How to put a flash on a light stand

An update and some new images of how to put your flash on a light stand.  I've stopped using cold shoes as they tend to be the weakest point in the whole set up.  Too many flash have bit the dust due to a faulty cold shoe adapter.  Now I just screw the brass monkey directly into the remote.  

How to set up your Nikon CLS for some OCF!

In order to take advantage of Nikon's CLS (creative lighting system) you

will need either an SB600, SB700, SB800 or SB900 (flash) and the pop up flash on your camera. You will set your on board flash to commander and your

speedlight to remote, thats it! Confused? Heres how to do it with a D300

and SB800. Menus should be really close with other D bodies but you can

check your manual for specifics.

On the camera, go to your custom setting menu

How to shoot a product using printer paper

Ok, so some printer paper, poster board and the usual suspects (camera, flashes).  Here's what we get with just the lighting in the kitchen and a little bit of cleaning up in the ol photoshop.

Color cast, lots of distracting shadows, noise etc.   Not bad, but not good.

Lets add one light and adjust our exposure to get rid of the shadows.

I had a couple people ask about shooting images at night with flash.  Here is a wide shot of the environment we were working in.

Manual Exposure:

1/6 shutter speed

f 4.5

iso 200

18mm

 Images after the break...

Class updates and new facebook page

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on the latest class offerings and schedules.

Working on expanding the Level Up! class offerings.  We are partnering with some great local talent to help out with these workshops.  Stay tuned for more info!

PDX

Took a weekend trip down to Portland to check out The Flash Bus tour.  Hit up Voodoo doughnuts and a few other spots.  Shot some motion too.  D7000 and 24mm 2.0

Beckie

Met a new friend last night, Beckie.  Shot a few frames in downtown Kennewick.  Worked some time based effects and played with some gels on the Bees.  Fun stuff.

Extra Credit

I put together an extra credit shoot for the Level Up! students last weekend.  We brought out the Fairlane and Arielle was kind enough to join us and freeze for an hour or so.

More after the jump (click through)

Happy Valentines Day

Had a chance to collaborate with fotonovella and ruffled sunshine for a commercial shoot showcasing some of Jenns wares.  Shot this in 1080 24fps but not sure I like the frame rate. Anyway, here it is.

Tiffany and David

Good friend, mentor and photographer extraordinaire Eric of Essence Photography and I have collaborated on a number of projects over the past year.  On new years eve we shot the super fun wedding of Tiffany and David.  He and his crew shot the amazing stills and I captured the motion.  Have a look!