DIYPhotography.net Photography & Studio Lighting

Jake O'Connell has come up with a great Idea to create a Magic Arm. What is a magic arm you ask? (You can have a look at the Bogen Magic Arm or read on). - Yes it is time for another Reader Project.

A magic arm is a photography magical instrument much like a tripod, but with two major differences:

The first difference is that (unlike a tripod) the non camera side of the Magic Arm is equipped with a stud (or a stud socket) which allows you to mount it on virtually anything. (Well the spiderpod also does this, but I wouldn't place my Nikon D2x on a spiderpod).

Alternatively, you can use the magic arm to mount a lighting device like a flash or a flag.

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It has been about 20 days from when I asked DIYP readers to jump in the group pool. Well, you made quite a splash. In less then 20 days the pool has grown to more then 2000 members. Actually we are at an interesting point where the pool is three members short from matching the number of members to the current year. (Making it as the 2008th member on 2008 is known to grant three wishes to the user).

Slowly but surly the pool is becoming a rejuvenating dip. While great DIYP projects are still being submitted to the pool, I see and interesting (and blessed) change where photographers (Pros and amateurs alike) are also submitting great pictures (1,110 and counting). There are still one or two favs here from my contacts, who did not submit their photos to the pool. If anybody knows how to search for favorites within a pool, please ping me at the comments.

More Photodumps:
- Having Fun @ The Pool #1

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In the previous post I demonstrated my lack of patience by constructing a Honl Speed Strap, while waiting for my Amazon Honl speed strap to arrive.

In this post, I'll show the accessories I built, and explain their various effects on a picture taken.

All my DIY accessories have real commercial products made by David Honl. While the lighting result is usually similar, I must say that Honl products look way more professional. (In fact they look professional enough that I bought some of them, even when I knew I can make them myself).

But, just before I go into the details of constructing and demonstrating the different accessories, I would like to highlight some of the comments on the original post, dealing with different materials that can be used to construct a better model of the speed strap.

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In my last post titled Everything You Wanted to Know About Camera Firmware I boldly stated that there is no such thing as camera firmware.

That statement raised quite a few eyebrows asking if indeed there was no such thing as Camera Firmware (as I boldly stated in the first sentence of the post).

After the dust cloud settled, I wasn't sure myself, so I went to my Nikon and turned the menu on. Under the settings menu it definitely said "firmware version" so I wanted to shed a bit more light on the subject of camera firmware. (And send my apologies to the little boy from matrix who boldly stated that there is no spoon). [image by julian-]

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Today's speedlinks comes a little bit before the usual monthly time for the speed links. The reasons for this is that there are several links that I wanted to share and that will have less relevance if they were not published today. Specifically, I am talking about the monthly TimeShoot project which will expire today.

I tried to get a little bit of everything on today's post and cover studio, digital workflow, photography fun and heavier articles discussing copyright issues. Enjoy the mix.

• The Wall Street Journal lifted my image!
  Leggnet Digital Capture
  The guys at the Wall Street Journal provide a beacon on how to use photographer's intellectual property. Rich tells the story of how one of his images was published in the Wall Street Journal without him knowing.
• 35mm pinhole camera
  ProPhotoLife
  Jim Talkington put up a rocking video showing how he makes his pinhole cameras. It is never a bad time to take some analog shot the old fashioned way.
• Orphan Works bill introduced in US
  Photodoto
  Orphan Works is kind of a new type of copy right for works that their owner can not be found. Photodoto provides a full premier on the subject. Chase Jarvis thinks the bill is not great, but provides some damage control over what this bill might have been.
• Monthly TimeShoot - May 9th @ 12pm ET!
  Cameracon
  Shaw is doing his monthly timeshoot project again, and this is a good reason to take the camera out of storage and go out and take some pictures. This timeshoot target is today at 12pm. I like this project, as it can creates a shared work among fellow photographers from all over the world.
• White Seamless Tutorial :: Part 3 :: From White To Black
  Zack Arias
  Zack is running a segmented tutorial on creating and using white seamless backdrops. The first three parts deal with setup and gear, Light management (+ part two) and Black backdrops. A great read for anyone who is doing a home studio.
• PhotoNetCast
  Photo Netcast
  Photo Netcast is a new pod cast hosted by Antonio Marques, Martin Gommel, Jim M Goldstein and Brian Auer. If you'll click their names you'll see that these are serious folks so the 'cast has to be great as well.
• An Approach to Street Photography
  The Online Photographer
  Mitch Alland shares the story of how he became a street photographer. A great read in my mind as Mitch shares his reasons, his motivations and more. I found that I could really relate to the story, as I am sure many aspiring photographers can.
• Digital Workflow with Adobe Lightroom
  L7foto
  Kerry from L7 photo is doing a series of video Lightroom tutorials. He covers the workflow as well as some tips and tricks. If reading the Lightroom e-book was not enough for you and you want more Lightroom, this is the place for you.
• Color Profiles in Firefox 3
  Ejohn
  If you are a Firefox surfer, Like 51.82% of DIYP readers, you'll be glad to know that version 3 of the Fox will support color profiles.
• Lighting 102: 6.2 - Gelling for Tungsten
  Strobist
  David Hobby is doing his Lighting 102 session and is now covering strobes and Gels. The first two parts discussed Gelling for Tungsten and Gelling for Fluorescent, and there is an assignment in the horizon, so stay tuned.

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Related Links:
- Speed Links for 4-20-2008
- Speed Links for 2-23-2008
- Speed Links for 12-20-2007
- Speed Links for 12-11-2007
- Speed Links for 11-20-2007

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Ok, so I'll bring you in on a secret there is no such thing as camera firmware. Keep reading to find out why.

Every once in a while Canon or Nikon will issue an announcement calling everybody to upgrade the camera firmware of one of their cameras.

The last camera firmware event to flood the web was Nikon's firmware upgrade to the D3, which was announced with great PR, withdrawn with even greater PR and then finally re-published.

Let see what exactly is camera firmware and why do we care what is the firmware version inside the camera. [image by julian-]

UPDATE: there is such a thing as camera firmware - firmware is a spesific kind of software.

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I really wanted a speed strap. Ever since the restrictive light post over at Strobist, I wished for one of those magical straps. If you are not familiar with them look at David Honl's site, it is filled with goodies.

"Why do you need one", you ask? Because they are A - Really good at blocking light. B - Small and can get in my small bag when I go out for a shoot and C - They are just too cool that I could not effort not having one.

I even designed a new one. (Not so good, more on that in a few lines).

Then I decided that I am going to get one from Amazon. Since I (like my eight months son) can not delay satisfaction, must take photos to live, I made a new one that really works (and inspired by the Thomas Schwenger Complete Two Seconds Lighting Kit).

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