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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Cheap Lighting Ideas
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Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
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 02/28/2008 08:39:45 AM · #1
I want a very cheap indoor lighting set up for mainly still life.

Has anyone used anything like a 500W Halogen Lamp? eg //direct.tesco.com/product/images/?R=100-6335

The other option would be a desk lamp like //www.johnlewis.com/230132785/Product.aspx

I guess I would need to diffuse the light via a thin sheet or some vellum or something but any thoughts about this set up.

My budget is very small ~ £30 ($50)

Thanks
Robert
 02/28/2008 08:59:13 AM · #2
For still life you don't need high wattage lights. You just need even, diffused light and a good tripod. With still life it doesn't matter if your exposure is 1/500th of a second or 15 seconds. You can set up 60 watt bulbs to provide the same lighting as 500 watt photo floods or 300 watt second strobes. With a good steady tripod, long exposures will work just fine.

Mike
 02/28/2008 08:59:40 AM · #3
I've recently gotten a 500W Halogen Lamp. Two of my current entries are using it. Just don't use it directly, bounce it off the wall or ceiling. Can't beat the cost, mine cost $7.

The first time I used one was on these shots...


02/28/2008 09:20:40 AM · #4
Try something like this: Homemade Softbox

I use 4 '100watt daylight' flourecent bulbs like this:

With the foamcore board and all lighting i think i spent JUST over 50 dollars.

Message edited by author 2008-02-28 09:26:42.
 02/28/2008 09:40:14 AM · #5
Sure you can use those 500w work lights. I used one outside of a 2x2x2 foot soft box consisting of a frame and a white sheet to make this one.



One note of caution. The light *WILL* burn your house down, and/or burn you if you touch it. It will burn the sheet used in the softbox. If you drop or mis-handle the light it will burnout. After using mine for a short time I re-assigned it back to it's normal use. Outdoor work lighting. I saved my pennies and bought a few old Nikon speedlights and use them manually with cheap ebay flash triggers and PC cables. Now I don't worry so much about where the fire extinguisher is located while I'm shooting. A precaution I highly recommend if you go the work light route.
02/28/2008 09:44:35 AM · #6
Originally posted by fir3bird:
Sure you can use those 500w work lights.

One note of caution. The light *WILL* burn your house down, and/or burn you if you touch it. It will burn the sheet used in the softbox.


Which is one reason i'd recommend the flouresants (sp?) you can get a fixture that will hold four lights, and as i know of they make them in up to 150watt output, giving a combined 600w of light. (i'm not sure that formula is works that simply, but you get the idea.)
 02/28/2008 10:00:32 AM · #7
With the versatility of on-camera white balance you can use about anything. I have an old clamp-on work light that I've used 25w incand, slow shutter and tripod to do some pretty good stuff. I like the idea of soft-box, though, and will probably make one. I'm like you, can't afford a lot, but can make all kinds of things cheap.
 02/29/2008 07:02:11 AM · #8
Cool, thanks for all your replies ... I think I'll be making a 4 light softbox type thing at the weekend :o)
 02/29/2008 07:10:00 AM · #9
I tried the Halogen option but they do run VERY hot, so if space or heat is an issue they're cheap but a fire hazard/dangerous!

If you're at all handy you might want to consider making a fluorescent tube board from MDF (seen others do it on DPC and elsewhere) where you mount 3 or 4 tube holders to the board, and then fit daylight bulbs. Might not be the absolutely cheapest way but from what I've read it's one of the most cost effective solutions that puts out decent light.

N

EDIT: I see you're in the UK - your local municipal/council dump will be a haven for LOADS of good stuff - my lightbox came from there....new bulbs and it works a charm. I use it as lighting for macro stuff. Just be a bit careful...apparently the dumps consider anything dumped there their property, so I think technically it's theft...I rationalise it by calling it active recycling :)

Message edited by author 2008-02-29 07:12:10.
 02/29/2008 07:44:47 AM · #10
The homemade soft-box sure looks good and easy to do, but a bit too big to put away. I was wondering. What if I paint the inner side of an umbrella with white or probably very ligh silver aerosol paint, and somehow attach the light source pointing towards the center of the umbrella, so it only lights up through the umbrella's reflextion? It may be easier to put away (if cleverly easy-to-disasemble designed) , as the umbrella can be folded. What do you think? That would be pretty inexpensive, as you can get a cheap umbrella, the aerosol would only cost a few bucks (quids) (and if the umbrella is white, you may try it out before painting it silver), and you would just need a stand. Hope my idea is not too bad, and I would like some feedback! :) Thanks!
 02/29/2008 08:42:42 AM · #11
Originally posted by dcanossa:
The homemade soft-box sure looks good and easy to do, but a bit too big to put away. I was wondering. What if I paint the inner side of an umbrella with white or probably very ligh silver aerosol paint, and somehow attach the light source pointing towards the center of the umbrella, so it only lights up through the umbrella's reflextion? It may be easier to put away (if cleverly easy-to-disasemble designed) , as the umbrella can be folded. What do you think? That would be pretty inexpensive, as you can get a cheap umbrella, the aerosol would only cost a few bucks (quids) (and if the umbrella is white, you may try it out before painting it silver), and you would just need a stand. Hope my idea is not too bad, and I would like some feedback! :) Thanks!


That might work, but a real studio umbrella could be as cheap - at B&H from under 10 $
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