Thursday, March 17, 2011

Ultra Frugal DSLR Camera Equipment {Try New Adventures Thursday!}

Ya'll, today packed with awesomeness because 1) It's Try New Adventures Thursday and I have something quirky to share with you and 2) because I'm guest posting over at Impress Your Kids. Will you go over and show some love? I would really appreciate your feedback on my topic there.
Ok, on to Try New Adventures Thursday...

Blurry photo
Soon after I acquired my beloved Canon Rebel DSLR, I realized I had a slight problem.

My main subject (my 1 year old son!) is always moving. Which means that when we are in low light situations (i.e. in our house!) I can't really use a slow shutter speed. Too blurry. He's on the go.

Ideally, I'd shoot all my photos outside or by windows to capture the natural lighting, but in reality, sweet moments often happen in poor indoor lighting. I don't want to miss those moments!

What are my options besides using a slow shutter speed? Using a tripod. Um, hello. That option is also out. Squishy goes straight for it and totally forgets about whatever cute thing he was doing.

Next option: Use the pop-up flash on my camera. The flash will give me a clear picture, but it will also give me overexposed (overly bright) faces and harsh shadows. I've found that pictures taken with my pop-up flash are very difficult to edit, too.

Other than those two options, I could fork out money for the flashes that professionals use. But that is not remotely in our budget right now.

Then Tidy Mom had a giveaway on her blog for this cool little gadget called a LightScoop that fits over your camera flash and uses a mirror to deflect the light onto the ceiling. It gives your photo more light, but it looks more natural and eliminates the harsh shadows. And it's only $30! Very cool...I'm saving up for one.

But in the meantime, I've copied the concept behind the Lightscoop and have been using a handheld mirror in front of my flash. And it works! Here's what it looks like:


A little dorky, yes. But look at the picture difference (these photos are unedited--straight from my camera!):

See how there isn't a sharp shadow around Squishy in the 2nd photo? The lighting is much better! The 2nd photo is also easier for me to edit in photoshop. :)

The con is that I have to use one whole hand to hold the mirror when I'm shooting pictures...thus the reason I'm saving up for the Lightscoop.

But in the meantime, here's to super frugal camera equipment--my bathroom handheld mirror! It's helping me capture moments indoors that I wouldn't want to forget.

That's my new adventure for this week....what's yours? Link up your blog post below, link back to me, and then visit the other participants and show some love! :) Looking forward to what you have to share. 






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12 comments:

  1. knus leven: Cakepops

    Hi Alicia, my new adventure was making cake-pops for the very first time. And I tried to make a link to the post for the first time, hope it works out... Love Amelie

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  2. It worked out!!! YEEEAAAAHHH!!! Love Amelie

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  3. Wow! What a difference! What a wonderful way to get the photo you want until you save for the gadget!

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  4. Wow! That little mirror makes a big difference.

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  5. Ohmygoodness!! I just got a Nikon Coolpix P100 last week, and was realizing the same thing: Susannah is almost always moving = blurring pictures unless I use the flash = not nice coloring. This is genius!! I will have to fine a handheld mirror and try it! I was thinking that if I could deflect the flash... but hadn't thought of using a mirror. THANK YOU for sharing!

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  6. Yay, Miriam, I'm so glad! Let us know how it turns out for you. :)

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  7. Great way to improvise. I'll have to check out that dohickey for hubby's camera.

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  8. I have an external flash that I use for bounce lighting, but it is not cheap! Especially when you have buy two because the one you had is now broken :( Anyway, that is so clever. You win the resourceful award.

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