Digital SLR / DSLR Camera Question / DSLR Thread 2

[Joebar4000]

wheres the gig gona be at?..

My place in San Jose, nr. downtown Willow Glen.

Looks like we're pencilled in for 1pm, Saturday 2nd.

I'm looking for people to donate ~$20 to cover Ana's time (she's a busy gal, starving self-employed PR agent), I'll supply tea, biscuits, 1 10' backdrop stand, couple backdrops, 2x150w/s strobes, 2x45w/s strobes, buncha brollies, 5 light stands, a buncha space (front room + dining room is about 30' depth).

Nick, feel free to bring more, esp. barn doors, gels, reflectors etc.

So, who's in?

 

[BrassPremier]

I was JUST told that im stuck spending time with cousin for his twin's 3 year birthday super extravaganza. Saturday around noonish. I realllly need practice with lighting and I have been looking forward to this get together, lets see if I can get around that...

 

[Rambeezi]

DIY ringflash

Ya'll ever play around with a ring flash? You like its effect but most are too costly to buy or figure you won't need it? Well I've ran into some new DIY ringflashes on Flickr and other photo forums I peruse and I've been inspired again to make another DIY ringflash and wanted to share it with ya'll. This will be my 8th version of a DIY ringflash. My first being made out of cardboard and an aluminum foil pie pan. It wasn't too stable as the foil was easy to bend/tweak and the cardboard was to bulky to work with. This was probably a couple of years ago.

Anyways, each new generation was inspired by thinking of a new design/build method and/or new material that was strong and light that could be used. This 8th generation material I discovered is a hatbox (at Michaels). Seeing this hatbox I went ahead and purchased a sheet of medium weight illustration board (you can use heavy weight but it was too thick for my liking...totally up to you which weight to use ). I also saw this sheet of construction paper that had a reflective side and picked it up too (I ended up not using it as you will later see). The microwave cover and survival blanket I already had but these can be purchased for a couple bucks each. Reflective mylar can also be used instead of the blanket but it does not as easy to work with.

List of materials used
----------------------
4" hatbox at Michaels - $4.99
med. weight illustration board at Michaels - $2.00
reflective construction paper at Michaels - $3.99
microwave cover at Bed Bath Beyond - $1.00 (can also buy at Target, dollar store, etc)
survival blanket at OSH - $1.99 (can buy at sports, camping goods store, etc)

1 roll gorilla tap
1 ruler/measuring tape
1 heavy duty scissor (heavy duty shears preferred)
1 compass (optional)
1 Sharpee
general glue or spray glue (I used spray glue)
1 xacto blade/box cutter/utility knife
drafting triangle or square

In the past I've used (instead of the microwave cover) aluminum foil and metal pie pans, round Tupperwares, bundt cake pans, .etc. They were either too flimsy or too strong (to cut easily). Also the microwave cover I found at BBB was flat whereas other's I've seen were 'bowl' like. Bowl like covers will work too (actually work better as there is more space for light to bounce) but in the long run anything that was very thick or bowl like became to cumbersome to use (for me). I've also used masking tape cores, coffee cans, food cans, etc. for the center but those were also either too flimsy or too strong to cut and work with. The hatbox being made of thick cardboard was perfect. Light, strong, and easy to cut.

So first with the help of a compass and sharpee I made a 5 1/2" diameter circle (diameter of the hatbox) on the microwave cover. Then using the hatbox lid as a guide I used the utility knife to cut out the circle. I alternated cutting both sides to make it easier. This is where you will need special cutting tools/drills if you are using a metal pan, bowl, etc. to make this cut. Tupperware is pretty thick plastic and can also be hard to cut through (easily...can be done but will require lots of elbow grease). This particular microwave cover was thin plastic (easy to cut through) yet thick enough to be strong for ringflash use.

 

[Rambeezi]

After a few minutes...

Making sure it fits nicely...

Then using a measuring tape I measured the exact thickness of the entire cover. For me, 2 1/2 inches. So I marked 2 1/2 inches on the hatbox used a miter saw to make the cut. You can use the utility knife, saw, bread knife, to make the same cut.

Fitting test...

 

[Rambeezi]

Break out the survival blanket (reflective mylar or the shiny side of aluminum foil can also be used) and cut out a long strip a couple of inches wider than the center ring. Cut out a sheet 5~6 inches bigger than the microwave cover.

Spray adhesive glue (or spread whatever general glue...Elmers works too) on the outside of the center ring and the ENTIRE inside of the microwave cover. Run the survival blanket strip over the ring and press the sheet into the cover. Cut off excess strip from the ring but do not cut the excess from the microwave cover. They should look like this...

Set these aside.

 

[Rambeezi]

Now I need to make the light tunnel that will feed the flash into the ring. First I measure my old 420EX flash. It is 2 5/8" wide and 1 1/2" thick.

I made 2 qty. strips of 1 1/2" x 12" and 2 5/8" x 12" from the illustration board. Pictured here is only 1 qty. 1 1/2" x 12" strip but I actually made and used 2 qty.

 

[Rambeezi]

Next I grab one of the 2 5/8" strips and cut it in half. So now I have an approx. 2 5/8" x 6" strip. I slip it under the flashhead until it won't go in further and mark it. I cut off the strip at the mark. This will be the bottom plate.

Using the left over big strip from above I measure 3" from an edge and draw a line. NOT CUT IT. This will be the top plate.

On that same strip I make a VERY LIGHT cut across the line. I make enough of a slight cut as to be able to bend the illustration board.

 

[Rambeezi]

Okay. So now we need to add reflective material to all pieces of cut illustration board. This is where I decided to stick with the survival blanket and not use the reflective paper. The blanket was more reflective so that was one of the reasons I opt for it. Maybe I'll use this reflective paper on my DIY softbox. I trimmed off the excess blanket from the microwave cover

...(or I could've cut more pieces from the blanket but I didn't want to waste) spray adhesive glue on the illus. board pieces (make sure for the strip that is bent you put glue on the side opposite the slight cut made above). I stick the illus. board pieces to the survival blanket. At the same time I take the opportunity to trim excess from core and clean up both pieces with the gorilla tape.

 

[Rambeezi]

While cleaning up the micro. cover and core should give enough time for the illus. board pieces glue to set...if not have drink or if you got'em smoke'em. If they are set go ahead and trim off the survival blanket form the illus. board pieces.

Now I can start putting the light tunnel together. I grab a 1 1/2" strip and cut it in half. With the now two pieces I grab top plate and bottom plate and assemble as pictured below.

Quick fit test. Oh yeah baby.

I then grabbed one of the longer 2 5/8" strips and tape it to the bottom plate.

 

[Rambeezi]

Another fit test with the flash mounted on camera.

Next I center the microwave cover and mark on the strip the top most part of the cover. Make sure micro. cover is centered before marking.

Remove the light tunnel tape it to the micro. cover (where marked). Use a small piece of tape as this is only temporary. I than measure 2 1/2 inches on the side strip from where the bottom plate and back strip (taped to cover) meets. Remember my cover is 2 1/2 inches thick. Trim off excess piece from both sides of light tunnel. Assembly now looks like this:

 

[Rambeezi]

I grab a short strip of the 2 5/8" piece and tape it to the top plate flap that bends down. Leave as it is for now.

Flip it back so that the ring flash is on its face.

Now I am going to complete the tunnel sides. I grab a short piece of the 2 5/8" piece and set it as below. I then roughly guesstimate the angle of the side cover and mark. I do this for both sides.

I cut of where I marked and make sure it is somewhat accurate. I then mark where the lip of the cover is, cut of a notch, and refit.

Good enough. I went ahead and taped it up. Remember to do the other side too.

 

[Rambeezi]

Now we are going to work on the front.

Make it flush with the tunnel and temporarily tape it down.

Now with a sharpee draw lines along the outside micro. cover where it meets the light tunnel.

After marking both sides remove the light tunnel and the micro. cover should look like this.

Using heavy duty shears I make the cut to the micro. cover.

 

[Rambeezi]

Put back the light tunnel (you should stil be able to use the marking you made on the back strip to the top of the micro. cover). Start reinforcing with tape and cut off the excess strip from the front plate. It should start looking like a ringflash.

Did a quick fitting to make sure everything was still good. Oh yeah...

Cut off the excess back plate/strip and start reinforcing with tape on the entire assembly.

 

[Rambeezi]

Now I can apply the front diffuser. Many materials can used for this. I use a white garbage bag. I cut a big sheet and tape as pictured below:

 

[Rambeezi]

I then make pizza slice cuts in the center and start taping them to the center core. After I go ahead and just taping everywhere...reinforcing corners and sealing off any places where light may leak.

 

[Rambeezi]

And finally... cool

It only took me about 2 1/2 hours to make this one. If you do a internet search of DIY ringflash ring light you will see other people's designs and ideas. If you decide to make your own you will also discover new materials and design ideas!! Because I currently only have a 420EX I am limited to using it for macro, close-ups, and product shots. Once I upgrade to a 580EX I or II I should be able to do proper modeling and portrait shots. I love the catch light effect to the eyes with portraiture shooting. Here are a few quick shots:

Have fun!!!!

 

[Joebar4000]

I was JUST told that im stuck spending time with cousin for his twin's 3 year birthday super extravaganza. Saturday around noonish. I realllly need practice with lighting and I have been looking forward to this get together, lets see if I can get around that...

First I gotta say, Rambeezi, shit, you have too much time on your hands, lol! Impressive stuff

As for the shoot, I think it's going to be from 1ish for 2-3 hours after? I can push back the start a little, but not too much. Ana is a busy gal.

I *might* be able to get Silvia to do a shoot that night, and she'd do some modelling I reckon.


Let's have a roll-call - if nobody else can do it, will have to reschedule anyway...



Nick?

 

[Cycle61]

Nick?

In.

And Rambeezi, brilliant use of the test board. I wondered if you were lost or something, but now I get it.

 

[Cycle61]

Wanna hear something funny? Four hours of shooting with the Ferrari last Friday, and the picture I'm most enamored with is this one. I absolutely *love* the way the light lays across the hood of the car, the bottles, and the cloth in this image. Two flashes, one bare behind the car, a little bit off to the left, and another in a 12"x18" softbox above and to the right, and a white reflector held in my left hand to spread the light a bit more.

Thoughts, criticisms, etc?

 

[Joebar4000]

I use Mothers?

My twopenneth - the gap in light reflected from the softbox makes the hood like it goes down - but it goes up.

I think the PRODUCTS are lit fantastically - lighting black on black is a real talent, and you nailed it

But I'd be tempted to move that softbox, or dodge a little bit on the area above the softbox reflection and the reflections of the products.

Also tempted to try to light the shadowy area of the cloth, or turn it around so it isn't black in shadow.

I'm nitpicking - it's far better than I could manage

And remove some dust