Test shot using my home made DIY 12-inch beauty dish.

jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
edited September 2, 2011 in Other Cool Shots
As you may know, I like building my own light modifiers (short for financially handicapped :D ) and this time I decided to make my own DIY beauty dish. Here is the youtube video that I copied the idea from: http://youtu.be/ewVnRwZyIb4

Here is the actual beauty dish that I made:
6098208285_8d50cb1b77_b.jpg

The plastic bowl cost me about $4.50, the paint $1.10, the other stuff are free since I have them at home like the reflective duct tape, CD-case cover, some screws, glue, white boards,etc.

And here is the result using my daughter as my model:
6098756072_68c0dba27d_b.jpg

I wanted to retain some detail on the background so I set my shutter speed to about 1/125 second. Then after a test shot, I find that opening my aperture to about f/4.5 would prevent me from having those blinking highlights on my camera screen. The lowest ISO that my camera can use is ISO 200 hence the setting. Some selective sharpening, a little retouch on my kid's pimples and that was it using lightroom and photoshop. Not bad for a cheap light modifier if I may say. :D My only problem is with my voice activated light stand (my other kid) who had a hard time responding to my commands. :rofl Thank you very much for viewing. :D
Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
http://500px.com/williebau

Comments

  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited August 30, 2011
    Here's another test shot with Bryan on his bike. This time i decided to go with bare flash using the SB-24 set at 1/8th power. ISO 200, f/5.6 and at 1/400 second. Lots of studies and things to learn about flash photography. :D

    6098969616_b5be8e352c_b.jpg
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • wolf911wolf911 Registered Users Posts: 273 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2011
    They are fun to make, my first one was 16" and than a 20". I finally ordered a PCB 22 inch dish so I can use a grid with the dish, love the grids. Smaller the dish the closer you need to be with it for that soft light. A "sock" will help soften the light for ya. I used a white nylon material and an elastic strip so I could put it over the front of my DIY dishes. I believe a 16 quart bowl is about 18 inches if you want to go bigger.

    I do like the first one best, great lookin kids
    ~KJS~
    Photos by KJS | Flickr | Blog | 500px | Google+
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2011
    Thanks, wolf911. What I've noticed is that a beauty dish is more like a mix of bare flash and a softbox in output. It's not as soft as a softbox and also not as hard as a bare flash. You can see the difference on the shadow areas, actually. I can buy some nylon fabrics from walmart and I can make a sock to further soften the output on this one but for now I really like how it performs. The plastic bowl is the largest I can find in Walmart. If I want to go bigger I think I need to use a steel mixing bowl. :Dthumb.gif
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,325 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2011
    Well, my friend, you've managed to impress me again. Actually, I admire all the folks out there who have the initiative and capability to create stuff like you do. When those kind of skills were being passed around, I must have been playing cops and robbers.

    Your daughter has to be tickled pink with that shot....it really shows off her natural beauty. I doubt if your son much cares....if he's like most guys his age.

    Take care,

    Tom
    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • WernerGWernerG Registered Users Posts: 534 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2011
    The first shot of your daughter is terrific Jiro. The bare flash on your son in the second shot is a bit harsh. It must be fun having kids around that like to model for Dad. How many ice creams did these shots cost you?
    Werner
    http://wernerg.smugmug.com/
  • CornflakeCornflake Registered Users Posts: 3,346 Major grins
    edited August 31, 2011
    The shot of Kate is terrific, jiro.
    Don
    Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2011
    black mamba wrote: »
    Well, my friend, you've managed to impress me again. Actually, I admire all the folks out there who have the initiative and capability to create stuff like you do. When those kind of skills were being passed around, I must have been playing cops and robbers.

    Your daughter has to be tickled pink with that shot....it really shows off her natural beauty. I doubt if your son much cares....if he's like most guys his age.

    Take care,

    Tom

    Thank you very much for viewing, my friend. She was really happy with this shot. There was actually another one wherein she showed a better smile. And Yes, you're right, my boy didn't like it more than his sister. I guess we, like boys, doesn't have that likeness to be photographed. Kind regards. thumb.gif:D
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2011
    WernerG wrote: »
    The first shot of your daughter is terrific Jiro. The bare flash on your son in the second shot is a bit harsh. It must be fun having kids around that like to model for Dad. How many ice creams did these shots cost you?

    Thanks, Werner. It's both fun and hard work, actually. Once they're not in the mood anymore you can't seem to convince them even for just one more shot. After the session all that they requested is a nice dinner meal of their favorite food. :Dthumb.gif
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2011
    Cornflake wrote: »
    The shot of Kate is terrific, jiro.

    Thank you very much, Don. :Dthumb.gif
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • DaddyODaddyO Registered Users Posts: 4,466 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2011
    Lovely image of your daughter. Well done. thumb.gif Thanks for sharing about this device. Had to watch the video provided and a few others. Very cool tool you've made up there at your place. Will have to keep this device in mind as I come across parts perhaps here and there.
    Michael
  • wolf911wolf911 Registered Users Posts: 273 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2011
    Yea, for a bowl - http://www.amazon.com/Qt-Stainless-Steel-Mixing-Bowl/dp/B000UBC3EA a sock will really help give softer light, I always use a sock, unless using a grid.

    Have you seen this tutorial?
    http://ishootshows.com/2010/02/09/music-photographers-diy-beauty-dish/

    has complete everything and looks great
    ~KJS~
    Photos by KJS | Flickr | Blog | 500px | Google+
  • marionetmarionet Registered Users Posts: 382 Major grins
    edited September 1, 2011
    ylsuper.gif That light works well.
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2011
    DaddyO wrote: »
    Lovely image of your daughter. Well done. thumb.gif Thanks for sharing about this device. Had to watch the video provided and a few others. Very cool tool you've made up there at your place. Will have to keep this device in mind as I come across parts perhaps here and there.

    Thanks, Michael. thumb.gif:D
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2011
    wolf911 wrote: »
    Yea, for a bowl - http://www.amazon.com/Qt-Stainless-Steel-Mixing-Bowl/dp/B000UBC3EA a sock will really help give softer light, I always use a sock, unless using a grid.

    Have you seen this tutorial?
    http://ishootshows.com/2010/02/09/music-photographers-diy-beauty-dish/

    has complete everything and looks great

    I've seen that link, wolf911. Unfortunately I can't find any seller of the steel mixing bowl in town so I went to the plastic bowl route instead.
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited September 2, 2011
    marionet wrote: »
    ylsuper.gif That light works well.

    Thanks for dropping by and for the comment, Bill. thumb.gif
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
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