Any photographers in the house?

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At this point I'm so tired of this debate I'll just stay out of this thread.
Obviously I don't have patience for grief, the recycling of this issue for pure drama sake, and the "this is a friendly forum asshole" comments which is laughable.

Deleted my previous post to hopefully end the drama and get thread back on focus for those that actually care about Photography.

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As someone who was trying to focus on the images and providing straight feedback I'm sorry to see you chose this route as you've now stripped out part of the conversation for the rest of us.

Hello fellow GWJ photographers, haven't posted in a while but love's me some photography.

I have been trying to get into doing more portrait and strobist photography, here are some of my latest efforts:

Valentines Day
IMAGE(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8475680134_6a811250ee_z_d.jpg)

Meeko
IMAGE(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8431843774_2de5fb63f7_z_d.jpg)

Parker Claims Eagle Scout
IMAGE(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8518790401_a8772476ca_z_d.jpg)

And the beast that I build up on a rig when I want to shoot some macro:

Macro Monster
IMAGE(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7867461678_53c18107ea_z_d.jpg)

Though I have replaced the PW Plus II in that picture with a couple of Plus III and a set of PW Flex TT1/TT5 for my three canon speedlites. Of course, those purchases were at Christmas just a couple months before PocketWizard announced this week the release of a new PlusX model that are quit a bit cheaper at $99. DOH!

Ow. Love hurts on V-day. Really like the soft backlight in the scout photo.

Ewwwwwwwwww, spider! I don't care how amazing the macro shot is, that is GROSS

Nice shots!
That macro rig is crazy. I don't think I'd want to try to sield that when getting down low to shoot a spider.
Given that, I will be upgrading my Macro setup soon.
I'm thinking of splurging and getting this
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
with a smaller flash head. I am currently using this setup

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7779045/201... (large image)
But the mount I made isn't very sturdy and is difficult to keep the flash in one position. Besides the flash is a SB700 and is heavy. (inspiration by Thomas Shahan's setup http://www.flickr.com/photos/opoters...)

The top-down softbox gives great results for bugs.
IMAGE(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7779045/DSC_0244smaller.jpg)

Citizen86 wrote:

Ewwwwwwwwww, spider! I don't care how amazing the macro shot is, that is GROSS

But he was so tiny! nothing more than a speck, but thank you for the "amazing"

Great bug macro Groan!

Next weekend I might build up and show you the current version of the Macro Monster. It looks a bit like that old one, but with the new PW flash triggers and friction arms mounted to a P&C Gearbox DSLR cage and having a top mounted handle so you can swing everything in over a subject and get low angle shots.

I might even try to mount my Nexus 7 to the cage, where I can use it as a field monitor to identify focus/framing through the use of the DSLR Controller app that lets me control/view the focus/framing from the tablet.

Thanks! I have lots of spider shots. Jumping spiders are my favorite critters to shoot. Very difficult to capture since they love to move and usually very tiny. That little guy was on my fingernail.

That rig looks cool!
I've used my Nexus 10 as a monitor. Works great with my Nikon d90. It has a stacking setup to automatically adjust focusing to do macro stacking. Works like magic! having the large monitor is great when doing successive shots. also nice for when shooting product or catalog images.

Here is a shot of some azalea buds I shot with it then stacked in Photoshop.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7779045/Aza...

Focus from front to back of the buds. I don't have a shot of just one of the unstacked images but it was very narrow as the buds were very small.

Eason wrote:

Hello fellow GWJ photographers, haven't posted in a while but love's me some photography.

I have been trying to get into doing more portrait and strobist photography, here are some of my latest efforts:

Valentines Day
IMAGE(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8475680134_6a811250ee_z_d.jpg)

Awesome shot! What make-up did you use on the chest to make the "skin" raised?

Probably liquid latex. I've used it myself to make nasty facial scars.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

Probably liquid latex. I've used it myself to make nasty facial scars.

Knives work good for that, too.

ZOMG NEW PUPPY.

Not the most cooperative model, but here is Bruin at 10 weeks.

IMAGE(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/625500_457533157651586_1051638721_n.jpg)
9 weeks
IMAGE(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/72647_10151439199209106_50370440_n.jpg)

Nice photos all of you.

I'm looking for some tripod recommendations. Budget isn't my primary concern compared to weight and stability. I also shoot stills almost exclusively so video panning isn't really a focus.

Thanks.

I've been using the Manfrotto 190XPROB along with Manfrotto 322RC2 Grip Action Ballhead.

Tripod is rock solid, the ballhead not as easy to use as I thought especially for fine adjustments. Bought both used as they get pricey for my budget.

Thanks RichyRambo. Anyone else have suggestions? I'm probably making a purchase this weekend.

Almost all of my tripod and lightstand gear is Manfrotto. For the tripod I have the following:
Manfrotto 3021BPRO
Manfrotto Ballhead 322RC2
Manfrotto 701HCV Pro Fluid Video Mini Head

The 322RC2 was good in the beginning, but in the last year it has lost it's ability to hold a solid grip and now slips if I put a heavy camera+lens combo on it. I'm shopping for a new ballhead and maybe get another set of carbon fiber legs, and I'll probably go with Manfrotto again.

Other than the grip issue on the ballhead, I'm happy with how well the Manfrotto gear has held up over the last 7+ years with all the bang'n around it does in the back of my car.

How is that Video head? Been thinking of adding that to the gear list for use with a new camcorder.