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05/05/2008 07:18:05 PM · #76 |
Ok... Question: Since the backdrop is new, and it was folded, would those wrinkles go away by time? Bugging me a lot. If not maybe I should order the nylon roll... like the one we use in big studio... which I bet costs tons :P |
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05/05/2008 07:21:51 PM · #77 |
Originally posted by FocusPoint:
Ok... Question: Since the backdrop is new, and it was folded, would those wrinkles go away by time? Bugging me a lot. If not maybe I should order the nylon roll... like the one we use in big studio... which I bet costs tons :P |
We have a black and a white muslin sheet for backdrops. The wrinkles soften but never seem to go away. maybe there is a trick I dont know. We went ahead and switched to the large white paper roll for our white backdrop. The black one wasnt as much of an issue for us (at least right now) as we dont do many full body shots against it compared to white, and it just seems easier to get a clean black back vs white. |
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05/05/2008 07:28:32 PM · #78 |
| If they don't go away in few days, I think I will steam them down with an iron... Not very hot iron but just enough to steam the surface. I learned that trick way back, and hope it would work for the backdrop :P |
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05/05/2008 08:44:23 PM · #79 |
Originally posted by FocusPoint:
If they don't go away in few days, I think I will steam them down with an iron... Not very hot iron but just enough to steam the surface. I learned that trick way back, and hope it would work for the backdrop :P |
I whack it in the cloths dryer for a while on HOT (not mamby pamby warm press or whatever it is)... grab it before the cool down cycle (my dryer starts pinging when the cool down starts) and hang immediately. Works with business shirts without ironing also :-)
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05/05/2008 10:16:18 PM · #80 |
| It seems that for those who live outside the US/Canada, well at least for this unfortunate soul, putting together an el cheapo Strobist off-camera kit is a major pain in the rear end. I've been at it for about 10 days now and I'm not nearly done yet. Basically, everything has to be bought from outside Spain. I bought a Nikon SB-26 speedlight from Grays of Westminster in the UK, which is, by the way, an excellent store to do business with. Impeccable customer service and lightning fast shipment. The only highlight in my frustrating quest. Everything else has to come from one corner of the world or the other. Mpex (Midwest Photo Exchange) that David Hobby keeps plugging on his site is pretty much useless to me. They have everything I want from the Cactus triggers to flash mounts, but obviously they are not willing to even respond to a simple enquiry for a quote for shipment to Spain even though they do tell the international customers that they can get such quotes by simply e-mailing them. Several reputable stores in Spain seem to have at least some of the items I'd like to buy. However, not only are their prices generally stratospheric but also in many cases I have to jump through bunch of hoops to make payment just because they don't think online payment by credit card is secure enough. No luck with large, reliable stores in other EU countries either. As the last resort, I've tried the flea bay. And at first I was so very pleasantly surprised to see decent quality items at such lovely prices...Until I saw the obscene shipment fees; 69 USD to ship a dinky item that costs 5 USD?? Are you *bleep* kidding me?? But with the kind of perseverance and patience I hadn't ever exhibited in my life for anything, I waded through the murky waters of flea bay and finally located a few things at very good prices and reasonable shipment/handling fees. Just a few more small kinks to be ironed out and sometime in this century I'll have my strobist kit. And honestly, I won't even use it all that much. A few portraits of family members in Christmas and other special days (They really love what Photoshop and Portrait Professional can do to them), and a few still life pics every once in a while, and the rest of the year everything will be collecting dust. If I had known in the beginning what it would take to get this *bleep* done, I would've kept my money and the little sanity I barely hang onto for more enjoyable endeavors. |
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05/05/2008 10:48:23 PM · #81 |
 Tycho If you find anything you want just ship it to me. I will then in turn ship it to you for whatever the cost is to ship. Not sure if that wil help but if it will just pm me and I will do it for you no problem.
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05/05/2008 11:13:21 PM · #82 |
 MangoJuice
Me
Having fun with this strobe light :P |
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05/06/2008 11:56:20 AM · #83 |
Since the backdrop is new, and it was folded, would those wrinkles go away by time?
I'd say no - the wrinkles will always turn up. Here is what I do:
I purchased three length of pvc and two elbows (which I keep stored while not in use).
I piece the pvc together.
I unfold my muslin and attach it to the frame - stretching it tight and then clamping in place. On the bottom, I place a largish piece of thick particle board under the muslin where the subject will be positioned (this keeps them from sinking into the material).
I try to keep them some distance from the background material so that wrinkles there will be less in focus.
I usually find it pretty easy to edit out any remaining wrinkles.
I think I would be MUCH happier with paper and a hard ground surface... but don't plan on spending any more money in that direction. I am not doing many portraits.
Message edited by author 2008-05-06 11:56:39. |
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05/06/2008 12:32:50 PM · #84 |
I've been doing some of this stuff myself. Here is the only one I have on DPC most of my stuff now is on Flickr and it is a pain to upload everything twice :D
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05/06/2008 12:57:38 PM · #85 |
In our other studios at Picture People, we use motorized backdrops, which come down strait. They are hard and flat either nylon or fabric. I love those and I think what I want to do is, just for my studio here, purchase something like that. Not from a photography or studio store but maybe from other places sells house stuff, like Home Depot...
But for now I will have to use this one. probably stretching would be the best solution right now. |
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05/06/2008 09:45:16 PM · #86 |
I need an answer to a battery question and without starting another thread I thought someone here may know. I have Energizer rechargeable batteries. The 15 minute charger has a light on it. When charging it is solid red, when batteries are fully charged the light is solid green. With some of the batteries the light flashes red. Is this because the batteries are bad? It never charges them so I was thinking this may be the case. I was just wondering if someone else has ran into this problem.
ETA: Had a model shoot today and once she approves the photos I will post some more strobist stuff.
Message edited by author 2008-05-06 21:45:58.
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05/08/2008 10:13:47 PM · #87 |
Wanted to chime in here if anyone hasn't seen it. The post on //www.strobist.com yesterday has a great cheap way to make a beauty dish:
Or you can go straight to the source and look at David Tejada's blog.
//davidtejada.blogspot.com/2008/04/beauty-dish-for-sb-800.html
Message edited by author 2008-05-08 22:14:17.
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05/08/2008 10:29:35 PM · #88 |
Wow, thats really cool. I had missed that, thanks for sharing James! |
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05/09/2008 07:42:20 AM · #89 |
Same setup as I use in most of my black background images. 420 through a white umbrella camera left and up, 580 as master only.
We picked up a last minute senior portrait head shot session fro this afternoon. Hopefully I will have some new images to show off tonight. |
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05/12/2008 02:23:31 PM · #90 |
Anyone have any ideas for setup for multiple strobe lighting for shooting a dress rehearsal of a show? I can bring my light stands, umbrellas, and two SB-600 flashes. But I'm not sure what a good set up is. I probably can't put anything on the stage, but even that's not certain.
It's a very small theatre--wider than it is long. I don't think the ceilings are very high. May only seat 150 or so.
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05/12/2008 02:39:10 PM · #91 |
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
What do you all use for your radio slaves? Pocket Wizards? Cactus?
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I've been using a ST-E2 IR transmitter on my camera with my canon flashes set in manual mode, but pocket wizards are clearly the way to go.
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05/12/2008 02:55:02 PM · #92 |
these are new:
//radiopopper.com/products/view/radiopopper_p1
Originally posted by Nusbaum:
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
What do you all use for your radio slaves? Pocket Wizards? Cactus?
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I've been using a ST-E2 IR transmitter on my camera with my canon flashes set in manual mode, but pocket wizards are clearly the way to go. |
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05/12/2008 03:13:55 PM · #93 |
I'm a late arrival to the thread, but a huge fan of the strobist approach. Here are some of my dpc images that were done with a single off camera flash through an umbrella.
      
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05/12/2008 05:01:45 PM · #94 |
[quote=Nusbaum] I'm a late arrival to the thread, but a huge fan of the strobist approach. Here are some of my dpc images that were done with a single off camera flash through an umbrella.
David what setup do you have? I've always been a fan of yours.
well to any canon user here really what do you do? Do you have to buy the 300 dollar transmitter thing? which flash gets the most bang for the buck ect. |
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05/12/2008 05:15:55 PM · #95 |
would something like this be ok for someone wanting to try it all out? I've been meaning to do ambient + Flash photography for a while.
Flash Bracket + Shoot-through Umbrella
I have something to attach it to so that isnt a worry - i am just wondering about cost - do you really need top quality stuff for good results or is something in this price bracket fine?
Edit: Basically what i am asking is that is the size of the umbrella too big? too small? and will i regret not spending more on some "quality" goods for an extra few quid?
Message edited by author 2008-05-12 21:56:40. |
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05/12/2008 06:29:28 PM · #96 |
| um so is the canon 580 worth the extra over the 430? it's like a 200 dollar price difference.... |
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05/12/2008 06:45:19 PM · #97 |
Originally posted by Patrick_R:
um so is the canon 580 worth the extra over the 430? it's like a 200 dollar price difference.... |
the perennial question :)
Look into getting the MkI 580 - hard to find but cheaper and just as good (MkII is weather sealed and that is about it as i remember).
You might want to look at the compromise of a sigma 530 DG Super (dont get the ST). I did and i am definitely happy with it - but people who have forked out for the 580 have never been disappointed as far as i can recall browsing threads - i cant say the same for the Sigma 530 tho, even tho i havent found fault with it - i bought it knowing what i was getting: selling point was the price and the added bonus of an optical trigger.
However - you might think that getting some cheapo wireless triggers and a manual flash (or two) for the same price to be a better idea if you are going the strobist route. Probably would have been better for me to do that as i only use my flash on manual anyway (my camera's metering system is shot)... |
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05/12/2008 07:17:08 PM · #98 |
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05/12/2008 09:52:26 PM · #99 |
Originally posted by Patrick_R:
which manual flashes? |
Look up Sunpak and Vivitar as a make - not sure about the models. By "Manual" i mean that you just control the output of the flash manually and it doesnt use the camera's metering system - which is basically what you are paying for in a 580 or any other "current" flash unit at the moment along with any other bells and whistles.
All you need is a flash you can attach to your camera in any way and control it's output, which also has enough power for the use you need it for. Check the strobist boards for more info. I just did and it threw up a model number for a viviatar i remember seeing a lot of the Vivitar 285 |
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05/12/2008 10:53:40 PM · #100 |
My very first shots from my very own Stdio Focus Point :) |
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