Light Source: Build Your Own Lighting Kit (page 3)

There are two ways to control strong sunlight: screens and silks. Black mesh screens reduce the sunlight without altering its character, while silks (more likely polyester) diffuse the direct rays to create a soft glow.

For diffusion, a white umbrella works great for closeups. Held off-camera on the sun side of the subject, they'll cover head and shoulders nicely. A studio lighting umbrella is perfect, but any old civilian parasol works just fine. They run just $5-20, depending on size.

For sheet screen or silk, you need a supporting frame. To make one, buy enough 1 1/4-inch PVC pipe to make a square about four feet on a side. Add four PVC elbows and you have a frame (don't cement any joints so you can break the unit down for travel.)

A fabric store should have translucent white polyester cloth in bolts wide enough for your frame. (If not, make it 42 x 48 instead of 48 square.) The garden center at Bigbox Builders will have black mesh by the yard for shading plants. Decide whether you need the lighter or denser type, then buy enough for your screen.

With screen or silk, sew a hem on each side wide enough to take the PVC pipe, leaving all the ends open. Roll the plastic up in the fabric, take it on location, and build it in five minutes.

Good Shooting!

• Select orange or yellow day glow colors.
• Use heavy-gauge wire. Twelve is safer than 14 and ten is even better, though heavier.
• Use industrial-grade plugs, securely wired and shielded.
• Don't use multiple-plug outlets. One work light is quite enough for a 15-amp circuit.

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