Simulated Ring Light

[n5wd]

Don't know about Jerry A's homemade rig, but we've got one in my studio... made on a frame built out of 4x4's, it's four sets of daylight-balanced flourescent tubes. Roger Smith has posted some images of it before - I guess I need to do some pix for the occassional question about it, as well.

Here's what the result looks like:

[jimmyd]

I hear this from models often enough: "Do you shoot with a ring light?"

Most of them don't have a freakin' clue what a ring light is. Or if they do, they don't have a clue why I might or might not use one.

When asked, I've sometimes responded with "Ring light? What's a ring light?"

And i get answers like, "You know, one of those things that makes me look good," or "It goes on your camera and makes really cool reflections in my eyes," or my favorite, "You don't know? I thought you were a professional photographer?"

I ain't saying this specifically to the poster of this thread, but if you''re a shooter who prefers ring lights, that's cool. but please quit telling models--if you're one of the ones who does this--how freakin' great ring lights are, how they are the end-all be-all for shooting models, and how only real pros use them and all that crap because if that's you, you're as clueless as the models who ask me the above questions.

here's another one a model asked me not too long ago. "Jimmy, do you use a skin tone filter on your camera?"

I honestly responded, "A skin tone filter? what's that?"

"You don't know?" she asked.

"Oh! Do you mean a flesh tone enhancement filter?" I asked.

"I guess so," she said. "Is it that filter that makes my skin look all tanned and smooth?"

"Yeah, that's the one," I said.

"Great! Do you use one?" She asked.

"Nope." I said without any further comment.

"Oh." She said, her hopes and dreams for a good shoot suddenly dashed.

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

You can whip one together for less than $100 using shop lights from Home Depot, etc. Here is a photo of one like the one Roland uses:



As you can see its just two light stands with the shop lights taped on to it to form a square. You shoot through the square (you on one side the model on the other. Here is an example with the above rig:



Cheers,
rfs

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Yes, this is the photo of the one at the Imagery Workshop that we use at our workshops every month:



This is a more permanent one built with two by fours (I suppose). Here is a sample shot using the one in this example (but since I hand held it it wasn't as sharp and so I did the soft focus thing to make it usable):



Note: When using these home made jobs with cheaper ballasts (shop lights), you need to keep your shutter speed below 1/60th otherwise you'll get variations of exposure. On more expensive ballasts, you don't have to worry since they cycle much faster.

Cheers,
rfs

[gregkdavis]

If you do, I can show you a very inexpensive ring light.

[AdamStewart]

Thanks for all the tips, Im a portrait photographer and just cant justify the cost of a ring light for what little use I would get out of it. I almost sold my hensel porty system last month to help come up with the cash. This is much the better option for me.

[AdamStewart]

I own a couple and would love to hear your idea

[CharlieWI]

Is there one tube or two tubes in each of the four lights?

Thank you

[HerbieJ]

I would love to hear your idea. I tried a couple of things that day but none of them seemed to get the exact effect I was looking for. I tried shooting from in the middle of 3 small soft boxes. One was over my head and the other two were either to the left and right of me at waist level.

I think for my next attempt I am going fabricate something like a background shovel reflector only larger with a hole or tunnel in it through which I can shoot. If it works I'll post some information on it.

Thanks,
Herb

[HerbieJ]

That's too funny...

H