Check out Katie Cooke‘s funny ambrotype crash course/primer: 20 steps to ambrotype victory… Or: How not to make ambrotypes at Photocritic.
Tag: how-to
DIY Canon SLR remote timer
Check out Rob‘s DIY 555-based remote timer for Canon SLRs! He says:
Canon makes a SLR camera remote timer that sells for a couple hundred dollars. Using inspiration from various web sites I built one for myself using about $15 worth of parts from RadioShack.
First, it is a simple wired camera remote control. Just plug the cable into the remote jack on the Canon SLR camera and the black button on top will trigger the camera auto focus, while the red button will focus then take a picture.
Second, it is a timer than can be used for time lapse photography…
Continue reading the plans at his blog, My Name Is Rob.
Via MAKE Blog
DIY $10 panoramic tripod head
Stitching software and digital cameras make panoramic photos far easier than ever before. However, to get the best results, you need a special tripod head. These can cost hundreds of dollars, but making your own isn’t that hard. Even better, it’s dirt cheap.
Read instructions at Worth1000
Via LifeHacker, with thanks to wabewalker
How-to: 120 folding camera pinhole conversion
Paul Beard posted a how-to for converting an old folding 6×9 120 Foldex 20 camera to use a pinhole instead of a lens and adding a cable release. Even if you’re an old hand at pinhole conversions, you may want to check out his elegant cable release design.
"After kvetching about the pictures of other camera HOWTOs, I figured I better do a good job on my own.
"Read on for some pictures and text on how to convert an old 120 roll film camera to a pinhole camera, as well as adding a cable release…"
Read instructions at paulbeard.org
Via MAKE Blog
How to make a flash-mounted DIY softbox
"In the following article, I will demonstrate how to make your own flash mounted, home made softbox. You will need two good hands, and some patience, but your reward will be a nice softbox for the cost of only 3-4 dollars…"
Continue reading at DIYPhotography.net
Via MAKE Blog
How to modify the Lex 35/Vivitar T100 toy camera for multiple & bulb exposures
The Lex 35/T100’s shutter cocking mechanism is coupled to its film advance, so reliable multiple exposures are out on a stock model. If you’ve got a screwdriver, a metal coat hanger, a pair of pliers, and some tape, this is not a problem. This will show you how to add a key that will cock the shutter without touching the film advance and allow you to shoot multiple exposures with impunity as well as how to block the shutter from closing, allowing you to keep it open as long as you want…
Free Polaroid image transfer e-book by Holly F. Dupré
Fine art photographer Holly F. Dupré, has published an e-book, Polaroid Image Transfers – Tools & Techniques. It’s clearly written, covers everything from film and paper characteristics to manipulations to mounting and reproduction for press. Essentially, this is an ass-kicking document from start to finish. And it’s free! Thank you Ms. Dupré!
Continue to the intro page or download the PDF directly.
How to make your own ground glass
Check out Tom Persinger’s excellent instructions, with step-by-step photos, for making your own ground glass on the f295 DIY Photography Forum.
Via Katie Cooke
Canon launch Flash Work site for EOS flash photography
Canon just launched a new mini-site dedicated to flash photography with the EOS/EOS Digital + Speedlite combo. It also has a Lighting Techniques section with diagrams and example photos that applies to flash in general.
Also, I strongly recommend that anyone using EOS flash—on film or digital bodies—read NK Guy’s excellent article, Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras, on photonotes.org, as many times as it takes to truly understand it. It’s long and complicated, but explains exactly how the whole system works, and has definitely helped me make better flash photos with the EOS system.