1.  The idiot
2.  Using flash
3.  Stay relaxed
4.  Be creative
5.  Pick and choose

 6.  Tweak the image
7.  Choose the style
8.  Use Photoshop
9.  Print it
10. You're a pro!

4. Be creative
You can use flash in all kinds of exotic ways. But what if you're a lone photographer taking photographs on the street? You have two big problems. Firstly, you're not going to be able to carry massive flash units with you, and secondly, there don't tend to be plug sockets on the street that you can just borrow electricity from.

One cheap but effective technique is to buy a load of camera-mounted flash units off eBay and then string them together to create elaborate flash rigs. You can pick these old flash units up for around the price of a DVD and they're powered by standard AA batteries (use rechargables).

Here you can see we've used a standard camera-mounted flash taped to a camera tripod, fired into a white umbrella. This is an extremely portable unit that can be folded up and carried in a backpack. You could use several of these to create fairly advanced lighting set-ups.

Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!

Be the first to comment on this article!

  • Leave a comment

All fields marked with * are required

What do you think

Your e-mail will not be displayed

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 and A..F

You must read and type the 6 chars.


  • Microsoft gets a better answer to Flickr

  • Olympus E-30

  • 14.7-megapixel face-off: Canon's 980 IS vs. Samsung's NV100HD

  • Canon IXUS 980 IS

  • Nikon D3X

  • Exposure: Gerry Pearce

  • You speak and ShutterVoice listens

  • Photoshop supports 5D Mark II, camera profiles

  • DxO sheds light on camera sensor performance

More articles »

Find the right digital camera

Brand

    • Multiple options can be selected

    • Olympus E-30

      Olympus E-30

      With a range of new features for photo enthusiasts and serious amateurs, can the E-30 beat Canon's 50D and Nikon's D90 at their own game?

    • Canon IXUS 980 IS

      Canon IXUS 980 IS

      Even though the 980 IS lacks HD video and a big screen like some of its competitors, the 14.7-megapixel monster can deliver some excellent images.

    • Nikon D3X

      Nikon D3X

      Containing all the goodness of a D3 but with more megapixels — 24.5 if you must know — the new D3X picks a fight with Canon's EOS 1Ds Mark III.

    • Samsung NV100HD

      Samsung NV100HD

      While there is much to dislike about the styling and design of Samsung's 14.7-megapixel giant, at its heart it's definitely not a bad camera.

    • Nikon D700

      Nikon D700

      As long as you don't need seriously high-resolution photos, video capture, or machine-gun-fast sports shooting, the Nikon D700 has everything you need in a pro full-frame camera for a reasonable price.

    More reviews »

    Membership benefits

    Manage and receive subscriptions

    Manage and receive subscriptions

    Choose to receive an e-mail update containing our best articles either daily, weekly or monthly. Sign up for a free CNET Australia membership now!