Light Box? What's that?
In the world of photography, a light box — also known as a 'white box' or 'light tent' — is an enclosure that provides a solid, well-lit environment for something being photographed.
- It diffuses and reduces bright incoming light
- It helps control and minimize shadows
- It concentrates light where you want it.
In other words, the reason for the light box is to take better pictures of static objects.
Have you seen those professional product pictures on Amazon? A lot of them are made using a light box.
In the world of photography, a light box — also known as a 'white box' or 'light tent' — is an enclosure that provides a solid, well-lit environment for something being photographed.
- It diffuses and reduces bright incoming light
- It helps control and minimize shadows
- It concentrates light where you want it.
In other words, the reason for the light box is to take better pictures of static objects.
Have you seen those professional product pictures on Amazon? A lot of them are made using a light box.
For fly tyers, this same technology makes a simple picture of a fly into something that really pops!
On our 'Palmetto Fly N Fish' Facebook page, I added a mini-tutorial to help with taking pics....
On our 'Palmetto Fly N Fish' Facebook page, I added a mini-tutorial to help with taking pics....
But for the up-close fly foto, I have been using a $5 light box I found at Five Below
It included a white and black back drop and a built-in, super bright LED strip.
If you don't know what Five Below is, well, it's kinda like a Dollar Store, but for the, 'teen trendy', under-25 shopper. The name means that merchandise is mostly $5, $10, etc.
It included a white and black back drop and a built-in, super bright LED strip.
If you don't know what Five Below is, well, it's kinda like a Dollar Store, but for the, 'teen trendy', under-25 shopper. The name means that merchandise is mostly $5, $10, etc.
They have a lot of inexpensive techie stuff, too, much of it geared towards vlogging and cell-phone photography/video... thus, the $5 light box.
I tinkered with DIY versions, and they do work. So, I quickly saw the benefits of a light box... and then I ran across this thing for a Lincoln.
The $5 Light Box
In the following pictures, you can see $5 light box and some details about it.
I tinkered with DIY versions, and they do work. So, I quickly saw the benefits of a light box... and then I ran across this thing for a Lincoln.
The $5 Light Box
In the following pictures, you can see $5 light box and some details about it.
1 cubic foot in volume; just right for small items like flies.
It folds up if you want to store it flat, and inside, you can see the black backdrop that comes with it.
The black cord leads to a common 5v power adapter, with micro-SD connector. You connect this to the light box to power the LED strip.
Here's a view "down the throat" of the light box
The LED lights - they really brighten up the interior.
Here's a fly in the light box, posed on some wood
for that, "natural" look.
The same fly after editing with my Android phone's simple editing suite. What a difference!
After seeing this light box in action, I'm sure you'll agree that this light box is really a step above cluttered, bench-top fly pics.
Most fly tyers are not professional photographers - I know that. However, a few simple tips like those linked above, and a $5 light box, well... it makes a big difference.
And really, you can't go wrong at that price!
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Palmetto Fly n Fish
Thanks so much for reading, and...
Tight Lines,
David Hutton
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