AFFORDABLE LENS HACKING KIT

Spend a few pounds or spend nothing – you can still find great props to help hack your lens

01 TRIPOD

Any tripod will do the job, but if you have a choice, grab one with a ball head as this will enable you to quickly change the position of the camera, speeding up operation and allowing you to make more of the limited golden light.

02 CAMERA

Much like the tripod, any Canon EOS camera can be used for these lens hack techniques. If your camera has the feature, take advantage of the Live View option, especially if focusing is critical as this will allow you to zoom in to check sharpness.

03 LENSES

Lens choice will come down to the sort of image you are trying to capture, though there are some lenses that are better suited. For example, ultra wide-angle lenses have a more curved front element, making it easier to create flare.

04 HAIR WAX AND CD CASE

Smearing Vaseline or hair wax around your lens is an old trick that can result in a soft focus effect that will draw the eye to the middle of your images. But you’ll want to apply it to a clear CD case so you don’t get product all over your pricey lenses!

05 LENSBABY OMNI OR PRISM

To distort the light coming through the lens for strange effects and extra flare you can pick up the Omni kit from Lensbaby which screws into your lens. Or for similar results on a tight budget pick up a glass prism for around £4 on www.ebay.co.uk

06 A CD, DVD OR YOUR PHONE

Even items that you have around your home like an old CD can be held close to the lens and angled to create distorted abstract reflections and flare. If you forget to take one with you, don’t worry you can use your phone’s screen too.