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Other Bits and Pieces
In this section of the book, we've looked at some of the things you might want to buy in addition to the obvious camera and lenses - things such as flashguns, batteries, memory cards, filters etc. This last section is for all the little bits and pieces that don't warrant a full section but can be a very useful addition to your photography arsenal.
Cable release - Allows you to trigger the shutter from a distance. Ideal for wildlife photography where you can hide many metres away from the camera. Also useful when taking long exposures to above the camera shake from pressing the on camera shutter button. If using a DSLR, you should also engage mirror lockup in the menu.
Wireless release - just like a cable release but without the cable. These often have a 2 second delay on them so you have time to pop the wireless transmitter into your pocket if using it to get pictures of yourself.
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Taking your own picture
There are two basic ways to get yourself in the picture (not counting asking someone else to take it!). You can either use the self timer on the camera, or you can use a remote shutter release.
Although all cameras have a self-timer feature, there is one major disadvantage of this method - the camera focuses when you press the shutter button and not just before the picture is taken. Therefore it is focusing on a scene without you in it yet. By the time you run round to the front of the camera, it has already decided where to focus - most likely somewhere behind where you are standing.
For this reason, a wireless release is ideal. |
Flash diffusers - create a softer (less direct) light from a flash. Bear in mind that there will be a loss of about 2-3 stops of light with most diffusers, but with modern DSLRs, the camera will automatically compensate for this by using more flash power.
Light meters - only for the pros, and at £70-£600, most people would be better off spending the money on something else. Names to look out for are Gossen and Sekonic.
Mirrors / reflectors - handy for controlling light from a flash. Essential for creating a decent studio setup, but small reflectors can also be useful in a much wider range of conditions (including outdoor shots to provide additional fill-in light).
Hot shoe spirit level - if you have a tripod that does not have a built in spirit level, you can get one that slots onto the hot shoe of your camera.
Grey card - this, strangely enough - is a piece of grey card. But not just any old piece of grey card but a very specific shade of grey card. Used for white balance calibration or determining the correct exposure of a scene.
Props - these are anything you carry with you to place in a picture to make it more interesting. Use your imagination.
Water spray - a fine water spray can create that post-rain look to your close-up pictures of plants, spiders webs etc.
Torch - great for abstract pictures, and providing a bit of extra fill-in light to close up objects.
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| A wireless shutter release, conveniently available on a keyring. |
Some of Lastolite's range of collapsable reflectors. The smallest ones are only 12" (30cm) in diameter. |
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| A hot-shoe spirit level. Two seperate levels enable you to ensure the camera is level both left-to-right, and whether it is pointing straight forward rather than tilting up or down. |
Grey cards - a useful accessory if you want to ensure accurate white balance. |
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Photographs
This is a site about photography so I'm sure you are expecting to see plenty of pictures.
For now, why not take a peek at the flickr galleries belonging to the two authors of this site.
Colin's Flickr Page
Phil's Flickr Page
"What I lack in ability, I make up in equipment."
- Al Perry
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