DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Studio Lighting – The Ghetto Studio

Nov 7, 2007 by Udi Tirosh 2 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

just_fab_ghetto_studio_01.jpgJust Fab has come up with a great PVC contraption she calls the Ghetto Studio. It’s a great and portable setup that takes great Glamuor shots.

I asked Just Fab to share her plans and setup and she kindly agreed. Below you will find the instructions to build such setup. Total cost is less then 40$.

We have showed a PVC setup before, but it was very big. This PVC setup can be used both indoor and outdoor. The bottom and top are tiltable, covered with Ripstop nylon. Bottom hasa car windshield screen as a reflector. The strobe goes behind the topscrim and bounces off the bottom to reflect up. Instant one light setupto do butterfly lighting. I did have to glue some of the piecestogether to keep it from falling over in the wind, but it’s modular andtears down. The bottom screen tilts about 1/16 the way down, the top istilts in the middle. I can reverse those is need be. You simply shootin between the two.

Here is an image taken with this setup. Look for shadows under the eyes. Found any? No!

just_fab_ghetto_studio_00.jpg
Sweetness by Just Fab

The next following images show the materials you need to create this Ghetto Studio, as well as assembly needed.

PVC Pipes:

I put the tilt mechanism near the end. Wasn’t planning on the 5 inextension but needed to have a little extension for counterweight.

just_fab_ghetto_studio_07.jpg

Using 2 forty five degree pipes on each. These were an afterthought to make it more stable.

just_fab_ghetto_studio_09.jpg

It’s not that any of this was really planned. I made the base out ofpieces I had left. I just wanted to make sure I could get through adoorway.

The side supports were added later, just by putting the whole thingtogether and finding out where they dropped. It wasn’t planned…

just_fab_ghetto_studio_10.jpg

RIPSTOP nylon (you can also use silk):

With pivot in middle. This was the first thing I made. I sewed a blackfleece pocket. After that I got smart and just learned to make fabricclamps out of the next gauge pipe (you cut into a C shape and slipover). All of this is modular. It can go on top or bottom, but I usethis to diffuse the light like a softbox.

just_fab_ghetto_studio_08.jpg

Connecting

And here are the RIPSTOP clamps you will need to fasten the fabric to the frame – Get pipe one size bigger than your current pipe and cut. Will hold fabric in place.

just_fab_ghetto_studio_03.jpg

Lastly, to hold the pieces together, you will need some connectors – Size 13 O ring. Usually one is all I use on each mechanism. Screw is”cut off riser” cut to the one link. Make sure you have the T pieceswith middle piece threaded. But you don’t want these to put the pipestogether anywhere else.

just_fab_ghetto_studio_02.jpg

Here is a shot with a reflector on the bottom panel

just_fab_ghetto_studio_05.jpg

To end this article, here is a great self portrait of Just Fab made using this Ghetto Studio.

just_fab_ghetto_studio_11.jpg
One day I will center myself… by Just Fab

Update: The same idea can be found in Dean Collins’s Tinker Tubes. A great book for the low budget photographer.

Related posts:
– Just Fab photostream
– Full Studio PVC Setup
– Flash Mounted homemade DIY Softbox

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailStudio Lighting – Really cheap homemade diy studio – no lighting needed Default ThumbnailStudio Lighting – Lighting Diagrams, Planning and Explaining Default ThumbnailVirtual Lighting Studio Let You Light & Shoot With No Studio Default ThumbnailGhetto Flower Setup

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: diffusion, DIY Photography & Studio, studio

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.net

About Udi Tirosh

Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

« Great High Speed Photography Trigger by Tom Barnett
How To Add Pictures To Comments On DIYPhotography.net »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Sigma’s 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is a big hunk of glass
  • Chasing the Sun: How to predict the sun’s position to improve composition
  • What is the Sunny 16 Rule?
  • Zeiss confirms it’s not leaving the photography industry
  • Compact cameras meet comfort with Peak Design’s Micro Clutch

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy