cheap wireless transmitter

 What is it about gadgets and gizmos that have such strong appeal?  You may recall that in recent posts, I only just figured out a way to activate a slave flash trigger ($11.99) by a homemade adaptor cable.  Then, I learned that someone claimed you can use a dark blue and red piece from a gel swatch book ($3.76) to filter out visible light and wirelessly activate that same optical trigger.  I tried it, but for some reason, I can't figure out how to make it work as reliably as the wired setup.  You can see that the camera's flash is still visible as a mild purplish light, but it doesn't reflect a significant amount of light from your subject. so that on those rare occasions that I can get this thing to work, this plastic shield that I taped to my popup flash functions as a wireless transmitter.  Cool!

Here's one of the tests that I did.  One of the failed attempts made me look like a ghost, and I posted that pic on Facebook.  Oh, and it was done on a Saturday, while I was grubby.  And yes, I know that I'm badly in need of a haircut.  But this is not about me being a model, okay?

using ropes and cables

 

Camp Timber-Lee has a High Ropes Course.  My sons climbed up there, while I took pictures from terra firma.  I wanted to show something with perspective, so instead of looking for an unobstructed view, I positioned myself so that a young person remained in the foreground.  I thought it would be easy because an overcast sky causes even lighting and reduces harsh shadows.  But that doesn't work so well when you're taking pics from below your subjects.  I used my new flash contraption to light up the girl on the left.

A couple posts ago I explained how "I took some non-functioning relics that used to be a wireless flash transmitter and receiver, stripped the guts, and hardwired it to make an extension cable from my camera's hot shoe to an external flash."  So for the shot above, I held the flash out with my left arm so we could see the details and color of her hair, backpack and jacket.  This is what my flash extension looks like:

 That was my first DSLR, by the way.  It doesn't work anymore, but I haven't pitched it.  Hey, do you want to see something fun?  Click on this last picture to have a good look at my son's expression as he looks down from the High Ropes.

to whom credit is due

[click on image to enlarge]

The talent of Mark Highton-Ridley was featured at our friend Betty's blog. One flower (photo) in particular got my attention, and the creative technique inspired me to try something similar. The b&w image was called, "Lighting the Cosmos."

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I snapped this photo at night. First, I focused on the faux flowers, and made sure it was set to manual. Then, I set up an off-camera flash to the right, and turned the lights off. Since I do not have remote flash capability, I flipped up my camera's flash and deflected it to an optical slave flash trigger with a steel spatula from the kitchen. I was happy with the results, and I hope you like it as well.

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Now, here's the plot twist... I went back to Betty's, so I could give credit to Mark for his idea, and here's what I found. My brain got things jumbled up. I somehow thought that he did a night shot with off-camera flash, but the strong side lighting was all natural... from a sunset.

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Praise God for his handiwork in creation and for the talent he lavished on Mark. Praise the Lord also for the grace he bestows on us by allowing such occasions that our accidents and misinterpretations can sometimes have an aesthetic element to them.