Jamye Perelli Photography » Dallas and Cedar Creek Lake area photographer and photography studio owner

I love to shoot lots of high key images with bright white backgrounds. They are a mainstay of my photography and have been from the beginning.  Up until now I have used 9 foot wide rolls of white seamless paper to achieve the look I wanted for these images.  While this works fairly well there are some draw backs in the form of width restrictions and, of course, the need to continually replace these rolls of paper at $50 to $60 a pop.

15 years and two studio spaces later I finally decided it was time to build the cyc wall I have always wanted. For those of you who don’t know a “cyc wall” is short for “cyclorama wall” it is also referred to as an infinity wall.   Simply put it’s a wall which curves smoothly at the bottom to meet the studio floor. When painted white it becomes the perfect environment to create the images I mentioned above. Alternatively I can gel my studio strobes to create cool lighting scenarios or even paint it chroma blue or green for chroma key effects.

Never one to take the simple route I envisioned a two wall cyc which means not only did these two walls have to meet seamlessly at the floor they also had to meet each other seamlessly. Simple right? Enter Dino. My wonderful husband willing to do almost anything he can to make my visions a reality.  He did some internet research, consulted a close friend and they went to work.

A couple of weeks later I have a really cool cyc wall I can call my very own and brand new flooring. I am one happy photog!

A HUGE thank you to Dino and Mike “picanuey” Hopperton!

See the images and captions below for details on how it was put together and the finished look.

This is where we started after taking down the existing backdrops, lighting and supports and already removing some of the flooring. Here Dino takes down  the last pieces , the white seamless paper I mentioned earlier and our 3 roll paper mover which is currently in retirement:)

The guys are already making progress. They have all curved struts in place and are starting to add the cross supports that will hold the flexible masonite pieces that will create the seamless look.

Doesn’t every guy do construction in his pajama bottoms? No, well Dino does and he considers himself a fashion plate.

That’s Mike Bo “picanuey” Hopperton in the background. He’s know how to build just about anything. Thanks for your help Mike!
A close up of the main supports that meet the floor. The also had to re-route some electrical outlets.

A close up of the area where the two walls meet each other and the floor. I guess this was the trickiest part. Looks like they are doing a great job to me:)

I wider shot of  what will become known as “the bowl”.  The first piece of masonite has been added.Its getting there!The first of several coats of mud and rounds of sanding.Close up of the bowl during the mud and sanding phase. Dino applies the first coat of paint.
And the last coat of paint. Scroll to the very bottom to see the completely finished project with some color lighting effects. Now its time to replace the flooring through out and who better to help than Mr. Bob. You know he has his own Facebook page right? Not a fan you better check him out at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Bob-and-The-Perelli-Pack/111001268920938Yeah, its complete!A pano of our space. The “viewing” area.A different angle. Playing around with colored gels on the cyc wall. In case you are wondering those are pieces of shinny wallboard on the floor. I have them down to protect the floor and sometime like to use them for their reflective proprieties.  Here’s a little hint for my fellow photographers if build yourself a white cyc wall and also use traditional dyed muslin or canvas backdrops be careful about putting them on your beautiful new white floor and letting your subjects walk around on them. I did just this and after pulling up the red backdrop I used on it first I had lovely pink spots all over my new white floor! Out comes the paint again…