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One may buy the most expensive photography gear, yet one can't buy an eye for a good photo. Just like with any creative skill, imagination and a creative approach are key. However, while quality equipment certainly wouldn't hurt, it's really about knowing how to utilize the tools and functions already available in your hands. Some of the best photography hacks do exactly that: they teach you to use tools already available or easily accessible to achieve your best photo result.

Ironically, among the many great photography hacks are tips and tricks you may already know about. Perhaps you just forgot, or it's something so basic that it simply never crossed your mind. However, plenty of photography tips can also be new, depending on how long you've been in the field. Whether you are looking for photography tips for beginners or want to hone your skills, you're likely to leave this article with your creative juices flowing overboard and new ideas popping up!

Below, we've compiled a list of awesome photography tips and tricks that are easy and simple to implement. And besides that, won't make a dent in one's wallet! Have you ever used any of the basic photography tips we mentioned? Also, do you know of any more handy tips you would like to share with fellow shutterbugs? Is there a camera hack that took your photography to the next level? Let us know in the comments!

#1

Create A Reflective Surface

Create A Reflective Surface


One of the simplest smartphone photography tricks is this one. To create a reflective surface with your smartphone, place your phone's screen at the bottom of the DSLR. This popular technique can make a distinguished appearance and feel in your photographs.

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#2

Creative Ways To Use A Photo Frame

Creative Ways To Use A Photo Frame


Another quick photo frame hack. You can take stunning images with natural light from the setting sun and a few old, no-longer-usable picture frames.

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#3

Make Bokeh Shapes

Make Bokeh Shapes


The Japanese word "bokeh" describes the blur in an image's out-of-focus area. Cut out intriguing shapes like tiny circles or stars from black poster board. Use the poster board to cover the lens and try out various focal lengths.

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#4

Use Marbles To Make Impressive Effects

Use Marbles To Make Impressive Effects


The majority of marbles are made of glass. However, photographing marbles differs from photographing other kinds of glass. This results from the marbles’ smooth, spherical surface, which tends to reflect a lot of light from its surroundings. With appropriate lighting and settings, your photos incorporating marbles will look absolutely phenomenal.

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#5

Creepy Effect

Creepy Effect


You can create creepy yet amazing-looking pictures with just a few items. Just trust the process.

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#6

Use Fairy Lights

Use Fairy Lights


You can take some incredible photos using fairy lights. And the best bit is that they are really affordable! One of the best uses for fairy lights is as a foreground bokeh close to the camera. Such placement will give the light the appearance of fuzzy spots and thus sweeten your photograph. You can also use fairy lights to illuminate objects like a lightbulb or a Mason jar.

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#7

Don't Bin That Pringles Can Just Yet

Don't Bin That Pringles Can Just Yet


This approach will help you produce more focused lighting in your photographs and consume an entire tube of Pringles in one sitting, so you're sure to like it. Also, you may want to reduce the size of the container's bottom opening so that a flash head can fit snugly through it.

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#8

Manipulate Visual Perception Using Forced Perspectives

Manipulate Visual Perception Using Forced Perspectives


A topic or object will appear larger the closer it is to the camera, especially when compared to a subject or object farther away. The same goes for making something appear smaller by keeping it further from the camera.

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#9

Use Your Sunglasses As A Filter

Use Your Sunglasses As A Filter


If you have a spare pair of reading glasses lying around, try creating a magnifying effect by holding the glasses in front of the lens. It can get you a similar result to lens ball photography without the financial outlay.

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#10

Use A Glass Coffee Table To Create An Interesting Frame

Use A Glass Coffee Table To Create An Interesting Frame


You might have seen this one on YouTube. Plenty of video tutorials show how you can equip your glass coffee table to create outstanding photos. You can place anything you wish on the tabletop, perhaps some tealights, leaves, or sand, and ask your model to lay under the table. While it may seem simple, shooting through the glass this way can bring an entirely new layer of depth to your image.

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#11

Use Your TV Or Computer Monitor To Create Backdrops

Use Your TV Or Computer Monitor To Create Backdrops


Suppose you don't have the chance to shoot in a studio or cannot locate the ideal location. In that case, your TV makes a wonderful prop to create an impressive background. Simply select the desired photo, put it on the TV, and hit the shutter. The TV is one of many fantastic photography accessories that might provide an excellent background for portrait shots. If you're photographing products, go with something smaller, like your computer monitor.

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#12

Remove Tourists From Your Pictures Using These Simple Steps

Remove Tourists From Your Pictures Using These Simple Steps

1. Set up your camera on a tripod and take images every 10-20 seconds or as required until you have captured every part of the scene unobstructed. The more shots you have of the scene unobstructed, the better.

2. Open Photoshop and select File > Scripts > Statistics.

3. Set it to "Median."

4. Open all the files you want to use.

5. If it was not shot on a stable tripod and the images do not line up perfectly, select "Auto-Align." Note that this only works for solid structures. If a tree/object has moved because of wind, this won't help.

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#13

Use A CD Or DVD To Make Lens Flares

Use A CD Or DVD To Make Lens Flares


This clever photography tip dates back to the 1990s. And like most other throwbacks from the 1990s, it's one to hold onto. Hold a CD in front of the camera to reflect light back into the camera's lens. For making lens flares that appear to move randomly, this is perfect.

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#14

Create A Sparkling Ring Of Fire

Create A Sparkling Ring Of Fire


To create a sparkling ring of fire, you will need a few things: wire, sparklers, and tape. This quick photography hack will surely provide you with some fascinating results. But hey, be careful with the sparklers and come up with something other than your hands to hold the ring!

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#15

Make A DIY Underwater Housing

Make A DIY Underwater Housing


Want to take underwater pictures but don't want to spend money on expensive or, worse yet, cheap housing that leaks? Simply put your smartphone in a cup made of clear plastic or glass and submerge it. For larger cameras, a vase or fish tank can be used. Get pictures of your subject in the bathtub or pool by simply lowering the lens below the water's surface. But be careful not to drop the cup or fish tank, or whatever you are using, into the water!

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#16

Equip Kitchen Utensils To Play With Shadows

Equip Kitchen Utensils To Play With Shadows

You can take a photo directly across from the natural light source to capture shadows. Or, you can place a strainer over your camera's flash. A what? A strainer, but any cooking tool with unique holes and shapes will do. Improve your portrait photography portfolio by experimenting with light to provide a special effect. You might also use window blinds, palm leaves, or anything crochet to create an interesting shadow.

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#17

Align Everything

Align Everything


In design, the positioning of visual components so they align in a composition is known as alignment. Both in design and photography, alignment is utilized to arrange elements, group them, provide balance, establish relationships between photo components, and produce a distinct result.

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#18

Shadow Play

Shadow Play


Shadows help define form and shape, but they may also evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue by changing the appearance of otherwise identifiable objects. In contrast to conventional photography, shadow play photography emphasizes narrative, emotion, and the creative use of shadow. Just keep trying new things and different lighting, be daring with your concepts, keep it lighthearted, and dazzle the spectators with your originality!

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#19

Make A DIY Infinity Curve

Make A DIY Infinity Curve


In product or food photography, the background is one of the most crucial stylistic elements. These days, it's popular to utilize a negative space strategy to eliminate any distracting components. A cloth or paper can ideally make up for a simple plain backdrop. However, instead of only placing the background behind the subject, it is advised to organize it so that it can easily change from a vertical to a horizontal surface. This is one of the photography backdrop tricks that gives the appearance of an "infinity curve," evoking an obscure space surrounding the subject. In photography, an infinity cove or infinity cyclorama is an entirely white area with no edges used to create the illusion that an object's background is infinite.

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#20

Use Cloth To Achieve The Soft-Focus Lens Effect

Use Cloth To Achieve The Soft-Focus Lens Effect


You can create a soft-focus lens effect using items you probably have lying around your house. Try using a cloth or a bandage and wrapping it around your lens for a soft, blurred-frame effect.

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#21

Use Plastic Props To Create "Wildlife Photography" At Home

Use Plastic Props To Create "Wildlife Photography" At Home


Equipping the technique demonstrated above, you can take "wildlife" pictures in the comforts of your own bedroom. Literally.

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#22

Clever Ways To Use A Spring

Clever Ways To Use A Spring


A clever use of a spring can give the impression that you have some sort of superpower! Spring man? There are many ways to go about this. Just put your creative hat on!

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#23

Easy Macro Lens Hack

Easy Macro Lens Hack

Want to transform your standard camera lens into a macro lens? All you really need is a cardboard paper towel roll (you could use a TP roll, but the effects would be slightly different). You want at least 10 centimeters or so of the tube. Cut the tube and then use black paper to line the inside of the tube so that the "lens" port is dark.

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Lee Nathan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sure. just wrap that $200+ lens in duct tape. cuz it comes off so clean and with no residue. (sarcasm)

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#24

Shoot High-Speed Images At Home

Shoot High-Speed Images At Home


High-speed photography literally takes your photos to the next level. High-speed might initially seem impossible to take at home, but this simple instruction will teach you how to freeze action. A tripod and a subject are the first things you'll need; the subject might be anything from a glass of water to painted balloons. In addition, you will need a solid backdrop and a wireless external flash (Speedlight).

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol, you make it sound so easy 😂 Trust me, yes, it's doable but it takes a lot of testing before you finally get one good result. Back in my photography days, we've done this with bell peppers dropping into a small aquarium, just drops of water into a bowl of water, wine pouring into a glass.... It's all about perfect timing, camera settings, a good flashlight setup from 2 different angles and lots and lots of patience and luck. All in all, fun to do and the results really rocked!

#25

Cut Different Shapes In A Cardboard For A Window Shadow

Cut Different Shapes In A Cardboard For A Window Shadow


A cucoloris is a term for fake windows used in photography and cinematography. Any object or gadget that creates a pattern of shadows on a scene qualifies. They can also be referred to as cookies informally. A gobo or go-between is another name for them. It can refer to any object placed between the light source and the scene you are recording or photographing.

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#26

Use Torn Photo Wall

Use Torn Photo Wall


Warning: using this hack may cost you a new background paper roll!

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#27

Keep Your Horizons Straight

Keep Your Horizons Straight


When you notice anything intriguing, take a moment to check that the horizontal and vertical lines are straight before clicking. Today, it's become ingrained in all of us to point our cameras in the general direction of the subject we photograph. We suggest you line yourself up perfectly with that structure or person.

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#28

Use A Plastic Sandwich Bag To Produce A Foggy, Ethereal Effect

Use A Plastic Sandwich Bag To Produce A Foggy, Ethereal Effect


Want to produce a foggy, ethereal effect? To make it happen, all you need is a plastic quart bag. Cover your lens with a plastic sandwich bag to create a DIY haze filter/effect. But make sure there are no breadcrumbs left inside the bag!

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#29

Use Torches To Add Lens Flare

Use Torches To Add Lens Flare

You may add lens flares to your photos the organic way by shining a flashlight directly into your lens!

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#30

Create Your Own Lightbox

Create Your Own Lightbox

A lightbox is often essential for any product photography that calls for taking well-lit pictures of small objects. However, a cardboard box and a piece of plain white fabric might work just as well to create your own lightbox! Using tape and scissors, you can rig it yourself and save some precious dollar bills. Oh, and don't forget the desktop lamps placed on both sides!

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Andrew Dunford
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a pretty good one. You don't need professional lights either

#31

Use Face-Symmetrical Things To Make A Perfect Portrait

Use Face-Symmetrical Things To Make A Perfect Portrait


The definition of beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Even though everyone is charmed by a vast range of physical characteristics (thank goodness!), science has asserted facts about what we are biologically inclined to find more appealing. In fact, contrary to what was predicted, asymmetrical faces were widely perceived as more attractive.

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Ione Alva-wies
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like how she laid on the ground to get her hair to spread out like that

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#32

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Pinhole Using Cardboard

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Pinhole Using Cardboard


Follow the direction above to make your photos look like they were taken in the '90s!

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#33

Imitate Rain With A Spray Bottle

Imitate Rain With A Spray Bottle


If you don't want to risk shooting in the rain and getting your expensive gear wet, but still need that raining sensation in your pictures, you may want to try one of the easiest photography tricks. Simply use a picture frame and a spray bottle. Spray water on the glass surface to make raindrops. For a spectator, it's really hard to tell that those are not "real" raindrops.

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#34

Use Magnifying Glass To Imitate Macro Lens

Use Magnifying Glass To Imitate Macro Lens


You may bring your photography abilities to new creative heights with various macro photography tips, such as utilizing a magnifying glass to create close-up shots. Also, you may include the magnifying glass in the frame to give your photo a unique flair.

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#35

Use A Coffee Sleeve As A Lens Hood

Use A Coffee Sleeve As A Lens Hood


Another unexpected tool that may reduce glare? Save those Starbies' coffee sleeves for your upcoming shoot outdoors. You can use them when the sun causes glare on your camera lens.

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#36

Create A Unique Self-Portrait Using Lace

Create A Unique Self-Portrait Using Lace


You may make your portraits appear more dramatic by simply adding shadows. It gives a flat image some punch and makes it more attractive. For this reason, looking for ways to add shadows on purpose may be a brilliant idea. And one of the simplest ways to do so is by utilizing lace.

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#37

Look For Symmetry

Look For Symmetry


If you discover an image that reflects the exact same from top to bottom or from right to left, your viewer will turn over with delight! How often do we see something every day and then see a photographer take a picture that shows an entirely different angle of the same thing? Not so often!

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#38

DIY Colorful Filter

DIY Colorful Filter


Colored filters are precisely what they sound like — a piece of tinted glass that you place in front of the lens. These filters' effect relies on the filter's color and alters how the camera perceives light. However, while the results may not be the same, you can try DIYing your own color filter using transparent scotch tape and markers before investing in one.

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#39

Use A Shower Curtain To Create A DIY Softbox

Use A Shower Curtain To Create A DIY Softbox

This method is a brilliant choice for a homemade soft light. All you need is an intense light and something to hang the shower curtain from, which you most likely already have or can easily pick up at the shop.

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Ernesto Q
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a waste of time and effort. There're very inexpensive folding soft box that easily attach to flash head, can be used anywhere. Heck, most flash come with diffuser to create soft box effect.

#40

Use Drinking Glasses As A Lens Filter

Use Drinking Glasses As A Lens Filter


Give one of the many glasses you likely have in your kitchen cupboards another purpose by using it as a lens filter to create an interesting effect.

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Erica Knapp
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a mason jar, which is also used as glass...at least down here in the south they are lol

#41

Use A Pantyhose Or Stocking Filter

Use A Pantyhose Or Stocking Filter


Want to give your photographs a little color or diffusion? Put a nylon stocking over the lens (borrow from your mother or a girlfriend if you don't have one lying around). You can create your own DIY lens filter by securing it with a rubber band. Also, You can try something more vibrant using colored stockings or neutral with a white pair.

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#42

Use A Simple Steamer To Add Steam

Use A Simple Steamer To Add Steam


Any food photographer or product photographer will love this technique: use a simple steamer that is out of the shot to add steam to your photographs.

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#43

Reduce Camera Shake With A Bag Of Lentils

Reduce Camera Shake With A Bag Of Lentils


Getting down to your subject’s eye level, whether it’s a squirrel or a bird, can create a very intimate and natural shot. However, laying down and using your elbows as camera support is neither comfortable nor solid enough to reduce camera shake and ensure proper, sharp images. Thus, placing a bag of lentils may be the solution!

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Caliban Taylor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this guy on a stakeout? Who’s he watching? Why’d he in a car?

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#44

Use A Hair Dryer To Create A Windy Effect

Use A Hair Dryer To Create A Windy Effect


To create the appearance of windblown hair, ask your model or someone to assist in holding a hair dryer. This DIY photography tip should also be helpful for those who take self-portraits!

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#45

Use Glow Sticks For Long Exposure

Use Glow Sticks For Long Exposure


This hack only requires a few glow sticks, which you can typically get for $1 at any store, a model, and a dark setting. Adjust your shutting speed and have your model draw shapes in the air!

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Andrew Dunford
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love how the example photo isn't glow sticks and isn't long exposure

#46

Get That Perfect Top-Down Photo For Your Instagram

Get That Perfect Top-Down Photo For Your Instagram

Duck-tape your phone to the ceiling and go under it to take a perfect top-down photo for your Instagram.

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#47

Create Magical Food Photos With DIY Flour Clouds

Create Magical Food Photos With DIY Flour Clouds


Try out this DIY photography hack to produce outstanding food photos and make them appear vivid and dynamic! To surround your subject with clouds, you'll need to add some flour. Yes, flour you make pancakes with. To create your magical photo, follow these steps:

1. Plan your shoot using a sketch.

2. Gather the props and equipment.

3. Make a DIY cloud gun.

4. Keep all objects in place with glue and knitting needles.

5. Arrange the composition to make it steady and still.

6. Use two light sources for lighting the scene.

7. Take the photo step-by-step.

8. Edit your magical photo in post-processing. Voila!

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Phyzzi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then be very careful not to have any fire around...

#48

Use A Black Tile For Product Photography

Use A Black Tile For Product Photography


If you want a clear image with an unusual reflection, try utilizing a black backdrop with a black tile underneath your product. It will enhance any product image without being too distracting.

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#49

DIY Light Table

DIY Light Table


Light tables can be handy for taking beautiful product photos. Using this tutorial above and a basic cardboard box, you can easily make your own.

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Phyzzi
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shame we don't have the tutorial... (I mean, I can figure it out, but I am curious if they use plastic or glass)

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#50

Use Natural Surroundings To Your Benefit

Use Natural Surroundings To Your Benefit


You've undoubtedly heard a million times to stand with your back to the sun to prevent your subject from seeming too dark in a photo, but if you are clever about what blocks the sun, you can obtain a beautiful outdoor shot.

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#51

Use Trees Or Bushes For A Backdrop

Use Trees Or Bushes For A Backdrop


Ask your model to pose in front of some shrubs or trees to make a stunning nature image.

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make sure you know your camera settings or you'll have a perfectly clear tree line behind the model 😉👍

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#52

Make Your Gorillapod Magnetic

Make Your Gorillapod Magnetic


Your already helpful Gorillapod can become even more practical with this method. Drill a small hole in your Gorillapod's feet and insert magnets that fit inside its leg. However, it's essential to understand that this modification will nullify the warranty on your Gorillapod!

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make sure to test if it can hold the weight of your camera first before you drop it and you bust your camera 😉

#53

Lighting Trick

Lighting Trick


You can improve the lighting on your face by using something as simple as a whiteboard.

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are also foldable screens available to do this, they don't cost that much and reflect the light from any angle. Available in white, gold, silver.... just Google 😁

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#54

Apply Vaseline To Your Lens Filter To Create A Dreamy Effect

Apply Vaseline To Your Lens Filter To Create A Dreamy Effect


This is a tried-and-true old trick. Early Hollywood film directors would apply vaseline to their lens filters to create a dreamy effect. By using this technique, you may give your subject a subtle shine without applying too much makeup. However, vaseline should be applied on clear plastic wrap or a filter rather than the lens itself.

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DON'T!!! It's a b¡tch to get that mess of your lens. Buy a simple conversion lens that you can clean easily.

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#55

Use Wrist Rubber Band To Prevent Zoom Creep

Use Wrist Rubber Band To Prevent Zoom Creep


Using a wristband to minimize zoom creep will help you avoid the annoying issue of your camera lens moving owing to gravity.

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or... While shooting the picture (make sure the focus is sharp), zoom in or out, it gives great effects. Did many of those at various festivals, it looks great. You might want to adjust your shutter time or your pictures will be over exposed.

#56

Go Off-Center

Go Off-Center


Every good photograph includes three main centers of interest, which are achieved by having one in each third of the overall image. Remember that it doesn't have to be completely level. For a genuine pro vibe, move off-center.

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#57

Use A Match To Add A Film Burn Effect

Use A Match To Add A Film Burn Effect


Your photographs will appear to have film burn thanks to this easy method: simply hold a lit match in front of your lens while shooting. But be careful and don't burn yourself or your expensive camera!

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Phyzzi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, I get it but to me it looks like someone's thumb got in the picture.

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#58

Use Frame To Make An Interesting Photo

Use Frame To Make An Interesting Photo


Using a photo frame in photography is no news. However, the real magic happens in post-processing. Just trust the process.

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#59

Liquid Photography With Paint In Water Technique

Liquid Photography With Paint In Water Technique


Use this technique to create beautiful, dreamlike photos of paint dissolving in water. With this technique, you may see a slow-expanding effect or something that appears more like evil tentacles spreading throughout. What happens in the few seconds after the paint drops into the water will very much depend on the density of the paint you use. Thus, play around with your paint before taking pictures to determine its density. If the paint is too thick, it won't dissolve in water and will sink to the bottom of the tank. However, if it is too thin, it will dissolve rapidly and have a limited range of color density.

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Use ink, not paint. And to get some more superb effects, stir the water up with a spoon and wait a little, then add one drop off ink and see what happens. The slightest movement of water gives really great effects.

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#60

Check On The Lighting Source And Where It's Coming From

Check On The Lighting Source And Where It's Coming From


It's incredible how simple it is to take excellent pictures if you know just consider the following: if you are taking a shot of someone outside and the sun is right behind them, the subject will appear like a shadow (which could also work to make a silhouette photo). All you have to do is move them to face the sun, and they will be well-illuminated. However, avoid direct sunlight if you don't want your subject to squint or have over-exposed areas in your photos!

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Phyzzi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember there was a photographer along with some outdoor education I was helping with and he was genuinely thrilled that it was an overcast day. Grey but not dark and not actively precipitating makes for really well lit shots actually, as long as you aren't trying to also have blue sky in your shots.

#61

Have Your Subject Tilt Their Head To Prevent Red Eyes

Have Your Subject Tilt Their Head To Prevent Red Eyes


If red eye consistently ruins your pictures, give this a try: when using the flash, have your subject look slightly above the camera.

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#62

Use Photoelasticity To Add Abstract Rainbow Effects To Photos

Use Photoelasticity To Add Abstract Rainbow Effects To Photos


We can almost see your puzzled expression at this point. And indeed, this hack is a tricky one. While you don't need expensive equipment to experiment with photoelasticity, you do need a few specific things. Those are a polarizing filter, transparent plastic objects, and a polarized light source. Unfortunately, traditional lighting sources like the sun, lamps, LEDs, and flashbulbs do not emit polarized light and won't do. In fact, if you are contemplating what kind of light source to utilize, you are currently looking at it. Your phone, tablet, or computer's LCD screen all output polarized light in one plane.

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#63

Switch The Automatic Flash Off

Switch The Automatic Flash Off


You may have noticed that both DSLR and phone cameras’ flash pops up as soon as it gets slightly darker, despite not always being needed nor desired. While flash photography works great in dim and poorly lit environments, taking photos with a flash actually requires some knowledge to make it work. However, in everyday scenarios or basic photoshoots, no flash should work just fine. If the area you are taking photos in is relatively dim, switch off the flash and raise the ISO instead. Increasing your ISO will make your camera’s shutter speed faster in all modes other than Manual and Shutter Priority, giving you a better chance of capturing moving subjects. Now take the picture.

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Giuditta Jones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you didn't do this already, you shouldn't call yourself a photographer

#64

Plain Background Is The Best Background

Plain Background Is The Best Background


Honestly, simple photos that allow for the subject to breathe make for the most incredible images. So go ahead and find the plainest background you can. For the spectator, the experience of looking at a busy vs. simple photo is the same as the difference between stepping into a super-cluttered home or a clean, minimalist setting with few distractions. Take the extra time to look around and pick a simple background that doesn’t draw attention away from the subject if you shoot an image of a person.

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#65

Apply The Rule Of Thirds

Apply The Rule Of Thirds

The easiest and least-used tip in the photographer's handbook is arguably the rule of thirds. How to utilize it? Go into your camera's menu and select "Grid," which will display a grid with horizontal and vertical lines as you look through the viewfinder. With the help of the grid, place your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two-thirds open. Although there are different types of composition, using the rule of thirds usually results in interesting and well-composed photos. Most amateur photographers center their subjects in the center of the frame. Good try but BO-RING!

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Bubbles and sparks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The example picture is not how that works. The simplest rule is to not! put the subject in the middle, but in the one third half of the frame. In the picture above, turn your camera horizontal and have the car on the right third half in the middle third part. By having this done, you create space "to drive" for the car. The same for portraits... make sure the space goes to the side the person is looking at, putting an object in the middle is just boring. And, if you are photographing a person standing a bit away from you, don't cut off the legs half way, either include the feet or shoot waist up, making sure the complete arms are in the picture to prevent floating arms that are connected to nothing 😁

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#66

Try Different Perspectives

Try Different Perspectives


Most photographs that viewers see are taken at eye level from the photographer's vantage point, which is also how we perceive most of our daily experiences. We don't often view cities from that perspective, so it's not surprising that they are aesthetically magnificent when you climb to the top of a tall structure and look down on them. In food photography, this bird's-eye perspective is frequently used. Just play with it, and you might discover a hidden treasure!

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#67

Create A Flash Grid

Create A Flash Grid

Creating a flash grid attachment to create a spotlight effect is another useful do-it-yourself photography lighting technique. A piece of straw, cardboard, and an elastic band are all you need.

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#68

Use Your iPhone Headphones As A Shutter Button

Use Your iPhone Headphones As A Shutter Button


Family photos are difficult to take. Unless you don't mind running back and forth to set the timer off, have a remote shutter control, or are an iPhone user. You can actually shoot pictures using the volume control on your iPhone headphones (the ones that used to come in the box). If you own an Apple watch, you can also make it function as a camera remote!

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#69

Cotton Pad Dolly

Cotton Pad Dolly


Here is another trick utilized for as long as tripods have existed. Just put some cotton or felt pads on the tripod's feet. If the flooring is smooth (a cobblestone walkway WON'T do), you can use your tripod as a dolly to create smooth panning views and time-lapse videos.

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#70

Get In Close To Your Subject

Get In Close To Your Subject


Most believe that to capture the entire scene, they must take a huge step back and leave plenty of space around the subject. One must remember that occasionally, you can cut off your subject’s forehead, legs, or lower body from the frame. They are not a mime trapped in an invisible box! The issue with always having the camera zoomed out so much is that the viewer isn’t immediately made aware of the photo’s purpose or subject. As is often said, the simpler your shot is, the better. The most compelling images make it crystal clear to the spectator what “narrative” you are trying to convey. If you are trying to convey their emotion, such as anger or sadness, use a close-up of their brows and eyes. While hands can help convey anger through clenched fists, hands may not help convey a feeling of despair.

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Phyzzi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can also get different photo effects from a close up picture zoomed way out and a far off picture zoomed way in. You may even have seen a film where they move the camera in while zooming out to achieve a pretty interesting effect where parallax forces a lot of the background out of the frame.

#71

Look For Interesting Patterns

Look For Interesting Patterns


In the introduction, we mentioned that some people simply have an eye for photography. And while some may actually be born with it (lucky folks), it's also a skill that can be acquired. Look at the structures you pass, the windows you see, the brickwork patterns, etc. One unexpected "click" may allow you to realize there is a pretty fascinating pattern in the brickwork of a building you pass through every day.

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#72

Use Welding Glass To Make Your Own ND Filter

Use Welding Glass To Make Your Own ND Filter


Make your own neutral density (ND) filter using welding glass that you can find at any hardware shop rather than paying for a pricey ND filter from a camera shop. Utilize this technique to produce black and white long exposure photos.

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Phyzzi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are a lot of different levels of welding glass. You can also actually see really bright subjects through "magnetic media" like hard drive platters, floppy disks, blank CD's and some mirrors, and if you got yourself a couple polarizers for the other trick on this list that uses them, then you can place them orthoginally (just rotate one until you can't see through them at all) to get a pretty good filter that you can adjust the darkness on, just remember to be aware that reflections may be totally blocked or less blocked using this technique (and they probably won't all be the same).

#73

Rotate Your Camera When Taking A Mirrored Photo

Rotate Your Camera When Taking A Mirrored Photo


If you already have a beautiful spot to snap a mirror image, turn the camera 90 degrees to add even more points of interest.

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#74

Use Reflective Paper For Product Photography

Use Reflective Paper For Product Photography


Using reflective paper for product photography aids in obtaining more diverse light perspectives.

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Phyzzi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wrapping paper can get you some cool colors and effects on the cheap.

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#75

Use Tin Foil To Create A Bokeh Backdrop

Use Tin Foil To Create A Bokeh Backdrop


To create a captivating background, simply go to the kitchen and grab some tin foil. You could also use crumpled foil to create an interesting texture. Then, you can set it up as a background. You can change the bokeh's color by using a light source of a different hue and directing it to the background. To add even more creativity, place a mirror underneath the object to create a reflection effect.

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Rr Random
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Photographers are wasteful. Ban Photographers, save the earth.

#76

Capture Candid Moments

Capture Candid Moments


Sometimes, the unposed is actually better. Caught-in-the-moment photographs convey real moments the best. People are more likely to reflect on how they felt at the time when the picture was taken when they see a candid portrait of themselves rather than a posed one.

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Bubbles and sparks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In all my portrait shoots the best pictures were when the models stopped posing, it works every time. I used to ask random people with no experience if they wanted to do a photoshoot with me. Most wanted that but felt awkward once we started. I'm a babble mouth and within no time the connection was there and I got great shots without the usual poses, which I hated to do anyways 😁

#77

Use Wallpaper As A Backdrop

Use Wallpaper As A Backdrop


Duh! A super easy way to obtain a beautiful photo backdrop is to find a wall with cool paper or an interesting pattern and just start taking pictures!

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#78

Use A Towel To Create A DIY Slider

Use A Towel To Create A DIY Slider


You can get a smooth slide in any video using just a towel or an old rag. Simply place your camera on the towel after putting it on a flat surface. Then, after you begin filming, drag the towel across the surface for a simple, inexpensive DIY slider.

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#79

Spray Plexiglass Or Glass With Water To Coat It In Drops To Give Your Photograph The Appearance Of A Wet Window

Spray Plexiglass Or Glass With Water To Coat It In Drops To Give Your Photograph The Appearance Of A Wet Window

Then take a photo through the glass. Voila! Who would even catch on that it was a sunny day outside when you took the photo?

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#80

Max Out The Aperture

Max Out The Aperture



Most people consider the most artistic shots as those that use a big aperture expressed as an f-number to blur the backdrop to draw more attention to a subject. However, your aperture will probably only drop to f/3.5 if you use a kit lens, which isn’t a very large aperture. However, the effects may be just as stunning as done with a macro lens.

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Andrew Dunford
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a terrible tip because it only applies to some situations

#81

Use Binder Clips To Make A DIY Tripod

Use Binder Clips To Make A DIY Tripod


A shaking hand can cause a perfect phone photo to appear blurry and off. To prevent this from happening, try attaching two binder clips to the back or side of your phone to make a DIY tripod.

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Iris
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe put a piece of cloth or felt between the clip and the phone so it doesn't scratch your phone

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#82

Use Windows For Softening Images

Use Windows For Softening Images


Your photos will appear "softer" if you place a layer of glass between you and your subject. Windows are an excellent tool for this. You can use this approach not only for portraits but also for still life and street photography.

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Andrew Dunford
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you make an image unnecessary busy? Yes! Add in a ton of pointless reflections!

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#83

Use Neon Signs To Create A Dramatic Look

Use Neon Signs To Create A Dramatic Look


The most common approach to incorporating neon signs into your photos is through portraiture. Allow your subject to bask in the light by having them stand next to or underneath them. Your model’s skin may take on an alluring glow thanks to the various hues they emanate. By having your subject stand against it, you may use the rich light and sharp contrast they provide to highlight specific areas of their face or body. You can also incorporate neon signs in your frame because they look fantastic in photographs.

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#84

Try Tilt-Shift Lens

Try Tilt-Shift Lens


Although you may purchase your own tilt-shift lenses, they can get pretty expensive. Thankfully, today's many smartphone apps include tilt-shift options, and Instagram is one among them. Tilt-shift lenses are pretty popular among photographers because they make it easier to manipulate the images' focus and depth of field than other lenses. Even when the photo's subject is still, a tilt-shift lens can give the image a sensation of motion.

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Andrew Dunford
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or don't. This is very over used today. People don't even realize where this "technique" came from

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#85

Use Tinsel As A Prop

Use Tinsel As A Prop


To create some pretty cool effects, take some of your holiday tinsel and hold it up to your camera's lens.

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#86

Use Slow Shutter Speed And The Light

Use Slow Shutter Speed And The Light


You may get some outstanding results if you use this photography hack properly. To benefit from how a longer exposure time blurs moving subjects and catches moving points of light, use a long shutter speed (also known as a “slow” shutter speed). Also, when using slow shutter speeds, use a tripod so that any in-focus regions are crisp and only the parts you wish to depict motion are blurred.

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Bubbles and sparks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had so much fun experimenting with that, still have some amazing pictures of "orbs" in the moors at night....

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