Thursday, December 31, 2009

DIY Ghetto Wizard Gut Hack



Ok. So I've been using poverty/Fleabay wizards ie. Chinese wireless flash triggers. I generally have not had many problems with them so haven't considered plopping down serious $$$ for the oh so coveted Pocket Wizards. I started strobing last year after coming across the all-mighty-himself, David Hobby, and his Strobist site. Changed my life. Anyways, as I was saying, generally did not have much problems then it all hit the fan and of course when... during a fashion shoot for a magazine. I have 4 lights, all triggered via poverty wizards so you can see why I was reluctant on plopping down for 5 pocket wizards at $188 a pop. I had to revert to backup plan and shoot corded and rely on slave modes. I decided it was time to upgrade. Research led me to Cybersyncs. Got em via UPS yesterday. Now comes the problem of how to hook all of these to hot-shoe flashes as the poverty wizzes have a built in hot-shoe. I am shooting 2 nightclub events, first time shooting in that kind of environment, and am following K10D: Bar/Nightclub photography tips. The poverty wizards are no longer a trusted option so going to use the Cybersyncs as I don't want to deal with cables around people who are dancing. So basically, one hand-held light off-camera and want to make a convenient wireless solution with my new trusty Cyaberyncs.

A: the not-so trusting "Poverty Wizards" Pt-04. They served me well in learning strobing but not reliable anymore for my needs.

B: One of my pt-04 receivers died after a year so I noticed it looked like the Cybersync could fit snugly into the body after removing the bottom portion with my dremel. I took the 1/4 to mini cord, (won't use) that came with the Cybersync, cut it and soldered red wire to the lead (center) of the hotshoe of the pt-04, white wire to the ground. Added a zip tie to prevent the wire from being pulled out and drilled a hole for the cable to peek through.
C: this is temporary use so just taped up the space that was left and around the unit at the bottom.
D: the completed unit :)

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Miniature Madison

These are some images from my first collection exhibited at City of Madison ArtSpace, Wisconsin Union Galleries, portalwisconsin.org, Electric Earth Cafe and also in Madison Magazine, The Isthmus, the Morning Show on NBC15 and MyMadTV. These are actual locations in Madison and not scale models. The effect is done in post and not shot using a tilt-shift lens to make things seem like a scale model. Signed pictures are available for sale framed or just matted and in notecard packs as well. I can also to turn your house, business or locale into a miniature.
Madison Magazine story

Fine art prints available