Photography has had a long tradition of experimentation and creative playfulness. There are a TON of crazy doodads and gadgets out there promising to get you “better” pictures or make your life easier in some way. This article, however, does not entertain this hype. None of the accessories I’m going to discuss will make your life easy, and honestly, most of the pictures you take with them are not going to be all that great. The exciting thing about using accessories like these is that they provide a chance to get creative, have some fun and to stop taking your pictures too seriously. If you spend enough time indulging your imagination, you can get some seriously amazing photos. And with practice, you may even get predictable results for more serious projects.
The first thing you have to learn if you want to start getting more interesting pictures is how to integrate flash into your photography. On-camera or off-camera, a flash is your best friend in this industry. And boy, do I have a cool little flash for you. The Lomography Ringflash is one of the most interesting light sources I’ve seen in while, and for only $65 it’s about the cheapest ring flash I have ever seen. This little guy is compatible on any standard hot shoe. So, for the most part, it doesn’t matter what brand of camera you are using. The coolest thing is, like any good flash, it supports gels; but unlike most flashes, it allows you to put a different color on each little bulb. This makes for some truly interesting close up and macro photos! With the right “know-how” and accessories one could easily have some off-camera flash fun too.
