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Strobist Lightbox - with photos!
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I have had my el cheapo light box working for the past 3 weeks. I built it out of 1/2 funny pipe (irrigation pvc tubing) from Home Depot, and its really portable and easy to set up. I am using an SB-28 and a SB-800, and some white 'costume satin" (I love that name...) from Wal-Mart. The background is white shiny polycarbonate that I got from a plastic supply place. There's some other electronics shots that I will post later this week, but I would love to get your thoughts.
This shot was with an SB-28 on manual set at 1/32 on the right, and a SB-800 on the left set on manual at 1/16. F 5.6 @ 1/250th.
Originally posted at 12:14AM, 21 January 2007 PST
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andrewhwaters edited this topic 35 months ago.
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Looks like nice, even lighting. Is it you owns softbox design? Could you post some pics/construction details?
Posted 35 months ago.
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good job...your lunch look delicious, can I get one to go Please?
lol
Light boxes are fun...till you run out of things to shoot in them..lol I think i shot everything in my house that would fit... Although i did mis out on the xmas decorations I wanted to hit...but, oh well...theres always next year!
Posted 35 months ago.
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I'd love to see some photos and maybe a write-up of how you made your softbox.
Great lighting on the salad shot. What were your settings?
Posted 35 months ago.
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Thanks guys. I will do a full write up later today with photos of the set up, specs on the shoot and any other details.
Posted 35 months ago.
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Keeping to my word, here's a play by play on how to make your own portable, durable El Lightbox:
This is the back frame that is comprised of 4 90 degree angles and 4 pieces of 18in threaded funny tube, which is outdoor irrigation pvc pipe.
I took my time when I designed this and purchased the parts to make this. I knew that I would be using it a lot at work, taking product shots, and I also wanted to take it home for my own goings on. I have a little hatchback, so I wanted to make sure that I built it so that it could easily collapse, and be put together quickly. This set of fittings and tubes is the front part of the box, and the struts that hold it all together.
You can see how its put together here:
The full frame is the back portion of the box. 2 saddle fitting struts connect each side from the back frame to the front frame. The front frame purposely has the bottom tube missing so that it won't block any shots or reflect on the seamless. The two top struts support the satin and give the box a bit more stability.
Here's another view of the completed box. We're getting ready to hang the seamless.
The box is set up with the (uggh) black reflective seamless. I am using a small piece of gaffers tape to stick it to the table so it doesn't slide around.
We're ready to shoot. The SB-800 is here on the right. 2 big green clamps hold the fabric on the both sides of the box.
Ready to shoot. You can see how the SB-28 mounts on the Gorilla Pod with the SC-17 mounted on it.
Check the set for the other details.
Originally posted 35 months ago.
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andrewhwaters edited this topic 35 months ago.
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A few other thoughts have come up after posting this and chatting with a few friends.
To minimize the top reflections that you see on the shots on black, I could have done 2 things:
1) Gotten a longer piece of seamless and have that as a "C" so there's no white reflected from the top.
2) Get a piece of black poster board and clamp that into the top of the box to flag out the white material.
I also may want to make this box wider for shooting on black, so the side reflection from the lights fall off further away from the subject, so I don't have to photoshop so much out. This would also let me shoot a LOT bigger items, and set ups.
Posted 35 months ago.
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This is a great post! Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted 35 months ago.
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dude how did you make the "c" looking clamps that attach the cross sections of your box? did you cut some pvc? or did you buy pieces already made like that?
Posted 35 months ago.
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The little c clamps are saddle clamps that you can get at Home Depot. These really make it portable, and super easy to set up. The other cool thing is that I have found that if I want to make it deeper or wider, its just a matter of getting longer pvc pipes. The design of the box will easily allow me to make it about twice the size as it is now, for bigger objects or compositions.
Posted 35 months ago.
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That's about the same design as mine, though you have extra bracing which is a good idea.
I made my width to fit a 30" paper roll (Staples office supplies). Matt white or black (and other colours I think) it's a good surface, and being a roll you can just cut off what you need.
Originally posted 35 months ago.
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Sandeha Lynch edited this topic 35 months ago.
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cool, good job, I was gonna make that one too but got lazy and just bought some foam board...lol
Posted 35 months ago.
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