Experimental Light Modifier

If like me you have only a small permanent space for studio work, and budget (aka cheap second hand tat) lighting you will know that it can be difficult to control light.  I have only a soft box, and a few brollies to use.  Rather than get all 'woe is me' about it, I occasionally have a go at DIY solutions.  You may have seem my Pot Noodle snoots.  Today I decided to have a go at some micro soft boxes with the view to using them to light a background whilst reducing the spill onto the subject.  The results aren't brilliant, but I had a go.  This is how I did it.

1) Gather the bits

We have a cheap storage basket, some reflective foil, the sort you shove behind radiators to safe energy, a white sheet, some clothes pegs, duct tape, and electrical insulation tape. The tools I used were scissors, a Dremmel, and a sharpie.








2)

 First I used my light as a template, then cut out a hole with the Dremmel (wear goggles, and cut the hole outside kids)

3)
Use the basket to mark out the fold on the back of the foily stuff.  Cut off the corners

4)

Check the foil fits properlyish.  You can score, or fold this stuff which helps.







5)

Use the Duct tape to join the edges of the foil, then shove it in the basket.







6)

  Tape the excess foil over the side of the basket to hold it in place








7)

Carefully cut out a hole for the light to poke through.  Leave some excess to fold over and tape to the back.  This helps hold the whole contraction to the light without having to use tape on that too.






8) 

This is what it looks like in situ.








9)

I added some of the cotton sheet to soften the light a little

A beginner shoots a gig part 2 - after

Ok post gig round up.

Mistakes I made. Setting the ISO too low. I was shooting at iso1600 to begin with. Consequently my shutter speed was at around 1/40 or slower. Lots of blur for the first band, which is a shame as they were very good. I managed to salvage some of the slight movement ones by mono’ing them. Hides a multitude of sins, bish, bash, bosh. Job done.
Next mistake. Not checking the state of my lens. After about an hour, lots of lens smear. Anecdotally I think this was affecting the speed of my auto focus. Might be a load of nonsense, but when I cleaned the lens (for once having a cleaning cloth with me. More by luck than judgement) the autofocus seemed to me to be a lot more responsive.
Next Mistake: Not being ballsy enough. First couple of bands I was being nice and polite, swapping places with other photographers, so they could get my vantage point, trying not to get in the way of the fans (being over six foot tall, this is not always easy). Second band on had lots of fans up close and personal, and I was worried about a) upsetting them, and b) damaging my lens. By the third band all this went out the window, and I was weaving amongst the moshers, avoiding getting crushed by failing crowdsurfers, and knealing in a manner of spilt alcohol, getting those attractive up nostril shots.
Last notable mistake: not getting to talk to the bands. This is difficult on these shows where there are lots of bands on in short succession. You could be having a great chat with the musicians only to realise the next band are nearly through their set. I always try and track down the bands in the following days, and most tend to be on facebook. If I can I share a set from flickr. This is cool for me it’s quite gratifying when people give you good feedback, and the bands are often pleased to get photos from the gig to use on their pages, websites etc.

What has been nice at these gigs is some others taking photographers chatting asking advice (are they crazy, I don’t know anything, hahaha), comparing equipment etc. Photographers can be a lonesome species, even in the staid confines of local clubs, they tend to sit in uncomfortable church hall chairs, staring unblinking at a succession of images of steam trains and cut flowers, never actually talking about photography (oh no drifting into a rant, yikes, forgive me).

Well before this post meanders to far from it’s source, lets divert it quickly to it’s destination. I really enjoy gig photography. You get to hear lots of new music, some good, some great, some not so polished. I have a picture going into a local paper (apparently, although I don’t have any evidence of this), another photographer/promoter has given me a website credit on the band they promote, and another of the band has asked if I would like to help them do some promo shots.

If you love music, have a go, see what you can do. Above all else don’t get despondent if you get a lot of blurred photos. I delete far more than I can use.

Go and have fun with it!!

A beginner shoots a gig – Part 1 before

chris 001
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

I class myself as a beginner. My work is still inconsistent, I am only shooting local gigs, and compared to the superb work of many of the contacts I have made on Flickr, I have a long way to go.

Tonight’s venue is my usual haunt, The Horn in St. Albans. This evening is the final of their twice yearly Battle of the Bands competition. St. Albans has spawned some breaking bands over the past few years, and this competition has seen winners like Enter Shikari (Spelling?!?), The Subways and Friendly Fires. I cut my teeth shooting what turned out to be the winners of the previous BOTB, namely Waiting for Katherine.

I have seen a couple of the finalists, Billy Skins Fifth, and Evergreen. Both of these are strong acts. The other two I haven’t had the pleasure.

My kit tonight will be my trusty Canon 400D and 17-55mm. I might take my flash along in case I stay to see they winners receive their prizes, but it’s a late one, and I have work in the morning. Modus operandi will be to shoot on ISO 1600 , f2.8, and probably be lazy and stick to AF. The lens is way quicker than I am, and it can nearly see in the dark. I have trouble in full daylight. If you want to check out my previous efforts they can all be found on my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/axemanrj I welcome comments, advice, etc.

I will post the results there tomorrow hopefully, and write part 2 of this blog entry.

Wish me luck