Introducing the Lange Industries Ring Light - TaDA!

[Paul Lange]

I thought I already posted this but it has disappeared - Spooky

Wandering around Bury St Edmunds on Saturday I came across some stainless steel bowls in Thing Me Bobs - the local thrift shop chain. I had an idea of the DIY kind..................................

Took about an hour to make and was fairly straight forward. All I have to do now is cut some frosted polyprop sheeting into a circle so it can be used as a clip on diffuser. I had some of the bits at home anyway and luckily own a decent selection of tools. Well happy with the results so far. These were just taken while Kerri was on the sofa, no prep other than to raise the stand so it was pointing down on her. Kerri likes them which is good as it means I should be able to convince her to pose properly soon so I can have a proper go a really get to grips with using it.

 

[Hamish Gill]

That my mate is a Beauty Dish! And a beauty at that!

 

[Pete Askew]

What a clever idea Paul. And it works pretty well doesn't it. I do like that first shot. Very nicely done.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Wow Paul, Makes my home made diffuser look like a bin!!
This is such a brilliant idea, and works beautifully... as a beauty dish should. lol

Isn't it great when a wild plan comes together and works!?

 

[Paul Lange]

Thanks guys.

ou make it sound like the A Team Dan, You crazy fool.

 

[Pete Askew]

Well at least we know which character he'd be, Eh Paul?

 

[Kev Pugh]

Clearly not enough moody gold

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Me? Crazy?! Now that's something I've been hearing alot lately...
I just need to quit my jibba jabba sometimes.....

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Genius!

All it needs is some sticky back plastic, and some lolly sticks!

 

[Paul Lange]

Maybe we could do some RPF home build project videos in the style of Blue Peter. I have an idea for a ring light / beauty dish, infact here's one I made earlier!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I'd like to see this thing in action....
I guess it probably does give a closer to ring light effect looking again at the second bowl
If you could some how create a concave reflector (looking at my beauty dish) it might make a softer light ... But than maybe not the desired effect ... And I don't 100% know how these things work, just guessing from looking at my kit...
One way or another, it's a damn fine bit of DIY, and doesn't look "Heath Robinson" at all

 

[Hamish Gill]

Maybe we could do some RPF home build project videos in the style of Blue Peter. I have an idea for a ring light / beauty dish, infact here's one I made earlier!

You have suggested now, so I'm expecting you to follow through with the idea

 

[Paul Lange]

I think you are right that it is more of a beauty dish but with a slightly larger central reflector. Hope to try to fine tune it's use tonight. I am also going to make an adapter so it will fit to my studio flashes. However I think I prefer speedlights sometimes as I don't really have a space large enough for large lights. Even fully turned down reflections from the walls and ceilings can be an issue.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Let's go for "Paul Lange special modifier" ... My dish, as I said has a very shallow concave reflector in the middle ... They might not all be like that though I guess ...

 

[Hamish Gill]

.... Speed lights are just a bit directional for my liking ...
Even diffused I often can't get a look I like ...
I realised this when comparing shots taken in a light tent from both... The studio kit had a clear advantage ...
That said I know a lot of people like the "strobist" way...

 

[Shaun Hill]

Can we have a step-by-step into making this great beauty dish?

 

[Paul Lange]

To be honest I don't really have the time to do anything in detail. I have also slowly been improving it and it looks quite different now. When I get a chance I will take a couple more photographs of it in it's current incarnation. You will need some tools and to buy these could add up to the same as a cheap beauty dish if you have to buy them. You might be able to find other things that allow you to make your own without the need for all the tools however.