What bulb to allow me to start playing with lighting?

[schmintan]

with all the rain and nasty weather here, I am not getting much chance to use my new camera. I want to try some still life indoors. I have picked up some A1 sheets of card (white, black, and green) for backdrops.

I have a speedlight 430 II Ex flash, but i do need some side lighting.

Having just spent a small fortune on a new camera picking up some dedicated studio lights is out of the question, but i have been thinking, can some approxomation be done cheaply?

If i got a regular desk lamp, a defuser, and a few specific bulbs i could at least play around at home on my desk with photographing small objects.

To this end, what bulbs would i need that would fit a regular desk lamp that might push me into the world of lighting?

[Mark1616]

I would just stick with the 430 off camera and then white card to reflect it around where needed.

[schmintan]

wouldnt that entail picking up some wired/wireless remote to ensure the flash goes off when the camera takes the picture? that sounds like it will cost more than i have to spend!

Ive been doing some g00gling and think a softbox and light tent may be the way to go:

The light tent is below.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Photo-Soft-Light ... 35b8dae2d0

soft box is here:
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/50-x-70-cm-Fl...item3f0e351839

for some playing aorund, do you think that would be something to get started with?

[Mark1616]

The cable is about £18 I think. What body do you have as I know you were looking at a 7D a while ago.

As long as you have a tripod then you will be fine with a light tent and a couple of lamps. The link for the soft box isn't working though.

[schmintan]

fixed the link to the soft box. Cool. il look into a cable for the flash. im thinking that will require a stand also. more research required.

Thanks for the help!

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day mate

You ask ...

Originally Posted by schmintan

with all the rain and nasty weather here, I am not getting much chance to use my new camera. I want to try some still life indoors. ..... If i got a regular desk lamp, ... i could at least play around at home on my desk with photographing small objects.

Okay - the answer is 'yes' certainly

The very popular low-voltage halogen-bulb desk/bed lights are excellent for home small-studio mucking around. Light levels are surprisingly bright at close range and as it's dark & miserable you will have 2 main accessories - tripod & something liquid to support your creativity

I suggest that you experiment in the loungeroom and see how far you can go - buy some flowers from the florist if needed > give 'em to the missus first tho!

ps- I can post some example pix if you like
Regards, Phil

[schmintan]

Hey Phil, do you mind awfully posting a pic of your DIY home lighting setup?

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day all

@schmintan - you ask for details about my home-studio setup
Funnily enough, right now we're moving house and unpacking boxes and I can't find one of the desk lamps - so the illustration here is from an on-line catalogue :-) Otherwise I can show a setup shot & some results

What I have used started out as this... an ordinary $30 desk lamp using 12volt x 20w bulb


Then I wanted a bit more versatility, so I hunted around & got this. It's meant to me a ceiling mounted spot light in the house, but I have attached it to a $50 microphone boom stand
" http://www.onlinelighting.com.au/pro...oducts_id=9803 "
and


Okay - some results [taken with the Pentax + Siggy 18-125 lens]
WB = Tungsten @ 3200K

Cyclamon flowers [metering here at -2/3EV]
,

A daisy of some sort ...



A different view of some chess pieces
,

The boom light was chosen as it comes with barn-door baffles which are extremely useful in hiding bits of subject from the light itself
The coloured "gels" I use on the boom light are coloured plastic document holders from the local newsagent shop ... "4 for a $" cut down to about 12cm [5"] square and held on with spring clips

Hope this helps a bit
Regards, Phil