I had a shoot with Sera-Lys Again today….

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/160
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 800
Date Taken: Jan.29.2007

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 18
Shutter: 1/60
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM @ 35mm
ISO: 50
Lighting: Alien Bees Ring Flash
Date Taken: Jan.29.2007

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 2.8
Shutter: 1/50
Lens: EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 135mm
ISO: 500
Date Taken: October.27.2006

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/100
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 400
Date Taken: Jan.07.2006

First shoot with the new Ring flash HOT!! My new favorite flash!

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/60
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 800
Date Taken: Jan.28.2007

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 2.8
Shutter: 1/100
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM @ 27mm
ISO: 50
Date Taken: Jan.28.2007

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/200
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 50
Date Taken: Jan.28.2007

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/200
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 50
Date Taken: Jan.28.2007

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/1600
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 400
Date Taken: Jan.07.2006

The view out my window this morning.

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 4.5
Shutter: 1/125
Lens: EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 200mm
ISO: 400
Date Taken: Jan.26.2006

Nope it wasn’t a visit from outer space (unless you consider Tennessee outer space) It was the UPS guy and my new portable ring flash!! Yup the company is called Alien bees and they make cheap studio gear. I got the ABR800 Ring Flash that has

been on backorder for a month, and a moon unit (The thing on my head:) to soften studio work even more.

Ring Flashes are wicked awesome for fashion and head shot photos because you get nice even shadowless lighting that tends to be über flattering and pretty!! You can use them alone as the only light source, or combine them with other hair and key flashes for more definition. The thing is 800Ws (Ws = watt seconds) as well which at full power blasts my 500Ws out of the water! We are talking the difference of two to four stops (f16 to f45) as near as I can tell from simple screwing around with my light meter! Light does appear to fall off quickly though as you can see in the photo with the moon unit on my head (I know i am a goof) but i imagine that with an umbrella it wouldn’t be so drastic. So that brings our studio contingent to about 2300Ws. I could light a lot of large things with that

See über soft and flattering!!! The ABR800 is sorta like two flashes in one as well for you can light stand mount it and attach an umberlla to it just like any other flash head.
I also got the portable power pack with it. The Vagabond Portable Power System consists of a power inverter, a sealed Lead acid battery, and a bag.

The vagabond is awesome because i have portable power for whatever I want when ever i want for whatever i want, it isn’t just for the flash. That gets a big Ol b00Ya!!! from me.

Anyway I am super stoked that this came cause I have a few shoots lined up over the next few days and I am super excited to try it out!!! (on some one other then me of course)

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.4
Shutter: 1/500
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 50
Date Taken: Jan.07.2006

Yup

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark II
Aperture: 1.6
Shutter: 1/1600
Lens: Canon EF 50mm 1.4
ISO: 400
Date Taken: Jan.07.2006