Pro-Tip: Make Cool Hazy/Light Leak/Mystical Photos With A Sandwich Baggie And A Colored Marker

Photographer Jesse David Mcgrady shares an awesome tip for creating hazy and mystical photos in camera using a simple ingredient you probably have right next to you.

Photographing someone or somewhere kinda boring or plain? Want to punch it up with some cool vintagey or light leak lens effects without sacrificing quality of the over all image or using photoshop? Then try this:

Take two plastic sandwitch bagies, color one with a marker some bright color like pink or purple and leave the other clear.

On the opposite end as the zip-lock (the closed end) rip it, tear it or cut it in some uneven fashion so that it is now open on both ends.

Wrap the zip-lock end around your camera lens leaving the torn end overlapping the lens a little bit. Most of us are holding the lens while we shoot so now you are holding the plastic bag on the lens with your hand.

Now manipulate the bag as you shoot so the center of the lens is unobstructed and have fun!

Clear Baggie Examples:

Purple Colored Baggie Examples:

see the first image above and this one:

of course you don’t have to just use plastic baggies, have fun and try other stuff. Just remember that if you are using auto focus/white balance you will need to leave the center (or wherever you have set up your sensors) free of obstruction.

here’s a photo shot into the mirror to get a better idea of the set-up

P.S. if this looks familiar, maybe it is because it is a specific case of Creating A Blur Effect With The Whatever’s Around Filter