I am sure all of us that are into photography have little tips we each find useful as well as many that are worthwhile enough to share with others. I got to thinking of several that I have mentioned for a number of years at workshops that folks found useful so I figured I would post them here.
Grad Bumper
I don’t use my graduated filters as much as I used to. That said I still use them on occasion and when I do I rarely use a grad holder. I normally will hand hold the grad. Obviously doing this and having it close enough to the lens (basically banging up against the lens) would ultimately lead to scratches quicker than I would like.
Not sure where I heard this tip yet I have done it for a number of years now, what I call the “produce trick”. You take one of those wide thick rubber bands from a bushel of fresh produce you just bought to eat healthy, and put it in your camera bag. This now becomes your bumper to keep from scratching up your grad as easy or any filter you might be hand holding for that matter. You stretch it out over the edge of the lens with just enough of it going over the lip of the lens to cover it but not enough to start showing up in your images. It takes a minute to do this yet it can be done and will stay on pretty snug without moving around especially on 77mm to 82mm lenses.
These will wear out and break after not too many uses yet when you feel like eating healthy again go back to get that bunch of broccoli in the bulk product section and you will get this accessory included for free.
iPhone shot of produce rubber band on my Canon 16-35L while holding my grad
Reusable Kneepad
This is obviously a personal preference yet I see people out in the field using these big bulky knee pads. Certainly that is an option yet it’s not something I prefer to drag around and have to take on and off. That said a number of years back I got a large bubble envelope package in the mail and I hated the thought of throwing it away (yes you can recycle these but only when facilities are accepting them which isn’t all the time).
It dawned on me a good way to reuse it was as a knee pad. It cost me exactly $0 (except the order you paid for which hopefully is not simply to get a bubble envelope), is very light and easier to use in my opinion than the full on knee pads. When it wears out you can simply recycle it and by then I am sure a new one will have arrived at your door. This one in the photo has lasted me a while now although I don’t use it every time I get on my knees to photograph. I only worry about it if the ground is hard.
iPhone shot of my current reusable knee pad in action
Remote Release Longevity
It might only be me (very possible) yet one piece of electronic camera gear that seems to have the shortest life span is the Canon Remote RS-80N3. I have tried everything from buying the Canon brand to cheap knockoffs sold for only dollars to some more expensive than the Canon option. No matter what they never last long, maybe months but rarely a year. And it personally drives me nuts how much Canon charges for something that is essentially a single button, some plastic parts and a few wires. Stepping off soapbox.
Anyway the majority of failures occur when the cord near the trigger end starts coming loose from the remote switch. In most cases I can get some more use out of it using some black electrical tape to keep the life going. What I have started doing is putting on a pretty tight wrap of electrical tape from day one. Maybe it’s more of the placebo effect with my remote but it does seem to go longer without getting pulled out from the trigger.
iPhone shot of my current remote trigger wrapped with electrical tape
These are just a few tips I have used with my photography and photo equipment. I am sure you have some to share and if so what are they?
Location: Portland, OR
Website: www.adrianklein.com
Adrian Klein has a passion for the outdoors and landscape photography that is endless. He has traveled the parks, shorelines and wilderness capturing images that represent each area through his own artistic eye from the curbs to the far off trails.
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