The $20 Softbox

[Taallyn]

Today I found a cheap, 75" x 36" softbox. It cost $20 US at Target.

What is it? It is a closet. No really, it is one of those tubual steel, self assembled clothes closets. This one however comes with a nifty, transluscent fabric enclosure that I immediately thought "diffussion material: as soon as I saw it.

Here is a link to it on Target's site: Closet Closet, 36"

I seems to work really well. I have a post about it on my blog that goes into more detail. I'm actually kind of excited about this. It looks like this would work for table top stuff and portraits.

[Digidave]

I think you may be onto something here! I like your ingenuity. Have you tried aiming the flash the other direction & bouncing the light back into the softbox. Might be worth experimenting with tinfoil or something to even out the light coming through the box. That way it would be even light from top to bottom & good for full length portraits. See what I'm getting at? You could even try using a small florescent light as your source.

[lissykeeper]

This may be just what I have been looking for! And your gnome pics are awesome. Thanks for finding this and sharing with us all. Off to targets website!!!

[HockeyFan]

I like it. The next time I'm out, I plan on getting one of these. Thanks for posting the idea.

[Taallyn]

Thanks. It seemed like a good, inexpensive, and non-labor intensive item to convert. Most of the DIY softboxes I've seen used lumber, power tools, paint, and all sort of other stuff. This was a put it together and start using it idea. Plus, if it doesn't work out, you have someplace to hang those clothes that you outgrew in high school, but don't want to get rid of yet.

Digidave,
I do plan on playing around with it in the ways that you mention. I do intend to try lining it with aluminium foil, and making flags to control the light spread. I only had a short time with it last night, but we do have a long weekend coming up.

[rmtagg]

I think this may just be what I am looking for! Thanks for sharing

[Taallyn]

I've added another post about it after I modified it some. I added aluminium foil to the the inside sides and back, goboed the top, and took some more test shots.

The post is here.