Amateur Photographer

Home is where the light is

Photography is an expensive hobby. If you’re like us then you probably think on a regular basis, ‘oh go on then, I’ll just buy one more lens...’, ‘Oh and maybe I’ll think about upgrading my camera body.’ Before you know it you’re out of pocket, and eating baked beans out of the tin for the rest of the month. However it doesn’t have to be this way when it comes to lighting. There are many cheap DIY home solutions you can hack your way around to get professional-looking and impressive results. In this feature we’re going to show you how to put together eight alternative lighting set-ups so you can capture better portraits and still-life scenes. We will be using a host of accessories and gadgets that can be found in the comfort of your own home – from your mobile phone to torches, and greaseproof paper to candles and tinfoil dishes. The possibilities are endless.

Low-key lighting

Use candles and a lamp to capture atmospheric images that emerge from the shadows

LOW-KEY lighting

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