Fancy having a home studio in the comfort of your home?

For less than $60, you can set up a plug and play, portable LED lightbox with integrated LED in a jiffy from Whitebox.

There are plenty of reasons why a lightbox is useful for you. If you intend to sell stuff on carousell or blogshop, an eye catching photo of your product will bring in buyers. If you have a blog and do reviews of products such as toys (like us) , a lightbox is great to take photos for the reviews. Who knows, you might even be selected for a commercial projects if your portfolio warrants it.

Whitebox
The white box is a portable light box that comes in 2 sizes. The smaller one measures 20cm x 22 cm x 25cm while the bigger whitebox measures 40.5cm x 40 cm x 43cm. The Light box that we  reviewed was the larger version.

Whitebox lightbox

The good news is that the Whitebox can be set up in less than a minute. However for first timer, it might take a little longer  to figure how to unfold the flat square Whitebox into a home studio (happened to me!). Once I got that figured out, setting up was a breeze.  The Whitebox was set up with buttons instead of magnets for a more sturdy structure.

What is in the box?

The Whitebox studio consist of the following in the package

• Whitebox Studio (40.5cm x 40 cm x 43cm)
• 25 pure white LED strip attached to the white box
• 4 custom backdrops in green, red, black and white
• cable
• carrying case

The whole setup cost a mere $57. If you were to get a professional light tent, it could retail for $1000 upwards. For similar portable lightbox in the market, it might cost twice as much. For the price, this is a winner. Furthermore, Whitebox is produced locally, so you save on exorbitant shipping fees should you decide to get a similar unit overseas.

Hey, it is always good to support local , especially when it is mutually beneficial to both retailer and customer.

Build in LED

The best part about the Whitebox  is the build in 25 powerful, pure white LEDs ensures product detail and colour accuracy. The LED also ensure that there are minimum shadows in your final photo, thus making your subject pops.

Connect o powerbank

For true portability, you can connect a powerbank to the supplied micro-USB cable and bring it anywhere to shoot. Compared to competitors which required a powerpoint, this setup is ideal for the mobile photographer. Carrying an extension cord along with the Lightbox for competitors does not make it truly portable.

Bring it to the forest to take photos of scattered leaves or to the beach to take photos of shells. The use of Whitebox is only limited to your creativity.

Sample shots


They say the truth is in the pudding, so the best way to review a lightbox is to see the final output. For best effect, use a tripod to take the photos. You could use a phone or DSLR for this set up and both should provide you with desirable result.

Sample 1 : Without Whitebox

To see the effectiveness of the Whitebox, we did 2 sample shots, one with and one without the Whitebox.

Sample 2 : With Whitebox

As seen from the final output, the result is like day and night. Shadows are eliminated and background is free of clutter from the photo shot in the Whitebox. If you were to post the photo taken from Whitebox, I guarantee you would get more eyeballs in comparison to the one without.

Here are more test shots to show how products pops in a Whitebox setting.  With the provided backdrops , you could experiment with the different background to suit your product. Do note that even with Whitebox, you might still need to adjust the white balance and exposure in the final photo to get the effect you desire. With Whitebox, such adjustments are easier to make and you do not need to resort to photoshop to remove blemishes.


The only limitation to the Whitebox would be the size.  For bigger products such as shoes and large bags, you might be creatively limited to what you can produce.
It probably can still be done, but you might need to crop the photo to get the desired results.

Verdict

The Whitebox is useful for home photographers to create quality photos at the comforts of their home. Given its portability, you could take it anywhere and set up a studio in less than a minute. The Whitebox comes in 2 sizes, small and large. I would recommend the larger version for more versatilty.

Get your unit here.


Pros

• Quick setup in a nifty package
• Attached LED lights ensure your photos are well exposed.
• True portability with a micro-USB connection
• Affordable compared to alternatives in the market.

Cons

• Would be great if there is a bigger unit for larger items.

Disclaimer
TWD was provided a unit for review only.

Guess what is cooking in RWS?

From now to 22 July, RWS World Theatre turns into a giant Kitchen to debut a brand new Korea-Singaporee production; Chef :  Bibimbap vs Chilli Crab

What is Chef : Bibumbap vs Chill Crab?
From the creator of famed Korea production Jump and Nanta, Chef : Bibimbap vs Chill Crab is a non verbal production mold in similar vein of Nanta where slapsticks antics and an allaction cast shape the story through beatboxing and b boys performances.

The storyline is simple enough . Green Chef and Red Chef battle out in the kitchen with a variety of meals from Sushi to Chicken noodles. The various battles escalate to the grand finale where Green Chef whips up a sumptuous dish of Bibumbap while Red Chef delights with the local favourite Chilli Crab. Along the way, Sexy Chef, Rookie Chef, Iron Chef  and Cutie Chef (helmed by local twin actress Hayley and Jayley Woo on alternate months) provide the support in the kitchen.

If you are expecting a Nanta like performance, this production ; while having its roots in Korean slapstick differs in certain aspect. Given that it is a Korea- Singapore production , it adds  a local flavour to it. Occasionally , you can hear Green Chef spouting Singlish like 'chio bu' and 'wah  lao' which resonated well with the audience. With local TV stars in the mix, you can expect a show tailored for the locals.

Source :NDPeeps

Are you looking forward to NDP 2017.

In just a few weeks away, NDP 2017 will be upon us . Other than the traditional Parade and Ceremony ( P&C), the Dynamic Defence Display (D3)  will be back. Given the heighten threats we faced today, the D3 segment, put together by the Singapore Armed Forces and the Home Team, underscores Singapore's commitment and ability to defend itself against security threats.

 Here is a sneak peek of what to expect during the show

50 Years of National Service (NS50)

Source :NDPeeps

We had the SG50 celebrations 2 years back and this year, the focus is on NS50. With 2000 participants from 31 marching contingents, there will be a special tribute to national servicemen in recognition of their contributions to NS. As an NSman myself, it will be a segment where I would look back in pride. Commanding the parade would be Lieutenant Colonel ( LTC) (NS) Lim Wee Tee.

Signature Bomb Burst

Source : NDPeeps

The F-15SG fighter aircraft will be the airshow to look up to. They will perform the bomb burst during the P & C Segment. Traditional elements such as the 21-Gun Presidential Gun Salute , the Feu-de-Joie, as well as the State Flag Flypast flown by RSAF Chinook helicopter will be back of the show.

D3 Segment

Source :NDPeeps

After a hiatus of 2 years, the D3 segment will be back. We last saw the D3 Segment in the 2014 parade and were duly impressed. This year, the D3 will be back in a bigger format and showcased in two parts. The first part will be the display of technologically-advanced assets from the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy , and the RASF, The 2nd part will showcase Singapore's whole-of-government and community approach in tackling security threats through a multi-agency counter terrorism display show for the first time in NDP D3. It depicts how cyber security agencies deal with cyber-attacks, and how the SAF and the Home Team overcome multiple terrorist threats through swift and seamless coordination.

With over 500 participants and 50 assets, this will be the largest number in NDP history. It will be hard not to go Wow over it.

Debut Appearances

Source :NDPeeps

Look out for SAF Belrex Protected Combat Support Vehicle, Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle, Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, SPF's tactical response Motorcycle and tactical response vehicle; the Singapore Civil Defense Force's Fire Medical vehicle and Rapid Response Fire Vessel making their appearance in NDP D3 for the first time.

Source : NDPeeps

Want to join in the NDP 2017 conversation?

Tag your photos, well-wishes, reflections or stories on social media platforms and/or NDP social platform as as NDPeeps Facebook (www.facebook.com/ndpeeps), Instagram(@ndpeeps_2017) and Twitter (@NDPeeps) with the following hashtags #OneNationTogether, #NDP2017, #NDP17, #SG52. For more information, visit www.ndp.ord.sg.

Stand a chance too to be part of the celebration.
Don't miss our NDP preview tickets and funpack giveaway too. Closing soon this week!

Kee Qui

Who's looking for ward to NDP parade?

Eversince our first encounter with NDP a few years back, NDP has always been on our radar every year. When opportunity arises, we always look forward for a chance to attend the parade.  We are sure that many fellow Singaporeans feel the same pride as we do for the nation. It will not be surprising to find Singaporeans balloting year after year for the exclusive tickets that even money cannot buy.





As NDP 2017 approaches, we have a special announcement to make. As media partners with NDPeeps, we are giving away  8 preview tickets for 2 readers of The Wacky Duo ( Both winners will receive 4 tickets each) and 2 NDP 2017 Fun packs to 2 other readers.

Contest closes on 20 June. Results will be out on this post by 23 June

 Term and Conditions
1 Readers must like NDPeeps  facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ndpeeps
4 . Join the Rafflecopter in this post.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats to the following winners


Winners will be notify by NDPeeps on collection details.
 

• All steps to be completed as indicated to qualify
• Ensure your  shares are set to public for us to verify, otherwise you will be disqualified. Facebook accounts set up to join Giveaways ONLY will be disqualified at the discretion of TheWackyDuo.com
• Open to Singapore citizens and PRs with a valid Singapore mailing address (No PO Box)
• Only one winner per household. Duplicate Winners of a similar giveaway on other websites may be disqualify. The final decision will be made by the sponsors.
• Prize are subject to change and fulfillment by the sponsor. Winners are not allowed to change the prizes or exchange them for cash. Prizes are not meant to be sold or transferable.
• Thewackyduo.com is not liable for the prizes indicated including the experience and the event of default by the sponsors.
• This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram or Blogger. You understand that you are providing your information to thewackyduo.com and not to any other social platform.

 Who is afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Source : Shutterstock

Yeah!

The mid-term break is upon us. After studying hard for the exams for BOTH the child and the parents, it is time to rewind, recharge and enjoy the month break.

 As a father to primary school going kids, I often scratch my head to get a food option for the kids to fill their stomach during the 5-10 minutes break during school hours.

If you had followed our blog, you would have known I had lamented about the lack of time in the current primary school timetable for kids to have a bite. Given that their snack break is the equivalent of lunch time , it has been a struggle to find food alternatives for the 10 minutes break. After a period of bread, the boys were yearning for a change.

Tong Gardens snack

Thus when Tong Gardens offered to provide a selection of snacks to replace bread, we decided to check out their range of snacks that would be suitable for the kids.

With only 5 to 10  minutes, the criteria for snacks is very simple. It must be easily consume within that time period by the kids. Bonus points will be given for those that are yummy too . We found some snacks from Tong Gardens and its affiliated brands that does the trick.

SunGifts Dehyrated Fruits

Sungifts Dehydrated Fruits

Fruits are always a good choice for kids. These dried fruits from Sun Gift could be an option for kids who loves fruits.

Tong Gardens bite size snacks

In all honesty, it is rather difficult for children to consume a decent meal in 5 minutes. However when it comes to snacks, it would be much easier for them. These bite size snacks are great for kids. From mixed nuts and seeds, to rasins with cranberries, you can add variety to a child's daily snacks. The funstix from the potato sticks range is always a crowd winner among kids.

Bigger snacks
For bigger kids, they might need a bigger portion for snacks. Add options such as chestnuts, almond with dried cranberries, honey roasted cashew nuts to add variety to their meal options.

Seaweeds

Crispy Seaweeds

If you are looking for healthy snacks options, these crispy seaweeds from Noi would do the trick.


Cereal Drink

Tong Gardens

If your child has access to hot water, these cereal drinks will provide a nutritious and filling snack during the break.

Sunflowers Seeds
The sunflowers seeds are a delicious options for kids too. Easy to eat !

As they say variety is the spice of life. To have a wide choice of snacks would be great to train the taste buds of the little ones. Head down to Tong Gardens to choose your snacks. Most of the snacks are available at major supermarkets.

Have a nutty experience ahead!

Disclosure
TWD was provide snacks for this review