Tips/Tricks thread

[jjeling]

Ok, this is something I have just ventured into. Since I am a recent college graduate, without a place of employment, I have noticed a lack of funding necessary to progress my photography addiction at the pace that I wish. However, with a few items found around the house I have made huge improvements, without breaking the bank. It is quite cheap, but yields some great results. First off, get a medium sized box, preferably something that you are going to throw out or recycle. It can be any size really, but just base it on the size of the objects you are going to be photographing. A couple of flashlights, some toilet paper, glue, and a knife. Cut one side of the box off so you can take photographs through one end. Then take white paper, or black paper, or any other color you wish and glue it to the inside so it is a uniform color. After that is completed, then you can cut holes in the sides and top of the box for places your flashlights and for your camera to take pictures through(these can be any place as well, just experiment with it). If you are on a low budget, you can cover up the flashlights with some toilet paper to use as light diffusers(this also works on your built in flash). VOILA! A homemade light box. It controls the lighting situation relatively well, but there are some limitations. It is not exact science, it is cheap, so just experiment with it and use what works well for you. This is my set up, and costs me literally nothing. I used materials laying around the house. Ill post some of the results box in the "Show your picture" thread. But the box itself is here. Remember, this is primitive and cheap, but it works. In the image, I used a black book in the background, but later on used a black t-shirt that absorbed more light and reflected less.

[Ben H]

Lightboxes are great - I set up a quick one as an expriment a couple of weeks back.

I used one of those plastic storage boxes - they are about the size of a cardboard box, but made of "smokey" plastic - nice to diffuse the light, with glossy white paper sheet as base/background - worked brilliantly. I only did a quick test with one camera flash, but the results were great, so when "proper" light is set up it will be even better.

[Mad Aussie]

Spent a couple of hours this morning making a lightbox. Another inspiration from this website and considering I was looking at pro boxes of around
US$250 it's sure to be a decent saving. Still need to get the translucent paper for the light holes I've cut and a couple of desk lamps and bright flourescent globes to suit.

It's big ... my wife has some big items she wants to photograph so I made it large enough to fit a baby in there

I had some large sheets of 3mm (would have preferred 5mm) coreflute around so I've used those. Due to the size of it (900mm w x 530mm h x 700mm d) it needed some support around the mouth. I had some 3mm aluminium flat strips I've riveted on and covered in black tape just to make it look a little nicer.
The slot at the back is one of two slots (another is just out of sight) for poking the card (seen laying inside at present) through and bending or taping in place so it flows back through the box providing a smooth, non shadow inducing surface.

Hopefully should do the trick when get around to trying it out.

My daughters ex-room is looking more like a studio every week

[jjeling]

Nice job, my box is not nearly that nice. It is functional for my use. Looks like you spent a little more time than I did, but I am sure it will pay off. Much better than spending the money on a box at the store. This way you can customize it to your needs, or build another one, for less than a fraction the store would charge. Nice job, can't wait to see what the results yield from this!

[Mad Aussie]

Nothing wrong with yours for the subjects you are using. Your shots are awesome!

I hope mine will come out as well or I'm going to look like an idiot now

[tomorrowstreasures]

A huge thank you to JJ for his energy put into this thread ... I am sure that I can say for Marko and the rest of the members that JJ, MA, MF, Ben, TI, AL and others have contributed just the way Marko had in mind when creating our photography home. Many have slid in through the back door, so to speak via lurking...as we all know, the best of friend always come in the back door. Sharing and caring are essential for making this forum (and any other one for that matter) successful. Freshness and excitement are the fuel that feeds this machine. Thank you so much for making Photography.ca the warm and exciting place that it is! Thank you for sharing and caring about each other. Since this thread is about hints and tips - my tip is to let those who teach you know that they are valuable to you! Let the learners know how much you appreciate the opportunity to share with them. In a nutshell, continue to .....

Pass it on.

[jjeling]

Thanks TT. It is really appreciated. Which brings me into my next tip. Photography is something that you will always get better at but will never be perfect. Something always to improve on and learn about. As you have said in the prior post, it it now just about learning but teaching as well. Once you reach a level of confidence in yourself when you feel like your ready share your knowledge and understanding with others, you should do it, immediatly. Whether it is with friends, family, or on a forum, you will begin to understand photography much more in depth. Its the clear understanding of the explanaition which gives you an idea as to why you take pictures in the style that you do. Even if it is just taking pictures at family get togethers, which will be the case most of the time, or creating a whole new monster out of someone. It will at least give them a more enjoyable experience that they can share. They will thank you and will be forever grateful, even if it is just a better P&S technique.

[jjeling]

Taking it one step further from the previous post. RULE OF THIRDS, RULE OF THIRDS, RULE OF THIRDS. This is the best and first piece of advice to give any photographer in the beginning. It does not matter what kind of camera they have, they will always be able to control the composition. This is the best, and easiest way for them to do that. Not only will they see the results, generally, once you have given them valuable information, they will return to you for more. This gives you a chance to figure out what to explain to them next. Make sure it is simple though. If consider yourself advanced, then what you want to tell them is sometimes too much for them to understand. This should be applied to your own techniques as well, it is not always the extremely complex shots that win the awards, sometimes they are extremely simple. To keep it simple, you must also learn to settle down. Yes, being off the wall is good sometimes. But to explain any of this to someone, you must make sure they understand it. Again, apply this to yourself. Instead of stressing out about getting that next shot, go outside with your camera next to you, and sit next to your favorite tree, or bench. Sit on your favorite couch inside the house. More inspiration will come from these places than anywhere else. It doesn't hurt, all your doing is relaxing anyways.

For example, here is another image, that is loved by nearly everyone I know. It is extremely simple. I followed the rule of thirds, the whole way. Was something I saw when I was sitting in the recliner while looking out the window. I was extremely relaxed, and just happened to see something that caught my eye. It is an image that is extremely simple, yet so hard to explain to someone because of its simplicity.

Take a look, and then go and teach someone. Make sure you know them, its easier that way.

[jjeling]

There are many things that will make a great image. After leaving several suggestions as to how and improve your creativity, I keep amazing myself as to how much you can actually do. You can always buy the lens baby attachment, there are extension tubes, along with a whole slew of other things to buy. Once you have begun to capture images that are technically perfect you can begin to take a step outside of the box. Start using the rule of thirds a little less. It is something always to keep in mind but should be second nature at this point. The reason I thought of this is because I bought a few new filters yesterday. I remember a while back taking a picture of some shallow areas of a pond. With the lens shade on at wide angle, I got some shadows around the corners of the image. It turned out I like that image much better than it without the lens shade. It turns out, it is a filter that attaches to the front of the lens instead of around it. By attaching it on top of a filter, the effect becomes a little more pronounced. It is a rubber filter, so it is extremely flexible. Then it occurred that there if you back out to full wide angle and then move it with your hands while taking the image, you can frame the image within the picture itself, in an abstract way. This is not telling you to run out and to this, but the shade only costs about 4.99. It is something to try. More than that, when you get comfortable with yourself, take yourself out of your comfort zone and think outside of the box and get creative with things. You will surprise yourself. Even if you don't get anything worth keeping, you will always learn something.

[EJC]

This is an old trick but worth repeating. I use the focus dots at 10 & 2 o'clock or 8 & 4 o'clock to line up the horizon or as 1/3 markers on my Canon 40D.

cheers
EJC