(Presentation at monthly club meeting – November 14, 2019)
Tools of the Trade– Tips, Tricks, Hacks and Homemade Accessories to make your photography more successful. Please add your own suggestions and let me know at L1Richardson@comcast.net.
- Ziploc bags to put equipment in to protect from water.
- Battery operated fan, w/ bracket, to run during long exposures to keep dew off lens.
- Duct tape (or gaffers’ tape), because if you don’t have it, you need it. Us it to cover battery terminals to prevent unwanted discharge. The list is long.
- Velcro straps and wire ties to tie up cables and straps.
- Handkerchief or tissue used over flash unit to soften light.
- Plier sheath to hold long lens foot to take weight of lens/camera off shoulders.
- Cheap plastic clamps used to hold back or stage objects for shooting.
- Reflector to add light to subject. Use clamps to hold in position.
- Vaseline or Chapstick to apply to filter to create a soft-focus effect.
- Lens wipes (wet) or cloth (dry). Keep in clean container to prevent contamination.
- Foam pipe insulation to rap two tripod legs for cushioning. Wrap with camo duct tape.
- Multitool with knife, screwdrivers, pliers, hex wrenches, etc.
- Plastic 5-gallon bucket to carry stuff and sit on.
- Ball Head- for small lens and body. Gimbal Head- for the long and heavy stuff.
- Carabiners- Used to hang stuff up, hang camera bag on tripod for security and weight.
- Sometimes you may need rope and a tarp (camo), but eventually you’re just camping.
- Attach Velcro (glued or “peel and stick”) to tripod where accessories can be attached.
- Use a translucent shower curtain as a light diffuser.
- Band-Aids for when you screw up.
- Wide rubber bands (think Broccoli) for removing filters from lenses, or used while shooting up against glass to prevent scratching.
- Flashlight to add light to subject, find you way out of the woods, signal for help, check for snakes, etc. You can also use a mirror to reflect light on to subject.
More information can be had using Google or YouTube. Search for “DIY photography Hacks.”