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:iconceryk:

~Ceryk

Ceryk
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May have solved my lighting problem

Tue Jul 7, 2009, 4:05 PM
Well, I may have solved my lighting problem. I haven't been able to afford a proper lighting setup, or a good camera. Inspired by the results I got from the last time I took photos, I think I've found the solution. I've MacGuyvered a light box out of hangers, wire, an EVA plastic shower curtain and some tape. It seems to be working, though I probably need to tinker with it more and replace the plastic with a table cloth or bedsheet. However, it might be okay as it is now, I can't really tell because I've misplaced my tripod and my photos are blurry and shitty since I couldn't keep the camera steady.

On the note of the camera, my mom has SLR cameras around here somewhere. She might even have the Macro setup. So I may try using those despite my aversion to film based cameras. It will allow me to get a better shot and I believe that you can get digital prints these days. She's told me that they have short run film rolls too so I don't have to deal with having 23 exposures and having to use them all before I have them developed. I can't afford a DSLR, so this is probably a good alternative.

One thing that pisses me off though is that I can never keep the damn velvet clean and I can never get it clean for more than about 20 seconds. Seems like the second I clean it, crap starts gravitating towards it. I've kept it in plastic and it still gets dirty.

7 Comments
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:iconseeker212121:
~Seeker212121 Jul 8, 2009, 3:23:26 PM
MacGuyvered..YES!!! I may try to put one together for myself, never know what I'll find to put in it.
Have you tries one of those silicon lint rollers? They work pretty good at removing the fuzz of stuff.

--
You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
Anne Lamont
:iconceryk:
~Ceryk Jul 8, 2009, 5:30:43 PM
I think I'm changing the design up a bit. I found this laundry bin thing at Walmart. It's one of those put together your self deals and it's basically just bunch of aluminum rods with connectors and holds a laundy sack. It's by Mainstays, think it's a Walmart brand. But I'm planning on cutting the rods shorter. It comes like 30.5x31x16. I'd rather have somthing more like 20x20x16. But that's going to be much more square and stable. Plus I think I'm going with a cloth instead of plastic. I had really good luck with the last picture I took where I had my bedsheet between the lights and the chain. But that was a pain in the ass to set up, which is why I'm building the light box, heh. But right now, running about 25-30. But since I have the other one built, I can compare the results.

Silicon lint roller? I've never seen that I don't think. I may have to try and find one. I'm just used to regular lint rollers. Which I just realized I had :p
:iconseeker212121:
~Seeker212121 Jul 8, 2009, 6:19:27 PM
My boss has a light box at work that I use but I won't always work there( and if he doesn't stop being a dick that will happen sooner.
You may be able to find one at CVS or Walgreens. They tend to have that type of shit there. Just rinse it off and let it air dry and it'll work for a long time.

--
You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
Anne Lamont
:iconceryk:
~Ceryk Jul 8, 2009, 8:21:57 PM
I'll have to check them and see. They're closer than Walmart and I don't like driving out there unless I have to.

All my bosses have been dicks. I went from a school in a store with a super nice family running the place to assholes and psychos. Which is why I'm just refusing to ever work for anyone ever again. I'm going to be the boss. When I get employees, I'm going to make damn sure that they want to stick around. I may be abnormal, but at least I'm not a dick.
:iconseeker212121:
~Seeker212121 Jul 10, 2009, 1:52:07 PM
Most of my bosses have been dicks to one degree or another but most are smart enough to know not to piss me off too much. There may be an excess of jewelers in town but they are mostly hacks and it's hard to find good people that work at my level. There are probably less than 20 in town.

--
You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
Anne Lamont
:iconceryk:
~Ceryk Jul 10, 2009, 2:17:01 PM
Yeah, I know that's one reason I could never find a job. I wouldn't say I'm a hack, but I'm new. When I was looking for a job, I saw some but they were all for high level jewelers (or sales people. And that is a no.)

But anyway, I think I've got my light box issue worked out. The first one worked, but it was kind of wibbly and I wasn't sure about the wrapping. The second one has a nice straight, solid frame. "Nylon Tripple Laundry Sorter" in the Mainstays line at Walmart. Cut the long poles down from 30" to around 20" so it's 20x20x16, which is plenty of room. All I did was wrap a white table cloth around it (not even secured.) Seems to work just fine, though I have to adjust the distance of my light(s) I think. I can probably get pretty close to the same lighting quality as professional set ups if I tinker with it. Cost about $28 total. Plus my mom is going to show me how to use her old SLRs when she gets home since she's got the Macro/Micro set up.
:iconseeker212121:
~Seeker212121 Jul 10, 2009, 5:45:33 PM
Most places will bench test (I hate that) but there's no way around it for most places. I haven't had to test the last 4 places I've worked but that specter always haunts me if I move elsewhere. I have found that what some places call 'high level' is not as high as you may think.

I hope it does what you need it to do, you'll always want to document your better pieces to showcase what you can do. I think a lot of the jobs I've gotten has been because of my portfolio.

--
You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
Anne Lamont
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