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reflector

Make your own DIY tilting mirror board reflector for just $33

Oct 11, 2022 by Alex Baker 2 Comments
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Here at DIYP we love DIY projects, hence the name! There are quite a few camera and filmmaking-related projects you can easily take on. They are fun and you can save a lot of cash in the process. Reflectors and mirror boards are certainly one thing that you can easily make yourself. I’ve honestly never understood why they are often so expensive, especially when a silver cake board or inside of a coffee bag will often do just as good of a job.

In this excellent video, Epic Light Media shows you how to make your own mirror board that can be mounted on a light stand and used at an angle.

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Don’t make these mistakes when shooting with natural light

Jan 31, 2022 by Alex Baker 2 Comments
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Natural light is probably what most of us begin with when we are starting to get into portrait photography. It makes sense. The sun is free, it’s dependable (depending on where you live) and it’s just so easy! After a while of shooting with natural (or available) light, we then start to find it a little underwhelming, and that’s when we typically begin our forays into strobes or artificial lighting.

But as we realise with more experience, shooting portraits with natural light isn’t necessarily easy or straightforward, and there are many things we can do to improve our shots. In this video, Omar Gonzalez shows us which pitfalls to avoid when shooting in natural light.

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How to turn your on-camera flash into an off-camera softbox for $30 or less

Jan 10, 2020 by Dunja Djudjic 1 Comment
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There can be many reasons why you don’t have a softbox, but there can also be many situations when you could really use one. I know I’ve had them. If you can relate, this awesome tutorial from SLR Lounge’s Pye Jirsa is just what you need. In this video, he shows you how to turn your on-camera flash into an off-camera softbox and get the flattering, soft light. You will need around $30 worth of gear for this, but you know what’s great? You probably already have it at home.

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Watch: Photographer nukes camera by opening a collapsible reflector

Jun 7, 2019 by Dunja Djudjic 89 Comments
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Some photographic accidents are lucky and end up in fantastic images. Sadly, way more of them just end up in broken gear. This photographer knocked over his camera simply by opening a collapsible reflector, and it’s caught in a video that’s pretty painful to watch.

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Baby plate bounce card gear hack

Jan 14, 2018 by Udi Tirosh 1 Comment
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Foamcore are an incredible asset for work inside and outside the studio, but there is always the question of mounting them. One way is using a reflector arm and another is holding them with pony clamps, there is even a DIY holding solution.

Photographer Tony Roslund shares another low-budget option which I really like: Using a baby plate and some gaff tape.

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7 ways to improve your portraits with a reflector and white foamcore

Sep 22, 2017 by Dunja Djudjic Add Comment
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5-in-1 reflector is a super-handy tool for both bounding and diffusing the light. Arron Nace from Phlearn shows you seven different setups you can create using a single light, with the addition of a reflector or even simple foamcore. Both the reflector and the foamcore are pretty cheap, yet they are versatile and can help you create a whole lot of lighting setups. Check out some of Arron’s suggestions for using them for portrait photography, both in the studio and outside in the sunlight.

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How I made a quick and simple single light setup with colour

Jun 7, 2017 by Jake Hicks 1 Comment
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It was a while ago now that I posted about using a single light to create a stunning beauty setup with only an additional reflector. At the time that article was shared and posted everywhere including all the big photo sites. In fact it seemed so popular at the time that the link I shared within the article that linked back to a cheap reflector sold nearly 60 of them in a couple of hours hahaha (if only I’d been selling reflectors that day ;) ). But if you missed it, here’s the basics; the setup requires a medium sized silver reflector with a lens sized hole in the middle of it and a large softbox…that’s it.

For the complete article and details please follow the link here, Simplest and most effective single single light setup I’ve ever used.

So now that you’ve read that and you now have your reflector with a hole in it, it’s now time to take it to the next level. As those that have been following my work for a while will know, it was only a matter of time before I added some colour to this technique and although this won’t blow you away with colour, it’s a subtle look that can certainly add a little more interest to a currently simple looking shot.

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Sundisc is a softbox that is totally flat

May 8, 2017 by Dunja Djudjic 10 Comments
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Mirrorless cameras and high-power speedlights have reduced the size of gear, just like they promised. But the softbox still remains the largest piece and takes up a lot of space. Vincent Palma and Vilhelm von Platen wanted to change this, so they created Sundisc. It’s a light, compact and ultra-portable reversible softbox that fits in your camera bag and that you can carry everywhere. You can attach it directly to your speedlight, and it also doubles as a reflector with both warm and cool light.

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How to fold giant reflectors and backgrounds without looking like an idiot

Feb 21, 2017 by John Aldred 12 Comments
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Folding reflectors, softboxes and backgrounds are awesome. There’s no two ways about it. They pack down really small for transport or storage, they pop up quickly when you need them, and they’re really lightweight. As a location shooter, they’re perfect for me. Even my white balance card folds away like a reflector. Whatever helps pack the gear down into the smallest and lightest space possible is welcome.

But once they start getting to a certain size, they can become quite troublesome. Gravity kicks in, which then either becomes your best friend or your worst enemy. But there is a simple way to fold up these giant reflectors and backgrounds. In this video, photographer Jason Lanier shows us exactly how it’s done.

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Introducing Omega Reflector 360 – the world’s first 15-in-1 reflector

Feb 7, 2017 by Dunja Djudjic 3 Comments
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If you are searching for one reflector to rule them all, this may be the one. Westcott has introduced the new Omega Reflector 360, which can be used in a number of situations. You can use it as a traditional or a shoot-through reflector, with natural or strobe light, and with four different covers and a diffuser. When you only have a single light source, this reflector can really come in handy.

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Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 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.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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