Photography Shotbox

[Bluebeard]

Good morning Donnie:
I hope your health has improved, we all are “working” on that.
Here is my version if your shot box guidance.
I bought 2 sheets of laminated 1/4” ply from one of our shop vendors and the rest of the aluminum angles and lights I got from Home Depot.
I choose ply instead of foam core because I use foam core a lot at work and I also know that besides been light in weight is also very easy to dent it. I didn’t want to build such a good looking box and later because of mishandling will get dented or dinged. Believe me, I see this every day.
I took very well your advise when you said “some pieces will be cut in half and added to make more vertical height.”, so I when big.
My box is 47” x 47” x 24”.
So here is my monster, but is a box that could be disassemble and put away flat.
The pictures will explain.

 

[Bluebeard]

After the angles where screwed in place with 1/4” pan heads, I added Velcro to specific panels for easy assembling/disassebling.


After all pieces where cut and prepared with the aluminum angles and Velcro, I took the box apart and sealed the exposed wood in the back with pre catalyzed lacker. This is a procedure we do at the shop whenever is needed to all wooden panels. We do this to seal the wood in order to prevent it from warping do to moisture.

 

[Bluebeard]

Also as you suggested , I’m looking for a dimmer like this.

 

[Bluebeard]

I’m planning to add on the vertical outside edges of the box, two LED bars to compensate the side lighting.
Will post pictures soon.

 

[Donnie]

Wow. That is super nice. I am glad u did not use foam core as it will become wobbly and unstable. I finally just disassembled mine and will probably make another one at some point. I was at the time looking for a quick solution.

 

[Bluebeard]

Hi Donnie:
I hope you are doing well or better.
Yes, I did the something quick also with the shit box I have been using for the reviews out of 1/4” PVC boards which are very stiff material but also could be dented, that’s why I decided to used 1/4” laminated ply.
I’m still working with it.
Now Im planning to add two LED bars on the front edge if the sides panels of the box, but because there is so much variety of densities I have to think twice and spend the money once.

 

[Bluebeard]

Here you can see my first time set up.
I made it only with three sides that was attached with each other will Velcro.
Three sides because this way with just two lights I could get good results.
From this I learned and understood what it was needed.
I noticed that some models could be very tall and that is what made me go for 47”.


I’m still experimenting.
I think with all LED light bars I will be able to eliminate the two big top lights.
The lights on the pictures are another kind of LED.
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Don’t have nothing against cats guys, OK.