We’ve been having a lot of fun with the challenges of the “Year of Color 2″ photo challenge (click here for info).

In between shooting tons of travel photos and shooting a wedding last week, we’ve found the photo-challenge a good way to practice our chops.

I’ve been asked about the lighting on some of the photos and thought that’d be a interesting article to share. Thanks to Amy for prompting the thought!

But, before we do an exposé of what the set-ups looked like, I thought I’d introduce you to one of the lights that I’ve been having a lot of fun with…..

While strolling through IKEA a while back (and being a total-sucker for their lighting-department), I spotted a lamp that they call “Isbrytare” (no, that’s not Italian for foreplay…).

It’s a cool looking Halogen projection lamp that, in and of itself, would be a inexpensive way to get a spotlight effect on smaller shoots.

But…(as they say in the world of Ginsu-knives), that’s not all!!

It also comes with a set of accessory-lenses and stainless-steel discs with shapes cut out on them that you can use as “gobos” (go-betweens).

With this set-up, you can choose a gobo (I’ve shown the “window-looking” square cutouts) and use it to add an interesting pattern, or interesting light to your photos.

It comes with 6-”gobos” and 2 interesting “wavy-glass” lenses, and 4 tinted glass inserts.

The front magnifying lens can help you focus the light, or if you’re using one of the accessories, it will help you focus, or de-focus the effect from that.

At around $65.00 it’s a useful little accessory light that you can use to make cool pics or just have some fun with.

You can check it out here.