How to: Track Ambient Automatically While Using Manual Flash

Here's a cool tip that some of you might not know about. If you are using manual flash (for consistency) you can still work in a quasi-auto mode in an environment where the ambient light level may be moving around on you.

It works great for using manual flash against fast-dropping light after sunset, for instance. And you can control the flash and ambient very easily from your camera. Read more »

A Special Note for Multilingual Readers

UPDATE: Okay, it is not perfect. Not even close. But it is helping enough people so that I decided to leave it in. Use at your own risk, and I hope it helps!

-DH
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I have added a machine-driven Google translate module to the site, in the drop-down menus on the right. Alas, I have no way of judging how good it is, and it obviously will not be great. And my heavy use of colloquial English will not help matters.

Question is, is it serviceable or is it so bad as to be laughable? I would note that you can improve any translation by holding your mouse over it for a couple of seconds.

I will decide after one week, based on your comments below. It is an all-or-none thing -- we can't cherry pick the languages. But please help me decide by giving it a try and leaving a comment. It can be as simple as the language tested, and a rating from 1 (awful) to 10 (wonderful).

If you are one of the people who are reading this in email or RSS, please click through to the main site and give it a whirl.

Thank you!

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On Assignment: Radio Silence

Last Friday I went out just before sunset to set up and shoot a lit photo of the Wilkins-Rogers flour mill in Ellicott City, MD. It's a behemoth of a building (at least by our local industrial standards) and I was shooting a exterior for their new website.

My plan was to sculpt the building on the rear 45's with flash. And to balance everything (flash, ambient dusk and interior lighting) for a cool, mixed image. At least that was the plan going in.

Instead, this post is about what happens when things head south quickly. Read more »

JoeyL is on Ovation TV Tonight

UPDATE: The doc has aired, and Joey has posted a ton of pictures and background info on his blog. Neat stuff, and definitely worth a look.
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Just a quick heads-up to make sure to catch JoeyL's documentary tonight at 10pm on Ovation TV. I saw an early version, and it is definitely worth your time.

It's easy to want to poke fun at someone who is so successful at such a young age. And between you and me I try to every chance I get. But if you watch this thing tonight I think you will come away with a good impression of who he really is and what is motivating him to do such amazing stuff.

If you do not get Ovation TV, he has arranged for a DVD pressing and will have them available via his blog. No idea on pricing, etc. (And w/Joey, you really never know...)

But if you have access to Ovation TV, don't miss it. I am very much looking forward to it tonight.

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Meet the New Neighbors

The area where I live has been overrun by Halyomorpha halys, AKA stink bugs. They are invasive (from Asia) have no predators in this region and are … everywhere. They even became an issue in coaching Ben's soccer game last sunday.

"If one lands on you and you have the ball or are closely defending someone, just let it crawl around on you. It won't hurt you. You can flick it off when the ball is in another part of the field…"

They are a little over 1/2" long, and mobile. I photographed one for a local photo project earlier this week, using a very simple light diffuser / bug restraint device that works well for anything very small -- moving or not. Read more »

David E. Jackson's Creepy Circus Salon Shoot

So, if you were looking to shoot a campaign for a local hair salon you'd probably be running down some questions in your mind as you worked up your concept. Here are two of the questions Wisconsin-based photographer David E. Jackson asked:


1. Can it be dark and creepy? Yes.

2. Can it involve knives? Yes.

(His answer: "Hells, yes. Sign me up!")
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This whole campaign is 5% budget and 95% bootstrapped inspiration, which makes it especially cool. And David details both the shoot and the entire creative process involved in two lengthy blog posts.

Check out the results/BTS post first, then go back for the comprehensive creative process post, which includes diagrams, a 10-minute video discussion, etc.

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At Photokina? Tweet us Your Best Lighting Finds.

Photokina is celebrating its 20th anniversary, so this year is kinda big. If you are there, please enjoy a bier along with my jealousy.

And if you run across something cool in the lighting dept., shoot me a link/Twitpic/etc., on Twitter and I will do my best to retweet the good stuff out to everyone else.

One thing right off the bat: California Sunbounce is giving away a 200ws Lumedyne Deluxe Signature Series flash system at Photokina. This is like the M-1 Abrams of high-end, rugged battery-powered flash. They go for about $2,400.00 US.

So when you stop by CSB's booth (Hall 9, B008) to look at their new toys, make sure to drop a biz card (or just your contact info) and enter to win.

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Frio Cold Shoe: Locked and Loaded

From the Department of Better Mousetraps, here’s something pretty cool coming down the pike — A screwless, dual-lock cold shoe.

It may look a little different -- because it is. Details inside. Read more »

Do It Anyway

Do It Anyway

By Roy Lessin

Others may not notice your efforts or give you recognition for something you've done. The credit may even go to someone else.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I am pleased by your service and will honor your obedience.

There may be times when a job you've done will be rejected. Something you have prepared may be canceled or delayed.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I see all things and will bless the work of your hands.

You may do your very best, and yet fail. You may sacrifice time and money to help someone and receive no word of thanks.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I am your reward and will repay you.

There may be times when you go out of your way to include others and later have them ignore you. You may be loyal on your job, and yet someone else is promoted ahead of you.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I will not fail you or make you be ashamed.

You may forgive others, only to have them hurt you again. You may reach out in kindness, only to have someone use you.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I know your heart and will comfort you.

You may speak the truth but be considered wrong by others. You may do something with good intentions and be completely misunderstood.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I understand and will not disappoint you.

There may be times when keeping your word means giving up something you want to do. There may be times when commitment means sacrificing personal pleasure.

Do it anyway, as unto Me,

for I am your Friend, and will bless you with My Presence.

--Roy Lessin

Posted on Saturday, October 07, 2006 in Faith, Quotes

=) AWESOME!

Small Flashes for Big Job

Well, this is just neat.

What would you do if someone called to ask you to shoot your President's official portrait on a few days' notice?

(I'd try to figure out which one of my buds was trying to pwn me, is what I'd do…)

But that's exactly what happened to Strobist reader Karel Donk, who lives in the small South American country of Suriname. So Karel grabbed his speedlights Strobist gel kit and got to work.

Afterwards, he posted about it on his blog -- including BTS pics and lighting diagram.

What a cool thing to happen. Congrats, Karel.

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For Our Own Good

John 16:7 (New King James Version)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Genesis 3:17 (New King James Version)

17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

“ Cursed is the ground for your sake;

In toil you shall eat of it

All the days of your life.

Romans 8:28 (New King James Version)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Whatever the circumstance, 

God's will for you will always be for your own GOOD!

Nikon SB-700 Speedlight Misses it By This Much

Nikon just announced a new speedlight designed to complement the flagship SB-900. The Nikon SB-700 Speedlight will cost $329.95, and includes some mouth-watering features.

But they have excluded a key feature. Any guesses?

Deets, the PR and a new camera, too. After the jump. Read more »

Lighting in the Dark: Summer Reading

It's still technically summertime in Maryland. But the temps are down, the humidity has eased and -- best of all -- the mosquitos are history. This is prime evening porch time for Emily, my nocturnal bookworm.

I walked out to visit, and to my eye the scene looked great. Unfortunately, it would look like crap in the camera. The tonal range would be far too much for the chip to handle.

But lighting is about controlling that contrast range. And when there is just a tiny bit of ambient, you need an even tinier bit of flash to fix it. Read more »

That You May Lack Nothing

In the first epistle of Paul to Thessalonians:

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 

and indeed you do so toward all the brethren...

But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 

that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, 

to mind your own business, and 

to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,  

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, 

and that you may lack nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12 

AWESOME! =)

There Will Be A Day | Jeremy Camp

There Will Be A Day | Jeremy Camp

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have

But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab

The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,

that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings

That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long

You feel your walking on your own

But there has never been a step

Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart

Cause joy and peace he brings

And the beauty that’s in store

Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced

To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day,  

He’ll wipe away the stains, 

He’ll wipe away the tears, 

He’ll wipe away the tears…..

There will be a day. 

Soon...Soon... Let's just hold on.

Dan Winters: New Website; F/stop Interview

Travis Smith, Dan Winters' first assistant, emailed me last week to say that the website had been completely revamped. Where there were about 100 photos there are now around 500. Suffice to say this is probably more interesting than whatever you would have been working on in your cubicle for the next few minutes.

It gets better. Winters also gave a very good interview on The F/stop, in case you want a little more in-depth inspiration.

(Remember to look like you are working.)

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Westcott Does Us a Solid

Kelly Mondora started out with FJ Westcott as a temp in data entry 12 years ago. Now she's VP of the entire photography industry division.

Why? Because of stuff like what you see above.

Our go-to umbrella, the Westcott Double-Fold, is now crush-proof on the business end of the telescoping staff. A little backstory, a DIY workaround and a cool coupon code, inside. Read more »

X-Factor's Liam Payne: Try Again!

Liam Payne's X Factor Audition

Here's a story of a boy who didn't get discouraged and didn't get up even when somebody told him "NO. You're not ready yet."

Back in 2008, Liam auditioned for X-Factor and made it as far as Simon's house in Barbados. However Simon thought he wasn't ready for the competition and asked him to come back after 2 years.

He could have been discouraged and just gave it all up. But he didn't. He actually tried again. And the Video above just shows "It was all worth it!". He even got a standing ovation from Simon himself.

In life, people may tell us we won't make it or we will never be successful or we're not ready for it! But let's not allow these things (statements) to define us. No one can stop us if we go ahead and try again! No one can stop us if we don't believe these statements and reach for our dreams.

SO go for it! Try again!

On Assignment: Armed with Preconceptions

Planning ahead is a good thing, and I always try to pre-think a job before I head out. It gives me ideas to fall back on if nothing jumps out at me at the location.

But you can pre-plan things too far. So much that they blind you to better ideas and leave you banging your head against the front windshield even as you drive away from the assignment.

That's exactly what happened to me last week when I was assigned to shoot one of the coolest pieces of tech I have ever seen. Read more »

Must Watch: Chuck Bartowski

For the past few weeks now, I have been addicted watching Chuck a series about a guy who's so intelligent that he can become a Human computer able to store all TOP secret and confidential files of NSA and CIA combined. It has humor, action and love story which makes it very entertaining. I sometimes imagine myself to be like Chuck Bartowski. lol!

Anyway last night while reading Wikipedia (the only non business website we're allowed to go to inside the office) I found out he's a Christian and here's what he has to say:

"Zachary Levi was raised Christian. During an interview with Relevant Magazine, he said, "My job on my set, I believe, is to first just love people and gain that trust with people where they know that I really do love them and care about their well-being, so that when they are running into problems, they will hopefully, at some point, come to me and ask me, 'What is your peace all about? What is your comfort all about? Where do you get your love? Where do you get your talents?' And I can turn to them and say without blinking, 'Jesus Christ'"."

Now, I just don't want to be like Chuck anymore. I want to be like Zachary Levi WHO makes it a goal to use his talents, his job and his life to proclaim *without blinking* who the source is: JESUS Christ!

Awesome.

Gregory Heisler Whiteboards Giuliani Time Cover

Any time Gregory Heisler gives one of his iconic photos the BTS treatment we pretty much pre-empt the regular programming and turn the joint over to him. And his photo of NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani for the 2001 Time Magazine Person of the Year cover certainly qualifies.

I love this photo, and actually carry it around on my iPhone in my inspiration folder.

Before you make the jump to the very cool video inside, take a moment to reverse what he did with the lighting. And more important, why he did what he did... Read more »