From: Photoglisa@aol.com

Someone posted a tip on how to scrim down your camera mounted light with used dryer sheets…here’s a trick if you’re out in the field and don’t happen to handily have one static-clinged to your fleece vest. Sometimes I find myself in a poorly lit area getting quick bites with a bunch of different people. The ultralight is sometimes too much…the subject gets blinded, and the background becomes too dark. If your reporter has a press release or some other standard sized piece of white paper, borrow it. Pull two corners together like a scoop. Point your ultralight straight up in the air, and “scoop” the light back down with the paper. It puts a much softer and more flattering light on your subject.

This, of course, works best if you have your tripod…or an arm growing out the top of your head… or an intern.

Another trick: You’re in the shade, or in overcast skies, you love your soft gold reflector, but there’s no sun. You wish you could give your reporter just a little warmth in the skin tone. Throw on your ultralight…but NOT with the dichro. Just the regular ol’ light just like if you were indoors. White balance without it, then pop it on. Much of the light from the ultralight gets lost in the outdoors even in the shade, or under overcast skies, but a hint will hit them and be warm, because you white balanced without it on.

Not replacements for proper lighting, but tips that can improve certain situations.

From: Bob Murdock - WFXT - Boston

Frezzi light too hot on your “heads”?? Scrim it down a bit. Pull the dicro ring off place some scrim over the lamp and replace the dicro to hold it there. I use old dryer fabric softener sheets! Make sure they’ve gone through at least 2 drying cycles so that all the chemical and perfume is gone. They work great and are just the right size! Double them up to stop the light down even more.

CAUTION: for low wattage lighting only!! ie. your camera light. Dryer sheets will burn against any lamps from your light kit unless you put them in a clip frame well away from the bulb. DO NOT use on 1K’s at all!

From: Rick Portier photog WBRZ-TV

I had to shoot a story in a strip club last year. (it’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it) Got all the usual “pushing the limit” shots. But when it came to getting bites, no one wanted to have their face smeared across the screen. Instead of the usual “shoot the hands or back lit subjects” I actualluy smeared their faces. I found a glass block wall in the club, lit the subjects as usual, and shot thru the wall. It worked so well, that I went out and bought a glass block to carry around for just such occasions. Be careful though, this can be overdone. The effect has to fit in with the rest of the story.