Light Boxes for Photographing

[Lady Starflower]

I need to get my butt in gear and photograph my whole collection for insurance and I want to start a Pony Dex so here's my question, how did everyone make their light boxes or area to photograph their ponies?

[Lyra]

I used garden canes, taped together iinto a cube-shaped frame,  and then taped grease proof paper to all sides except the bottom and the side to photograph through. Then bought three lamps and shone them from the top, and both sides. It's very important to have the light from all sides, because that eliminates the shadows (dont need to light from behind). The grease-proof paper is to 'spread' the light evenly, otherwise it will form uneven 'rings' with the inside bit brightest. A piece of White paper at the bottom for your object to stand on helps reflect more light upward. Hope that helps

[hathorcat]

My brother made me mine with foamex board, masking tape and daylight bulbs its brilliant! He got the instructions on how to do it from a friend online and there are some great tutorials out there about building your own light bow. Here is one from our own DoctorMowinckel http://www.doctormowinckel.com/?p=668.

[Lady Starflower]

Interesting. Thanks guys : )

Post Merge: March 02, 2013, 09:18:14 AM

Lyra do you happen to have pics of your light box?

[Lady Starflower]

Ok now that the fair cleaned out my pony funds for awhile I need to do some pony activities to distract myself from the sales boards. And finally getting around to photographing my collection is the perfect project.

Anyone has any tips or pictures of your photo area?

The above link doesn't work anymore

[Erlib]

There are some good tips in this video if you can get through the silliness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk5hHNsAcec

[CrystalMist]

I usually just drape a sheet (any color) on top of something, and it works great.

[katrine2309]

haha, honestly - this was mine for the longest time! A piece of paper for the background, and some natural light from the window (the room was always very bright - but without direct sunlight)

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:. Behind the scenes :: by KatWoods, on Flickr

 No pony pictures are taken in this "studio" though, but I hope it is ok that I post some non-pony pictures to show how pictures taken in a "studio" like this might turn out If it is not ok - please let me know and I'll remove them! 

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:: TimTim in a cup :: by KatWoods, on Flickr

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It was him! by KatWoods, on Flickr

Umm, this one is edited in photoshop afterwards, that is why the colors don't "pop" that much...
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:: A whole lot of perfect :: by KatWoods, on Flickr

EDIT: as you can see from the pictures you do get some shadows from only having one light source (the window), but since the room is so bright in itself, they aren't overly obvious and I can live with those shadows just fine for this kind of photography. I'm not a very big fan of artificial lighting in photos, unless it is from lamps produced solely for photography. Then make sure that it is daylight bulbs and nothing else, or you would get a nasty white balance in your pictures....

[Icecrystalline]

I bought one from a photography shop.... 80cmX80X80.

[Lady Starflower]

Interesting!! Thanks guys! I need a lot of lighting since I'll have to do more photography when my little monster has gone to bed

Good call Icy...didn't think to go to a photography store

[Ivy]

They aren't hard to build - http://www.flaxandtwine.com/2013/02/diy-photo-light-box-finish-fifty-project.html

I usually just use three lamps and a bent white piece of cardboard for me. But I do get a few shadows.