DiyPhotographyStuff

DIY Photography Stuff And More!!!

DIY Universal Softbox Small Flash Mounting Adapter

Jan 10

Posted by Samuel M. in DIY projects | No Comments

Some time ago (it sounds like a kids story), there were no Wescot folding softboxes and no Ebay or chinice like products for even more tight budgets, so all you can get was or Bowens mount softboxes or what we called universal mount softbox. The only thing was, that even if you could get those universal mount softboxes, you’d have to manage a trick to put a small flash (off camera flash) in them, So if you have one of those sofboxes, Who are still sold on ebay and amazon for some strobes models, this post is for you.

Read more about the DIY Universal Softbox Small Flash Mounting Adapter (by Tomasz Nowak)

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DIY Macro Diffuser – Cheaper Than Anything!!!

Dec 29

Posted by Samuel M. in DIY projects | 3 Comments

Hi, I read a post at dpreview written this guy Mark Watson, he has a very good super macro gallery on flickr - link, so he’ve been asked to share the way he got the right lighting for those macro images, so he did, and that’s ridiculously easy, handy and cheap!

 

Here we go:

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Yongnuo YN-565EX ETTL Speedlite Flash Review

Dec 23

Posted by Samuel M. in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

YN565 review front image

I got a copy of the YN-565EX for a quick review.I must say that I don’t have any YN flashes till now, as I still have plenty of Canon flashes, “collecting” them during the pre YN era. I’ll say that for my kind of flash use I don’t need any thing more complex than a flash with manual settings ,decent power and recycle times and that’s all. If I had to buy a set for strobist photography today, there is no doubt that the set will be mostly based on those Chinese strobes.
I must say that I don’t understand Canon’s legal department, how can they let YN COPY thier flash bit bit?! The YN565EX looks exactly like the 580EXII (minor differences) with 430EXI digital back, as if someone made a joke of Canon’s stuff…

But lets move on and see some specs about this new flash:

  • TTL Flash with very powerful guide number GN58 @ ISO100, 105mm, support TTL, M, Multi mode
  • Auto and manual zoom functions 24-105mm focal length
  • Full support TTL Functions FEC, FEB, Rear-curtain sync, FE lock, Modeling Light, Menu Access of Canon camera
  • Charging Socket for External Flash Pack

The YN565 is actually is their version for the Canon 580EXII.

Side ny side comparison with Canon580EX

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Basic Studio Lighting Setup – Zumba Model Shoot

Dec 21

Posted by Samuel M. in Portrait Photography | No Comments

 

Hi, this time I want to introduce you with Tomasz Nowak (photography site and facebook page), Tomasz shoots weddings and children in Poland, but as I found out is a very talented strobist photographer. I first met this simple studio setup on strobox (a source for many ideas for any level photographers). Tomasz uses here a basic two light setup, the main light is made of two entry level YN460II strobist style flashes in a softbox front left side of the model (in the next post you’ll see how he fixed them in) and another YN460II as fill hair light through a snoot from the back opposite model’s side .

So lets dig in and see how its done!!!

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Panning Photography Tips – Circular Panning Trick

Dec 14

Posted by Samuel M. in Portrait Photography, Tips | No Comments

We had an article about panning photography a couple of month ago, you can read it here – Panning Photography.

In General panning is all about capturing images while the main photographed object is in some kind of move, what kind of movement? Any type, it can be a car just passing  by  or driving away, a scooter or an athlete running. Panning is known by effect created by following the photographed object while this camera movement to keep track of the main subject creates a blurred background behind the photographed model. To achieve this you have to shoot at slower shutter speeds than you would have if you just wanted to shoot a clear image.

The two key points to great panning effect:

1.The camera and the photographed subject are moving together synchronized as one body.

2.The camera’s shutter speed has to be slow enough to let the panning effect take place. Not to slow so the photographed object will be blurred too and not to fast so the blur effect will be created.

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Ben Sant’s Protrait Tutorials

Dec 3

Posted by Samuel M. in Portrait Photography, Sites&Articles, Video | 3 Comments

Hey, I wanted to share with you a very talented photographer, Ben Sant, based in the USA.

Ben has on his blog some very useful behind the scene tutorials for portrait and fashion photography using small of camera flashes, like we all love to use.

I include here two of his videos, one covering some tips on one of his winter fashion shots. en has a very unique way to explain stuff and a fresh approach to photography, so I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy this.

On the winter set he mainly uses only one flash, trigger and a 43 inch studio umbrella (and a boom stand), this type of studio equipment is very affordable and I’m pretty sure most of you reads own this combination.

This video covers two basic concepts:

1. Underexposing the background about 1 stop for getting black and contrasted shadows.It is very important to under expose the background when photographing snow. Snow is one of the trickiest modes the camera’s light meter can face , so Ben tips us to check the images histogram while shooting so we don’t over expose the snow.

2.Lighting up the model with the main flash. Ben uses a Nikon SB-800 and a 43inch fordable umbrella on a book lightstand pointing the model from above.

Bottom line-

I really like Ben’s work and I’m pretty sure I’ll post about him in he future as he has another couple of great videos both outdoor location and indoor.

You can keep track with  Ben’s work on his video channels and blog (I’m listed to all three!)

Blog

Vimeo

YouTube

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Lighting in 3D – Guest Post

Nov 24

Posted by Samuel M. in Portrait Photography, Tips | No Comments

This time I want to introduce you with Matan Eshel a very talented proffesional Photographer from Israel, mainly photographing landscape,portraits and fashion photography. You can see some of his beauty work in his online gallery – Matan Eshel Photography .

Matan writes here on his view on creating 3D view in photography, so please read and comment below for further questions or i

 

 

 

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Two Lights Miniature Photography Home Studio Setup

Nov 22

Posted by Samuel M. in Product photography, Tips | 2 Comments

As I promised in the previous post, I have some new stuff, this time I’m showing a simple setup using two lights.

This setup is based on the previous one, you can read here (Dramatic Product Photography using just one light and a grid) while adding a new light to paint the background.

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Dramatic Product Photography using just one light and a grid

Nov 9

Posted by Samuel M. in Product photography, Tips | No Comments

Hey, I remmeber a piece at McNielly about using an umbrella over your models head pointet from above just down on him.This makes a very dramatic look to the model (I didn’t found the image that I reffer to as it was on one of his DVDs – recommended) .

So why don’t make the same thing with your product phtographs?

I acctually made that setup in about 10 minuts, pretty fast. So what do do and how?

Part one – one light:

What I used here? Read the rest of this entry »

Cinemagraph by Jamie Beck- A new amazing technique!

Jul 9

Posted by Samuel M. in DIY projects, Sites&Articles | 2 Comments

I can’t tell or explain this for myself, so first of all I’ll want you to take a look at those first couple of images (right reserved to Jamie from this blog):

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