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Sharpen the tools
April 28th, 2009
On the Artist – Geek continuum I am closer to artisty-fartsy than I am to techno-nerd. My eyes gloss over when things get too technical. As a result, my weakness where this craft is concerned, is keeping my chops up and learning new skills. I’m big on vision and I talk ad nauseum about it, but craft matters and the sharper the tools of my craft the more equipped I am to serve that vision.
So when I saw that the Epson Print Academy was coming to Canada, I signed up for the Pro track and I’m pumped. There are two Canadian dates and they are: Toronto, March 21, so if you want to go, well, ya missed it. Vancouver, May 23rd. If you sign up in Vancouver and you want to get lunch together let me know, if we can get a handful of folks together I’ll reserve a table at Steamworks for lunch. More info – on the Print Academy, not lunch – HERE.
The other thing I’m doing to sharpen my tools is continue my study of light. Last year I really tucked in and began to study how light behaves, how it can be modified, and what that meant in terms of the aesthetics of the image. I made some forays into strobe and flash lighting, began to fiddle with Pocket Wizards more seriously. This year I am finally getting my act together. I’ve assembled a great location lighting kit, at the heart of which are 3 Canon Speedlights, 3 Pocket Wizard Flex TT5s and a MiniTT1. I’m going to be doing a couple little show and tell things in the coming month, but I want to say two things.
First, if you’ve not started to study light, you need to. It’s at the core of what we do and too many people neglect it. Took me 20 years to get to seriously studying it. That’s too long.There are some great books out there. Here’s a couple:
Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography
The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world’s top shooters (Voices That Matter)
The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes (Voices That Matter)
Second, the new Pocket Wizard system rocks. It is awesomeness x 1000 and I’ve double-checked the math on that. I can do wireless highspeed E-TTL flash. No more is the aesthetic of my image determined by the aperture required to get my shutter down under 1/200. And, the things I learn from Joe McNally’s teachings about flash, I can suddenly apply them in a way that makes sense to me. Being able to shoot at 1/6000 and f/1.2 and instantly adjust the flash EV compensation from right on the camera? Absolutely the most awesome thing ever. Some of you are rolling your eyes, but for me this is so awesome it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl and that ain’t pretty but it should give you some idea how excited I am. When the tools work right and just get out of the way, the work of being creative becomes so much more intuitive and the images get better. I love it when that happens. For more info go straight to the source and look them up HERE.
Two small things, steps to improve my craft in the direction that doesn’t normally come naturally to me. You gotta be proactive about your education in this craft. I suggest making sure you read a couple books, take a workshop, find a mentor. Got a piece of gear you don’t use ’cause it scares the heck out of you? Time to pick it up and play. Have a weakness when it comes to using a particular lens or technique? Time to slay that dragon and get on with making some great images.
What are you doing this year to sharpen the tools? Share it with us, it might just inspire someone to try something they hadn’t considered.
In Vancouver and want to sharpen your tools, leave a comment about that too, I’m thinking about starting a get-together for just such a thing. A loose collective of photographers who get together to play, experiment, sharpen the tools. Whaddya think?
As regular readers, I’m sure you fall into the mentor/teacher category for many of us.
This is where I’m jealous of Nikon. Being able to use the popup flash to control wireless units significantly lowers the cost barrier when starting out.
I think people should look to see if there is a Strobist meetup in their area. I just attended my first MN Strobist meeting last Sunday. I was overwhelmed. I have been playing with my one light, but these guys were sticking lights, gells, umbrellas, and snoots everywhere. Hanging from ceilings, down behind the model, through windows…. there is a lot to learn. People here were using older pocket wizards, cybersync’s, and cactus triggers with their camera’s and flashes on manual. It was fun, and tough to keep up, but I found someone that helped me a bit, and I’ll be back next month! (Search Strobist in flickr for a group in your area)
I’m totally jealous of your new gadgets!!!:) Do post some stuff once you’re done playing around with them.:)
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Thanks for the post and links. I have been meaning to get one of those books to study from the masters.
Thanks
Rob
I had a good laugh when I read your comment about being artsy-fartsy rather than techno-nerd. This totally describes my approach to the craft of photography as well. I am ALL about vision. My sofobomo project is called “tunnel vision”. A lofty goal in technical terms which is giving me no end of grief and angst. Still, the vision is there and I will follow through regardless of my techno skill level. Drop over and take a peek at some of my attempts at tunnel vision photos.
http://retiredeagle.wordpress.com/
Sad to say I can’t join you in Vancouver. I am busy with basement renovations when not golfing, capturing photos or working on my blog.
Robert
I was disappointed with the Epson Print Academy Track 2. There was far too much time spent on product hyping and not enough on the actual print process. Once again, it is a matter of personal practice.
I spent a lot of time last year studying light, but I find that I’m still using speedlights only when I have to instead of using them to be creative and to aid my vision. I need to work on that.
I am half way through Joe’s “Hot Shoe Diary’s”. Joe is very entertaining while using lay-mans terms to describe his shoots. There has been a lot of “ooooh’s” and “ahhhhh’s” while I read his book. It’s very eye opening to the world of flash.
Step one for me will be getting a Speedlight. Maybe 600? Does anybody still use a sync cord these days? Heh, just ’cause I don’t like reflections on glasses I often get when using the pop-up as commander (with flash stolen from friends). I suppose the books will talk about it…
David, which book would you recommend an absolute novice like me should start with?
@Joe – The best I can suggest is that you head over to the Strobist site and read up there – there’s so much good content that it would be a good place to start. I only know the Canon gear and while I’d suggest you begin with McNally’s books you might just need a little time to read up on the Strobist and play with your new gear. But in the end both of McNally’s books are absolutely fantastic!
Hi David, I’m game to meet up for lunch on May 23 and I am definitely in for the loose collective on tools. Face time would be a great compliment to the Forum and your Blog
S.
Hey David,
I’m always up for getting together and talking photography. I’m available to drive up most weekends. Let me know.
Mark Olwick
my pentax doesn’t allow me to have P-TTL grouping nor does any radio trigger…for me it is very much tripping the trigger….running to adjust the light…running back…and so on & so forth….atleast it is keeping me fit
looking forward to some photos using strobes
I’m definitely in on both counts Dave!
cheers, Craig
I’ve been on the studying light thing for about a year now, and I’ve certainly seen some better pictures out of it (my wife agrees!). Books, Strobist, and focusing a bit more on composition and even vision have helped with that as well.
Nothing better than looking at someone else’s photo though and saying “I want to have shot that” – or want to shoot something that way, and then figure out how to do it.
I’ve had the miniTT1 on order for a few months now, still waiting, but yeah, getting rid of the ratio thing will certainly HELP – though learning how to do it manually will definitely pay off in the long run – ettl will help me with outdoor high-speed stuff and just to make the whole business of camera to flash faster.
I wish I had a gear group too – maybe we should start a vision collective meetup section in the forums, I’ve lost all my photo friends since moving from Toronto to Ottawa and need to reconnect somehow.
Count me in for lunch
Brian
Hi David, you have chosen the same target for this year as I did. Play Einstein and control the light.
Look forward to read about your progress here on your blog.
Cheers Matthias