Studio light with your own hands. Types of studio light

For most photographers, the question of how to create high-quality studio light is relevant. Since it is often not enough from the window, and stationary lamps do not give the desired result. Studio light can be done by yourself. An important factor in this case is simplicity and low budget.

Home photo studio

Most often this is a huge amount of expensive equipment in a large room. However, if desired, you can assemble your portable set of studio light, spending a minimum of money on it.

This requires the following equipment: a camera (with a lens), synchronizers, flashes and holders for them, batteries, racks, umbrellas, softboxes, modifiers, backgrounds and, of course, bags to carry and store the entire instrument.

What is the studio light?

The role of lighting in the world of photography is invaluable. With its help you can convey the mood, depth, emotions. The most powerful source in the studio is the drawing light. Use it alone is not worth it, because it turns out too much contrast, and half the object is in the dark. You can correct the position with fill light. This will make the shadows smoother, they will not be so noticeable.

To get a more perfect picture, you need to add backlight. He will give visibility, the object will visually separate from the background. Pose it behind the model.

Also there are types of studio light, both pulsed and permanent. Let's consider each of them.

Light pulse

Such a source gives much more power than a constant one. Even if you compare them by cost, size, other parameters. Why is this happening? Because constant lighting, while the shutter is open, should always reflect the photons from the objects in the lens. A pulse studio light accumulates enough energy in a short time and instantly releases it in large quantities. That will easily surpass the sun. Because photography takes a brief moment.

If you need a lot of energy for work - this is the best option. The source of pulsed light can illuminate the room as on a sunny, clear day. In this case, it will weigh only 100 grams and fit freely in your hand. It is more convenient to use pulsed light when shooting in nature. Of course, the luminescent tube-lamps are not very compact, and it is necessary to protect them from blows. The power source is a normal battery.

Pulsed light emits flashes and pilots. With the camera they are connected by a synchronizer. The disadvantage is the allocation of a large amount of heat. Consequence is a huge consumption of energy.

Light constant

The main sources are LED and halogen lamps. They do not communicate with the camera, which is very convenient in the work. Despite the fact that pulsed, at first glance, surpasses studio light, the latter has its advantages. Using such coverage, the photographer will see what his camera is also. There are no restrictions on the use of light modifiers. Since there is little heat. Even without taking a picture, you can see the result by simply moving the light.

Working with him is a pleasure. You do not need to use a flashmeter, shoot in manual mode. You just need to switch the settings to the desired result, adjust the ISO camera and the aperture. Constant light is ideal for learning. He will like the model. It will not be disturbed by sharp flashes, it is necessary only to get used to very bright illumination.

Studio light with your own hands

The most common nozzle for lighting devices is the softbox. You can make it yourself. To do this, you will need:

• Box of cardboard;
• whatman;
• foil;
• Halogen spotlight;
• Lining translucent fabric;
• Rails;
• Spokes;
• glue;
• scissors;
• wire;
• Nuts;
• Hairpins;
• Clothespins.

The softbox consists of a frame that can be made from any (square or rectangular) cardboard box. On the one hand, it is necessary to cut off the lid so that it is open. Then make a reflective layer. For this, we glue the inner surface of the box with white paper or foil. From a translucent light fabric, we make a diffuser screen, gluing it to the open side. In softbox there is a two-layer case: external (black) and internal (metallized reflecting).

On the opposite side of the screen, you need to make a hole for the lighting device, which uses a halogen spotlight. It is fixed with wire.

If you need a large softbox for work, then its frame can be made of wooden racks and wire spokes. It should be noted that the frame on which the screen is mounted should be much larger than for the spotlight. The finished skeleton is covered with a sheath. It can be made an entire two-layer. So, it is easier to put on a frame, but it takes a lot of time. Separately, we tighten the walls, using office clamps, different in size.

The soft box is attached to the microphone stand or lamp leg. It is very important to include it only during shooting. Since halogen spotlights strongly heat the surface. Homemade studio light is ready.

Power and quality of different types of light

For fans of light shots with shallow sharpness and open diaphragm, constant lighting is ideal. Although it has a small capacity. For shooting food, still lifes, products and static items in general, it is better to use pulsed light.

As for quality, opinions on this subject are very subjective. However, the constant light is more pleasant and soft.

Work principles

The photographer in the home studio should have everything necessary for shooting. This is a camera, a tripod for it, a background, lighting devices, reflectors, nozzles. But this is not enough. It's also very important to know how to work with studio lights, to put it right.

Basic attributes:

• Portrait plate;
• reflector;
• umbrella;
• Softbox;
• Light reflectors;
• Color filters;
• Tube;
• Honeycomb.

Using a background reflector will help to evenly illuminate the background. Give a sharp shadow, directed hard light. A portrait plate is placed opposite the object that is being removed. It gives a soft directional (concentrated) light, which is supplemented by scattered light. For this, a soft box and an umbrella are used. It is possible to install the lamp behind it (to the lumen) or to apply it as a reflector due to the white fabric on the inner surface.

Today, the most popular nozzle among photographers is the softbox. The light is scattered and beautiful. Masters use oktoboksy (large octagonal) and stripbox (long rectangular). Everything depends on the size, shape, distance to the object. For group shots, Octoboxes are used, for portrait pictures, in full height - a stripball.

To change the direction and color temperature of light, photographic reflectors are needed. Also they are indispensable for studios with one source. Spot (tube) photographers are rarely used, as it is able to illuminate only a small detail.

Using color filters change the color of studio lighting. They are installed on the source, sent to the background, and so a photo is obtained in the halo. The color of the skin does not change. To simulate the sunlight use honeycomb.

Monoblocks, generators serve photographers as sources of constant light. Experienced masters choose generators. They are more expensive, but easier to work with.

Synchronization and ways of conducting it

Today, a set of pulsed light is available in stores. There are:

• rack;
• lamp;
• Umbrellas;
• Color filters.

The disadvantage is that you need to synchronize and connect to the camera. Otherwise, the flash just will not work.

Synchronization can be carried out in three ways.

1. Transmitter (IR starter).
2. Radio synchronizer.
3. Synchro cable.

IR starter is a small box. It is attached to the camera where there is usually an outbreak. Acts on this principle: inside the monoblock there is a "trap" that catches the impulses, which makes it clear to the outbreak: "It's time to work." Disadvantage - the infrared ray should be in the visibility of the device, like a remote and a TV. Because of the inconvenience, this method is rarely used.

It is more practical to use a radio synchronizer. Removes from any place where the signal came. The principle of operation is the same as that of the transmitter, but radio waves are the basis.

A highly inconvenient way for a photographer is sync cable. Since the light source and the camera connects the wire, which will constantly be confused under the feet of the master.

Having determined with the synchronization, you need to configure the flash. It switches to manual mode. Power is reduced. The same we do with the camera. The exposure of the frame is determined by a histogram or flash-meter.

Reviews

Often there are disputes between photographers, which one to use studio light. Reviews are different. It is necessary to experiment. To create high-quality images, there are often enough sources. It will be useful to understand each. Only experience and knowledge will help to choose the right studio light for a specific case.