RMC Article - "Thinking Inside the Box"

[reinhardtjh]

The April RMC, in addition to Josh Surkosky aka @chicken45 's Queen Mary article, also has a pretty good (to me) introduction to model photography.  The article shows how to build an inexpensive light box and then how to use it.  The author then goes on to talk about several topics related to shooting photos with the box and things a new model photographer might need to know.

[chicken45]

I'm still waiting for mine. I haven't actually seen it IRL yet.

[reinhardtjh]

My physical copy, yes, same here.  They were in the hobby shop I went to this past weekend, but my subscription hasn't arrived.  I called WRP and the lady I spoke to said they'd been mailed, but USPS magazine rate was slow.  Some hobby shops ordered enough for them to be sent UPS or FedEx and they got them in a couple days.  So they should arrive in the US Mail pretty soon.

I was reading the digital copy.

[p51]

I was at the local Barnes and Noble on Sunday afternoon and saw a copy of the RMC you’re talking about. They had one person on checkout and they were setting someone up for their ‘membership’ and it took so long I was able to speed read through the article. I was so ticked at how long it took them, I put the magazine back and walked out, having gotten the info from it.
It’s not that great an article to anyone who’s familiar with basic photo work. But for a total newcomer to photographing models, it might be worth something.
As for the ‘box photo studio’, my wife bought me a professional style portable setup like that for Christmas several years ago, but it takes so long to set it up (from the one time I tried seeing how it worked), I’ve never taken photos with it even one time. I probably should use it someday, but I think it’s been in the closet for maybe a decade now…

[peteski]

I also purchased couple of the portable light boxes (Micro-Mark sold those but I found them cheaper on eBay and at Harbor Freight).  That was probably over 5 years ago.  They came with fairly crappy lights and I also thought it was too much hassle to set them up.

I came up with really simple alternative for most of my in-progress photos. It is described in thread.

[skytop35]

I'm not a beginner but I really liked the simple light box from that article. I built one just like it and it works very well !

[mmagliaro]

I have been tempted a few times to get one of those "quick" pop-up photo light booths.  They make small ones that are only about 12" square that seem like a good idea.  I could provide my own lights to side-step the usually cheap ones that come with such things.

But in the end, I do about what Peteski does.  I don't usually shoot my in-progress shots wiht a blue background.  I use a heavy white piece of clean cardstock.  I bought a whole pack of 25 11" x 14" sheets of the stuff at a craft store, so when one gets dirty, I can just pitch it.   I sometimes hold a plain white piece of paper directly over the model to get rid of any glare that tends to love to bounce off metal surfaces.

[Philip H]

I got one of the small ones and two lights off eBay for about $30 several years ago. I've done a lot of photography with it, including stuff published in N Scale and MRH. I don't find it a hassle to set up - except I need space on my bench!

[mmagliaro]

I got one of the small ones and two lights off eBay for about $30 several years ago. I've done a lot of photography with it, including stuff published in N Scale and MRH. I don't find it a hassle to set up - except I need space on my bench!

Funny you mention that!  That was my quandry too.  I would have to keep about an 18" by 18" deep area on the workbench clear at all times and that's too much real estate to give up.  If I could carve out a separate booth area where I could leave it set up all the time on another table, I might still try this.

[Philip H]

Funny you mention that!  That was my quandry too.  I would have to keep about an 18" by 18" deep area on the workbench clear at all times and that's too much real estate to give up.  If I could carve out a separate booth area where I could leave it set up all the time on another table, I might still try this.

I solved the problem by setting up on the dining room table at night after the wife was in bed. We shall see how the  new space works out - but I don't want to have it set up permanently regardless.

[p51]

I solved the problem by setting up on the dining room table at night after the wife was in bed.

Same, here.

[mmagliaro]

I don't know about you guys, but when my wife is in bed, that's where I want to be too.
 
Was that too much information?   

[Santa Fe Guy]

I don't know about you guys, but when my wife is in bed, that's where I want to be too.
 
Was that too much information?   

Nope, very funny actually.
Rod.

[peteski]

I don't know about you guys, but when my wife is in bed, that's where I want to be too.
 
Was that too much information?   

Sounds like a very healthy and satisfying relationship!    Rock on!

[Philip H]

I don't know about you guys, but when my wife is in bed, that's where I want to be too.
 
Was that too much information?   

Truer words have not recently been typed.