Author Topic: My Light Box for Photos (Read 12357 times)

Mad McGobbo · « **on:** March 29, 2006, 06:42:09 PM »

I'll be running a tutorial on how to set it up very soon with lots of diagrams

DanG · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2006, 11:07:34 PM »

Looking forwar5d to this tutorial as (quite frankly) my photo's suck.

Looks pretty simple mind, so I need to get myself a decent pair of lamps and good size box before I can do anything to upgrade my ability.

Paul · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:02:10 AM »

Think I'll make one myself, Is the Iron for for making steam for thosoe moody shots?

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:15:19 AM »

just for ironing out any faults in my photography

gi6ers · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:20:24 AM »

This is what I bought recently: (It's ok but I've got a feeling you need lamps a lot more powerful than I or MadMcG has..) Good thing about it is that it folds down to the size of a CD Walkman..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Light-Tent-30cm-Photo-cube-Soft-box-4-colour-backdrops_W0QQitemZ7604583688QQcategoryZ3860QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:25:24 AM »

Doesnt look too bad that!

Carcharoth · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:40:03 AM »

That looks like a nice simple set-up. I might have to follow your lead as my spontaneously improvised attempts don't tend to turn out that well!

gi6ers · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2006, 10:43:47 AM »

Quote from: Mad McGobbo

Doesnt look too bad that!

Yeah but my £5 Homebase desk lamps don't really do it, unprocessed pics are a lot darker than your set up. I've reverted to 3 lamps and a sloping sheet of A4 'til I buy new ones - I think that's where your approach wins - cost!

Lonewolf · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2006, 03:32:59 PM »

Quote from: gi6ers

This is what I bought recently: Light tent

lol funny thing is i just bought that myself

just waiting for it to arrive.
I need to find another desk lamp that takes good ol fashion bayonet fitting bulbs as thats the only daylight bulbs i can find at the min.

also picked up a mini-tripod (the one ive been using is a big ole std size one) for 1.99 off e-bay

zaphod · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2006, 03:47:40 PM »

So you just wrapped a cloth or whatnot directly around your lamps to diffuse the glare?

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2006, 04:19:08 PM »

yep, paper towel(got to be plain though)

it works as long as the lamps aren't on too long as you could end up with a fire.

zaphod · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2006, 04:53:38 PM »

That's what I was thinking

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2006, 08:35:32 PM »

then again the lamps we have dont get too hot anyway as the power supply is just above the base and seems to have a heat sink on it

Wristaction · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2006, 09:20:44 PM »

@Gobbo
Have you tried greaseproof paper yet, it can take more heat, give it a go and see if there is much differance.

Waiting on a small tripod to come, was useing a big one, but where i'm takeing pics now, it has to be raised too much, so its pushing the camera more away.
Thats why the last pic's i posted, are smaller than normal for me.

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2006, 09:40:35 PM »

I'll see if I can get some over the weekend

thanks for the heads up

IronAge_Man · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2006, 09:41:33 AM »

Quote from: Lonewolf

Quote from: gi6ers
This is what I bought recently: Light tent

lol funny thing is i just bought that myself
just waiting for it to arrive.
I need to find another desk lamp that takes good ol fashion bayonet fitting bulbs as thats the only daylight bulbs i can find at the min.

also picked up a mini-tripod (the one ive been using is a big ole std size one) for 1.99 off e-bay

If you use a digital camera, you don't need to use daylight bulbs. You can simply adjust the whitebalance. In that situation, you could use anything, even flourescent or halogen lamps. Flourescent lamps run much cooler, also.

I found that tracing paper, bubble wrap and tin foil, in a card-board cone makes for a nice diffuser (I used this on a flash gun on a film camera for nature macro photos). The tracing paper is much more colour-neutral than the greaseproof paper I had to hand at the time.

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2006, 09:43:05 AM »

Iron-Age is right Ian, best bet for flourescent lights are the ones I got from Argos for £15 each

IronAge_Man · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2006, 09:49:57 AM »

Quote from: Mad McGobbo

Iron-Age is right Ian, best bet for flourescent lights are the ones I got from Argos for £15 each

Here's a useful article on flourescent studio lighting - it's aimed at video enthusiasts, but if you scale everything down, a lot still holds true for mini-photography:

http://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/FL-Lights.htm

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2006, 10:31:25 AM »

Well my tutorial for the box is up on my website

Chairface · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2006, 05:14:15 PM »

Thats awesome Mad McGobbo! I hope you don't mind, but I put up a link in Talk Blood Bowl.

Wristaction · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2006, 06:51:08 PM »

Got the gluegun out yesterday and this was the end resault.

It's what i used for the mini in my skin post today.

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2006, 06:56:42 PM »

Quote from: Chairface

Thats awesome Mad McGobbo! I hope you don't mind, but I put up a link in Talk Blood Bowl.

Not at all Chairface, please pimp away!
@Wristy: Fantastic! Nice to see its worked for you too!

gi6ers · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2006, 09:17:49 PM »

Stupid question: Why don't you just put the diffusing paper on top of the box instead of round the lamps?

Chairface · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2006, 09:26:01 PM »

Quote from: Mad McGobbo

Quote from: Chairface
Thats awesome Mad McGobbo! I hope you don't mind, but I put up a link in Talk Blood Bowl.

Not at all Chairface, please pimp away!

Um, consider yourself pimped.

Mad McGobbo · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2006, 09:45:00 PM »

Quote from: gi6ers

Stupid question: Why don't you just put the diffusing paper on top of the box instead of round the lamps?

Because light refraction would occur whereas with the paper over the light it still directs the light where you need it.

News:

Author Topic: My Light Box for Photos (Read 12357 times)

Mad McGobbo

Paul

Mad McGobbo

Mad McGobbo

zaphod

Mad McGobbo

zaphod

Mad McGobbo

Mad McGobbo

Mad McGobbo

Mad McGobbo

Mad McGobbo

Mad McGobbo