Four Day Black Friday Special on 4GB and 8GB Sandisk Extreme III Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory. These are the previous 15MB/s Extreme III cards, but they are still very fast and a great value.
Zack Arias, a full time editorial photographer, has published an excellent tutorial on how to set up and photograph a seamless white background. This five part tutorial is one of the best I have seen:
Nikon has announced a new flagship in their Creative Lighting System (CLS), the Speedlight SB-900 Flash. The SB-900 is a new external i-TTL flash with a guide number of 157.5 feet (48 meters). The SB-900 also features a rather expansive zoom range of 17-200 mm (FX format). The flash will automatically detect the presence of FX or DX lens and make the appropriate adjustments. To further control light output, Nikon has also added three user-selectable distribution patterns: standard, center-weighted, and even. Nikon has also enlarged the LCD panel and altered the switch layout to improve usability, including a proper command dial. To help reception of incoming trigger signals when used off camera, the SB-900 head can now rotate 180 degrees in either direction. And of course, Nikon has also improved the recycle time from the SB-800. But then again, when was the last time a manufacturer introduced a slower anything as the new model? Continue reading to see more photos, details and reviews of Nikon’s SB-900 Speedlight.
I’ve found a great video series by photographer Joe McNally called “Light Shaping Tools.” You may have heard about Joe’s new book, The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world’s top shooters. I have not yet had an opportunity to review it, but I am waiting for a copy. This course details everything in his studio and how to use it:
In this course we’ll examine various light shaping tools and how with “speak” with light. We’ll investigate how these light shaping tools can produce dramatic and different portrait solutions.
This video is a part of the new Kelby Training site (which is a subscription service). However, you can try out the service and see the first three lessons of each class for free. You can watch the video series here.
Tim Solley over at Sublime Light has written a series of excellent articles for you dSLR Dads on Portrait Lighting. The series is meant to help you go from a beginning photographer to making beautiful portraits. I personally like his explanation of Mid Key Lighting, as it works well with a one-light setup.
Wedding Photographer David Ziser gave a few excellent tips on Window Light Portraiture in the latest Layers TV, Episode 18. You can download his discussion on lighting patterns to use in your portrait photography here.
Episode Summary:
Compare lighting patterns from studio light, outdoor light, and window light
Remember David’s loop lighting pattern when you are deciding on where to place your subject and camera
Decide how you want to position your subject, then work on the light direction
Maintaining shadow on the camera-side of the portrait adds detail, depth, and dimension
David discusses a contrast lighting ratio
Use these techniques with any kind of portrait photography
You can see more of David’s Tutorials on his own blog, Digital Pro Talk.
Great news for you Canon dSLR Dads. Canon has just extended their winter rebate program until February 17, 2008. Now you get a chance to wait until after the big PMA2008 announcements before making your purchase decision. For those of you who are not aware, the 580 EX II flash and the following lenses are discounted:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (Amazon, B&H Photo) save $125
I have been tracking the progress of RadioPopper since I first heard about them six months ago. Unfortunately, I have not felt like they deserved a mention on dSLR Dad, until now.
RadioPopper is a new stratup company that is on a mission to provide a range of radio flash triggering solutions for dSLR Dads. What you see to the left is a preproduction prototype of the P1 system. The RadioPoppper P1 is a long range, remote trigger radio solution that also transmits the infrared signal.
Attaches externally to your existing flash units
No drilling, modifications, electrical contacts, or cords required
RadioPopper Transmitter “sees” the infrared light signal and relays it by radio signal
RadioPopper Receiver “repeats” the infrared signal for each slave flash
Your flashes no longer require a “line of sight” for proper operation
Put slave flashes anywhere within 500 ft and shoot - they’ll fire every time.
That sounds like a really great product, but it’s way more than what a dSLR Dad needs. What is even more exciting is the RadioPopper Jr. Expected in Mid-2008, the RadioPopper Jr. is their simple, low cost radio triggering solution for standard photo lights. And by low cost, they really mean low cost — just $25 per receiver/transceiver. (more…)
. I have not yet had an opportunity to review it, but I am waiting for a copy. This course details everything in his studio and how to use it:
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