Focus On Imaging & Pocket Wizards

Sunday was the first day of Focus On Imaging, 'Europe's biggest annual imaging show' and I went, as I do every year, together with two friends. As always the show was interesting and I came away having learnt new things and having wished I had a bottomless pit of money to buy the things I wanted!

I went to the show with the intention of checking out scanners as I have a Hasselblad 503, so want to scan 120 roll film (I can't afford a digital back). I also want to be able to scan up to 5x4, as one of my projects is building my own view camera - more on that in another post, when I finally get round to making it.... Anyway, on the long drive to the show, I thought long and hard about what I wanted and the priorities and I decided not to pursue the scanner at this time.

I have cheap remote triggers for my flashguns bought from eBay. Although they are reliable in the studio, they do not have the range I require for location work and, as I am giving up the studio, so all my work will be on location, I decided that it was more important to have reliable remote triggers!

I had already looked at the available options and I believe the Pocket Wizard is currently the most likely to suit my requirements. At the show I looked for the best price, but was disappointed to find that very few exhibitors had them in stock and that there were no deals to be had at the show. So yesterday I searched eBay - you can usually get what you want there - and I now have a pair of Pocket Wizard Plus II's on their way to me. I'm waiting impatiently for them to arrive and I'm looking forward to trying them out!

Once I have tried them out, I'll let you know what I think of them. Unfortunately, I can only afford one pair at the moment, but if I'm happy with the results, I will be saving for another pair!

Strobist

Hey, any of you out there that are into photography, go and check out Strobist...

I currently have a studio that I share with some friends, but it's too expensive to run.  Our photography is a hobby not a business, so we're going to have to give it up.  From what I've learnt already at Strobist, I won't miss the studio, but will make the best use of wherever I am instead of being tied to a specific location.

Strobist discusses and teaches how to get studio quality images using flash guns designed to be fitted to the top of your camera, but using them remote from the camera....

It is a great site and I can thoroughly recommend it! I keep going back to it and I learn something new each time I do!

Sunset Over The Bush

This was taken on the 1st January 2008, looking across the bush opposite my niece's house in Port Kennedy, Western Australia - a great place to visit!