Happy Expressions

As I was trying out my DIY soft box -- biggest of my DIY soft boxes as of now, I took time to make my daughters as my models. Though they didn't cooperate as much as I want them to but it I believe it turned out well. So, I just want to share their happy expressions during my short experimentation.

I really just love that I was able to capture these happy expressions.

Back To Water Drops

From my recent entry (Revisiting Water Drops), I have mentioned that I'd do my water drops again with my 50mm prime lens with the 580EX II flash. Tonight is the night that I went back to the water drops. An additional part of the experiment was to use wireless flash triggers. This would be a separate entry but to give you an introduction, in this way, the flash is not mounted on the camera's hot shoe slot but instead is placed somewhere else and triggered by wireless receivers.

So, my first task was to set the aperture and the flash output. At first, I went with a large aperture but I was having getting focused drops due to the thin DOF. I therefore ended up using f/8.0 with ISO 100, 1/200 sec shutter speed.

I'm really impressed how the prime was doing as I have a high success rate of getting whole drops of water. Without further due, here are some of the water drops I was able to get:

I call the first one as the "Magnifying Glass" and the second as the "Orb".

I have the rest of the set in here: Water Drop Project.

Water Drop Project

Flash Experiment

I had to do it - experiment with flash as I need to learn more how to use it properly but first let's take a look at the photo below and try to determine what kind of flash was used.

 

Have you figured it out? Oh well, it's just my built-in pop-up flash on my rebel. I was just trying out what will be the outcome if I tried to funnel the flash that's firing from the built-in pop-up flash and bounce it on a white surface.

I created for this experiment a rectangular funnel or pipe that would cover the built-in pop-up flash and direct all it's power on a white board and bounce it to have an effect of a bounced flash from a speedlite. In my opinion, I think the experiment turned out well. Too bad, the funnel would be to hard to use in reality as it does not fit properly on the built-in pop-up flash.

Anyway, I'm happy with the outcome. I guess I'll have to try to use it more.

Overly Drooling For A Speedlite

Most of the time when my family and I go to Las Pinas (LP), where I grew up, I would be lugging along my camera bag. Yesterday, we were off to LP to have some time with my parents, my older brother, who is in the country for a short vacation as he works abroad, and his family.

My older brother is also into photography as well as my neice -- my older brother's eldest daughter. By the way, my eldest daughter, who is only turning four this year is somewhat into photography too. I guess it's in the blood. Actually, my dad was also into photography in his earlier years and an uncle -- my father's brother, of mine too is into photography. They even once had a studio.

Anyway, to cut all the introductions, we were at my brother's house for dinner. As usual, my brother and I exchanged some conversation about photography until he let me borrow his speedlite. I don't know much about speedlites but I have been reading a lot about flash photography. With his speedlite on my camera, I clicked once, twice, and I said to myself, "Wow!". On my third click, I took a photo of my youngest daughter and I said to myself, "sluuurp!". I was mentally drooling over the photo I just took.

Take a look at the photo below! My pop-up flash can't deliver anything close to it. Kit lens + 580EX II = wOw!

Oh well, it's drooling time for the 580EX II.

Camera Itch Over, Ready for WPO!

At last, I finally was able to claim my camera from service and the DSLR camera itch is over. Well, my pocket needs some stitching as this service has costed me dearly! Oh well, I'm just glad to have it back and of course, I went a little trigger happy over the weekend and played with the flash.

I am just happy to have the camera back and have atleast the flash capability when I'll need it (though not the ideal configuration but atleast).

I'm more glad to have it since this coming weekend will be the start of the World Pyro Olympics over at Fort Open Grounds, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Here's an overview of the schedule:

Nov. 21 - Germany & China
Nov. 28 - Canada & Australia
Dec. 05 - Japan & Italy
Dec. 12 - South Korea & U.S.A.
Dec. 19 - Fellowship of Fire & Philippines' Exhibition

Pyro Olympics, here I go!!!

For more information, visit: http://www.worldpyroolympics.com

To Flash Or Not To Flash

I am a bit irked and not in the mood. I think my only flash broke down. Yes, the built-in flash seems broken. It is really irritating when things get broken. What else can I say, it's broken and I am irritated by it. It may not mean to some but it means a lot to me.

Damage to things is quite relative. It really varies from different people on how it affects their psych.

Oh well, I guess it will be just going to the service center I just don't know when, soon I hope.

I'm just stumped!!!

*** UPDATE: 2009-09-28 ***

Well, I brought my camera to Canon's Service center last Thursday and I am waiting anxiously on what really happened to the built-in flash, what caused it to happen, and how much it will cost me. I guess it's part of having such gadgets.

*** UPDATE: 2009-10-20 ***

Oh well, it's almost a month now since I turned in my camera for service for flash repairs and all I get from Canon's Customer Representative is that the parts aren't available yet as of last Thursday (2009-10-15). How much longer do I have to wait?