Lighting in Layers Update: Wider Availability, Download Version and a Trailer

First, thanks for the kind words from many of you who already have purchased Lighting in Layers. We worked very hard on the project; the notes, comments and reviews are much appreciated. A trailer has now been posted to give people a better idea of what LiL is about.

The hard copy DVDs are now available at Midwest Photo, Adorama, Amazon, Gulf Photo Plus and Souq.com.

And … the downloadable ($99.95 USD) version is live, here. I know many non-US readers were waiting on this. It is the same drag-and-drop (iPhone/iPad/iPod, laptop, Android, etc.) file set that is included along with the $159.95 hard copy version. They are 640x480 .mp4 files, encoded via h.264 for maximum compatibility file size economy (2.9Gb total) for portable media players.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to test the CODEC on your machine first, you can download a short vignette in the exact same format via Mediafire, for free.
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Alas, the subtitled version is taking far longer (grrr…) than expected. I very much hoped to have it ready by now but the video producer is still working on it. Apologies, and I will post as soon as it is up.
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Full information on Lighting in Layers is here; after-the-fact Flickr discussion thread for viewers, here.

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Announcing: BC3:2L

It's been a while since our last lighting Boot Camp, so what the hell. Let's dust off the speedlights and give them a little workout.

As with previous bootcamps, there will be assignments, reviews, people complaining that they can't figure out how to post photos to Flickr -- and, of course, prizes. And given the experience range of readership on the site, we're gonna do something just a little different this time, too. Each assignment will be limited to using a maximum of two speedlights, so a certain someone won't have an undue advantage.

Thus, Boot Camp III: Two Lights, or, BC3:2L.

Speaking of Flickr, if you want to publicly post to the BC3:2L results page, you will need to join Flickr. It is free. Go head and do it now, to give your account long enough to get past any waiting period so you can post to groups, etc.

If your country blocks Flickr, either use Firefox and find an appropriate "unblocker" plug-in, or grab some pine. (That's baseball speak for "sit this one out.")

The first BC3:2L assignment drops later next month.

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Sidewalk Art

Food for thought: Next time you clamp up a few speedlights on a public street, it could lead you all the way to the state Supreme Court.

Got your attention? Keep reading...
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Earlier this week, my friend JoeyL tweeted about NYC photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia, and it really got me thinking.

A few years ago DiCorcia clamped strobes up under a scaffolding on a New York City sidewalk, thus turning the space into his own private public studio. He then photographed people as they passed through, making a series of beautiful portraits that were at once banal and thought-provoking.

And that's where the interesting starts… Read more »

Lighting 101 Update: Evolving Umbrellas

One long-overdue item on my To-Do list has been to add more current info to some of the Lighting 101 posts that have become a little dated.

High on that list was the post on umbrellas.

My thinking on the cheap, portable light sources has changed drastically since Lighting 101 debuted in 2006. As such, I have added a significant update to the original post.

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Two Speedlight Grid Spot Systems: Flashpoint and Rogue

If you need to create a tight beam of light, it's as easy as wrapping a little cardboard around your flash head. Bam -- instant cheapo snoot, to go.

But what you'll find with a snoot is that the edges of the beam can be a little abrupt. If you want a nice, feathered transition to that edge, you'll want a grid.

I have long been a user of the Honl grids. But there are a couple of other interesting grids floating around that deserve consideration, depending on your particular needs.

Inside, a quick look at speedlight grids from Flashpoint and Rogue. Read more »

Q&A: Thomas Hunter

Lotsa good questions popped up in the comments section of last week's On Assignment: Thomas Hunter post.

Fair enough. Hit the jump for the A's to your Q's. Read more »

If Ikea Made a Ring Flash

Is there a hole in your life that only a light with a hole in it can fill?

Are you pining for a ring flash but have neither the money for an Orbis nor the DIY skills to roll your own?

You may be in luck. The folks over at DIY Photography have just come out with a hybid version. And, as the headline suggested, this is one you assemble yourself.

It's made out of the same flexible vinyl material you'll find in folders and binders, so it is reasonably sturdy but by no means indestructible. I have played with one, and the quality of light is very good. (There is progressive ND filtration at the bottom and the light levels are pretty consistent around the ring.)

It is a universal (or nearly so) fit. It's also cheap, at $25. The only thing it doesn't come with is an allen wrench and a weird, quasi descriptive Ikea name like Reng Flösh, or maybe Reh Dyye.
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:: DIY Lighting Kit Ring Flash ::

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On Assignment: Concert Pianist

Shooting in big, dimly lit rooms used to scare the heck out of me. I'd bring out all of my big flashes -- and borrow whatever others I could get my hands on. But still, I never seemed to have enough light to do what I wanted.

What I didn't know then was that it is usually better to let the ambient in a big room do its own heavy lifting, then tweak it with a little strobe. And by "a little," I generally mean speedlights set in the 1/8 power range, max… Read more »

My Mother, My Perfect Fan!

Happy Mother's Day Mama!

I Love You.

Here's a song from Backstreet Boys that I'd like to dedicate to you! Thank you for being my perfect fan!

The Perfect Fan | Backstreet Boys VIDEO

The Perfect Fan | Backstreet Boys LYRICS

It takes a lot to know what is love
It's not the big thing but the little things
That can mean enough
A lot of players to get me through
There is never a day that passes by
I don't think of you
You were always there for me
Pushing me and guiding me
Always to succeed



You showed me
When i was young just how to grow
You showed me everything that i should know
You showed me just how to walk without your hands
'Cause mom you always were the perfect fan

God has been so good
With blessing me with the family
Who did all they could
And I've had many years of Grace
And it flatters me when i see a smile on your face
I wanna thank you for what you've done
In hopes I can give back to you
And be the perfect son

You showed me
When i was young just how to grow
You showed me everything that i should know
You showed me just how to walk without your hands
'Cause mom you always were the perfect fan

You showed me how to love
You showed me how to care
And showed me that you would always be there
I wanna thank you for the time
And I'm proud to say you're mine

You showed me
When i was young just how to grow
You showed me everything that i should know
You showed me just how to walk without your hands
'Cause mom you always were the perfect fan

'Cause Mom you always were, Mom you always were
Mom you always were...the perfect fan

I Love You Mom


Pictures after the jump.

Like a Fire | Planetshakers Video, Lyrics

Here's a WORSHIP Song that speaks what my heart shouts! I'm sure you will be blessed by it as well!

Like a Fire | Planetshakers VIDEO

Like a Fire | Planetshakers LYRICS

Like a fire shut up in my bones
I want the world to know You are God
With a passion burning deep within
I want the world to know that You live

Let Your presence come and saturate
Every part of me, make me new
Let Your Spirit come and move within
Fill me once again ’cause I need more

Jesus I’m desperate for You
Jesus I’m hungry for You
Jesus I’m longing for You
‘Cause Lord You are all I want

Come like a flood and saturate me now
You’re all I want
Come like the wind and sweep throughout this place
You’re all we want

Source: Top Christian Lyrics

Do Not WORRY!

Don't fret or worry.

Instead of worrying, PRAY.

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.

Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness,

everything coming together for good,

will come and settle you down.

It's WONDERFUL what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.



Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

Brad Trent's Ocean Master Session, Pt. 2

ED. NOTE: This is the final in a series of guest posts, which were so helpful during a very hectic spring. Many thanks to Miller Mobley, Finn O'Hara, John Keatley, Chris Crisman and Brad Trent for the assist. -DH
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When last we left Brad, he was waiting patiently for the pool to fill up. Today, he'll walk through that part of the shoot and the post processing he used to get the final image, seen above.

Sortaa cool, IMO, as this is frequently the "black box" part of these kinds of shoots that usually goes unexplained... Read more »

Osama Bin Laden's Death: Should we rejoice?

When I heard about the news, I thought to myself well he DESERVES it and started to thank God for the victory.

It was when I was chatting with a friend that made me rethink things.

This friend asked, why would we as Christians rejoice for somebody's death?

And he's right.

Because even if how sinful a man can be, he's still a man God loves unconditionally, a man whom Jesus died for just like you and me.We can all say, well his SINS are greater compared to our petty ones. But the truth of the matter is, it's still sin and God detests it. Small or Big.

So the question is, should we rejoice or should we be sad?

Thank God, I found the answer from my favorite author's blog, Joshua Harris:

Justin Taylor helpfully states that "it's appropriate for Christians to intermingle grieving and gratitude. Grief for a life made in the image of God but so destructive of human life and so dishonoring to God. And gratitude for justice being served as an instrument of God's wrath."

Now that's the right perspective!

Just like what Jesus said "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Source: http://www.joshharris.com/2011/05/how_should_we_respond_to_osama.php