Portable Photo Setup

I had one, but misplaced it quite awhile ago!  it folds into a small box, small enough I can't find it!

When I do that kind of photo (I usually do the backdrop method in sunlight) I just use a piece of posterboard, draped against something so it acts as both a base and background, and use it in a room with a sunlit window but not in the direct sunlight.  The walls of the room diffuse the light to make it soft enough.  Since I don't use that commercial apparatus anymore, I guess it was not worth the light.  However, I am restricted to a fairly bright day for taking pictures :-(

I've been using white paper as a backdrop with a couple 100 watts bulbs, but thats just not working. I know I need to diffuse the light, maybe add some additional ones. This just looked like it had all of it?

Thanks Don.  

If you have have a white or neutral ceiling in the room, try a spotlight bulb in a lamp, turned up to shine directly on ceiling.

My 2 cents is I think one would soon find the box is too small.

But never worked with one, so this is just a theory.

You're probably right, thanks all.

ecx.images-amazon.com/.../31cadeL4BLL.jpg

Here's the simple set-up I use. It costs about $40.  It won't handle many things above 1/48th scale however.

It is quick and simple to set up and folds away and can fit behind a work bench.

I'm a pro photographer and made my living from imaging for almost 40 years.  While I have access to a very good studio, transporting models was more of a hassle than acquiring this simple rig.

Set ups like this allow you to get the diffused lighting you need and with a few simple camera techniques any one can start taking good shots of their work.

I recommend something like this.  A decent photo of a good model is better than a bad photo of a great model.

Yeah, that is the set I bought but lost!  My wife and I have searched the whole house but cannot find it.  If you get one and pack it away, but a long red ribbon on it so you see the ribbon even when the box is stored!

I've requested the below for Christmas, should be big enough for most things

www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=sr_1_3

Phil

Don,

It does fold up to a compact unit.

I like your idea of using a red ribbon.  Dropped bread crumbs just don't work as well!

It looks like something that could be readily scratch built from foam board. In fact, I think I might cobble something together this weekend! Does it really need to be white, or could the interior be painted a light color of some sort? And, if so, what colors photograph well?

The sides need to be translucent, so the lights will shine through, but be diffused.  A fine cloth is better for the sides than anything completely opaque.

That sounds pretty easy. I could probably find some sort of cloth-- maybe a dish cloth, or something-- at the local dollar store. If not, fabric is pretty cheap and easy to come by.

I'd recommend you only use pure white.  Any other colors will cast their color onto the model.

An old white sheet would be better that a dish towel.

Actually, I found a white fabric shower curtain liner. Gotta love the dollar store!

That should work.  It might "soak" up some of the light passing through it and force you to increase exposure somewhat, but the diffusion of the light should be OK.

Nice to have found what I was looking for without having to pose a question that was asked and answered.  

Also very happy to hear these are a good option.  I ordered 1 from amazon with 12" & 30" collapsible tents lights tripod etc for $106.  The larger tent should be good for some larger models...I hope.

I have that setup also, What i dont like about it is those lights get very hot. Makes working with it uncomfortable.

bill

wjbwjb29

I have that setup also, What i dont like about it is those lights get very hot. Makes working with it uncomfortable.

I also use a light tent, and it works great. Providing your camera has manual white-balance adjustment, pretty much any kind of lighting can be used to achieve accurate colour. Tungsten lights do get really hot, so they need to be a safe distance from the sides of the tent (especially if you've built your own from a shower curtain...). LED and fluorescent lights are much cooler.