Lighting How To

DIY projects are a fun way to make your own gear and save major bucks in the process, and the video below shows you how to construct a sturdy light stand for less than $5 worth of PVC pipe. If you really want to go “pro,” you can drop another $2 on a cheap PVC cutter.

For those of us who don’t have our own photo studios, tabletop photography often involves waiting for a bright overcast day and shooting outdoors with the sky as a giant softbox. While this approach works quite well, sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate.

We like the photo how-to videos from the folks at Mango Street Lab because they're short, sweet, and eminently helpful. The below video tutorial titled "3 Mistakes All Beginner Photographers Make" is no exception.

Finland’s dark winter months are when nature photographer Hannu Huhtamo is most active, using the nearly two-month polar night as his background for some exceptional light paintings. He employs nothing more than flashlights, his camera and some simple tools to capture these otherworldly images.

When I first heard about the AlienBees DigiBee flash units, my reaction was probably mirrored by many: An AlienBees light with a digital back, what’s to get excited about? And while the new DigiBee might not have all the whiz-bang features of some of the higher-priced lights on the market, there are several hidden surprises that may make you want to take a look.

When discussing photography gear, Joe Edelman likes to say “Keep it simple, stupid.” That’s exactly what he does in this quick video tutorial that will teach you how to make dramatic portraits and beauty shots with one monolight or speedlight and a single reflector.