Recently in Projects Category

My passion for photography is something I would be hard pressed to hide, and my family is well informed on this aspect of my life. I would like to think my family, or at least some of them, check this site for new updates. So it was with great pleasure that I found a gift waiting for me when I woke up today. I have been vocal about my desire that when I move, I will be wanting to section off a part of my next place for a photo area. I will set up a place for my light tent, but more importantly I want to set up a place to do actual, honest to goodness model shoots that don't require a sunny day, or lack of rain.

While my parents had been out checking out garage sales today, I am told, they came across two plastic cases, each about three or four feet long, a foot or two deep, and they both were had for $30. The first case I opened was actually the newer looking of the two, and it contained a couple of Ianebeam 650 'Redhead' continuous light heads. Part of this I read off the back, part I am guessing by what I have read online. I could tell right away these are powerful lights, and a quick plug in of each told me I was not wrong! Along with these the case had several front housings I guess in case one breaks. Oddly, the case also had a metal bar from a weight set and a music stand, for holding sheets of music.

My joy at the first case clear, I moved onto case number two, which had a couple Lowel Omni lights. This too had a some metal housings for the front, as well as several mesh covers and the power cables. As well, there was 3 light stands. Yes! Score! I plugged these two in, and while one didn't work, I was informed that they had been told one might have a burnt out light bulb. Some testing shows this is possibly not the problem, but I will call around to somewhere that would have a better idea on Monday.

The light stands, which I checked next, showed more work will be required, but time will tell on that regard. Adorama has light stands for $20, so if these ones end up looking too costly, I will just pay them for some brand new ones. Either way if it turns out that I got 3 working lights and a couple usable light stands, all for $30, I am well on my way with all of this. I am seeing the Omni's brand new are about $150, and the other ones are probably at least $50-$75 value, so I consider this a huge win and savings on buying new. Now what I need to do is check into fixing the second Omni, check into repairing the stands, and getting some umbrellas, and I will be ready to set up a studio, once I find space!

While experiencing an incredibly bored evening at work, I decided to use a bit of scrap paper and tape, as well as my research into diffuser models, to see if I couldn't make my own. While I admit that the first revision is pretty basic, and needs some work, it is a good start from the materials I used. First, there is the Paper version. This is, essentially, a two level box without a lid. The first level, with the 'bottom' of the lidless box, is what your flash would see. The second is what I imagined would be the sleeve or collar of the diffuser, sliding over the edge of the flash. If this was snug it would need no other mechanism to attach to the flash, but an elastic or tape would hold a loose one on mildly well.

The rev 1 I have made for actual use, or at least for trying to use, is not too bad either. The materials were very simple, a well rinsed 4 liter milk jug and some tape. I did my best to measure out the size of the flash head, and proceeded to shape the box to the size of the flash head. Sadly, I only had a single milk jug, so the collar type feature was not feasible on this revision. I still intend to use a non melting clear glue to hole the diffuser together instead of the tape you will see below, since that was always one of those 'in the meantime' solutions for keeping it together. It's also not very sticky tape, meant for baseboards while painting, so I am not sure how long it will keep holding. Now for the pictures.


1. Diffuser Type 1 Paper Mock Up 2. Diffuser Type 2 Paper Mock Up(1) 3. Diffuser Type 2 Paper Mock Up(2) 4. Diffuser Side 5. Diffuser Top 6. Diffuser Inside 7. Diffuser on Flash(1) 8. Diffuser on Flash(2) 9. Diffuser on Flash(3)


Future Plans: Like I said, I plan to use a clear glue to make the Type 1 Rev 1 stay together long term, without the tape it has now getting in the way of spreading the light. Once I can get a sheet of plastic that is more pliable and less restrictive than a milk jug, I will make a version that is all even and more measured than the one in this picture. It is uneven and very much thrown together, and I know there are ways I can improve on it.

Type 2 will be the second project, which I do not think has much hope to be a reality without a plastic sheet to start. I have tried to put a smaller mock up together, but it is poorly created, and I don't know if it will even be able to fit on my current flash. I would like to make a proper mock up that will have most, if not all but the collar as one single piece of plastic. I will be looking soon for a place to buy a sheet or two of plastic. Also, I will be working on this DIY lightbox, since I have at least 2 of the pieces already. I think that project will turn out much better with a guide to start, since I have found no guides to a decent looking DIY diffuser guide. Tune back in soon for more updates on my DIY on the cheap projects.