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08/19/2003 08:24:46 AM · #1 |
HI,
Does anyone have any tips for home made macro set ups?
I shoot alot of small items, from jewelry to knives (the largest object being aprox. 6 inches long, the smallest a couple of millimeters).
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
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08/19/2003 09:20:23 AM · #2 |
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08/19/2003 09:36:34 AM · #3 |
Thanks,
I have actually seen that one..
I'm hoping to find alternatives to the expensive "off the shelf" set ups.
How can I make a suitable lighting system with bulbs I can buy at a camera shop.....
I can't afford a starlight system, or cloud dome...etc.
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08/19/2003 10:15:52 AM · #4 |
You can just follow the instructions there, and use other lights behind your softbox / sheets. You lose a certain amount of control on the intensity of the lights (though you can vary this with distance) and you lose colour calibration (which is of more relevence for film - custom white balance lets you lose cheapo lighting more easily than with film)
You can also make your own softboxes using a frame and some cloth/ sheets/ other thin white fabrics. The softbox should be several times larger than the object you are trying to light - for jewelry in the past I've used a 'softbox' made from the bottom of a shoebox with an old white bed sheet cut and stapled over it, and a worklight from walmart. The advice in that article mostly still applies.
This and this where shot using that arrangement. |
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08/19/2003 10:41:23 AM · #5 |
I have done quite a few indoor 'studio' macros. I bought some white ripstop nylon at a fabric store. I asked for ripstop nylon and they didn't know what I was talking about. I looked around the store and found it labeled something like 'wedding gown fabric'. It was inexpensive, and it works great. I use an inexpensive 'funnel' shaped aluminum light fixture from home depot (about $7). You can use just about anything to make a soft box frame. old cardboard box, PVC pipe that glues together easily, scrap lumber, etc.
I bought some 500w halogen worklights at Home Depot, but they generate lots of heat. It gets too hot and uncomfortable quickly in the room I use. I switched to the aluminum light fixture with floodlight type bulbs (about $3). I have to use a tripod and a longer exposure, but I don't have the heat issue. Also, the high heat from the halogens caused the white ripstop nylon to turn yellow at the high heat spots.
You can do this with minimal $$$ to get started. With a home setting, you can do anything you want. Having macrolighting that is mobile is another story (chasing butterfiles and bugs, for instance).
Try a few things and have fun!
Oh yeah, sometimes I diffuse light by putting a plastic grocery store bag over it. they come in various shades of white and tan, so you can get various shades of lighting from them.
JD Anderson
Message edited by author 2003-08-19 10:43:12.
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08/19/2003 11:45:17 AM · #6 |
could someone explain what a softbox is?
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08/19/2003 12:21:03 PM · #7 |
Imagine putting an ordinary light-bulb in a cardboard box, then removing one whole side of box and covering with an translucent material - but not transparent - like sheets, paper, white perspex etc. Hey preto - softlight. The illumination comes from the entire area of the white stuff, rather than a point source as with a lightbulb.
With two, you can light absolutely anything.
Ed
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08/19/2003 12:55:13 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by e301:
Imagine putting an ordinary light-bulb in a cardboard box, then removing one whole side of box and covering with an translucent material - but not transparent - like sheets, paper, white perspex etc. Hey preto - softlight. The illumination comes from the entire area of the white stuff, rather than a point source as with a lightbulb.
With two, you can light absolutely anything.
Ed |
Thanx:D
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08/19/2003 01:00:10 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
I switched to the aluminum light fixture with floodlight type bulbs (about $3).
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Where do you get lights like that?
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08/19/2003 01:12:08 PM · #10 |
The aluminum funnel shaped light fixture (with a clamp that you can attatch to something) is about $7 at Home Depot.
Originally posted by Nazgul:
Originally posted by smellyfish1002:
I switched to the aluminum light fixture with floodlight type bulbs (about $3).
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Where do you get lights like that? |
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08/19/2003 01:31:16 PM · #11 |
Thank you all..
Got it. I appreciate everyone chiming in.
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02/14/2004 09:54:48 PM · #12 |
This is the closest thread I found on this subject. I have been wanting one of those cubes that diffuse light and are portable, and I'm just too cheap to pay for one.
Hah. I went to Target today and got a cube for 12 bucks. It's called a laundry hamper. It's great. It folds down into itself, is almost white, has a large opening for the camera and is two feet deep. It's 24in x 18in x 18in. The only thing that isn't perfect is it has writing on two opposite sides that says laundry. One side is ok because it can be placed on the bottom and covered up with backdrop material. I bought ripstop to replace one of the panels. I'll sew a small opening in it so I can place the camera at a high angle. It has a pocket where I can store my foam for a backdrops.
Hope this is helpful for anyone that has been looking into getting a cube or cloud dome. |
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02/14/2004 10:31:05 PM · #13 |
How cheap do you want to go? how about $32?
Slave strobe
for slightly more you can get them with sinc cords. They screw into any standard light socket. |
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02/14/2004 10:42:40 PM · #14 |
This is a set up to diffuse light. I do have a lot of flash and hot lights.
I took some quick pictures of the cube. They were not color corrected so the two of the cube are yellowish but I did somewhat correct the color on the candy. Didn't do anything else though. Lighting was two omni lights on the left side and I forgot to turn off the overhead light. I didn't use a backdrop so you can see the texture of the cube. Might have been less shadows by placing a light on either side.
cube:
Candy inside the cube:
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02/15/2004 12:21:00 AM · #15 |
looks like a pretty cool find Pat. I'm gonna have to run out to Target now.
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