Due to the incredible demand for specific instructions on how to build the beverage can reflector/diffuser unit (okay, so it was just Leslie, but I must admit I was feeling a little guilty about the inadequate instructions I gave yesterday) here’s an instructional video that will take you through it step by step. The three pictures of Ben Franklin are as follows: The one on the left is a direct flash. The one in the middle is the silver side of the reflector and the one on the right is the “warm up” side of the reflector. I realize that….

Yup, you read it correctly. It says lager on the front of my camera. It could have said Coke or Mountain Dew, but mine says lager (I dug the can out of my neighbor’s recycling). The result would all be the same, however— beautiful soft light from the flash built into your camera. The problem with the built-in flash is that it’s coming straight from the point of view of your lens and that means it’s harsh and lacks mood. I wanted a way to bounce that light into the ceiling and soften it, giving it a natural look. After….

This could be the one that lands the TV contract! Announcing the Nick Kelsh Christmas Camera Caddy. It’s for anyone who doesn’t own a tripod who wants to hold their camera perfectly still to photograph Christmas lights or Christmas trees. You can buy one on our website for $750 (the signed edition is $3000) or make your own for around $14. All you need is a bag of rice or dried beans, cloth to cover it and enough sewing know-how to put it all together. (That last part was a bit of an obstacle for me—they didn’t teach this stuff….

  My Dear Readers, This originally ran last Valentine’s Day and I think has been the most popular, most shared tips I’ve done in the last year. The reason is simple—it works and it looks great. All you have to do is ignore the Valentine’s Day references. So here it is:   Yes, that’s right. The word is bokeh; it’s not a typo. I’ll get to it in a minute. This is a Valentine’s Day Card idea that is sure to impress everyone—mostly you. You really can do this at home. You don’t need to hire a Hollywood special effects….

Some things are so painfully obvious they need to be said out loud. That’s another way of saying here’s how my brain doesn’t work when I get excited. When you shoot a group shot you’re the star of the show. You’re in charge. And as silly as it sounds, even when I’m arranging the crowd at the family reunion I get some butterflies in my stomach. That’s a little pathetic but I’ve come to deal with it. The problem is my thinking goes a little cloudy and I often don’t take complete advantage of all of those people gathered in….