New Gear : Elinchrom RX & Mola Demi
With all photo projects on hold, it gave me some time to rethink some of the photo tools at my disposal, and to get rid of what I didn’t need or wasn’t using enough of and bring in some much needed new gear.
With all photo projects on hold, it gave me some time to rethink some of the photo tools at my disposal, and to get rid of what I didn’t need or wasn’t using enough of and bring in some much needed new gear.
The first new arrival was a “22 Mola Demi beauty dish (white) from B&H Photo in New York. It arrived about a week or so before the start of this blog. I wanted to replace my 17” silver Elinchrom beauty dish, which I decided to keep; just in case I need to add a little crispness to my images. I engaged renowned fashion photographer Melissa Rodwell in an earlier offer she made about helping me purchase a Mola Beauty dish and based on a photoshoot she did with the Demi (the video can be seen below) it made my decision that much easier to make my purchase.
**Though the video above shows content by Melissa Rodwell and her team, the YouTube channel it appears on is not affiliated with her brand.
The 2nd and last piece of new gear to arrive was an Elinchrom RX Speed AS (kit) This battery-powered system rates at 1100 ws of power, more than enough to overpower the sun. I fell in love with the Elinchrom system a few years ago when I sold off my Paul C Buff lights in place of something more portable and lighter, I bought the Elinchrom Quadra Hybrid and the Quadra RX soon after, and love them. So why the decision to get the RX? Well, it wasn’t that tough of a choice. Before the purchase of the RX, I was using an older Elinchrom monolight with my Quadra set up; the Elinchrom EL-1000. I still had my old Paul C Buff battery pack, the Vagabond II, minus the battery, which I was going to sell (still am) and take those funds to get another Quadra, As it goes, I saw the RX was listed at a steal with B&H Photo in New York. Here’s the link:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/532562-REG/Elinchrom_EL_10287_Ranger_RX_Speed_AS.html
“Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS Asymmetrical Battery Powered Pack This is the Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS Asymmetrical Battery Powered Pack. The “RX” signifies the ability to be fired by a remote control handset, or computer. The “AS” indicates the ability of the 1100Ws power pack to divide power to each of 2 heads asymmetrically.”
I would like to thank Melissa for her friendship and for being so approachable, it’s photographers such as her that makes me want to do more as a photographer., to explore and experiment outside my comfort zone. I’ve spent so much time on the road shooting events, I almost forgot what it was like to actually create something,.
You can see Melissa Rodwell’s amazing work at her web site, as well as in her Magazine ALICE. where she and her sensational team put out some amazing content.
Helpful links of these brands :
Staying Creative and Other Stuff During The COVID-19 Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic takes our world by storm, many of my fellow photographers as well as myself have wiped our calendars clean of all photo shoots until further notice. I’ve been keeping myself busy with some re-edits from past assignments, photographing birds and attending online town hall meet ups and forums
As the COVID-19 pandemic takes our world by storm, many of my fellow photographers as well as myself have wiped our calendars clean of all photo shoots until further notice. I’ve been keeping myself busy with some re-edits from past assignments, photographing birds and attending online town hall meet ups and forums with other professionals, using the ZOOM app, The 2 I have attend are Fashion Photographers Connect created by renowned fashion photographer Melissa Rodwell , also owner/creator of The Breed and Alice magazine, and lastly the ASMP., Both have been very mentally therapeutic.
XM Radio has given me another outlet to escape, especially with the Marky Ramone: Punk Rock Blitzkrieg channel and the Howard Stern Show, it tears me away from the TV, listening and watching the number of infected and dead grow larger each day, here and around the world.
Even my wife, the avid quilter has been keeping busy with making masks for those that need/want them, in fact the cover image for this blog I am wearing one of her creations. She makes sure I have a mask with me at all times, since I am considered “high risk” because of a respiratory disease that I was diagnosed with in 2012..
Below are the self assignments I had given myself, the next assignment is to get some decent images of our furbabies, some where along the lines of the work by Alexander Khoklov and Veronica Ershova.
Lastly but more importantly, I just wish people would take this pandemic more seriously, social distancing works, staying home works, we need to bend this curve of recklessness and selfishness, NOW!! cause tomorrow may not come for many of us if we don’t. I know this, I want to live.
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This image was actually an outtake from the assignment I did last month for this client, I edited it Capture One software
This image of local musician Bo Mcmillion was an assignment I shot in 2011, I reedited the image in Capture One software, converting it to black and white.
We have a few bird feeders in our yard, sometimes I put some out on a table on the back porch, I decided to take advantage of a good situation.
From all the birds that stop by to feed, this one stood out .
The Unofficial Wedding Photographer
After 20 years, I tied the knot one last time; 2nd time only in my lifetime. The ceremony was small, simple. A few close friends and family were in attendance. Everyone pitched in to make our day as close to perfect as possible.
Cover Image By ©Sheena Pendley Design and Photography used with permission
After 20 years, I tied the knot one last time; 2nd time only in my lifetime. The ceremony was small, simple. A few close friends and family were in attendance. Everyone pitched in to make our day as close to perfect as possible.
I have participated as a “unofficial” photographer at a few weddings over the years, gifting my images to the newlyweds as seen in the 2 images below. So when it came to my own wedding it was no surprise I was to fill the roll as the “unofficial” photographer again, Though I was just as happy with a few smartphone images from our guest,
So I set up my gear for a few intimate portraitures of my own of my bride and her family after the ceremony, with the exception of an extra extraordinary friend and fellow photographer we invited, Sheena Pendley, She provided images of all in attendance; We invited Sheena as a guest, as our friend, It was a huge surprise and an honor she provided us with such beautiful images, making herself the unofficial photographer as I have done in the past.
Following the 5 images I shot, I have provided 4 images (aside from Sheena’s cover image) , along with a link to her professional website and the Facebook link to the rest of the images from our wedding that she so kindly shot for us at the end of this photoblog…..Enjoy...
Our Wedding
© Brian Cade Photography: Collective Works
© Brian Cade Photography: Collective Works
I wanted an image with my beautiful bride done with my lighting setup, so I handed my camera to my friend Tammy to get the shot.
Here are 4 sample images by photographer Sheena Pendley, her website and Facebook links are below.
©Sheena Pendley Design and Photography used with permission
Facebook:
Sheena Pendley Design + Photography
Website:
What’s in my bag
Here's a peek at what I currently use both in-house and on location. My whole Elinchrom system is actually the newest addition I have added since switching from the Paul C. Buff units, and it was worth the switch.
Often at times I never get asked “what’s in my bag”, well that’s not entirely true, when doing events is when that question would arise……at times.
Bags & Cases:
Timbuk2 Medium Messenger Bag (custom)
Domke F7 (black)
Domke F1-x little bit bigger bag (tan)
Elinchrom Hardshell Case
Tenba Hardshell Waterproof Case
Anvil Heavy Duty Flight Case
Cameras, Lenses:
Digital 35mm:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 85mm F1.8 D Lens
Nikkor 80-200mm F2.8 Lens
Sony Alpha A7R II
Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 GM
4x5 Film:
Toyo GII (4X5 camera)
Schneider Symmar-S 180mm f5.6 MC (Large Format Lens)
Riteway 4x5 Film Holders
Medium Format Film:
Rolleiflex MX series TLR
Mamiya RB67 Pro SD
Mamiya Sekor 50mm C f4.5
Mamiya 140mm F4.5 macro type “C” Lens
Mamiya K/L 90mm f3.5 Lens
Mamiya K/L 180 f4.5 Lens
Mamiya CDS Prism Finder
Mamiya Model 2 Prism Finder
Mamiya RB67 Waist Level Finder
Mamiya (RB) 6x8 Motorised 120 Film Back (2X's)
Mamiya (RB/RZ) 6x7 Motorised 120 Film Back
Lighting:
Elinchrom Quadra Pro Flash Head
Elinchrom Quadra Action Flash Head
Elinchrom Speed AS A Head
Elinchrom EL-1000 flash Head
Elinchrom Quadra Hybrid Battery Pack (400ws)
Elinchrom Quadra RX Battery Pack (400ws)
Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS Battery Pack (1100ws)
Elinchrom RQ Adapters (2X's)
Elinchrom Deflectors set
Elinchrom Maxispot Reflector
Elinchrom Rotalux 39" Deep Octabox
Elinchrom 17" Silver Beauty Dish
Elinchrom Basic 8.25 Reflector
30-degree Grid Spot (8”)
Elinchrom Skyport Plus HS Transmitter (Nikon)
Elinchrom Skyport Plus HS Transmitter (Sony)
Elinchrom EL-Skyport Transceiver
Elinchrom EL-Skyport Receiver
Honey Grid 40cm- 25-degree Grid Spot
Vagabond II Battery Pack (used w/Elinchrom EL-1000)
Mola Demi 22” Beauty Dish (White)
22” spot grid for Mola Demi (20 Degree)
Photek Softlighter II
Phottix 35cm X 155cm Strip Light
Nikon SB-26 Speedlight
Misc:
4'x 6' California Sunbounce w/ Silver/White Reflector Panel (2x’s)
42"x78" PVC frames (2X's)
42"x78" Calumet Translucent 1/2 stop Fabric
42"x78" Calumet White/Silver Fabric
Savage Seamless Paper (Thunder Gray) 86"x 36"
5x7 Canvas Backdrop Olive/Medium Texture
Rosco Color Gels
Bogen/Avenger Rolling Stand
Matthews Century C+ w/Turtle Base (Black)
Matthews Baby Runway Stand with Wheeled Base
Matthews 40” Hollywood Head/Arm (black)
Matthews 40” Hollywood Head/Arm
Matthews Half/Full Size Apple Box
X-rite ColorChecker
Workflow:
Dell XPS 17” Laptop
Dell XPS Desktop (32GB memory) Dual 27” Monitors
Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) w/ Pro 2 Pen
WD External Drive 500GB
WD External Drive 3T
WD External Drive 6T
WD External Drive 8T
Adobe Lightroom cc
Adobe Photoshop cc
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Master Collection
Capture One
Accessories:
Mamiya G2 Lens Shade
Tokina Lens Shade
Nikon Lens Shade
Sandisk Type II & III CF Cards (10X's)
Sandisk Card Reader
Nikon Battery Charger
B+W UV Filters (8x’s)
Sekonic L-358 Light Meter
Bogen 3021 Tripod (bought this in 1991)
Bogen 3030 Head (bought this in 1991)**retired
Arca Swiss B1 Ballhead
Arca Swiss Universal Plates (4X's)
77mm Neutral Density Filter