DIY Digital Camera Tips & Tricks
Sure you're digital cameara works out of the box but why settle for the ordinary? Why not modify it, trick it out, take it apart, or circuit bend it? For example, those of you who own a Canon camera may know about CHDK. Maybe you use Photoshop as your digital darkroom.
One of the easiest hardware hacks is to turn your digital camera into an infrared camera. The CCD in your digital camera is sensitive to infrared as well as visible light. An IR filter blocks infrared light. Take out the filter and your humble digital camera "sees" things we don't. Google points to lots of sites that talk about how to make an IR camera. When you're done reading them, try these: IR digital camera 1, IR digital camera 2, and IR digital camera 3.
Even if you leave your camera intact there are still mods you can do. For starters try making a DIY stereo camera. Of course you'll need two cameras to start with but nowadays they're cheap. Another idea is to make your very own underwater webcam. Aquarium, lake, or tidal pool. Take your pick.
If nothing else, you need to position and stablize your camera. Sometimes a run-of-the-mill tripod will do. Other times, you need something a bit more, ahhh, "unique". Let's start with something that will you level the camera. If you'll be shooting yourself, especially with a camcorder, try this. There are lots of non-tripod ways too: bottle cap tripod, clampholder, a giant camera tripod, a camera mount from a mic clip, or a DIY pano-head / vertical mount.
Sometimes you need something more than your camera's built-in flash. Here's an easy DIY ring flash project. How about a $2 LED light? If you're doing close-up shots, try this disposable camera flash ring. If you're really serious you may need this disposable flash to sync with another flash or maybe this fiber optic ring flash. Buy a LED flash kit. Soft light? Try a homemade DIY softbox. Photographing lightning anyone? How about a simple digital camera spectroscope?
Wanna take it to the edge? How about DIY high speed photography? Imitate Doc Edgerton.
After you finish shooting you'll need to tweak your photos. Personally I'm a big fan of panoramas. The other extreme is extreme macro photography. Besides Photoshop there's Qtpfsgui and improveyourimages.com. Other ideas include making your photos Look look like lomo or Wanokoto.
Me? I wanna do tilt-shift photos (or fake it in Photoshop). I just can't take on another project right now unless it's using a scanner as a camera or a optical mouse cam.
I've added cell phone lens to my digital camera mods. Then I discovered that some people use peepholes as camera lens. I'm pretty excited to try this myself. I was a bit surprised how much they cost at Home Depot though. (Yes, I'm a cheapskate.)
Read digital SLR camera reviews ranging from Cannon to a Casio digital camera to make the right decision for your photography needs.
