DIY lightbox

Sapsorrow

Hey guys, I just stumbled across this tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bAh193Iwc on how to build a lightbox, I was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of lamps and bulbs I should use with it, and if I could use it in regular daylight outdoors? Also, would any thin cotton work, or does it need to be something stretchy? I want to build one to photograph jewellery for my Etsy shop with, as I'm struggling to get good shots in my basement apartment, but I don't know much about photography so any help would be great! Thanks

Ballyman

Get your self a pop up laundry basket (like this one but a cube instead of round) instead of cutting up a box and some t-shirts. I got one in Dunnes for €4 and it works perfectly as a diffuser for product shots.

Then you will need some kind of light source on each side - a flash if possible as the light is white - or else two table lamps, one on each side. The table lights will require white balance correction though so you can either set it in camera first or else batch fix it in an editing program afterwards.

What kind of camera do you have? If you have a DSLR then you should be able to buy two cheap manual flashes and a trigger on ebay for <€100. Actually I have two of them that I hardly ever use so you if you are stuck let me know. Once you get the exposure and WB right then you should have no problems.

To be honest if you have no understanding of photography then it would probably be easier to ask a photographer to set it up for you the first time instead of wasting days trying to do it yourself and show you how to do it and then you will be able to do it yourself every time after that.

Effects

you can buy them on ebay mad cheap too.

Ben D Bus

Ballyman wrote: »

Get your self a pop up laundry basket (like this one but a cube instead of round) instead of cutting up a box and some t-shirts. I got one in Dunnes for €4 and it works perfectly as a diffuser for product shots.

Best value photography accessories ever. I have 2 from Dunnes and they work great. I've even done some portraits using them as softboxes.

My first attempt with 2 cheap flashes, 2 Dunnes wash baskets and some thick white paper from an art shop.


Smiley Green Brush by BendiBus, on Flickr

Ballyman

Ben D Bus wrote: »

Best value photography accessories ever. I have 2 from Dunnes and they work great. I've even done some portraits using them as softboxes.

My first attempt with 2 cheap flashes, 2 Dunnes wash baskets and some thick white paper from an art shop.

Hope you don't mind but just to show you if you increased the whites a little - you can do this in a batch if your editing software allows as the lighting "should" be the same (it can be different using table lamps and flourescents due to the frequency 50Hz) and then it will blend into white webpages much better. It will also allow you to cut the image out very easily if you wanted to put it on a different coloured background.

Some people don't like the all white as it can give a "floating in air look" bit it's pretty standard in product photography to get as clean a shot as possible.

Ballyman

On a side note - I had a look at your shop on etsy and to be honest the pics you have on there are fine, better than a plain white background anyway!!

Ben D Bus

Ballyman wrote: »

Hope you don't mind

Not at all. That looks much better. I was just messing around really.

twirlagig

Ballyman wrote: »

....If you have a DSLR then you should be able to buy two cheap manual flashes and a trigger on ebay for <€100....

Sorry to crash the thread folks (hope I'm not out of line! ), but what exactly do I search for on ebay to get the above? Don't want to buy something that's not compatible (Have an Canon 1000d, btw)
REALLY not clued up on this area but would like to get a (cheapish) external flash to attempt shots like this.

Ben D Bus

I have 2 Yongnuo YN-468II flashes for my Nikon

Yongnuo seems to be the name in cheap flashes. Google the different units but be careful to order a Canon version if you choose to buy!

I got them from this UK based seller http://stores.ebay.ie/whiteseashop

I got my trigger in Halls on Talbot St. A Hahnel combi trigger and remote shutter. So I can use to trigger one flash with the second set as slave. But I can also use it to control the shutter on long exposures.

And Hahnel is an Irish company. In these times of financial crisis and all that

http://www.hahnel.ie/index.cfm?page=dslrremotecontrols&id=64&pId=64

twirlagig

Ben D Bus wrote: »

I have 2 Yongnuo YN-468II flashes for my Nikon

Yongnuo seems to be the name in cheap flashes. Google the different units but be careful to order a Canon version if you choose to buy!

I got them from this UK based seller http://stores.ebay.ie/whiteseashop

I got my trigger in Halls on Talbot St. A Hahnel combi trigger and remote shutter. So I can use to trigger one flash with the second set as slave. But I can also use it to control the shutter on long exposures.

And Hahnel is an Irish company. In these times of financial crisis and all that

http://www.hahnel.ie/index.cfm?page=dslrremotecontrols&id=64&pId=64

Thanks for those links Ben D Bus - have an idea of what I'm looking for now at least!

Ballyman

twirlagig wrote: »

Sorry to crash the thread folks (hope I'm not out of line! ), but what exactly do I search for on ebay to get the above? Don't want to buy something that's not compatible (Have an Canon 1000d, btw)
REALLY not clued up on this area but would like to get a (cheapish) external flash to attempt shots like this.

Yongnuo are the brand I have too. Very reliable. I have two of them that I never use if you want to PM me

twirlagig

Ballyman wrote: »

Yongnuo are the brand I have too. Very reliable. I have two of them that I never use if you want to PM me

Cheers for that Ballyman

Kenny Logins

You could trigger them with the pop-up flash to get started, and just use something to block the light affecting the subject.

twirlagig

Kenny Logins wrote: »

You could trigger them with the pop-up flash to get started, and just use something to block the light affecting the subject.

I have SO much to learn!
Thanks all!

Kenny Logins

twirlagig wrote: »

I have SO much to learn!
Thanks all!

Youtube is a great resource, countless hours of tutorials there, but nothing beats having a go yourself.

twirlagig

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Youtube is a great resource, countless hours of tutorials there, but nothing beats having a go yourself.

I don't mind having a go, it's just knowing what I need! :o