GPP Shootout, Part Deux

We interrupt today's regular programming, as the 2011 Gulf Photo Plus Shootout video featuring Zack Arias, JoeyL and Photographic Zenmaster Gregory Heisler (not shown) has just dropped into Vimeo.Confession time: Working in front of 300+ people? Been there. But I sure am glad I did not have to work under the pressure of Heisler's blistering mic. Let's set the stage, shall we?Following last year's Polaroid Boy fiasco, JoeyL absolutely had to produce. And Zack, ever the stalwart, was gonna do his thing, of course. What they could not know was that...

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What to Expect When You're Expecting... an eBay Beauty Dish

I'm a mod slut.Which is not to say that I am both promiscuous and a snazzy dresser, because I am neither. But rather, I am a sucker for new and different light modifiers. Lots of 'em. Just like Imelda Marcos and shoes. And especially when they are cheap… Read more...

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On Assignment: Mixing Light with Finn O'Hara

Ed. note: I'm living on a bus for a bit. Please welcome today's guest poster, Finn O'Hara.__________Good afternoon Strobistors. My name is Finn O'Hara, and I'll be your guest blogging pilot for the day. I'm thrilled that David asked me to guest blog this week while he's off on his road trip of a lifetime. I greatly admire this site and it's community...

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Not Your Average Joe

Quick note from the road, where the Flash Bus crew is working our way east after coming down the west coast. Q: What's the coolest (among many) thing about touring the US for 13k miles in this 55-foot rolling dutch oven?A: Getting to watch McNally explore CLS TTL for 29 afternoon sessions.I grew up as a photog idolizing the guy, but that's gone to...

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OT: Manage Your Funnels

Editor's note: We are stepping outside of the box today.As photographers, we are more likely to be hired as creatives than to hire a creative. But recently I was involved in choosing a print designer, a video production house and an illustrator.Seeing the different paths that lead us to each of these people was a little like having an out-of-body experience. It was a cool look into the other side of the equation, and one that left me with a better understanding of marketing my own services as a photographer.Three funnels you should not discount,...

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On Assignment: Miller Mobley's Birmingham Chaplain

Ed. Note: Today's guest post is the second of two, from NYC-based photographer Miller Mobley.__________Back in December I was commissioned by a local magazine in Birmingham to do a series of portraits on hospital Chaplains. To be honest, I had not been given any art direction on how I should execute the photographs, I basically had the freedom to do...

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Cut One Light Off, Three More Grow Back

Macro shooters take note: For not a lot of money and a little DIY work, you might not have to buy a second flash to do some cool, multi-light photos.Marcell Nikolausz, of Leipzig, Germany has been experimenting with fiber optics and the same Loc-line channels that are the staple of Gorillapods and the like.The result? The octopus-like contraption you...

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Unavailable Light in San Jose

Since starting in Seattle, we have now worked our way down the entire west coast of the US and are in San Diego enjoying our first day off.Me: "Sure is a beautiful day today."Anyone from San Diego: "Yeah, um, it's beautiful here *every* day…"Had an interesting thing happen in San Jose Monday, where Don McKee took the picture of the bus at top. I was...

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Miller Mobley on Making Work for Your Portfolio

Editor's note: Please welcome New York-based photographer Miller Mobley as our guest poster today. Miller specializes in advertising, editorial and portrait photography.__________I'm from a small town in Alabama known for it's college and more importantly its college football; Tuscaloosa. I had never picked up a still camera until I was entering my...

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Nikon's D7000 Sync Dial Goes To Eleven

I'm just getting familiar a new Nikon D7000, which we are using to get some video on the Flash Bus tour. The camera gives some good files -- both stills and 1080HD video. Just out of curiosity, I taped over the back two contacts tonight to see if I could overclock the sync a little. And I had a pleasant surprise… Read more...

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Lighting in Layers is Here

If you pre-ordered your copy of Lighting in Layers (first of all, thank you!) they are in stock and shipping. They are also available for purchase now at Midwest and Adorama.You can find out more about the 6-DVD lighting set here.-...

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Smack Talk and Pelican Cases in Dubai

Oh, look, it's Zack Arias and Polaroid Boy JoeyL talkin' smack ahead of this year's Gulf Photo Plus Shootout in Dubai. This is the kind of thing done for the local market (make it Suntori Time...) but naturally, I thought we should run it here, too.If you are newbish, the GPP Shootout is like Iron Chef meets Whose Line is it Anyway, but for photographers. A live assignment, in front of 300+ people. You have to shoot (w/edit and post production) with a 20-min time deadline. And I so hope they'll have Heisler as the heckler played by McNally last...

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Q&A: Bleeding Power from Big Lights with Big Mods

Manila-based Diego Lorenzo Jose asks:Could you share how you use the ND gel sheets on your big lights? I'm wondering how I could maybe use them on my monolights with big modifiers like a giant octa or softbox.The good news is that's actually pretty easy, Diego. And you might not even need to buy any ND gel, either. Read more...

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BOLO Alert: The Flash Bus is On the Loose

UPDATE: We have a winner!__________The Photoshoppers -- close, but no cigar:(Fair warning: The Flash Cart pic links to Fake Chuck Westfall's [typically NSFW-lang] post...)__________SATURDAY, MARCH 5 -- BE ON THE LOOKOUT: The bus has just departed from a secret location east of the Mississippi en route to Seattle, Washington. If you are the first to...

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Field Trip: Mumbai, India with Martin Prihoda

It's not often we get to point to something really cool in such a complete and illuminating way.Not so long ago, photographer Martin Prihoda left the relative safety of a comfortable life in Vancouver (seriously, who leaves Vancouver?) to transplant his photography career to India.Hit the jump for a BTS vid on the Cosmo cover above -- and links to...

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