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Magic box
Image by Ben Grader
How to make a magic box.
One of the problems when using a ring flash is that the light is often cancelled out as far as modelling the item to be photographed. The other problem is of course the price of some of the better quality ones. It would be very nice to be able to have a directly 90° light but that would mean all modelling would be lost too.
One of the ways of getting round this is to make a ‘Magic Box’. Light whether from a flash, the sun, and electric light or whatever means, reflects at a reciprocal angle to the one which it enters. eg. Light reflected at a 45° angle will also leave at a 45° angle.
Taking an old glass plate carefully remove the emulsion, A half plate size is what I have used myself. This will allow a box of just under 5 “ interior width to be made.
Required: –
A couple of pieces of fine grained wood approx. 4” to 5” wide and 9” to 10” long.
3 pieces of hard board. Black matt paint, a couple of bits of black flock cloth.
Get a friendly machinist to cut a couple of slots in the insides of the wood making certain that the slots are exactly the same distance from the top of the wood and that the cuts are at a 45° angle. They must be deep enough to support the glass plate and wide enough allow it to slide easily into place. Put the glass into position and then measure the width at what will be the back of the box. Leave enough slack to allow the glass plate to be moved in and out of position. Cut the first piece of hardboard to fit.
Take the glass out and paint the insides of the wood and the inside of the hardboard with the black matt paint. On the back of the box above where the glass will fit glue on a bit of the black flock cloth. Measure out how far down the glass plate will go and cut a piece of hardboard to fasten on to the front of the box painting the inside with black paint before fixing that. Measure how far down the front of the box the top of the plate will be an then do the same at the top.
You have now completed your ‘Magic Box’ To take pics of things like coins where you will want modelling, but good details, light from a flash set up level with the aperture of the box will be reflected at 45° by the glass plate. The light that passes through will be absorbed by the flock cloth. at the back.
Place the other bit of cloth under the box and set the coin or whatever on it. Put the box over the subject, then holding the camera, with a connection to the flash via the PC flash connection take the pic. If you have a flash which will not allow power adjustment you can move the flash closer or further away to alter the exposure. The flock cloth under the subject should give a good black background and details are generally brought out quite well.
However some coins have little bas-relief and exposure in this case can be critical. Modelling is there and slightly from the side nearest the opening. However there is good fill-in and it allows an even lighting to give good details. There are no heavy shadows.
I have included a pic with different coins some with good bas-relief and one much discoloured to show how even the lighting is, also the need for careful adjustment of the flash power.
