How to Build a Light Rig
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This is an excerpt from the photo seminar I gave at Wonderfest this year, Filmy's Foto Fantastic. I don't use a photo tent, but a lot of people asked me how to build one, so I put this little tutorial together. Note that a photo tent will not make you a great photographer. It WILL diffuse the light and give you a more even effect for your photos, but it is not the cure-all for model photography.
The main thing you need for good photos is an understanding of the basics - aperture, shutter speed, lighting, and depth of field. FOr more information, check out the slides from my seminar in the Filmy's Foto Fantastic tutorial.
Measure the PVC and cut into twelve 24" lengths for the sides and cross braces. Cut eight 6" lengths to go between the tees and the elbows on both side structures. You can push all of the parts together - there is no need to glue them. That way you can collapse the tent and put it away when you're not using it.
Take the two 24" lengths of 1.5" pipe and insert them into the 1.5" PVC drains. Then clip your lights on to the vertical uprights. Drape the broadcloth across the tent and add a piece of posterboard for a backdrop.
In order to get good depth of field, you're gonna have to use a small aperture, which means that you'll have to compensate with a slower shutter speed. As a result, you will need to use a tripod and the timer on your camera to prevent burring. (For more information, see my photo tut, Filmy's Foto Fantastic.) Thr blue boards you see are cheap reflectors I made using foam core and mylar.
