This one is for Josh Duplechian. This is how to create and set up the cheapest, easiest and if i do say, most elegant alternative to high-priced video lighting rigs. Excluding the light stand, which you should already have, the total cost for this set-up is under $40. I paid a little under $15 for the 500w halogen work light at Lowe's (same at Home Depot) $25 for the white umbrella and $2.25 for the wingnut and bracket.If you aren't handy enough to install the bracket or simply need to set this up in a pinch you can gaffer tape the umbrella right to the stand as i have done in the last picture.
The light takes a few minutes to put together out of the box. Make sure NOT to touch the bulb when installing as this will seriously reduce its burn life and a replacement bulb costs about the same as the whole unit (you've got to love America). When putting together you won't need either the included stand or the protective grill as this will cast a shadow. BEWARE! They call hot lights, hot, for a reason. This puppy will get very hot, very quickly so make sure to install the little handle that is provided with the unit and give it plenty of time after turning off to cool down before handling.
After a little trial and error, i was able to find a little bracket that perfectly fit the umbrella's diameter. The one installed on mine is found in the electrical section and is used to affix wiring to conduit. It required me to drill through the frame of the light which is not ideal but was the only option I had given the materials available. You might have better luck with something else but I doubt it will cost less than two bucks.
To complete your studio set-up you can go to a fabric store and get some heavy black fabric for about $5 a yard (look for the most light absorbing material you can find, preferably a matte, non-shiny, velvet-like material). I stretch this material tight over the frame of a background stand i already own using A-clamps that I also got at Loews in a package of 12 for $10.
Place your subject and light far enough from the background so that most of the light drops off to black before hitting the stand and the remaining light is absorbed by the black. I generally place the light at about a 45 degree angle to the subject. It's not very sophisticated but it looks pretty good and a lot more professional than the $50 price tag would suggest.
Lastly, don't forget to white balance with a card, halogen is not day light balanced. Most cameras will handle the color remarkably well as long as you manually white balance. Never rely on your video camera's Auto White Balance function under artificial light, take the extra time and do it right.
