Categories: My FavsRamblings

DIY Photography Light Diffuser on the Cheap

When I attended the Food Photography Overhaul last month, I learned good lighting is the KEY to good photos.  I consider myself a pretty darn good student:  I listen carefully, I take notes diligently, and I try to implement my new knowledge as soon as nerdily possible.  Yet, as mentioned in my last post, I experienced some extreme frustration while trying to photograph those delicious balsamic pork tenderloin medallions in low lighting.  The need for light was obvious, but where the heck was it?!  I tried switching locations–the stove top, the living room floor, the bathroom counter, the laundry room–photo after horrible photo.  It was absolutely infuriating!

A couple of days later (once I had a chance to mellow out over a nice cheap bottle of red wine), the BF and I headed to Lowe’s to resolve this lighting issue once and for freaking all.

Here’s what we picked up:

First and foremost is the portable work light.  This guy cost $9 at Lowes.  It was very easy to assemble, it’s super bright, and seeing it sitting on my living room floor makes me feel like a BAMF.  ‘Nuff said.

Bright light is great and all, but bright light alone doesn’t make things look pretty.  Just think for a moment of photos of yourself standing squinty eyed in direct sunlight, ghastly shadows under your eyes and nose.  If you’re like me, you’ve deleted and/or tossed all of them, just like I did with those crap pork photos.  Not enough light causes blurry lackluster photos, and too harsh of light makes everything whitewashed, both of which can be pretty unappetizing to the eye.  Don’t even get me started on unwanted shadows.

Enter vellum paper, which is thin, slightly translucent, and perfect for diffusing light.  I  bought my roll at Hobby Lobby for about $8 before coupons (they’ve always got 40% off coupons on their website–boo ya!).

Once I had the light and the diffusing paper, the next step was constructing a PVC frame to hold up the paper in front of the light.  For this, I purchased two 5 foot long, 3/4 inch thick PVC pipes at Lowes for $1.78 a piece.  You can use a hacksaw or PVC pipe cutter to cut the PVC pipes to size or you can ask a store associate real nice for some assistance and hopefully get him or her to do it for you.

If you are using 2-foot wide vellum paper as I did, each five foot PVC pipe will need cut down into the following three lengths:

  • one 20 inch piece
  • one 25 inch piece
  • one 15 inch piece

The PVC pipe connectors are sold in the same aisle as the pipes.  I know, right?  You’ll need two elbows and two elbows with the thingamabobs sticking out of the top. These connectors are “slip” connectors, meaning they just slip on and there is no threading inside of the connector piece.  They cost about a buck a piece.

One you have all the pieces, the frame comes together in seconds!

Then you just roll out some vellum and cut to size:

Then secure to the frame with tape.

That’s it!  The photography light diffuser is complete!

The assembly took less than 20 minutes.  Then we repeated the whole process over again so that I can have lovely diffused light at my place and at the boyfriend’s.  I’m slowly working on turning his guest bedroom into my craft room, one photography prop at a time.

When you’re ready to take your photo, first get your subject staged in front of the vellum screen.  The work light gets hot pretty fast, so wait until you have your picture staged before you turn it on.  Safety first!  You can use two pieces of white foam board to help bounce light back onto the object you are photographing.

Like so:

This was taken at 10 in the evening and just look at that lovely light!  Mmmmmm can’t wait to eat this oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow.  Blueberries, almonds, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  DELICIOUS!

Light & DIY Diffuser Shopping List

  • 1-work light (500 watts is good)
  • 2-five foot long 3/4 inch thick PVC pipes
  • 2-elbows
  • 2-elbows with thingamabobs
  • 1-roll vellum paper
  • 2-white foam boards
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Pencil

Thanks to Taylor for this great idea!

Mary

Hello! I’m Mary, a self-proclaimed fervent foodie and carbohydrate connoisseur. This blog is about my life—my passions, adventures, and failures—through food. I’m a bean counting CPA by trade, but my true passion is food. It is the unabashed soul of my being. The history, the culture, the taste, the experience–I am fascinated and enchanted by it all. I devote my free time almost entirely to scouting out delicious restaurants and cooking up new recipes. It makes me especially happy when I can take a recipe and “healthify” it. By this I mean turn it into something healthy and nutritious that still tastes friggin’ delicious. I love to connect with readers, restaurants, and those in public relations, so email me and let’s talk food! Google

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Tags: food photograhyHobby LobbylightboxLightingPhotographyPVCVellum
12 years ago

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