DIY Strip Light on the cheap (well sorta)

There are times when a huge soft box just provides too much coverage. Thats when a strip light would be nice.

The problem you  just can't justify another couple hundred dollars. 

The solution, just make your existing gear do the job for you.

This is assuming you already have a med or large softbox.

This is great, cheap, effective way to add a strip light to your arsenal of gear.

Here is the link to the  DIY strip light

PS - This site Krolop-Gerst has alot of cool stuff on it. So make sure you have time before you hit the link.

Taking the guess "work" out of Grids

Not sure bout you, but I have glued coroplast, glued straws, glued cardboard pieces, and even glued my fingers together a few times. I ran across a site that sells a variety of round cell, and honeycomb grid. It's a site called Saxon PC. The owner sells rough cut pieces (2"x3")  in small sets of different degrees ( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 65 degrees), you can also order larger sheets (7", 16", 22", 24") All the pieces are black, and I find the plastic versions easier to work with.

He also offers pre-made grid-spots.

He has a small flicker group made up of what seems to be primarily Saxon PC customers.

If you're somewhere between "tired of gluey fingers" and not really wanting to splurge for turn key grid-spots, this product may be just the thing for you.

Link Blast - Dressing up your Speedlights

So, Here is my feeble attempt to make this blog kinda interesting.

I call this Link Blast. Basically I list the topic, for example the topic for the week is "Speed light Gear".

Here goes.

Honl -  honeycomb grids, gobos, snoots

Speedlight Pro Kit - mini soft boxes, gobos, snoots

Lastolite - Small soft boxes

PhotoFlex - small to large soft boxes, lightweight connecting rings, mounting brackets, stands

Lee Filters - Colored Gels

ExpoImaging - Ray Flash (speedlight Ringflash attachment)

Orbis Flash - Orbis speedlight ringflash

Lightspere - Speedlight diffusion system (Here is a cool mod from zarius)

Wescott - Speedlight softbox kit (also a wide range of umbrellas)

Lumiquest -  reflectors, mini softboxes

Alien Bees - CyberSyncs ( affordable radio receivers and transmitters

Pocket Wizards - Not as affordable radio triggers (industry standard)

B & H Photo - The photographers "candy shop"

Adorama - Another all things photography store.

SaxonPC - Honeycomb gridspots

Midwest Photo Exchange (MPEX) - Lots of speedlight and strobist goodies, including complete strobist kits from mild to wild.

I'm sure this list does not even come close to hitting everyone. But I think it's a great start for all the "Strobies" out there who are looking for gear to get them off and running.

The term Strobist, which I use often can be better explained here.

I would like to thank David Hobby  for sharing all he knows, all he knows who know, and for all that he will know.

Studio Taking shape

I Finally have a place to do some studio work!!!! I have a small (24x30) metal building on my property. It has concrete floors, besides that its pretty bare. I use it to store a couple kayaks, and misc. yard tools. A couple of weeks ago I ran out to the barn to get a shovel or something and it hit me, "hey, I could use this space as a studio area". and the mild transformation began. It has been a slow process but it is finally ready to do some shooting. My first job will be next week. I am shooting a young models photos for his comp cards. Later that week I will be shooting a local high school girl. Also will be doing a small project for myself, which will include my daughter and a couple volleyballs. Here is a picture of the interior.

WYS(is not always)WYG

I have been on location doing an athletes portrait shoot and had the parents look at me like, Huh?

Bright gymnasium lights, people walking around , cords, bags and gear all around. And they are thinking, Huh?

Well here is a great video  and the final image showing that What You See (is not always) What You Get.

Photographer Gavin Smith is a professional photographer out of Grand Blanc, MI.