A reason to Drool for the rest of us

Now as previously blogged Photokina expo was this year and now over.

For a glimpse of what was there here is a video of what it was like and some of the stands there with an awesome soundtrack too. very fitting I thought.

For those that are interested all the images and footage was captured using my dream camera a Nikon D3S.

Whats the most important bit of Kit in Your bag?

What do you think?

Your Batteries and chargers?
Your Memory Cards?
Your Favourite Lens?
Your Camera?

Or perhaps your like me, and try to think outside the box from time to time?

Below is a video of Joe Mcnally reading an excerpt from his book and I have read this book also. The book is "The Moment It Clicks".

Now in this book he reveals a story (which is read in the video) which humbled me. As I believe it did him also. Sometimes as photographers we are too obsessed with the latest gadgets and toys for our cameras when really we need to look closer at ourselves to answer the question posed in the title of this post.

Watch the video and check to see his most important piece of equipment in HIS bag, is always present in yours also, I know I will.

Warehouse Express at Photokina 2010

Here in the UK one of my favourite Photography suppliers is Warehouse Express.

At Photokina Exhibition they meet up with Lastolite to show off some new ranges in their products.

These products are mainly all for strobists using speedlightes of any brand to soften and enhance quality of light.

Some great products and listen out for the Strip light Softbox range name at the end. Bet they thought long and hard about that one! NOT! LOL

Joe Mcnally - Empire State Building

Some of you may know I am a big fan of Joe Mcnally. His work with Nikon Speedlights and CLS is just awesome. In one of his books he shows an image he took (2 in fact) at the very top of the empire state building.

On assignment, he was tasked with shooting a piece for the National Geographic about "The Power Of Light" and putting his own twist on that thought, decided to shoot the guy who's job it was to change the right light at the top of the Empire state building.

A different slant on a simple shot of changing a lightbulb I think You will agree.

The image he shot is show below

I think you will agree this is a breathtaking image. Now this was not a simple matter of pop up take a shot and back down again, and thats a wrap. Several failed attempts meant that he had to persevere until he got the shot he wanted.

You can clearly see that there is not much higher he could have got before getting this shot.

I love this shot, just awesome!


Now while he was up there he did take advantage of the opportunity and he took a self portrait to end all self portraits. Not many people get the chance to be where he was right then. Given the choice, I think Id have wanted to do the same.

The image he took is shown below.

Below is a video of the making of these image. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

:)

BestilDitFoto

Just a quick note to tell you about a friend of mine over in Denmark.

He is running a website for Danish photographers.

You can host your images, order prints and get them delivered to your door for reasonable prices.

The printer type used is shown below.





Its a Canon IPF5100. This printer allows for large poster prints and at great quality

Check out the galleries and if you see any images you like, why not buy a print?

Check out https://www.bestilditfoto.dk/

Thanks

3D Animation Showcase

Some of you may know that I have an interest in 3D animation, particularly in Lightwave 3D. Here is

This is the winner of "Best Animation" from the Star Wars Fan Film Movie Challenge, sponsored by Lucasfilm. It was shown at Celebration V in Orlando Florida in circular polarized 3D. Here it is in 3D

You need red/cyan anaglyph glasses to see this properly.

Enjoy











For those of you without the glasses here it is in 2D

Awesome Animation using both Canon and Nikon cameras

This guy is awesome, he needs to get snapped up soon by a big effects house. This is both about animation and photography really so a double whammy!

Watch the video clip and see what you think?

Some very good animation and camera work.

enjoy

Transformers from repey815 on Vimeo.

Photokina Starts on Tuesday!

Loads of great people will be exhibiting or launching new products in Cologne Germany on Tuesday 21st September to the 26th September.

You can follow whats going on at the following link.

Check out PhotoKina

Im sending the Men in White Coats to Moore, Oklahoma RIGHT NOW!

Now as many who read this will know, I like Jimmy.

I call Jimmy a friend, he's a good friend too.

He helps me out all the time with photography techniques and even guides me in my personal life when things get tough.

Its fair to say I love the man (not in a gay way, just like a brother way).

You know sometimes you meet those friends you know you can talk about anything to, they will just listen , help you out......make it right.
These are the friends you would do anything for, right?

Well the time has come to push my friendship with Jimmy to its boundaries and maybe beyond.
Ive always said that there is a fine line between Genius and Insanity. ( For the record I've always been on the wrong side of that line)
It would appear Jimmy has crossed that line, from genius, to insanity. I shook his hand welcomed him to the club, gave him the free t-shirt and a complimentary "Anti Ear Chewing Device" for his own safety.

Sadly the time has now come that my actions need to be in the interest of the general public and their safety.

Jimmy is officially a couple of cans short of a six pack, NO WAIT! thats not fair, he possesses the full six pack but he's missing the little plastic doohickey that holds them all together.

After watching this weeks podcast I had to take action and have called the local funny farm nearest Moore, Oklahoma and requested they send one of their special jackets round to Jimmys house.
You know the ones? sleeves a little too long, does up at the back, more buckles on it than an Emo rock chick at glastonbury?

I think "loveable" no longer applies, I think "Dangerous" could be closer.

If there are any Supermarkets, Shopping Malls or whatever the hell you guys call them over there selling that evil stuff to my friend, please remove it from sale RIGHT NOW!

If you see this man......

DO NOT SELL HIM THAT PRODUCT!!!!

For those of you that may stumble across this blog and do not know Jimmy or have not seen his podcast, below I will embed this weeks episode.

I think you will agree he needs some professional help!?

Well after all is said and done I hope my getting you committed does not affect our friendship Jimmy, Im doing this for the safety of everyone, including you!
Peace Out BYE!


Episode 64 - 10 Random Tips & Double Brewed Triple Pow from James Beltz on Vimeo.

Tornado Photo, Weather Wallpaper – National Geographic Photo of the Day

Tornado Photo, Weather Wallpaper – National Geographic Photo of the Day

NEW NIKON KIT AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER!!!!

Amazon have begun taking orders for the new Nikon SB-700 FLash  ($329.95) and the D7000 camera body ($1,199.95)

Awesome new kit from Nikon.

Get your orders in!

Breaking News For Nikon Users!!!!!

Announcements any time now check out the info on Nikon Rumours

"The Really Really Random Photography Blog" - By BCphoto: Giving back...

"The Really Really Random Photography Blog" - By BCphoto: Giving back...: "Those that follow me, know that the whole podcast things is not only a way for me to give back, but it is a way for me to earn a living as w..."

Strobism at its best! (well almost lol)

These guys and girls take the strobist idea on the road, and show that you can make cool compelling images literally anywhere.

They are using high powered flashes in some cases running from a battery box, but often they are using small strobes.

The constant use of the big reflector defines the mood of their shots, soft light is always cool.

Bounce it baby!!!

Enjoy the video

What is a "Trash The Dress" AKA "Rock the Frock" Photoshoot?

I offer trash the dress shoots as one of my photo shoot packages and this often gets me asked "What on earth is that all about?"

Well here is an example of a wedding dress "Trash the Dress" aka "Rock the Frock" shoot.

This is not one of my videos, it IS however a UK photographers video.

This style of portrait shoot has recently gained popularity after taking the USA by storm.

But Why Trash the Dress?
Why? … Why not? You’ve made a commitment to your husband. He’s your one and only true love, right? Then you’ll never need the dress again. And no, your daughter won’t wear it in 20-30 years. So you have two choices:

1) Suffocate it in plastic and throw it in a closet
2) Show your husband how committed you are by trashing the dress, and get some great fun pictures while you do it!
So girls, dust off that wedding gown from the back of the closet, lets have some fun and make some amazing photos.

Contact me about this via my business website and enjoy the video

Fantasea Release underwater housing for Nikon Coolpix P7000

Read the full story at nikon rumours here

Nikon TTL pocket wizards still in testing.

It appears that Pocket wizard are still in the advanced testing stages of testing the Flex TT5 remote flash trigger system.

No release date has been posted but they are hopeful it will be out soon

Read the last update last month here

"The Really Really Random Photography Blog" - By BCphoto: Episode 63 - SMOKIN'!!!

Tutorial Podcast by Jimmy Beltz of BC Photo

"The Really Really Random Photography Blog" - By BCphoto: Episode 63 - SMOKIN'!!!: "This week we show you how to make some really cool pics of smoke, and we do it on a shoe string budget."

Creative block!

Every now and then I hit a wall, a creative block. I cant come up with any good ideas for photos, or those I have and execute I hate the outcome. A slump, if you will.

Well some of you may know that I recently changed my camera body to a Nikon D200.

This has given me a foldaway ladder to take with me when I hit that wall, a means to escape the wall and overcome. How? By offering me more options with my settings and flash.

Yep, this is the reason I've been bangin' on about CLS and such recently. Truth is, I was trying to create things in my head that my previous camera (A Nikon D60) was just unable to do.

My creativity has been set free once more.

The ability to play with high speed flash sync and fully utilise it with TTL wireless flash has given me lots of ideas to experiment with now.So much so I have begun making a list of the shots I want to try to create so I don't forget them.

I hope to post these when I've shot them on here.

Stay tuned everyone! and Don't forget the "Follow" button on the right hand side

Pocket Wizards Range

Here is a great video demostrating the huge ranges available on pocket wizard wireless flash triggers.

The range is much higher than that of the Nikon CLS system, but they still have not released a TTL compatible version of these new small ones that work with nikons.

They are in the works, and the firmware is nearing completion, but for now, us Nikonians need to wait a little longer.

Until such time as they are finished and I can afford the HUGE price tags, I will be pushing the CLS system to breaking point with my photo projects. watch this space

......OK, what will Nikon CLS do for me?

Well, to give a cool example of what this CLS system can be useful for I think I would be best advised to hand over to the master Nikon Lighting Guru - Joe McNally.

Joe McNally is regarded by many (including myself) as a master of the Nikon Speedlight system. Here he demonstrates how using TTL (Through The Lens) light metering on the flashes, they automatically adjust their power to the fading light in a real life assignment scenario.

Note that no cables are run from any of the flashes to the camera.

The metering is made by the camera, the information is passed to each of the flash units and they all fire at the correct power for the scene in a fraction of a second.

This is not unique to Nikon cameras and flashes by the way, Canon and all the other big names in Digital SLR cameras have this technology.

I am a Nikonian, I love the Nikon products, and in my humble opinion as an amateur strobist, Nikons CLS is just ahead of the game right now for ease of use and quality of user experience.

Enjoy the video.....

Why I LOVE Nikons CLS

I like Dom Bowers' videos, he is pretty down to earth and does some funny videos.

Ive Just begun to really understand all the intricacies of the Nikon CLS (Creative Lighting System)and this video prompted me to try some tests of my own.

Having recently gained the ability to wirelessly control all my flashes without needing an SB900 on my hot shoe on my Nikon D200, I have a series of new toys to discover.

For a demo of the range capability of this system watch Doms video below.

Enjoy

Sitting Fee Explained

Ok I have had a couple of emails from customers requesting clarification of my pricing. A particular point is the price of my sitting fee. Let me clarify how the whole deal works for you the client.

My standard sitting fee is currently priced at £25.00.

This price is for me to show up on the agreed time and date and shoot your pictures for up to 2hours (not 1 hour, 2!).

A deposit may be required to secure your chosen date. The deposit is £15

On the day of your shoot the remaining £10 is payable and your photos are made.

Now, heres the bit that people often don't understand........

After your first shoot is completed, any repeat bookings you make with me for further shoots you get a 25% discount on whatever my current sitting fee is at the time of booking.

This discount is valid FOR LIFE.

This discount isn't applied to your first shoot but is on any other shoots you book as an existing customer.

There is no paperwork for you to sign to get this discount, you just get your discount next time.

The only paperwork you sign is your Release and/or contract, but this is not for your discount purposes.

This same discount applies no matter what my sitting fee becomes in the future.

The more busy I become, the higher my prices may get. The higher my prices get THE MORE YOU SAVE!!!

COOL HUH?

So what are you waiting for? Head over to

http://www.andycomberphotography.com

and book a shoot right now via the "contact me" link.

Hope this explains my sitting fees to all who are unsure whether to book or not :)

A new blog is born!

Ok once again I feel the need to start a blog.

This time its gonna be about photography generally and other stuff thrown in too.

It may include random thoughts of not relevance to photography but thats how I roll.

I will be mentioning and sending links to my good friend Jimmy Beltz. A Pro photographer in Oklahoma, USA.

I listen to his podcast every week, I help moderate his forum and am currently working on an exciting project with him with another friend hopefully coming real soon.

I have no idea what will appear here over the coming months but I hope you will get something out of it.

Hope you enjoy the ride with me.