Photo setup in all it's glory.

Cheap and dirty photo setup that provides both top and side lighting.

This is made from 3 sheets of foamcore board (2 notched and folded into self-standing "L" right and left screens) with windows cut into them, and frosted acetate over the windows. I use photo flood tungsten bulbs, which get HOT. Use reflectors from the photo store meant to take this kind of heat. If you put the lights close to the foamcore, you will MELT the foamcore. Note that the overhead light is set on top of 2 empty metal cat food cans, which prevents the foamcore from getting too hot. The aluminum foil 'skirt' keeps the light off the backdrop. The backdrop is from Adorama photo, but many places sell graduated drop. You can use grey paper drop for a softer shadow graduation.

Photo setup lit.

The bulbshere are 3200-degree-Kelvin, 500-watt photoflood bulbs, about $5. each at the photo supply store. There is a lower watt version as well, about 250 watts, I think. These work as well but don't last as long. Read the bulb box. They are made for a certain number of hours of use, and the color begins to shift before the bulb actually dies. Replace as stated. These reflectors are made to take high heat, and from the photo supply store, about $20. each. Do NOT use ordinary clip light holders w/these high-wattage bulbs: fire hazard could result. The lights get HOT and will melt the foamcore if you put the lights too close. The hot reflectors can burn if you touch them, so use w/care. This setup would be paired with tungsten slide film, or with digital camera white balance (if you have this option) set to tungsten (or adjust the color later digitally.) Do remember to turn off the room lights to avoid off-color light. See info below in resources about cool photo flood bulbs.

Image taken in photo setup.

You want to make sure you put the object behind the light coming from the side windows, otherwise the sides are lit and the middle front is dark.

Resources
Potter John Glick generously offers a lot of photo info on his web site: web.mac.com/johnglick

I'm now using the new cool fluorescent photo flood lights for digital photography. Try doing an internet search for "fluorescent photo flood" to find companies that sell them. They're a reflector w/3 sockets for the fluorescent photo bulbs. Unlike the tungsten bulbs, rated for maybe up to 20 hours, these are rated for5000+ hours, and stay cooler during use. They work well w/my digital camera's auto white balance in most cases.