My Bits And Pieces - I'm Talking About Photos...  

10 macro and two speedlights.

8th July 2011 - 12:24 AM  Reply  Quote

I need to get me one of these macro's... and one of those cupcakes...

8th July 2011 - 12:40 AM  Reply  Quote

My thread has died!!

Something I just thought of.. HDR Fruit.. and a lolly..

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29th August 2011 - 03:53 AM  Reply  Quote

I like the kiwi fruit... You've been very quiet of late Nick!

29th August 2011 - 04:04 AM  Reply  Quote

loving the cupcake shot! Blue crystal meth on cupcakes would make for an interesting delight...

29th August 2011 - 01:33 PM  Reply  Quote

Yeah, enthusiasm died in the arse a bit.. Need to get into it again! I did a little work and picked up an Orbis ringflash mod and bracket so now I just need a reason to use it.

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31st August 2011 - 03:28 AM  Reply  Quote

Stop it nick.. your making me hungry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18th September 2011 - 06:34 PM  Reply  Quote

CUP CAAAAAKE! Nice lighting too.

19th September 2011 - 03:56 PM  Reply  Quote

Been a little bit! Here's some a did for my wife's boss.

Haven't been doing anything exciting.. Should change that.

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1st November 2011 - 04:15 AM  Reply  Quote

first shot is cute

2nd November 2011 - 12:38 AM  Reply  Quote

Been shooting a little but again, not as much as I'd like. Did get a few hours at work with a guy I work with which was pretty awesome of him to pretty much do shit all what I farted around with a few lighting setups. Went from a beauty-style (c-stand softbox with brollybox on-axis fill) to trying to expose against the sun with speedlights.

Here's a few shots, everything from my WTFBBQ to some macro strobing, focus stacking to cupcakes.

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19th December 2011 - 02:00 AM  Reply  Quote

love that first shot, the dog and the landscape pics man...

The one with the clouds behind him came out good as well.

19th December 2011 - 08:18 AM  Reply  Quote

Hey kids, as the new year is kicking in - it's time to finally upgrade to FF (5Dmk2).

Anyone who wants a well loved and Always looked after 40D PM me.

Usual info like - Barely a scratch on it; Has Rear LCD protector; Genuine battery grip + 2 batts and charger.

Original camera box, cd, cable etc.. (and themselves in great condition).

Comes as body ONLY (no CF card, lenses etc.. duh).

2nd January 2012 - 04:26 PM  Reply  Quote

Dont think the md3 will come out for ages. Perhaps end of this year most likely or early next year.

Welcome to the 5d2 family

4th January 2012 - 02:34 PM  Reply  Quote

Got it today and have already had a crack at the video. Pretty clunky by hand and focusing with the 50mm.. Gotta love the contrast out of the box though!!

Currently updating CS4 to read the CR2's

4th January 2012 - 10:41 PM  Reply  Quote

So been a few days now. How you finding the 5dm2?

Wouldn't mind a third one as they are dropping in price quickly. How much did you pick yours up for?

13th January 2012 - 03:03 AM  Reply  Quote

2790 I think. Yeah I wouldn't mind three either haha.

Actually thought I had an issue with weird underexposing, turns out might have been a weird issue with the firmware upgrade. Everytime I changed the mode from saturated to neutral it wouldn't stick. Reflashed firmware and all good?!

Recently took delivery of part of a camera order for work, like xmas only I can't take any home. Read it and weep boys:
5dmk2
24-105L
50 1.4
sigma 70 2.8 macro (said to be sharper, better colour and contrast than 100mm macro Canon)
HPRC 2600 & 2700
4x Alienbeens Einsteins
Cybersync Commander and 4x CSCVX's
4x Manfrotto 1052BAC's
2x 47" PCB Octas
2x 32x40 PCB softboxes and grids
2x High-output reflectors and grid spot kit
2x mini vagabonds & bags
Metz 50 AF-1 (for on-camera)
Bunch of umbrellas etc..

Got part of it and PCB aus had to reorder to USA. Half of B&H order turned up today. Yellow HPRC 2600 is VERY NICE. Pretty much identical in quality etc.. for Pelican only $160US not $350 AUD.

19th January 2012 - 03:02 AM  Reply  Quote

What are you doing for work now? It involves cameras, i'm in!

19th January 2012 - 03:33 AM  Reply  Quote

Still IT funnily enough, but have now been put in charge of photography for national advertising. That means any images that are coming will now most likely be mine. From catalogs to TV ads, whatever the marketing dept. use.

Can't wait to get the e640's firing. The PCB softboxes seem to be very well made and are designed kind of like an umbrella so they go up in seconds. It's wonderful!

Also did a job on the weekend for a small weddings accessory company with the 5d2. Aimed at vintage, but obviously with the new vintage in mind, since it was shot with a 5d2!

Close-up of the seating arrangement and some flowers.
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My 50 1.4 wide open in bright afternoon sun! Yep you read right, thank you ND filters & softbox!
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Table arrangement with table number etc..
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19th January 2012 - 04:21 AM  Reply  Quote

Welcome to the bee family

I love my Einsteins

24th January 2012 - 02:26 PM  Reply  Quote

Haven't posted in a little while, but I thought I wouldn't let an epically long thread die just yet.

Been using the Einsteins for a little while at work now, and had one die! Just wouldn't power on, found out the next day when the replacement turned up that the CSXCV (remote trigger specifically for the E640's) was dead too, thankfully they have an optical slave built in.

Taken two plus the large softboxes and vaga lithiums to photo the bosses new mustang he's converted to sell, hopefully have some images of that to upload tomorrow, if the rain doesn't keep pouring. Was supposed to shoot it this arvo.

Here's a shot of my niece to prove it's not always cupcakes (and also to use the Einsteins outside of work since I bothered piling the gear into my car!)

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Also, here's where I've been working for the last fortnight. Epic subject as well (This thing is HUGE, shot at 17mm), that's my 5D2 there, 2 47" octa's on two E640's and behind them are two more for bleaching the BG. The photography isn't challenging, but product photography on a large scale and keeping everything static and reproducible is the challenge. Need to be able to shoot an 11 piece dining setting today and then another in 6 months and it be on the same angle and scale etc.. Something you can't really plan ahead of time because there's always something that screws your plan, either a tiny table or a massive setting. Learning in different ways! Looking forward to the lifestyle shots, where we go on location and trying to raise the bar on the big dollar kids like Freedom etc..

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3rd March 2012 - 04:17 AM  Reply  Quote

Took some images of my bosses 2011 Shelby Mustang GT500 today, looks good. Sounds better. Going for sale so he wanted some images for advertising it. Almost the quickest "photoshoot" I've ever been involved in, was less than 25 minutes set-up and shooting time. A tad painful too as the Cybersync Commander I was using to control two Einsteins was low on batteries, of course it was! and the wind was a bit too strong for the large PCB softboxes

Most images are rather boring but these two aren't too bad for me, probably the second or third car I've ever shot.

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4th March 2012 - 02:25 AM  Reply  Quote

So how are the Einsteins treating you? I still love mine to bits. Wish I purchased them first before the b800s/1600..

Let us know how the product photograph goes Goodluck.

I remember doing it once and hated it lol.

4th March 2012 - 09:44 AM  Reply  Quote

Apart from that one dieing, they're great. It's too easy with the Cybercommander. If I had the coin I'd get one or two. Sadly I think it's probably a single B400 personally for me, if any. The softboxes and octaboxes produce great light! A great kit would be two einsteins and a reflector and grid kit and a white beauty dish or small box, that'd be a killer run and gun portrait kit. Screw this $3000 Elinchrom Quadra kit and that's without mods!

Am going to try and make my own portable power supply with an inverter and a sealed 7A lead battery I have laying around. Hopefully $30 will have me set minus a bag. Might even break it down and see if I can box it somehow.

Product photography isn't the best, kind of draining and grating but it's almost over, another 7 days or so and then it's onto some 'lifestyle' stuff which is products out in the real world. Hopefully a fair amount of this kit will get a work out there. Will certainly be very different to what they've been doing previously anyway!

5th March 2012 - 03:25 AM  Reply  Quote

Just putting it out there that I'm selling my Chinese no-name brand 240v 300w/s flash. Will add some pics (Although there's some here if you go back a bit). Comes with replacement modeling lamp and new flash tube (which I paid for in addition), although the flash tube is actually soldered in, it's quite easy to replace if and when it dies (you get about 100,000 flashes with the cheaper tubes, the tube it has is 100% working and has had less than even 500 flashes). Happy to do the work for the buyer at a cost when the time comes (if ever).

300w/s Flash, silver in colour. Has sync 3.5mm sync port (perfect for pocket wizards to ebay triggers). Has optical slave (very sensitive too, which is good!). 1:1 - 1:8 stepless power adjustment! (This means you're not locked into it's power settings, essentially better power control on a cheaper unit which is awesome). Has had the shitty plastic mount removed and a METAL mount installed by me (Will supply pics), $20 mount alone, can now hold a 40"x32" softbox (could not before). Also has recycle confirmation (audible beep) and modelling light (of course). Also can kill modelling light if running on battery power (if you have a generic pack).

Essentially this strobe has all the features of an Elinchrom, Norman etc.. basic monobloc head just at a mad-cheap price. The bonus is, I've used it! Has a built-in reflector but you can buy generic circular-to-"insert mount here" adapters to use with beauty dishes, softboxes, etc..

Asking a measly $100+post. Pics to come tonight.

11th March 2012 - 03:21 PM  Reply  Quote

Ebay it Nick Im sure someone will easily buy it.

13th March 2012 - 03:20 AM  Reply  Quote

Not sure, then again, not sure anyone will really be interested!

Will see how we go when the time comes!

14th March 2012 - 12:11 AM  Reply  Quote

Here's a shot from a commissioned product shot for a lady who makes linen items like napkins, table runners etc.. The table runner, napkin and napkin ring in this shot are all her products. Teamed up with a graphic designer from work who styles and shoots and I light and shoot.

Just thought I'd put something up.

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14th March 2012 - 12:37 AM  Reply  Quote

Oh man I would hate to do those.. Im sure the client would be picky right? As in which way to shoot or which way to light an object?
Or you can decide?

14th March 2012 - 06:48 PM  Reply  Quote

Very cool setup for that lounge shot Nick. Rollin' with the big kids are we now? Getting some white walls etc.

Have you got any shots of the finished shoot?

15th March 2012 - 04:01 PM  Reply  Quote

Hey nick can you upload a photo of that light please. And is it like a normal power point plug in or does it plug into power packs. I recently picked up a portable 800 watt kit and it has 7 pin plugs that go in to the battery packs, only has one head but the pack allows another head to be plugged in aswell. If yours will go in il take it.

Few to many beers so if that didnt make sense i apologise lol.

17th March 2012 - 05:10 AM  Reply  Quote

Yeah Sidd, she's really flippant too. She says she "LOVES" one thing, you run with that and all of a sudden she doesn't like it anymore! Rather frustrating and incomprehensible at the same time. She hates shallow DOF stuff when I feel that's really what she's about, something different and unique and it helps separate the product from the set-up, but she's tied to her own 'grab a P&S and shoot it from above' with harsh light because she think it's the only way to show off her product.

Sort of Ben, I have many finished shots and they all get deep-etched (cut onto white) and will be on the national website, TV ads and banners/posters in all the stores for my employer


Wayne, this is a standard IEC-lead with an earthed aus plug (aka 3-pin plug) where as you sound like you've got a pack-and-head style thing going on so sadly, it wont work as far as I'd be aware. Does the pack control the power and functions? (modeling light, has the slave rather than the head etc..)? Chances are they may have just used a DIN socket so you can't use any old strobe with it if it's just a battery pack but.

I'm thinking of keeping it now anyway. Still, give me some deets on what you're using now - sounds interesting!

23rd March 2012 - 07:17 PM  Reply  Quote