Wind Tent

Does anyone know of a workable plan for constructing a wind tent? I recall last year that some had built their own. What are the important things to keep in mind here? Thanks for any help I can get here.
Glenn

Hey Glenn, what I recall about this is that most folks who tried to build their own wised they had the real thing...I have three of them - including a cheap one bought online - and the real thing is the only one that really works. Funny how life it often like that! Someone in a workshop said they now have them at Wal Mart for $50 but I have not seen what these are - might be worth looking into. I know one lady who spent eight hours building one out of a laundry basket that now sits in a closet.

Actually now that I look at your title of "wind" tent, I don't really know of anything that will cut the wind out completely. These little light tents do a terrific job with harsh light and will slow down the wind or cut out a slight breeze to give you a little edge, but they won't do miracles with the wind. I used to have a big plastic tent made out of heavy white plastic sheet that fit over bent poles - it was large enough for you to get inside with a tripod setup. The biggest issue there was that if the wind was really blowing it was impossible to get the bottom of the plastic sealed all the way around, and any areas not sealed off completely would allow the wind to come through - also it got hot in there in a hurry. What I have found is that if you try to use a wind shield - like an umbrella - they wind still will blow and will simply go around your shield and still get there. The best bet is to wait it out - nearly all wind will have moments of rest, if only for a second or two at a time. I've spent a great deal of my professional life sitting on the ground with cable release in hand and mirror locked up just waiting for that one second of stillness!

Here is the light tent that I use, the small one -

Overcast Light Tent

If I were making one I would want it to be like the Overcast. Mine is not the small one but I wish it was. Like Tim said, its more effective against the sun than the wind. But it does help. It folds up and packs away easily.

I agree about the size - I've have the small and large one and in this case size does matter - the large one is really too large, the medium one is really too medium, but the small one is just right!

Thanks guys. I just haven't seen much on these things. My first contact with them was a last year's CSNP gathering. I'm an old do-it-yourselfer so naturally I just thought I'd make one. Sounds like a not so good idea. Although, since I'm like that, I'll probably still try it someday. I see what you're saying about the wind getting through. I tried to block the wind a few times before and it never worked.
Glenn

Glenn this is probably the light tent you saw at the CSNP Gathering. I started with one of the food umbrellas to the right of it, stretched the size with cheap kite sticks and recovered with a semi sheer white I found at the bargain table. It stores in the shortened golf tube lying in front of it and is small enough I hunted it for a week before I found it under the seat of my truck. My Spring Beauty post was shot with it.

Doing it again (the reason I had a new one set back) I would leave the netting on it and just sew the white fabric over the top of the netting. I do like the extra height I have and would stretch the size again There would also be a flap along each edge, weighted with something like a light chain to cut the wind, but like Tim said, noting eradicates that completely. Having seen Tim's Overcast I would probably also dye the food umbrella netting black first and make the back panel removable so I could have shoot thru possibilities.

Is it as good as Tim's? I don't really care. I was raised as a poor farm boy and work as an engineer. Therefore being a do-it-yourselfer is a character flaw I will never get rid of. Also my photography is a hobby, enjoying myself is king. Tim is a pro, above all else he has to get the shot, day in, day out, no excuses. Logically he will gladly spend money on equipment i could never justify.
Bruce

Thanks for the comments Bruce. I'm an engineer too so I can't get it out of my mind. Buying one would be too easy and no fun at all. I came up with a VERY simple idea. I'll let you know if it works.
GLenn