Mode Studio

This month is kind of a two-fer: bits of tape, and a film can to hold them. Sometimes a scrap of tape can save your life; or at least the success of a photo shoot. Good quality gaffers tape comes in large rolls and is a staple in the gaffer cases. But what about when you want to travel light, carry a minimal bag, a body and a couple or few lenses. You’re walking a lot with that bag on your shoulder and it’s wise to lighten it up as much as possible. Leave the large roll of gaffers tape at the studio and just wrap some around a handy object. As you can see in the photo, my handy object of choice is a film can. The film can is perfect for wrapping a useful amount of tape around, and just the right size to accomodate the width of the tape. It’s light weight and small enough to fit in a side pouch.The film can itself is a handy item and worthy of irreverent tool status. You may not need hundreds of them around, but they are indeed useful if you’ve saved some from your film days, or still shoot some roll film. Otherwise stop at a camera store or photo lab and see if they have some in the waste basket or recycling bin to give you. Besides being great to hold quarters for parking meters, shampoo for overnight travel and so forth (and of course the above gaffers tape use), film cans are perfect receptacles for small items like step-up screws for tripods, a spare photo-slave, or similar small items that needs to be protected in your camera bag.
Posted by Steve Weinrebe