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Category: Tips

Swim Sport Photography – Two lights setups

Photographing in water can be a bit expensive (in case you don;t know how to water proof you gear).

I saw some photographers using nylon bags to cover their flashes while they try to get some images done.

in case you want to use your flashes in the water, there are some DIY ways to do it , basically what I did is a dual layer water isolation:

How to protect you flash in the water:

(Thats how I do it, there are millions other ways – its your gear do what you want)

  1. After setting the flashes, I covered them with a plastic sandwich bags. You can use more than one, they won’t eat much of you light power.
  2. Putting them into a plastic canister – you can use Coca Cola bottles or any other type of transparent canisters.

I know this isn’t 100% water proof, but in most cases , unless your gear “drowns” in the pool, you’ll be safe.

How to take swimming action images:

I’ll cover here the basics of the bts in the video bellow and how I do it when I’m in a wet situation:

  1. lighting – there are two flashes used here, as this movie was taken about 2 years ago with strobist gear, they used a two YN560II lights. The YN560II is the best flash per $$$ you can ever imagine. Both flashes were triggered by a YN602RF. As you may already know you can get the newer YN560III (reviewed here) and skip the RF602/3.
  2. Lights are put in a canister and hold in some DIY connection to  a tripod and into the water!!! If you are shooting in a small pool like the one in the tut bellow, you don’t have to put the flashes in the water. I use the DIY flash Holder to attach the flashes to the tripod
  3. Settings  - both flashes are at 1/8th full power, camera is about 1/125th sec, get the ISO as low as you can to avoid ambient light.

Here is a nice video I found on the how to

 

Do you think you can do it too, You are welcomed to share you best images here!

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Top 4 Free Online Photography Tools For Your Browser

Hi

This time I want to share with you some tools you might haven’t know about,There are many cool online editor add-ons, the most popular platform for those is chrome who has google/android support, so there are tons of apps for your browser. Some of them are so good that you don’t have to download some hacked Photoshop versions, or work on an image only on your desktop, you can do most of the work on remote computers or with free online services.

Lets see what you can do , for free!

Browser photo editors add-ons:

Well those won’t make you uninstall your current PS version, but there are some cool image editors you can use for effects, editing and even more than that

 

pixlt-o-matic

Pixlr O Matic

is an Intgram ”like” software. apparently there is no shortage in those kind of image filter processing tools wherever you try to find one, you just need to find the right one for you .The fun thing with the Pixlr-O-Matic is that you upload an image, on the first step you can assign it with the “film effect” you like best, but then come the other features you can’t find in instegram (yet), you can add overlays, who are actually cool – bokeh tricks like you can find in DIYP bokeh kit , some paper scratches and so on. There are about 100 of those overlays for your fun.Third feature is adding borders to your image, you can choose out of hundreds…Do if you haven’t tries it before, it time you give it a try. Add it to you chrome here

pixlr-express

Pixlr Express

While the O-Matic was more of an easy instgram enthusiastic browser add-on, the Pixlr Express will offer some more fun features. I can’t really decide how you can categorise it, but it can do all the O-Matic stuff+ adding what they call stickers. Stickers are what I call brushes are (in some way) in Photoshop. There are countless options for creativity and its fast and really fun.You can add

  • Stickers – Tons of brushes, doodles and logos to add some spice to your images.
  • Text – 100′s of fonts are waiting for you, just pick the right one and start designing your image signature, or just add some text to it.
  • Adjustments – All you need : starting from  red-eye and teeth cleaning fixes and finishing with contrast and color corrections

Add it to your browser here.

pixlr-editor

Pixlr Editor

This one is really photoshop style stuff. The Pixlr editor is a full browser editor , it has

  • Layers, auto levels , drawing tools and much more!
  • Filters – Has some “sofisticated” filters like : mimic HDR, glamor glow, tilt-shift, Gaussian blur, vignette, noise and lots of more.
  • image adjustments with many of the keyboard shortcuts you are used from your desktop photoshop.
  • Supports even PSD files

Check the Pixlr editor here.

befunky

BeFunky

I was looking for a long time for a free fast pop art effect creator, I was looking into many of those free online/browser creators, but this one was the first add-on I found that did this really nice and got the effect I was looking for.If you get it, you should first check those two:

  • Line art otppia.
  • Pop art.

It of course has many other features, you could check this here, but if you are looking for an arty addon, this one is my preferable by far!

Those are the most common add ons for Chrome browser ,if you are using other add ons, I’d like to get your recommendation and post ot here so other guys enjoy it,just post it here in the comments section.

TNX, don’t forget to share or mail this post with your friends!!!

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PS and Ai Keyboard Shortcuts

Hi, I found this graphic keyboard image of some Ps (Photoshop) and Ai (Adobe Ilusrator) I think you might find interesting.

Feel free to share!

I’m pretty sure there are some more Keyboard Shortcuts infographic like this one, I’d be happy if you share it here in the comments section bellow.

TNX!!!

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5 Minutes For Two Flash On Location Product Photography

Hi, recently a friend of mine, who has a beehive (Yep she and her family makes honey for years) , asked me to shot some images of the products they are going to put on sale during the upcoming holiday here in Israel .As I was sure we are going to photograph more natural images, using available light in the woods, my friend decided that she wants to photograph this line of products on a simple white background. The only thing was did didn’t tell me about it and I got to her unprepared…So what are we going to do? Its time for some improvisations!

I photographed in her shop, it was a tiny room about 4m*4m full of shelves and not to much spare room for luxury setups. As the “studio” was a shop, we had to stop the shooting once in a while cause costumers had to visit and disturb us… `-)

So here is how I did it:

  • Background: I got to an office equipment store and bought 3 big 70cm*50cm white bristol paper- two of them I have to use and another oneto be a spare one in case something goes wrong/dirty.
  • Table –  Gosh, they had only a chair in the store, we had to go to their neighbours to borrow a small table.
  • Lighting – I started with just on light , the on on the right side of the image, a YN565 flash (reviewed here) shoot into a bg umbrella (110cm), but as the shop was pretty dark , there where no light reflection from the left side of the shop, so I added my YN560II (reviewed here). The yn 565EX as main light/umbrella was trigger by a radio remote trigger and set to about 1/16th of full power, while the fill light from the left had to be at very low power, cause I wanted it just to let some light to the left side of the image, making the shadows created by the main light, just a little less harsh.
  • Camera – Set to ISO about 1600 as I wanted the flash to recycle fast while the aperture was small (f/10 – f/11) to get as much DOF as possible, because I was shooting from a close distance.
  • This is it, the setup took about 5 minutes to build, including taping the “background” to the selves behind…All you have to do is start shooting and replace the honey gifts.
Here are some examples – no PS made to them, I need to brighten them a little and its good to be uploaded to their website.

Read more →

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Its all about the jaw

Hi, I digged up this video, it about a basic facial posing tip, by Peter Hurley.

You might like it or you might not but the chin disappears there, so enjoy this piece, its amusing and light too

PS, Peter also has a site and a very nice blog too!!!

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Photoflex Launched a New Site Recently

I got an Email today from Photoflex that they launched a new site design. Why I’m sharing thi s info with you?

I must confes that back then (some 5-6-7 years ago) when you started to go online for some info about photography and flashes there weren’t to much info available , there was the Strobist who back then was really useful for strobists ,today its much more of a commercial magazine (I don’t blame David man has to make money and that’s fine with me I’d do so if I had the same opportunity ) and there was a site that I don’t remember its name something with 28 in the domain name and another site that had some lighting diagrams hand drawn on some yellow paper (I must see that site again so if you the site PLS post s comment bellow, I simply can’t find it).So back then there other site, really good and instructive site was Photoflex’s site. Besides of selling very popular lighting systems (modifiers and lights) they have a very good learning center. There are some lessons that comes for free, and most of the  lessons a for paid subscribers, so I must say that when I was young `-) and there was no YouTube and no other resources I did a year full access membership and enjoyed it a lot!!!

So first of all go and visit the new site if you don’t know it yet, and if you are into really good pro lessons from pro photographer, step by step stuff, that’s your place!

PLS enjoy!!!I’d be really happy if someone will remind me of the yellow site…

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Canon 5DIII Vs. Nikon D800 Video Reviews Colection


Canon 5D Mark III In stock

Both rivals got their new updates for their popular full frame bodies. As a Canon photographer, I use the 5DMkII, I don’t intend to buy or upgrade my 5DMkII to the newer version, I think I currently have a very powerful photography tool. If I had some spare money’ I’d go for a fast prime lens, but thats only if…

So first of all some major specs comparison:

The Nikon D800 :

  • 36.3 megapixel FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor
  • ISO 100–6400
  • 4 fps consecutive shooting in FX/5
  • Multi-area D-Movie
  • Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system
  • EXPEED 3
  • 3.2 inch 921k-dot LCD monitor
  • 3D Color Matrix Metering III
  • 100% viewfinder coverage and three Crop Modes
  • Quiet shooting mode
  • Highly accurate and durable shutter unit
  • Storage media
  • Built-in i-TTL Speedlight
  • Durable Magnesium alloy body
  • Wireless LAN and Ethernet support

While the Canon EOS 5D Mark III :

  • 22.3 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
  • All new 61-Point High Density Reticular AF
  • Up to 6fps High-Speed continuous shooting
  • Native ISO 100-25,600 sensitivity
  • 3.2 inch (1040k)TFT LCD Monitor
  • Full HD video with manual control
  • 14 bit DIGIC 5+ Image processor
  • Enhanced Weather sealing
  • HDR mode with presets

Lets put aside all the impruvments with the new 5DIII, the only thing that I can say realy “bothered” me, was the fact that it had a poor focusing system for a top level camera. This issue only came up when shooting without a flash (580EXII and so on) while using other than the middle point. It didn;t bothered me ,but I know there were some complains about it. With the new model, Canon decided to get rid of those whispering…

On the paper when looking throught the sepcs of those two, the Canon 5DIII has the advantage in any parameter, but the price (Canon for about 3.5K while the Nikon will be your for about 3K) and the pixel count, where the Nikon leads with a huge 37MP while the Canon comes with  only 22MP…

So here are some reviews videos I collcted for you guys to watch.

I’ll be happy if you share your thoughts about who is better, but PLS no Nikon-Canon fights!!!

Read more →

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The Digital Holga?

Some time ago, I wanted bad to shoot some film, yes you know I was practically born into the digital era (had a Pentax “digital camera” before my first Canon G3!!!). So I played a little with some films until my son decided that the film camera is his,and I had to get a “new” one. As I had all the digital stuff I wanted, I decided to get something else and bought a plastic  stupid simple camera (the one on the right side) “Holga”. As far as I know (and I’m no expert on this topic), Holga was a camera for 120 slides (square images), but some guy in China/HongKong decided its time to do a 35mm version.

What was fun about the original?

As there where no or very little quality control in the original Russian factory, and aiming for a budget and affordable camera, they went and produced a plastic lens for the camera, this plastic lens combined with some light licking into the camera and defused black corners , somehow became into a hit! There are still fans for that use that for fan and more (see flickr here). What I liked most with the my toy Holga was that sa of its plastic lens, lack of auto focus , it delivered some old looking images, the kind you have to Photoshop it if you want to get it out of your digital camera. I know I had some scans somewhere here.

So one day I get an Email from a friend that told me:

  • Friend: Hi you remember that plastic holga you got?
  • Me: Yep, I know?
  • Friend:Well, you can get it for your digital, here is the link.
  • Me: TNX! Read more →
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Using Speedlights With a Brolly

2 36" Brollys for 34$ at Amzon

2 36″ Brollys for 34$ at Amzon


As I might mention some posts before , my first try at more “normal” lighting diffusers, was some years back when a friend of mine (Chen, thank you!) got me a Photek Brolly from B&H, those where times where shipping wasn’t so easy to Israel and not so many alternatives for a softbox in the market…

So the brolly was a way to compromise and have a budget very big light diffuser. I think that it cost about 60$, but that was the cheapest gadget out there…

I use the brolly many times in my home studio and I must say that it lasted since (about 6 years ago). Today you can get at amazon 2 36″ for 34$, I don’t know about how good they are (my guess is that they are not bad)   but I always say to try everything, especially is this one is your first, spending 36$ isn’t to much.

The thing that bothered me most was how to attach the speedlight to the brolly. Until some time ago, I’d put the flash in the brolly, using another small flash holder (as seen on this page), but this way has two disadvantages:

  1.  The flash is in the brolly, so all the manual guys are in trouble, cause as your set the flash power and closed the brolly, you’ld have to open it every time you want to change the power.
  2. As the flash is inside the brolly, there is a small problem with the light spread in the brolly, cause your flash is to close to the umbrella, most of the light will be directed to the umbrella’s center.

So how to solve this “problem”? Two ways:

1.The Bungee Cord method – by attaching the speedlight to the brolly’s main rod, as the front of the flash is in the brolly and the rear of the flash out of the brolly, you get probably the cheapest diy way to get the speedlight into the brolly, while you still have all the control you need to manual control your speedlight.I used here two Bungge Cords, for extra caution, also one cord will do the job for indoors.You have extra safety as the open hole in the brolly’s front panel has a Velcro strip to get some more grip to the flash and the brolly’s holding rod.

Read more →

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RingFlash On The Budget – Part1

Hi, if you fancy a ring flash , but on the budget, this one is for you!

It all started with two probably (I say probably cause I didn’t used them yet) great and very popular gadgets, those are:

The only problem with those two , is that they cost about 200$, I Guess they both are of great building quality, but the price is abit to high for most strobist who will use the ring flash just a couple of times per year…

So a new player got into the ring `-) and as all the budget gadgets, it is from china, and one of the common is the small finishes, guys you did a very affordable product, go a dollar step ahead and make it much more better. Even thought, I must say that for the “normal” strobist, the piece will do its work and give great value for your bucks!

So, I’ll start with explaining about it minor flaws:

  • It not as round as the two more expensive competitors.
  • Due to some really going cheap in China, they left the logo carton, made of carton and not a reflective mateial, there for ,as many reviews on the net claim, it looses some light just for that …
  • Light distribution isn’t 100% eqvivalent . You’ll see more light power at the top of the picture, and less at the bottom. I believe this is natural for those types of gadgets, but there are ways to make it better…

here are two images to showcase those “flaws”:

 

But there are some great sides for this gadget:

  • Price – at about sixth of the price you’ll have to pay for the orbis/rayflash you’ll get a tool that anyone can afford.
  • RingFlash –  yes you can get those flat light looking  images. I see in a lot behind the scenes videos, photographers using a ringflah and more over, I see lot of ringflashes used for video lighting.
  • Construction – this is actually very good. If you see the other products on the market for the same price you’ll get the DIYPHOTOGRAPHY.net ringflash (http://www.diy-lighting-kits.com/ring-flash/), but its made of some paper and plastic sheets, while the O-Ring Flash is pretty sturdy for its price.

I do promise to write a post about the hack that solves removes the carton non reflective logo with the O-ring who will make it much better at minimising its light loose and light shape.

If you got it and photogrpahed with it, let as see!!!

Here is a quick one from this morning, Eitan My best model (well he is my sun, so he has to do what his told to!!!)

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