Of all the DIY projects we write about, light modifiers are still my favorite. I have a nifty collection of flash diffusers and unusual lighting tricks that I think you'll want to keep in your back pocket.

The DIY Flash Diffuser with Paper and Rubber Band is one of the coolest and simplest devices to date. All you need is an old press release and a rubber band.

And don't forget about this Ring Flash Diffuser for a compact camera. Finally, a legitimate use for styrofoam.

Here's a collection of Five Poorman's Lighting Mods from DIYPhotography.net. I think the barf bag flash diffuser might be my favorite from this list.

And finally, one of the all time classics is to use a windshield reflector from your car as a fill light for outdoor portraits. My favorite of these reflectors (designed to keep your car cool on hot days) has white on the inside and silver on the out. This gives you two surfaces to choose from depending on how intense your fill light needs to be. Give it a try!

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Most images captured before 1999 were recorded on film. For many photographers, amateurs and pros alike, that means that unless those pictures are digitized and incorporated into our existing workflows, they are probably not getting the attention they deserve. In this podcast, I cover what I believe is the easiest way to move large quantities of pictures from analog to digital.

The research and testing for this podcast was orginally conducted for my Macworld article titled, Outsource your photo scanning projects. After you listen to today's show, I encourage you to read the article if you're considering embarking upon this type of project. Not only do I include lots of details that you'll find useful, many readers have also contributed ideas based on their experiences.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (25 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Wrinkles is the Nov. 2009 Photo Assignment. Keep in mind that side lighting increases texture and front lighting hides it. So you should be thinking angled lighting for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30, 2009.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

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SiteGrinder lets you take ownership of your websites. Effortlessly output pages right from Photoshop.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Often referred to as "shrinky dinks," shrink plastic artwork is easy to create using your own images, and inkjet printer, and a conventional oven. In this video tutorial, Stephanie Scheetz shows you how to print your pictures on the special plastic surface, then bake them into beautiful jewelry. You even get to peer inside the oven as the transformation happens before your eyes. This is episode 5 of the ongoing Creative Output series on The Digital Story.

If you want to find out more about the media Stephanie is using to create the shrink plastic jewelry, visit the Grafix web site. You can see more examples of this technique by checking out her post titled, Shrink Plastic Charms.

Other Creative Output Projects with Stephanie

Stephanie has many more creative output projects waiting for you. Just visit our Creative Output section, right here on The Digital Story. Some examples are:

Stencil Art from Photos (Video Tutorial)

Make a Custom Notebook Using Your Images (Video Tutorial)

Make a Custom Photo Gift Bag (Video Tutorial)

Buckle-Up Frame Present for Dad on Father's Day

A Time to Remember - Make Your Own Photo Clock

Packing Tape Transparencies

Technorati Tags: Derrick Story, digital photography, Digital Photography, technique, The Digital Story, Stencil Art, Creative Output, Stephanie Scheetz, Video Tutorial, YouTube