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06/02/2006 09:42:47 AM · #1 |
Hey all, I'm just trying to get into the photography thing properly. at the moment, I'm trying to get a lighting setup happening (not for portraits, just for objects), but the catch is
a) i'm a student = no money :P
b) no real room to setup a proper photography setup
obviously i realise its going to take up some room, and going to cost some money, but i was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for how to go setting up something. I really like this one:
//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=98631
any improvements/changes to be made to this? i saw some people put a cloth over the top. and have lights shining into the cloth. also, what sort of material is good for the backdrop? white cardboad? black cardboad? or is cloth better?
oh and finally i was wondering what a good source of strong light is... i've got a halogen desk lamp, and a flourescent one... but could i use one of those bigass spotlight torhces as a primary light source?
Sorry, i know this is probably insulting to most of the pro's, but i'm slowly making my way through photography, and really want to find a way to proceed in photography without letting $$ get in the way. Currently saving for a dSLR, so most funds are going their :P
Thanks in advance |
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06/02/2006 09:52:18 AM · #2 |
for objects you don't need very expensive setup. the example you posted is one such setup which uses in expensive lights and paper.
also for objects you don't need a big room unless you want to photograph a car ofcourse :D
I use halogen lights ( $30 from walmart ) but seldom use them directly. I used them reflected off ceiling or walls. I have also used $5 lamps from walmart for still life.
one of my recent setup for a shot ( the heat entry )
I am using the halogen lights for lighting. the background is a tshirt and the object is placed on my dining chairs... |
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06/02/2006 09:52:39 AM · #3 |
JP's backlighting on the cheap setup:
The tv tray has turned into a roly cheapy compter desk, but the setup is similar. I use foamboard for sides and tops as well.
Edit: I'll take a shot of the new setup later.
Message edited by author 2006-06-02 09:54:10. |
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06/02/2006 09:54:28 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by alfresco:
JP's backlighting on the cheap setup:
The tv tray has turned into a roly cheapy compter desk, but the setup is similar. I use foamboard for sides and tops as well.
Edit: I'll take a shot of the new setup later. |
Water those plants! :P
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06/02/2006 09:56:44 AM · #5 |
Alright mate!
I dont think it'd be to hard to make, I have seen 'plans' on the internet, but you could try getting a Light-Tent I got a cheap one off of ebay with two backgrounds and its great (folds away nice and small). You could use halogens from the outside (but they get hot) or if you have a off-camera flash just bounce it off the top, works so well for stock, hardly any shadows or nasty reflections. I dont really have any shots on DPC with it, but here is one here for you to get the idea, Once I got it setup I just chucked everything i could get my hands on inside, its more or less paid for itself. I hope you manage to sort something out dood!
Good luck with it,
Mark |
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06/02/2006 09:59:44 AM · #6 |
Looks pretty cost efficient if your on a budget.
I would use cloth. It's easier to keep around IMO. Just fold it up and put it away. You can also shine light thru it for soft lighting effects and stuff like that. You can get tons of the stuff at Wal-mart in different colors and patterns for about $4 a yard.
Lowes sells them 500 watt halogen lights for a bout $10. A little more if you get the ones on the stands. I have 2 stand -up ones and a clip on one. Got all 3 for less than $30.
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06/02/2006 10:22:35 AM · #7 |
Hey, thanks for all the quick replies!!! some of the ideas are great.
I've noticed the big difference seems to be some people use a box type thing to diffuse light (i assume), others don't. Is there a point to these light boxes? or are they unnecessary?
Also, those bigass lights used in gaurawa's pic, are they proper expensive studio lights? if so, what are some cheaper alternatives? I was considering torch spotlight with wax paper, i was wondering if anyone has any more suggestions?
also, on ebay, i just had a look for those light boxes. Though they cost a bit ($50 australian = $30 american ish i think), they do have the really big big bonus of being collapsable. anyone use these? anything to stay away from? or are they just a waste of money? |
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06/02/2006 10:25:26 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by diablo2097:
Also, those bigass lights used in gaurawa's pic, are they proper expensive studio lights? if so, what are some cheaper alternatives? I was considering torch spotlight with wax paper, i was wondering if anyone has any more suggestions? |
those lights are halogen light. 2 500W halogens and stand costed me only $30 |
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06/02/2006 10:31:51 AM · #9 |
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06/02/2006 05:08:55 PM · #10 |
hey, cool picks kiwipix.... i realise this is gonna sound stupid, but umm... what is the polysterene foam for?
Oh, and guarawa, where did you get the halogen lights from? and they came with a stand??? $30 is a pretty good price for 2 i guess... just wondering, what exactly do you ask for in a store? "500w Halogen light"?
Oh, and finally i was wondering if those LED light setups are any good?
Thanks again |
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06/02/2006 05:15:28 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by diablo2097:
...Oh, and guarawa, where did you get the halogen lights from? and they came with a stand??? $30 is a pretty good price for 2 i guess... just wondering, what exactly do you ask for in a store? "500w Halogen light"?... |
To answer for guarawa - I've got some lights just like that - Home Depot or Lowes (or nearly any hardware store I would imagine). Look/ask for halogen work lights. The are very **HOT**, so be careful! |
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06/02/2006 05:17:50 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by diablo2097:
hey, cool picks kiwipix.... i realise this is gonna sound stupid, but umm... what is the polysterene foam for? |
No man, not stupid at all. I only know about it coz we used it making TV commercials all the time. "Poly" is used as a reflector. It's as good as a megabucks softbox ... and a lot easier to move around.
This  is done with a desk lamp about 3 o'clock and 85deg on the right. That created all the highlights on the leaf edges and gave everythign a strong shape. The texture was created with me holding a 10x8 piece of poly (ex computer box) on the left and moving it around.
You can see that the light from the left looks stonger than from the right ... and it's softer. It is the poly that highlighted all the ridges of the leaves
Brett |
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06/02/2006 05:20:31 PM · #13 |
| I searched but am probably retarded...but there is a thread called something about 'redneck' equipment/set-ups, etc. This thread has some good suggestions for studio stuff on the cheap. I am sure someone more adept at the search function can find it. |
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06/02/2006 05:32:14 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by alfresco:
JP's backlighting on the cheap setup:
The tv tray has turned into a roly cheapy compter desk, but the setup is similar. I use foamboard for sides and tops as well.
Edit: I'll take a shot of the new setup later. |
What do you mean you dont use the mop for lighting...mops are an excellent source of daylight balanced light ;)
Ok kidding aside, using household lamps placed well cardboard, construction paper, posterboard ect you can do some pretty amazing stuff, for softer lighting use somthing like frosted glass or witeish translucent plastic. or heck a couple layers of sheer material. Just play around with what you have and see what works.
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06/02/2006 06:59:53 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by alfresco:
JP's backlighting on the cheap setup:
The tv tray has turned into a roly cheapy compter desk, but the setup is similar. I use foamboard for sides and tops as well.
Edit: I'll take a shot of the new setup later. |
Can you post a shot that you did with this setup? I like the backlighting idea, and with such a well labeled diagram it should be easy to set up something similar. ;) |
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06/02/2006 07:33:23 PM · #16 |
Looks like there is a baggie full of something on the floor .. you forgot to # and name it!! LOL
Originally posted by alfresco:
JP's backlighting on the cheap setup:
The tv tray has turned into a roly cheapy compter desk, but the setup is similar. I use foamboard for sides and tops as well.
Edit: I'll take a shot of the new setup later. |
Message edited by author 2006-06-02 22:21:01. |
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06/02/2006 10:04:22 PM · #17 |
Go to a toy store, get a cheapy kids indoor play tent made with PVC with stretchy cords through it. This makes it very easy to put together. Through the plastic cover away and put white sheets over it. Light tent!
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06/02/2006 10:28:00 PM · #18 |
Kaye, this is the photo that prompted the backlighting setup. Boring? Yes. Learnworthy? Yes.
This shot was set exactly as the one in the diagram, simply substitute the glasses for the fly reel. Pull white plastic paper roll stuff taut, various angles will give various backlighting characteristics. In the diagram the camera is (obviously) left of the TV tray.
Kat: I'm afraid The Man labelled and numbered that bag :(
After I get home from Chicago I'll post a photo of the new setup, it's simliar but the roly computer desk *really* adds a lot of features that just weren't found in the TV tray.
Ond day, young Padawan, you too will wield a light mop. zzzzhhhhtttt - zzzzhhhhtttt |
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06/02/2006 10:28:33 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by idnic:
Water those plants! :P |
Yes ma'am .....
:( |
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06/02/2006 10:43:51 PM · #20 |
Strobes are the way to go...but even used Vivitar 283 or 285 with a wein peanut to trigger them (and a meter to measure/set up the lights) won't be cheap.
So 'hot lights' are the way to go - generally halogen worklights. they get hot as all hell so you need to be careful around flammable items. and they are not really bright enough for antyhing that moves (like animals, people, etc) - you'll want a tripod.
This light from Sears is the best deal out there - and coming up on fathers day is usually sells for $20 - with a TALL stand. To diffuse or bounce the light a $3 white single bed flat sheet from walmart works well - tape it to the ceiling. they have black sheets at walmart too - I have about 5 now in various sizes - they act as 'walls' in my basement studio to hide the junk.
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06/02/2006 11:12:27 PM · #21 |
i second prof .....I got mine from sears for 17.99 each during a craftsman club sale.
I set up a white sheet in front of them to diffuse the light. I made a pvc stand out of 1 inch Pvc.
Here are a couple of my senior shots from this year.
JD
Levi |
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06/03/2006 01:42:30 AM · #22 |
Here's my light tent...
It's PVC piping, and some white nylon fabric I got at a discount fabric store. Instead of the brollys/flashes you could use some desk lamps with this setup as long as you're shooting motionless objects.
I use this setup with two 'soft boxes' made from cardboard boxes for stock work.
The "softbox":
(Vivitar 285 flash sticking out the top)
And the results:
Sample
Sample1
(Sorry bout the off-site links)
Cheers, Me.
Message edited by author 2006-06-03 01:43:17.
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