Softbox

Need more power . . . .

My everything-off-the-shelf DIY home studio is getting there slowly but surely.

Picked up some more lights and a white backdrop over the weekend.

picture.php
 
Awesome Bwana. I can't wait till I get a bigger place (and one of my own) that I can start doing this. I have a couple of 'stick in a cans' and wooden frames covered with diffusion material. I've been wanting a backdrop for a while now, but haven't found the right one yet. Looking at getting vinyl flooring to use as a backdrop.

Kudos on your setup.
 
SubliminalThought said:
Awesome Bwana. I can't wait till I get a bigger place (and one of my own) that I can start doing this. I have a couple of 'stick in a cans' and wooden frames covered with diffusion material. I've been wanting a backdrop for a while now, but haven't found the right one yet. Looking at getting vinyl flooring to use as a backdrop.

Kudos on your setup.
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Thanks.

The backdrop was the simplest bit. I went to the local fabric shop and bought their table cloth material - its 2.5m wide - for about r35 p/m and had them hem the ends for 40mm pipe. I strung a guide wire across the width of the room inside the piping so it all rolls up nicely out of the way. Next is another screened array of lights on the other side. I still have to use a little but of on camera flash but I'm hoping to do away with that too.
 
bwana said:
My everything-off-the-shelf DIY home studio is getting there slowly but surely.

Picked up some more lights and a white backdrop over the weekend.

picture.php
Click to expand...
Looks awesome. Keen to see some portraits.
 
SubliminalThought said:
How about a self portrait then? Or a kitty portrait?
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Cat maybe but I dont have a tripod that will support my camera safely and after seeing the missus wielding my 1D yesterday . . . well lets just say I'd have to PS out a few more grey hairs. :o
 
On the right hand side wall, is that a windscreen reflector?
 
Bwana, you can now get the neighbourhood kids to come pose for you and at the same time you can develop their photos as christmas cards for their grandparents. Then you can give them a sweetie and put their scrawl at the bottom of your model release form and post the photos to us so we can have a look how awesome your softbox is :D
 
chau said:
Bwana, you can now get the neighbourhood kids to come pose for you and at the same time you can develop their photos as christmas cards for their grandparents. Then you can give them a sweetie and put their scrawl at the bottom of your model release form and post the photos to us so we can have a look how awesome your softbox is :D
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I'll stick with cats. :)

BTW - kids cant sign releases if they're under 18. ;)
 
bwana said:
I'm leaning towards constant light - One speedlight costs more than I want to spend on this project right now. I planned for the space when I did the renovations so I might as well use it.
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I must have spent about a grand on lights and fittings and stuff at Builder's Warehouse trying to get enough light going to do decent product photography and just couldn't quite get the amount of light to be able to take stuff in Av at a wide aperture. Then I found this:

http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardware/Vivitar-285HV-Auto-Professional-Flash__B00004TVSP

Fully manual flash with integrated PC-port and ideal for off-camera use. It's AWESOME, and really not that expensive. Certainly nowhere near the price of a Canon speedlight, though I'm quite happy to sacrifice the TTL on the Canon for the price of the Vivitar.

You might also want to check out www.strobistshop.co.za for some accessories. They're down in Knysna and you might have to be a little patient while they get all your stuff together for you, but they have every accessory you might need and it's fairly decently priced. Add this to your Vivitar:

http://www.cameralight.co.za/index....ategory_id=17&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=28

and you have an instant studio. Just add scantily-clad model.

Juice
 
Thanks Juice - I've added a floodlight on a stand (twin 500w halogen with a 250w I added later) and that thing really lights up the room. So much that I have to bounce it off the white painted ceiling. :D

I'll have a look at the flash though - I want something to go behind the subject for back lighting.
 
The older flashes are much cheaper to come by. I have the Vivitar and a Sunpak which I bought for around R700ea (but was shipped with other goodies so shipping charges was ok). They are really decent for off-camera. I got two 'peanut' slaves but they don't work well. I decided on getting the commercial softbox, so going to Turbolite now (will take some pics tomorrow if I get it). Will also ask about better peanut slaves.

Also be careful about using really old flashes attached directly to the camera. The trigger voltage can fry it! Rather use these off camera with a peanut slave or radio trigger.
 
bwana said:
Thanks Juice - I've added a floodlight on a stand (twin 500w halogen with a 250w I added later) and that thing really lights up the room. So much that I have to bounce it off the white painted ceiling. :D

I'll have a look at the flash though - I want something to go behind the subject for back lighting.
Click to expand...

That would have been my next move too, but then I thought, screw it, I'm getting a flash. Seemed like way less effort in the end :)
 
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