DIY Outdoor Photography Props
Using items found on location adds to the creativity of your photographic shot. These do-it-yourself props can be anything from a boulder on which to pose your model to a piece of cardboard used to eliminate flare in your camera's lens. Keep an open mind when outdoors and almost anything you find can become that little extra touch that separates a great photograph from a so-so one.
Things You'll Need
- Small spray bottle of water
- Cardboard
- Black and white sheets of cloth
- On- and off-camera flash guns
Instructions
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Stretch a white piece of cloth between two sticks to use as a reflector. Bright sunlight causes harsh, sharp shadows. Use of a reflector adds light to these shadows, softening them.
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Avoid shooting directly into the sun. It can cause flare to appear in your photographs. This is light reflecting in the lens. Use a lens shade to control this flare. In extreme situations, especially in a backlit scene, a larger shade-shielding prop, made from a piece of cardboard or black plastic, is necessary. Make sure your makeshift shade is not protruding into the picture.
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Mist plants and flowers with water before photographing them. Misting them can simulate morning dew and add sparkle. Carry a small spray bottle of water when photographing outdoors.
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Isolate flowers against a black cloth background to enhance the color of small flowers and plants.
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Frame your subject or scene with tree limbs or branches. Likewise, a broken fence gate can act a natural frame for that old, dead tree that's just beyond. Be aware of whatever nature has to offer at your location.
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Take advantage of the season. Fall is a great time to be outdoors photographing your favorite subjects. A pile of leaves makes a wonderful setting for children's portraiture.
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Tips & Warnings
A flash, while not a prop, is indispensable in opening up shadows and pushing light deep into certain flowers.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
