I would like to make some studio lights for only some occasional
portrait photography. I cannot justify the expense for pro studio
lights.
Can anyone recommend material/fabric that could be purchased at a
fabric store to make good diffusion screens/panels ?
I've experimented with various materials that are readily available on the street without success. This doesn't mean they aren't out there, I've never found them. The closest thing to commercial diffusion material I found was thin sail cloth.
Commercial diffusion material is not that expensive. You'll find it listed under gels in most online stores that carry this sort of thing. Get the biggest sheet you can as it is easily cut to size with scissors.
The biggest problem I ran into when using these gels is holding the things where I wanted. Commercial lights have frames that these diffusion gels hang onto with small clips. It's hard to setup a homemade frame so the frame rotates up and down and turns side to side in coordination with the movement of the lights. The only solution is to clamp a frame onto the light stand with a seperate clamp or have access to a machine shop.
I made my initial frames from some scrap oak. Still, it was an exercise in frustration to get the blasted frame to stay in the position I wanted. I'm an experienced wood worker and grew up in a machine shop. Very familiar with "work holding" devices.
The best way to attach these things is to the light itself so it moves with the light. Stay away from any epoxies because tungsten, halogen lights get too hot. Hot enough to destroy the bond on the best epoxies.
I was thinking of buying a 300W halogen bulb light for lighting
behind a diffuser panel. I would just meter off a gray card to get
the white balance for this particular lighting setup.
That'll work. Whitebalance shouldn't be a problem. Be carefull if you get two or more different brands of halogens together. Those lights exhibit different Kelvin temps. Make sure you white balance with both light sources directed onto your grey card or white card. Otherwise you'll see some strange color casts.
Sorry to sound like such a frugal cheapskate, but hopefully I can
come up with something that works and will help others in the same
boat.
There has to be a way to make good homemade lighting for the hobbyist.
Hey, no need for apology. I'm the original do it yourselfer. I usual make things better than commercially available items. I'll have to say though that this was one area where I finally gave in and bought one softbox. Then I bought a second commercial hot light. Then I bought a third commercial hot light. Commercial lights have known color balance. They are designed to set on top (the only place to put them) stands. The are designed to rotate up, down and sideways. They are designed to hold gels, barn doors (a real bear to create barndoors) and are much lighter than hardware store lights. This lightness will allow many of these lights to be suspended overhead from a boom that one human being can handle rather than the crane arrangement that'd be required for shop halogens.
That's my summarized advice. Bite the bullet. Buy a medium sized softbox and a commercial reflector and holder. The frustration of working with jerry rigged halogens is not worth it. Get the stuff one light at a time. You can go cheaper with a Lowel Tota Light and an umbrella. Use a piece of white foam board for a reflector. Get a cheapo stand with some sort of clamps to hold the reflector. If you plan on one light, the shots will be sorry to say the least. You need a key (main light) and some way to fill the shadows on the opposite side. That is the reason for the reflector.
I have a Canon 420EX and do not want to spend more money on a 550,
ST-E2, Umbrellas, etc. I am tired of spending money on "...1 more
thing".
Me too! This photography stuff sucks money in great gobs. I've put my camera to work. That little money muncher is gonna earn it's keep!
Any thoughts on homemade lighting and diffusion panels are most
appreciated.
Dave
