Review of the GamiLight Square 43...

I have had the pleasure of taking the soon to be available GamiLight for a test run and there is a lot to like about it.

Like the light weight, which has the duel benefit of the softbox not drifting down (off the flash), it also puts less weight/tension on the flash head (very important).



It could not fold any flatter, making it extremely portable.

I like how large it is, allowing it to throw a bigger, softer light than almost any small flash softbox out there. As an example of the light it throws I have included four images I shot of my daughters using a single Nikon flash and a GamiLight.



Along with the GamiLight Square 43 their lineup will include the BOX 21 (small softbox), the SPOT 3 (snoot), and the EVENT PRO & EVENT FUN (a bounce light).

They will begin rolling out the first week of April and should be concluded by the end of May (2011). Each of these light modifiers is designed to fold flat for portability and for quick and easy setup.




And though their website is not yet complete you can learn more about them and their products on their Facebook page, you can also email them directly regarding availability.

Check out more of our GamiLight review in the video below (subscribers head back to the blog or directly over to our YouTube channel to watch it).

Soldiers surprising their loved ones...

Here is part 1 of a "best of" series of soldiers surprising their families with their unexpected and unannounced homecomings (and you gotta love the dog being surprised too).

Be sure to checkout their website right here.

AND, get your tissues before you start watching.

Subscribers, be sure to return to the blog as you just don't want to miss this one.

One for the dogs...

A month ago fire destroyed the Boston home of Terisa Acevedo, she not only lost all her belongings, she lost her beloved dog, a long haired dachshund, Lola.

This past Monday (a full month after the fire) she to return to the burnt out remains of what was once her home and while standing there in the front she heard a noise, it was scratching on the plywood that covered a large hole that used to be her front door.

Terisa called out her dogs name and heard crying coming from behind the plywood, she ran up, pulled back the plywood and there was Lola!

Somehow this one year old dachshund had survived a month in the burnt-out house.

There was kissing and crying all around.

Though a bit skinnier Lola is fine and will make a full recovery.

Dog and owner are back together, too cool, huh?

Below is a news video of the story (subscribers will need to return to the blog to view it).

Contest images from our readers... Part 2...

Here are a few more images from our latest contest, some very good stuff.

It's easy to enter, all of the details here.

Just click on any of the images below to view larger and in a new window.

Contest images from our readers... Part 1...

The theme of our latest contest is "reflective" and our readers have taken it in directions I had not anticipated or expected, which proves (yet again) that our readers are waaaaaaay smarter than me.

;)

Below are a few of their images.

You can view these and more of the great photos from our readers over at the Weekly Photo Tips Flickr group. But don't just look at them, jump in and submit your images too!

The rules are pretty simple and you can get all of the details here. The contest ends March 31st so don't wait too long.

Just click on any of the images below to view larger and in a new window.

Quick, the Westcott 28" softbox is on sale!...

The Westcott Apollo 28" small strobe softbox (for Speedlights & Speedlites) is on sale AND comes with free shipping!

It's umbrella style design makes for quick opening and closing, easy set-up and takedown.

The double ribbed metal construction makes it very durable and the recessed front gives you great control for feathering your light.

The Westcott Apollo 28" softbox is a very well made, portable lighting tool, that's why we own four of them.

You can learn more about why we are such big fans of this softbox by reading our complete review (with additional info and images) here then head over and buy your own.

Neil van Niekerk is a fan of these as well and demonstrates the kind of light it throws (and the images you can get) with this post over at his blog.

Below is our video review, subscribers will need to return to the blog or head directly over to our YouTube channel to watch it.

If you are a dad...

The first time I saw the commercial below I thought "they get it" because it captures exactly what it's like for me (and I am sure other parents as well), I have 3 young ladies in high school but when I look at them I see my little girls in their jammies.

This is my reality:

This is real reality:

And if they see this post I am a dead man.

;)

You can come back to Weekly Photo Tips or head directly over to YouTube to watch it.