Beautiful weather this weekend. I was a bit ill at the start of it, but that fortunately turned around fairly quickly and I was able to enjoy the perfect Spring weekend. Amanda and I stayed around the house and worked on a couple projects, making sure to eat as many meals out on the deck as possible – which was pretty much all of them.
One of those projects was to create two light diffusers for photography for the blog. I used these instructions from the Raccoon and Lobster blog and so far I’m really happy with the way they turned out.
It was more or less a fully unanticipated consequence for me that starting a blog would get me more interested in photography. Of course, in hindsight it’s obvious, but I just never connected the dots there. But the fact is, I don’t really know a damn thing about cameras or photography, and honestly I was starting to feel a little bit like I was doing myself and my readers a bit of a disservice by not at least putting a little bit of effort into it.
As I’ve found is often the case with hobbies, “a little bit of effort” usually translates into a sliding slope of large quantities of my already very tight budget. I shoot with a dinky little Kodak point and shoot, and the immediate future does not have a new camera in store for me. I also generally shoot under the normal yellow-ish lights that I live under in my house, often at night, and I couldn’t afford to splurge on something fancy like a sweet set of Ego Lights when they run about $200 for the pair.
So I turned to the aforementioned home instructions for knockoff light diffusers. Seemed very much my speed, and the plans looked pretty straightforward and simple – which is always a plus. Like many men before me, I have often undertaken projects with a headstrong confidence totally out of whack with my actual skill level for completing said project. Despite the natural inclinations bestowed upon me by that ever useful Y chromosome, I have indeed botched a few things in my day. Oh yes, it’s true. I know it’s hard to believe, but it actually does happen. Really.
It cost me about $65, give or take, to make two lights. The reason for the difference between my price and the one listed on Raccoon and Lobster is that I used a stapler rather than tape, and a number of the items I had to buy for the first time (stapler, x-acto knife, ruler, etc.) which might otherwise have been household items.
Since the instructions are listed on the other site, I’ll simply direct you there if you want to make your own. It took me maybe 45 minutes or so to make each light.
Cutting screen is always kind of a bitch. Be careful not to slice yourself up too bad.
I had a finished product in practically the blink of an eye.
So then I made a second one.
While I was out picking up the materials, I got some cheap tiles to use as a background setting for shots. I also got some poster board for white background setting, but didn’t take any pictures of it yet. I got a couple varieties of different color stone to swap out dependent on what I’m shooting. The tile pieces were only about $2.50 a piece.
And there’s my new set up. $65 and two hours (that’s estimating on the high side) later, and I’ve replicated a $200 set up. Now if only I could build my own camera…
So I can’t promise that now all my photos are going to be OHMYGODawesome, but hopefully there’ll be some significant improvement for this little bit of (not-too-costly) effort.
Here’s a comparison shot of dinner last night.
Without the lights…
…and with the new lights.
Not too bad, yeah?
BONUS: when not in use, I’ve got a great new intensive care ward for any of my wayward seedlings that might be struggling. Just a couple hours in place here and pretty much any plant will perk right up (the coffee may have helped, too).
I love making stuff. Especially when I don’t screw it up beyond recognition.
Have you completed any cool projects lately? Hobbies or maybe just something around the house? Spring is the time for getting it done.
