Skip to main content

Don't rip out your windows to try this crazy photography trick

Silver Screen Magic: Exploring Photography with Mark Wallace
As photographers, it can be easy to fall into the trap of looking at the super expensive gear that another photographer has, thinking you can’t do fun, creative photography because you don’t have the same piece of gear. Here is just more proof that this simply is not the case.

Mark Wallace has been synonymous with photography education for years and he is back with another great video for Adorama TV in which he talks about a simple one light shoot where he uses silver window screen to great some amazing textured images.

This is something that you could do for incredibly cheap after a trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s, or even maybe free if you have a window with a screen at home that you no longer need (we don’t recommend tearing apart your house, though). All you need is the screen, a dark blanket or sheet, and a Speedlight with a soft modifier of some kind.

The setup was simply enough too, with Mark pretty much draping the screen over his model with his light source lighting her from the side. The result is pretty incredible, with some crazy textures being produced by the screen while at the same time revealing his subjects face beneath.

Next time you find yourself in the doldrums thinking you can’t create with the limited gear at your disposal, remember that Wallace did it with a window screen, so think and see what crazy ideas you can come up with. Chances are you can create some ways to use your gear that you have not thought of before. Keeping that creative mind sharp will be a valuable asset in the future.

Editors' Recommendations

Anthony Thurston
Anthony is an internationally published photographer based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Specializing primarily in…
How to remove location data from your iPhone photos
How to transfer photos from an iPhone to an iPhone

We all love making memories, and a great way to collect those memories is to take a quick snap of a gorgeous landscape, a party in full swing, or a particularly incredible meal. The Apple iPhone now also adds a location to your pictures, meaning it can collate those images together into a location-themed album, or show you all the shots you've taken in a specific location. It's a fun little addition, and it's one that adds a lot of personality to the Photos app.

Read more
‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir
The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Read more
Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses
nikon d780 review product  1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Read more