Cheap Light Tent for Macro Photography

OK, first a rant.

I've always wanted a "real" light tent to help me take macro and product shots (mainly for my eBay auctions) but everytime I convince myself to buy one I go online and find these things run $50 bucks (for a cheapie) and up (for a not so cheapie).

And then I get pissed because all they really are are a box with some fabric, maybe a collapsible metal frame and a couple of table lamps. I mean, are you kidding me? The boxes look like they have all of $1.29 worth of material and the lamps look like $2.99 bargain bin items.

I get the capitalism thing. I don't expect them not to make a profit, but do you have to bend me over so blatantly?

So, rant off. That's when I decided to make my own.

The Criteria: A) Cheap B) Sturdy C) Collapsible D) Work as Intended

Do a search on the internet and you'll find plans for these all over the place so pick one that's best for you. This is just mine.

I made the following out of items found at IKEA for under $20 and I think it works pretty well.

The Goods:

1. Skubb Laundry Bag ($8.99) http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90116510
2. (2) Morker Lights ($4.99 x 2) http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10057642
3. 4 Incandescent Light Bulbs -(.$.79) http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50148693

The Tally = $19.77

So why do I like it?

Well I'm an apartment dweller so I'm short on space and this kit will tuck in a shoebox under the bed with no issues.

It's not the biggest softbox in the world, and it's a bit of an odd shape but at the end of the day, for the shots that I take it works terrific.

I like these IKEA lights not only because they're cheap, but because they are very adjustable and they hold their position (IMO) better than most gooseneck style lamps.

THE RESULTS:

So embrace you inner cheapskate and get yourself outfitted.

Sad News...

Well it's been a bit since my last update.

Some sad news these past few days with the passing of my Uncle Bob (affectionately known as "Uncle") on 3/7. He was a lot of things to a lot of people. Good. Complex. Loving. Charitable. Stubborn. Righteous. Resolute.

He was my Dad's older brother and of course with his passing I start to wonder (and worry) about my Dad. He's 6 years his junior but frankly my Dad looks and acts older than Uncle did. Uncle was always into something. Golf. Painting. Running. Church. Gardening (man could he garden). I wish my Dad had the same pallet of interest because I think it would keep him young.

I stood at the funeral and watched my three cousins sob. And while it made me sad to see them so upset, it also made me happy because it told me that Uncle was important to them.

He made a big difference in their lives.

He made an impact.He mattered.

You don't cry like that over someone that doesn't matter.

I realized then that that's what I want when I die. I want the room to be wall-to-wall wailing and then I want everyone to go to a really good pub (like O'Connors or Federal Jack's or The Up Country Saloon) and I want them to stand around arm-in-arm drinking Newcastle's and laughing. I want them to start every sentence with "Do you remember the time...." or "Boy he really loved...." and I want their to be more laughter. I want the hostess to have to come over and ask everyone to quiet down.

And when the ale runs dry, and the laughter stops and everyone is spilling onto the street and saying their goodbyes I want folks to smile and remember me as someone that mattered.

I think that's all I can really ask for out of my life.

God Bless You Uncle. You were a complicated man that mattered. You weren't always easy to figure out or agree with, but you were someone that mattered. Good on ya'.