Lighting pt. 2: How to increase functionality in your existing DIY light gear

[Westcroft]

Alrighty, I've been trying to avoid spending thousands of dollars on studio light kits and have been trying to turn my current lighting set-up into something I can use.

Right now I've got three clamp lights



And a couple Chinese Paper Lanterns




I'm thinking about getting a worklight, like I suggested in my OWN thread on lighting  To light backgrounds, backdrops, etc... They're too limited in control to light anything else (especially actors).

This gets me to my problem, clamp lights aren't diffused and thus when you aim two of them at somebody the actor looks as if he is being hit with spotlights. Thus I am trying to create something that will be useful and give these $12 lights some reconstructive surgery to make them like the million dollar man.

Here are some diagrams to show my progress.







So far this is what I got... I'll be tackling this further tomorrow!

Keep on keeping on,
- Your friendly neighbourhood Westcroft

EDIT: Alright, I made two typos, I was working fast... it's like 7am and I haven't slept 

1st one "NOTE: If you try this make sure to cover all areas of cardboard that will touch the cup" not "tought the cup"

2nd one "this way you can just lift the paper to change the bulb" not "light the paper"

[Omni]

Think back to your school picture day

Those umbrella's on a stand with light pointed at it

Or point the light at the ceiling so it makes it incandescent 

or get some fire proof gels for it

[Westcroft]

The problem with using umbrellas is cost, in order to get decent reflection and diffusion, you need something that's either silver, white or gold... regular umbrellas won't work, you need to add gold or silver leafing or use gloss paint. This is expensive because if you don't get the right paint or decide to use the wrong umbrella a fire could or more likely you'll just get crappy looking light.

I'm trying to create something that is directional, so aiming it up wouldn't work... the light will be too weak and it'll make everything in the foreground light up as well. I need something that can single out an actor.

Using barndoors and a diffusion source like parchment paper can work because a) the barn doors help control the direction and areas that will be lit b) the parchment paper is translucent, thus the light doesn't need to bounce of anything, it just needs to shine through... which is easier to acheive.

I slept in today and decided to pick up the supplies tomorrow, thus I'll post pictures a little later.

- Your friendly neighbourhood Westcroft

[Westcroft]

Alrighty, I built one. I took a $15 Clamp Light, a $1.50 Tin Foil Pan, about $1 worth of clips and about $0.25 worth of parment paper to make a fairly decent light for both the Key light and the Fill light (this is referring to the three-point lighting set-up). I would suggest using a 150w bulb for the key and a 100w for the fill.

Here's a couple pictures of the progress:

Get a pan


Cut a hole and fit the pan on the lamp


Scrunch the ends so it fits without glue... then glue it.


Get some clamps or clips


Attach them to the rim of the pan


Attach the parchment paper


Voila




The good thing is, everthing is oven safe (minus the clamps, but they're not a fire risk considering they're metal). The glue may soften, but the pan is scrunched up and holding on to Frankie the clamp lamp.

NOTE: in picture 3 you can see my Razr charging plug it's like sneaking into the frame... lol... that wasn't intended thus why I'm laughing

[Your Mothers Boomstick]

those are some very nice lights

[Westcroft]

those are some very nice lights

Thanks mate,

here's another picture of these suckers in action.



I decided to whip up a dimmer using a regular household dimmer ($5) some lamp wire and a male and female plug end...

It definately increases the functionality, here's some pictures:

Equipment needed





Finished Product

[Westcroft]

Well I've gotten to the point where I now need bigger, brighter and generally better lights. I've learned enough to know that one bulb isn't enough and that using more than one bulb close to each other could be a risk... I decided to go from incandescent to CFL bulbs (not only is it reduce heat risks and allow me to reduce the reddiness in my shots it's also more eco-friendly).

I've looked into some interesting builds for making light banks... I'll update this when I get some more headway.

[Omni]

please make a tut for the dimmer for people who know nothing about that stuff

[Westcroft]

I'll make one when I get some sleep 4am and I'm trapped at my editing station right now, I need sleep haha