Les McLean
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A while ago, I remember reading an article where an enterprising photographer made an entire studio lighting setup using washing up bowls, sticky back plastic, muslin and glue (get down Shep)
I thought to myself 'I can do that'
But not so ambitious, I decided to make a cheap softbox for my Canon 430EX flash.
Here goes
Take one small cheap plastic washing up bowl
Paint the insides using a normal white gloss paint (it took three coats)
Using the flash head (front) as a template, cut out a hole in the bottom of the bowl, and cover the opening with white cloth (I used some cloth from an old light-tent)
I made the hole a 'snug fit' so the flash head would slot in without any support.
Simple as that, on testing the set-up I tried it against the bare flash, flash + stofen omnibounce , flash + softbox
flash on it's own (flash to left of subject)
Flash + Stofen
Flash + homemade softbox
As you can see, the softbox provides a nice soft (look at the shadows) diffused light.
Since making this, I have also made a similar softbox for my 580ex flash using a larger bowl, and because the bowls are relatively light, they are self supporting without the need of brackets etc
I use both flashes with the softboxes in portrait shoots away from home, it means not having to lug studio lighting/stands/brollies around.
I thought to myself 'I can do that'
But not so ambitious, I decided to make a cheap softbox for my Canon 430EX flash.
Here goes
Take one small cheap plastic washing up bowl
Paint the insides using a normal white gloss paint (it took three coats)
Using the flash head (front) as a template, cut out a hole in the bottom of the bowl, and cover the opening with white cloth (I used some cloth from an old light-tent)
I made the hole a 'snug fit' so the flash head would slot in without any support.
Simple as that, on testing the set-up I tried it against the bare flash, flash + stofen omnibounce , flash + softbox
flash on it's own (flash to left of subject)
Flash + Stofen
Flash + homemade softbox
As you can see, the softbox provides a nice soft (look at the shadows) diffused light.
Since making this, I have also made a similar softbox for my 580ex flash using a larger bowl, and because the bowls are relatively light, they are self supporting without the need of brackets etc
I use both flashes with the softboxes in portrait shoots away from home, it means not having to lug studio lighting/stands/brollies around.