Product lighting on a DIY budget

On my wishlist is the Elinchrom D-Lite RX4 to Go 400Ws Wireless Kit as seen here: http://www.ormsdirect.co.za/elinchrom-d-lite-rx-4-to-go-400ws-wireless-kit-20822-1.  But like many photographers it's not within my budget and I'm always looking for DIY ways to create similar lighting that you would get with the more expensive equipment.

Whenever I look at a tutorial the first noticeable thing is the lighting equipment.  Studio lights, softboxes, light stands etc and I usually think "I don't stand a chance".  Then I came across a site of a well known photographer where someone commented on his tutorial and his expensive lighting equipment.

Alex Koloskov took up the challenge and proved what many togs would agree with: it's not the equipment but the photographer that makes the shot.

In the link below, Alex provides a tutorial on using DIY lighting in a similar setup to produce a similar product image as he created here: http://www.photigy.com/learn-studio-tabletop-photography-step-by-step-a-droid-shot/

DIY Tutorial: http://www.photigy.com/professional-photography-without-professional-equipment-myth-and-reality/

It wasn't expensive equipment that produced the final image, it was Alex's way of thinking, experimentation and understanding of light.  Basically free tools to help you get a better shot.

Here you will find a setup where Alex used Plexiglass to eliminate shadows. http://www.photigy.com/simple-way-to-get-a-complete-white-background-out-from-a-camera-in-studio-product-photography/

Making my own lighting

I'm busy working on making my own basic lighting using large, deep silver metal bowls and some light fittings.  I'll post instructions and photos once done and if successful, sample images.

You could say it's similar to a beauty dish except that instead of being pointed at the subject I'll be using the lighting dish as studio lighting and aiming into a silver or see-through umbrella.  Without a diffuser I can't use the dish as a beauty dish but it should be sufficient enough for lighting.

I don't have enough space for a studio but as I work mainly with Macro and not portraiture I'm not bothered with expensive lighting.  I'm also reading a book Light Science and Magic that has so far been very useful.  It's a guideline on how to effectively use lighting, what lighting is best for certain surfaces etc.

Light Science and Magic

What I like about the author(s) is that they don't claim to know everything or that the book is the only one you will ever need.  The approach is that you are learning, the book is a guideline and you walk away with some if not more knowledge than you did before.

UPDATE:  finished making the light, just busy looking for the right bulbs but so far, very happy with the result :-D.