Studiolight with "softbox" on a Tripod

 by Gerde
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Hej together!

Here I want to show you how I built my studio light with a softbox.
The idea building this was in my head for a while, so finally I gathered the materials, the tools and started to work.
It is fairly simple so you should be done in max an hour.

Features:
- can be used as sot box and indirect white-lit screen
- strong, daylight lamp with 70W HQI Power-ball bulb
- mounted on a tripod
- (can be used as a freestanding lamp)


Surfing through Instructables.com I found two similar projects, you might want to have a look on, before you go to deep into the work. 

DIY Fabric Softbox (14 x 56 Strip) by mark11photography
Build a photo studio - Collapsible Light Diffuser Frames by engunneer

The material you will need is:
1 x  Lamp                    Lamp                         (work light or preferably an HQI light with a broad spectrum )
5 x wooden laths       Frame and holder   (20" or 0,5m , for example out of an old  lath floor)
8 x wood screw          Screw the frame      (Choose them short enough, so they won't stick through)
1 x wooden block       Frame to holder      (3x3" or  8x8cm)
1 x pillow case            as diffuser               (20" by 20"  / 0,5 x 0,5 m -  1case should gives 2 screens)
1 x screw with nut      Lamp to holder
1 x tripod adapter       Soft box to tripod      (either you have  a spare one, or you engineer one)
1 x tripod                      To mount it on


The tools I used:
Saw,
Scissors,
Staple gun and about 100 staples,
Drill with a 3mm drill bit and a drill bit for phillips screws.

Have Fun !




See here the finished soft box, used for indiret lighting,
and the materials I used.


 
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Step 1: Make the frame

Collect you material and get ready for the task.

Let's start with the wooden frame which will hold the stretched cloth.

Our main goals:
- clean 90° angles
- min. 2 screws per corner
- screws shall not drill through to the other side.

I saved myself from the work of creating fancy corner connections.
Just let the laths overlap in the corners (see picture below)

Since we are already handling the drill and the screws, let's fix the connector between the frame and the holder before we go on


So for all four corners: 
- align the two meeting laths in a 90° angle, use a right angle to be sure
- hold them tight or fix them with a clamp
- drill the first hole
- screw them together
- double check the angle
- dril the second hole and screw in screw number2

Fixing the connector:
The connector has to hold frame and the lamp holder together.
Better make it rigid, both parts are heavy.
- mark the center of one frame side (this side will become the bottom side)
- mark the center of the connector
- use an extra bit of the laths to figure out the right height for the connector block (see picture)
- fixate block and frame, and drill 2 holes
- screw in two long screws.


lafnbear says: Jan 7, 2011. 10:44 AM
Found the focal point on your last Intro photo:
http://bit.ly/h6vjvS
joknrok says: Mar 29, 2010. 7:15 PM
HI, what's the light fixture you're suing? looks expensive. Great ible! 
Gerde (author) in reply to joknrokApr 3, 2010. 8:28 AM
HI,
I was using a "Litval Power 70T", which is a lamp used in stores to light stuff in the shop windows.
Nowadays you get them very cheap on fleamarkets or in second hand shops.
The expensive part is the lightbulb which is usally 20 ... 50€

/Gerhard
MechanicalMashup says: Jan 15, 2010. 9:32 AM
Wicked! I have a few some lighting solutions on my profile (one is a CFL light box) but this is one I need for getting a softbox with the right color temperature. Thanks!
peterrabid9 says: Jan 14, 2010. 5:40 PM
Sample shots from the setup?  I'm curious how this works out!  Otherwise, very creative.  Kudos!
Funk_D says: Jan 14, 2010. 11:20 AM
Great idea! I've tried using a worklight to light a shoot before and ended up blinding my subject. This should work 10 times better!
the rural independent says: Jan 14, 2010. 8:46 AM
This is great.  I picked up some really old, REALLY bright photography lights that are probably from the 60's at a garage sale for next to nothing.  One of them will be perfect for this project.  Thanks so much for sharing!

www.theruralindependent.com
ruler challenged says: Jan 7, 2010. 5:51 AM
thanks this was so helpful
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