Posts by Author: John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Build your own matchbox sized DIY timelapse spy camera for only $30
Feb 2, 2017
John Aldred
I’ve been a huge fan of the Arduino for quite a few years now. It allows me control cameras and lights in ways that would…
Do cameras really add weight to our appearance?
Feb 1, 2017
John Aldred
It’s a common saying that “the camera adds 10 pounds” (or 5, depending on how much you want to tell yourself). I’m sure most of…
Eliminate the risks of low flying drone footage with this 20ft pole – It only costs $550
Feb 1, 2017
John Aldred
I’ve got a lot of respect for cinematographer Rodney Charters. Really I do. His work on 24 was spectacular, as well as plenty of other…
10 video LED lights for stills or video between $50-100
Feb 1, 2017
John Aldred
Not too long ago, we saw a comparison of 7 popular LED lights for under $50. We all like ultra cheap, but sometimes you need…
Hard light vs soft light. What’s the difference and how do you do it?
Jan 30, 2017
John Aldred
Following on from our earlier post about different types of light comes this one from Curtis Judd. The other video spoke about the various positions…
How to convert a floor dolly into a DIY tripod track dolly
Jan 30, 2017
John Aldred
Floor dollies are fantastic tools for giving your camera some motion when shooting video. The problem with them, though, is that you need a perfectly…
How to remove fungus from lenses using soap, water and vinegar
Jan 30, 2017
John Aldred
Fungus isn’t an issue most of us have to deal with when using modern glass. It comes pretty well sealed, and it’s usually not old…
These are the basic lighting techniques you need to know for photography and film
Jan 30, 2017
John Aldred
Whether you’re a photographer or a filmmaker, understanding the principles of light and how it will affect your subject are important. It doesn’t matter if…
Quick Tip: How to never lose track of charged & discharged batteries again
Jan 27, 2017
John Aldred
Keeping track of batteries is a pain. We have to change them so much more often in our cameras now. Especially since the advent of…
Build your own Lensbaby style DIY soft-focus lens for under $15
Jan 27, 2017
John Aldred
Constructing your own lens can seem like an impossible task. When you look at the amount of engineering in modern lenses, how can you possibly…