Delivery day

I am looking forward to running the Viltrox JY-2410 Transceivers through the wringer this weekend!

Delivery day

I am looking forward to running the Viltrox JY-2410 Transceivers through the wringer this weekend!

Waves of music in a sea of beer

I have written before about how much I love my Lumopro LP160 and I am going to do it again. Another location that I love shooting in is a nice and dark bar or small club. I was shooting a local band named In Repose last night and I needed to throw in some flashes to help out lighting. I asked the band if they had a problem with lighting the playing area before I did anything. They did not have any problem with it so I went around and placed some flashes around where they were set up.

I love shooting in environments like this when the bands let me light the area as needed. I know that a lot of photographers look down on concert photography with flashes, but when there is not any real stage lighting going on I don't think it's a big deal. I just do what I need to in order to get the bands the images that they are looking for.

I set up three lights around the area that they were playing and set each one to a different group so that I could add them or subtract them from my shooting area. I had a Nikon SB900 set in the very back behind the drummer, another gelled blue with an Expoimaging Rogue lighting filter bounced off a large Rogue Flashbender, and the last one I had on the floor at the front of the playing area aimed up. As I shot the set I was adding and removing the lights via my Opas camera mounted trigger.

As the set went on I was able to turn my flashes on and off as needed from my camera position. If I had not set the flashes to different channels I wouldn't have had this as an option. All of the flashes would have fired every time I shot a frame. The main benefit of shooting this way is that when you change camera position sometimes you will get a flash aimed toward your lens and get an over powering lens flare, so using the channels feature is a great way of controlling this.

The crowd was really into the performance, it was getting rowdy to say the least, and the drinks were flowing. Now what normally happens when a great show is going on along with lots of drinks? Someone ends up spilling something. That’s exactly what happened to one of my flashes. I placed my LP160 on the ground pointed up at an angle to under light the singer and guitar player. What looked like a sea of beer came crashing down and around the LP160 and I thought it was a goner for sure.

It turns out that not only did it survive the waterfall of beer but it also kept on going while it was adrift in the sea of beer that claimed that section of the playing area. No sparks, no burning out, and no misfires.

I have no idea how it survived, but it did. When the show was over I pulled out the batteries, gave it a good cleaning, and let it dry out over night. In the morning there was no evidence of the mishap.

So this and a million other reasons go on the list of why I love the Lumopro LP160 so much. I cannot recommend this flash unit enough to photographers. It has a low price and fantastic connectivity and reliability.

Pick one up and do your best to keep it out of beer tsunamis but if you can't, you have a fighting chance of it making it through.

For more information on this flash unit you can read my review of the LP160 here or head on over to the Lumopro website at www.lumopro.com

Waves of music in a sea of beer

I have written before about how much I love my Lumopro LP160 and I am going to do it again. Another location that I love shooting in is a nice and dark bar or small club. I was shooting a local band named In Repose last night and I needed to throw in some flashes to help out lighting. I asked the band if they had a problem with lighting the playing area before I did anything. They did not have any problem with it so I went around and placed some flashes around where they were set up.

I love shooting in environments like this when the bands let me light the area as needed. I know that a lot of photographers look down on concert photography with flashes, but when there is not any real stage lighting going on I don't think it's a big deal. I just do what I need to in order to get the bands the images that they are looking for.

I set up three lights around the area that they were playing and set each one to a different group so that I could add them or subtract them from my shooting area. I had a Nikon SB900 set in the very back behind the drummer, another gelled blue with an Expoimaging Rogue lighting filter bounced off a large Rogue Flashbender, and the last one I had on the floor at the front of the playing area aimed up. As I shot the set I was adding and removing the lights via my Opas camera mounted trigger.

As the set went on I was able to turn my flashes on and off as needed from my camera position. If I had not set the flashes to different channels I wouldn't have had this as an option. All of the flashes would have fired every time I shot a frame. The main benefit of shooting this way is that when you change camera position sometimes you will get a flash aimed toward your lens and get an over powering lens flare, so using the channels feature is a great way of controlling this.

The crowd was really into the performance, it was getting rowdy to say the least, and the drinks were flowing. Now what normally happens when a great show is going on along with lots of drinks? Someone ends up spilling something. That’s exactly what happened to one of my flashes. I placed my LP160 on the ground pointed up at an angle to under light the singer and guitar player. What looked like a sea of beer came crashing down and around the LP160 and I thought it was a goner for sure.

It turns out that not only did it survive the waterfall of beer but it also kept on going while it was adrift in the sea of beer that claimed that section of the playing area. No sparks, no burning out, and no misfires.

I have no idea how it survived, but it did. When the show was over I pulled out the batteries, gave it a good cleaning, and let it dry out over night. In the morning there was no evidence of the mishap.

So this and a million other reasons go on the list of why I love the Lumopro LP160 so much. I cannot recommend this flash unit enough to photographers. It has a low price and fantastic connectivity and reliability.

Pick one up and do your best to keep it out of beer tsunamis but if you can't, you have a fighting chance of it making it through.

For more information on this flash unit you can read my review of the LP160 here or head on over to the Lumopro website at www.lumopro.com

Expandable Photography Studios

Here is some information about one really cool tool for photographer. Check out the Expandable Photo Studio.


Here is what the makers have to say.

We hate that people have to cut their rates, beg for work, build home studios, or go without a studio at all. First and foremost, we are photographers who love photographers. That's why we made the Expandable Photo Studio. Compact, durable, portable, and affordable. Up in 4 minutes, weather resistant, withstands up to 20 mph winds, and gives you the space you need to expand your creativity, reduce your cost, and attract attention over the next person. Its time to improve your life. To celebrate a better future. You're ready!

All parts are made and built in the USA (Hackensack, NJ). We refer to each unit being manufactured as the customer's name. Its a personal experience for us. They are built when they are ordered. The Expandable Photo Studio (or EPS2) is roughly the size of a suitcase folded up. It fits into a duffle bag and only weight about 40 pounds. It comes with all the accessories you need; including military grade ground stakes, rope, fan, remote power control (to control the fan from inside the unit), and manual. In just a few minutes it expands to 300-600 sq feet. That's 20 ft by 15 ft by 13 ft high. Or the larger units span up to 20 ft by 30 ft by 15 ft high. The two variations are to be completely dark for studio lighting only, or a diffused roof to allow for natural lighting (and the option to use a cover for total darkness). Recently we have found most people are wanting the EPS2 for special events, catering, workshops, classrooms, VIP lounges and greenrooms, and even staging areas for productions. It withstands straight line winds up to 20 miles per hour. As inexpensive as it is, there really is no reason not to have this tool in your toolbox.

The Expandable Photo Studio is sold worldwide and can be found in the United States at Adorama and B&H Photo.

Expandable Photography Studios

Here is some information about one really cool tool for photographer. Check out the Expandable Photo Studio.


Here is what the makers have to say.

We hate that people have to cut their rates, beg for work, build home studios, or go without a studio at all. First and foremost, we are photographers who love photographers. That's why we made the Expandable Photo Studio. Compact, durable, portable, and affordable. Up in 4 minutes, weather resistant, withstands up to 20 mph winds, and gives you the space you need to expand your creativity, reduce your cost, and attract attention over the next person. Its time to improve your life. To celebrate a better future. You're ready!

All parts are made and built in the USA (Hackensack, NJ). We refer to each unit being manufactured as the customer's name. Its a personal experience for us. They are built when they are ordered. The Expandable Photo Studio (or EPS2) is roughly the size of a suitcase folded up. It fits into a duffle bag and only weight about 40 pounds. It comes with all the accessories you need; including military grade ground stakes, rope, fan, remote power control (to control the fan from inside the unit), and manual. In just a few minutes it expands to 300-600 sq feet. That's 20 ft by 15 ft by 13 ft high. Or the larger units span up to 20 ft by 30 ft by 15 ft high. The two variations are to be completely dark for studio lighting only, or a diffused roof to allow for natural lighting (and the option to use a cover for total darkness). Recently we have found most people are wanting the EPS2 for special events, catering, workshops, classrooms, VIP lounges and greenrooms, and even staging areas for productions. It withstands straight line winds up to 20 miles per hour. As inexpensive as it is, there really is no reason not to have this tool in your toolbox.

The Expandable Photo Studio is sold worldwide and can be found in the United States at Adorama and B&H Photo.