Cheap lighting for digital camera photos...?

Question

I have a new digital camera, it takes great photos in good light but in my apt at night it makes it look like a cave. Anyone know how i can spend maybe $10 at walmart and get good lighting? My current idea is to take a stand I already have, attach a white floodlight that faces a diffusing surface, something refractive like a large sheet of white card stock, or silver cardstock. Anyone have any other/better ideas?

Answer 1

You could got the inexpensive route and get all the same types of lights(all tungsten - bulbs, or all flourscents) and set your white balance accordingly. Another option for this is daylight rated temp bulbs.

OR

Check www.amvona.com or www.adorama.com
Both have pro lighht setups at a good price, and by good I mean $200-$300. Most other light sets are going to run into the high hundreds to thousands.

Answer 2

On the cheap, do exactly what you propose. The reflector material will give you some direction to the light, and you will get a lot of overall fill from a flood light going all directions. I would aim the light up towards the sheet and into the ceiling a bit too.

150w light bulb. If it isn't enough get another one and figure out how to put it on the same stand (to save money) or get another stand too.

As Photoguy_Ryan says, clamp on work lights with a regular large bulb also work well.

If your camera does not automatically white balance to the lights, then manually set it to tungsten light.

Change your ISO to a bit higher also might help at the increase of noise.

Answer 3

I have used different sizes of the round, silver, bowl shaped, work lights with squeeze on clamps.

A diffuser, is good, but you want to get the highest power "natural light" bulb as possible. My work lights are rated for 100 watts I think, but I use 250 watt bulbs, and turn them off frequently to keep things from overheating.

If your camera has a connector for off camera flash, you can get generic flashes for about $40. Depends on your camera.

I use plain glosssy foam board for lighting diffusers/reflectors , and foamboard with various colors of mylar, silver, gold, green, red, etc... to give backgrounds, or hair highlights a little something. They work pretty decent for something like apartment ministudios.