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I am using two Ikea Skurup lamps (https://www.ikea.com/pl/pl/p/skurup-lampa-stolowa-kinkiet-go...) directly above and in front of my monitors, just outside of reach of webcam.

Soft lighting is a result of geometry. You can use very huge source far away from you or smaller but very close.

You also need to pay attention to how the light is scattered and that the direct light is not shining on your face. I have asked my wife to make half a dozen covers for them from a white material. They have a spot in the middle that blocks direct light from the bulb. I use a number of covers on each depending on how much I want to attenuate the lighting.

I also use a very small, cheap 5 watt high CRI, 6400K lightbulb in each. I use same kind of bulbs from same manufacturer for overhead light and for my desk lamp. I have separate desk lamps for 6400K light and 4000K light (which is what I like to use when I work).

The total cost is something on the order of 150 PLN or 40 USD plus a favor to my wife.




4x 5W LED isn't really a lot of light, especially if you are diffusing it. If your webcam can work with that, it's not that bad :)

Edit: I just read your comment again and realized that you are putting the light really close to your face. I guess that's a way to get away with low power lights.


My whole office only has a single 5W LED lamp! I thought that was enough.


I recently installed 5x20W LED lights in my windowless office kitchen for a ficus I got from a friend.

And it's so much nicer now! It's amazing what light can do to a room.

I think most homes should have an order of magnitude more light.


I just measured, the light is about 45cm from my face. Additionally, the lamp reflects most of the light in my direction.

I am not a model and am not used to have such bright light source so close to my face. I had to attenuate it because then it is just too uncomfortable but also to match light level on my face with that of the background.




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