lighting for homemade light box

[macmich]

kym
thank you for reply
once it is finished if it is no good i have a shed full of timber i go back to the drawing board
i am confident it will suit my needs
i am not going to shops or suppliers to take photos of stock
so i do not need a portable tent
and i understand it will not suit or please everyone
cheers macca

[macmich]

jim d
if you want to sit back and try and pick on things at least wait until it is finished
if you have a look at the photos tou will notice box is built without muslin sides and top
and then muslin appears
it bis as simple as sliding out muslin inner
that was an engineering feat to design a slide out diffuser inner
macca

[Bear Dale]

if you want to sit back and try and pick on things at least wait until it is finished
if you have a look at the photos tou will notice box is built without muslin sides and top

macca I think it's a little precious to state that I'm picking on things. I'm speaking from vast personal experience here. I have spent a small fortune on woodworking and metal working tools and machinery for my workshop on the farm over the last 35 years and used to fall victim to over engineering and over complicating things.....when they just never had to be.

I'm not picking on you, nor your design. It's constructive criticism and I think you may very well find that you've constricted yourself with the lighting when you finally start to actually use the box.

I'm just giving you a heads up on my thoughts.

[Dan Gamble]

And I don't mind stating it either, regardless of what the rest of the circus (including Dan Gamble) think.
Thank God we're all not Lemmings that just coo and say "How utterly fantastic" etc etc

I think you're going to find that you're constricted eventually within the tight constraints of the box that you've designed and built.

[SNIP]

And I think you could have arrived at a better set-up a lot more simpler with the ability to be able to change and adapt your lighting to suit.

Thanks for explaining the reasoning around your feelings Jim. It IS appreciated. (The delivery of said reasoning still being the exception unfortunately).

I see your point now though. I don't own one you see and so have never know what makes a GOOD light box.

Macca did mention the lighting would be able to "swivel" in those arcs on arms and then be able to be re-directed for back-side, side and front-side lighting on both sides... plus the gap at the top for other flexible lighting. You don't think that'll work? (even with snoot/barn doors?)

Macca did also explain why the weight would not be an issue for him. It looks too heavy for my personal liking too but that is irrelevant based on what Macca wants and needs so I believe it didn't and still doesn't warrant mentioning.

Thanks again.

[Bear Dale]

I see your point now though. I don't own one you see and so have never know what makes a GOOD light box.

Dan I've really researched (a totally ridiculous amount of time and reading on the internet that would have been more productive if I had just been shooting!) and bought a crap load of stuff re: light boxes and found personally the simpler is the better option and gives you unlimited options.

It doesn't get much simpler than this and you have flexibility ...... something that can't be over rated - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zARqGgHjNc

[Dan Gamble]

It doesn't get much simpler than this and you have flexibility ...... something that can't be over rated - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zARqGgHjNc

That's ULTRA simple and gives an excellent result! Have seen stuff from this guy before. Don't know how I missed this one.

Still keen to see the outcome of Macca's project... I'm a bit of a tinkerer so it appeals to me on that level also.

Great link.

Cheers.

[Bear Dale]

That's ULTRA simple and gives an excellent result! Have seen stuff from this guy before. Don't know how I missed this one.

Still keen to see the outcome of Macca's project... I'm a bit of a tinkerer so it appeals to me on that level also.

Great link.

Cheers.

I'm a huge tinkerer as well Dan.....I've lost count though of the times when I've been lost in the fun of designing and making something and my wife has brought me out a coffee a too the workshop and said something a long the lines of "Looks great, but how on earth are you going to lift the thing"........Do you know where I'm coming from ?

I've watched that video that I linked countless times now and last week made up the "sticks in the cans" (I went an extra step and painted them black ) made up frames (couldn't locate acetate so I used white nylon) and bought foam board cheaply from Office Works and out door spotlights from Bunnings for $9.95 and made those pan reflectors out of two stainless steel bowls. One small one for the light holder rivetted onto a larger 7" bowl for the reflector.

I've been away for 5 days with my wife so I haven't as yet had a chance to use it, but it's a lot simpler than the fold up light box that I bought off ebay and all the other DIY ones that I saw on the web in my searches.

Heres some more interesting links -

http://www.diyphotography.net/homest...ht-panel-frame

http://www.diyphotography.net/homest...phy-background

http://www.diyphotography.net/homest...backdrop-stand

[Kym]

It's untested as yet and I'm entitled to a viewpoint.

I never said anything about your posts. Your are entitled as am I.
Would I use this rig? probably not (I have a folding tent), but macmich clearly had his own idea and purpose, good on him.

[macmich]

in the end i dont really care what you think
the box suits me
it sits on a stand to the height of my tripod and camera i will not have to bend over
as i have stated it wont get moved it sits in its spot covered in the shed

and in the end i dont really care if it does not suit anyone as long as it suits me
i really dont know what collecting tools and machinery over 35 years makes you such an expert
i have been a carpenter all my life and i think i know enough
about construction of a wide range of items
i have been to light shops with the box and lighting is being supplied to suit
the project
as i said before it me that will be using it and in posts earlier i stated that i would rebuild if no good
i do not think i asked for cc on the box but then again it must be your right
so if we can just let it go back to my origanal post it would be appreciated

[macmich]

a coat of paint and get ready for lighting and stand
cheers macca

[Bear Dale]

What lights are you going to be using?

[macmich]

a couple of shots
no flash on camera and a 55mm kit lens
just using 2 side lights in the void
and the second one a rough shot without flash of box hand held in the dark
cheers macca
i think i better iron the back drop

[I @ M]

Hmm, that proved two things, You are bloody handy with a circular saw and a few screws but you are in need of serious training in the operation of a steam iron.

If you get the "back drop" to run down and then have a bit of a curve to it at the back you will get more even light.

Right at the moment as a prototype launch it is looking good.

[dredi1975]

looks really good to me Macca

[Duane Pipe]

So far so good Maca It seems the lights are working, I agree with Andrew about the back drop
HAY Jim at least its not held together with fencing wire, tech screws and chook shit welds

[macmich]

thanks fellas
i will get onto the stand
the ironing
the other lighting
and maybe even the dripometer tommorow
thanks again
cheers macca

[Bear Dale]

HAY Jim at least its not held together with fencing wire, tech screws and chook shit welds

LOL Tek screws are a gift from God

[Alpacamike]

thanks mike
where abouts in the goldfields are you
cheers macca

About 20km south of Bendigo

[macmich]

20k south around ravenswood somewhere
cheers macca

[Alpacamike]

I think we need more people like Macca, who cares if the wheel has been invented, If we don’t keep reinventing things nothing will improve.