The Maryland Meetup Thread

milleker wrote in post #4106520
What setup are you getting? Huh Huh Huh Huh?

I'm looking at the wireless on the Midwest Photo Exchange with the vivitar 285hv and the cheapy cactus wireless set along with the stands and cameras. Curtis N was trying to convince me to pick up the Sigma 530. I was looking at possibly getting the sigma, the wireless transmitter and receiver and seeing if I can still swing the umbrella and stuff.

How necessary is the umbrella and stand?

Any personal reccomendations? The pocket wizards are a little out of my league right now and I've looked up an antenna mod that a few people that tried that seem to increase the range and reliability of the cheapy set.

Unless you want someone holding your flash when you're shooting - VERY necessary, however I heard from David that Midwest had found a cheaper alternative to the Manfrotto 3373's at something like half the cost. Not sure if they're available for sale - remember reading that they were somewhere (flickr?) but couldn't find the stands on the MPEX page. Figures, I just bought the Manfrotto 3373 last week. You also need the umbrella/flash holder swiveley-doodad to hold the flash which also holds the umbrella.

If you don't mind the harsh light you could probably get away without an umbrella for the time being.

If people like the Cactus triggers, go with those. I will make you a guarantee though - if you continue with the lighting into a serious hobby or even professional pace, you'll end up with the Pocket Wizards. I cringed when I purchased my first three at around $200 a pop. Since then I have bought another two. One Multimax and a Sekonic 558R which basically has one built in. It was either that or buy another PW to fit my old light meter. If you go with the Cactus, try the included range it might be well enough for you - anything beyond that may decrease the value if you ever wanted to sell them.

The Vivitar 285's are supposed to be nice. I have a bunch of Vivitar 283's from the 70's that are going darned strong that I use for strobist-style work. I have about half a dozen and it was a long time coming getting those - lots of putting parts together and slaving over eBay auctions. Generally those are about $70 a piece once you add the VP-1 variable power add-on.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #4106572
How necessary is the umbrella and stand?

Any personal reccomendations? The pocket wizards are a little out of my league right now and I've looked up an antenna mod that a few people that tried that seem to increase the range and reliability of the cheapy set.

milleker wrote in post #4106788
Unless you want someone holding your flash when you're shooting - VERY necessary, however I heard from David that Midwest had found a cheaper alternative to the Manfrotto 3373's at something like half the cost. Not sure if they're available for sale - remember reading that they were somewhere (flickr?) but couldn't find the stands on the MPEX page. Figures, I just bought the Manfrotto 3373 last week. You also need the umbrella/flash holder swiveley-doodad to hold the flash which also holds the umbrella.

If you don't mind the harsh light you could probably get away without an umbrella for the time being.

If people like the Cactus triggers, go with those. I will make you a guarantee though - if you continue with the lighting into a serious hobby or even professional pace, you'll end up with the Pocket Wizards. I cringed when I purchased my first three at around $200 a pop. Since then I have bought another two. One Multimax and a Sekonic 558R which basically has one built in. It was either that or buy another PW to fit my old light meter. If you go with the Cactus, try the included range it might be well enough for you - anything beyond that may decrease the value if you ever wanted to sell them.

The Vivitar 285's are supposed to be nice. I have a bunch of Vivitar 283's from the 70's that are going darned strong that I use for strobist-style work. I have about half a dozen and it was a long time coming getting those - lots of putting parts together and slaving over eBay auctions. Generally those are about $70 a piece once you add the VP-1 variable power add-on.

The cactus stock range is up to 15'. They're $30 for a pair on e-bay, so if resale is going to be laughable and if I damage it in the mod process, It's $30 and I'm not going to cry about it.

I think I may try and see if I can squeeze in the wireless kit that has the 285hv, triggers, and stands/umbrella as well as a Sigma flash. I just can't spring for all that and the pocket wizards right now.

That'll work - 15' is pretty acceptable either way though. The trick is to use a large 'apparent light surface' which you achieve with the umbrella and get up close. The closer you are the less light you need and the more battery power you save. In an ideal setting you're not going to be much further away than five or six feet from your lights anyway.

Why though are you getting a Vivitar 285 and a Sigma Flash as well? Personally I'd rather stick with two of the same devices. And really you could start with one flash and build on that and still make some nice images. You'll want to learn with one flash anyway so you can get an understanding of apparent size, angle, power, etc..

If you are interested in coming you'll want to buy tickets online. No, they don't use Ticket Master so you won't be paying more than the price of the tickets for a service charge. They fully expect to be sold out by Sunday so there is a good chance you will not be any tickets for sale at the door.

milleker wrote in post #4106150
Anyone else coming?

Charm City Roller Girls are having a Championship match on the evening of October 14th, this Sunday night. I purchased tickets on line for will-call - the page says the previous championship was sold out. You may wish to purchase tickets online as well.

2007 Championship starts at 7pm, doors open at 6. I really recommend getting there as the doors open for a good spot to set up to shoot. Half-time will bring on the debut of the men's league for a 20-minute bout.

http://www.charmcityro​llergirls.com/

For anyone interested; Tuesday, Oct.16th at 7:30 p.m., Marshy Point Nature Center in eastern Baltimore County will be hosting local wildlife photographer Middleton Evans. According to the literature, he will be showing photography from his new book of waterbirds which will be available for signing (and presumably purchase).

Website for Marshy Point is www.marshypoint.org. They're located off of Eastern Blvd. just east of Carroll Island Rd. in Chase area.

Looks like it's open to everyone and free of charge. I'm planning on trying to attend. Not necessarily an official POTN get-together, but I thought it sounded interesting and thought I'd post it for anyone who might want to go.

Also, Tuesday, Nov. 20th at 7:30, similar program with Mike Eversmier of Aqua Ventures showing underwater photography of the Chesapeake.

If anybody thinks they might like to go, let me know.

Thanks, Jim

Not mine but thought I would pass it along. I'm hoping to get a table, if anyone here attends be sure to look me up and peruse my junk!

Annapolis Camera Show - October 28th, Noon to 5pm - Buy, Sell, or Trade!

Co-sponsored by David Anderson Photography and the Professional Photographers of Greater Annapolis (www.ppoga.org)

There will be cameras ... lenses ... lights ... posing stools ... computer equipment ... frames ... much more! Or rent a space and set up a table to sell all of those unwanted items you may have!

When: Sunday, October 28, 2007 - Noon to 5:00 p.m. (mark your calendar now!)

Where: Heritage Harbour Center - 801 Compass Way - Annapolis, MD 21401 (indoor location).

Take US Rt. 50 to Exit 22 (Riva Rd.) ... bear RIGHT onto Riva Rd. south ... 1/2 mile to RIGHT on Harry S Truman .... 2 miles to end, then LEFT onto South Haven Rd. ... 1/2 mile to LEFT on Compass Way, immediate RIGHT into Heritage Harbour Center.

Admission: $2 admission (1 free admission per table space) ... Light refreshments will be available ... (Redskins have 4:15 away game - Ravens are off)
Table Cost: $25 per 8x10 table space - $20 for PPOGA members (please bring your own table)

To rent table space, go to www.daphoto.com/camsho​w-form.html

Anyone interested in going to Blackwater Refuge on Sunday?

http://www.friendsofbl​ackwater.org/
http://www.fws.gov/bla​ckwater/


I will be there with a colleague probably at about 10:30AM. we are meeting up a bit east of the beltway on RT 50 and carpooling. email me if interested.

elader2(remove this)@comcast.net

Just a reminder:

Tomorrow, 10am at Patapsco State Park (Avalon area, near the falls) fans of the Strobist technique will be having a get-together at the park. David Hobby will also be there. They've got a few models interested and are trying to get more. Anyone interested in off-camera flash should be able to get some good ideas on the equipment needed and how to go about doing it.

http://flickr.com …iscuss/72157601​727810454/
http://www.strobist.co​m

I've got a model shoot in the morning but will be attending around noon. If anyone comes look for me, I'll be wearing a bright orange coast guard hat.

-John

Looking for a location to shoot urban/street performers near the DC area... anyone know of a location?

Hey, Shultsie, congrats on your award. That's awesome! Oh, and thanks to you and everybody serving in Iraq and elsewhere.

Jim

Thanks!

SHULTSIE!!! wrote in post #4322887
Looking for a location to shoot urban/street performers near the DC area... anyone know of a location?

Try Old Town Alexandria. Not sure about routinely, but Dec. 1 is the Scottish Christmas Walk - should be some local colour thereabouts.

On a different note - Brookside Gardens has their Garden of Lights up through Jan. 6. Baltimore's Dollar or Less Days (PDf) is Dec. 8-9. Several of us have gone the past couple of years.

Hey fellow marylanders =D Just want to introduce myself. I live in Olney, MD but am away during the school year at St. Mary's College in southern MD. I'll be back in the DC area almost the whole month of december though. Hopefully I can get out and shoot with you guys!

jsimon724 wrote in post #4121337
Website for Marshy Point is www.marshypoint.org. They're located off of Eastern Blvd. just east of Carroll Island Rd. in Chase area.

Also, Tuesday, Nov. 20th at 7:30, similar program with Mike Eversmier of Aqua Ventures showing underwater photography of the Chesapeake.

Thanks, Jim

Hey Jim, I was there for Mike's presentation on underwater photography (heard about it from the Aqua Ventures email). Were you there? I was the kid with the brown jacket and white hat sitting in the back left of the room. (terrible traffic on 40 )

TopGear1Ds wrote in post #4391460
Hey fellow marylanders =D...I live in Olney, MD but am away during the school year at St. Mary's College in southern MD...Hopefully I can get out and shoot with you guys!

Welcome to POTN, I used to work with someone that currently goes to St. Mary's. I also hope there will be stuff happening soon where there are a other POTNers going so I can get out, shoot, and maybe get some tips on technique