Some photography tips

 I’ve recently had two people ask me the same question about how I took some recent pictures. I sent them mail about it, but I figure I’d share with the two people that are subscribed to this blog 😉
IMG_4252.jpg I used a white sheet as the background and two 4×8 vinyl bathroom surround sheets from homedepot. probably $20 each. Note that this is easier if you have a two flashes.  I’ve considered getting a third. 😉 Also this one:
IMG_4261.jpg This one I took with a black sheet:
IMG_2694.jpg
To take the pictures with the white background, you need to flashes, but you can get a good start with just one:
$21 lightstand  http://cgi.ebay.com/200CM-Light-Stands-Photo-studio-/110694199117?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c5e36f4d
$14 bracket http://www.amazon.com/Mounting-Bracket-Strobist-Umbrella-Fancier/dp/B003TY6GWU/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1306780897&sr=1-4
  $5  umbrella http://cgi.ebay.com/33-Studio-Flash-Translucent-White-soft-Umbrella-83cm-/170644198871?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bb2fd5d7
$28 wireless trigger http://cgi.ebay.com/RF-602-2-4GHz-Wireless-Remote-Flash-Trigger-CANON-/250775783838?pt=Camera_Camcorder_Remotes&hash=item3a6366c99e $68 total. To learn how to do this, read this series of blog entries: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html This group has great discussion: http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist Lot’s of examples of what you can do. White background http://www.zarias.com/white-seamless-tutorial-part-1-gear-space/ while you’re at it, this blog is very interesting as well.
http://petavoxel.wordpress.com/category/megapixel-madness/ The explanation of the physics of megapixels vs sensor size. my next flash purchase will be one of these: he flash is this one
 
I recently bought a larger white backdrop. I was using a white bedsheet, but it’s not large enough.
 
If you want to talk lenses this is a great resource:
 
I’d love to have this one:
 
but at $1200, it’s a bit spendy.