My New DIY Studio

[gewolke]

Hi Everyone -

I spent yesterday building a diffusion panel and some stands, and bought two 500 watt halogen worklights from walmart. Today, I'll put up my backdrop and try it out. I've positioned the modelling stool 6 feet from where the backdrop willl be.

What I was thinking of doing was to use the hot lights as my main lighting, with a reflector on the off-light side of my modelling stool. I was also going to use my sigma 500 DG Super as a fill source.

Can anyone give me a few pointers on how far they would suggest I keep the panel from the model, and the halogens from the panel itself? What procedure would you suggest I use to position the main lights themselves? Is using the flash as a fill a good idea?

Thanks!
George

[TMR Design]

I'be been through exactly what you are doing now and have built many DIY projects for my studio.

I do just want to point out to you that the 1000 Watt Halogen worklights are intended for outdoor use, get quite hot and are a tremendous fire hazard. Many of us have done what you are doing and I just want to stress to you that using those lights indoors is very dangerous. If you are setting up in a garage that would be better due to the concrete slab, as opposed to wood or carpet.

Please be careful!

[Jim M]

If you use the flash as fill, you will be mixing incandescent light with flash. Unless you use a color correcting filter with one or the other, probably the flash since it won't get hot and is smaller, you will have mixed colors of light. The shop lights will be yellow or orange, or the flash light will look bluish depending on which white balance you choose. Not that there aren't times for doing this, but in most cases you won't be happy with it.

[daveawebber@yahoo.com]

Hi
have you had a look at "strobist" enter in google and it will find, this guy is an insperation I am about to do the same as you so keep me informed how you get on
have a Happy new Year

Dave