suspended ceiling hanging a light box??

[snokid]

I have a suspended ceiling and I want to hang a soft box from it. Has anyone done this before? any ideas how to do it?

Bob

[Curtis N]

Suspended ceilings really aren't designed to support much. It would probably be better to hang from the framing above the ceiling and cut holes in the ceiling tiles as needed.

The problem with this approach is that the light will be stuck where you put it. Being able to move lights around is pretty important.

[Benji]

I have a suspended ceiling and I want to hang a soft box from it. Has anyone done this before? any ideas how to do it?

Bob

Lowes sells little metal clips that you twist onto the long rails of suspended ceilings. They have a 1/4-20 bolt sticking out of the middle. You could then attach whatever, but make sure it is lightweight. I use the little Medalight PG3001ML light for a hair light. This unit weighs about 1 pound and is quite powerful.

Benji

[FlashZebra]

I have a suspended ceiling and I want to hang a soft box from it. Has anyone done this before? any ideas how to do it?

Bob
Many of the larger, best quality, softboxes have small fabric loops on the corners to accommodate hanging. And even a 4 foot X 6 foot softbox with a flash head is not very heavy.

If you hang the four corners with stout nylon cord on four pulleys, you could significantly adjust the height and angle of the softbox.

Please note, that I have never actually availed myself to this particular use mode with a softbox.

But, I did note the presence of those handy looking fabric loops on each corner. Note these utilitarian loops are not on inexpensive softboxes and smaller softboxes.

Edit: You may need a fifth cord going to the flash head to negate the weight of the head causing the box to flip after a certain face angle of the softbox is breached.

Edit #2: And you better have a very high ceiling, or confine you photography to snakes or dried leaf arrangements.

Enjoy! Lon

[snokid]

thanks guys I'm going to mount some pipe to the floor joists then cut a hole in the tile and hang the box from that.

I have a table set up for product type shots so I just need or want a soft light from above sometimes. I had been bouncing it off the ceiling then difusing the light. Just want another option.

thanks again

Bob