Camera Raw 5.4 RC Available on Adobe Labs

Adobe has recently released a Release Candidate for their new Camera Raw.

As always this brings a lot of new cameras to the set and if you are using the Hasselblad series or the new Nikon D5000 this is a major for you.

Although this is only a Release Candidate but is very functional and the Hasselblad possibilities just rocks.

Check the ful article for the full list of new supported cameras.

The Camera Raw 5.4 Release Candidate is now available on Adobe Labs. The release includes new camera support for the following models:

* Canon EOS 500D (EOS Rebel T1i)
* Epson R-D1x
* Hasselblad CF-22
* Hasselblad CF-22MS
* Hasselblad CF-39
* Hasselblad CF-39MS
* Hasselblad CFH-22
* Hasselblad CFH-39
* Hasselblad CFV503
* Hasselblad CWD
* Hasselblad H2D-22
* Hasselblad H2D-39
* Hasselblad H3D-22
* Hasselblad H3D-31
* Hasselblad H3D-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-22
* Hasselblad H3DII-31
* Hasselblad H3DII-39
* Hasselblad H3DII-39MS
* Hasselblad H3DII-50
* Kodak EasyShare Z980
* Nikon D5000
* Olympus E-450
* Olympus E-620
* Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
* Sigma DP2

This release also includes new DNG Compatibility conversion options. These choices are explained on the Adobe Labs web site and help address the additional options available with an upcoming revision of the DNG Specification.

If you have feedback on this release please post a descriptive topic on the Adobe User to User forums.

DIY: Ball Bungee

It's been a while since I did not posted any news here on the blog but the boat has started to put some water and the holes need to be closed. Since there are so many holes to close it's taking a little bit longer to maintain Lighting Mods at full speed but I hope that soon it will be at full speed again.

I would like to thank you all for the kind words that has been arriving through the sooo many emails and for the numerous requests for some more DIY projects.

While you wait for more new stuff take a moment to go through the right side menus and check the other stuff, you may find something useful in there for your small strobes and maybe it could even help you out at some point.

THANK YOU readers for hanging out.

A lot of people been asking me where to get the Ball Bungees because not every corner have them available.

I decided that it was time to put out this inexpensive Do It Yourself (DIY) Ball Bungee project. I name it Ball Bungee as title for today's article, just as a reference, but the real name I call them is NUT BUNGEE.

Sounds a little like what I feel sometimes... but it fits it's purposes and that's what matters.

Let's begin by explaining what are these Ball Bungees and what they are useful for.

They are loops of a thin elastic rope whose nodes ends on a plastic ball. With this Ball Bugees you can, not only stretch tight schedule, but they are simply a versatile tool to fix things together. I use it for a lot of different purposes and one of them is secure the umbrella to the light stand for a much easier way to carry them both.



Unfortunately, buying these loops are not offered in Portugal like in so many other countries. So I decided to create a simple, but with lot's of images, DIY project so you can create yours in a blink of an eye.


First you need to move your body to a hardware store near you and search for these next items:



Elastic rope with 4mm or 6mm. I do prefer the 4mm and let you know why later on, but you can always make these with any thickness and color you like.

Next we go NUTS!!!!!



Thickness M8 or a M10 size nut depending on the thickness of the elastic rope you have chosen for your project.



I also bought some M12 just in case the 6mm elastic rope would not fit inside the M10.



So let's take a closer look at what you really need:


- Elastic rope about 1 meter or more, depending how many you would like to make.
- Nuts M8 or larger, depending on the thickness of the rubber rope.
- Scissors.
- Lighter.
- Ruler or Metric Tape.




These are 2 different Original Ball Bungees with different sizes to tight different things.


Now that we have what we need let's begin...



I'm cutting the 6mm Elastic Rope with a 40cm long to produce a 20cm Nut Bungee, so if you need to make a longer one just cut it more, simple as that.



Now you understand why the lighter ;) So in order for the tips would not come apart is better to burn them a little so that the elastic would not unweave itself.



Here it is burned but not toasted.



Now let's grab the 6mm Elastic Rope and put the both ends through the tiny Nut hole with the help of the scissors (this sounds like weird but it's not... hole, nuts, nut, hole... well simple), let's move on.



UFFFF!!!! DONE!!! The 6mm is very thick and difficult to tight the not so that's why I prefer the 4mm Elastic Rope. They also make the job done and for the small strobes are perfect unless you are trying to tighten together heavy stuff.



This is what it should look like in the end.



This is something I was searching through the shells and found interesting so I bought it to test if was really cool. And in the end it does :)

What is it, you may ask?

It's a cover for the 10M Nuts with this you can cover your Nuts (uppsss!!) your Screws, well not that a... hum!! well this writing is a different lead. STOP STOP STOP REWIND!!!!!

So, as I was saying this is a cover to conceal the Nuts and this way they would not be banging on your stuff while in the bag. Unfortunately I only saw for the M10 Nuts, maybe they will have it somewhere else. Anyway I will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.



This is the box where they came in.



See what I mean? To cover the Nuts, just that :)



Since they do not have a hole in the back end one need to be made.



So grab the scissors and make a nice hole that corresponds the size of the Elastic Rope thickness you have.



This is what it should look like in the end.



Put it through the Elastic Rope right before you put the Nut.



Then make a loop knot at the end and you have your Nut Bungee ready to use.



That's it. I also made a bigger ones with the small Elastic Rope just in case I need them bigger than my originals.



An example of what you can use them for.



Another example of what you can use them for.



You can even use them to hold your strobes either together or against something. Just use your imagination.

If you prefer you can always get original ones at FlashGels in the U.K. Just tell them you are coming from Lighting Mods for a discount ;)

Hope you enjoy this DIY and see you again soon.

Lighting Mods - WSPT09 ABERTAS INSCRIÇÕES

JÁ ESTÃO ABERTAS AS INCRIÇÕES.

WORKSHOPS PARA MAIO 2009 (Zona de Lisboa).

Nivel 1 - Iniciado – 21 de Maio de 2009 (Quinta Feira) 19h30-22h30
Nivel 2 - Intermédio – 24 de Maio de 2009 (Domingo) 10h00-13h00 / 14h00-18h00

Os conteudos e valores encontram-se disponiveis em Português para Portugueses nos seguintes links;)

Nivel 1 - Iniciado (Download pdf)
(3 Horas – Max. 10 pessoas)

Esta formação está direccionada para quem deseja adquirir conhecimentos básicos de fotografia com Flashes Portateis mesmo sem noções de iluminação com os mesmos.

- Noções de Flashes Portateis e suas utilidades quer seja na camera ou fora dela.

- Equipamentos e acessórios para Flashes Portateis:
a) Que Flashes Portateis podemos usar e como.
b) Conceitos de ligações do flash com a camera.
c) Como montar o seu equipamento de flash portatil.
d) Modificadores da luz para o flash.
e) Outros Acessorios; Como fazer “DIY” os seus ou Onde comprar.

- Noções de iluminação com Flashes Portateis:
a) Diferentes tipos de luz e iluminacões possiveis.
b) Noções das diversas aplicações práticas.

- Exemplos, com visionamento e explicação de imagens, de diferentes iluminações com Flashes Portateis:
a) Diferenças entre a luz produzida pelo flash na camera e fora dela.
b) Luz Cruzada (1 Flash Portatil cruzado com outra fonte de luz).
c) Sombrinha com um Flash Portatil.
d) Utilização de alguns acessórios complementares, Snoot e Grid, para modificação e controlo da luz.
- Perguntas, Respostas e Esclarecimento de Dúvidas.

Valor do Workshop Iniciado: 60,00€

Nivel 2 - Intermédio (Download pdf)
(6 Horas – Máx. 9 Pessoas)

Esta formação está direccionada para quem deseja aprofundar os seus conhecimentos de fotografia com Flashes Portateis e que já possua algumas noções de iluminação com os mesmos.

- Identificação de Flashes Portateis e acessórios:
a) Equipamento.
b) Ligações do Flash com a camera.
c) Acessorios.

- Como controlar e dominar o Flash Portatil:
a) Relação entre Potencias/Flash/Abertura/Velocidades.
b) Uso Manual do Zoom do Flash Portatil.
c) Sincronismo do Flash Portatil com a camera, diferentes maneiras e técnicas de o superar.
d) Abordagem aos Modos do flash portátil.
e) Posicionamento do flash em relação ao assunto e sua influência directa.

- Uso prático do flash na Iluminação com Flashes Portateis:
a) Conceitos de diferentes tipos de luz e iluminações possiveis.
b) Como controlar o Flash Portátil com a luz ambiente.
c) Distancias Vs Tipo Vs Tamanho da Luz.
d) Tipos de luz (Luz Dura, Luz Suave e Luz Reflectida).
e) Tipos de Restrições de Luz.

- Diversos Exemplos de como identificar e superar as dificuldades mais comuns no uso dos flashes portateis.

- Prática de iluminação com exemplos de alguns setups:
a) Como utilizar correctamente a Luz Cruzada (1 flash portatil cruzado com uma ou várias fontes de luz).
b) Utilização correcta da Sombrinhas com o flash portatil.
c) Utilização de acessorios complementares para modificação e controlo da luz do flash portatil.
d) Balancear luz com paredes e tecto.
e) Manuseamento e Utilização da Luz Dura.
f) Utilização de Gel de correção de temperatura no flash para corrigir a luz ambiente e/ou balanço de brancos e criar ambientes.

- Perguntas, Respostas e esclarecimento de Dúvidas

Valor do Workshop Intermédio: 125,00€

Nivel 3 - Avançado I (Download pdf)
(8 Horas – Min. 6 - Máx. 9 Pessoas)

Breve apresentação do equipamento de Flash Portatil e algumas duvidas existentes quanto ao mesmo.

As aulas praticas terão a presença de modelos, maquilhagem e styling para que haja uma dinâmica em cada uma das fotos produzidas.
Depois dos setups mencionados será criado um conceito “Projecto” que os alunos terão que resolver em 20 minutos de forma sincronizada e em equipa.

Manha – 09h00 – 13h00
- Setup com uma fonte de luz (Luz Suave sombrinha).
- Setup com duas fontes de luz (Luz Cruzada).

Tarde – 13h30 – 17h30
- Setup Luz dura ou directa no assunto.
- Setup com luz controlada (Snoots, Gobos e Grids).
17h30 – 18h30
- Projecto.
- Análise do trabalho produzido.
- Perguntas e Respostas

As incrições para os módulos avançados só podem ser efectuadas após frequência do módulo Intermédio.

Valor do Workshop Avançado I: 150,00€

Nivel 4 - Avançado II (Download pdf)
(8 Horas – Min. 6 - Máx. 9 Pessoas)

Breve apresentação do equipamento de Flash Portatil e algumas duvidas existentes quanto ao mesmo.

As aulas praticas terão a presença de modelos, maquilhagem e styling para que haja uma dinâmica em cada uma das fotos produzidas.
Depois dos setups mencionados será criado um conceito que os alunos terão que resolver em 20 minutos de forma sincronizada e em equipa.

Manha – 09h00 – 13h00
- Setup com Posicao/ Angulo / Distancia / Tamanho.
- Setup com uso de Gelatinas.

Tarde – 13h30 – 17h30
- Setup com várias fontes de luz e modeladores.
- Setup fotografia de grupo.

17h30 – 18h30
- Projecto.
- Análise do trabalho produzido.
- Perguntas e Respostas

As incrições para os módulos avançados só podem ser efectuadas após frequência do módulo Intermédio.

Valor do Workshop Avançado II: 150,00€

FICHA DE INSCRIÇÃO

Os workshops são ministrados e acompanhados pelos fotografos profissionais Rui M Leal e Carlos Rodrigues.

Mais informações através do email wsflashportatil@gmail.com

Videos Brussels & Paris
Brussels part 1
Brussels part 2
--//--
Paris part 1
Paris part 2

Grupos de Conversação disponiveis no Flickr:

Lighting Mods WS PT
Strobist Portugal

Adiciona-te.

Tip: Don't Loose Your Focus!!

How many times lack of focus and not knowing what to do next will block your mind from doing what you really like?

Today I just wanted to share with you this wonderful video as part of your growing photographer experience. Not that the video has anything to do with photography, on the contrary it has a lot of human reactions to what may not seem too obvious.

Many times, on my assignments, I lack inspiration to create better images than my previous ones. Maybe because I'm always pushing my cyclops eye into the unknown or even worst letting others judge the work I do causing some lost of focus and objectivity.

Sometimes we are so influenced by what others judge on our work that we do not give it credit, maybe we could not accomplish some objectives just by thinking we are older, shorter, thinner or maybe even fatter.

Come on people... put your head up and keep your track and everything will come it's way.

Just as an example of what I'm trying to put through this Tip is on the video bellow where Susan Boyle gives a demonstration of how appearances may not lead into a dreadful end.



Although this video does not have any technical or photographic content I was so impressed with it that I decided to share it with you. Think of it as a positive thinking for your photography breakdowns.

Believe in Yourself!!!!!

Lighting Mods - Workshops PT 2009 SOON-BREVEMENTE

Lighting Mods - Workshops 2009

Will be Available, SOON, the calendar and contents in Portuguese by and for Portuguese ;)

Level 1 - Basic
Level 2 - Intermediate
Level 3 - Advanced Lighting 101
Level 4 - Advanced Lighting 102

For the moment for more information's please contact me directly.

Thank you

Rui M Leal

--//--

Estarão, BREVEMENTE, publicados aqui o calendário dos Workshops para 2009 e os respectivos conteudos disponiveis em Português para Portugueses ;)

Nivel 1 - Iniciado
Nivel 2 - Intermédio
Nivel 3 - Avançado Lighting 101
Nivel 4 - Avançado Lighting 102

De momento para mais informações e inscrições contactem-me directamente.

Rui M Leal

Videos Brussels & Paris

Brussels part 1
Brussels part 2

Paris part 1
Paris part 2

Grupos de Conversação disponiveis no Flickr:

Lighting Mods WS PT
Strobist Portugal

Adiciona-te