If you've ever been to Washington State, you can attest that it's often pretty wet and dreary. We have our really nice days, but more often than not it's gray and soggy. I love to take my photos outside when I'm able to, and I really enjoy having a natural backdrop in my shots, but more and more these days I'm having free time later in the evening or at night.
I wanted an easy platform to take clear, bright photos and a light box gives me an option to take very detailed photos at any time, indoors out of the weather or at night. It's really simple to make and it costs almost nothing, I've put together a few photos of my light box and hopefully you'll be inspired to build your own.
Materials:
3 Clamp Lights
1 Roll of Heavy Duty Duct Tape
1 White Plastic Shower Curtain
1 Extra Large Home Depot Cardboard Packing Box
2 Yards of White Fabric
Tools:
Scissors
Razor Knife
Chairs (or other suitable objects to clamp your lights onto)
Steps:
1. Assemble the cardboard box using the heavy duty duct tape to hold it together
2. Using a sharp razor knife, cut a square out of each side except two adjoining sides (These sides will become the back and floor) I left a 2 inch border around the edge of each hole I cut, you can leave as much as you want or cut as precisely as you feel necessary. You won't see the edges that you've cut in your final pictures so you can rest easy if you make jagged cuts or your cut out squares are less than square. The holes that I cut are hasty and free handed, I don't plan to pass this light box down to future generations, so I didn't spend time making a masterpiece.
3. Unpack your new white plastic shower curtain and lay it flat on the floor. Set your assembled cardboard box with holes already cut, on top of the curtain and trace/cut out the shape of each side of your box.
4. Tape your cut out shower curtain squares over each of the open holes that you cut. Don't cover the side you plan on using as the opening. It's easiest to tape one edge, pull the shower curtain piece tight and then tape the other edges. It's not hard, but getting the tape started can be frustrating, I suggest you use a partner for easy taping. Again, a few wrinkles and poorly taped edges will not affect your finished pictures.
5. Fold your bolt of cloth and tape it in the back of the box (you can iron out all the wrinkles if you so desire). Drape it loosely so that no seams show. (Seams make shadows)
6. Set up your clamp lights around the box so that they shine into the box from the top and sides. Move the lights to get the best ambient light in the box. I used chairs, but you're welcome to make a more elaborate structure (good luck taking it out of the room...or putting it away when your wife sees that you've built it in the "sitting room").
7. Take Pictures! My box took me about 30 min to build, and I think it turned out nicely. I've shown the edges of the box in the picture below so you can see how I've draped my cloth. I put my old Coleman No.530 Stove in to show the excellent detail that I can achieve in the light box.
The background is seamless in the shots below and this old stove looks like something that could be displayed in a museum. My light box does a pretty good job for a cardboard box, some pieces of shower curtain, and duct tape.
I'll admit, it's much easier to take my Gun Pron photos indoors, rather than out. I'm glad that my house has some distance between my neighbors, and while I'm mostly shameless, I do feel a bit awkward bumping around in my front yard with an armful of guns taking photos of them in interesting poses. The light box can be employed in the comfort of your own home, and most importantly behind drawn blinds....
