Ep 160: The best photography hacks to help you nail the perfect shot

We love a great hack! And you can make your photography shine with some simple hacks that can help you nail the perfect shot. Whether it’s camera shake, emergency lighting or tips on how to create an instant wind machine, this episode is a treasure trove of tips from Gina, Valerie and the photography community.

Gina and Valerie reveal cool hacks that can make all the difference in your photography.

Gina and Valerie love bringing this podcast to you.

Hope you enjoy the podcast.

#ginachallenge #hack

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Show notes

 

Avoiding camera shake

1/focal length = minimum shutter speed

Eg if you are using a 200mm lens

The min shutter speed should be 1/200th sec to avoid camera shake

 

Night photography 600 rule
600/focal length = maximum shutter speed

To avoid star trails or get pin sharp stars in night photography

600 divided by focal length = maximum shutter speed

Eg if you are shooting on a 24mm lens the formula would be

600 divided by 24 = 25 secs so maximum shutter speed to avoid star trails is 25secs

 

Focus

Phil Enn: Shooting into the sun I always have autofocus issues. I just hold my hand out hiding the sun from the lens and it auto focuses no worries. Keep the shutter down, whip your hand out of frame and take the shot. Light and flare a-plenty and a well focused shot.

Protect your floors or your gear

  • Tennis balls on light stands
  • Rubber stoppers on tripods

Dan Barker: Plastic zip tie bag with a hole cut in the end for a camera rain jacket. Demo’d on a rainy British summers morning here… https://youtu.be/_EyXuSjZ3zg

  • Calico as scrim
  • Leaves around diffuser

Organise your stuff or shoot

Peter Foote: When I’m herding cats at a wedding, I find the nearest school teacher. They have a tone that makes everyone revert back to 11 years old and do as they are told!

  • Pencil cases for cords
  • Clear Ziplock bags
  • Velcro ties
  • Bungee balls

The best allrounder hack

  • Gaffer for lint
  • Gaffer to attach things

Instant breeze
Cardboard for a wind machine

Lighting hacks

  • Use a blue, brown, black or green marble to find great catchlights.
  • Paper bag soft box

Sam Webster: I shone my iPhone torch through a serviette at dinner last night for a travel blogger. Was an amazing softbox for her bowl of gelato.

Thor Dut: As a speed light modifier i used a translucent plastic milk bottle. I always have one of those plastic shower caps that you get at a hotel for free, it is a perfect rain cover for the camera. I used silicagel packs to keep the moisture away from the camera bag when i went in the jungle, you always find those packs in the box of the new shoes. To get a dreamy effect i shoot through cotton or something fluffy like that.

Keith Macke: If you take photos in your home replace all the lightbulbs with daylight balanced ones. So much easier to post process.

Allan Malenfant: When its difficult to get a clean exposure reading due to subject distance etc I take a reading from the palm of my hand.

Eva Solymosy: Use a (small make up) mirror for some not so obvious extra reflection, like in an area normally in the shadow part of the shoot or just as additional light. This is not meant for head shoots, obviously, more for smaller objects.

Shua Smith: Absolutely need to use a pop up flash for fill? Use a napkin to diffuse it. Don’t have gels? Colored craft cellophane with rubber bands works well.

  • Perspex on white roll paper creates a nice reflection
  • Shiny black vinyl tiles create great reflections
  • Calico or white shower screen makes a great scrim
  • Place leaves around diffuser to disguise the shadow
  • Foam core or white card as fill light

Glamour and fitness photography

  • Use makeup contouring create instant muscle definition
  • Coconut oil makes skin glow

#ginachallenge #hack

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About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

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