Besides being a photographer, I am also a website developer and consultant here in Colorado. It is a lot of fun for me when I get a project where I can use my skills from both areas. Such is the case this week, where I am working on a couple of websites for a Boulder glassblower. My existing light tent was not adequate for this project (no underlighting), so I set out to build a new one out of PVC. This isn’t rocket science, and a lot of people have done it, but I needed mine to be just a little bit different. I decided I was going to shoot the glass items on top of a glass riser, with a fluorescent light fixture underneath. To that end, I set of for Home Depot.
Shopping list:
- 8 1/2″ PVC Side Outlet 90’s
- 4 1/2″ PVC T’s
- 8 1/2″ PVC Male Threaded – Slip adapters
- 4 10′ x 1/2″ PVC Pipe
- 1 Low profile fluorescent light fixture
- 6′ 14/3, rubber coated extension cord (just cord, no ends)
- 15A Outlet Plug
- 1 18″x36″x3/16″ plate glass
Why I bought some of this stuff:
- The threaded male / slip adapters were because the side outlet 90’s have one outlet that is threaded. Instead of spending the time with a Dremel removing the threads, I just spent a few cents on the adapter and called it done.
- Fluorescent fixture and associated cord, plug was purchased because the selection of plugin light fixtures was not adequate for my needs. Total cost for the fixture, cord and plug was around $35, IIRC. If you are not comfortable with wiring together electrical devices, you should look for a pre-wired fixture suitable for your needs.
Construction was pretty simple.
1. Measure 14 sections of 30″ each (or whatever length you want to use) on the PVC pipe. After cutting, I used a file to clean up the edges.
2. From the remaining length of pipe, cut 4 pieces 3″ long. These are the risers to go higher than the light fixture (depending on your fixture, you may need to go higher than 3″).
3. Put together the 90° outs and the slip/ threaded adapters.
4. Using a rubber mallet, put one piece of pipe into one end of a 90° out. Continue doing this, making a square base such that the threaded/ slip adapters are facing upward.
5. Insert the 3″ lengths of pipe into the threaded/ slip adapters.
6. Attach 2 PVC T’s to a piece of pipe, and then set the completed piece on top of the 3″ lengths on the base. Do this twice.
7. To the top of each T, insert a 30″ piece of pipe.
8. Same as step 4, construct a square frame from the remaining 4 pieces of 30″ pipe and the 90° outs (with the threaded/ slip adapters facing up).
9. Invert the completed square frame from step 8 and attach to the top of the frame from step 7.
10. Completed item should look similar to the photo above.
11. For good measure, I took a wet paper towel and wiped down all of the pipe.
That is all there is to it. You will of course need sheets or fabric to make the shell of the tent, and some kind of material for the backdrop. So far I used 3 single-size sheets to cover my tent, a piece of posterboard for the backdrop, and my clamp lights for lighting (I have 3 of those).
My immediate plan is to hit a fabric shop and get white and black muslin for the backdrop, and also get enough white fabric to make a proper slip cover for the tent. But for now this setup is working well. Here is a photo from the tent.
This tent is pretty big and portable. If it is too big for your needs, you could try this alternative design. I just might have to build one of these and try it out too.
[1/19/08 - I updated the fabric for the curtains and backdrops]
DIY Reflector-Diffuser
The Finn Bounce
It’s Time – I Am Ready to Start Photographing Real Estate
Seems like forever ago that I decided I wanted to start shooting real estate for a part time income. Ever since, I have been doing my homework – reading the relevant sites, starting to engage in Flickr group conversations, ordered and read an ebook. Beyond all that, I have been doing a lot of practicing. I have gone back to images from a few months ago and reworked them in Photoshop, taking advantage of lessons learned in the ebook and the Flickr groups (I can’t say enough good things about the people in the PFRE Flickr group – they have been very helpful and nice to boot). I took the best of the crop and created my Real Estate / Resort Photo Gallery.
This gallery represents the first step in me deciding that it is time to actively market my services for real estate photography in the Denver metro area (probably focusing on Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, Wheat Ridge, Golden) and the Colorado Front Range (to include Bailey, Conifer/ Aspen Park, Evergreen, Morrison, Kittredge, Genesee, the 285 and I-70 corridors). I never mind a trip to the mountains, so I plan to also be available in the Summit County area, covering Keystone, Dillon, Silverthorne (and Wildernest), Frisco, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain.
I have not finalized pricing yet, but plan to do that soon based on similar services in the area. Yes, times are tough right now in real estate, but I think quality photos can really help generate interest in a property. When the economy is down, effective marketing is that much more essential.
Take a look at my Real Estate / Resort Photo Gallery and let me know what you think.