How To Use A Shower Curtain As A Softbox For Bodyscape Photography
How many large, body sized softboxes do you usually have with you, when you are on a trip in a foreign country? 5? Two? One? … None? Not a single softbox in your check in luggage? OK, no problem.
In the video below you will learn how you can use a cupboard, a shower curtain and one or two speedlight in order to build a first grade softbox in just about 30 seconds. That’s what you need to photograph smooth and soft bodyscapes right in a hotel room. But also if your home studio is more of a home and less of a studio, meaning – you don’t have striplights and softboxes – then this trick can come extremely handy.
Go ahead, watch it, and please leave a comment below!
BTW: I made a 2nd part of this video revealing an additional trick: Shower Curtain Softbox II
Another scene in this little nude photoshoot:
Model: Linxi
Location: Hotelroom in Beijing
Photos: Michael Zelbel
Postproduction: Gina Hernandez
Related links:
- Part 2 of this Video: Shower Curtain Softbox II
thank you Matthew
> I can put to use in my studio.
Did you already give it a try? If so, how about you share a link to your results with us over here?
I wish you good light!
Great technique!
I travel a lot and will use this idea on my next trip. Thanks.
Hi Ray!
Awesome! Then please share some of your photos with us one day!
I do not understand the censor bars. If you are ashamed of your work you should find another subject. If your are afraid your work will offend, you should find another subject. I hate censorship, regardless of the reason.
I add the censor bars because from the statistics I see that people arrive on this website from all sorts of links on other websites, on twitter, facebook and on google. I know that a lot of people are offended by nudity for cultural, religious or whatever reasons. I do respect that and consequently I don't confront them with nudity right upfront.
Part of why I do this blog is that I would like to show my readers that nude photography is a really awesome hobby. It's a lot of fun and it makes a lot of people happy. Not only the viewers and the photographers, if done right, then it also makes models proud. However, even though I've got an even much more hedonistic background, I'm not about "hammering" that into anybodies head. I rather give a little taste of what it is all about.I want to let them decide themselves wether they like to see more or not.
My photography portfolio is a different story. That's usually not found in search. People who surf there usually expect to see nudity. That's why I don't censor any images on that website.
Hi Michael,
First let me say that though I'm new to your page and videos, I've enjoyed just about everything I've seen. The only thing that bothers me is your decision to censor your work in these tutorials. I understand that you don't want to force your beliefs on someone that might be offended by nudity but there is an inherent flaw in your argument of protecting visitors from themselves: people coming to your site WANT to learn what you're teaching; the only people that will be offended are people that shouldn't be here in the first place. It would make much more sense to have a link with an official U.S. government warning stating "Nudity Lies Ahead Enter at Your Own Peril and Risk of Losing Your Soul." Not only will visitors be taking responsibility for their own actions but I'll bet ten to one you will see hits to your web page increase dramatically. : )
Take Care and Thank You for Sharing your techniques and contagious enthusiasm.
me
Thanks a lot for your feedback. It shows me one more time that this is an important topic and that we need a solution here. I am not planning on putting a pop-up with a government warning in front of all pages - it would drive me nuts. But I am looking into other ways to solve it.
After just finding your site the other day I find your work an inspiration.
I hope to be able to one day shot like you. Keep up the awesome work.
Great idea Michael! Seriously great idea. Now I'll have to go and buy a shower curtain just to try this! Thanks for your videos.
Hi there Michael, I have watched several of your videos and must say I love the work your doing with such a minimum amount of gear!!
It clearly shows your creative ming and knowledge of light and how to use it to create your vision!!
I only wish I had this form of artistic sense. I am hoping that, to a degree, I can develop any hidden artist skill by watching people like yourself and kick start ideas of my own.
I thank you for sharing your work and lighting the way!!
Fantastic, your ideas and imagination and so easy to follow approach to photography, i am an amature and started a small business and hope to be as good as yourself in mastering the art of photography, you have given me a new way of looking at the way i photograph my models. Fantastic web site and i would like to add a link from my site to yours from my link page,
thanks and keep up the good work
Regards
Dave
Brilliant idea for lighting on the fly!
WOW! This is incredible! I love that you improvise with common household items. Please keep the videos coming...I'm officially hooked!
Hallo, ich habe dich bereits vor ein paar Tagen beim Suchen nach Fototipps auf youtube gesehen. Du bist ja überall im Netz ;-). Danke für die nützlichen Anregungen!
Viele Grüße, Michael
Thanks a lot, cousin. I'm glad that I can help you.
Im getting high def in this information. Very interesting and useful information. It will be great help for me. Im glad to come across this site. Very informative!
Tifanny Swift
Cyber News
www.techblog.ws
nice job michael
Thanks a lot Jagath!
nice
How true is this? Well, in reality, it has facts on it. But I am the kind of person who really purge on further findings and validity. Anyhow, I respect this blog and thumbs up on you! Kudos! :)
Laine
www.seapyramid.net
Document Megasearch
Inspirational that you seem able light any location perfectly. I am learning loads.
_O)(..
looking great....i like this..:D keep continue..
||chear's..
I love the practicality you employ while creating your images I certainly will be using some of your methods!
Cheers!
Thanks a lot, cousin Ian! Let us know how well the methods are working for you. I am curious!
I will apply your advice with my next photos.
My baby wants me to take her some exciting photos, and you are posting exactly what I need (and she too, of course!)
Thanks for all you teach me!
I wish you success. Let us know how it turned out for you.
Great use of a strategically placed shower curtain!
Hi, very clever cheap and portable I defenitely will steal you this great light mod idea !
Read some comments about censorship : your reasons are definetely comprehensible i.e. the narrow minded are a majority. The ones that are offended by black bars covering women jewels are the same ones that are offended by seeing them displayed. I for one didn't come here to see tits so I don't care whether you light pastas, trees or tits and sausages, I came came here to see LIGHT SHAPING CARFT for X sake, and I got it so let me thank you sir. Will definetrly follow you on twitter. Cheers !
my wife and I love your work! Very simple set up with beautiful results. If you are ever in Chicago, USA let us know.
Salud,
Jose & Sonia