More Portable Power Solutions - Remote Control Race Car NiCads Power Vivitar 285HV’s November 2, 2008
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After the success of the Vegabond Powerpack clone I put my “Strobist” hat back on and got to work creating a power fankenstein that will keep you shooting all day! Total Cost $20.00! A few embellismnets and maybe mine are now up to !25.00! 3 strobes, all day, $75.00! I bought mine at Fry’s but here is what I am talking about AMAZON-LINK. (more…)
Talk about HDR arises from Flickr post on Film vs Digital! October 30, 2008
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On flickr, I go by the handle DJ Flickr (Don’t Ask). There was a discussion on film being better than digital also the un-popularity of the HDR look. I had to respond:
DJ Flickr says:
This isn’t as easy a question to answer as it might appear! Currently Film has more dynamic range (when exposed properly)
Dynamic range is the range of intensity of light captured. In the old film days we used to say the Ektachrome (Slide film) has a range of usable exposure of +/- 1.5 f/stops! Color print film 5 to 7 f/stops. If you do any serious work in Lightroom, you soon realize that the practical limit of 12bit digital is also about 1.5 f/stops. The human eye on the other hand has a usable black to white range of over 30 f/stops! Hence the current fascination with HDR techniques (High Dynamic Range. Where you average together several over and under exposed shots to get an exposure with a range that about double that of print film. As you watch the digital sensor technology advance, keep one eye on bit depth. That is the determining factor in the sensors ability to capture a range of light to dark values. Currently high end digital cameras are in the 14 bit range. HDR software already can synthesize 32 bit! If the camera could do this, photos would look awesome. (more…)
Notice! I’ve been blogged! On StudioLighting.net Podcast! October 8, 2008
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Ok, So I’m a bit excited… My previous article was also posted on my Flickr Site and tagged to the Studiolighting.net Flickr Group. A couple days later, I was riding the Trolley home from work, half dozing, when I heard my favorite podcasters mention my Flicker user name! (DJ Flickr).
DIY Power your mono block strobes anywhere! Power Inverter That You Can Build! True Sine-Wave Inverter September 28, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : DIY, Blog , add a commentWell, I am back at it again! Another DIY (Do it Yourself) photography project.
Hope you had a fun weekend! I might have mentioned that although Paul C. Bluff Inc. sells the VegabondII for powering the Alienbee’s and White-Lightening series strobes ($299 +shipping), I was thinking about building my own. Well, I couldn’t stand it, I did it, and here are the details and initial results. First though, the cost:
1- 300w sine-wave inverter $129.00
1- `12volt, 12 amp/hr gelled lead/acid sealed battery $43
1- smart gell battery charger $20
1- utility bag $15
That’s all! TOTAL $207 !!! and no shipping! saving at least $120. All available at Fry’s
The best part, Even if you are afraid of high voltage, things just clip together! Later I will cherry it out, but totally not required.
This is the Power Supply:
http://photos.tomsidock.com/AB-VegabondII-Clone/index.html
These are the photos:
http://photos.tomsidock.com/ABPort-Test/index.html
Kit:
AB-800 std 7″ reflecter
DIY power pack
2 Pocket Wizards
1- Compact Light Stand
1- sand bag
Light meter
No Modifiers
Canon 5D 70-200mm 2.8 L IS & 24-105 f/4 L is
1- wife to ham it up!
Time of day: 3pm - 4:30pm - way too early for the ‘Good Light’ but a great first test to beat down the sun!
Cool Huh?
Tom
Canon 5dMKII Announced as upgrded 5D! September 17, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : Blog , add a commentIn an eagerly anticipated announcement, Canon reveals today its EOS 5D Mark II. With an increase of capture quality over original 5D, plus integrated HD video capture, the EOS 5D Mark II makes the next step in the evolution of the DSLR. Solidifying the camera in the professional market, Canon elevates the 5D Mark II to handle the demands and rigors of the professional photographer. Starting with a 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor controlled by the brand new DIGIC 4 processor, for improved detail and allowing larger prints. The 5D’s durability has been greatly enhanced, Canon’s 5D has an improved shutter designed to run smoothly through 150,000 exposures. The body also features improved weather-sealing, protecting components no matter where assignments may lead.
Without having to learn or manage a new camcorder system, photographers can use the 5D Mark II to shoot broadcast quality HD video. Through an enhanced Live View Mode, up to 4GB video clips at breathtaking 1920 x 1080 resolution are possible.
This is an early synopsis, it looks like Canon is listening! More information as it arrives.
The Strobist in You. September 3, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : DIY, Blog , add a commentI don’t mind telling you that I have been a long time follower of the Strobist.com. David Hobbe has literally revamped the way I look at external flash. Also as you should know by now I am a consummate DIY’er. If I can build it or hack it so much the better! The first item I would like to show you is the Light stick:
This device has virtually turned my wife from an “are we done yet?” bored follower on my photo journey’s into an active participant as a voice activated light stand! Or more kindly, a Smart Strobe.
I have added an improvement to this device and after much bin diving at IKEA, i have finally found he perfect portable Beauty Dish. It only took me about an hour to build, you might want to spend more time on yours for a more professional appearance.
PHOTO
Finally not quite a DIY device, but for those of us lucky enough to be clicking around offices: The scissor swivel strobe mount:
Replacable LCD enhancer! August 11, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : Blog , add a commentI have already lost one camera to a mild bump in the LCD region, I wanted to keep it from happening to my precious Canon 5D! So I bought a Professional Screen Protector system from Giottos AEGIS Glass Protector.
It’s been just about a year since I installed the protector and yesterday, I went for a day ride in the mountains to take a few photographs with my 5D and when I pulled out my camera from the bag I was sickened to find a rather large spider crack across my sensor! Nw mind you I had completely forgotten about the Giottos protector or I might have been doubly mad. It seemed as though my camera was still functional so I trekked off to take some shots. As I was aiming for my first shot a glint of sunlight caught the Giottos brand on the botton of my LCD screen. I thought to myself, “I wonder…” Sliding my thumbnail underthe edge of the thin glass plate, it popped of to reveal a perfectly fine LCD screen. I was very relieved. I reccomend this product very strongly.
Tom
DSLR: Cleaning - Don’t be afraid of the machine, Sensor, Mirror, and Fucusing Screen cleaning is safe and fun! March 17, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : DIY, Blog , 1 comment so farGot your attention? I hope so, because once and for all I would like to dispel all of the hocus pocus foo-for-all that has been filling the info-sphere with stagnant lore and lame wives tales regarding the difficulty and inherent risk in cleaning your precious multi-thousand dollar mistress, DSLR camera. Am I insane? Some might say, but I have recently suffered through every known form of dust, grit and contamination that can befall a modern DSLR. I have read nearly every available blog and forum regarding the cleaning of this fugitive from a NASA clean room. WARNING, will-robinson! Danger! (That should date me) “Do not clean the sensor yourself”! “Do not use materials or fluids not specifically designed to clean your sensor”! “Send your camera back to us for service” - Canon But what if you get a glob of goober on your mirror, like I recently did? What do you do if the Focusing screen drops into your hands suddenly , while removing your lens? (This actually happened to me.) (more…)
Musing about photography February 23, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : Blog , add a commentNow
Is an infinitely thin sliver of time
traveling toward the future at the speed of light
Photography give us the ability to capture that sliver of time. A photograph persists, perhaps not forever, but long enough to allow the savoring of the moment. It allows us to share god’s golden moments with others.
A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. ~Eudora Welty
A photograph can also be so much more than that. It also allows the photographer to interpret what is being experienced in terms of how the photographer sees the subject. In landscapes the photographer is able to not only show what is seen, but also what the photographer sees in terms of his emotional vision.
Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter. ~Ansel Adams
In portraits and other forms of people photography the photographer can return a photograph of a person expressed as the photographer sees the inner person.
“It should be the aim of the artist-photographer to produce in the likeness the best possible character and finest expression of which that particular face or figure could ever have been capable. But in the result there is to be no departure from truth in the delineation and representation of beauty, and expression, and character.”
– A. S. Southworth, 1870 (more…)
Gary Fong, not, Semi Beauty dish on a pocket strobe! February 14, 2008
Posted by tsidock in : DIY, Blog , add a commentEveryone loves the light modifiers from Gary Fong, and if you don’t own one of his products, you most certainly have a Stofen modifier. That is what I have been using, until today. While shopping at a local craft store with my wife, I spotted these really cheap Needlepoint or Embroidery canvases. At less than a buck a piece, I couldn’t resist.
