Specialized photographic equipment can be expensive. Supply and demand dictates that photo hobbyists pay a premium for items that only a few manufacturers make. Devising your own solutions not only saves money but serves a self-education role, and sometimes, homemade devices may be far more appropriate to the task than the store-bought options.
Reflectors
Controlling light is what photography is all about. Cut an 8-inch by 10-inch piece of heavy mounting board carefully into quarters. Then, tape it together again along three of the cuts on one side only so the cuts hinge and the untaped side allows you to fold the card down to 4 inches by 5 inches, which will allow you to pull it out of your camera bag and unfold. Use the white side as a reflector when shooting flowers, for example. Use the dark or colored side as a background for small found subjects.
Flash Diffusion
Electronic flash pointed directly at a subject can produce harsh shadows. Using translucent plastic (empty milk jugs work) or stiff tissue, you can fashion a variety of diffusers to work with your on-camera flash. If you have a hot shoe flash with a head that tilts for bouncing, use white plastic or a stiff card wrapped around the back and sides of the flash, attached with elastics, and extending 5 inches above the flash element to bounce light softly toward your subject. Make one from colored paper or crinkled foil to give an entirely different effect.
String Tripod
Not really a tripod, and best made from something stronger than string, like kevlar cord, the string tripod consists of nothing more than the cord with loops tied at each end. One loop goes around your camera, beside the hand grip. The other loop goes around one foot. The length of cord between loops should be long enough for the cord to reach across, under your other foot then up to viewing height. Pulling up on the cord to draw it taut will give increased stability and perhaps a stop or two more exposure. Spreading your feet will change the height.
Dark Cloth/Backdrop
Photographers from the old days used to throw dark cloths over themselves so they could see images on ground glass screens before loading sheet film holders to make exposures. Today, digital photographers composing on camera video screens in bright daylight have a similar problem. Using 4-foot square of black fabric with a velvet surface and attaching heavy washers to each corner will do double duty as a field dark cloth and a black background for small still life setups.
Studio Lighting Alternatives
Color film was picky about the color temperature of the lighting used. Digital cameras are much more flexible when balancing different light sources. While nothing beats the control of dedicated photographic lighting, clever use of inexpensive track lighting may be an alternative in a home studio, provided all lighting is the same type, such as incandescent or quartz.
Specialized photographic equipment can be expensive. Supply and demand dictates that photo hobbyists pay a premium for items that only a few manufacturers make. Devising your own solutions not only saves money but serves a self-education role, and sometimes, homemade devices may be far more appropriate to the task than the store-bought options.
Reflectors
Controlling light is what photography is all about. Cut an 8-inch by 10-inch piece of heavy mounting board carefully into quarters. Then, tape it together again along three of the cuts on one side only so the cuts hinge and the untaped side allows you to fold the card down to 4 inches by 5 inches, which will allow you to pull it out of your camera bag and unfold. Use the white side as a reflector when shooting flowers, for example. Use the dark or colored side as a background for small found subjects.
Flash Diffusion
Electronic flash pointed directly at a subject can produce harsh shadows. Using translucent plastic (empty milk jugs work) or stiff tissue, you can fashion a variety of diffusers to work with your on-camera flash. If you have a hot shoe flash with a head that tilts for bouncing, use white plastic or a stiff card wrapped around the back and sides of the flash, attached with elastics, and extending 5 inches above the flash element to bounce light softly toward your subject. Make one from colored paper or crinkled foil to give an entirely different effect.
String Tripod
Not really a tripod, and best made from something stronger than string, like kevlar cord, the string tripod consists of nothing more than the cord with loops tied at each end. One loop goes around your camera, beside the hand grip. The other loop goes around one foot. The length of cord between loops should be long enough for the cord to reach across, under your other foot then up to viewing height. Pulling up on the cord to draw it taut will give increased stability and perhaps a stop or two more exposure. Spreading your feet will change the height.
Dark Cloth/Backdrop
Photographers from the old days used to throw dark cloths over themselves so they could see images on ground glass screens before loading sheet film holders to make exposures. Today, digital photographers composing on camera video screens in bright daylight have a similar problem. Using 4-foot square of black fabric with a velvet surface and attaching heavy washers to each corner will do double duty as a field dark cloth and a black background for small still life setups.
Studio Lighting Alternatives
Color film was picky about the color temperature of the lighting used. Digital cameras are much more flexible when balancing different light sources. While nothing beats the control of dedicated photographic lighting, clever use of inexpensive track lighting may be an alternative in a home studio, provided all lighting is the same type, such as incandescent or quartz.
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