PhotoSoCal.Com "The art of photography mostly consists of
being in the right place at the right time
having the right equipment and the right attitude"

DIY Galleries

Pin-hole camera : You don't need much to make a pin hole camera... or even a camcorder :-)

Pin-hole camera

You don't need much to make a pin hole camera... or even a camcorder : ...

Updated: Aug 27, 2009 11:38am PST

Canon Tilt-Shift 24mm Lens 5DMarkII movie : So the longest time the real Tilt efffect of the TS lens evaded me. Finally I decided to make a video of the darn thing. Enjoy!

Canon Tilt-Shift 24mm Lens 5DMarkII movie

So the longest time the real Tilt efffect of the TS lens evaded me. Fi ...

Updated: Aug 24, 2009 4:20pm PST

Poor man's hairlight diffuser : Find a small lampshade. Salvation army stores are a good source for those in the $1..$5 price range (you can buy a whole lamp and toss the rest). Strip down the fabric. Invert the harp. Use aluminum foil and scoth tape to put the "walls". Use scotch/gaffer tape to attach paper towel as your diffuser front panel. Use the harp to attach to your flash/strobe. Use dark poster boards and gaffer tape to create the "barn doors". As a result, you'll get surprisingly even light diffusion and only 1 stop of light loss (I actually measured it:-). Total cost: ~$5 or so. Total time: under 30 min.

Poor man's hairlight diffuser

Find a small lampshade. Salvation army stores are a good source for th ...

Updated: Jun 15, 2008 11:58am PST

Zero Cost Off-the-neck Harness : Tired of having your heavy optics hanging on your neck? Don't want to shell out another hundred for a dedicated harness? Own a backpack already? Here's your solution! :-) Many thanks to Natalie for taking these pictures!

Zero Cost Off-the-neck Harness

Tired of having your heavy optics hanging on your neck? Don't want to ...

Updated: Aug 04, 2007 1:52pm PST

Taped Pins : My version of the well known trick. Canon TC1.4 with the taped pins. This trick fools the camera into thinking there is no TC, hence it does not disable the AF mechanism. And while I do not actually recommend using AF (it hunts alot and wears out the gears fast), in MF mode you'll get a very clean focus confirmation.

Taped Pins

My version of the well known trick. Canon TC1.4 with the taped pins. T ...

Updated: Jun 30, 2007 2:43pm PST

Yet Another Poor man's flash Diffuser : I have read on yet another Gary Fong's latest addition to the world of tupperware-turned-flash-diffusors (not for $100+!) and could not help it... Materials: One Tasters' Choice empty coffee can. Tools: one paring knife. Procedure: make two crossing cuts in the buttom of the can, thus forming an X. Installation: insert top of the flash into the cut. No stinking velcro tape required. Removal: simply pull it off the flash. Compatibility: fits any major flash brand (as long it's not a Nikon:-) Time to market: 1 minute or less. Cost: uhm, zero? Satisfaction level: PRICELESS!

Yet Another Poor man's flash Diffuser

I have read on yet another Gary Fong's latest addition to the world of ...

Updated: May 09, 2007 10:56pm PST

Poor man's beanstrip : Small bean bag was used by many photographer for many years. Recently one smart Aussie (www.cam-pod.com) came out with the idea of having the beans in a shape of a strip. I liked the idea but shipping from Oz was a tad expensive. So I ventured on my own version and called it a BeanStrip. Materials: $3 (for an second hand beanie doll, could be free if you have one) Time: 15 min Tools: sewing machine, scissors, ruler Chance to get your SO/GF involved into photography: priceless :-)

Poor man's beanstrip

Small bean bag was used by many photographer for many years. Recently ...

Updated: Aug 13, 2006 8:08pm PST

Poor man's flash diffuser : I previously suggested a very cheap and highly portable flash bouncer for the built-in flashes. Since that time I acquired external flash and was using it with Lumiquest Promax 20-80 system. It does a nice job, but it's kinda expensive and is a royal pain to attach to the flash. Recently I read a lot about LightSphere and even get a chance to see one (Thanks, David!). I liked the idea but it seemed a bit expensive (for a piece of a translucent plastic) and very non-portable. So my brain started to work...

Poor man's flash diffuser

I previously suggested a very cheap and highly portable flash bouncer ...

Updated: Jun 11, 2005 12:08pm PST

Poor man's flash bouncer : If you have an external flash and no bouncer, you can use an index card (or a paper napkin) and a rubber band. But what if you have no external flash and still wanna do the bouncing? Here's what you can do.. (first 4 "how-to" shots taken with my friend and this gallery's "model" Chris' Canon Powershot S400) For a tad more advanced, equally inexpensive and way more powerful diffuser for an external flash see Poor Man's Flash Diffuser gallery.

Poor man's flash bouncer

If you have an external flash and no bouncer, you can use an index car ...

Updated: May 26, 2004 1:26pm PST

All Images Copyright © Nikolai Sklobovsky (unless otherwise specified). Any unauthorized non-personal use is prohibited.

Header artwork: Natalie S.