Watch: How To Build An Artificial Sun At Home For Stunning 24/7 ‘Daylit’ Shots
Image via Shutterstock
You’ve probably exited an IKEA store to realize it’s already dark outside. This lost time is helped by the artificial sunlight and faux windows set up by the furniture company. Now, with a little DIY, you can replicate it at home for photography purposes.
With your own DIY sunlight, there’ll no longer be a need to wait for the golden hour to conduct photoshoots or get domineered by the elements. This intriguing crafting tutorial by Matt of DIY Perks teaches you how to recreate the sun’s alluring rays to an “unbelievably realistic” effect, which means mimicking natural light that appears far away and casts shadows that don’t change in size.
Depending on your preferences or access to materials, you can achieve this effect even with recycled items. Primarily, you’ll need a light source and a large convex lens, although the latter doesn’t always guarantee an accurate projection size.
Ideally, you’ll be using a parabolic reflector to project the artificial rays, which can be pricey. But guess what else works? An old satellite dish. In his tutorial, Matt makeshifts a convex reflector by applying some vinyl mirror-effect film to a satellite dish that is way past its best days.
This project would make for a highly rewarding at-home activity, since you’ll be left with something useful at the end of it. Whether or not you’ll be replicating this, though, the experiment is fascinating to watch.
[via ISO 1200 Magazine, cover image via Shutterstock]
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