Mini photography is not something I've paid a lot of attention to. Some mini modelers also have in-home photography studios with fancy tripods and lighting setups, to better show off their efforts. But it seems silly to spend a bunch of money on photography equipment for a blog about cheap fantasy mini collecting. Luckily, thanks to
this tutorial for building homemade lightboxes, I found a way that ought to dramatically improve my photographs while staying true to my cheap hobby ethos.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ0RDF2qSBNnpmYm5I6Su0KWtk-ifRTKEIRG6scJyp0iwgn31ybPZoibrHotr9Aso26DpTC5nqXcC_lCvtc5pOvclhHpnQOIhROigBmgU5P6KrTRq1IuEYwKVUM76IZKu1iNVjHuo-BM/s1600/lighbox1.JPG) |
So what is a lightbox? As you might imagine, it's a box—in this case a shipping box recovered from an online delivery—that you shine light into. The secret is a defusing material through which light shines that fills an area with light while killing a lot of shadow and glare. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFXs4AeKK8FziC3VorX9b5D88djkih-GxRIVHrKknZ4VjJGSHHDp3uyUtDENl9lCcocMwFd8ljxJtBPKowsmKyTrrHH6YwVLUU3hanF1575J2qUxtpFwjdLqYCg_OgwPSDVhRjV9zQg8/s1600/lightbox2.JPG) |
The diffusing material is a $1 white shower curtain from the dollar store. I cut holes in the top and two sides of the box, stretched the curtain over the holes, taped into place, and cut to fit. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir62lnhyphenhyphen0EkIUcGXsVVU0BTywtB68uCM6KGcZhWP_W3BltOx8s4iyXDi4l0eVkAHiOz_vAQ1CfRPTjHVTKOf7vMOB9WouMg2q9airbbSVOmX1Hayiq8WlxiUsWg9gOgMX2Nc-pR00vUj0/s1600/lightbox3.JPG) |
Inside is a sheet of white poster board, less than a dollar at the dollar store. Note the curve along the bottom corner for a seamless backdrop. I know many mini photographers prefer a mottled gray background as oppose to white, so maybe I'll experiment with that. Also, note the duct tape and scrap PVC pipe for support; you could just as well find something just as cheap to support the box. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlHsWozJkXRHpJ0U9_ujdDQ5soot4xv9JrmhyBqbNYRGIvWEKEITTZcfXFPDolsaEVkZ_864JgE5bA_R9W2fAMjCJ1S0ODFeH46acGRXb6lskgi2aJ-G_QD56RWJJlckGDWV3hcnjsUw/s1600/lightbox4.JPG) |
Here's the lighbox in action. The lights are just a desk lamp and a cheap shoplight shining through either side of the box. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13ywJR9p7sK726pJLyjobQ2wQ0UOX5uXBEL5i0HQV84P7j-4o4ATypBQwNFTOwsXvyfPyEZbJkrjN3ziKMe-Gr2YUrtDTIRRVZFW-3tXWf32jyP1Sn0IDHSpTaEQ-6koHPYiYqYBybzk/s1600/lightbox-compare.JPG) |
Here's the prepainted Schleich dragon, once with the lighbox lit up, the other time with just my camera flash. Apart from cropping, neither of these shots are touched. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4-VMQ_Zffqxf4tJ_6zL4SQtBwNyboMxrVnD06cFOtZ6XefCHtbyRfKkQ43dMqN04EhNnKzQBdtlnV6fDAQfXqFNMSMJn9_4YheynJbHyMp7aVFHWinjQH9Q7wJgGdSpIyEHzxChsxcI/s1600/lighbox-enhanced.JPG) |
The same shot above with some simple digital enhancements. It looks sharp and clean with very little shadow. I could probably get rid of the remaining shadow if I added a light source above as well. I suppose this means I can control where any shadows I may want are cast, in addition to eliminating shadows entirely. |
The project cost me less than $2, and construction took a little over an hour while I watched TV. I still used the same midline digital camera that I've always used, and while I still need to mess around a bit and try shooting my smaller figures, I have a good feeling about these preliminary results. Well worth the investment!