Lighting How To

Yesterday we featured an interesting tutorial explaining how to make breathtaking portraits without fancy gear. Today we’re taking simplicity to the next level, with eight DIY lighting hacks using common household to create very special effects.

In the six-minute video below from our friends at the Cooperative of Photography (COOPH), you’ll see how to make stunning images using things like eyeglasses and kitchen items as tools to create truly stunning images. It a visual tutorial without dialogue, so all you have to do is sit back and watch the fun.

First on the list is a simple trick for creating cloud lighting using a cheap paper lantern and an empty soda bottle. You also see how to make unique still life photos by pulling up an image on your laptop screen and placing a mirror on the keyboard. Place a light bulb or kitchen utensil on the mirror, and you have a “how did you do that” image.

There are also some simple portrait tips, like using a light brush with a long exposure to create a “disco eyes” image of your model. One of our favorite tricks involves filling a clear container with water and shooting through the liquid from above to photograph an object placed beneath the container.

Other hacks include using a stack of books with a string of lights, and shining a light through a mottled drinking glass. These and other tricks are not only a lot of fun, but they are very easy to accomplish. And the images they deliver are really unique.

You can find more great tricks on the COOPH YouTube channel, and be sure to watch yesterday’s video on making beautiful portraits with basic gear.