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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

BLOG HAS MOVED!

The Shutterzone Blog has gotten a face-lift with a new category browser, new tags, and more features coming soon.

Plus, we've moved!

The new location on our website is here.

If you read us through a blog reader, please update the feed URL to the new feed:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/theshutterzone

or click on one of these:

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See you on the other side!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Where to buy fake ice for photography

I've often seen photographers ask in forums where to buy fake ice. There are other options of course; but one such place is Trenglove Studios in New York. Larger pieces for closeup shots are $40 for acrylic or $35 for solid glass. Bulk "display ice" can be purchased for $15 for a dozen. If you're in NY, you can rent your fake ice instead of buying it. They also have fake splashes, liquid spills, etc., even fake bubbles for that extra clean shot.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Evostock

I have recently joined Evostock, a virtual agency on Photoshelter where photographers can come together to present their combined work to art buyers.

From Evostock's homepage:
Evostock is a online community of highly creative professional photographers coming together with their imagery to provide clients one place to search across a large collection of the highest quality images from a wide spectrum of photographers and perspectives.

Evostock is committed to providing fresh, new, and evolved images for this evolving world we live and work in.

I invite other stock photographers on Photoshelter to join Evostock by contacting Tim McGuire at the email address listed on the Evostock homepage.

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Monday, August 31, 2009

Hit Man

Assassin holding a gun. Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Assassin holding a gun



Sunday, August 30, 2009

New Orleans French Market Window

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Shop window in the French Market District of New Orleans, Louisiana



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Saturday, August 29, 2009

Concept Image

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Hand in medical glove holding a wooden cross.



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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Media Phone Book

I ran across the Media Phone Book wiki site today which bills itself as "...the best place on the web for photographers to exchange information about media companies. The primary use for this wiki is for Media Companies to tell photographers the best way to contact them and for photographers to exchange contact information.".

The list is very small, but I've verified that the information provided for magazines that I have worked with is accurate. Presumably the rest is as well. The site has a good list of freelance photo editors.

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MIRA's August 2009 Lightbox

MIRA's August 2009 Lightbox sent out to art buyers features this recent image of mine from Hawaii:

Male snorkeling in Hawaii. Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.



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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

New Profoto ComPact 300R's

My new Profoto lights came in today! I got a kit of two 300 ws Profoto monolights with reflectors, tripods, and a case. Best of all, the "R" in the model name means they're radio-enabled with built-in 32-channel PocketWizards.

Here is a play-by-play on the unwrapping ceremony:

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.
I got a great deal on these. Relatively speaking, they were cheap compared to list price. In percentage terms relative to my capital expenditure budget, they definitely were NOT cheap!

I've been shopping all year though for a set of monolights. Profoto has the very best reputation but also the highest prices of anyone. This is a very entry-level set, but I could at least afford them. Bowens is coming out with a new line of monolights that I nearly bought, but they've just been too slow to market. You have to buy add-on cards for them as well for the PocketWizard receivers. Other manufacturer's have similar offerings. While I could have gotten more watt/seconds per dollar with another brand, paying extra on top of that for the PocketWizards made this kit come out to a decent deal. Now I just need to make some pictures to recoup the cost and then start making money with it. (It's good to have goals.)

So far I'm extremely impressed with Profoto except for the tripods that came with the kit. They work, to some degree. That's the only good thing I can say about them. Can you believe they didn't even ship air-cushioned light stands with these heavy monolights? Nope. When the light is raised to 6+ feet it gets very wobbly as well. My Impact light stands are air-cushioned and of much better quality than what Profoto shipped. I'll probably put the Impact stands in the Profoto case and use the others for my Nikon Speedlights.

Lights, camera, action!

Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.


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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Health Care Red Pill

I'm hoping the brochures issued to every single American on the new health care plans will have this picture on the cover. If you know anyone in D.C., tell them I'll make the government a GREAT deal on the license for a few million copies. Maybe $1 each?

Elderly woman's hand holding a red pill. Copyright Terry Smith. All Rights Reserved.



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©Terry Smith, 2009. All images are registered with the United States Copyright Office.