My DIY Beauty dish! Total Cost $15 bucks!

Learned through a variety of posts. This is my version. Why Spend $100 to $275 bucks for a cheap piece of plastic to manipulate light?

Items can be purchases from Home Depot with exception to the CD spindle which can be found off any roomies desk. (Just don't leave the CD's falling all over his desk)

Items to buy:
Plastic Pot - $3
Black and white spray paint - $2
CD spindle - free
blue electrical square housing $2
Black tape $4
2 washers, Nut & a bolt $.75
white fabric from Joanns less than a yard $2

Total cost should be no more than $15, any more and you're doing something wrong

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Photo Jam Fun at UW parking lot

Great successful 1st Photo Jam @ UW parking lot C5.


It was hectic and we had so much equipment out that day. It was very fun, bumped up the music and turned it into a free for all photoshoot.



Click on the photos to view more great photos from that day.
Thanks to truong @ www.phophotos.com for bringing out all of his equipment! He's a passionate photographer and takes amazing photos.



These were taken with my ABR800 and Canon 7D. The quality of light on here is surreal!


Ni's yoiunger brother Vinh. This kid has incredible athletic abilities. He's got mad hops!



And Trina. The camera loves this girl!

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Event Photography for Exports Live at the WSTC in Seattle

This photo was taken of the Chairman of Exports Live a Government Agency that helps US companies learn and develop their business internationally. It was an impromtu photo using a black curtain as a backdrop. I had my canon 7d 580ex m2 flash on camera, eneloop batteries, and 70-200 f4 lens. Instead of direct flash, which I happen to hate dearly, I bounced off of the ceiling 25 ft high and got great top down lighting.

Click on the photo for more photos from this event.

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Glamour Shots is Hard work!!

Working with tight quarters, small strobes, an assistant, and 1 model.

Equipment:
Umberella softbox.
Shoot through umbrellas
1 Canon 580ex Mii
1 Nikon SB-25
Alien Bees cybersyncs
1 voice activated boom - (AKA Scott)

We shot for almost 2 hours. Before going into this there were already challenges with small spaces. My Canon 17-55 2.8 Is lens saved my life with its wide angle capabilities and super sharpness! We had to rearrange a few small pieces of furniture but nothing major. Of course we put it back where it started, cant be a slob.

We lucked out with the bright red couch that turned out to be a great backdrop. Got some pretty amazing shots, that we were both proud of.

My take away from this is to come prepared with poses and lighting styles on paper or from magazines, go through them one by one and it speeds up the shoot with little guessing.

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Photoshop Photo Hunt

Great Example of natural Photoshop retouching. See if you can find all of the subtle differences.

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DIY Light Box Explained

My project for the Vapor Pro Product shot was an adventure into Do-it-yourself ingenuity, stolen, I mean borrowed from the legendary David Hobby (King of cheap and lighting genius).

So instead of buying online on ebay or Adorama a light box that was 30 bucks or more and then have to wait for the shipping on it. I decided to build my own box out of

• Cardboard
• white construction paper
• and foil

Total cost $0

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DIY Lightbox Project

I'll have some photos of my Do it Yourself Lightbox soon..

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Great Article on the Genius Paul C Buff - Alien Bees and White Lightning

Alien Bees Head Qaurters

Great tour on Alien Bees headquarters.

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Schnaitman Wedding Shot on Sept 26, 2009

Dustin and Kim are good friends of mine. Dustin is actually my coworker and I was more than happy to be able to shoot his wedding.

I actually shot this wedding back on Sept. 26, 2009 but didnt post it up until now.  Interesting day, it started off bright and cloudy which wreaked havoc on my exposure, then it was slear and sunny which caused squinty eyes and harsh shadow.

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Test Shots with the Canon 7D, Canon 50mm f1.4, Alien Bees AB800, and 64" PLM

My photo buddy Truong and I were out at Alki on a cold chilly day in Seattle.  He was kind enough to let me try out his Alien Bees toys.



With no model, I forced the girlfriend to be a stand in model, and she was a trooper for enduring 4hrs of setups and shots.





We were out at Alki (Seattle's premiere in city beach)







The setup was very portable, including the Alien Bees Vagabond battery pack which can feel like a ton after hours of shooting.  We also used a nikon SB-25 for additional fill light and back light. and the results were great!

Here are some of the  results.







More at www.mademediaphotography.com

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Headshot In Seattle Under the Viaduct

I had a headshot today with a new client by the pier area. We were expecting some heavy rain so I used the viaduct as cover.  Turns out the weather was windy but the sun decided to poke its head out.

The pictures turned out great but the wind did drop one of my umbrella softboxes and bent the spines.  Lucky for me the SB-25 survived unscathed.

I used the my Canon 7D, with 2 Strobe flashes, softbox umbrella, white shoot through umbrella, 85MM 1.8 lens, my voice activated boom Mai, and 2 light stands.

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Made Media Portfolio Work

Visit my new Gallery Site at www.mademediaphotography.com

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