The Master Wizards have Cast a Spell, Check it Out!!!

This is what you get when you join two of the best guys in the world making extraordinary images with just small strobes.

Mornings by David Hobby and afternoons by Joe McNally what a wonderful day this must be and they also promise to be bilingual either Manual mode (Mr. Hobby) or TTL (Mr. McNally) they promise to cover it all just for you.

What they will be covering with this BIG Flash Bus Tour:

Announcing: 'The Flash Bus' Tour

By the numbers:

Number of cities: 29

Number of days on the road: 42

Length of the bus, in feet: 55

Miles to be covered on the Mother of All Road Trips: Over 13,000

Chipotle restaurants to be visited: Probably all of them.

Combined experience, in years, both instructors: Over 60

Average maturity level, in years, both instructors: About 13.

Read all about it at David Hobby's Strobist Blog and Joe McNally's page and also take a moment to subscribe to "The Flash Bus" blog and follow the guys around.

Also check their Flickr page for photos from the Bus, Tour and some other interesting things happening along the way.

Praying the Gods that this would come to Europe very soon!!!!

I've already started praying how about you??

8 DVD Strobist box set NOW available

The so much awaited Strobist DVD set will be out on the streets starting from today!!

I told you that it was coming out very soon ;)

So now you do not have an excuse not to buy it and start off camera lighting.

This 8 DVD set will answer all your questions concerning Strobist and Off Camera lighting.

David Hobby answered some questions about orders, packagings and contents on his Flickr page here is the transcription.

Answers to some of the Q's in the comments:

• Pre-orders? Nope. They will go on sale next Tuesday.

• Is that gaffer's tape at the edges? Yes! But it repro'd dark, so it is hard to tell. I taped crinkled paper down on my dining room table, put a string over it and photo'd that. I added the titling in another layer, and erased to reveal the string, which now looks like it is on top. Eatcher heart out, Matt K...

• What's it gonna cost? $139, for eight DVDs: Full-day seminar, gear disc and nine location shoots.

• Blu-Ray? Er, no. DV format. In every instance where we had to choose between allocating resources between production values and content, we chose content.

• Will it be on Amazon? That is something I am working on. Not immediately, but hopefully before long.

• Where do I order? Initially, via MPEX, who is gearing up to get them out ASAP.

• Is there a D/L version? Not for now. At 8 DVD's, it'd be some pretty hefty bandwidth.

• Will it be shipped overseas? Yes. Shipping will be more, but then you will be benefitting from the crappy state of the US dollar, too...

• What was the setup for this shot? DVD's on my table. Flash sitting on kitchen counter, bouncing off the ceiling (camera upper right, relative position.) You guys never stop, do you? :)

David has setup a Main Strobist DVD Discussion Thread on Flickr, any questions you can put them here and have direct answer from Mr. David Hobby Himself.

And if you want to know what will be featuring on the 8 DVD box set, you heard me well 8 DVD's wrapped in brown paper just take a look at Strobist page.

You can order Strobist Lighting DVDs at Midwest Photo for $139.00 and they will ship it Internationally. Pay attention that there were only 1000 copies made for the first round, so try to get your order as soon as you can.

As per David Hobby Words:
"We printed 1,000 copies, which was all I could afford! Everything was done out of pocket. If these sell out, it will allow me to cover all expenses -- including Bill's many hours, subtitling, DVD printing costs, etc., and fund another round."

--//--

Strobist Lighting Seminar on DVD

Eight-DVD set (approx. ten hours total) with David Hobby from the website Strobist.com. It is aimed at advanced amateur photographers who would like to gain a better understanding of how use small flashes off-camera to improve the quality of light in their photos.

Includes 8 DVD's:
-Lighting Gear for Beginners
-Morning Session Part 1
-Morning Session Part 2
-Afternoon Session Part 1
-Afternoon Session Part 2
-Bonus Material 1
-Bonus Material 2
-Bonus Material 3

Bonus Material includes:
-Conference Room Headshot
-Swimsuit Portrait
-Kendo Practitioner
-Pool Portrait
-Lighting Indoor Basketball
-Mountain Bike Shoot
-Group Shot
-DIY Macro Box
-Sunset Sunflower

The shoots included in the videos range from tabletop product shots to individual portraiture to an eleven-person group photo. The shoots are designed to illustrate some of the different techniques available to the small-flash photographer.

First DVD: Discussion -- Lighting gear for beginners. DVDs 2-5: Full day lighting seminar, which includes both discussion and shooting. DVDs 6-8: Nine location shoots.

Here is a small sample video


More photos by David Hoffmann from the DVD setup you can find them in here.

Strobist DVD Trailer

It's been a while since I did not post anything here but I've returned to Lisbon for a couple of assignments and I confess that time is one thing that I miss a lot.

I still haven't forgotten all of you out there and to prove it here is a little cookie to open up your appetite concerning the so much talked Strobist DVD.

David was kind enough to post a small preview of what you will get as soon as they will start to pop out, and that is very, very but very soon!!!

More on this soon... meanwhile enjoy this one.

It's a Wonderful Day!!

It was this morning at 9:00.

David was the first one at 9:05 with 2,530g and 44,5 cm then came Tereza with 3,020g and 47 cm.

All went well and now while my wife is a sleep I sneak home for a quick lunch and just wanted you to see some of the quick photos.

Some more photos after the jump :)















Thank you all for the wonderful messages and support.

The Wonder of Strobist Clamshell Light

If you did not attend any of David Hobby seminars what are you waiting for?!

To Master the Light techniques you need a Wizard and who better than David himself to show how to do it ;)

One of the tricks that bang me out from David's bag was the Clamshell.

I saw him performing this trick first at the London seminar and later on in Paris, and I felt in Love with it, the trick of course (what were you thinking?), this setup kicks, rocks and could make any model, you put in front of it, shine on.

Good, simple and easy Strobist studio portrait light.

As you can see in the picture you just need 2 white shoot through umbrellas, one on top of the other.

Start with a different ratio of 1 or 2 stops between the umbrellas and adjust at taste so this way you can make any adjustments to shadows and highlights apart from each other and now shoot between both of them :)

And to complement the setup you just kick a background light (simple or with a color gel), towards the background to get some background color or separation.

If you prefer to control the spill you can do it like David, look at the initial image, and you get that by using a silver umbrella or snoot to avoid some spill.
Either way you will get astonish results with this portable Strobist kit, just give it a try and will never wanna shoot with another thing.

Let me rephrase it (2 White umbrellas, 3 portable strobes, 3 remote triggers and 3 stands) got it?

Take a look at some of the images you can achieve with it in here.

Now let me show you something...

I got this video on YouTube on how to learn Studio Portrait Lighting Technique by Master Photographer Steven Tan from Penang, Malaysia using Visatec studio flash, Manfrotto light stands, tripods, Flash meters, assistants and all that expensive gear.

Enjoy it...



After you watch it doesn't the setup looks familiar to something?

Did the gear on the video seamed expensive and could be replaced for something cheaper?

And were the results better than the ones made with small strobes?

I think you've got the answers to all this questions so stop complaining and go make yourself a Strobist Clamshell ;)

Miss the Hair Light and do not know how to build a Honey Comb or Grid?

Take a look at my tutorials DIY: Black Straws Snoot Grid (Part 1), DIY: Black Straws Snoot Grid (Part 2) and DIY: Black Straws Snoot Grid (Colored).

LESS GEAR, MORE BRAIN, BETTER LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strobist gear: Where can I find it in Europe? (Update)

I've created a combo box, on the right side panel, above the Strobist logo in order to be more easy to find the store and products you need. Also now I've included from which country is the store so you can search first from the one's near you.

You can add more links to the list or update old ones by sending me an email or using the Flickr discussion group in here to post new links.

I will try to keep this updated as soon as new links are coming maybe once or twice a week depending on the frequency I will be getting the new links.

Thank you all for adding new links.

Strobist gear: Where can I find it in Europe?

Aaahh, Strobist!!!
Loved by everyone but the gear so hard to find and to get in Europe.

On today's post I will give a try to give you some search tips by posting some of the places where you can search for the gear you will be needing, besides the well known Ebay and Amazon.

I'm not in any agreement with the companies that I will be mentioning here nor I have anything to do with their business and prices so don't pick on me about this, simply choose what prices are best for your wallet.

If you have any other places besides the one's I will mention here please send me an email with a link to the products and I will update my posted list.

First things first.

The list of some of the things that you will be needing to get you started, assuming that you do not have any of the articles I mention bellow, if you have them already great... so why are you reading this for?... wait maybe you will need to get something extra, OK keep reading :)

01) Small portable Flash or Strobe (call it what you like best)
02) Umbrellas or Brolly
03) Light Stands
04) Umbrella adapter Swivel
05) Battery Chargers
06) Extra AA batteries
07) Triggers
08) Hot Shoe adapter for triggers
09) Clamps
10) Ball Bungees
11) Color corrected gels (CTO Orange, CTG Green and CTB Blue)
12) Gobos, Snoots, Bounces and Grids

Well maybe you will not be needing everything mentioned here at first but since this post is about where you can find this gear in Europe, anyway I mentioned them here as a reference point.

If you start reading Strobist, like me, from the beginning you will notice that one of the great things that is mentioned there is to travel light and that will teach you how to use your small flashes, off camera, to get professional results.
Two things for me very important for my work... don't you think the same way?

Didn't you read this part? If not you can click here to read all about it.

Starting from the very beginning at Lighting 101 David Hobby will show you all the gear that you will be needing to start on your own and explain in detail each and everyone of them so take a peak there.

And keep constantly updated with the news at the official Strobist Flickr discussion group in here.

And now the links I found so far:



1) Small portable Flash

- Thyristor Twin Flash
- Hama zoom flash
- Metz Mecablitz 36AF-4C
- NISSIN 34DI-C
- NISSIN 34DI-P
- METZ MECABLITZ 36AF 3
- Several flashes
- Bilora D 40
- Cullmann
- Exakta Blitz DPZ 38
- Canon, Nikon and Sigma



02) Umbrellas

- Umbrellas
- Umbrellas with folding
- Jimbei BS-50
- Umbrellas
- a)White umbrella 43"
b) White Umbrella
- a)Silver Umbrella 36"
b) Silver Umbrella
- a)Umbrellas
b) Umbrellas
- Falcon Eyes, Hedler, Lastolite, Profoto and RedWing



03) Light Stands

- a)Manfrotto Nano 001b
b) Manfrotto Nano 001b
c) Manfrotto Nano 001b
d) Manfrotto Nano 001b
e) Manfrotto Nano 001b
f) Manfrotto Nano 001b
g) Manfrotto Nano 001b
h) Manfrotto Nano 001b
- Falcon Eyes 805
- Excella



04) Umbrella adapter Swivel

- Manfrotto 026 Lite Tite swivel + Umbrella adapter
- Metal ShoeMount Flash/Umbrella
- Studio umbrella adapter
- Falcon Eyes umbrella holder
- Universal umbrella adapter
- Hama Studio Umbrella Clamp



05) Battery Chargers

- AccuLoop 700mA
- a)Lacrosse Tech BC-900 v33
b) Lacrosse RS-900 v33
c) Lacrosse RS-900 v33
- a) Lacrosse RS-700
b) Lacrosse Tech BC-700 V33
- ANSMANN Energy check
- LaCross, Energizer, Ultra-Rapid and Universal chargers
- Voltcraft IPC-1L 700mA
- Voltcraft IPC-1L 500mA
- Voltcraft IPC-1L 900mA




06) Extra AA batteries

- All sizes
- AA Energizer Lithium
- Eneloop and Instant



07) Triggers

- Gadget Infinity 4-Channel Wireless Flash Trigger V2s
- a)Pocket Wizard
b) Pocket Wizard
c) Pocket Wizard
d) Pocket Wizard
- Quantum triggers
- Remote Triggers
- Elinchrom EL Skyport Universal trigger



08) Hot Shoe adapter for triggers

- a) Hama Metal Hot Shoe adapter with cord
b) Hama Metal Hot Shoe Adapter
c) Hama Metal Hot Shoe Adapter
d)Hama Metal Hot Shoe Adapter w/cable
e) Hama metal Hot Shoe Adapter
f)Hama Hotshoe Adapter - Universal & Adjustable
g) Hama metal Hotshoe Adapter w/cable
h) Hama metal Hot Shoe adapter
- a)Plastic Hot Shoe Adapter
b) Hama plastic Hot Shoe Adapter
- Metal Hot shoe adapter
- Hot Shoe adapter with photocell and PC connection
- Kaiser plastic w/PC cable
- Adjustable shoe mount with PC cord
- Hama Flash Slave Wireless



09) Clamps

- a) a) Manfrotto 035 Superclamp
b) Manfrotto 035 Superclamp
c) Manfrotto 035 Superclamp
- Manfrotto 175 Spring Clamp
- Manfrotto 175F Spring Clamp + Ballhead w/flashshoe
- Clamp
- Clip
- Clamp
- Superb Clamp
- Falcon Eyes, Manfrotto, Studio



10) Ball Bungee or Similar

- a)Ball Bungee
b) Ball Bungees
- Spannflex
- Spannfix
- Velcro



11) Color corrected gels packs or sheets (CTO "Orange", CTG "Green" and CTB "Blue")

- Lee Filters
- a)Rosco Filters
b) Rosco Filters UK
- Gels & Filters
- Lee, E-Colour, Rosco, GAM
- Cinefoil
- Rosco, Lee filters and sample packs
- 4cm Gel Packs
- 5cm Gel Packs

12) Gobos, Snoots, Bounces and Grids

- Snoot and Gobo
- Make your own take a look here, here and here.
- Lumiquest LQ-001D Ultrabounce
- Bounces and Diffusers
- Gaffer tape
- Lumiquest Snoot
- Lumiquest Ultra Bounce


Some of the gear post here have lower prices but it does not mean you cannot get some less expensive ones at Ebay or even try Amazon.

Oh well!! at least you got some store link prices to start from :)

The links above are showed in the main language of each site that could English, French, German or other. If you do not speak any of those languages you can always send an English email to the store asking about your product and delivery times.

To know more about what you can do or even what are they used for you can take a look at Part 1 and Part 2 on my Lighting Mods articles blog.

Paris Strobist Seminar - 27Oct.2007

What can be said... I'm a FAN!!

I decided again to go to the Strobist Seminar. This time instead London David head down to Paris.

Instead of plane this time I drove by car since it's not far from Luxembourg and trip that takes about 3 hours.
So Friday afternoon I gather all my gear together and march to Paris like a soldier searching for the hidden light.

Plans were to have a quick meet and dinner on Friday with a couple of fellow photographers that were also attending on Saturday.



At arrival noticed that the room was full, yeah!! 60 photographers from almost every corner in Europe.

Morning was more of an hello to everyone and a chance to see David talking about gear and experiences. The theory was like if you were reading the blog but better you had David there always getting enthusiastic about every part that wouldn't let you fall asleep for a moment.

People were drinking his words and movements and getting notes for everything it was being sad.

This is such a good opportunity to be learning light with the guy that almost invented it :)...



David started talking about the use of the white umbrellas. He explained that it's better for you to first learn a technique and make use of it and then when you have managed it completely you now are ready to get another technique and start to learn it. Start slowly and make the things go by it self almost like driving a car one trick at a time.

You can see him above showing that the distance of the light relative to subject is something you should never leave behind and has closer to the source it gets the bigger and softer it will be even with such small umbrella.



David mentioned that he always carries with him a white and a silver umbrella just in case he needs more power (see what I meant with a trick in the bag?).

And if you care to have two white umbrellas you can produce such a huge light almost even bigger than a soft box. David illustrate the use of 2 umbrellas to create a clamshell that I'm very fond off.



David explained the use of Gobos, Snoots and Grids and what you can accomplish with them. You can make your own just check how in here.



I took my DIY panel and BANG!!! David talked about it.
People didn't realize how big the panel is until they saw it. It's also good to take it with you when you do not have a place for the models to change clothes.



Some relaxing time... David is a one man show, he talks, photographs, makes jokes and even tears a place apart with his lighting techniques. I'm so glad I have met him already in London and appreciated so much the way he conduct the seminars.

The clock did not stop ticking and we arrive at lunch time in a glitch.

Hey it's lunch time already???

Before we go here are a few hints:

Basic Lighting Gear - Flashes, Stands, Umbrella Swivel, syncing Techniques, Light Mods (umbrella, snoots, grids, gobos), Gels and Lots of batteries.

Basic Lighting Controls - Position, Softness (Apparent Light Size), Balance, Restriction, Reflection/Refraction, Color Shifting and Time-Based Controls.

We went out for a quick snatch and return to the room for the ACTION!!!!

On the first setup David showed us how you can use your hand to preview the exposure even without having your subject (Michael) with you. This is a great trick and I also have used it a lot.

With this on your sleeve you can almost predict the shot of your subject for those 5 minute corporate shots.



David explains that he uses the CTO gel on the background to create that effect and turns the flash to the walls like a bare bulb also how the position of the umbrella helps the enhance the subject on this particular shot.



We move now to the second Setup.



David used his hand to help him calculate the first exposure before the fellow photographer Jason sits on the chair.



Again a simple setup, just an umbrella at cameras right side creating a specular highlight on the background.



David shows and explains on his laptop the images acquired.



Next setup David wanted to try the nice signed wooden background, that probably costs more than we could ever imagine, to create a pattern of light.

His "visions" are incredible, He can turn a wooden background into something incredible that after you have seen it you would not believe it.



Another fellow photographer (Eke) was called upon duty. I think David choose the right one's while he swaps the room :)



This one is a more sculpted one.
4 strobes to get this AMAZING shot and on location and in almost 5 minutes setup... and all this was happening while he was answering everybody's Q&A... man this guy is faster than the Flash. BANG and you have a setup!

Correct me if I'm wrong but on this one David used a 2 sided strobes to get the rim light, one front light for the face and another one to get that nice background and all of them snooted.

While we were still chewing that out he came up with the idea that the red cloth on those tables could make a nice and good background for the last setup shot.

And after saying this... you just see him moving the tables out doing all his mechanical stuff.

David you ROCK Man!!!!!!!!!!!



On his blog you can even think "Hey this guy is all bla, bla, bla, no way he could be moving furniture at the clients place..."

So my friend you wanted proof so here it is the proof, now SHUT UP and go learn something!

Let's not loose focus in here... and then again at a blink of an eye he setup this lighting composition.



This is one of my favorite's setup from David's bag of tricks. Unfortunately I do not have a second white umbrella to try it. Here in Europe they are hard to find...

David ,if you are listening, we would need a little help getting them out here maybe a little string pulling at Midwest Photo Exchange guys would be more than appreciated.

The setup of Sara is a shot through 2 white umbrellas creating a clam shell and one silver umbrella for the background.



This creates such a wonderful light and you can get different light ratios on each of the umbrellas,in my opinion this system is even better than a BIG soft box where you will only have one light to control. Here you can also position yourself right in the middle to shoot while with a big soft box you will alway get in the way.

David is again showing his humorous side with Sara for a moment he looked like Dean Collins... (left, left, left, now a little right, right, right, down down, gorgeous, looking great).

Well and the time went by so quickly that was already time to pack.



At last minute I just catch David on is 1/1500th of a second trick... for a moment I almost missed it.

As some friends call me I'm the clicking guy :)

Time to head for the bar for another long time chat with all fellow photographers.

If David ever come to your town be sure not to miss him for nothing in this world.

Next day we get organized and made a 2 setup shooting with one model that Jon Senior had arranged for some of us that were available.

I manage to get some videos here are the links for the:

First Setup
Second Setup

This weekend (3rd November 2007) I'm organizing a Strobist meeting group in Brussels with 10 fellow photographers where we would be playing with 3 models and will be sharing this shortly with all of you.

If this turns out to be a successful meeting as I'm expecting then I will have to make some more maybe Germany, Holland or Italy... I'm up for suggestions people.

I'll keep you posted with some shots and videos from the setups.

Matters of the Umbrella (Brolly) size

Fellow photographer Jon Britt has started out a series of posts on his blog about his experiences with off camera flash and his Umbrella (Brolly) titled Photography and Design 101.

In fact this came into my attention because he mentioned, at the bottom, one article I wrote on the DIY: Westcott Umbrella Reinforcement if you haven't read it yet just click the link to check it out.

I also would like to point out that I'm a Portuguese photographer now living and working in Luxembourg and surroundings and not, as he mentioned, a British one. ;)

Anyway take a look at his article, he points out the use of the Umbrella as he clears out the Bigger doesn't necessary means means better.

Pay him a visit on his SmugSmug gallery for some more of his work.

Here is the link to Photography and Design 101 by Jon Britt. You can also find his link on the right side panel.

This wave of 101's and DIY started out when MR. David Hobby started the Strobist (off camera lighting with small strobes) last year when he begin to point people towards the use of their small strobes, off the camera, for better lighting as well as understanding how the position of the light can dramatically improve your photos even if you do not have studio quality equipment.

This was a good thing that arise... I remember old days when fellow photographers won't share their technical secrets in prowl of the community and sometimes you had to buy those expensive Pro Lighting books to get some setups and some guidance.

MR. David Hobby broken the rules (hey, but weren't rules meant to be broken in photography?) and started to point out some works he has done with his small Nikon strobes and while doing it, he also ended up showing the setups used to make that particular shot with a very good explanation how readers could accomplish that look also with almost no effort.

This was major step forward the breaking rules, nowadays people share their knowledge (including myself) with the photography community and the results are simply great and more new ideas are emerging from this.

I would like to thank you MR.David Hobby (MR with capital letters because this is one Master fellow in Lighting issues) for all the support and don't forget to check Strobist page for the latest on Lighting.

Another fellow that I also admire is Dean Collins, unfortunately he's not with us anymore but you can always check his lighting videos by ordering them at Software Cinema. If you don't have them already what are you waiting for to order? Very good stuff!!!

A new one as recently came out "Dean Collins On Lighting - Live at Brooks Institute of Photography" take a preview of what you'll get (Video). I already got mine and you?