I
have been using my backyard as my photography studio so I can optimize
the most perfect lighting that I have available to me at this time. My
indoor space & studio just does not have ample enough
natural light or the space to maneuver it. Of course, even outdoors, the
perfect lighting window of time is very limited each day and even
more-so when it's raining.
So, I usually drag a table or stool outside to the backyard during that golden hour for photography
and take several trips back and forth to collect all the supplies and
art I will need for my little photoshoot set-up. I will admit it can
get pretty challenging and even comical, at times. Such as when my
back was turned and the neighbor's cat decided to jump onto my display
bringing everything crashing down into the grass, or when a gust of wind
decided to explode into the yard unannounced and scatter small pieces of
art everywhere, or recently when it's sunny one minute and the next I
am screaming at the top of my lungs in full panic-mode for the kids to
come out and help "save the artwork" as rain comes pouring down. Welcome to Florida.
So, yeah, it's time for a light box!!
Anyone who knows me also knows that if it's an option, I will most often make
it rather than buy it. There are a lot of tutorials out there
for
building one of these using everything from a cardboard box to pvc
piping. The important thing for me was function, storage, durability and if possible, I wanted
to use what I had on hand!
My motto is and always will be
UPCYCLE - RECYCLE - REUSE
The one thing I do have available as an artist is tons and tons of student-grade, back-stapled canvases that I use to teach with or try out new techniques and so on, and I realized the wood frames would work perfectly! If you don't have these just laying around like I do, you can get these at your local craft store for just a few dollars. They are generally very inexpensive.
So let's get started....
YOU WILL NEED:
Three 16"x20" Student-Grade, Back-Stapled, Stretched Artist Canvas (used or new)
...you can use larger sized canvas also (I do believe that will be in my future, too)
Foam Core/Board
Poster Board, White (choose according to what you will be photographing)
15" or larger Parchment Paper
Two 8.5" or larger Utility Clamp Work Lights with Aluminum Reflector
Two Natural Daylight CFL Bulb's (Compact Fluorescent Light not LED)
4 Large Binder Clips
Duck Tape
Clear Package Tape or glue
Utility Knife, Scissors
Pliers
Sandpaper
First
you will need to strip the canvas material off the wood frames using a
utility knife. You can remove the staples that remain on the backside
and sand the wood lightly.
Now
it is time for construction. I thought I had some hinges in my toolbox
and would have preferred that, but just couldn't find them, so duck tape
was used instead. Laying two frames side by side joined at the 16"
side, tape them together. Then 'fold' them into each other, like a book,
taping the backside of the fold. Remember you want each side to fold
inward eventually like a box, so make certain you are not taping both
sides flat. Then, tape the remaining frame to one of the 16" sides.
The
openings now need to be covered with a white material that will help
diffuse the light coming from the lamps onto the item being
photographed. There are a lot of options out there suggesting what to
use, such as tissue paper and even old bedsheets. I decided parchment
paper was my best option, I had it on hand, and it would have a bit more
durability in the end. Cut three pieces that cover the openings of the
frame and then glue or tape them down. I used clear packing tape.
We're almost there! Just a few more steps to go.....
LIGHTING
The lighting I use are a pair of 8.5" utility clamp work lights with aluminum reflector (you can find these for under $10 almost anywhere) and most important, the bulbs should be a Natural Daylight CFL - compact fluorescent light (not LED). I clamp my lights onto a couple blocks of wood I had laying around.
INFINITY CURVE BACKDROP
There are a lot of different options for the backdrop. Generally, I prefer an infinity curve backdrop so I get an ultra-smooth background with no corners or angles and since it doesn't have any corners, shadows won't gather in the background.
An easy and inexpensive
option for this sized light box is poster board and it comes in a wide
range of colors and prints. I love the faux wood planks poster board I
found and can't wait to use it. Hang your backdrop from the 2 binder
clips in the back, letting it curve down so it lays on top of the table
and you are ready to photograph your product!!
