Camera Equipment News
So I decided to upgrade my camera equipment (with Dolores' blessing of course... well, maybe not blessing per say...). I sold my RebelXT to the daughter of one of the ladies at work for $250 and then ordered a Canon 40D and battery grip from B&H for around $1300. We got it in enough time for Wicked (2/8-9), so I got to break it in properly. Then on the following Sunday, D and I went to B&H to look at a couple of things. Both of the things I was going to buy (handstrap, focusing screen) were out of stock, so we went and browsed the studio lighting. Now I really wanted to get into studio lighting to play around with at home and maybe do some portraits, but the recommendations from two different salespeople at B&H would have run me about $500 just for 2 lights and stands... no backdrops, background supports, softboxes, reflectors, etc included. So needless to say, I passed since it would have been at least $700 for what I needed. Also, to top it off I a wicked cold and wound up being out of work on Monday.
Then Tuesday morning, I caught an ad on craigslist in Philly for studio equipment that said located right outside Philly. So I contacted the guys to let him know I was very interested and to ask to meet up with him since we would be in King of Prussia the following weekend. He responds saying that he is in Mohnton which is about 10 minutes from our house. This kind of weirded me out, since there are not many listings for used studio equipment, especially in my area. So Wed night after class I head over to his house and for $400 I get:
2 250w/s Interfit Strobes
2 8ft light stands
9x12ft background stand
48"x48" softbox
12"x24" softbox
1 umbrella
1 black muslin background (~10'x 24')
1 gray muslin background (~10'x12')
sync cables and cords
carrying cases for everything
So needless to say, I made out pretty good. Got to set everything up finally on Friday night to do pictures of the kids. Aurora did not feel like cooperating, but Ariel was her normal hammy self. Here is my favorite pic from the night:
Then this past Sunday, Dolores and I went to the Dump and Ikea in Philly. At the Dump we got a beautiful dark wood 4ft bench with an off-white pad and claw feet for $99 (normally $289). At Ikea we picked up 2 $5 little black stools. Both can be used for photo props and portraits. When we got home, I was playing with some lighting techniques and we decided to get some shots of the cat. So with Dolores' help we got some beautiful shots of Belle. You can see them all here but my favorite two are:
So now I have some new, expensive toys to play with (insert Dolores telling me I am such a boy here).
Also, one other point of note, I have reached a milestone and am under 300lbs for the first time in a long time, which puts me at 19lbs lost since the beginning of the year.
And congrats John and Val.