Cheryl

I’m looking at umbrellas, but have not yet gotten one. So, for now, it’s the reflector for me.

Jessica

One light. That’s all that this shot has. And zero ambient because I have the shutter up to 1/250 (and that’s too fast too, you can see the shutter there on the bottom.

But it’s a shoot through umbrella that I bought about 1.5 years ago and then never managed to use because I didn’t have the correct clamp to put on the lightstand that I bought with it. Then, a few weeks later, I switched to Canon and lost all my ability to use off-camera flash. That was until I recently sat down to figure out the whole radio-controlled systems. And I’m so glad I did.

This umbrella light is amazing! It’s like having the biggest most gorgeous window available at whim. Anywhere in my house! I’m so in love with it! The only problem is that I bought a HUGE one by accident! It barely fits in my living room.

Cheryl

Jessica

A busy day and a change-of-course kept me away from the camera. I managed to grab a shot of the late afternoon light bouncing around my living room. That’s all for the day.

Cheryl

Jessica

Cheryl

Jessica

I know, I know. Selective color. Yuck! But it was an assignment for a group that I joined on G+ (256 Shades of Grey) in order to improve my black and white work. And this was the third assignment they gave us. ; )

Cheryl

Jessica

My mac began to die in late June. So, deciding to be cheap, I went the hackintosh route. My son was suppose to help me. He put the hardware together and then left for college. Hmm, some help!

I had quite a few technical difficulties and set backs and for most of the fall, the computer sat there repurposed as a Linux machine so that I could at least use it!

But today, I was finally able to install the Mac OS, and then install photoshop. Oh photoshop! How I have missed you!

Cheryl

Bridget agreed to sit for me, so I could give my new reflector (and some of my new knowledge) a go. I took about 20 shots. It’s always the first or the last that’s the one, isn’t it?

Jessica

One flash, about two feet in front of him and off to camera left just a tad — with a Gary Fong diffuser. I have a behind-the-scene shot that I will try to get up. (Ignore the botched border!)

Cheryl

I got a new flash for Christmas, but I never did much with my previous one. In fact, I’ve sort of avoided having much to do with it. While I was tempted to return the flash, I decided to take on the challenge of learning to use it well.

Jessica

Having neither a real plant or nice light, I decided to make my own. I finally got the second part of my Christmas gift and so I now have two off-camera flashes that I can use. In this picture the one on camera right is going through a small softbox and the one on camera left is going through a construction paper snoot. It’s all trial and error.