Home-made Umbrella

[poorstudent]

Hi all,

I'm a student living in South Africa - that is in essence my problem... In South Africa *ALL* photographic supplies - even the el-cheapo models - are imported, secondly being a full time student I don't have the resources to pay the exorbitant prices.

I’ve been into photography for a while, and at the moment am experimenting with taking my flash off camera. So I went to the biggest Photographic retailer in town and managed to find a light-stand relatively cheaply. But then, when I enquired about a reflective umbrella I was shocked to find that the umbrella was way more than the stand... So I thanked them for their time and walked out with just the stand.

I decided to build my own... So I went to a cheap Chinese shop - they sell plastic handbags, weird stuffed toys and, to my delight R12.00 ($2) umbrellas! Unfortunately their only model was blue and had ears coming out the top :er:. Anyway - I cut off the ears, bought Super Chrome and Satin Black spray-paint (total of R60.00 ~ $10), and spraypainted the inside silver and the outside black. Afterwards it looked really nice and professional (see attached photo) My question is: getting a photo umbrella for a total of $12 seems TOO easy - and am worried that I am overlooking something. Is there something that professional umbrellas have/do that mine will not?

Thanks,
Martin

 

[ShaCow]

looks cool...but you have to remember that your paint will start to fall off the inside.... it might start to flake...

my advice... never put the umbrella down

 

[Garbz]

So how's it work? Fire of a test shot for us.

 

[poorstudent]

So how's it work? Fire of a test shot for us.

here's one I did quickly of my sister... It needs another light on the hat - o well... Also, I'm having to press the test-fire button on my flash every time (while the shutter is open) as I forgot to buy sync cables... Maybe i'll try those cheap ebay wireless triggers...

Anyway - pretty standard setup - light coming from top right with whilte reflector bottom left

 

[Chris of Arabia]

That doesn't look a bad result to me. I'd be interested to see if there is any apparent colour cast when used with colour images. The only other thing I could see being affected is the overall amount of light thrown at the subject, as the paint doesn't look quite as reflective as a manufactured item might be.