Can't get any cheaper than this...

[Loupey]

Like $2.13. Two dollars because I had to pay son for the toy (damn good salesman he is). Twelve and 1/2 cents for the peppermint patty and about half a cent for 3 sheets of white copy paper.

First two shot on my kitchen counter. One sheet of paper to set the items on, two sheets of paper on various sides for fill. One strobe (because my other one is in the shop) shot from about 6' behind me bounced up off the ceiling.

Last one on the kitchen floor. Similar setup but the flash is moved to the side (still bounced up).

Good or bad (I don't know, I'm not a studio shooter) here are the results:

[Alison]

Yeah you can lol.
2 sheets of white paper and an ordinary kitchen light because I don't have one of those posh product cubes
What lighting did you use Loupey?

[Loupey]

Yeah you can lol.
2 sheets of white paper and an ordinary kitchen light because I don't have one of those posh product cubes
What lighting did you use Loupey?

That's true

Thanks for posting your image - great idea! Perhaps others will post their results from their "cheap setup" to show what can be done with a little thought.

My lighting was just the one 430EX triggered by my ST-E2 transmitter.

Thanks for looking, Alison!

[livin4lax09]

FREE! cardboard box, tissue paper I had lying around, and a b&w photo from the dark room flipped over to its matte side and taped to the back of the box. 430ex triggered with sync cord.

[Alison]

I still say mine is the cheapest. You used your 430EX Brent lol

[Loupey]

Thanks for playing along, Alison and Brent

How about 1 1/2 sheets of paper and a penny.

Not just a regular penny - a 1984 Lincoln "double ear" penny that I found in my change last week. Worth about $200 :thumbsup:

[schrackman]

Here's my contribution:

2 - 250W tungsten bulbs
2 - Home Depot 10" reflectors
2 - cheap tripods
1 - wedding dress (shh...don't tell my wife! It's not like she uses it or anything!)

Shot in RAW, temp adjusted to 3200, and slight levels and selective color adjustments. I picked two subjects I knew would be difficult to photograph with this light setup, and I did not diffuse the light (but probably should have). This would probably work well for ebay but not much more in my opinion.

[cyberlord]

Here's my contribution:

2 - Home Depot 10" reflectors

What is that?

[schrackman]

What is that?

This is a 10" reflector....very inexpensive, around $8 each I think. They come with spring clamps (not pictured).

[Loupey]

LoL, Schrackman! You got b**** (guts)

Your list sounds like a Visa commercial,

2 - 250W tungsten bulbs - $15
2 - Home Depot 10" reflectors - $16
2 - cheap tripods - $40
1 - wedding dress worn by a woman who still loves her husband - priceless

Thanks for playing along.

[schrackman]

Hey guys, check out my Dyed Muslin thread. I just did a self-portrait (please ignore the ugliness, lol) using the same light set up mentioned above. Tell me what you think of a poor man's light studio.

http://forums.photographyreview.com/...d=1#post186436

[readingr]

Not a penny spent:

One bottle olive oil (Extra Virgin) already 1/3 used
One Maglite Torch bought in 1984
One Tripod
One Kitchen Table (Mess shoved to one side, behind the bottle)

Shot in RAW and put together in PSE 2

Roger

[PMW518]

I'll join in here with mine even though its not quite as good as the others more just because I was bored, just as cheap though.
One sheet print paper.
Existing bedroom lighting (3- 75w on ceiling behind smoked glass)
Rested camera on floor due to slow shutter @ 400 iso


Phil

[Loupey]

Got this last night with a black sauce pan, 1 sheet of copy paper (as a diffuser), and 1 strobe. Oh, and a coffee stirrer as an eyedropper.

Will have to try again with real lighting equipment as the copy paper, when shot from behind, shows the mottled pattern in the water.

[schrackman]

Got this last night with a black sauce pan, 1 sheet of copy paper (as a diffuser), and 1 strobe. Oh, and a coffee stirrer as an eyedropper.

Will have to try again with real lighting equipment as the copy paper, when shot from behind, shows the mottled pattern in the water.

I like the mottled look, Loupey. Gives an otherwise commonly taken photograph a bit of an uncommon look. Well done.

[Loupey]

Ray: thanks for the feedback! I must admit that I was a bit disappointed at first when I sat down the started going through the images. But a plain white background reflection wouldn't work either IMO. I'll continue to investigate with different patterned media.

Roger: your light painting example gave me a different idea. Here's my attempt. Instead of capturing the flashlight itself, how about the effects of the flashlight? Gives me an idea to try in a friendly street alley come summer.

[Loupey]

Dome light for small objects. Can be used with off-camera strobe(s) or even an incandescent light.

Image 1: the test subject
Image 2: the bowl (wish I had a larger, less decorative one )
Image 3: the setup - single flash
Image 4: the setup - incandescent source (base of a lava lamp)

[Loupey]

First the results with just the single flash.

Image 1: flash from directly overhead
Image 2: flash from 45-degrees behind
Image 3: flash from directly from the left

[Loupey]

Now using the single incandescent bulb. I set the shutter speed down to 2 seconds so that I can move the bulb around during the exposure.

Image 1: bulb moved in an arc side to side (rainbow over the top)
Image 2: bulb moved in an arc front to rear
Image 3: bulb moved in an arc around the outside of the dome
Image 4: bulb waved over the top

[readingr]

Ray: thanks for the feedback! I must admit that I was a bit disappointed at first when I sat down the started going through the images. But a plain white background reflection wouldn't work either IMO. I'll continue to investigate with different patterned media.

Roger: your light painting example gave me a different idea. Here's my attempt. Instead of capturing the flashlight itself, how about the effects of the flashlight? Gives me an idea to try in a friendly street alley come summer.

I agree with Ray that the mottled look adds interest to the water shot. Don't forget that most of the photos of drops are taken using coloured milk or paint.

The light painting is excellent, I love the shape of the snake eating the frog. I tried something similar on the kitchen floor with the glass trying to get the flare into the bottom of the glas but the glare was too much.

Nice light box. I just got a 20" light cube for christmas bought on e-bay at a cost of $30 which is excellent and it came with 4 coloured back drops. Its fun in this weather where you can't get out for photos and going stir crazy.

Roger

[Photo-John]

This is an awesome thread! It would be a sure vote from me for the ViewFinder Awards if it had been started in 2006. Have to keep it in mind for next year!

Now where's that thread rating link?

[Loupey]

Thanks, John! Of course now I have a mental block and can't think of any other simple setups at this time. I'm sure something will rattle loose up there soon enough. Thanks for looking.