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DIY Booms & Stands for Lighting

Photography requires light but sometimes the light does not fall in the right spot at the right time. A common photography practice involves adding additional light to a scene when needed. Most photographers who use supplemental or studio lighting use light stands and boom arms to position and direct the light where needed. The handy photographer can inexpensively make these items. Crafting these tools requires basic materials, a little ingenuity and a few spare minutes.

Repurposed tripod
- Use a tripod, a 3/8̶1; bolt, two washers and a nut and any photographer can adapt a tripod to a light stand. Remove or turn the tripod head in a manner that will allow drilling a hole through the center. Use a bit slightly larger than the bolt and drill a hole through the tripod head. Place a washer on the bolt and thread the bolt through the underside of the tripod head. Place the other washer on the bolt (top side of the tripod head) and secure the nut to the bolt. Almost any monolight or hot shoe flash adapter will mount onto the bolt. Tripods designed for heavy use can use heavier lights; otherwise use this one for small flash units.
Boom arm
- A curtain rod, a block of wood, some screws, an insert nut and a drill can make a sturdy boom arm. Use a piece of wood 3-by-3-by-3 inches. Drill a hole completely through the center slightly bigger than the curtain rod̵7;s diameter. Drill a hole on the bottom slightly larger than the diameter of the light stand̵7;s mounting screw. Do not drill completely through to the center. Make the hole deep enough to put an insert nut the size of the light stand̵7;s mounting screw. Place the insert nut into the hole. Drill another hole slightly smaller than a-by-2-inch screw directly opposite the mounting screw. Drill through until the hole intersects the first hole drilled. Attach the block to the light stand. Guide the curtain rod through the center hole and screw the-by-2-inch screw into the top to hold the curtain rod in place. Use a metal or wood screw with a pointed tip. Attach a flash to one end for use.
Adjustable light stand
- Use a painter̵7;s pole (the adjustable kind) a hollow tabletop base, some duct tape and a 2-inch thick piece of scrap wood to make an adjustable clamp light stand. Use a tabletop mounting leg with a flat mounting base at least 18- to 24-inches-long. Mount the tabletop base to the center of the scrap wood using 1½-inch wood screws. Use a piece of wood at least 18 inches square. At this point it resembles an upside-down table. Insert the painter̵7;s pole into the table leg. Thoroughly tape where the pole enters the leg base with duct tape. Clamp a light onto the end of the pole and shoot.

Photography