Modular still photography studio

• US 5,915,132 A
• Filed: 05/28/1997
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack Edwin Jr. Counts
• Original Assignee: Jack Edwin Jr. Counts
• Inventors: Counts, Jack Edwin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/864,198
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 396/1, 396/3, 396/4, 396/5
• US Class Current: 396/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/07 Arrangements of lamps in studios
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/10 using back-projection, i.e. blending artificial background with real foreground

Abstract

A modular still photography studio comprising a plurality of adjacent photography set frames is provided. The studio is an apparatus which provides for converting any space, such as a room into a multiple set photography studio. The photography set frames each include a pair of vertical legs and a connecting beam extending therebetween. A still photography set which includes various props and devices to create different environments or scenes may be created to correspond with each of the photography set frames so that a plurality of still photography sets may be positioned adjacent one another. A camera means can be positioned within the studio and may be directed a still photography set corresponding to any of the adjacent photography set frames and may thus capture the image of the still photography set corresponding to any photography set frames from within the studio. Remotely movable lights are mounted to the studio to provide lighting to each of the adjacent photography set frames and still photography sets corresponding thereto.

Claims

1. A freestanding modular still photography studio comprising:

a plurality of adjacent photography set frames, each of said photography set frames comprising a pair of adjacent, substantially vertical legs having a connecting beam attached thereto and extending therebetween, said studio thereby comprising a plurality of substantially vertical legs and a plurality of connecting beams, said photography set frames being arranged to define a polyhedron, each photography set frame defining a space for positioning one or more props to create a still photography set;

a still photography set operably associated with at least one of said photography set frames; and

a plurality of center beams extending radially outwardly from a central hub, said center beams being connected at one end to said central hub and at a second end to a connecting beam, said central hub and center beams comprising a ceiling section, wherein said center beams may have a light attached thereto to provide lighting for said photography set frames.

2. The studio of claim 1, further comprising:

a main light assembly suspended from said ceiling section, wherein said main light assembly is selectively directable at any of said photography set frames to provide lighting to a still photography set operably associated therewith.

3. The studio of claim 2 wherein said main light assembly is centrally positioned in said polyhedron, and is rotatably suspended from said ceiling section, said main light assembly thereby being rotatable to be directed at any of said plurality of said photography set frames to provide lighting to a still photography set operably associated therewith.

4. The studio of claim 3, wherein said main light assembly is remotely rotatable to provide lighting to a still photography set corresponding to any of said photography set frames.

5. The studio of claim 1 further comprising:

a continuous rail mounted to said ceiling section; and

an accent light movably attached to said rail, said accent light being movable along said rail to provide lighting to each of said plurality of photography set frames and still photography sets operably associated therewith.

6. The studio of claim 5, wherein said accent light is remotely movable along said rail.

7. The studio of claim 1 wherein a horizontal cross section of said studio comprises an equilateral polygon.

8. The studio of claim 1 wherein each of said substantially vertical legs comprise a truss.

9. The studio of claim 1 further comprising camera means, said camera means being located within said polyhedron wherein said camera means can be directed at a still photography set corresponding to any of said photography set frames from within said polyhedron.

10. Apparatus for converting a walled space into a still photography studio having a plurality of adjacent photography set modules, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of upright supports, wherein each photography set module of said plurality of modules comprises adjacent upright supports and a connecting beam extending therebetween, said modules providing spaces for positioning props to create still photography sets, selected of said photography set modules having a still photography set operably associated therewith;

a ceiling structure comprising a plurality of center beams connected to said connecting beams and extending radially inwardly therefrom;

a continuous light rail attached to said ceiling structure; and

at least one light mounted to said continuous rail to provide lighting to still photography sets operably associated with said photography set modules, wherein said apparatus is located within said walled space.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said at least one light is movable along said continuous rail to provide lighting to a still photography set corresponding to any of said photography set modules.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said light is movable between a plurality of predetermined light positions, each of said light positions corresponding to a photography set module, and wherein said light stops automatically at a remotely selected of said predetermined light positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, said apparatus comprising a polyhedron wherein a plane defined by adjacent ones of said upright supports define a side of said polyhedron, and wherein said continuous rail is arcuately shaped.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said rail is an endless rail.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a horizontal cross section of said polyhedron is an equilateral polygon.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a main light assembly rotatably suspended from said ceiling structure, said main light assembly being rotatable to provide light to a still photography set corresponding to any of said photography set modules.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said light attached to said rail is remotely movable along said rail, and wherein said main light assembly is remotely rotatable.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said light is remotely movable.

19. A freestanding modular still photography studio comprising:

a plurality of substantially vertical legs, said legs being arranged so that planes extending between adjacent legs define the sides of a polyhedron, said legs defining a plurality of adjacent photography set frames, each said photography set frame comprising adjacent ones of said legs;

each said photography set frame providing a space for positioning props to create a still photography set, wherein a plurality of said photography set frames may simultaneously have still photography sets operably associated therewith;

a plurality of center beams connected to and extending radially inwardly from said connecting beams, said center beams and said connecting beams comprising a ceiling section; and

camera means located in said polyhedron, said camera means being directable at a still photography set corresponding to any of said photography set frames, wherein a photographic image of a selected still photography set may be captured from within said polyhedron by directing said camera means at the photography set frame corresponding to said selected photography set and actuating said camera means.

20. The studio of claim 19 having a horizontal cross section such that said legs define the corners of an equilateral polygon.

21. The studio of claim 20 wherein said equilateral polygon comprises an octagon.

22. The studio of claim 19 further comprising:

a light rail connected to said center beams; and

a light attached to said light rail, said light being movable along said light rail.

23. The studio of claim 22, wherein said light rail is circular.

24. The studio of claim 22, wherein said light mounted to said rail is remotely movable to a plurality of predetermined positions, and wherein said light stops automatically at a selected of said predetermined positions on said rail.

25. The studio of claim 23 further comprising a main light assembly rotatably suspended from said ceiling section, said main light assembly being rotatable to provide lighting to a still photography set corresponding to any of said photography set frames.

26. The studio of claim 25 further comprising:

an endless light rail connected to said ceiling section;

a light attached to said light rail, said light being movable along said endless light rail.

27. The studio of claim 19, wherein said legs comprise vertically oriented trusses, said trusses including a pair of vertical chords having a plurality of web members extending therebetween.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising connecting beams attached to and extending between adjacent ones of said legs, wherein each of said photography set frames comprise adjacent ones of said legs and a connecting beam extending therebetween.

29. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising lights connected to said center beams to provide lighting to still photography sets operably associated with said still photography set frames.

30. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a central hub located inwardly from said connecting beams, wherein said center beams are connected at a first end to said connecting beams and at a second end to said central hub.

31. A freestanding modular still photography studio comprising:

a plurality of adjacent photography set modules, said photography set modules being defined by a plurality of vertical legs, wherein each photography set module of said plurality of modules is comprised of adjacent ones of said legs and a connecting beam extending therebetween, each of said modules providing a space for positioning a still photography set, said studio comprising a linear studio wherein said adjacent photography modules are oriented to form a substantially straight line;

a ceiling section connected to said vertical legs;

a continuous longitudinal rail attached to said ceiling section, said rail being located a predetermined distance forward of said modules, said longitudinal rail extending longitudinally from a first module at a first end of said linear studio to a last module at a second end of said linear studio; and

a light movably attached to said rail, said light being movable on said rail to provide lighting to all of said adjacent photography set modules.