Put on your sunnies

Rod Lawton finds some great optical accessories right before his eyes…

Get yourself a cheap pair of reading glasses and sunglasses – you can get some fab effects using the lenses as filters

First, an apology: if you’re engaged in a constant pursuit of optical perfection, you need to look away now. But if you enjoy back-to-basics photography, this technique is a cheap, simple way to capture a lo-fi look.

We bought two pairs of bargain sunglasses and a pair of low-cost reading glasses for just £3 (around $4.50) and had no end of fun with them. Even our videographer loved them (see the video on our disc)!

They’re ridiculously easy to use, you don’t need to learn any new techniques and yet cheap spectacle lenses can give you great effects in seconds. The optical quality is perfect for a retro look, where edge softness, chromatic aberration and distortion are all part of the charm.