoors at shows etc you
might do worse than to pop into your local carpet showroom and
see if they have any white bathroom flooring vinyl.

This will be heavier than photographic vinyl and would stand
up to a lot of abuse and might work out a lot cheaper.
Nearly all that type of Vinyl comes in 3m or 4m widths so you just
purchase as long a length as you wish .

I dont know what you put below it but it woudl be good to have
some sort of 'solid' type floor.

You could probably get your 3mx6m length for around 100quid

[Michael Martin]

Whatever you use, take some sheets of hardboard to lay down on the grass  before deploying you background and this will cut out most of the wrinkling etc. An 8'x4' sheet cut onto four and then taped together with carpet tape can be easily folded away for transport. As Colin says, floor vinyl is a good idea as very tough and can be cleaned very easily too, so long as you can get the white you want.

[Maria Michael]

Thanks Guys! Why did I not think of the vinyl flooring idea??

I usually take a large thick school pe mat that is firm enough but not uncomfortable for any of the older dogs to lie down on.

Now I am excited. Thanks so much.

Next thing is to find myself a good gazebo. Think this time I am going to go for white as the black one I had made it very dark inside and I don't want to use harsh lights.

  Thanks again.

[TURTLEC]

Again as long as you get the white you want a good white Gazebo
woudl be good as it wound hive a great big soft light source
and then any other lights you use woudl be just to give things
a bit of a boost.

I used to have a length of carpet vinyl and it worked great
it also had a very slight reflective quality so if someone
was sitting on it it gave a tiny bit of reflection which I
thought was good as it added dimension.

I am pretty sure mine was actually the end of a role or
something like that and got in B&Q or perhaps Dunelm
but it was only 30-40 quid

[Gary Evans]

Next thing is to find myself a good gazebo.

We get our gazebos from Gala Tents

http://www.galatent.co.uk/marqueesales.asp

[Maria Michael]

Yes I have found some 2m x 4m for about £40. Also means I can later look at getting the vinyl flooring that looks like wooden planks or stone which would really be nice.

Gary - I have had my eye on Gala for a while and love the quality. However, because I do have a disability (a weird one which is not visible) and am usually setting up on my own or with a friend who runs her own business I would have to go for the pop up variety. Gala do a great one but I think it is going to cost me at least £600 

2012 is definitely going be a costly one as I hope to finally upgrade my most regular lens (28-300m Nikon f3.5 - 5.6) to the stunning 70 - 200mm f2.8. I also plan to take on some more training.

[Michael Martin]

My 'Gazebo:Tent:Marquee' cost me £2,000 with branding. It is 8x4m and a two person job to put up.

[Gary Evans]

One of my freelancers uses on of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x3m-EZ-Pop-Up-Pyramid-roof-Gazebo-Waterproof-Black-/140556332257?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Structures_Fencing_CV&hash=item20b9cf6ce1

Initial price is good, but he has spent maybe nearly the same again on bits and bobs to firmly achor it down, although it still comes in  a lot less than £600.  

I dont know if the do white, although I expect they would as its a popular colour.  

One person can set it up, although it is easier with two

[Maria Michael]

Michael -  that is a serious amount of money. Although as I don't have a studio and do not wish to have one either, it is quite reasonable. However, until I am earning enough to spend that comfortably I think I will have to stick with a much cheaper one. Also I only want a 3x3 or at the most a 3x4 as the pitch prices can be quite steep at shows.

Thanks for the link Gary, I will have a look. Have looked around for a while now and am a bit of a research freak on anything I buy. Don't look at brands or prices to start. Instead I always look at how well it does the job it is intended for and then work back. Drives my husband mad as I end up knowing far to much about things that I really did not need to know about!