DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Studios - Simple and Cheap
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 6 of 6, (reverse)
AuthorThread
12/11/2005 10:55:06 PM · #1
This is for all of you out there who have built your studio out of low cost equipment. We're talking PVC stands, work-lamp lighting, self-dyed backdrops, and cannibalized parts. Cheap is the keyword. What have you used? Where'd you find it? What works/doesn't? Share the info and post pics if you can, to help out those of us (like me) who are trying to get started!
12/11/2005 11:09:29 PM · #2
Google does wonders, just what I was looking for

//www.designinflight.com/04July/diy_photography_on_the_cheap.html


12/11/2005 11:30:23 PM · #3
I need a setup that is totally portable, the lights I have .. the rest I kinda whip together but it would be nice to find something more organized that can come out in a few minutes and be stored away in a small area.
12/11/2005 11:39:54 PM · #4
PVC is wonderful. right now I am in the process of building a nice collapsable backdrop support and shooting table.
12/11/2005 11:53:44 PM · #5
Hmm...a lumedyne 200ws strobe off ebay for $300, a cord for it for $60 and a stand from amvona for $40, a home made mount for a $4 walmart umbrella i painted silver, a quantaray flash with a GN of 70 for $20 off ebay. Some wein peanuts of a knock off variety.

the backdrop is $17 of muslin from walmart died green..okay, putrid green. gonna work on that some more. The stand is PVC stuck in the base of halogen work light stand that i took apart. This travels - at home i have hooks inteh ceiling and hang teh cloth.

I have several sheets (white, black, blue) for either backdrops or reflectors, or flash diffusion.

The ugly green backdop in use.

the same backdrop with some PS work.

the blue sheet as a backdrop.

Lighting in all of these: on camera is a metz 54 with lightspere 2 in auto mode, the camera in manual mode. to my left is the lumedyne at 100ws bounced into the umbrella, the quantarray is on a boom over teh center of the backdrop (which does show in some pics as a nice highlight on the BG, but not many :(

Message edited by author 2005-12-11 23:55:12.
12/12/2005 02:11:04 PM · #6
I built 2 80 x 80 Cm softboxes which use 8 energy save lamps. (75 watt equivalent each). I use El cheapo tripods for the stands.
Material is silver windscreen cover, and the diffuser is Seetrrough suit bag material. Cheap & realtively portable. I can build both up in a little over 10 minutes.
The light is OK, I am longing for some professional lights now as the output is ok for 5.6 at 1/60th but I am finding that to be not enough.
For backgrounds I have various cloths neatly rolled up on wood to avoid wrinkles.
Here is a picture of the lights in a photo session (white wall BG).
And an example picture.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/21/2025 12:39:11 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/21/2025 12:39:11 PM EDT.