Model Car (1/18) via Cheap Light Box

jsedlak

I am working on getting the "10$" light box up and running in my room. Still have to figure lighting out better, get a longer piece of backing paper and get bigger sheets of tracing paper (windows) but I think the first batch came out pretty nice. Oh, you need a pretty big box too as mine is about 12"x12"x12" and it can barely fit the cars width and depth wise. I will probably move to a 2'x2'x2' box or something. No flashes used here, all lighting was done by two desk lamps with ultra-white bulbs.

I think 4-5 are my favorites, love the DOF on the Formula 1 car. All shot with tripod and XTi at ISO200 with the 50 f/1.8 lens.

Here is a link to the light box idea... http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

What do you think?
(I know some of them are dusty, I was lazy and just wanted to test the setup out for now... hehe)

1) Porsche racing GT1


2) Ferrari F430


3) Ferrari F40


4) Ferrari Formula 1 F2005


5) Ferrari Formula 1 F2005


6) Ferrari Formula 1 F2005

ian408

Nice! Can you give us a little tute on how you're
making your light box?

Thanks!

jsedlak

ian408 wrote:

Nice! Can you give us a little tute on how you're
making your light box?

Thanks!

Sure... I will probably write one up when I get the better version done. It is really simple though.

What you need, a cardboard box (duh!), tracing paper (different colors can be fun!), long white paper (I am currently using a large format drawing pad), and a box cutter.

Taking the box and sitting it on one of its side, so the flaps open up towards you, cut the top and left and right sides (leaving about a 1" edge/matte). This leaves the back and the bottom closed.

Take a long piece of paper, I used white and secure it to the back wall. I used tape but anything works, the higher you tape it the less you will have to work with. I was working with short subjects so I taped it very low.

Let it drape and take a slow curve down to the bottom of the box. Creasing it will create a line in your photograph!! Next is just cover the sides of the box with tracing paper. I have yet to find a large size tracing paper but I am sure it exists. In my photos you can see where light crept in due to the fact that I had to use two sheets per side.

When done you should have 3 windows with tracing paper to cover them and a long sheet of paper draped against the back wall. Now place your lights to point at the tracing paper. This creates a soft shadow and lights the box without allowing for reflection of the actual light.

If anyone knows where we/I can obtain some larger pieces of tracing paper, that would be superb!

Some fellow photographers from another site managed to use a shiny surface to photograph some stuff, thought it was cool but the setup was hard and am not sure what materials he used.

Mog

Very nice model collection and images. I did the same thing a few weeks back. Certainly around here ( UK ) the local art/craft shops often have tracing paper upto A0 size..

Skippy

jsedlak wrote:

I am working on getting the "10$" light box up and running in my room. Still have to figure lighting out better, get a longer piece of backing paper and get bigger sheets of tracing paper (windows) but I think the first batch came out pretty nice. Oh, you need a pretty big box too as mine is about 12"x12"x12" and it can barely fit the cars width and depth wise. I will probably move to a 2'x2'x2' box or something. No flashes used here, all lighting was done by two desk lamps with ultra-white bulbs.

I think 4-5 are my favorites, love the DOF on the Formula 1 car. All shot with tripod and XTi at ISO200 with the 50 f/1.8 lens.

Here is a link to the light box idea... http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

What do you think?
(I know some of them are dusty, I was lazy and just wanted to test the setup out for now... hehe)

1) Porsche racing GT1
2) Ferrari F430
3) Ferrari F40
4) Ferrari Formula 1 F2005
5) Ferrari Formula 1 F2005
6) Ferrari Formula 1 F2005

Besides the dust *cough*cough* I see it hehehe they look great I like how you isolated the driver in the last two shots and I see a couple of folks have already replied about the Tracing paper your looking for to help with lighting your Box........ very nice series, I'd like to see what you come up with once you change the box to how you want it.

Skippy (Australia)

JamieC

You mention "ultra white bulbs". Is this a specific product, or was that a generic description? And thanks for sharing BTW.

Jamie

Awais Yaqub

Nice shots !
And thanks for sharing your technique

jsedlak

Thanks for the compliments guys!

JamieC wrote:

You mention "ultra white bulbs". Is this a specific product, or was that a generic description? And thanks for sharing BTW.

Jamie

The bulbs are GE brand, and they are a bit truer white than normal bulbs. They have a little bluish hint on the bulb itself. Here is the info on them at General Electric. You can get them at any foodstore, staples, etc.