Lighting boxes?

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Hi,

I'd like to hear if any of you use a lighting box to take your pics, at present I have 2 large peices of blue card I place on a table and take the shot. I've seen a few set ups with lights and 4 different colours of background and fancy getting one. I should add that I dont have a really fancy camera just a Cannon 12.1 megapixel Powershot.

Thanks Adrian

[Guest]

I used to use a light box when i was heavily into photographing my antiques, archaeology/palaeontology, arachnids etc etc.

It cost quite a bit and had different coloured transparencies that gave a different base colour to the inside of the box.

The box was lit by four circular fluoro tubes (three sides and top)

to be honest you can make one from a square frame and a thin white cotton table cloth set within a second box that contains the tubes. the thin cotton will diffuse the light even more than the tubes do. if you leave a gap on the front edge you could slide some transperant seets in to give you your colour tints.

Also it really makes no difference what camera you use if using a tripod and getting the settings right, i had 4500 quids worth of Nikon and Olympus and often reverted to a little 7.1 mp kodak that gave the same results.

[Guest]

Adrian your problem is going to be a Catalina some 24" across & in a light box you need space about it. You have to have neough space away form the lights otherwise it does not work.

Catalina or a Lancaster probably a light box six feet wide.

Better to use movable lights where you can adjust the angles & the shadow effect.

As Colin has infered it is mastery of photography not the equipment so much.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I was thinking of just getting bed sheets in the background colours I needed, making a frame to support them and the getting a few table lamps with high bulbs and the difussing them with cotton sheets in front of them, would that work?

[Guest]

I was thinking of just getting bed sheets in the background colours I needed, making a frame to support them and the getting a few table lamps with high bulbs and the difussing them with cotton sheets in front of them, would that work?

Not sure Adrian what you are trying to achieve. I have made a table about 24" square with a back again 24" high out of conti board.

I have a variety of coloured card/paper & just put that up against my contraption. It forms a nice bend in the card at the transition of base & up right.

Just bought a couple of £13 anglepoise lams form B & Q with the equivalent of 80watts light each. It is yellow light warm finish but I blue it in the photo programme to give it a colder look.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Not sure Adrian what you are trying to achieve. I have made a table about 24" square with a back again 24" high out of conti board.I have a variety of coloured card/paper & just put that up against my contraption. It forms a nice bend in the card at the transition of base & up right.

Just bought a couple of £13 anglepoise lams form B & Q with the equivalent of 80watts light each. It is yellow light warm finish but I blue it in the photo programme to give it a colder look.

Laurie

That sounds like the thing I am thinking about, was just thinking if I used some sort of colapsable frame I could store it away, the sheets would act as my background

Adrian

[Guest]

I was thinking of just getting bed sheets in the background colours I needed, making a frame to support them and the getting a few table lamps with high bulbs and the difussing them with cotton sheets in front of them, would that work?

yes

[Guest]

Here is my simple photo bench. If you need to fold it Adrian a piano hinge (continous thin hinge B & Q very cheap) & a small chain fixed to the sides to support the back.

Mine is on a projector stand which allows the platform to tilt. But you can do the same with a book to up end the rear.

The anglepoise lamps are cheap but effective they lit this photo.

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Laurie

If you do use a sheet as a diffuser make sure that the bulb does not to hot otherwise you will get combustion. Spectacular (personal experience) exciting& a hot experience.

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[spanner570]

Try this Ade.

It was a Christmas present last year...About £25 from Maplin. Nice bit of kit:- camera tripod, two powerful lamps and a foldaway studio box, all in a handy holdall. I have seen them on ebay...could well be one there now! Well recommended. The only thing that might not suit is the studio size which is around 16" square, could easily be modified mind, and you do get all the kit you need....

My camera is a cheap, old, well scratched Sony Cybershot DSC-W80. You can pick one up on Ebay for around £20.00! Does the job just fine...

Cheers,

Ron

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[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Think I may get this

PORTABLE 50CM LIGHT CAMERA PHOTO STUDIO KIT TENT BOX TRIPOD LIGHTS 4 BACKDROPS | eBay

and this to go with it for the extra size

32" / 80CM PHOTO STUDIO BOX LIGHT CUBE TENT +4 BACKDROP | eBay

Adrian

[spanner570]

Ade, that looks the same as the one I posted, different box.lol..... except yours is 4" wider and has different colours for the backdrop.

I recommend it. It's a good bundle. The tripod and lamps are good and strong and fully adjustable.

Go for it...

Ron

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Think I may get this PORTABLE 50CM LIGHT CAMERA PHOTO STUDIO KIT TENT BOX TRIPOD LIGHTS 4 BACKDROPS | eBay

and this to go with it for the extra size

32" / 80CM PHOTO STUDIO BOX LIGHT CUBE TENT +4 BACKDROP | eBay

Adrian

Ordered both these today

Adrian