DIY RIng Light - my "poor man's" ring flash for portraits

[brianwahl]

I found this link a while back for making a DIY ring light, and I've been dying to give it a shot ever since.

Well today I finally finished it. I'd say I spent about $60-70 total on this thing - it would probably cost you less if you have general handyman type stuff around, and more if you don't have much for tools.

Anyway, here is my finished product:



Mine is super ugly (notice the wiring visible inside the ring), but it definitely gets the job done.

Here is my first self-portrait test. I am very pleased with the results. Click on the photos to go to the flickr page, where you can view the images much larger and really see the great looking catch lights in the eyes.



and in color...



I think this gives a very professional looking portrait on a very non-professional budget. If you think this is something you'd like to try, give it a shot - if I can pull it off, anybody can.

[zona5101]

Pretty cool.
How much does that weigh?

[brianwahl]

Not very much. The rings are made out of 3/16" masonite board - really lightweight. The rest of the parts are pretty lightweight - probably weighs 3-5 pounds or so.

[MOmilkman]

Hey, pretty cool. I'd like to give that a shot but my wife is already busting my butt about my homemade light box that takes up half the spare bedroom. lol

[pjflan7]

those catch lights are actually kind of freaky.....What if you made another layer and covered the bulbs with opaque plexiglass so the light is more diffused...The light on you is already good, but I actually find the catchlights to be distracting....neat idea though

[brianwahl]

Originally Posted by MOmilkman

Hey, pretty cool. I'd like to give that a shot but my wife is already busting my butt about my homemade light box that takes up half the spare bedroom. lol

Ha - I have the same situation...



That thing is enormous. And I have nowhere to put it.

Originally Posted by pjflan7

those catch lights are actually kind of freaky.....What if you made another layer and covered the bulbs with opaque plexiglass so the light is more diffused...The light on you is already good, but I actually find the catchlights to be distracting....neat idea though

I've thought about that. You can buy sheets of stuff at lowe's in the shop lighting section that would diffuse the light really well. Basically the stuff that is on shop lights to diffuse the light. Bonus for it being really cheap.

[martindk3]

Originally Posted by brianwahl

I found this link a while back for making a DIY ring light, and I've been dying to give it a shot ever since.

Well today I finally finished it. I'd say I spent about $60-70 total on this thing - it would probably cost you less if you have general handyman type stuff around, and more if you don't have much for tools.

Anyway, here is my finished product:



Mine is super ugly (notice the wiring visible inside the ring), but it definitely gets the job done.

Here is my first self-portrait test. I am very pleased with the results. Click on the photos to go to the flickr page, where you can view the images much larger and really see the great looking catch lights in the eyes.



and in color...



I think this gives a very professional looking portrait on a very non-professional budget. If you think this is something you'd like to try, give it a shot - if I can pull it off, anybody can.

Thats cool.. I think it looks nice!

Great idea.