Went to watch the HK International Track Cycling Championships over the weekend. I felt the need for an RF body and lens, as my proper keeper rate (as in, very usable and in focus) was something like 1%.
Still, I got some good stuff of my team. Pics in "Post year neat pictures here!" thread, not, uh, here. And, I guess, instagram at some point.
On Saturday I did a quick studio shoot with a model and my car, which I thought was going to be naturally lit but ended up relying on one of the 100W lights and the new rectangular softbox on a stand, and a couple of battery packs so I could move them all around without dealing with cords. It was so easy and convenient that I'm thinking about getting a couple more batteries and a collapsible softbox (the one I have is a PITA to assemble/disassemble, and too tall for the Vette's trunk, so it rode shotgun with me).
Get that weak shit off my track
I was able to get glowing brake disc pictures during the Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Indy last weekend. They're not crisp and clear, because small sensor, but I saw the size of the full frame 600 mm lenses while I was there, and I'm good with that.
Get that weak shit off my track
Yeah solid choice unless you have money to burn. Those things are $13k and are heavy as fuck.
After a park photo shoot where I got great results but not in every lighting situation, I started to look into speed lights. I saw one that I liked, and then saw a similar model was on sale for half the price. I checked a couple of reviews and made the purchase: https://www.adorama.com/fplfsmzlsiii.html
I've been testing it out and learning about how to use TTL, manual controls, bounce flash, and all of the other little tricks it has up its sleeve. It proved incredibly useful on another park photo shoot, and when the ceiling situation is good I can get a really nice result from bouncing. I may try to get a wireless trigger for studio use, but I still prefer the flexibility and WYSIWYG nature of continuous lights when I'm trying to get a specific look in a fixed location. I've been meaning to test combining the two this week (speed light for the key, RGB continuous for the background), but I kind of forgot until typing that sentence.
Get that weak shit off my track
I did end up getting the extra set of batteries and two collapsible soft boxes, and I've used them quite a bit.Originally Posted by Kchrpm
Get that weak shit off my track
The lens/motors on my RX10 stopped working today, so I took it back to Best Buy, and was told it would need to be sent in for repairs. While it's away, I decided to get myself a loaner (which I will return for a refund within 60 days), a Sony a7 IV with a 2.8 28-75 Tamron lens. I expect that it will spoil me in simple portrait situations like what I do day to day and in studio settings, giving me something to look forward to down the line when I can actually afford to buy and keep something at that level.
Also, earlier in the week I bought a little $5 mini-softbox diffuser for the speedlight, and that has been great for quick simple portraits at Hooters. Softening the light that little bit helps more than I expected.
It wasn't enough to make Saturday's attempt at taking Christmas pictures for sisters and their really young end up how I wanted, though. The moms said they loved the pictures, but they don't look anything like what a professional would have achieved. I arrived early to scout the location, but didn't trust my own planning and tried to make it up on the fly, and it just didn't work. Something to improve on for next time.
Get that weak shit off my track
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