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Why use DIY lighting?
There are obviously pros and cons to using DIY lighting setups. One pro would be cost, but one con would be quality. So, for anyone who uses or has used DIY lighting, what were the reasons you did so and what drawbacks did you notice that could have been alleviated with just buying the proper equipment? For me the pros are: 1. Cost. 2. Unique lighting. 3. I learn a lot about lighting by experimenting with DIY. Cons: 1. Quality of light. 2. Unexpected results sometimes. 3. Time needed to set up, experiment, and adjust. 4. May not be adaptable for different needs. Jan 22 10 08:34 am Link I also use DIY lighting. Durability can also be an issue. I can't always make things as tough as factory made/molded/welded/formed. Even if I do Tonka Tough, it can be a little heavy. Jan 22 10 08:39 am Link an electrician full time, photographer part time friend of the studio built this insanely awesome giant ringlight... 4 feet in diameter, it has 16 bulbs and is a very cool gadget to shoot with...  the con is the quality of light... if you turn the model straight into the camera, the lights will blast any details off her nose, so you can only shoot in certain poses... plus, since this is an "on the budget" diy project (most of them are:) ) the ring uses low power cf fluorescent bulbs, or it will burn out... these don't exactly give off the best light to begin with, though we're looking into more daylight balanced versions... the obvious pro here is that this is an incredibly unique light, and is not something you can just grab from B&H...  Jan 22 10 08:46 am Link I'm sceptical about "quality of light" being THAT much of a con. The physics of light is pretty well documented and easy to understand. There's no cutting-edge material science in the stuff your reflector or softbox is lined with. I'm assuming we're talking about modifiers though. Does anyone DIY their own strobes? EDIT: that answers my question  Jan 22 10 08:48 am Link pros: never having to justify an expense to a gf, kids or parents fun to make things work able to build things that work for "ME" perfectly, not just what would appeal to a broad audience most of the time ability to have different setups for here and location without having to buy something that's a compromise on power/weight/flexibility/transportability/etc. more money left over to buy things that are necessary and not having to worry about a purchase today impacting a mortgage payment in a few months you can make it any colour you want  what else would you do with all those straws you got at 49 cents a box in all those colours? throw a party and get people to drink too much expensive alcohol? cons: some things are not suitable for DIY because the components cost so much or require you to be a professional electrical engineer haven't found any others yet Jan 22 10 08:50 am Link 1. Quality of light. Strongly disagree with this. Quality is from the photographer knowing his equipment. 2. Unexpected results sometimes. Yes, Good thing I have a digital camera so I know if I'm shooting crap. Fix it or move onto something else. 3. Time needed to set up, experiment, and adjust. Building yes setup no. Building and Inventing things is fun too. I spent 4 hours setting up a shot of a box of cereal with pro equipment. 4. May not be adaptable for different needs. generic is boring. you can buy a pro reflector for $40.00 or get the equivalent at Home Depot or a thrift store for 1/10 the price. Worth trying. I have a plan to build my own ring light and then try it out on some TFCD shoots. Jan 22 10 08:54 am Link PashaPhoto wrote: 16?! Woah! I only have 11. Jan 22 10 08:56 am Link Photons 2 Pixels Images wrote: To me, these are also often times the pro arguments. Jan 22 10 08:57 am Link Joshua Mercurio Drapehs wrote: looking into the eyes I am reminded of an Audi with its daylight running lights on. Jan 22 10 09:01 am Link PashaPhoto wrote: That is awesome.... but total awesomeness would be showing us a photo of the light too Jan 22 10 09:02 am Link Rick Dupuis Photography wrote: sadly i don't have any shots of the ring itself... but the guy who owns my studio has workshops every two weeks, and like 20-30 people at each one, so there's a boatload of pictures from the ring and of the ring floating around mm... Jan 22 10 09:12 am Link PashaPhoto wrote: Check out Adorama! They have lower cost lighting under their brand. I have seen some using CF lights recently. Jan 22 10 09:40 am Link PashaPhoto wrote: Awesome!!!!!! Jan 22 10 09:42 am Link Simon Jackson wrote: The "quality" isn't really such a huge con, it's just one I've noticed as far as color balancing between main and fill light sometimes. It depends on what you're using, though. For awhile I was using a couple strobes for the main and continuous halogen for fill. The temps don't quite match up so there's a color cast in shadow areas. Jan 22 10 09:46 am Link I have a bunch of THESE that I put into various configurations. I'm also an electrician so I have fun playing with different things. Adorama has their own version of this strobe for under $20 each. They go into a normal light socket so finding parts for them is simple. Something else I do with them is put in one of those socket/outlet adapters with the strobe and plug a nightlight into the outlet for a simple modeling light. I just got myself some track lighting kits and some fabrics last night that I'm going to try to turn into a massive softbox (8ftx8ft). I'm also thinking of mounting a ring of them on the ceiling shooting through some diffuser material to surround the subject 360 degrees. I'm now also working on a PLC interface with some LED lighting stuff for "light painting" in different colors and programmable designs. Very Cool. Jan 22 10 09:49 am Link Know Idea wrote: I can agree with that. Especially the unexpected results. I cut the bottom off a Pringles can and as luck would have it, it fits perfectly over one of those strobes I mentioned above for a snoot. Aimed right at the back of my niece's head and put a strobe/umbrella on either side in front of her. I liked the results. Jan 22 10 10:09 am Link Finearts Photography wrote: Agree 100%. Some people get a bit intimidated by the wiring part, but most people should have no problem. Jan 22 10 10:15 am Link PashaPhoto wrote: That's a beauutiful look. Nicely done. Jan 22 10 10:21 am Link Homemade or not, the results are what counts - these are all really good shots. Jan 22 10 10:27 am Link Photons 2 Pixels Images wrote: Pros: Jan 22 10 10:32 am Link Finearts Photography wrote: I can't say I agree with this line of logic. A photographer who knows 100% about crappy light is still going to have a "quality of light issue". Jan 22 10 10:34 am Link I have mounted fluorescent fixtures (4' tubes) on stands to be able to mix continuous light or blacklight with studio flash. I use this with a slow shutter speed for effects like these (all 18+): https://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pid=16061294 https://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pid=15186021 https://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pid=14809854 Jan 22 10 10:39 am Link Aleister Blacke wrote: So you're saying a con would be that you have to have a fire extinguisher on hand at your shoots? Jan 22 10 10:39 am Link Photons 2 Pixels Images wrote: The model DID have a thing for men in uniforms. Maybe I should of had the fire department standing by. I think she wouldn't of objected! Jan 22 10 10:41 am Link Aleister Blacke wrote: Did this actually happen to you? Hot lights with inadequate ventilation? Jan 22 10 10:43 am Link I use ancient Novatron strobes and homemade soft box, reflectors, scrims, whatever. If it can be made from Home Depot or the WalMart craft aisle, I'm on it! Pros: I have a ball building this stuff I save a bunch of money (so I can buy a carbon fibre tripod and ball) I get really good results. Cons: Alien Bees doesn't have a direct tap into my checking account. Jan 22 10 10:47 am Link I started and spent the better part of my early years with DIY lighting, into Hotlights into cheap strobes, into AB. I Like the way it taught me to learn the lights and experiment. I would recommend it to others, however I also realized the limitations I had been getting comfortable working with once I had AB's and opened doors that previously didn't exist. While it's great to force yourself to be creative in situations where you lack the ability to totally dominate the environment, it's also good to see what you're capable of and how much more you can grow once you can control every aspect. DIY makes great training wheels, but don't be afraid to learn how to really ride the bike either. Jan 22 10 10:50 am Link RW Photo Art wrote: I actually had this happen. I forget where I got the info on how to make the light, but I did, and it worked up to the point of bursting into flames. It's possible now that I think of it that I was using too high of a watt bulb in it. Jan 22 10 10:50 am Link Photons 2 Pixels Images wrote: Yeah good point. I have this issue with one of my softboxes. It seems to be slightly warmer than the rest! Jan 22 10 11:46 am Link Photons 2 Pixels Images wrote: FLAMES for DYI? Possibly. If you want to be consistently assured of flames, I recommend Balcar. I've always (the word is ALWAYS) had the reassuring consistency of buzzing, clicking, snapping .... and actually exploding into flames with BALCAR strobes. Jan 22 10 12:11 pm Link PashaPhoto wrote: I think I'm in love. Jan 22 10 12:15 pm Link |
