Gaffering for your "third eye"
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Generations of lighting technicians have always sworn by gaffer tape to keep virtually anything in place, including webs of lighting wires. But Singaporean photographers have adapted the strong, cotton-cloth adhesive tape for protecting their beloved equipment.
Wildlife and sports photography enthusiasts can spend up to $8,000 and beyond on their beloved lenses.
Mr Adam Zhang, an undergraduate at Nanyang Technological University, has been gaffering photographic equipment for two years now. He has been providing "Singapore's only gaffering service" on Clubsnap.sg, a local photographic forum.
"Gaffering your camera keeps your lenses clean, and it leaves no residue when removed." said Adam. "I gaffer about 2 to 3 lenses a week when I am not having exams. People ask me to gaffer anything from just a lens hood, to huge lenses that are over a foot long, as well as camera bodies and tripods."
Mr Zhang uses imported gaffer tape that he buys off the Mass Order forum on Clubsnap. He has three kinds: forest camouflage, desert camouflage and the traditional matt black tape. They cost $25 - $40 per roll. "The desert camouflage is the most popular.", said Adam.
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Other than camouflaging lenses from wildlife and preventing scratches, gaffering offers some more benefits. Darwis Sunaryo, 19, said, "If you have sweaty palms, gaffering can improve your grip." Also, sticking black tape over camera brand names hides the value of what's underneath, deterring theft.
Ouyang Fengchong, 19, gaffered his strobe (camera flash) after his friend read a thread about the benefits of gaffering on Clubsnap. "It's quite hard to gaffer stuff yourself, because the tape is very sticky."
For people who do not want a mess on their hands, Adam says that he can help you out with his good handicraft skills. "After all, I'm studying aerospace engineering, so I love to tinker with small things."
Find out more about gaffering at http://gaffering.blogspot.com/
