Sidebar: Build Your Own Studio Light
Studio lights are expensive, dangerously hot and power-hungry. But you can avoid these problems by building a pair of the fluorescent soft lights as shown.
Basically, the light is a cheap pair of shop fixtures affixed to plywood backing and elevated 2x4" legs and feet. A milk plastic diffuser distributes the light and a pair of switches allow you to work at either half or full power. The lamps and housing never get too hot to touch and with four 40-watt bulbs, the total wattage is only 160 watts.
