Photo Hack

One of the first things I learned when I started taking photography seriously is that on-camera flash is for amateurs. That said, a lens-mounted LED ring light is darned handy for close-up photos and cinematography. Besides the ring light, I have a rectangular bank of LED lights that fits on the camera shoe... but that looks too much like flash. I'd rather my photos have character, or in other words, shadows. For this selfie, I held the light out well away from the axis of the camera.  My hands were full.

What do you do when your hands are already full before you consider the light?  The threading on the bottom of the light fits the shoe adapter, but no known tripod shoe or standard light stand.  With my trusty Swiss Army Knife and a plastic gallon jug, I fashioned a light-holder that slipped over a light stand.  I'm planning on getting another of these lights; having adjustable brightness, another would make a great fill light on the other side of the axis. I don't always want the shadows to be so severe.