Joe McNally - part 2 of "Controlling color"...

Today is part two of "Controlling color" from Joe McNally.

3 days, 3 videos from Joe McNally...

For the next three days I will be posting lighting videos Joe McNally did for Nikon School.

Yes Joe shoots with Nikon but please don't let dissuade you from watching, because it doesn't matter if you use Nikon, Canon, or candle light, light is light and when Joe takes the time to show us something it is not a Nikon moment, it's a learning moment.

Today is part one of "Controlling color".

See you tomorrow for part 2.

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

A vey Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

It is our sincere hope that you are surrounded by those most important in your life and that you feel truly loved.

Kevin Kubota holiday giveaway's...

Every day from now until January 1, 2010 Kevin Kubota is giving away some really cool (and really valuable) stuff.

The gift bag includes the Kubota Pro Pak with Dashboard, a Kubota formula book, Kevin Kubota's "Digital Photography Bootcamp" book, and "The Fast Track Photographer" from Dane Sanders.

All together worth $690.

Follow this link to sign up and good luck!

Joe McNally is insane...

This is probably the most amazing photo shoot I have ever seen and absolutely proves that Joe McNally is either the bravest or the craziest man I know.

Maybe a little of both.

;)

Enjoy the following video.

Chase Jarvis: The Portrait Sessions Vol. 1...

"Chase Jarvis: The Portrait Sessions Vol. 1" ($21.95) are the second set of cards released by Trade Secret Cards, the first set was "Strobist Favorites" ($19.95) and you can read our review here.

All the things we liked about the first set of cards remains unchanged:

1. You'll get 22 cards with a phenomenal image on one side and a lighting diagram, tips, and insight on the other.

2. The cards are printed on UV protected thick stock so they are durable and will stand up well to being carried in your pocket or your camera bag from one shoot to another.

3. Shipping is inexpensive, only 99 cents flat shipping fee (regardless of how many sets you buy).

4. Shipping is fast.

5. Customer service is outstanding.

The only difference between this set and the first is the content that is covered.

The first set of cards leaned towards portraiture and product shots, the latest set is more about fine art and commercial photography.

What I like best about these cards is that they are a great learning tool, as you recreate a scenario from one of the cards it really makes you think "I wonder if I..." or "If I moved this light here and..." your creative juices start to flow and you end up with a vision that is all your own.

You really can't go wrong buying either set of these cards, they are well thought out, well made learning tools.

Their name may be "Trade Secret" but they are not dong a very good job keeping that secret, and we as photographers are better off because of it.

This makes me squeal like a little girl...

There is a new and FREE lighting diagram creator application for the iPhone and the iPod Touch called Strobox that has me pretty darn excited, but then at my age it doesn't take much.

;)

It is a great tool for jotting down your lighting setup when you are on location or in the studio.

There are a couple things I wish it would do, like edit saved diagrams or make a diagram that is larger than the existing screen (it's not scrollable) but it really doesn't bother me that I can't do these things and I doubt it will bother you.

Don't tell the developers but this is an app I would have been happy to pay for.

This really is a handy dandy tool and you should rush right over to the App Store and download Strobox now!