Professional photography gear costs thousands of dollars, but you can take stunning pictures by spending only a fraction of the cost. If you have the time and the patience and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, simple DIY hacks can achieve similar results to spending big bucks on advanced kits.
To make you a better photographer, A&D has collected some of the best DIY camera solutions tested to work. From softening the pop-up flash to transforming a 50mm lens into a macro one, these genius tips and tricks will take your pictures to another level. Remember, photography is a playground, and there aren’t any right or wrong ways to approach it. If it works, it works.
Continue scrolling to learn the DIY hacks, and vote for your favorite ones! (H/T)
01. Use Tinfoil To Create A Wall Of Bokeh
02. Use A Sifter For A Genius Shadow Hack
03. Use A Fish Tank To Get That Underwater Shot
04. Use A Piece Of Cloth And Cardboard To Create A Portable And Inexpensive Seamless Background System
05. Use A Plastic Bag For A Soft Box Effect
06. Remove Tourists From Your Pictures Using These Simple Steps
07. Use A Towel As Video Slider
08. Get That Perfect Top-Down Photo For Your Instagram
09. Manipulate Visual Perception Using Forced Perspectives
10. Don’t Be Afraid To Add Lights With Regular Bulbs
11. Cut Out A Heart Shape In A Cardboard For A Heart-Shaped Bokeh
12. Easy Macro Lens Hack
13. Use Your Sunglasses As A Filter
14. Instant Fake Macro Bokeh
15. Use A Plastic Bag Smeared With Vaseline For A Soft-Focus Lens Effect
16. Use A CD To Create Lens Flares
17. Create A Sparkling Ring Of Fire
18. Add Steam With Regular Appliances
19. Cut Different Shapes In A Cardboard For A Window Shadow
20. Cut Out Your Own Bokeh Shapes
21. Use A Sandwich Bag To Create Hazy Photos
22. Create A Different Self-Portrait Using Lace
23. Create An Arty Filter With Colored Plastic Bags
24. Reduce Camera Shake With A Bag Of Lentils
25. Use A Coffee Hood As Lens Cap
26. Blank CD Case Is The Perfect Rain Guard For Your Lens
27. Create A Soft Box Using A Shower Curtain
28. Colorful Filter
29. Get A Black Tile For Product Photography
30. Use White Sheet As A Reflector Reflector
31. Use Windows For A Softening Effect
32. You Only Need A Few Simple Items To Capture Highspeed Drops
33. Use A Hair Dryer To Get A Stand Out Selfie
34. Use Plastic Props To Create ‘Wildlife Photography’ At Home
35. Use A Short Triangular Prism To Reflect Background
36. Create A Camera Filter For Funky And Colorful Photos
37. Use Glasses To Add ‘Filters.’
38. Create Your Own Color Lens Filters
39. Use Cloth To Achieve The Soft-Focus Lens Effect
40. Lighting Trick
41. Mimic Film Burn With A Matchstick
42. Light-Painted Background
43. Use Torches To Add Lens Flare
44. Turn Your Smartphone Into A Pinhole Using Cardboard
45. Add Vaseline To Create a Vignette
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