My Makeshift Studio

[Mike Buckley]

People occasionally ask about the characteristics and equipment of my makeshift studio, inaptly named Makeshift Galactic Headquarters. I use it exclusively for tabletop photography with a specialty of photographing clear and translucent glass. Rather than taking the time to write individual responses to questions as I've done in the past, the primary purpose of this post is to have it available so I can easily provide a link to it. I'll update the details in this post as needed.

NOTE: All items displayed in an underlined italic font are stored on the tabletop stand described below.

Camera Bodies, Lenses and Related Equipment

• Nikon D5100 camera (has an articulating LCD which becomes essential for making overhead shots and handy when working in an exceptionally confined space, which is the most limiting characteristic of my makeshift studio; does NOT have mirror-up mode)
• Nikon D7000 camera (has mirror-up mode, electronic level and Commander mode for firing and adjusting the power of off-camera speedlights; preferred camera unless setting up the shot requires using an articulating LCD)
• Medium-weight tripod with quick-release mount
• Nikon 35mm f/2 prime lens
• Nikon 85mm f/1.8 prime lens
• Nikon 105 mm macro lens with smallest aperture of f/32 occasionally rented mostly for making abstracts
• Circular polarizer filters for each lens (expensive, but I hate using step-down rings)
• Infrared remote shutter release attached to cord explained here
• Small LED light attached to cord mentioned immediately above for use when working in a very dark environment, which is almost always

Characteristics of the Space
Total working floor space of 6 x 9 feet (2 x 3 meters) not including storage space
Shooting floor space of 4 x 8 feet (more than 1 x 2 meters)
Height of shooting space when photographing subjects such as glass that are clear or translucent and highly reflective: 5 feet (less than 2 meters)
Black environment (required because clear glass reflects everything that isn't black)

• Three of the four sides draped in black fabric
• The fourth side is a wall painted white for use as a large reflector.
• Black carpet on the floor
• Black, 4 feet x 8 feet (more than 1 x 2 meters) false ceiling that lowers on pulleys to 5 feet high (less than 2 meters) to the height of the black fabric sides
• Black tabletop stand (explained in detail below)
• Black poster board about 18" x 24" (46 cm x 63cm) with a 3" (8 cm) hole positioned horizontally in the middle and vertically near the top; used for hanging vertically on the barrel of the lens to prevent all non-black colors near and on the tripod and camera body from being reflected in clear glass
• To ensure that an image of me is not reflected in the subject, I stand behind the black fabric and release the shutter using an infrared remote control.
• During the rare situations when it becomes imperative for me to be in the shooting area, I wear black clothing including black mitts and a paper bag painted black over my head with holes cut out for my eyes.

Tabletop Stand
The center of the makeshift studio is this custom-built stand now painted black that supports the tabletop. It has more than 30 items hanging on it, the most important one being the cup holder. Having the tools readily at hand in an organized fashion is a huge improvement over the earlier days when I had to scrounge through several boxes to find a particular item.

Tabletop Materials

• Clear glass
• Black acrylic
• Mirror
• Heavily textured white watercolor paper
• Black paper
• Poster paper in assorted colors
• Cloth fabric in assorted colors
• Translucent vellum

Background Materials

• One of the walls of black fabric
• Black felt (very high quality) stretched around foam core that is 14" x 21 " (intentionally the aspect ratio of the camera sensor for use when making dark-field photos of clear glass)
• Translucent white acrylic attached to a frame of foam core with a 14" x 21" opening (intentionally the aspect ratio of the camera sensor for use when making bright-field photos of clear or translucent glass)
• Translucent vellum
• White paper
• Black paper

Lights, Modifiers and Related Equipment
Continuous lights

• One 6-inch reflector holding one bulb for use primarily as a background light or underneath a clear tabletop
• Two 12" reflectors holding one bulb
• One 18" reflector holding five bulbs
• Eight compact fluorescent bulbs rated 5500 Kelvin and 40 watts

Speedlights

• Nikon SB-600 and flat stand
• Nikon SB-800 and flat stand
• Swiveling adaptor that connects a speedlight to a light stand

Light Modifiers

• Gels
• 12" and 18" diffuser socks for attaching to continuous lights mentioned above
• White reflectors in various sizes made of foam core or paper
• Foam core 12" (30 cm) square with 3"x 4.5" (8cm x 12xm) rectangle cut in the middle and covered with black paper; positioned immediately in front of the lens to prevent flare when making dark-field photos of clear glass
• Black flags (gobos) in various sizes and shapes made of foam core or paper
• SpinLight 360 system attached to a speedlight including the white half dome and full dome, white reflector, black flag and snoot
• Translucent vellum stretched tightly on a light wooden frame about 24"x 36" (about 61cm x 91cm) for use as a reflector and/or diffuser
• Strip softbox about 12" x 36" (about 30cm x 91cm) for use with a speedlight
• 40" (101 cm) circular diffuser for use with black felt background mentioned above when making a dark-field photo of clear glass
• Reversible black, white, silver and gold fabrics made to be stretched onto the frame of the circular diffuser mentioned immediately above
• One pre-manufactured black and silver reversible snoot for attaching to a speedlight

Stands and Related Equipment

• Two background stands also used underneath clear glass tabletop
• Three regular stands
• One boom (not cantilevered) that includes a spring clamp on each end
• Two pairs of sand bags
• Swiveling clamp that attaches the camera to the boom for making overhead photos

Cleaning Equipment

• Windex
• Old cotton tee-shirt for use with Windex that has been washed so many times that there is very little lint
• Microfiber cloth used to brush dust from the tabletop at the last moment before releasing the shutter

Miscellaneous Equipment

• Gaffer's tape, black, 2" (5 cm) wide (probably used in every shot)
• Super clamp and attached flexible arm with clamp attached at the end of the arm
• Clamps in assorted styles and sizes
• Glycerine used to mix with liquids in the scene to increase their viscosity
• 2-ounce spray cannister used to mist scenes
• Turkey baster used for removing or adding liquid in the scene
• Lint remover
• Rubber bands
• Scissors
• Box cutter
• Tape measure
• Pencils for making notes of setup details and for marking cuts to be made
• Straight edge for marking cuts to be made
• AA batteries for powering speedlights
• Cup holder and water bottle (Nothing at Makeshift Galactic Headquarters would function properly without them.)

[Loose Canon]

Could you please post the spec sheet for the cup holder?

[Mike Buckley]

Could you please post the spec sheet for the cup holder?

Adjusts for containers with a 2-3/8" to 3-7/8" diameter. Made of reinforced nylon with stainless steel springs and nickel plated brass rivets. Adjustable arms hold cans, glasses, insulated drink holders and bottles. Folds up neatly when not in use.

Color: Black

Seachoice Products

[Loose Canon]

Available wine glass adapter?

[Mike Buckley]

Available wine glass adapter?

Terry! Either take your meds or get off your meds! Do you seriously think that I, of all people, would even think of buying a cup holder that doesn't work perfectly with wine glasses? No wine glass adapter needed.

[Loose Canon]

Terry! Either take your meds or get off your meds! Do you seriously think that I, of all people, would even think of buying a cup holder that doesn't work perfectly with wine glasses? No wine glass adapter needed.

And this from a guy who injures himself on the safety equipment and serves wine through a funnel and garden hose?????

You’re right Mike! Whatever meds I’m taking I need to double!!!

[Mike Buckley]

Touché. Now it's not just my toe that hurts; it's also my pride.

[Loose Canon]

...it's also my pride.

Well, I don't know anything about that Mike! Any vestige I may have had of that has long since vanished.

But this I know for sure!

You got one bangin' cup/wineglass holder for MGH!

[skilsaw]

Haven't you forgot something?
I didn't see chains and whip in your list.

[drjuice]

Wowie! Zowie, Mike! Thank you! I'm in the middle of deciding about how to set this up in my new place and, while I don't normally do glass or anything else shiny, having this list gives me a starting point so as to think of what to add beyond the diffuser that's already on my list to replace Kleenex (yes, that particular brand, but it's always handy in the front seat of my RAV)!

Thanks again.

virginia

[Mike Buckley]

Glad to know the list is helpful, Virginia. Don't forget the cup holder.