Daniel Binkard

13 April 2008

The Ring Flash Repository

The effects of a ring flash are rather in vogue right now. It used to be that only macro and the occasional fashion photographers needed ring lights. But thanks to Dave Hill and his signature wraparound style, we all want to be cool hard light photographers. And so, many people have worked up do-it-yourself ring lights, because $400 for an ABR800 is a bit much, not to mention you need a large battery to make it portable.
Here are just a few links to the do-it-yourself models.

David X. Tejada has put together a nice and portable unit with the help of a salad bowl, some ducting, two feet of dental floss and a paper clip.

David Hobby went large scale with his multi-light setup, which is probably not designed to be used around the easily frightened.

Paul Duncan put together the simplest design, which works well in the studio.

Duncan's ring light is the only one I have tried so far because the other two require parts that I don't have around the house. I plan to try Tejada's next, though I will probably form the base from a bit of steel instead of buying a flex arm.

DT gear videos

David X. Tejada is an annual report photographer who takes great pains to organize his gear. And he's nice enough to share the videos with the rest of us! These are some gear videos he's made.

This shows his portable DVD player in use as a larger preview screen.

The first of three videos on camera gear he took to a location shoot at a quarry.

The second video shows the lighting equipment he took.

The third shows the miscellaneous equipment, including spare fleece jackets to add a splash of color if needed.

06 March 2008

What's That on Highway 20, March 6, 2008

Smoke billows from a plant on Highway 20 in Pierce County, Nebraska, March 2008. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Ticket booth from the drive-in theatre in Brown County, Nebraska, March 2008. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

A building that was part of a drive-in theatre stands empty off Highway 20 in Brown County, Nebraska, March 2008. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Abandoned Drive-In, March 6, 2008

A building that was part of a drive-in theatre stands abandoned off Highway 20 in Brown County, Nebraska, March 2008. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The drive-in movie screen eventually disappeared completely, but for a long time you could drive past this on Highway 20 and see a bygone era. This would have been the snack stand or bathrooms or projection booth or all of the above, now shown in stark black and white with some nice clouds across the sky. Once again we have a triangular arrangement of elements to strengthen the structure of the composition, with the tree providing a path from ground to sky.

03 March 2008

Missouri River Ice and Snow, March 3, 2008

Ice and snow on the Missouri River in Ponca State Park, March 2008. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Patterns in the frozen ice are overlaid with wisps of snow, creating a counterbalancing arrangement of lines. This scene should work as well in black and white, but I like the range of blues in the ice, especially the medium-dark areas, the transition from ice at the top to water at the bottom. The fine detail in the snow on top provides additional points of interest.

01 March 2008

Cowboy Trail Bridge, March 1, 2008

Bridge along the Cowboy Trail in Cherry County, Nebraska, March 2008. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This bridge spans a short gap between two hills along the Cowboy Trail. It's fun to poke around under the bridge, but this time I was drawn to the linear possibilities on top. With a wide lens and some helpful shadows, I showcase arrows toward infinity. All it needs is a moon composited at the end.