Westcott 60" Convertable umbrella

Today I am going to write about one of my favorite light modifiers: the Westcott 60” convertible umbrella. The versatility from this umbrella is fantastic, and if I can only use one modifier out on location it is this one. I find it very capable of handling medium sized groups as a bounce umbrella or as a shoot through with no problems.

The build of this unit was better than I thought it would be for the price. I picked mine up at a local camera shop for about $45, so when it wears out replacing it is not a problem.

This umbrella gives a nice, soft, broad bounced light with the black backing on. It does not have as much contrast as a silver bounce umbrella, but you can move it back from your subject to increase the contrast a bit if needed.

When used as a shoot through the Westcott 60” casts a soft, even, light with incredible spread, and also has a very manageable light fall off.

If you need a tighter light source from this umbrella with the black backing on you can close up the umbrella around your light to create a far more focused source that is easy to control.

If our local camera shop carries the Westcott 60” convertible umbrella, I would definitely recommend that you pick one up and give it a try. You won't be sorry.

Westcott 60" Convertable umbrella

Today I am going to write about one of my favorite light modifiers: the Westcott 60” convertible umbrella. The versatility from this umbrella is fantastic, and if I can only use one modifier out on location it is this one. I find it very capable of handling medium sized groups as a bounce umbrella or as a shoot through with no problems.


The build of this unit was better than I thought it would be for the price. I picked mine up at a local camera shop for about $45, so when it wears out replacing it is not a problem.

This umbrella gives a nice, soft, broad bounced light with the black backing on. It does not have as much contrast as a silver bounce umbrella, but you can move it back from your subject to increase the contrast a bit if needed.

When used as a shoot through the Westcott 60” casts a soft, even, light with incredible spread, and also has a very manageable light fall off.

If you need a tighter light source from this umbrella with the black backing on you can close up the umbrella around your light to create a far more focused source that is easy to control.

If our local camera shop carries the Westcott 60” convertible umbrella, I would definitely recommend that you pick one up and give it a try. You won't be sorry.

Cactus V5 teaser

I came across these teaser images from photographer Brian Hursey. He is in the process of writing a review on these yet to be released trigger transceivers from gadgetinfinity.

You can see some more of the images at Brian's Flickr page here.

Cactus V5 teaser

I came across these teaser images from photographer Brian Hursey. He is in the process of writing a review on these yet to be released trigger transceivers from gadgetinfinity.

You can see some more of the images at Brian's Flickr page here.

Pocketwizard for Nikon update

From Pocketwizard.com:

Product Updates - December 2010



MiniTT1 & FlexTT5 for Nikon:

Canada: Dealer shipments will begin on 12/21/10.

USA: Product should begin to arrive in dealers the middle of January, 2011.

All other countries currently shipping.


AC3 ZoneController for Nikon: Product should be arriving in dealers in February 2011.


AC9 AlienBees Adapter for Nikon: Product should be arriving in dealers in March 2011.


You can see it on their site here.

Pocketwizard for Nikon update

From Pocketwizard.com:

Product Updates - December 2010



MiniTT1 & FlexTT5 for Nikon:

Canada: Dealer shipments will begin on 12/21/10.

USA: Product should begin to arrive in dealers the middle of January, 2011.

All other countries currently shipping.


AC3 ZoneController for Nikon: Product should be arriving in dealers in February 2011.


AC9 AlienBees Adapter for Nikon: Product should be arriving in dealers in March 2011.


You can see it on their site here.

Nikon shooters check this out!

If you shoot Nikon you are going to want to check out this review by my friend from Copenhagen, Henrik Delfer. On his site he has posted a very comprehensive review of the Pocketwizard MiniTT1 and the FlexTT5 for Nikon.

 Check out the article here.

Nikon shooters check this out!

If you shoot Nikon you are going to want to check out this review by my friend from Copenhagen, Henrik Delfer. On his site he has posted a very comprehensive review of the Pocketwizard MiniTT1 and the FlexTT5 for Nikon.

 Check out the article here.

In Repose

I had a promo shoot with the band In Repose last night. As always it was a great time working with these guys. Here is my favorite shot from the session:

The set up was pretty straight forward. I found a long tunnel and placed the guys toward the opening. I placed on Nikon sb900 behind them to give them some rim light and light up the back of the tunnel. I placed another Nikon sb900 in front and just a bit to the left of camera for the key light.

In Repose

I had a promo shoot with the band In Repose last night. As always it was a great time working with these guys. Here is my favorite shot from the session:

The set up was pretty straight forward. I found a long tunnel and placed the guys toward the opening. I placed on Nikon sb900 behind them to give them some rim light and light up the back of the tunnel. I placed another Nikon sb900 in front and just a bit to the left of camera for the key light.

Tiffen booth at CES 2011

If you are going to be at CES this year go and check out the Tiffen booth.

 They are going to be displaying some of my photos, so take some time and stop on by and keep an eye out for some of these photos.




I am a huge fan of the Tiffen Dfx software. I use it in the bulk of my shots, and I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about photography.

Go over to Tiffens site and download the free trial. You won't look at post processing the same way after using this program.

Tiffen booth at CES 2011

If you are going to be at CES this year go and check out the Tiffen booth.

 They are going to be displaying some of my photos, so take some time and stop on by and keep an eye out for some of these photos.




I am a huge fan of the Tiffen Dfx software. I use it in the bulk of my shots, and I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about photography.

Go over to Tiffens site and download the free trial. You won't look at post processing the same way after using this program.

PocketWizard MiniTT1, FlexTT5 for Nikon head to dealers

Great news for Nikon shooters! Check out this article by Rob Galbraith for more information.

robgalbraith.com

PocketWizard MiniTT1, FlexTT5 for Nikon head to dealers

Great news for Nikon shooters! Check out this article by Rob Galbraith for more information.

robgalbraith.com

Outlook Portland interview

For your entertainment here is the four part interview that I did with Rick Emerson from Outlook Portland.

Outlook Portland interview

For your entertainment here is the four part interview that I did with Rick Emerson from Outlook Portland.

In Repose

My friends from In Repose are playing a show this Saturday the 27th down at Ash St. in downtown Portland.

They are fantastic live, and put on a great show. So go and check them out.

In Repose

My friends from In Repose are playing a show this Saturday the 27th down at Ash St. in downtown Portland.

They are fantastic live, and put on a great show. So go and check them out.

The Emerson News Network

Yesterday we had a great shoot with Rick Emerson, Dawn Taylor, Bruce Agler, and Cheryl Kanekoa down at the offices of Conducive Technology in down town Portland Oregon.


It is always a great time shooting with Rick and company. Looking forward to seeing some more from the final products.

Ashlee and I ran through a bunch of fun lighting set ups out there on location. Balancing with office lights is always a bit of a fun challenge.

This shot was pretty straight forward. I had one 60" shoot through umbrella at the end of the conference table aimed right down at Rick from about a 45 degree angle. You can see the light placement in the first photo above. I also put a light behind him with a 30 degree honeycomb to give just a bit of rim light.

The Emerson News Network

Yesterday we had a great shoot with Rick Emerson, Dawn Taylor, Bruce Agler, and Cheryl Kanekoa down at the offices of Conducive Technology in down town Portland Oregon.


It is always a great time shooting with Rick and company. Looking forward to seeing some more from the final products.

Ashlee and I ran through a bunch of fun lighting set ups out there on location. Balancing with office lights is always a bit of a fun challenge.

This shot was pretty straight forward. I had one 60" shoot through umbrella at the end of the conference table aimed right down at Rick from about a 45 degree angle. You can see the light placement in the first photo above. I also put a light behind him with a 30 degree honeycomb to give just a bit of rim light.

Oregon

I moved out to Oregon somewhere about 12 years ago or so. I never figured myself much of a landscape photographer, but as our family begins to go on more trips across the state I find myself enjoying it more and more.





To me it is sort of like this blog thing. I am simply trying something new. Right out of the gate I know that it will not be much, but I hope over time to improve with it just as I hope to with my landscape photography.









Oregon

I moved out to Oregon somewhere about 12 years ago or so. I never figured myself much of a landscape photographer, but as our family begins to go on more trips across the state I find myself enjoying it more and more.





To me it is sort of like this blog thing. I am simply trying something new. Right out of the gate I know that it will not be much, but I hope over time to improve with it just as I hope to with my landscape photography.