Chester Bullock Photography

Review: PRESSLite VerteX Bounce Card System

Chester — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:23 +0000

I don’t recall where I first saw mention of the PRESSLite VerteX bounce card system, but I remember being intrigued. I think it was about 2 weeks ago, and I was so intrigued, I ordered one immediately. Two days later I had a box in my mailbox, the VerteX had arrived.

The box contained 10 pieces total, 4 of which are reflective cards (2 white, 2 mirrored). Putting it together was very easy, and I didn’t need the included instruction sheet. When putting it together, I did leave the protective film on one side of the mirrored cards so that they would be all good if I ever needed to flip over and use them. I’d say it took me a total of maybe 5 minutes to put this item together.

Then I had to figure out what to shoot. I wanted a simple scenario where I could show the effects of angling the cards, the card holder bracket, and also a control for what it looks like without any bounce. I settled on a small table in a corner, shooting downward with the flash on top of my camera. The photo at left is my control case. Throughout this series of test shots, please feel free to click on a thumbnail to see the larger photo.

This is test 1, with flash pointed up, both white cards facing object in “flat” configuration.

Test 2, with flash pointed up, both white cards angled inward and facing object.

Test 3, with flash pointed up, both mirror cards facing object in “flat” configuration.

Test 4, with flash pointed up, both mirror cards angled inward and facing object.

Test 5, with flash pointed up, Vertex bracket at 45 degree left angle, one white card directed to object.

Test 6, with flash pointed up, Vertex bracket at 45 degree left angle, one mirror card directed to object.

Test 7, with flash pointed up, Vertex bracket at 90 degree left angle, one mirror card directed to object.

Test 8, with flash pointed up, Vertex bracket at 90 degree left angle, one white card directed to object.

Some clear benefits of this versus other systems:
- You can direct the light pretty accurately
- You can rotate the bracket to remove the cards from the path of light, without having to remove the device
- Unlike a Gary Fong or similar diffuser, the amount of light you are directing can be controlled as well

Clearly I was not in a very creative mode when I was doing these tests, but I do think they accurately portray a small segment of what the VerteX is capable of. I can see a wide range of applications for this, particularly in my fledgling real estate photography business. As I continue to add more strobes and lighting types to my repertoire, I can see the VerteX playing an ever increasing role in helping me move light around. And I will have to get more creative with my tests to really show it’s potential. If you have a test you want to see done with the VerteX, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

Bridge to Nowhere - Print of the Week

Chester — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:00:46 +0000

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Niagara Falls, Canada, was a small park with few people inside. This bridge crosses an artificial stream. The path itself doesn’t really go anywhere, just to the street right outside the park. I like coming back to this image when I need some peace and tranquility in my day. If you feel the same way, you can order a print for your wall or desk.

Big Man

Chester — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:00:31 +0000

It’s been interesting to see this guy grow up. When I first met Garrett he was 9 years old, sitting in his mother’s garage, trying to put a bike back together. He is 15 now, and will be 16 this spring. He is as tall as me now (6′2″), and a very charismatic person. People enjoy being around him. He is also a naturally gifted athlete that could do well at anything he set his mind too. Currently that is skateboarding. He is a big person, both in height and presence. I think shooting from this perspective (down on the ground) really captured that about him.

What is the point of all this? When you are taking a portrait of someone, you are trying to get the essence of who they are. Garrett, just like other teens these days, spends a lot of time in front of the computer. But his passion has always been outside. Riding a bike, shooting baskets, riding rollerblades and now skateboards. This is who he is. It’s easier for me to interpret this about him, since he is my son (well, step-son). But as a budding portrait photographer (thanks to his sister’s need for senior pictures this year), I want to know these things about my clients so that I can capture who they are. They won’t be the same person in 5 years as they are right now. That’s why I think it is so important to achieve this. And that is probably why I have been moving into the senior picture business so slowly. But I am ready, and have a couple of kids who I will be doing pictures for in the coming months. And of course, I have the big guy lined up for next year (Garrett is currently a sophomore at Lakewood High School here in Colorado).

My Favorite Pics of 2008

Chester — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:00:13 +0000

I don’t “Favorite” very many pics in Flickr. But here is a sampling of the ones I added in 2008 that made an impression on me for some reason:

You can see all of my Flickr Faves if you so wish.

Happy New Year!

Review - Gorillapod GP3

Chester — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:11:09 +0000

I have to be honest. When I opened my Gorillapod GP3 as a gift last year, I wasn’t terribly excited. I already had an Ultrapod II and it was working just fine for my needs. I really didn’t see where I would use it in place of the other one. Now, over a year later, I see it for what it is and what it can do.

The unique design of the Gorillapod enables you to make micro adjustments to the height or tilt of whatever you have sitting on top. Not as smooth as a pan/ tilt head, but it isn’t meant to replace a full fledged tripod. The GP3 is the model designed to hold DSLR’s, but they have a range of models for different size cameras, and at different prices.

Mine has been used for taking macro shots, mounting the camera to odd objects (the rubber feet hold it on windows well, as long as you straddle it that is), even wrapping the legs around small fence posts and such. Just the other day I was doing taking some pics in a warehouse and didn’t have a lightstand with me. There was a small step ladder nearby, so I grabbed the Gorillapod, put the Cactus trigger and flash on it - instant lightstand with great “fine-tuning” ability.

It is also quite a conversation piece. I keep it latched onto my Caselogic Hardshell Backpack at all times, even while traveling. People are always asking me “how do you like that? I have been thinking about getting one.” I understand their curiousity and, perhaps, hidden skepticism. I felt the same way. But now I am a believer. If you don’t have one, you don’t know what you are missing, but I would encourage you to get one and try it for yourself.

The Strobist DIY Light Tent

Chester — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:29:42 +0000

My article on Do It Yourself Light Modifiers has proved to be quite popular. Bouncing light around large spaces is all well and good, but what about when you need to light one item really well. Say, for a product shot or something? Enter the Strobist DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio. That’s just a fancy way to say light tent. The photo above is one I created this past weekend. Once I had all the materials, it took me all of about 30 minutes to complete. I am not going to recreate the directions (printing the Strobist article is perfect), but I did want to explain what I did differently.

They recommend using a minimum of a 12×12x12 box, and leaving the top flaps on to control the light more. My box was something like 18×12x12 or something (I didn’t take measurements). I wanted it to be deeper though, so I taped all of the “flaps” together to extend the depth of the box (a little Duct will do ya). I then left one inch or so remaining to frame the 3 “windows”. Instead of tissue paper, quite by mistake I bought craft mylar (I think this might be really similar to the mylar drafting film I couldn’t find for my softbox project). It cuts really easily, and seems to be more durable than tissue paper would be. And it diffuses the light REALLY well. I used white duct tape to increase reflectivity inside the box. It definitely looks homemade, but the results it produces are just as good as the light tent I used in a previous job that cost 15x as much as this one (I already had the tape and box, so my out of pocket total was $4 for two sheets of poster board and the mylar film).

This photo (click for larger version), of one of our Air Hogs Havoc helicopters and our Revell Fire Strike, was shot in the light tent at my house in Lakewood, Colorado. I used my Olympus FL-36 flash, fired remotely with a Cactus trigger, at 8mm and 3GN. The results are quite pleasing and work well enough for my needs. My next test will be to use it with static light instead of a strobe, and taking a photo of something on the black background instead of the white. For $5, you sure can’t beat this. In fact, I am already thinking of making a MUCH larger one, maybe out of a refrigerator box, to use for larger items, like tires and wheels. Hmm…

Union Meadows - Print of the Week

Chester — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:00:20 +0000

This week we are a little more in tune with the season. It is winter here in Colorado, and I present you with one of my favorite winter images.

I used to work at Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado when I was fresh out of college. I worked there for two seasons. The first was all about quantity of skiing - I registered 75 days. The second season was more about quality - I only notched 55. But most were powder days of some sort.

The fun thing about working at a ski resort is that you learn it so well. I can still find untracked powder up to about 2pm on a powder day at Copper. Sometimes you have to work to get it, but it is so worth it when you do. Union Meadows, where this was shot, is not one of those places. Just traverse to the skiers left from the top of S lift and you will find this treasure trove of narrow, powder filled runs.

And after you have carved up some powder, order this print to remind you of what awaits you the next time you hit the slopes.

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays

Chester — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:00:47 +0000

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to all. I have been seeing great pictures of holiday lights this season, and finally decided to try and take one of my own. The photo above is an HDR Exposure Blend (using Photomatix) of 7 exposures I took one morning. I also took some photos just using the ambient light and not doing the HDR thing. After reviewing these shots on the computer, I decided the white lights just aren’t very interesting. Normally we decorate the two large fir trees in front of our house with colored strings, but we opted not to this year. Rest assured, we will next year. That will give it some “life” I think. So instead, I will go out in search of other homes in our neighborhood to take pics of. I had better hurry, only a week to go before most people take their lights down.

Oh, and I should point out that the inspiration for this, besides the photos I linked to above, was a Strobist article about holiday light pictures. As is the norm with Strobist help, this article was wonderful for a rookie like me.

In Pursuit of Realistic HDR

Chester — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:00:23 +0000

Dan Achatz, a regular in the Flickr PFRE group, put together one of the best HDR tutorials I have seen yet. He goes through his process of compiling the images into a realistic representation of what he saw in person. It is well worth taking some time and watching the video.

After watching it, I followed his steps when making the HDR image shown above. It’s the used tire warehouse at Metal Movers, a Denver, Colorado based auto recycler. I am doing some website consulting for them and needed some photos of the different products and services they offer. A tire warehouse of this size is a lighting challenge due to all the dark colors and shadows, so I thought it would be best to do an HDR to represent it. This particular image is a combintation of 5 exposures, taken at the intervals that Photomatix recommends. I think it came out pretty well, the notable exception being the fluorescent overhead lights. I need to practice with HDR more, but I am really pleased with the results I am starting to get.

Elusive moments

Chester — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:55 +0000

This black and white candid portrait of my daughter is one of those rare, elusive moments that make you feel lucky you had the camera out. Whenever you ask a young child to actually pose for a picture, there is a 50/50 chance you are going to get some sort of oddball response. But you have to keep at it, as you never know when lightning will strike. When taking photos of other families and kids, you have to put them into situations that allow them to be themselves. If you take yourself out of the equation, you are much more likely to get “the shot”. I certainly think I was able to here.