Make this Modern Take on a Locket Portrait

Are you looking for that ideal/unique gift for an upcoming special occasion (e.g., birthday, Mother’s Day, etc.) that shows someone that you really love them? A keepsake, maybe or a specially handcrafted memento that will serve as an everlasting expression of your affection?

Similar to the locket pendant from the 1800s, this is a modern interpretation of that piece of jewelry, but one that a photographer could love. In fact, this is a locket, like no other, that can be attached to a camera as a constant reminder of who really matters most in your life.

Stay in Their Hearts and Minds

This project begins with an adventure in “Fun with Filters.” Yes, this modern reinvention of the photograph locket is created from lens filters.

Basically, there are two types of filters that you should search for: those filters with a removable retaining ring and those filters lacking a retaining ring, but, optionally, featuring various color effects. These color effects can range from black & white film contrast filters (e.g., red, orange, yellow, and green) to light temperature conversion filters (e.g., 82A, etc.).

Depending upon your creative vision, these colored filters can be layered on top of your portrait photograph. Likewise, they can be optionally stacked below your photograph to add depth to your final package.

For this project, you shouldn’t use brand new filters. Used filters are ideal; especially used filters that are less than optically perfect. Flawed filters can usually be found for $1 each on today’s used photographic equipment market.

In addition to these optional color filters, you will need at least one used filter with a removable retaining ring. In order to remove this ring, you will need a Pin Wrench.

Along with a professional lens filter Pin Wrench, you will need a large, creative round-hole punch. The size of this punch will be determined by the size of your filters. A set of 52mm filters are ideal for making an attractive portrait filter stack. Therefore, a 2-inch craft hole punch is perfect.

In the final cost, you should expect to pay around $55 for this completed project. Armed with a photograph, a set of 52mm filters, a 2-inch hole punch, and a retaining ring Pin Wrench, let’s begin the creation of our filter stack locket portrait gift.

Step-by-Step

1. Take the hole punch, center it over the portrait’s face, and cut a hole in the photograph.

2. Determine your filter sequence. As a starting suggestion, try a two filter stack. One filter with a removable retaining ring and another clear filter for adding some depth/protection to the finished product.

3. Take the Pin Wrench and remove the retaining ring from the filter.

4. Carefully lay the cut photograph on top of the filter’s glass lens and rethread the retaining ring into place.

5. Add the other filter on top of the photograph-holding filter and your locket is complete.

There are a couple of options that you can add to this project. For example, a color filter could be used on top of the photograph-holding filter. Likewise, one or more filters could be added below the photograph-bearing filter for adding some depth to the filter stack. Finally, you could add a lens cap to the top of the filter stack as a decorative cover.

Oh, and one charming application that can be used with the completed filter stack is adding it to the front of your recipient’s favorite camera/lens system. Imagine the joyful reaction from that special someone seeing you inside the camera lens! That look in the face of the portrait’s recipient will be priceless.

Enjoy.

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