That's the idea behind The Do-It-Yourself Photographer. Every other week, photographer and educator Joseph Linaschke shows how you can fashion ordinary items—from plastic cups to clamps to parchment paper—into accessories that will improve lighting, stabilize your camera, and much more.

So roll up your sleeves and break out the gaffer's tape. Learn how to become a DIY photographer.

Topics include:

• The DIY Photographer series introduction
• Potato chip can trick for macro photography
• Using a chain as a stabilizer for your camera
• Making a flash diffuser out of a plastic cup
• Creating a low-cost constant lighting setup
• Light diffusion with parchment paper
• Choosing the right fabric for your backdrop
• Setting up a studio-style backdrop workspace
• Building a double flash head holder
• The many uses of binder clips
• Using foil as a fun and easy backdrop
• Creating natural light diffusion with mylar
• Using a painter pole to get an aerial-type look
• Using wallpaper as a portrait backdrop
• Another clever binder clip trick
• Rigging up a cold shoe accessory bar
• Building a ground level light and camera stand
• Adding cold shoe support to a handheld tripod

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