Sometimes it’s the little things that can make or break a shoot. Keeping your triggers securely fastened to your lights is one of those little things that can make a large impact. Letting your triggers hang by the sync cord is an invitation for disaster and if they disconnect just one time you can miss your shot. 
The LP728 Bungee ties from LumoPro are absolutely perfect for holding your flash triggers to your flash stands. The ties are made from a very strong and durable nylon. The ball part of the tie has teeth on it that help keep a grip on the stretchable nylon to better keep it in position.
Bungee ties are often one of those items that are overlooked in a kit whether it be in studio or out on location. You will never say to yourself “Man I wish that I didn’t bring those bungees with me!” However out on a location shoot I have said “Man I wish I had a small bungee with me!”
The LP728 Bungee ties are not reinventing the wheel, but they are a great rendition of it.
You can get your own at mpex.com They come in sets of either 2 or 10.
For more information on the LP728 Bungee Ties and other products from LumoPro visit their site at www.lumopro.com and make sure to also check them out on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LumoPro and Twitter at: www.twitter.com/#!/LumoPro
Monday, July 30, 2012
LumoPro LP728 Bungee Ties
Friday, July 27, 2012
Ezra Weiss: Portland Composer, Pianist and Educator
A few weeks back I had the opportunity to photograph Portland musician Ezra Weiss. It was a pleasure to work with Mr. Weiss and a great treat to listen to him play while we worked.
Ezra recently updated his site (www.ezraweiss.com)with some of the photo's from our shoot. Take some time and check out his site a look.
If you have the chance to see one of his live performances I totally recommend it. You can also check out Ezra Weiss on Facebook at facebook.com/ezraweiss and also on Twitter at: twitter.com/ezraweiss
Monday, July 23, 2012
Trigmaster II 2.4G
The Trigmaster II 2.4G is an updated version of the original Trigmaster trigger from Aputure. It is a compact, AAA battery powered trigger system that is very reliable and sports a working range of 120 meters in open space.
The trigger unit operates on the 2.4Ghz frequency, has a flash sync speed of 1/250th of a second and 16 channels to choose from. You select channel combinations via a set of four dip switches that are located on both the transmitter and the receiver. The Trigmaster 2.4G triggers can also wake up most brand name flash units. 
Like other comparable triggering systems the The Trigmaster II 2.4G can act not only as a flash/strobe trigger but also as a remote shutter trigger with the correct cable.
Unlike the Trigmaster Plus also from Aputure the Trigmaster II 2.4G is a transmitter and receiver based system and not a transceiver set. Let's start out by taking a look at the transmitter.
The rear of the transmitter is where the controls are located. There is an indicator light that will let you know when correct communications are happening between the transmitter and the receiver. Below the light is the test button. The button is nice and large and very comfortable to use for testing your flashes and or remote shutter release. The channel selection dip switches are located under the test button. The last of the controls on the rear of the transmitter is the function switch. The function selection options are: Off, Camera, and Flash. The off function controls the power for the transmitter. Camera allows you to use the transmitter as a remote shutter control when the receiver is connected to a camera via the correct cable. The Flash option is the mode you would use when wanting to remote fire flash and strobe units. 
Both the sides of the transmitter are blank. The top of the unit has a low profile antenna on it. The front of the transmitter is where the battery compartment is located.
The bottom of the transmitter has a plastic foot for mounting the unit onto your camera. There is not a locking ring to secure it to your camera shoe but the friction mount on the foot keeps it in place very well. The fact that the mounting foot is plastic does not worry me much at all. The Trigmaster II 2.4G transmitter is very small and lightweight so there is not a lot of weight to be supported. 
Now let’s take a look at the top of the Trigmaster II 2.4G receiver. On the top front you will see the same function switch as on the transmitter. These switch selections need to match on both the transmitter and the receiver in order for the selected function to work. Next to the function switch is an indicator light that will let you know when correct communications is happening between the transmitter and the receiver.
On the middle of the receiver is the channel selection dip switches. Again these switches need to match up to the corresponding switches on the transmitter in order for the transmitter and the receiver to communicate correctly.
The last item on the top of the receiver is the Flash Hotshoe Mount. This feature has become a well thought out standard on flash triggers now a days and I think that it is one of the best innovations for flash triggers in years. The ability to mount your flash to the trigger without the need for a cable I find fantastic.
The rear of the unit has the battery compartment that has an interesting hinged door on it so you do not have to worry about misplacing it.
Over on the left side of the receiver you will see the external cable ports for connecting the receiver to a flash/strobe or camera for remote shutter control. The right side of the receiver has nothing on it. 
On the underside of the Trigmaster II 2.4G receiver there is a plastic camera cold shoe mount with a ¼” 20 female screw mount in the center of it. It is these two mounts that add so much mounting versatility to this trigger system. It is a great option to be able to use the receiver as a flash mount. All you need to do is screw the receiver onto the the top of a lightstand or umbrella mount and then slide the flash onto the Flash Hotshoe Mount. Like the transmitter the cold shoe mount does not have a locking ring but it does have the same friction lock as the transmitter. I would like to have seen a metal foot here to offer some extra support and security. I was using the the receiver as a flash mount on a shoot last week when the stand fell over from a gust of wind. The umbrella was destroyed, but there was no damage to the receiver so they are tougher than they look.
My first impression of the units were that they were a bit light weight. However that changed as soon as I loaded some batteries into them. The extra weight and mass of the batteries added just enough to the units to make them feel nice and solid.
The Trigmaster II 2.4G triggers handle without any problems and have performed flawlessly during my tests without any misfires. The material strength is strong enough to use the receiver as a flash mount without any fear of it breaking under the stress.
Overall the Trigmaster II 2.4G triggers are a great trigger system that are proven to be reliable with a small build profile. I will make sure to keep a set in my bag at all times. Not just as a backup but also for those times when I want a lower profile trigger.
You can learn more about the Trigmaster II 2.4G from Aputure by visiting the product page on it’s site at: http://www.aputure.com
Friday, July 20, 2012
Canon EOS M
Here is a shot of the new Canon EOS M mirrorless camera.
Keep an eye out over at www.canonrumors.com for more information as it becomes available.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
From a recent model shoot...
I thought that I would share a few shots from a recent shoot I had with model Miranda Jay from Portland Oregon.
The two of us headed out to a few different locations in the Mountain Park area of Lake Oswego Oregon.
I brought along a Canon 50D, a couple LumoPro LP160s (my favorite flashes)two LP604 stands and an Aurora Firefly Beauty Box.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Rogue Diffusion Panels
The Rogue Diffusion Panels are the perfect addition to the the FlashBenders line of light modifiers from ExpoImaging. The entire Rogue line gives you many lighting options and take up next to no space in your bag. In fact I carry my FlashBenders and Diffusion panels in the laptop section of my camera backpack so I have them along on every shoot.
The diffusion panels mount right onto the Rogue FlashBenders and they in turn mount to any number of speed lights. This light modifying combination will give you a very pleasing soft light from your portable off camera flash unit. If you are a location photographer you will want to have these in your kit. Like their mounting counterparts the Diffusion panels come in two sizes: large and small. They attach to the FlashBenders with small strips of hook and loop fasteners and take all of seven seconds to mount.
The panels give off a very even spread of light by taking the relatively small light generated by a speed light and making it larger as it is reflected off of the FlashBender and through the panel. Due to their small size you can bring them in nice and close to your subject without it being intrusive. I have also found that these diffusion panels work wonderfully for product and macro work as you can get them right on top of the product with great diffused light.
With their small build and great quality of light the Rogue Diffusion Panels along with the Rogue FlashBender are a great addition to your kit. Together they open up a wide range of lighting options for your lighting needs.
You can find out more information about the Rogue line of light modifiers and other products from ExpoImaging by visiting their website http://www.expoimaging.com/. You can also follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ExpoImaging and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/expoimaging
Rogue Diffusion Panels
The Rogue Diffusion Panels are the perfect addition to the the FlashBenders line of light modifiers from ExpoImaging. The entire Rogue line gives you many lighting options and take up next to no space in your bag. In fact I carry my FlashBenders and Diffusion panels in the laptop section of my camera backpack so I have them along on every shoot.
The diffusion panels mount right onto the Rogue FlashBenders and they in turn mount to any number of speed lights. This light modifying combination will give you a very pleasing soft light from your portable off camera flash unit. If you are a location photographer you will want to have these in your kit. Like their mounting counterparts the Diffusion panels come in two sizes: large and small. They attach to the FlashBenders with small strips of hook and loop fasteners and take all of seven seconds to mount.
The panels give off a very even spread of light by taking the relatively small light generated by a speed light and making it larger as it is reflected off of the FlashBender and through the panel. Due to their small size you can bring them in nice and close to your subject without it being intrusive. I have also found that these diffusion panels work wonderfully for product and macro work as you can get them right on top of the product with great diffused light.
With their small build and great quality of light the Rogue Diffusion Panels along with the Rogue FlashBender are a great addition to your kit. Together they open up a wide range of lighting options for your lighting needs.
You can find out more information about the Rogue line of light modifiers and other products from ExpoImaging by visiting their website http://www.expoimaging.com/. You can also follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ExpoImaging and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/expoimaging
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