Please critique my home-made softbox and sample picture

[justin-branam]

So heres the setup. I threw together a wood frame, tacked a bedsheet to it, got a piece of silver posterboard i found in my closet, and threw it all together in about 20 minutes. I then decided to use my underwater strobes and set them on each side of the softbox (only strobes i have that use a sync cord, i need to buy one for my 580). The setup looks like this:




i then grabbed the closest thing i could, a pug doll, threw it in there and took one picture with my thrifty fifty lens. the outcome is shown below. was taken at 1/5th @ f/20, iso 100. please critique it so i can understand if i am on the right path. I will probably build a little bit better setup soon, but it will pretty much go on the same idea as this one. any critique will help (positioning the item, lighting direction, exposure, etc.). Thanks!



Okay, so here are 2 test shots i did of some glass work my brother sent me. hopefully ill be able to do some more for him and save him some money.

[CaptainTom]

I'm looking at it on my crappy monitor at work, and I don't see anything to criticize.
It looks pretty much like a text book approach to "pimp my strobes for product photography".

Nice job, and I can't wait to see the new improved version when it is ready.

[specialist]

hmmm +1.. i dont see anything wrong... hmm and even its homemade, its all good.. hmm i dont even have strobes myself.. but hmm.. looks like the strobes are in the right position because the lighting on the subject was equal.. and shadows are not showing on the sides..! good job!

[epoh]

Looks great!

[hhscr]

The results are in the pics, they look fine.

Good Job

[josphy]

Pretty awesome! That will work great for product shots. Just a few nits...first, I think technically that's called a light tent. A softbox is a little different -- like a big modifier that goes on the strobe itself.

Second, I would lose the silver background. At first glance I thought it was supposed to be a white background, but missed the mark. Without seeing your setup I would think it was just an underexposed white.

Third, on the first shot of the glass piece I'd be careful that it is perpendicular.

Finally, where did you get that pug doll?! I want one!

[NoLight]

Did a great job!!!!

[justin-branam]

josphy,

my dad got the pug doll. i think he picked it up at walmart or cvs pharmacy. not 100$ sure though, buti remember it was only like $6.