Making a Good Idea Even Better
One of the coolest things about starting up a website has been getting a peek behind the curtain at how some of the normally hidden stuff on the web happens.One of my strongest impressions has been that Google will someday own the world. They are an amazing machine.
They make available - for free - a set of statistics on the daily site traffic that just continues to boggle my mind.
I can see which are the most popular pages, and develop those to basically give people more of what they want.
I know that people are logging on daily from more than 50 countries. (Estonia? Who knew?)
I know where people are likely to spend the longest amount of time. (On the essays.)
And if you have a webcam on your computer, I can actually see you while you surf. To the guy in Spain who likes to read "On Assignment" at 3:00am wearing nothing other than a pair of hot pink boxer shorts:
Please. Stop.
Alright, so maybe I am kidding about the webcam part. But the stats really are amazing.
The most telling is the list of referring sites - where people come to Strobist from.
And site number nine on yesterday's list was a place called www.fredmiranda.com. Never heard of it. But, apparently, some of you guys have.
So, out of curiosity, I moseyed on over and took a look through Fred's site last night.
Now, Fred is just your typical guy, with a typical story:
Born in Brazil, studies Architecture Design and Computer Science, wins the national bodybuilding championship, moves to the US, becomes a model (LA, New York and Milan) and later goes on to study computer graphics at UCLA. And now he runs FredMiranda.com, a pretty kick-butt photo site.
You know, pretty much the typical web publisher profile. My story, as you can imagine, is much the same. Yawn.
(Oh, and ladies: He's taken. Married 12 years with two daughters. Sorry. My wife was bummed, too.)
So, in addition to a site that is worth checking out in general, there are also some cool articles on how-to and the like. Which brings me to the purpose of this increasingly long-winded post.
On this page is a tutorial on how to build a little softbox for your flash. It's a cool little idea, that could be made even better with a little evolutionary thinking.
First, you could GET THE FRIGGIN' THING OFF OF THE CAMERA! (Sorry, little kneejerk reaction to on-cam flash there. Please excuse.)
But anybody could do that. What kept me awake last night was trying to figure out a way to design this softbox to where it would be collapsible. That way, I could carry two of them (face-to-face, for protection) in a little notebook in my trunk. They'd be ready to use - and undamaged - at any time.
I had a dawn assignment today, so I fell asleep before it came to me. But I thought I'd also flip it to you guys, since many of you are also
Take a look at the tutorial (and the rest of the site, for that matter) and see if you can come up with anything. If you get a good collapsible design, start a Flickr thread and lets see if it can be improved.
Get in touch with your Inner MacGuyver. And if you build it, use the thing off-camera for Pete's sake.
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by David, at 9:03 AM.
20 Comments:
I actually came here thru fredmiranda.com or FM for short. I have loved looking around your site for the last two days. Can't wait to get more involved. Another great thing FM has going on is a really robust buy/sell forum if anyone here on the strobist is looking for gear. I'd highly recommend it!
David, I really do appreciate the time and effort that you put into your website. I find myself checking out your site daily for inspiration and usually find it. I am always recommending your site to friends. Keep up the good work.
I have made one of these without even seeing that tutorial...
Off the top of my head what I would do is:
1. Not join any of the sides (i.e. where they're joined together with the long strips of tape.
2. Only have the sleeve (bit that slides over the flash head) fixed to one of the sides (sides being the triangular pieces of card).
3. Have the other three sides velcro onto the sleeve.
4. Thus, all the sides would fold flat down onto the diffusion screen and when lifted up again would velcro into place ready to go onto the camera.
Hm.. I am going to have to hit the craft and fabric store but here is my concept...
Basically I want to create a frame that is collapseable and then use a sliver fabric for sides and a translucent white for the diffuser part (thus it folds).
For the frame I was thinking a fairly strong support (will use popsicle sticks to try first) with all the joints being connected via strech elastic. So each joint when let loose will be pulled into the right shape but is easily folded. Will have to see if I can swing by stores tonight and give it a go.
Hmm. And how is this any different than http://www.lumiquest.com/lq925.htm
And I'm sure they have a patent (or two) on the concept.
I think it's been done:
http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/cheap-diy-flash-mounted-softbox
To the last two posters: ... So?
To 'anonymous';
A design that was 'portable' was asked for - and I supplied one. Do you have an issue?
I've been a FredMiranda member for a long time, and that's how I came across this site too. Keep up the fantastic work David, and thanks for all the insight.
If my math is correct, the DIY softbox on the FM website provides 120 square inches of surface area. The Lumiquest LQ925D provides 35 square inches. That's a big difference.
If you go to B&H and look under Lighting & Studio > Softboxes & Umbrellas > "On-Camera" Softboxes and connectors, you will see that Morris makes a 15x18 inch softbox that folds. This is 270 square inches. Also on B&H is a Medalight 10x10 inch box that apparently does not fold easily. B&H also lists similar items from Photoflex and Westcott, but you get the idea. These products are available from several manufacturers at a reasonable cost.
I'm trying to imagine walking around on a windy day with a softbox the size of a piece of A3+ paper attached to my flash. It appears that the softbox on the Fred Miranda site is held to the flash by friction only, by attaching it to a Stofen diffuser. You're going to spend a lot of time chasing that thing. Sail on, sailor.
Honestly, for off-camera use, I think a small umbrella is superior to one of these devices. It folds quickly and easily, and it attaches securely.
Here is an Idea for you.
Cut out the 4 sides similar to the displayed version ensuring that the short sides match the dimensions of your strobe head. Tape 3 sides with enough space between the panels to allow the joints to act as a hinges so that you can fold and store flat. On the final side attach a strip of velcro to hold the box shape together when it is to be used on the flash unit.
Cut a small 1/4" wide x 3/4" deep notch in the outside edge of the center of top most side of the Box.
Obtain a regular sized white party balloon and inflate to a size so that you can pressue fit the ballon inside the the box frame you have just created.
Slide the balloon knot into the Small notch you cut previously so that the balloon is held in place securely.
You now have an on flash soft box with double diffusion that depending on the side you made, can be used both on or off camera
I have used this Wescott Micro Apollo with great success. Of course, now I know that it is supposed to be used "off the camera".
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=62832&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
A "regular-sized white party balloon." ?? I suppose a condom not only would be an acceptable substitute, but also would be stronger and more readily available. It could add protection against computer viruses when you upload your raw or jpeg files to your computer.
Thanks much for the ideas, folks. As for the small number of square inches, the idea would be to use this little "softbox" in close with an off-camera cord.
The softness is all about "apparent" light source size, not actual size. Apparent size increases as distance decreases, and vice versa.
Otherwise that "harsh sun" might not be so bad...
Of course, you would not want to be close enough to it for it to be a "soft" light source. You'd look great right up until you were vaporized...
David,
What tool are you using to track hits and other statistics to your blog? (Estonia...really? Wow.)
Thanks!
Jim
Google Analytics. Free, and scary good.
I found your website just today, and I want to thank you for this cool idea.
As an owner of a photography related blog myself, I know how hard it is to find good stuff to post and it seems you are doing well.
Cheers
I have an idea for a collapsible softbox... I will try it tomorrow.
"To the guy in Spain who likes to read "On Assignment" at 3:00am wearing nothing other than a pair of hot pink boxer shorts:
Please. Stop."
Looks like that's me...
Randomly ran into this one again searching for "Strobist Estonia" to see if there were any local meetups - I've been living here over 2 years now and I have to say I know more keen DSLR users here than I ever did in Cambridge, London or Jersey :)
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