Setting Up the Shot - Red Sierra 2

Camera - Nikon D2X
Lens - Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S
Exposure - 1/250 @ f/7.1
Focal Length - 50mm
Lighting - LumoPro LP180, and LP160
Light Modifier(s) - Rogue XL Pro Strip Box
Trigger - Pixel Opas

Two light set up. The key light is a LP180 with a Rogue XL Pro Strip Box as the modifier to camera right. I feather the edge of the light to create a deep shadow on the opposite side o he subjects face.

The second light was a LP160 and was set up off to camera left with the flash head zoomed to about 105mm to create a controlled and slightly vignetted spot on the background directly behind the subjects head and shoulders.This second light was needed in order to create some separation between the subject and the background and to provide some depth to the picture.

Flash Facts – Bounce Flash

One flash rule to remember is that the larger the light source, the softer the light. The smaller the light source, the harder the light. This means that the larger soft light will have softer edges in the shadows and the smaller hard light will have a more defined edge at the shadows. This technique also works very well with ceilings.

One very easy way to turn the small light from your shoe mounted flash into a large soft light source is to bounce your flash light off of a nearby wall. You do this by having the person you are photographing move near a wall or large solid surface, then you rotate your shoe mounted flash so that it is facing the opposite wall and not directly at your subject.

When you fire the flash it is going to bounce off of the wall that it is aimed at and turn into a much larger light source, thus creating a softer edge for your shadows.

One thing to keep in mind when using this technique is the color of the wall. The color of the wall is going to influence the color of the light hitting the subject. By this I mean that if you have a white wall to bounce your flash off of it is not going to be that big of a deal, but if the wall is, let's say red, then that will tint your light with red.

There are a few different way to counteract this light tinting problem. The two easiest way is by either changing the white balance of the flash, or by changing the light from the flash with a colored gel. The exact color and white balance combinations will depend on the color of the area, the wall, and also by what color you want the light to be.

Depending of the color of the surface I will usually start with the white balance for color correction. When it is warm or cool colors changing the white balance is the easiest. I suggest you correct the white balance in camera during the shoot, but you can change it in post as well.

CHRISTMAS DISCOUNTS IN NEW PHOTTIX ONLINE STORE

What’s New?  Phottix Mitros and Mitros+ Flashes for Sony (ISO Shoe)

 

After considerable development and testing Phottix is happy to announce the newest addition to the Phottix Mitros+ family: The Phottix Mitros TTL Flash for Sony (ISO Hot Shoe) and thePhottix Mitros+ TTL Transceiver Flash for Sony (ISO Hot Shoe).



Use the Mitros+ on-camera as a key or fill light, as well as control and trigger other Mitros+ flashes or compatible flashes using Phottix Odin Receivers. The Mitros+ also offers a built-in Phottix Odin Receiver and Strato II Receiver.

Features

• GN: 58 Sony-Compatible TTL Flash
• Built-in: Phottix Odin Transmitter and Receiver, and Strato II Receiver
• Sony-compatible Master/Slave IR Triggering Modes
• High Speed Sync
• AF Assist Light
• External Battery Port, 3.5mm Sync Port
• Quick Flash Mode

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use code XMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

Speaking of the Photix Mitros and Phottix Odin – I spy my little eye celebrity photographerMatthew Jordan Smith shooting with both Phottix products in a video recently released by Gary Fong.

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Now in Silver – A New Phottix Luna Beauty Dish

The Phottix series of Luna Beauty Dishes and Softboxes have been very popular. We’re adding a new silver interior 85cm Phottix Luna Beauty Dish to the line-up. Silver beauty dishes add more contrast and “pop” to an image and are great for fashion photography.

With Luna interchangeable speed rings (Bowens mount included), the Luna series modifiers can be used on many different studio lights, or with the Phottix Mitros series flashes when combined with the Phottix HS Speed Mount II.

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

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Phottix VLED Video Lights Available

 

The Phottix VLED Video Light are available in three sizes, with 168, 198 or 260 LEDs these are the perfect continuous lighting solution for video cameras or DSLRs. With the included battery adapters, popular camera batteries from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony can be used to power the VLED. The VLEDs can be combined vertically or horizontally to create larger banks of light.

Output Specs
VLED 168, Output: 1050 Lumens
VLED 198, Output: 1250 Lumens
VLED 260, Output: 1600 Lumens

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use code XMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

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Phottix Varos H-Mount Plate and Strap

Mounting flashes by the hot shoe can cause some issues. When using umbrellas the light from a vertical flash does not hit the center of the umbrella as it is much taller. This cuts down on the effectiveness of the umbrellas as a lighting modifier.

Phottix comes to the rescue with the new Phottix Varos H-Mount Plate and Strap. Using this kit with a Phottix Varos Umbrella Adapter allows flashes to be mounted horizontally, more in line with the center of a reflective or shoot through umbrella. Included are the H-Mount Plate and Velcro Strap, a 3/4″ lug threaded in 1/4×20 and 3/8″ and a locking ring.

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

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Phottix Hot Shoe Gel Set

Using gels with hot shoe flashes can be challenging. How can you attach them? With Velcro tabs or gaffer tape or some other inelegant contraption.

Enter the Phottix Hot Shoe Gel Set. This set includes a plastic gel mounting bracket that easily attached to most hot shoe flash heads using a Velcro strip. Easy use any of the 30 included gels with hot shoe flashes. The black/silver attachment can be used a barndoor/flag or a bounce card.

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use code XMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

PROFOTO HSS IS HERE.

Up until now, HSS solutions have been either consistent but lacking in speed and power, or fast and powerful but inconsistent. Today, we release Profoto HSS – a new solution that has all of the benefits and none of the limitations.

High-Speed Sync (HSS) is the technical term for syncing flash with shutter speeds shorter than the so-called x-sync, typically 1/250 of a second. It is a useful tool for controlling ambient light and for freezing action. But there used to be limitations.

Current solutions for speedlights give you a fairly even exposure. But it does so at the expense of speed and power. Previous solutions for larger flashes were faster and more powerful. But the exposure could differ as much as 2 f-stops in a single shot.

Profoto’s new solution for the B1 Off-Camera Flash has all of the benefits and none of the limitations. The B1 itself is about ten times as powerful as the average speedlight and fast enough to keep up with your camera. With the new Profoto HSS upgrade installed, you switch to HSS Mode with a simple button-press. You will then be able to shoot at shutter as fast as 1/8000 of a second.

But it does not stop there. Profoto HSS is a unique, patent-pending technology, providing an extremely fast series of flash pulses. What this means in practice is that you get an extremely consistent exposure with no measurable variation over the image.

In other words, Profoto HSS is fast, powerful and consistent. This will open up a whole new world of light shaping possibilities for you. For instance, you can now shoot with a large aperture in bright conditions to get a shallow depth of field and get that perfect deep blue sky. Or capture super crisp action in mixed light conditions without getting motion blur from ambient light. Etcetera, etcetera.

Needless to say, Profoto HSS works for both Canon and Nikon and has been tested for all common camera models.

Also note that you can use Profoto HSS both with and without TTL. Or do both! Shoot with TTL first to get a technically perfect exposure, and then switch to Manual Mode with the same readings and settings and do whatever creative adjustments you feel like doing. It is a huge time saver. Plus you can leave that light meter at home!

Profoto HSS is available through a simple firmware upgrade.

Click here and download it for free.

Note that you will need to do download separate upgrades for the B1 Off-Camera Flash and the Air Remote TTL-C and Air Remote TTL-N, and then upgrade both flash and remote.

Once installed, HSS Mode is activated with a simple button-press. There is no need to change the flash bulb or messy stuff like that.

Phottix Updates

Hello Phottix Friends

The end of the year is drawing near and Phottix has some hot deals in the newly revamped Phottixstore.com. From now until December 31, 2014, receive 10% off everything atPhottixstore.com by using the code XMAS2014 at checkout.

---

What New?  Phottix Mitros and Mitros+ Flashes for Sony (ISO Shoe)

After considerable development and testing Phottix is happy to announce the newest addition to the Phottix Mitros+ family: The Phottix Mitros TTL Flash for Sony (ISO Hot Shoe) and thePhottix Mitros+ TTL Transceiver Flash for Sony (ISO Hot Shoe).Use the Mitros+ on-camera as a key or fill light, as well as control and trigger other Mitros+ flashes or compatible flashes using Phottix Odin Receivers. The Mitros+ also offers a built-in Phottix Odin Receiver and Strato II Receiver.

Features

• GN: 58 Sony-Compatible TTL Flash
• Built-in: Phottix Odin Transmitter and Receiver, and Strato II Receiver
• Sony-compatible Master/Slave IR Triggering Modes
• High Speed Sync
• AF Assist Light
• External Battery Port, 3.5mm Sync Port
• Quick Flash Mode

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.



Speaking of the Photix Mitros and Phottix Odin - I spy my little eye celebrity photographer Matthew Jordan Smith shooting with both Phottix products in a video recently released by Gary Fong.

---

Now in Silver - A New Phottix Luna Beauty Dish

The Phottix series of Luna Beauty Dishes and Softboxes have been very popular. We're adding a newsilver interior 85cm Phottix Luna Beauty Dish to the line-up. Silver beauty dishes add more contrast and "pop" to an image and are great for fashion photography.

With Luna interchangeable speed rings (Bowens mount included), the Luna series modifiers can be used on many different studio lights, or with the Phottix Mitros series flashes when combined with the Phottix HS Speed Mount II.

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

---

Phottix VLED Video Lights AvailableThe Phottix VLED Video Lightare available in three sizes, with 168, 198 or 260 LEDs these are the perfect continuous lighting solution for video cameras or DSLRs. With the included battery adapters, popular camera batteries from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony can be used to power the VLED. The VLEDs can be combined vertically or horizontally to create larger banks of light.

Output Specs
VLED 168, Output: 1050 Lumens
VLED 198, Output: 1250 Lumens
VLED 260, Output: 1600 Lumens

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

---

Phottix Varos H-Mount Plate and Strap

Mounting flashes by the hot shoe can cause some issues. When using umbrellas the light from a vertical flash does not hit the center of the umbrella as it is much taller. This cuts down on the effectiveness of the umbrellas as a lighting modifier.

Phottix comes to the rescue with the new Phottix Varos H-Mount Plate and Strap. Using this kit with a Phottix Varos Umbrella Adapter allows flashes to be mounted horizontally, more in line with the center of a reflective or shoot through umbrella. Included are the H-Mount Plate and Velcro Strap, a 3/4" lug threaded in 1/4x20 and 3/8" and a locking ring.

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

---

Phottix Hot Shoe Gel Set

Using gels with hot shoe flashes can be challenging. How can you attach them? With Velcro tabs or gaffer tape or some other inelegant contraption.

Enter the Phottix Hot Shoe Gel Set. This set includes a plastic gel mounting bracket that easily attached to most hot shoe flash heads using a Velcro strip. Easy use any of the 30 included gels with hot shoe flashes. The black/silver attachment can be used a barndoor/flag or a bounce card.

Jump over to the Phottix Online Store for more details. Use codeXMAS2014 at checkout to save 10% on your holiday orders.

---

Connect with Phottix

Keep up with all the latest news from Phottix. Join our social networks and get the newest info as well as see the great work done with Phottix products.

- Subscribe to the Phottix Journal Blog by RSS
or Email
- Join the Phottix Facebook Fan Page

- Follow us on Twitter

- Connect with us on flickr and join the Phottix Photos Group

Flash Facts – Controlling Flash Exposure.

When using flash your aperture is going to control how much light from the flash enters the camera. The shutter speed is going to control how much ambient light enters the camera.

Once you have a feel for how these two variables are going to affect your shot you will then be able to make adjustments from the camera to control your flash and ambient light exposure.

Making adjustments to the aperture to control how much of the flash light enters the camera is also going to affect your depth of field. If you are not too concerned with your depth of filed then you can make adjustments solely for your flash. However if you do care about your depth of field, as you really should, making adjustments via the aperture is not gong to be the best option for you.

When you have to keep a specific depth of field for your shot you will need to work more with the power level of the flash or the distance of flash to subject. Using these variables for adjustment will keep your depth of field wherever you had it set.

Try setting up a static shot of just about anything around the house and throw a flash on it. Walk your aperture up and down and see how you can control both your flash exposure and your depth of field.

LumoPro LP605 - Big Stand in a Little Package

The LP605 is the replacement for the popular LumoPro LP604. It is a seven foot stand that has five sections with four risers. One new feature of this stand is that it has a set of three spikes on the legs for anchoring the stand in to the ground for added stability.

When I first saw the leg spikes I thought that it was just a gimmick. I took the stand and some strobes out for some location shooting and boy was I wrong about the spikes. I was shooting with a model on a small hill without an assistant. The light stand had a LumoPro LP605 flash inside a Westcott 28” Apollo softbox.

On level ground the stand was able to bear the weight and size of that set up without any problem. So, when I was on the incline I thought I would give the spikes a test. Once I planted the leg spikes down into the group I did not have any problem keeping the LP605 in place even when I was opening the Apollo to make power adjustments.

For the last few months now I have been using the LP605 as my primary light stand and it has functioned flawlessly. The stand is a little over 19 inches when fully collapsed which is just the right height for photographing children down at their level.

The size is also small enough to strap to a camera bag, or in my case a backpack, without it getting in the way at all. With it's small profile I have even used it as a quick mono pod.

The durability and small size along with it's seven foot reach brings this stand to the forefront of all of my stands. If you ever do any location work you know how important portability is and at just under $40 there is no reason to not pick up the LumoPro LP605.

Westcott Flex

WESTCOTT GAINS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION OF NEW FLEXIBLE LED TECHNOLOGY
FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO LIGHTING

After making a major splash in Europe this year at both the IBC Video Conference and
Photokina, Westcott Lighting is excited to announce the exclusive North American and Australian
distribution of this new cutting­edge LED technology. The Flex™ is a pliable, dimmable,
water­resistant LED mat for photography and video production that produces an outstanding
quality of light with an impressively high 95+ CRI (Color Rendering Index) in both daylight and
tungsten models.

“Westcott is very excited to be teaming up with the inventor and engineer of this new patented

technology. It’s exciting to see something that is not only unique in the area of LED, but also that
represents this superb quality of light in such a compact package.”President, Kelly Mondora

According to Westcott, this is only the beginning for the new technology. They are teaming up
with Top Pro video and photography experts to develop an entire system based upon controlling
and modifying this new lighting technology.

The fully­bendable Westcott Flex™ features a 10” x 10” surface lined with 166 LED diodes and
outlined with a moldable ¼” black frame and weighing a mere 5 ounces. Its compact design
allows it to be easily concealed on­set or location and allows for effortless travel.

The Flex™ LED mat will be available in both tungsten and daylight versions. Although extremely
compact in size, the output from the new LED is anything but small. The tungsten version offers
an impressive 1,600 lux output at 1 meter with a 98 CRI, while the daylight­balanced model
offers a slightly brighter 1,900 lux output at 1 meter with a 95 CRI. Each unit will include a
dimmer to adjust the light output from 5% to 100% for precise control.

Westcott promises innovative accessories and kits to follow the Flex™ LED’s initial launch.
These products include a variety of LED panel sizes, frame mounting systems, diffusion options,
battery operation, and much more. For more information on this game­changing LED from
Westcott, visit fjwestcott.com/flex and sign up for exclusive announcements and availability
details.

Specifications

Model	Westcott Flex™ Tungsten	Westcott Flex™ Daylight
LED Type	High CRI Array LED	High CRI Array LED
Power Consumption	55W	55W
Beam Angle	140 degree	140 degree
CCT	3,200K	5,600K
CRI	Max. 98Ra	Max. 95Ra
Lux @ 1M	1,600lx	1,900lx
Input Voltage	AC100~240V/50/60Hz DC : 12V~ 28V	AC100~240V/50/60Hz DC : 12V~ 28V
Dimming range	5~100%	5~100%
Dimensions	9.85" x 9.85" x 0.315" 25cm x 25cm x 0.8cm	9.85" x 9.85" x 0.315" 25cm x 25cm x 0.8cm
Weight	150g / 5.29oz.	150g / 5.29oz.

About FJ Westcott

Located just outside of Toledo, Ohio, with roots dating back to 1899, the F.J. Westcott Co. is currently a
leading innovator of photo­video lighting solutions for professionals and enthusiasts. They proudly team up
with top industry professionals to educate and inspire customers throughout the globe through live shootout
events, seminars, and more.
Find Westcott Online
Visit Us: www.fjwestcott.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WestcottCo(@WestcottCo)

WESTCOTT LAUNCHES LIGHTAPALOOZA 2013

Westcott, one of the world’s largest lighting and light modifier companies, today announced a lighting celebration like none other. Westcott’s team is proud to announce the launch of Lightapalooza, an exciting year-long promotion for all lighting fanatics, creatives and photo enthusiasts. There’ll be giveaways galore featuring weekly contests, hundreds of prizes and one jaw-dropping Grand Prize valued over $15,000!

A Simple Explanation of F-Stops

This is a great video explaining all you need to know about F-Stops.

The Red Hallway Trick by Gary Fong

I saw this video over on David Hobby's Strobist blog and wanted to share this great white balance trick.

The Red Hallway Trick by Gary Fong

I saw this video over on David Hobby's Strobist blog and wanted to share this great white balance trick.

Quantum CoPilot

New from Quantum, the Quantum CoPilot.

Learn about the Qflash CoPilot Wireless TTL Flash Controler and Trigger. Adjust remote Qflash with just the turn of a dial.

Quantum CoPilot

New from Quantum, the Quantum CoPilot.

Learn about the Qflash CoPilot Wireless TTL Flash Controler and Trigger. Adjust remote Qflash with just the turn of a dial.

LumoPro LP605 - Big Stand in a Little Package

The LP605 is the replacement for the popular LumoPro LP604. It is a seven foot stand that has five sections with four risers. One new feature of this stand is that it has a set of three spikes on the legs for anchoring the stand in to the ground for added stability.

When I first saw the leg spikes I thought that it was just a gimmick. I took the stand and some strobes out for some location shooting and boy was I wrong about the spikes. I was shooting with a model on a small hill without an assistant. The light stand had a LumoPro LP605 flash inside a Westcott 28” Apollo softbox.

On level ground the stand was able to bear the weight and size of that set up without any problem. So, when I was on the incline I thought I would give the spikes a test. Once I planted the leg spikes down into the group I did not have any problem keeping the LP605 in place even when I was opening the Apollo to make power adjustments.

For the last few months now I have been using the LP605 as my primary light stand and it has functioned flawlessly. The stand is a little over 19 inches when fully collapsed which is just the right height for photographing children down at their level.

The size is also small enough to strap to a camera bag, or in my case a backpack, without it getting in the way at all. With it's small profile I have even used it as a quick mono pod.

The durability and small size along with it's seven foot reach brings this stand to the forefront of all of my stands. If you ever do any location work you know how important portability is and at just under $40 there is no reason to not pick up the LumoPro LP605.