Recently I worked with a team of fellow creatives on an "Ice Queen" character concept and photoshoot. Since snow is in pretty short supply in sunny Florida, to create the snow-covered photo set we envisioned required much brainstorming, research and experimentation. While we could have resorted to a more Photoshop based approach and created the snow effects on the computer, we wanted to get as much of the winter effect in camera in one shot as possible. Filmmakers have long grappled with this issue and provided some very creative solutions. … [Read more...] about Making your own snow scene
DIY
How to D.I.Y. a Snoot & Grid
What is a snoot? A snoot is just a funny name for a piece of equipment, generally a tube or similar objects such as a conical, cylindrical, or rectangular shape, that fits over a studio light or portable flash. It allows you to control the direction or area of coverage of the light. Basically, it makes the light more focused and concentrated by directing your light and focusing it. This makes the coverage very narrow and the light falls-off very sharply giving you a harsher or harder light. Adding a Grid Personally, I like the snoot and grid … [Read more...] about How to D.I.Y. a Snoot & Grid
Rainy Day Photo Projects: Gearing up for Light Painting
(Editor's note: Jason is beginning a series of columns about photography for rainy days. These projects help stretch creativity and make us all better photographers by challenging us to find places we normally would ignore photographically.) Some days I just have to grab a camera and spend quality time looking through a viewfinder. While it's rare that mother nature presents weather so bad that I won't venture into it, my photo subjects tend to think differently. Combine wind, rain, and dim skies, and you have a recipe for staying indoors … [Read more...] about Rainy Day Photo Projects: Gearing up for Light Painting
Using the Platypod Ultra from a Car, “The Sling Mount”
Given the opportunity to test out the new Platypod Ultra, I started with the same question I ask with all new gear, "Do I really need this?" After all, my camera bag is already large enough to qualify for its own zip code. Is this going to join the pile of photographic stuff I don’t often use? Or, will it become an indispensable part of my photographic armory. I admit, at first glance, my reaction was "What is it? Some type of fancy bottle opener?" This was quickly replaced with the realization, “I can use this to put cameras and flashes … [Read more...] about Using the Platypod Ultra from a Car, “The Sling Mount”
Fast DIY Fix for a Common Camera Error
A sense of dread begins to fill you as frightening words and symbols flash before your eyes. Afraid all is lost, you begin to panic... An error message has appeared on your camera screen! An error message is a sure way to send blood pressure skyrocketing and heart beat racing. Often the messages are cryptic at best, requiring you to look it up while envisioning an expensive repair bill for your camera. But, some of the most common errors I have seen on DSLRs in my photographic endeavors are due to communications issues between the lens and … [Read more...] about Fast DIY Fix for a Common Camera Error
DIY V-Flats for Photographing Portraits
V-flats are an essential item to a portrait photographer's studio. A typical v-flat is two pieces of foam core connected on the long side with gaffer tape, and they are black on one side, white on the other, and have a smooth surface. They can stand on their own when set in an approximate 120 degree angle or less, and serve multiple purposes in the studio. While either side can be used as a backdrop for your subject, the white side is great for bouncing light onto your subject, and the black side can be used to absorb light and intensify … [Read more...] about DIY V-Flats for Photographing Portraits
Benchmark: DIY Rolling Studio Gear Rack
Lately, I have been researching studio configurations. Jeremy Cowart's Triptik Studio Walkthrough got the juices flowing; especially the rolling backdrop that doubles as storage for bounces, flags and other gear. My space is an open floorplan and I already have plenty of stuff on casters, including my edit desk. I'd never thought of something like Cowart's rolling wall. Genius! I made a mental note to do something similar and moved on. Then, I stumbled across the video below from on Lifehacker. Ramsey's concept is a bit different than … [Read more...] about Benchmark: DIY Rolling Studio Gear Rack
