Elgongo
DIY Studio lights
Click here, for a sample photo using these lights.
Over the weekend I made a pair of modeling key lights for ~$35 a piece (thx home depot).
This is my first time playing with four lights at the same time. As you can tell from the picture, I clearly know what I'm doing. ;)
For those of you interested in building your own always-on modeling studio lights, here are a few words on how I build mine:
Do it yourself modeling key lights
Light fixture and lamps:
BE CAREFUL, light fixtures come with bare wires and require an electrician to install. They do not come ready to plug straight into the wall. I am an electrical engineer and know how to hook these up. Please do NOT do this yourself if you don't know what you are doing because you can get hurt and end up in the hospital.
For the light fixture, I bought the Lithonia Lighting, 2 lamps, T8 electronic ballast for ~$17 at Home Depot. Similar to this one but the two lamp model.
For the lamps, you need two T8 Fluorescent lamps per light fixture. Buy the T8 lamps instead of T12, here's why: T8 are more energy efficient, better color rendering, longer lasting, faster start time, no flickering and are cooler than T12. As far as color temperature, it is up to you to decide what kind of effect you want. I chose the 6500K daylight lamp, which is extreme white and is generally used in studios. Home Depot usually has the lights on display so you can see the different colors each of them produce before you buy.
Stand:
Since you have no assistants, you need a way to hold the light vertically. This is where you need to be a little creative. My solution to this was pretty cheap. I bought the cheapest floor lamp available at home depot ($11). I chose a floor lamp because they usually have sturdy stands, which is what I am looking for to keep my light fixture in place. Also they do not take much space, and that's great for small studios. Install only the pole to the base and now you have your stand ready.
Here's the tricky part, how to install the fixture to the stand. You may laugh at my solution but it works fine. You need a hose clamp, an L-clamp, a screw and a pair of wire ties. Place the L-clamp inside the hose clamp and tighten up as hard as you can to the pole. Then place the light fixture on top of the L-clamp, and screw it in to keep it from moving around. Then use the wire ties to secure both ends of the fixture to the stand.
That's it. The above was the best solution I could come up with that day. If you find another way to hook things up (better, sturdier stand, less money), please do leave a comment so we can all learn from you.
Now go enjoy your new lights and be creative ;)
Update: I used these lights with amazing results during a photo shoot here, here and here.
Other DIY projects you might be interested in:
DIY Spiderlight Softbox by AlexCampagna .
DIY Large panel diffuser by ttstam .
DIY French window GOBO by Casting Shadows.
DIY Studio lights
Click here, for a sample photo using these lights.
Over the weekend I made a pair of modeling key lights for ~$35 a piece (thx home depot).
This is my first time playing with four lights at the same time. As you can tell from the picture, I clearly know what I'm doing. ;)
For those of you interested in building your own always-on modeling studio lights, here are a few words on how I build mine:
Do it yourself modeling key lights
Light fixture and lamps:
BE CAREFUL, light fixtures come with bare wires and require an electrician to install. They do not come ready to plug straight into the wall. I am an electrical engineer and know how to hook these up. Please do NOT do this yourself if you don't know what you are doing because you can get hurt and end up in the hospital.
For the light fixture, I bought the Lithonia Lighting, 2 lamps, T8 electronic ballast for ~$17 at Home Depot. Similar to this one but the two lamp model.
For the lamps, you need two T8 Fluorescent lamps per light fixture. Buy the T8 lamps instead of T12, here's why: T8 are more energy efficient, better color rendering, longer lasting, faster start time, no flickering and are cooler than T12. As far as color temperature, it is up to you to decide what kind of effect you want. I chose the 6500K daylight lamp, which is extreme white and is generally used in studios. Home Depot usually has the lights on display so you can see the different colors each of them produce before you buy.
Stand:
Since you have no assistants, you need a way to hold the light vertically. This is where you need to be a little creative. My solution to this was pretty cheap. I bought the cheapest floor lamp available at home depot ($11). I chose a floor lamp because they usually have sturdy stands, which is what I am looking for to keep my light fixture in place. Also they do not take much space, and that's great for small studios. Install only the pole to the base and now you have your stand ready.
Here's the tricky part, how to install the fixture to the stand. You may laugh at my solution but it works fine. You need a hose clamp, an L-clamp, a screw and a pair of wire ties. Place the L-clamp inside the hose clamp and tighten up as hard as you can to the pole. Then place the light fixture on top of the L-clamp, and screw it in to keep it from moving around. Then use the wire ties to secure both ends of the fixture to the stand.
That's it. The above was the best solution I could come up with that day. If you find another way to hook things up (better, sturdier stand, less money), please do leave a comment so we can all learn from you.
Now go enjoy your new lights and be creative ;)
Update: I used these lights with amazing results during a photo shoot here, here and here.
Other DIY projects you might be interested in:
DIY Spiderlight Softbox by AlexCampagna .
DIY Large panel diffuser by ttstam .
DIY French window GOBO by Casting Shadows.