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 Bullets or batteries?
Rechargeable NiMH batteries go flat without much notice, so it’s important to have replacements handy. The best organizer I’ve found is a bullet holder, an elastic sleeve for nine bullets that’s meant to attach to a rifle’s shoulder stock. Try them out so you get a gauge that holds the batteries securely. With the sleeve threaded onto my bag’s shoulder strap, I have quick access to nine batteries. I keep only charged batteries in the sleeves, and drop the spent ones into an exterior mesh pocket of my photo bag. Simple, highly functional, and cheap.
Roy Moreno
Sheboygan Falls, WI
Stand in sand
When shooting on a tripod in sand, get three tennis balls, cut an “X” in each, and duct tape them to the bottom of each tripod leg. This prevents the legs from sinking into the sand; it also stabilizes your tripod.
Tommy Jensen
Odense, Denmark
Flash bounce
To reduce harsh shadows from flash, make a bounce card from a plastic card that you don’t use anymore, such as a phone card or credit card. Scrub the surface of the card with abrasive cleaner until it turns white. Then fasten the card to the flash head with a rubber band.
Antonius I. Handoko
Jakarta, Indonesia
Flash diffuser
Looking for an inexpensive flash diffuser? Use a bottle of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol from your bathroom cabinet. Take an empty bottle, or drain an almost-empty one, and cut off the bottom several inches from the end. Wash and dry that end before tying it on your flash. A small piece of electrical tape will hold it in place.
J. Kevin Stedman
Gulfport, MS
Squint hint
If you take a portrait with the sun behind you, shining right into your subject’s eyes, she’ll probably squint. I’ve found a way to lessen this problem: First, ask your model to close her eyes. While her eyes are shut, pose her by saying “move your chin up…to the left…etc.” This gives her eyes a break from the harsh light and relaxes her facial features. Then tell her to open her eyes on a count of three. This may take a few practice shots to get your timing down, but it can save the shot when repositioning is not an option.
Erika Barrientes
Brownsville, TX
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