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Archive for April, 2010

Attaching the SB900 to a Justin Clamp

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

If you use SB900s, like I do, then you may wonder how to attach them to some accessories since the flash’s larger hot shoe plate won’t fit a standard TTL cold shoe mount. One item we use frequently are Manfrotto Justin Clamps, they are very handy to attach SB900s in a variety of situations. The SB900 will not attach to the cold shoe mount that comes with the Justin Clamp, but there is an easy fix. I unscrew the plastic cold shoe mount and replace it with a Stroboframe flash mount adapter.

To attach the Stroboframe bracket, use a 1/4″ x 3/4″ set screw socket. These screws can be found at any hardware store. Just screw the socket into the clamp, and then screw the Stroboframe bracket onto this. You’re ready to go!

vintage cars

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Had a fantastic shoot come together the other day. I have a neighbor who has a classic Lincoln Continental and he offered it as a prop for a photograph. Of course this brought to mind lots of different ideas, something like a vintage 50s drive-in. Then I met Rachael, a model in town, whose green eyes and red hair just seemed to fit this concept perfectly. We set up at a local park, and thanks to lots of grip help, things went great.

When I shoot on a sunny day I like to put my subject in the shade, or create my own. I want only my lights to be illuminating the model, not harsh sun. To accomplish this we put up a big 78″ x 78″‘ Lastolite Skylite with diffusion material to soften the sun on Rachael. The main light on the top image was an Elinchrom Ranger shot through a deep Rotalux Octabox. Next we placed another head gridded to 40 degrees and shot through the back window to add highlights to her hair. To add some highlight on her right side we used another Ranger head gridded to 30 degrees coming through the windshield to hit her right side.

Tech: Nikon D3s, 24-70mm lens, 1/250 at F10, ISO 200. Elinchrom Rangers used with A Heads, one deep 39 ” Rotalux Octabox as main light, gridded heads for accent lights.

Baja

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Just back from spending a week in one of my favorite places anywhere, Baja California MX. I guided sea kayaking trips here for years, and when Photo Quest Adventures asked about running a workshop there, I couldn’t wait. The Sea of Cortez is loaded with marine life, and our trip confirmed it. We saw numerous whales including Humpback, Blue, Pilot, Finback and dolphins by the hundreds. The Humpback whales were breaching, and the game began to see who could get a shot of a breaching whale. I caught this one in the distance. This was the first trip I got to try out my D3s, and shooting at really high ISOs was perfect for fast shutter speeds to stop the action.

A highlight of the trip for me was when two of our group renewed their wedding vows. I wanted to do a portrait of them, and had the idea of having them neck deep in the ocean. I really like this look, especially with a sunset in the background, just something about putting people in the water that really brings things to a pure, clean level. John and Suzy were happy to oblige, and waded out in their nice clothes. The lighting for this was one Lastolite Ezybox and a SB900. In order to reduce the amount of flash power needed, and reduce recycle times, I took out the internal baffle in the Ezybox. Tech (portrait) Nikon D3s, 24-70mm, 1/125 at F5.6, ISO 200. SB900 triggered with a SU800 transmitter, shot through a 24″ Lastolite Ezybox.

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Archive for April, 2010

Attaching the SB900 to a Justin Clamp

vintage cars

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