{"id":70629,"date":"2021-05-24T15:00:58","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T19:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=70629"},"modified":"2022-04-26T13:51:16","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T17:51:16","slug":"8-prism-photography-tips-and-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/8-prism-photography-tips-and-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Prism Photography Tips and Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

As photographers, we\u2019re always looking for creative new ways to capture the world around us. Sometimes, however, we fall into a funk and hit the photographer\u2019s version of writer\u2019s block. That\u2019s why it helps to build up a bag of tricks you can turn to whenever you need to kickstart a creative streak. One of my favorite creative tools to use for this purpose is a prism. That\u2019s right. Just like the ones you used in science class back in school. Prism photography<\/strong> provides an affordable, (mostly) easy-to-use means to get creative with your photos. Prisms can be used to conceal unwanted objects or create reflections, flares, and more to add visual interest in portraits captured with DSLR or mirrorless cameras<\/a>, as well as phones. As a result, prisms make for great creative tools for portrait<\/a>, landscape, and other genres of photography.<\/p>\n

What Is a Prism?<\/h2>\n

You may already be familiar with prisms in general and how they work. Just in case, however, we\u2019ll quickly talk about what a prism is and why it makes such a great creative tool for photography.<\/p>\n

\"prism
Photo by Dobromir Hristov<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A prism, by definition, is a glass or other transparent object that is triangular with refracting surfaces at an acute angle with each other and that separates white light into a spectrum of colors. When we use prisms in photography (and elsewhere), we\u2019re dealing with refraction. Refraction refers to light passing from one medium and into another, affecting the speed and direction of the light. When light passes through a prism, for example, the various wavelengths of white light refract at different angles, causing a rainbow effect. Ever see the cover of Pink Floyd\u2019s Dark Side of the Moon<\/a> album? That\u2019s a graphic example of the refraction! As I mentioned above, the effects of the light passing through the prism and into our lenses leads to interesting reflections, flares, colorful streaks, and more. Although refraction occurs through transparent objects that are plastic, you\u2019ll get the best results when using glass.<\/p>\n

That said, here are 8 prism photography tips and ideas you can use to add an extra flash of creativity to your next shoot.<\/p>\n

8 Prism Photography Tips and Ideas<\/h2>\n
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  1. Choose Your Prism<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. How to Handle a Prism<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Shoot at a Wide Aperture<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Conceal Distracting or Unwanted Elements<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Add Rainbow-Colored Lens Flare<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Multiply Interesting Elements in a Scene<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Create a Kaleidoscope Effect with Your Smartphone Camera<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Get Abstract with a Full-Size Kaleidoscope Lens and\/or Fractal Filters<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Prism Photography Tip #1: Choose Your Prism<\/h2>\n

    Once you decide to give prisming a try, you\u2019ll need to choose which type of prism to buy. Most of the prisms you have to choose from work in similar fashion to one another and produce effects like rainbow streaks, reflections, and so on. However, some are easier to work with than others and provide a wider variety of effects overall. I\u2019ll include a short list of go-to options below and then expand on the prism I\u2019d recommend getting first.<\/p>\n

    Prism Photography Options<\/h3>\n