Light Boxes and Tents for Jewelry Photography
by Elaine Luther
I have tried a few different photo light boxes in the past few years. I’ve posted on them extensively on Orchid and have written articles that have appeared in the newsletter of the Chicago Metal Arts Guild and The North American Felters Network newsletter.
My current favorite lightbox, for size, ease of use, ease of assembly, and presence of a back drop clips is: the Patterson Medium Light box. It was $44.00 when I bought it, I think it’s up to $47.00 now.
You can find it in the studio section at B & H, then light domes and tents. www.bhphotovideo.com
It’s a good size, so you don’t have to worry about running out of backdrop room if you make something big. The backdrop clip is awesome. After years of using jerry-rigged systems, I really appreciate this set up. Yes, you could build it yourself for less, but boy they’ve done a nice job for a reasonable price.
To go with that, you can buy seamless back ground paper in a number of colors from most any large photography supply place. If you want gradient gray, you can by that in small, affordable pieces from
www.setshop.com
It’s hard to find. It’s under backgrounds, then tabletop, then gradients.
Other folks recommend printing out your own at home using Photoshop and photo paper.
At a recent meeting of the Windy City Chapter of the PMC Guild, many of us brought our photo light tent set ups to show and for members to try out. People brought jewelry and took test shots.
One of the systems a member brought was the American Recorder Photo Studio in a Box, here is a link to one place to buy it:
www.smithgear.com/ar-sib-100.html
This is apparently one of those products that came out to meet the needs of the eBay seller. I was very impressed with how it truly folded flat and also takes less than a minute to set up. It would be more accurate to call it Photo Studio in a bag. The whole thing is in a “bag†the outer parts of which are also it, the light tent. You unzip and un-velcro it, pop out the sides and ta-da! You’re in business!
That is comes with lights and is only $99.00 is incredible. If I needed everything, I would probably get this one. When we used this at the Guild meeting, we added a ramp of foam core underneath the background.
Photography Links
Where to learn:
www.tabletopstudio.com go to Product Photography How To
www.ganoksin.com go to library, search for excerpts from Small Scale Photography by Charles Lewton Brain. This is where I got my start and what I based my first set up on.
www.shortcourses.com/studio/tabletop/studio.htm a little course in photographing small items
www.wrotniak.net/photo/tips/tabletop.html how to build a $7.00 set up.
www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/photographing-jewelry.html
www.jewelryphotography.com/
jewelrymaking.about.com/b/a/257634.htm
www.silversmithing.com/1photo.htm article by Cynthia Eid, excellent, complete
How to Build Your own Lightbox:
bermangraphics.com/coolpix/jewelryphoto.htm see a homemade light tent
www.creativepro.com/story/feature/19002.html very detailed how to make your own light tent
www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/04/make_your_own_light_tent.html
sodoityourself.com/the-ikea-hamper-light-tent/ this one uses an IKEA hamper!
Where to buy:
Backdrops:
Seamless paper and large gradient gray backgrounds: www.helixphoto.com
Very small gradient gray backgrounds, only $9.99: www.setshop.com
Light tents, domes, etc.
Any photography supplier. Some folks like www.tabletopstudio.com
I happen to have gotten my light tents from: www.bhphotovideo.com
www.photostudiobox.com has an expensive system, $399.00 for the smallest one
(c) Elaine Luther 2007-2008 All Rights Reserved
3 comments Elaine | Photography, Sources
Elaine,
the smith gear is identical to the Ritz camera studio in a box – you’re right the carrying set up for it is really handy. I wish that EZCube came with a similar case . While I think the ezcube setup is far superior to the studio in a box (should be for the price differential), moving it offsite or storing it is a pain.
one other item you might want to mention is the Expodisc or expocap- a white balance lense cap tool that allows you to override what the camera sees for white balance prior to shooting. it’s helped me get my colors under control under varying light – depending on the size of the lense , runs around $70. what sold me on the product was a review of the product http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2006/10/19/expodisc.html
and the video clip attached -which I stumbled on after deciding to do some research following a quicky “how to get more out of your jewelry shots” class
more on expodisc at http://www.expoimaging.net/reviews/
Judy
I offer 3 free excerpts from my Inexpensive Jewelry Photography Techniques ebook that anyone can read by clicking on the Booklocker link on my web site. One of those ebook excerpts goes into great detail on how to build a foam core light box for about $15 to $25 using just 3 sheets of foam core board, some straight pins, clear packing tape to protect the foam core board, and duck tape to hold the foam core boards together.
I designed this light box so that it can easily be taken apart and put back together again. My photo light box can be taken apart and stored in a corner or in a closet without taking up very much room.
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