Steelevisions Blog

Irish camera gear maker Hahnel asked me to test their new Tuff TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Canon DSLR’s (a Nikon version is “coming soon.”)  I’m happy to report that it’s a solid entry into the mid-range flash trigger marketplace.

The Tuff fills a gap between the low-priced, dependable, sync-only triggers (Yongnuo, Cactus, Strato, etc,. as seen in my off-camera flash photography course), and the high-end TTL triggers (Phottix Odin, PocketWizard Flex) that provide through-the-lens metered control of multiple remote flash groups. (more…)

Michael Zelbel

Today I’m pleased to present the first guest post ever on this blog, by one of my favorite photography teachers, Michael Zelbel, author of the bestselling ebook The Art of Boudoir Photography with Speedlites. If you’ve ever seen his videos, you know Michael is a colorful character full of passion for his subject. To get the full effect of his personality, you should read the following with an enthusiastic and slightly zany German accent. — Phil

* * *
Hello! For many beauty photographers who are just starting out on this awesome artistic journey, introducing variety to their pictures can be a daunting task. A limited skill set and a shoestring budget can be legitimate obstacles to expanding your creative horizons.

Now, usually I tell you how to shoot some beautiful images using only a few bare necessities: essential lighting gear, a camera, some kind of interior space, and your imagination.

However, there is another great option you should look into—putting together excellent home-made alternatives for costly and fancy equipment!

The Bubblewrap Filter - Vintage Holga meets modern soft focus?

Today I want to tell you how to manufacture a bubblewrap filter for your lens that would put McGuyver himself to shame! So if you’re interested, read on…

(more…)

How many great photos have you missed because you weren’t quick enough laying your hands on a camera?

Almost Missed It

If you’re like me, it’s probably hundreds or thousands of missed opportunities, especially if you have kids or pets that tend to do photogenic things at unpredictable times.

But at least now I end up smacking my forehead in regret far less often than I used to. Below, I’ll tell you how I changed my habits, but first, this morning’s story is a classic example. (more…)

By Robert Baker - Click to enlarge

Here’s a bit of inspiration for those of you hoping to launch a career in photography.

Robert Baker was one of the first buyers of my off-camera-flash portrait course. At the time, he wrote me to say, “I got a TON more out of these videos than I thought I would!”

Well he wasn’t kidding. Apparently Robert learns fast, because soon he was posting photos on his website that looked like the work of a seasoned professional.

All of the photos on this page were lit with small flashes using the principles taught in my course. And frankly, many of them look as good as or better than anything I’ve ever shot. (more…)

Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens for iPhone 4

I love the iPhone, both as a smart phone and as a pocket camera, but all too often I find myself cursing the camera’s narrow field of view.

It’s especially troubling when you’re in a tight space and you just can’t get far enough away to frame your subject, or when you have a vast subject that really deserves a wide angle lens. At times like this, you really miss your DSLR.

Well, a clever company named Olloclip has just given us one more reason to leave the heavy DSLR at home, with their Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens for the iPhone 4 and 4S. (more…)

Point Loma Sunrise (click to enlarge)

This morning I woke up to a sight I’ve never seen before: the sun sparkling from windows on Point Loma, on the far side San Diego Bay, reflecting a fiery shimmer across the water.

Still half-asleep, I grabbed the nearest camera and my 70-200 f/4 L lens, snapped a shot, and went back to sleep.

Later I wondered, why have I never seen this before? (All right, smart aleck, I’ll admit it’s true that I’m rarely up at the crack of dawn.)

But there’s a more fundamental reason. It hasn’t happened before. (more…)

Neil van Niekerk is one of my favorite writers on flash photography. When I reviewed his earlier book, On-Camera Flash, I got so excited that I praised him as “…that rarest of things, a great teacher.”

Thankfully he hasn’t made a liar out of me with his second book. Off-Camera Flash: Techniques for Digital Photographers fully lives up to that earlier praise, and more.

In a richly informative yet admirably concise 125 pages, Off-Camera Flash provides a wide-ranging look at its subject without becoming lost in the technical mire—and believe me, with this subject, it can be easy to get bogged down in the details. (more…)