The real cost of flying

Tomorrow (Wed 7/9/08) I fly back to the Pittsburgh area. Today, I am agonizing over a box that needs to be shipped back. I shipped it here via US Postal Mail for $45. Via UPS it will cost $60. I am sure all rates have increased in the past 60 days, but damn, that's an OUCH.

My dilemma is to check it as my second checked bag on US Air, or to ship it via USPS or UPS. As a US Air preferred member, I get free checked bags. I don't have to pay the fee that US Air charges.

The big problem is that US Air charges for their "service" of carrying your baggage, but they WILL NOT ensure that it won't be stolen, delayed or damaged. Yet the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL and FedEx WILL guarantee your shipment will arrive as expected and in good shape. At least with everyone but the airlines it appears that you can get insurance on your shipments. US Air and other airlines, absolutely not especially if it's anything of value (like camera equipment).

So I can ship for free, and possibly have my items pilfered from the thieves that work at the airports. Or I can pay $60 to have peace of mind.

We should NOT have to deal with this in the "POST 9/11 era". There is so much damn security EVERYWHERE, yet the least secure areas are actually the airports.

Background info

I thought I posted this last week, since I knew I wasn't going to be able to post for a few days.....oops.

Not sure if I have ever mentioned it, so I will here.

My abbreviated equipment list includes:
1) A computer
2) Canon cameras
3) Third party lenses. I do have two Canon lenses, but the others are Tokina, Sigma and a Tamron.
4) A Seagate Free Agent back up drive (stays on the desk)
5) A portable hard drive for on location backups. (All images are copied to BOTH drives as well as to a CD and DVD as well as on the computer. That's FIVE locations.

Software
1) Canon Digital Photo Professional v. 3
2) Adobe Lightroom v. 1.3 (for all my image editing). (I haven't installed the 1.4 upgrade yet) ((I also hear about a LR v 2 in Beta....)).
3) Adobe Elements v. 4
4) Google Picasa 2 (for uploading images to use on the blog)
5) Microsoft Expression Web ( I demoed the program and liked it. I need to buy the full version so I can use it to create my web site).

LR has so many features that I haven't tried all of them yet. I do know that it makes my images much nicer than any other program I have used thus far. If I need to do something with layers, I will use Adobe Elements v 4. But honestly, it doesn't happen often. LR does have a feature that will download images from a memory card. Like I mentioned, I use haven't used it yet. DPP is something I am used to and works for me, at this point. CS3 isn't in the cards for me. Mostly because of the price. I did play with the demo a few months ago and preferred Lightroom to CS3 for my needs.

New DIY project (pt II)

Here are the shots of the ring light.

The flash being used here is a Vivitar 285 HV. They were originally made in the 70's or 80's (maybe early 90's) and current photographers loved them so much that Vivitar decided to begin manufacturing them again. The secondary market for these was hot. Units were going for $125+ for essentially a manual flash. But new units are now $89 with a warranty......speaking of warranty.....I have a unit I sent in TWICE to Vivitar in California. I sent it out Jan 9th. It returned to me Jan 23rd. Unfixed. Then I sent it out again Jan 24th. It's not back yet and supposedly they are going to replace it. If you can believe customer service that speaks broken English. I think the only thing they did was put batteries in it and saw the pretty red and green lights. But they probably never test fired it or put it on a camera. If they would have, they would know the damn thing is BROKE. Arhghghgh.

Okay, sorry.

I didn't take any pictures of the process of making the ringlight. I also know I will make another one, since this one isn't perfect. But it should work for now.

THe main part of the flash is a salad/mixing bowl. The inside where the camera lens fits is a piece of PVC pipe. The inside of the bowl is also lined with aluminum foil to help reflect as much light around and out as possible. The first version only had silver spray paint in it and it didn't reflect enough light. This one also has a large diffuser (the white part) which makes the center hole too small. I will increase the center shoot through hole and that will make the diffuser smaller, which will make the light a little more contrasty. The next diffuser will also be less white. Right now there is probably 4 coats of white primer. Perhaps a tad too much.

Here is a shot of the kit-n-kaboodle. The 285, Canon 1D and a bracket that normally goes on a light stand. That bracket will be replaced. I don't like the one right now. I will probably use metal angle brackets instead.


This shot is of the flash firing. You can see the ring of light.....LOL


Here is a picture straight on as a model would see it. Dang, that is kind of intimidating.

New DIY project

Since I don't actually make any (or very much) money right now, I have to be creative in my equipment. I already made (Do It Yourself) a background support system out of PVC pipe. But it's really too cumbersome to use and very heavy to carry, it sits in the bag right now. Plus, the last few times I have taken it with me, I keep forgetting the three cross pieces at home so it's useless..... Once I get a permanent studio I can set it up and leave it up. That will be nice. I also made a diffusion panel. Again, out of PVC. It cost about 35-40 dollars. To buy one, they are nearly $300. Granted, my version is only white and the others come with black and silver panels....but hey, for the cost I can build more.

My latest DIY project was a ring light. A ring light is a flash that goes around your camera lens, instead of a flash on top of your camera. It looks like a donut around the end of your camera lens. The result is a picture with very little shadow, or a shadow around your subject that looks like a dark or gray halo. The picture below is taken with a flash. But notice there isn't a shadow behind her. (FYI, the "wall" is a current home repair project too. We are painting the stairway, but the wall had to be repaired so I am taking down the old plaster and putting up drywall.)

Here is one picture with the new ring light. She wasn't exactly a willing subject. I'll get a picture of the ring light later.

Take it out, bring it back

One thing that REALLY sucked about yesterday is that since I don't have a studio, I have to move my stuff every time I have a shoot. On some shoots, I don't bring much, just the camera and laptop. On most shoots, I bring everything. Here's a rough list:

Camera bag: (everywhere)
camera body 1 (+ 4 batteries) body 2 (6 batteries), (lenses) 70-200, 50, 17-35, 85, flash, (7) memory cards, misc tools (lint brush, lens rag, screwdriver, flashlight, notebook, pen, permanent marker and many other small items), iPod, card reader. When I shoot sports, I also have the 300 lens and a monopod.

Laptop bag: (nearly everywhere)
laptop, AC adapter, photo portfolio, a few magazines,

Blue tote: (most shoots)
(2) extension cords, power strip, roll of aluminum foil, bag of 25+ assorted spring clamps, misc props,

Other: (most shoots)
(1) black (1) white 6'x4' reflector, (1) 18"x24" white reflector, roller suitcase of white background, black background, black velvet cover, gray, white, red, purple material sheets, bag of jewelry props,

Silver flash case: (most shoots)
(3) Vivitar 285 flashes, (1) generic flash, (1) ceiling grid mount, (3) flash/umbrella mounts, misc tools, Gary Font Lightsphere II, (2) 4.5 volt wet cell batteries and DC adapter leads in bags, color checker/gray card, (2) gel packs, turbo air blower, (2) wireless transmitter/receivers (eBay), box of misc flash/trans/recv parts/flash cables, black and gray gaffer tape, velcro ties,

Maroon bag: (most shoots)
(2) light stands, (2) white umbrellas w/black cover,

Tripod bag: (most shoots)
cheap tripod, cheap monopod

Plus: (most shoots)
I bring a case of water, a few misc clothes I have picked up at trips to thrift stores, spare AA batteries, a binder of release forms (adult model, adult minor, property and an adult (short) model form). The short form is 1/2 piece of paper and has few words. Versus the long form is a whole piece of paper. I also have two beanbags and a simple wooden kitchen chair with a round seat and round back.