If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Found way to make cheap soft box
I'm new to photography and on a budget (who is not) so I had to find a
way to make a soft box until I can buy a real one. I used a box, one that fits reams of paper for copy machines, cut a hole in the back, lined the inside with tin foil (glued it down, hot glue may work better) and taped a cheap, frosted, plastic shower curtain to the top so it hangs and covers the front. I just lift the shower curtain and put the light through the hole, fasten the collar from the inside, and pull the shower curtain back over the front. The pictures came really good for spending all of $5. Hope someone else can use this idea. I read that you can use a foam ice chest for this also. Photo Girl |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Found way to make cheap soft box
I'm new to photography and on a budget (who is not) so I had to find a way to make a soft box until I can buy a real one. I used a box, one that fits reams of paper for copy machines, cut a hole in the back, lined the inside with tin foil (glued it down, hot glue may work better) and taped a cheap, frosted, plastic shower curtain to the top so it hangs and covers the front. I just lift the shower curtain and put the light through the hole, fasten the collar from the inside, and pull the shower curtain back over the front. The pictures came really good for spending all of $5. Hope someone else can use this idea. I read that you can use a foam ice chest for this also. The point of a diffusion scrim is to spread the light, so you take the original 2 inch or so light source, the flash tube, and make it much larger. The point of putting a reflective backing is to redirect the flash towards the subject. That was to fix a problem they used to have about having enough flash power. What is the point of modifying light? Is it make boxes or to put light on subjects? BTW, back when photogs used parabolic reflectors to focus tungsten lights they were used about 36 inches from the subject. When umbrellas were introduced with the first flashes, they were about twice as large but used about six feet away. soft boxes allowed the photog to bring the light closer so a 3 foot softbox used at 3 feet was twice as large as the brollie. but photogs are shooting much fewer head and shoulder close ups and far more half and full lengths. If we want to light subjects we should decide what kind of light works best. General rule of thumb that commercial photogs use is to make the light twice as large as the subject, of course while they are lighting small to large objects. Remember, what's the nicest of natural light, large picture windows, porches, overhangs, open shade, twilight, all super large light sources, light that comes from a large arc. Are we limited by low power flashes? probably not. You have a shower curtain, hang from the ceiling with thumb tacks, aim the light through it, now you have a large light source. you can use styrofoam coolers, you can use sheets of styrofoam insulation panels, put three in a wide triangle, hang your curtain from the front with the flash inside. this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Found way to make cheap soft box
"zeitgeist" wrote in message news:WYKPb.122378$na.124788@attbi_s04...
I'm new to photography and on a budget (who is not) so I had to find a way to make a soft box until I can buy a real one. I used a box, one that fits reams of paper for copy machines, cut a hole in the back, lined the inside with tin foil (glued it down, hot glue may work better) and taped a cheap, frosted, plastic shower curtain to the top so it hangs and covers the front. I just lift the shower curtain and put the light through the hole, fasten the collar from the inside, and pull the shower curtain back over the front. The pictures came really good for spending all of $5. Hope someone else can use this idea. I read that you can use a foam ice chest for this also. The point of a diffusion scrim is to spread the light, so you take the original 2 inch or so light source, the flash tube, and make it much larger. The point of putting a reflective backing is to redirect the flash towards the subject. That was to fix a problem they used to have about having enough flash power. What is the point of modifying light? Is it make boxes or to put light on subjects? BTW, back when photogs used parabolic reflectors to focus tungsten lights they were used about 36 inches from the subject. When umbrellas were introduced with the first flashes, they were about twice as large but used about six feet away. soft boxes allowed the photog to bring the light closer so a 3 foot softbox used at 3 feet was twice as large as the brollie. but photogs are shooting much fewer head and shoulder close ups and far more half and full lengths. If we want to light subjects we should decide what kind of light works best. General rule of thumb that commercial photogs use is to make the light twice as large as the subject, of course while they are lighting small to large objects. Remember, what's the nicest of natural light, large picture windows, porches, overhangs, open shade, twilight, all super large light sources, light that comes from a large arc. Are we limited by low power flashes? probably not. You have a shower curtain, hang from the ceiling with thumb tacks, aim the light through it, now you have a large light source. you can use styrofoam coolers, you can use sheets of styrofoam insulation panels, put three in a wide triangle, hang your curtain from the front with the flash inside. this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com Those are some good ideas I will definately put to use! I love picking the brains of the experts. So much to learn, so little time, sigh. Photo Girl |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Found way to make cheap soft box
Just made a quickie softbox out of a large styrofoam cooler. I just cut a
hole for a flash, lined it with foil, and put a sheet of grid cloth across the front for a defuser. I prefer natural light, but had a subject who couldn't keep his eyes open, even in indirect light that bounced off of the pavement. "Photogirl" wrote in message m... "zeitgeist" wrote in message news:WYKPb.122378$na.124788@attbi_s04... I'm new to photography and on a budget (who is not) so I had to find a way to make a soft box until I can buy a real one. I used a box, one that fits reams of paper for copy machines, cut a hole in the back, lined the inside with tin foil (glued it down, hot glue may work better) and taped a cheap, frosted, plastic shower curtain to the top so it hangs and covers the front. I just lift the shower curtain and put the light through the hole, fasten the collar from the inside, and pull the shower curtain back over the front. The pictures came really good for spending all of $5. Hope someone else can use this idea. I read that you can use a foam ice chest for this also. The point of a diffusion scrim is to spread the light, so you take the original 2 inch or so light source, the flash tube, and make it much larger. The point of putting a reflective backing is to redirect the flash towards the subject. That was to fix a problem they used to have about having enough flash power. What is the point of modifying light? Is it make boxes or to put light on subjects? BTW, back when photogs used parabolic reflectors to focus tungsten lights they were used about 36 inches from the subject. When umbrellas were introduced with the first flashes, they were about twice as large but used about six feet away. soft boxes allowed the photog to bring the light closer so a 3 foot softbox used at 3 feet was twice as large as the brollie. but photogs are shooting much fewer head and shoulder close ups and far more half and full lengths. If we want to light subjects we should decide what kind of light works best. General rule of thumb that commercial photogs use is to make the light twice as large as the subject, of course while they are lighting small to large objects. Remember, what's the nicest of natural light, large picture windows, porches, overhangs, open shade, twilight, all super large light sources, light that comes from a large arc. Are we limited by low power flashes? probably not. You have a shower curtain, hang from the ceiling with thumb tacks, aim the light through it, now you have a large light source. you can use styrofoam coolers, you can use sheets of styrofoam insulation panels, put three in a wide triangle, hang your curtain from the front with the flash inside. this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com Those are some good ideas I will definately put to use! I love picking the brains of the experts. So much to learn, so little time, sigh. Photo Girl |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Mamiya C220 - prob. w/ soft felt in film chamber | Hapa | Medium Format Photography Equipment | 3 | July 4th 04 01:57 PM |
10d soft images | Giorgio Preddio | Digital Photography | 47 | July 1st 04 02:51 PM |
10d soft images | Giorgio Preddio | 35mm Photo Equipment | 47 | July 1st 04 02:51 PM |