The Second Portrait of 2007

Adolfo Fidel Chavez IV - Almost Five Years Old
Originally uploaded by killy

The first time I saw someone use a handheld flash as a studio strobe, it was when i was working my first job as a custom color printer in Austin. A staff photographer from the Statesman was shooting our company Xmas card. As we all gathered around the front counter he quickly set up two stands, popped two nikon flashes onto the tops and mounted an umbrella to both of them.

The second time was when i assisted Taggart in NYC.

We are going to Chicago on Wednesday for a quincenera and Carol's parents anniversary (i think it's their 50th). My contribution at these events is usually photographic, but i am never really prepared to make serious portraits. This year, though, i'll be ready.

Today, i set up one of my studio stands, propped an umbrella on it (unsecured) and set about photographing the family around the house. I am still corded so i had the flash tethered to an adapter on the hotshoe and had to hold the flash with one hand and the camera in the other.

I think the results are pretty good. Although, there are few things to work out: firing the flash remotely without buying a new flash; mounting the flash and umbrella to the stand; getting it out of my head that i'm in chicago.