Lighting and Grip Equipment for Clamp Lamp Studio

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Here is the list of the most essential photo studio equipment you might need:

Lighting

The Clamp Lamp:Image may be NSFW.
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Can be purchased in any hardware store.

Bulbs:Frosted and Clear: 40w 60w 75w 100w 150w keeping various light bulbs handy will allow variable output of light.

Clear bulb: Image may be NSFW.
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produce hard light and sharpest shadows. See our tutorial: How To Create abstract effect withDirect Hard Light

Frosted Bulb: 

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produce more diffused light and slightly softer shadows.

Spot Light bulb: Image may be NSFW.
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Is used when strong focused light is required. Works well as hair light on portraits. Prevents light from spilling to unwanted areas.

Grip:

There are many DIY solutions to hold lights, cards and background. In our clamp lamp tutorials we show you professional grade gear. So when you graduate to Strobe or Pro Tungsten lighting - professional grip equipment will continue to work for you.

Light stands:  

Are used to hold the light, not only clamp lamp but also any professional strobe head or tungsten light.

Stands can also hold: reflectors, bounce cards, foam boards. ( use with medium A clamp)

Also can support a roll of diffusion tissue (use with Hollywood arm)

2 stands (with cross bar or Hollywood Arms) can hold a roll of background paper

Diffusion Paper.

Drafting Vellum 16lb on the roll. Available from 18 inches to 72 inches wide

http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_id=6033

http://www.filmtools.com/10tracpap48x.html

Hollywood Gobo Arm – comes short 20” and long 40”

Hollywood Head - Adds moving flexibility to the Arm (among other things)

Sand Bags: Send bags are used to prevent light stands from falling while it holds weight that can tip off balance. You can make your own, or buy a professional one:

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=sandbags&gclid=CNKjteKE_aACFcN05QodzCoQvg

A-Clamps a.k.a Spring clamps Come in Small 2”, Medium 4” and Large 6” . (we mostly use medium A-clamps)

Useful to attach foam board to a stand etc… (Available at hardware stores and pro-photo stores.)

Foam boards. a.k.a. Foam core, a.k.a. Gobos:  Come in all black, all white, and one side white the other black. White cards are used to reflect and bounce the light. While black used to block the light or to prevent it from bouncing. Also large cards  can be used as background. Come in all sizes.From 4 feet X 8 feet and smaller in our clamp lamp tutorials we mostly use 40 inch x 60 inch foam can be cut to size to suit your needs.

Pin Frog a.k.a. Ikebana Kenzan. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.A handy little tool that can hold foam-board cards directly on the surface. Available at Floral supply stores and EBay.

Some of our Tutorials using Clamp Lamp Style:

• How to photograph Flowers
• Sunshine Effect in Studio
• Shiny Metal
• Aquarium Fish
• White on White
• Pet Photography
• Backlighting technique
• Macro photography
• Selective Focus DOF
• Wide Angle Lens
• Model Portrait
• Abstract Effect
• Round Reflective Objects
• Water Splash