Snooty, Yet Warm

David Honl has just started shipping a gold-interior version of his popular 8" speed snoot, dubbed the Honl Zebra 8. When the light passes through the snoot, it bounces around and picks up the warm color -- similar to using a warming gel on your key light.

Which makes it great for for lighting human beings, especially those from Great Britain.

It's a store-bought homage to an old trick I first picked up from my friend Chris Usher. He used to scrounge manilla folders when shooting biz portraits in an office. Just roll 'em up and make a warm snoot with a rubber band.The effect is similar, albeit less efficient.

Oh, and thanks to users having hacked the original use of the snoots, they now do double duty as bounce reflectors when attached in the manner shown in the photo up top.
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:: Product Page ::

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Put a Li'l Boom in Your Pocket: The Matthews Scissors-Clip

I had a few people ask about how I mounted the SB-800 in the ceiling for the John McIntyre photo last week. I used a Matthews Scissor-Clip, a sweet little light stand / cable clamp made just for suspended ceilings.

Hit the jump for more info and pics. Read more »

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Two-Light Portrait: Climber's Hands

One of the more common questions I get asked is, "How many flashes should I have?"

Obvious answer: As many as possible -- but that's just me.

But the majority of what I shoot is done with two lights, so that is what I usually recommend for people starting out. And I really enjoy finding ways to exploit two light sources (plus ambient) in as many ways as possible.

Keep reading for a quick walk-thru at this shot of a rock climber's hands. Read more »

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Out Standing In Their Field

A little Monday morning fun, courtesy the London Strobist Meetup Group. If you are in London and looking for some interesting folks to shoot with, give them a shout and find out when their next meetup will be.

One of countless homages to the original photo by Joe Rosenthal, I still love this one. Honestly, sometimes it amazes me what this website has spawned. And of course, click the pic if you want lighting info for the flashes you can't see in the frame.
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Couple of quick notes on the original, which was of course a bit more serious:

First, Rosenthal's photo, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, was the most published photo in the world until it was eclipsed in a single day by Bruce Weaver's shot of the Challenger explosion.

Second, my wife's grandfather was standing at the base of Mt. Suribachi when the flag was raised. He's no longer with us, but he always held me spellbound with his remembrances of that and many other of his experiences.

(Photo by David Woof.)

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Way Cool, Ultra-Light Stand Hack

UPDATE: Peter has updated the pole light stands for use with BIIIG MODS.
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Are you weight- and space-conscious with your gear when you travel? Do you typically shoot indoor, with small lights?

Hit the jump for a very ingenious DIY solution from Swedish photographer Peter Karlsson. Read more »

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Non-US Reader? Consider GPP.

In America, we are lucky enough to have a near-continual smorgasbord of photo workshops and seminars from which to choose. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for those of you who live elsewhere.

If you are reading this from Europe, the Middle East, the Subcontinent or even the Far East, make the jump to see several reasons to strongly consider making a trip to Dubai this March.

If there is no way in heck you would ever jump on a plane to the Middle East, probably best to skip the jump and avoid the temptation. Read more »

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Shoot the Bloggers: John E. McIntyre

One of the best things about spending 20 years in newspapers is getting to work with people like copy editor John E. McIntyre. He worked at The Sun for 23 years, including 14 years as head of the copy desk.

John was the last line of defense against errors -- or outright stupidity -- getting into print. And that line of defense was well-fortified.

It was not at all unusual to get a midnight call from the copy desk, beginning with, " We have a little question about something in your caption..."

And more often than not, it was your sleepy butt they were saving. Read more »

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