Moving

I'll no longer be posting to this blog, but everything I might have posted will be posted to my Random Panderings blog instead. This was originally my photoblog, but now serves as a mix of everything photographic.

Portable softbox studio: What does it take?

I've mentioned the Photomart softbox that I used with my off camera flash setup on the blog before. I've also mentioned that it's identical to one for a similar price in the US from Alzo. Alzo claim that this softbox is 'Better and lower cost that the Lastolite Ezybox'. That's actually only half true, because bar the branding, this particular box is identical to the Lastolite, at a significantly lower price.
It's all well and good touting this, but it's pretty useless without a few other items to make it properly usable (assuming you already have a flash!).

Handholding
Lastolite make a cool handle for the ezybox. You too can have a pro looking handle much cheaper: Simply find a broken golf umbrella and with a hacksaw, cut the stem about 3-4 inches above the handle. Put some wood into the stem to reinforce it. Viola, a nice looking handle that fits in the softbox bracket allowing you to hold it comfortably. I don't recommend making a longer stem. Why? Because I did and while it does give higher reach, it also gives greater cramp from holding! The shorter handle lets you (or your assistant) hand hold it much longer.

StandsHandheld use can get become tedious after a while, so a lightstand is always a better bet. For sheer portability, it's really hard to beat the Manfrotto Nano001b. It folds really small and goes reasonably tall. I've spent ages sniffing around for similars, but unless you go to the US, it's hard to get anything like it. I eventually got them from Teamwork Photo.

Tilt
The only issue with this combination is that once on the stand, you can't tilt the softbox. So you need a tilt bracket. You can do this by using something like a Portaflash standard umbrella bracket and a 1/4 to 3/8 spigot or a dedicated bracket.

Triggers
If you've a PC sync socket on the camera (midrange Canon & Nikon crop cameras and up do), and a flash that also has a socket (you can add your own if you're handy), a PC sync cable is a cheap way to get started. Other cameras can get Hotshoe to PC Sync adaptors if they don't have a socket of their own. You can also split the signal to more than one flash.
Another option is to use the camera manufacturers Off Camera Shoe Cord. These tend to be short though. An alternative with Nikon and Canon is to use their Infrared Transmitters, the SU800 for Nikon, or the STE-2 for Canon. These allow a longer range and are quite effective indoors, but of limited use outside. A new device under the brand 'Radiopoppers' can help overcome this, but is very new on the market.
Going wireless is the last option. Gadget infinity do a range of cheap transmitter/receiver sets in the 'Cactus' range. Hard to get here, but more available Stateside is the CyberSync from Alienbees. My own preference, for price and reliability reasons, is the Elinchrom Skyports system. Finally you can also get the ulimate in wireless triggers: The Pocket Wizard. It has a price to match being ultimate, but also can have it's own custom channel and will trigger cameras, as well as flashes.

Note I'm not getting a kickback on links, I've just used the stores linked and found them good.

Rick Smolan tells the story of a girl

Rick Smolan tells the story of a girl is a fascinating video of a true tale of how a documentary photographer saved the life of an Amerasian girl, based on his photography.

The Big Picture - Boston.com

The Big Picture is a new news venture by the Boston Globe. Basically they show large (for the web) photos of current events. I have to say that viewing the images this size is nothing short of stunning. Current images show wispy clouds over Mars, California fires and an Iowa tornado touching down.

SWPP Lightroom Article

All of you SWPP members should check out the new issue of Professional Imagemaker magazine. It just came in the door and I notice they printed my Lightroom Develop article! It covers the beta and includes sections on skin retouching, negative clarity and and spot removal, as well as fixing underexposure etc. It begins on page 78.

I wrote this not long after the beta came out, but I wasn't sure when it would be published. Again if you do read it, feel free to leave comments here! You can see a web version here:
http://swpp.co.uk/pi-june-2008/index.htm, but it's quite small.

SWPP: Ryan Schembri Seminar

Despite only an hour and a half of sleep I was still up at 5:50am to catch my 6:15am lift to the Ryan Schembri seminar at the Red Cow Hotel. My traveling companion Mike Patterson, was willing to do the driving and that was the real reason I could go.

The seminar was fast paced with lots of great images and advice from Ryan. Despite being only 25, he's been shooting for over half his life. With Martin Schembri as a father, that's not surprising really. Ryan, does however, stand on his own two feet when it comes to shooting weddings. His passion for photography is evident in his personality, as well as in his images.
The content of the seminar was all encompassing for one day. He covered everything from style to lighting, and photoshop to marketing. All in all a great day with lots of little nuggets, not to mention the audience humor all day. Special pity to Keith and Jenny, who got to play the loving couple..

2 quick Photoshop tips

It's been a bit since I've posted, so here's 2 quick Photoshop tips:
The first shows how to make a non destructive B&W layer and the second shows how to create a non destructive vignette (ala Ryan Schembri),Click the image to see this Quicktime Movie. You can also right click and download linked file.