Photographic lighting kit?

[woodtattoos]

I was sent a nice Lowel Ego lighting kit by my publishers to help with photographing my work for the book. Unfortunately, it appears that the delicate American design cannot handle the raging UK electrical current and the bulbs keep blowing... at £28 a pop, that's not much fun!

Can anyone recommend a reasonable UK replacement which doesn't cost the Earth? I would ideally like to get one which uses daylight emulation bulbs as I have been impressed with the standard of photos I've been taking recently with the Lowel.

I'm also wondering if I should be getting a softbox or whatever they are called... one of those collapsible boxes that gives you a nice backdrop and reflects the light around inside to help illuminate the subject.

Any advice and pointers welcome!

Si.

[sparkysdad]

the bulbs keep blowing... at £28 a pop

Si.


literally per "pop" then.. :o;);) I don't suppose your publishers would cough up for the bulbs.. they sent the kit after all.. it IS in their interests to get good pics..!! :)

[woodtattoos]

They bought a replacement for the bulb that arrived but had already "passed over to the dark side"... and I've purchased one other. But there really is no point spending that amount of money for them to die within a few hours!!?! I was going to be sending the kit back to them once the manuscript was complete anyway, so I had been planning to get a replacement for my own use. It's just that I now need it a couple of months ahead of schedule...

[sparkysdad]

my publishers

Si.

Does it feel good saying that yet? :D:D:D

[Alice21]

Maplins do a photographic soft lighting studio for £20 the size is 40 cms square would that be big enough?

[woodtattoos]

Maplins do a photographic soft lighting studio for £20 the size is 40 cms square would that be big enough?

Do you have a link? Will definitely have a look to see what it's like.

Si.

[ldw]

Found it, here's the link...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38260

Tempted myself actually, wonder if it's any good?

[robin wood]

Put "light cube" into ebay and you will see lots for less than £20 inc P&P like this

http://webexpress4u.com/expre/pics/80cm_Cube_box_4color/80cm_Cube_box_4color_g.jpg

I used a cheap portaflash (from jessops) set up for photographing wooden bowls for my book, plenty powerful enough for small objects. Flash gives vastly more light than permanent lights which freezes everything allows you to use small apertures to get a large depth of field and gives really sharp images, the alternative is a tripod.