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Advice, Gear, Review

Review: Orlit Rovelight RT610 with transmitter TR611C

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Buying experience

Anastasiya Mitr in a lovely dress designed by Marie Bonner from an October 2017 photo shoot.

Now that I’ve actually put the Orlit Rovelight RT610 and its companion transmitter TR611 on at least 2 on-location shoots, I feel I can objectively say what I like and dislike about it.

I originally purchased it through Amazon but due to poor quality control, blame either Adorama or the manufacturer, I received a unit that was DOA (dead on arrival). Continue reading Review: Orlit Rovelight RT610 with transmitter TR611C →

Gear

Creating an on-location 1940 Stylized portrait

I photographed Jodi Newton using 2 Speedlites inside Lake Alice Trading Co Saloon and Eatery in Riverside. The Speedlite behind her was set to give 1-stop more light than the Key light just to the right of the camera. Canon 5DMark2 with a 50mm lens. ISO 400 1/30sec f4.5
I photographed Jodi Newton using 2 Speedlites inside Lake Alice Trading Co Saloon and Eatery in Riverside. The Speedlite behind her was set to give 1-stop more light than the Key light just to the right of the camera. Canon 5DMark2 with a 50mm lens. ISO 400 1/30sec f4.5

I usually have the exposure mode on my cameras set to “Manual”.

Likewise when I use my strobes, Speedlites or flash units.

That doesn’t mean I  fight the technology especially when the results are consistent and predictable.

It’s always a good idea to learn how to work the Speedlites on power ratio or manual settings just in case E-TTL or iTTL goes berserk and no matter what you try, it’s unpredictable. Continue reading Creating an on-location 1940 Stylized portrait →

Gear

Wireless remotes for selfies

A selfie or self-portrait is how many of us prefer to express ourselves. Sure we can hand the camera off to someone else but no one knows best which is our good side or when to best trip the shutter.
A selfie or self-portrait is how many of us prefer to express ourselves. Sure we can hand the camera off to someone else but no one knows best which is our good side or when to best trip the shutter.

Now that the word ‘selfie’ is officially in the English dictionary, I guess we have to get serious about this genre.

For the purposes of this article, let’s just restrict our discussion of selfies to exclude those done in bathrooms.

I was going to use the phrase ‘privacy of bathrooms’ but isn’t it strange, some folks think nothing about going into bathrooms, locking the doors then taking riské pictures to post on social media? Continue reading Wireless remotes for selfies →

Gear

Field test Photoflex’s OctoDome XS softbox

Portrait of Dr. Pamela Clute, UCR Mathematics professor
Dr. Pamela Clute photographed with the Photoflex OctoDome extra small. There is one silver reflector placed just out of the frame underneath to provide the catchlight in her eyes. A blue gel was fitted over the 600-EX-RT Speedlite aimed at my gray background for a little accent and contrast.

I generally test my gear thoroughly before heading out and using it on jobs.

In the case of a light modifier like a soft box,  I would be wasting invaluable time assembling and disassembling it at every assignment.

So with my Photoflex Octodome extra small, I keep it assembled.

For my portrait session with UC Riverside Mathematics professor Dr. Pamela Clute, as with most of my portraits, I have some an idea of the kind of lighting I want even before I arrive.

Still, it’s a challenge.

On location, unless the spot I’ll be working is one I’m familiar with, I have to plan for the worst case scenario and then be pleasantly surprise if there’s good ambient light to work with.

For that reason, arriving early to set up and having some idea of the light setup I want to use is important.

There’s nothing worse than having to rush.

Details get overlooked and mistakes start creeping in.

Continue reading Field test Photoflex’s OctoDome XS softbox →