Cheap DIY Ringlight

Lee Massey

There is an interesting thread over at Strobist that shows how a person created a ringlight for very cheap (assuming that you already have a flash). This is a good example of creative thinking.

Here is the lighting diagram:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapify/1582241882/

Strobist article is here:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/11/paul-duncans-ingenius-ringlight.html

Thanks,

Lee

xris

Lee Massey wrote:

There is an interesting thread over at Strobist that shows how a person created a ringlight for very cheap (assuming that you already have a flash). This is a good example of creative thinking.

Interesting. But I wonder about flare and Neuton's Ring. And I can't quite figure out why I'd go to the trouble?

wxwax

Pretty cool penny tech.

Someone here (Ziggy?) fashioned a homemade ring light that worked pretty well. I can't find the thread, tho.

Lee Massey

xris wrote:

Interesting. But I wonder about flare and Neuton's Ring.

I didn't see much in the way of flare in the posted example and I think that the flare would be minimized by the reflector itself.

xris wrote:

And I can't quite figure out why I'd go to the trouble?

I would think that you would go to trouble, if you liked the lighting associated with a ringlight but didn't have the resources/budget to afford a real ringlight.

Thanks,

Lee

ziggy53

wxwax wrote:

Pretty cool penny tech.

Someone here (Ziggy?) fashioned a homemade ring light that worked pretty well. I can't find the thread, tho.

Here is my ringlight "project":

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=51884

Ring lighting is used for subjects with a deep recess or as an effect for creating as little shadow as possible without the problems of a smaller source like direct flash.

Lee Massey

Hi Ziggy...

I like the ringlight! I just might try it...

Thanks for sharing,

Lee

ziggy53 wrote:

Here is my ringlight "project":

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=51884

Ring lighting is used for subjects with a deep recess or as an effect for creating as little shadow as possible without the problems of a smaller source like direct flash.

xris

ziggy53 wrote:

Ring lighting is used for subjects with a deep recess or as an effect for creating as little shadow as possible without the problems of a smaller source like direct flash.

Ah! That's the explaination I was looking for! So I take it it's mainly a table-top technique, for small product, macro etc.?

Interesting. I might even give it a whirl myself.

jeffreaux2

xris wrote:

Ah! That's the explaination I was looking for! So I take it it's mainly a table-top technique, for small product, macro etc.?

Interesting. I might even give it a whirl myself.

Also used in portrature....although some of the home built jobs I have seen produce strange catchlights in the eyes.

wxwax

xris wrote:

Ah! That's the explaination I was looking for! So I take it it's mainly a table-top technique, for small product, macro etc.?

Interesting. I might even give it a whirl myself.

You see it a lot in people shots, as jeffreaux noted. It's been quite fashionable in the last few years.

xris

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Also used in portrature....although some of the home built jobs I have seen produce strange catchlights in the eyes.

I'd think the light would be very flat for portraiture, coming from stright on, as it likely would.

dogwood

xris wrote:

I'd think the light would be very flat for portraiture, coming from stright on, as it likely would.

It all depends on how you use a RF. The DIY RF is a cool concept, but seems quite limited in terms of power though I suppose you could use it with a studio strobe.

I love the look from RF, but I know it's certainly not loved by everybody! Here are a couple recent RF shots:

wxwax

xris wrote:

I'd think the light would be very flat for portraiture, coming from stright on, as it likely would.

It puts an edge on people, a very distinctive look. Check it out.

xris

wxwax wrote:

It puts an edge on people, a very distinctive look.

Thnx for the examples guys. Now I get the general idea. I've always just used RF for illustrative/tabletop stuff -- csi-like.

pathfinder

The giant Ear, Nose and Throat doctor mirror is very cool penny tech.

A piece of plywood, and some aluminum foil. Maybe you could even warp the
plywood slightly for a convex mirror effect.

Icebear

Fill light
Where I've seen a ring light used to good effect, it was a s fill, not the key light.

dogwood

Icebear wrote:

Where I've seen a ring light used to good effect, it was a s fill, not the key light.

Then why use a RF? Any light would work for fill and most likely be cheaper. There is no difference between using a RF and using a regular light for fill.

Here's an RF used off camera. Could have been any light with a modifier to spread the beam out like this. I just happened to be shooting with the RF and wanted to try something different: