Video Tutorial: Making a PVC Light Box

Found this video in the comments to Huber’s Light Box tutorial (see earlier post).  Really easy to follow with good detail and tips.

Video: Making a PVC Light Box

video: episode 2 , lighting glassware in the studio | pro photo life

ProPhotoLife.com – Lighting Glassware video

(I first saw this on YouTube; this is the link to it on the ProPhotoLife.com site.)

Very helpful in understanding how to light glassware, as well as how to do it cheaply: 2 pieces of black cardboard, or 2 pieces of white cardboard, using a screen, and one light.

Photographing Projects and Collections: Some Links

• Photographing Auto Instruments: chrome gauges in specially cut particle board, light tent, one light;
• Building an In-House Photo Studio: small products, PVC backdrop stand, where to buy nice background paper (at less cost than a photo store), using a light tent to control reflections;
• Desktop Digital Photography: with Dennis Curtin (Short Courses series of photo books). Some overall basics, such as lens choice, DOF, lighting, and so forth;

  
  

Mounting Cactus PT-04 Wireless Flash Receiver on a Strobe

Nice-looking mod from Neil Van Dyke, showing and explaining how he mounted his Cactus PT-04 wireless flash receivers on his two Nikon SB-28 flashes. He removed the L-bracked with hot-shoe mount and attached a receiver to each of the flashes with Velcro strips.

The text is here, and includes links to good photos of the process.

The Lightscoop: Bouncing Pop-up Flash for Better Photos

 

Place the Lightscoop over your pop-up flash and it bounces the light output for better lighting. Haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on my radar as a useful accessory to pick up and tuck in a camera bag, because it’s also small and lightweight. There’s also a warming version, available separately.

Lightscoop was invented by Ken Kobre, a highly respected photojournalism professor, author, and photojournalist in his own right. Kobre states the Lightscoop cures such direct flash ills as: red eye; weird dark shadow in foreground or on side; too-dark backgrounds; unflattering skin tones; and unappealing eBay photos.

Kobre has some before and after photos on his Lightscoop site. You can also show your own Lightscoop before and after photos in the Lightscoop flickr group, moderated by Professor Kobre.

Lightscoop is currently available for dslr models from Nikon, Pentax, Fuji FinePix, Sigma, and Canon. Buy it here for $29.95.

Here’s the bio from the Kobre site:

“Ken Kobré is the author of “Photojournalism: The Professionals’
Approach” and inventor of Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop, the only camera
accessory that instantly improves pop-up flash photos. For more
information, see www.lightscoop.com, or contact Professor Kobré at asktheprof@lightscoop.com.”

PVC Light Tent

Gordon Coale has built a better mouse trap with his PVC light tent; well, the results are likely the same as my cardboard and fabric light tent, but Cole’s construction method is surely sturdier, especially for taking around on location. Another neat feature is that he’s used snap clamp fittings to make the garbage bag diffusion panels adjustable, say, if you wanted to leave one of the sides open. You’ll find a set of flickr photos with step-by-step instructions here, and you can get the snap clamps here.

Nice DIY Gobo, Snoot, Gel Holder, for Small Flash

Thomas Schwenger shows some neat ideas on creating and attaching a snoot, gel holder, and gobo to small flashes. Pictures and instructions.

Learn Off-Camera Flash

There are many advantages to using your hot-shoe flash off-camera, such as better lighting control. You can even use them for a lightweight, portable studio, complete with umbrellas and softboxes. If you’re not sure what all of this means, or if you’ve been looking to advance your flash photography skills, the Strobist blog is your new best friend. Learn the basics with Lighting 101. Learn how to build the “Starving Student” Off-Camera Light Kit. Lighting equipment can cost big $$$, but here you’ll find ways to get professional results for less.

Mostly, the blog is about traveling light and being creative in how to light such things as a person or food. The blog is written by David Hobby, a photographer with the Baltimore Sun. As a photojournalist, he’s called on to photograph a variety of assignments with what he can carry and what’s on hand. Hobby is practical, funny, and a natural teacher. It’s really cool to see how he gets fantastic results with a minimum of equipment.

(BTW, check out the Strobist Group on Flickr. Good images of final results, behind-the-scenes lighting setups, and a place to post your questions.)