
One of the items I kept coming across when researching techniques for taking photos of birds or monkeys in the canopy was a "Flash Extender". The most common being one called the Better Beamer. Turns out that this is nothing more than a fresnel lens on a bracket. I thought, hey, I can do that!
So I purchased a $2.50 fresnel reading lens at Barnes & Nobles and got to tinkering with some cardboard. I knew that cardboard by itself would be too flimsy, so I added some ridgity with some origami-style folded ribs and somewhat embarrassingly: McDonald's milkshake straws.
The results, however, appear to be as acceptable as those of the $40 model. Its lightweight, foldable and cost me a whopping $2.50!
The idea of the flash extender is pretty simple, some may recognize the concept. Its been used for over 150 years in lighthouses.
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