Updated Pics DIY Lighting Set Up: My first attempt.

[msabas]

Ok, During this New Years break I cam across a few light stands that were given to me. As usual when things are free they come with a catch. In this case no lighting to go witht he stands and no brakets to attach lights.

So I headed out to Lowes to purchase a couple of 10" Round Aluminum Work Lamps and Bright White Bulbs to go with this.

So now its about going to piece this together.

I havent started this yet but I plan too this afternoon and taking pics as well.

Has anyone else tried this out?

Also I have a good idea to use as diffuser but I will post it once I get it on to see if I can even make it work.





Edited:

Updated with pictures.

1. Light Stands


2. Work Lamp


3. Light Bulb


4. Kool-Aid Bottle - Diffuser


5. Diffuser attached to Work Lamp Using Velcro Tape


6. Lamp On with Diffuser


7. Lamp On with No Diffuser


8. Test Subject - Lamp with No Diffuser


9. Test Subject - Lamp with Diffuser



OK so the only thing that I don't like is that the light clamp isn't very secure. So looks like I am going to need to modify a bracket to make it a bit more sturdy.

[Phisch]

Post pics of your set up so we can see!

Love your quote at the bottom, btw.

[msabas]

Originally Posted by Phisch

Post pics of your set up so we can see!

Love your quote at the bottom, btw.

Im on my way home so I will get to working on this very simple set up and I will post pics soon.

Also thanks regarding the quote.

[msabas]

OK I just added the photos so you can all see the process and the results.

[Daniel W.]

Those actually looks like a mic stand and a speaker stand, but no harm they still work fine! Other than that, good use of DIY ingenuity.

As far as the quality of the photos goes, make sure to color balance (skin tones look a bit warm) and watch the exposure (second shot is a bit blown out on my screen). Try moving the light around and experiment!

[d0va]

Im not able to see the pictures ? anyone else having this problem ?

[Jaymoney$]

Originally Posted by d0va

Im not able to see the pictures ? anyone else having this problem ?

i can see pics just fine on all my browsers

[Daniel W.]

+1, can see the images.

[msabas]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

Those actually looks like a mic stand and a speaker stand, but no harm they still work fine! Other than that, good use of DIY ingenuity.

As far as the quality of the photos goes, make sure to color balance (skin tones look a bit warm) and watch the exposure (second shot is a bit blown out on my screen). Try moving the light around and experiment!

I really have no clue as to what a light stand should look like so these may have been speaker and mic stands. the person that gave them to me said that her son used them for lighting but this guy is heavy ino bands and i believe in a band.

But hey they work good and I think I can make them work.


I do need to play and look up lighting tutorials so i can learn to set up and also work with the exposure, so I can get better results. I also think it didnt help that I had my daughter standing a foot in fornt of the lamp..

For now I will just use them for a constant light source and maybe later on I can develope a way to mount a flash unit.

[Daniel W.]

The mic stand (thinner smaller of the two) should be close to 5/8" diameter near the top at the threaded area. Coincedentally, this is the size of many lighting-studs (the thing an umbrella-swivel adapter clamps on to). However, mic stand designs vary and mountability can vary too.

The standard U.S. mic holder/clamp will thread onto the stand (the threads you see at the top) but with light stands, the female side slides over the stud and clamps down with a screw. The problem is that the threaded silver bit is too shallow for the screw on a proper 5/8" female study to lock onto. In the past, I've just sawed off the flange-part and the shaft (sans threads and flange) fit into my female studs.


As far as the speaker stand goes, I've used a plastic PVC-tubing endcap in the past that matches the size of the speaker mount, Drill a hole and use the appropriately size/threaded bolt to mount whatever you need.

[d0va]

nice I guess peerblock was blocking them.. I can see them now

[msabas]

I did search around online to names of these stands and yes they do appear to be mic and speaker stands. I am going to see if I can make a simple braket to attach a umbrella flash swivel onto it.. im not even sure what to call it but you guys know what I mean.

so far the mic stand is the best option to work with since it is thinner and seemes like it has the best chance. the thicker silver speaker stand I will need to get out and find some pvc to create a attachment. but that should be pretty easy.


Edit:


I searched around and was looking for soemthing like this arm here:
http://www.adorama.com/JTAAAWUH.html
It is a adjustable Umbrella holder and Ithink I can attach my light to this and mountit on the stand. I might just have to make a pvc top for the stand and drill a hole to mount the screw onto it.

What do you all think?

[Daniel W.]

Yep that's the part you want, the technical name is umbrella adapter, or umbrella swivel, or swivel adapter. If you get the PVC endcap, and a matching bolt+coupling nut you'll have yourself an instant lighting stud (I would go for the largest possible diamater close to 5/8" as most stores dont carry a 5/8" coupling nut)

[PWhite214]

I am pleased with these adapters, though they take a while to ship from Asia. They are $5.50 each and free shipping. Flash Shoe Umbrella Holder Swivel Light Stand Bracket B - eBay (item 330490629304 end time Jan-28-11 02:43:58 PST)

If you put a 1/4" 20 TPI bolt through your PVC adapter, you can use these machined 'tripod to umbrella holder' adapters which will securely mount your umbrella/flash holder to your stands. 1/4" 3/8" Tripod screw to Light Umbrella Holder Adapter - eBay (item 330374208919 end time Jan-28-11 03:17:13 PST)

For mine, I drilled a 3/16" hole through the PVC cap and simply threaded the 1/4" through the hole. It will cut it's own threads.

For lighting techniques, I am following the 'Strobist' teachings, though there are many others on the internet. Strobist: Lighting 101

I will try to find a little time to post some photos of my home made light stands tomorrow. Made from PCV pipe and fittings, they cost around $5-6 each. I got inspiration and ideas from the Flicker DIY group, Flickr: *DIY Photography Equipment

If you are like me, you can spend days looking through all this data, deciding what you want to try. I wish I had more time to devote to learning lighting, but it is a hobby so I do when I can.

Have fun,

Phil

[PWhite214]

A couple of photos of my DIY light stands

[IMG] DSC03705 by PWhite214, on Flickr[/IMG]


[IMG] DSC03699 by PWhite214, on Flickr[/IMG]

I hope this helps.

Phil