• Home

    • Home-made Umbrella

    February 11th, 2010 | portal.cgkz.com | edit

  • Hi all,

    I'm a student living in South Africa - that is in essence my problem... In South Africa *ALL* photographic supplies - even the el-cheapo models - are imported, secondly being a full time student I don't have the resources to pay the exorbitant prices.

    I’ve been into photography for a while, and at the moment am experimenting with taking my flash off camera. So I went to the biggest Photographic retailer in town and managed to find a light-stand relatively cheaply. But then, when I enquired about a reflective umbrella I was shocked to find that the umbrella was way more than the stand... So I thanked them for their time and walked out with just the stand.

    I decided to build my own... So I went to a cheap Chinese shop - they sell plastic handbags, weird stuffed toys and, to my delight R12.00 ($2) umbrellas! Unfortunately their only model was blue and had ears coming out the top :er:. Anyway - I cut off the ears, bought Super Chrome and Satin Black spray-paint (total of R60.00 ~ $10), and spraypainted the inside silver and the outside black. Afterwards it looked really nice and professional (see attached photo) My question is: getting a photo umbrella for a total of $12 seems TOO easy - and am worried that I am overlooking something. Is there something that professional umbrellas have/do that mine will not?

    Thanks,
    Martin

    http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d22/Scissorhands1203/umbrella.jpg


  • So how's it work? Fire of a test shot for us.


  • So how's it work? Fire of a test shot for us.

    here's one I did quickly of my sister... It needs another light on the hat - o well... Also, I'm having to press the test-fire button on my flash every time (while the shutter is open) as I forgot to buy sync cables... Maybe i'll try those cheap ebay wireless triggers...

    Anyway - pretty standard setup - light coming from top right with whilte reflector bottom left

    http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d22/Scissorhands1203/katie_small.jpg


  • looks cool...but you have to remember that your paint will start to fall off the inside.... it might start to flake...

    my advice... never put the umbrella down :P


  • That doesn't look a bad result to me. I'd be interested to see if there is any apparent colour cast when used with colour images. The only other thing I could see being affected is the overall amount of light thrown at the subject, as the paint doesn't look quite as reflective as a manufactured item might be.







    • #If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.#
    Your name:
    E-mail:
    Telphone:

    Your comments:


    If you have any other info about Home-made Umbrella , Please add it free.