Best of the Rest

There are three things to remember when you are thinking about accessories for your consumer digital camera. These are the quality of light, camera protection, and camera stability. When these accessories are used both correctly and in conjunction with each other, they will help you to improve the quality of your photographs. You will become a better photographer.

The first thing to do is to pay attention to the light. Light is what separates the amateurs from the professionals. And if you want to improve the quality of your images, you will need to improve their light.

Quality of Light:
The best accessory for “Best Value” is Gary Fong’s Delta Point and Shoot Flash Diffuser. Every consumer digital camera has a small and often ineffective built-in flash that just doesn’t do a proper job adding fill flash during the day and illuminating the night beyond a few feet. This diffuser will spread the light evenly on your subject, so the light becomes softer. Make sure you order the proper size for your particular consumer digital camera. Another accessory to help you with the quality of your light is the Impact Collapsible Circular Reflector. The 12-inch reflector, collapsible to 4 inches, is great for bouncing available light into shadows and it also helps to even the light for both indoor and outdoor portraits.

Camera Protection:
However, before you hold anything in front of your lens, you’ll want to periodically clean your lenses and LCD viewers with the Spudz Micorfiber Cloth. The cloth will keep your lenses and viewers free of dust and smudges. More importantly, always want to keep your camera in a protective case when not in use. Consumer digital cameras are extremely delicate and if dropped or bumped might mean you are out of business photographing for a while. Make sure you add the OpTech Soft Photo Pouch that will provide snug protection for your camera and even have room for an accessory or two. When you view your images after you take them, try using the Delkin Devices Universal PopUp Shade. It will eliminate glare and protect your LCD from scratches and cracks.

Camera Stability:
Now that you have accessories for improving the quality of light and protecting your camera, you will need to keep your camera steady. During the Magic Minutes, the light is soft, but it also means you don’t have a lot of it. Your flash won’t be necessary, as you will want to take photographs with only the available natural light. As you turn your flash off, you will be faced with the resulting photograph being out of focus. The best way to counteract camera shake and less-than-sharp images is to use a tripod or a monopod. A great tabletop tripod is the Ultrapod II Lightweight Tripod weighing just 1/4 of a pound. It will fit in your back pocket and even has a Velcro strap for use around poles and trees. If you want something a little sturdier, try the Slik Slim Pod monopod that can extend to nearly 60 inches.