Author Topic: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight  (Read 11270 times)

Francois

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The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« on: April 28, 2010, 04:36:43 PM »
Since it's been so long since I last presented you a contraption, I decided to bring you this morning a simple project. I must say yesterday's surprise snowfall did put me in a special mood for this one, especially since there was absolutely nothing good on TV. They do way say that "watching TV is dull, turning it on just makes it worse!" so... I got tinkering.

And I bring you the Christmas Light Ringlight. I don't know when I'll use it but I was curious to see what the results could look like.

I must admit I had been planning this for quite some time now. Not that it is any more complex than anything else I have done in the past. But buying the lights at the right time has turned this into a 2$ project. Like I say: Cheap Frank has done it again!

For the project, I got a pre-cut masonite ring like is used for fake flower arrangements. I had an angle bracket which I drilled so I could hold the ring with a screw. I also drilled a larger hole with a 1/4-20 thread so I can fix it directly to a tripod. I assembled everything together with a single screw. It's that simple. Then came the light strand lacing part. It took me quite a bit of string to wrangle it all into shape. You do need to be two to lace everything tight or else it's almost impossible (my lights were all bendy coming straight out of the box).

I did a cheap and fast test. The ring produces very little light, so you definitely need high sensitivity film. Also, the subject needs to be surprisingly close to the lights in order to get the best results. Luckily, the lights are not blinding or very hot. If you can see the twinkles in the subject's eyes, you're at the right distance.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this quick project. It might not be as refined looking as other ones but it works fine.

Here are a few pictures.

Enjoy.



[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
« Last Edit: February 23, 2012, 07:36:39 PM by Francois »
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

DS

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2010, 05:00:10 PM »
Coolness indeed. Would a reflector of some kind on the back help?

Francois

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2010, 06:00:27 PM »
Probably... but since binding the wires was such a nightmare, I think I'll leave it as is for the moment...
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

LT

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2010, 06:04:37 PM »
the catchlights in Mr T's eyes look cool
L.

Francois

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2010, 06:06:58 PM »
That's pretty much what I was going for :)
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

Ed Wenn

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2010, 10:37:53 AM »
Bang! He's back, folks.  :D Fantastic idea, Francois. You could probably take some pretty cool pictures of it as well as with it. It looks way cool.

Francois

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2010, 02:01:22 PM »
Thanks Ed! glad to see you're back.

This thing is so easy to make you could build one with Joe's help (but not with garden hose ;) )

The lights I got at the boxing day last Christmas... I paid between 0.44 and 1$ for the 100 bulb set... cheap.
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

original_ann

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2010, 02:27:36 AM »
Absolutely brilliant!!  (... no pun intended, really!)

Francois

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2010, 03:26:15 PM »
Thanks Ann :)

I have to get back to building stuff more often :)
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

tuanhbui

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2012, 06:07:05 PM »
o_O thanks ed.wenn for moving all these topics to articles so that i notice them! Francois, do you have any of the original pictures from this topic? this sounds totally cool!

jojonas~

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2012, 10:37:53 AM »
this is as they say: kakkoii!!  8)
/jonas

tuanhbui

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2012, 10:07:59 PM »
thank you for updating the pictures Francois. very cool (:

Francois

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Re: The Contraption 7: Christmas Light Ringlight
« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2012, 03:21:26 PM »
You're welcome :)
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.