_______________________________________________________________

Because the L-Bracket is designed to wrap around the side of the camera, I can now reset the camera to a vertical position.

_______________________________________________________________

The problem with L-Brackets is they are all designed to fit each individual camera. So if you change to a new camera you have to buy a new L-Bracket for that camera. Not that it would be a big deal if the L-bracket was cheap, but my last one cost me $130.

Acratech makes a Universal L-Bracket that will fit most all DSLRs and other camera formats as well. This bracket runs about $225 which is pricey, but it will fit all your cameras and will prevent you from having to spend way more in the long run buying L-Brackets every time to buy a new camera.

Do you already own a Rogue Flash Bender made by ExpoImaging? If so, then you will definitely want to pick up one of the new Diffusion Screens. These handy screens improve the light from the flash bender by diffusing the light giving it a softer quality, especially when used in close to your subjects.

The Rogue Flash Benders are handy speedlight modifiers that simply velcro on to your flash, and can then be adjusted and formed to better control and shape the light. The new Diffusion Screens simply velcro on to your already existing Flash Bender and help to spread and soften that light. The new Diffusion Screens also come in two sizes, one for the large Flash Bender and another for the smaller one. The large screen creates a 9" by 8" source of light and the smaller one is 9" by 4.5".

To give a frame of reference of the differences between using a bare flash and the Flash Bender with the new Diffusion Screens, check out the images below.

Looking for a good quality gear bag that can hold a little bit of everything? Then this bag might be for you!

I stopped by to see my friends at Outdoor Photo Gear the other day and they had just received a shipment of these bags in. While I wasn't really in the market for a new bag, I couldn't help but notice the size of this thing and how well made it is (its a Kata --duh). Its billed as a medium sized bag, but this thing looks like it will hold everything but the kitchen sink! So I had to check it out.

Its the Kata KT-OMB-75 One Man Band Bag and I believe it would store everything a one man band could possibly throw in it. Its surrounded by pockets all the way around and on top. The front pocket zips open to reveal a large, flat storage area with smaller, utility style pockets for everything from notebooks, to pens, chords and all sorts of smaller knick-knacks. It also has a flat pocket on each side and another voluminous one on top. On the outside top of the bag, there are straps that can be used to strap on a tripod or light stands.

Started by world renowned wildlife photographer Andy Biggs, Gura Gear has gathered a strong following from nature and wildlife photographers in the last couple of years with their Kiboko 30L backpack. The Kiboko was designed by Andy specifically to hold large super telephoto lenses during travel and in the field. It’s take a few years but this past Autumn, Gura Gear expanded their lineup to include two new bags; Kiboko 22l and Chobe 19-24L. We’ll be taking a closer look at the new 22L Kiboko in the coming weeks but today I want to give you my thoughts on the new Chobe shoulder bag.

Gura Gear Chobe can be purchased from the Outdoor Photo Gear Store.

Videos

Colorado based photographer Daniel Kelly Brown made this great little animation of the Chobe which is also worth watching.

Some people try to invent new products, and some people build a better mouse trap or an improvement on an product. If you’re a macro photographer you have obviously seen various clamps made from flexible tubing that have a clamp on one end to attach to your tripod, and a small clamp on the opposite end. These can be attached to the stem of a flower to steady it while moving in a slight breeze, or to use it to hold your diffusers and reflectors, which is what I use mine for.

I have never used or promoted these clamps to be attached to a flower stem on windy days. They may do a fine job holding the flower stem steady, but the petals on the flower are still blowing in the wind. So for me, a clamp’s purpose has always been for holding my diffusers and reflectors in place. I use them on nearly every shot to shade a flower and reflect light into dark areas.

Last spring I was contacted by my friend Craig who was working on a better idea for a macro clamp. I mentioned to Craig that I mainly used clamps for holding my diffuser and reflector and that I was looking fr a longer, stronger clamp. He showed me some ideas that had a long clamp which had more contact on the surface areas of the diffuser and reflector, and would hold them without the sag.

So, now we have Craig’s new and improved “Macro Field Support System” (FMS)

With the FMS, you have a longer clamp that is able to support your diffuser with less sag, making it easier to position over your flower, or easier to aim reflected light with your reflector.

I've finally decided on a cart! I was on the hunt to replace my homemade cart, and Outdoor Photo Gear sent me the two different Eckla Gear Carts to evaluate. I've decided on the Eckla Beach Rolly. I thought I would give you a rundown on each cart.

There are two different styles of Gear Carts by Eckla that are available: the Multi Rolly and the Beach Rolly. These carts are both light weight and fold easily to fit in the car. Both are durable multi-function carts with all-terrain tires. The tires are very versatile and can go anywhere you need them to go--whether it’s over rough terrain or sandy beaches. These carts carry your gear instead of you humping it on your shoulders or back! The no slip grips on the handles are fantastic and as soon as I saw them I knew I would like them. The handle is tall enough so that when you are rolling the cart, you don’t hit the back of your ankles – which was one of the problems I was having with my homemade cart.

I have tried every method and product imaginable for storing and keeping my batteries organized but have now found a product I truly love! Chris at Outdoor Photo Gear tipped me off to the PowerPax Battery Caddies. These little guys are a breeze to use and take up little to no space. What I really love about them is that I can keep groups of four batteries together, in a small and compact, secure device.

These caddies are made of a hard, durable plastic and aren't much bigger than a set of four AA batteries in your hand. The batteries simply pop in through the bottom of the case and snap into place, ensuring a snug fit. They won't fall out, due to the design of the case, however you can easily pop the batteries out with one hand, which if you shoot weddings or other venues where you need to reload batteries quickly, this feature can save valuable time. When on an assignment, I always carry at least two sets of AA batteries in my pockets and up until now, I felt like I had aliens growing out of my legs due to the size of the battery case. But with these new caddies, you don't even notice them in your pockets.

I was skeptical about this one – I have to admit it. I already have a camera strap that I really like. It has great padding and little pockets where I can keep a couple of extra memory cards – so why do I need the Black Rapid RS4? But I’m game. I said I’d try it out, and write up a review if I liked it. If not, I’d just send it back. Well – I was wrong… this thing is great!

First off, it has a pocket. So what? My old one has two pockets. Well – the pockets on my other strap are just the right size for my memory cards. Which is great – if that’s the only thing you plan to put in there. They’re too small to fit anything else. The Black Rapid has one slightly larger pocket with a small zipper – it’ll fit a couple of memory cards– or you can do what I did. I usually use a tripod – so my camera has a quick-release bracket screwed into the bottom. Rather than risk losing the bracket, I put it in the pocket – along with its easy-to-lose screw, and my allen wrench. When I want to switch back to my tripod mount, I know exactly where those small parts are. No fishing around in the bottom of my camera bag trying to find them. That may not seem like a big deal, but if you are primarily a tripod-shooter, it means a lot. The pocket was just large enough to fit a spare memory card in there too. Nice!

Our first video is on the Eagle Car Door Support from Eckla. Alan reviews all the features of this sturdy mount, which makes shooting from your vehicle a breeze.

You can see the Eckla Eagle in the OPG store here.

Alan has an incredibly detailed and useful best-selling ebook "Songbird Setup Photography" in the store. You can also check out Alan's images and workshops at his website here. Thanks Alan!

At first, I felt like I was carrying around too much equipment. Tripod and camera in one hand, plamp and filters in the other - useful or not, I had to find a way to carry everything more easily. So, I clamped the Plamp onto my tripod, and hung the reflector panels from it. Now, I could carry everything with one hand. Problem solved. I chose a small thistle, and got to work. Lucky for me, I had my trusty side-kick along to document the process - thanks for helping out, Jay!

First, I set up my tripod then put the Plamp to work positioning the chosen thistle just where I wanted it. I'll go into more detail about that fabulous little tool later - for now, indulge me while I go into some detail about controlling the light.

It’s no secret. Many nature photographers are curious about the new heavy duty, yet affordable 8X CT tripod series from Induro. During this review, I’ll talk about the largest tripod Induro has ever offered and how it performs in the real world. If you have seen my images or have participated in my workshops, you’ll know that I’m not a casual shooter. I photograph in mud, saltwater, beach sand and everything else you can think of and my tripod comes along with me. Therefore, I need a tripod that meets my needs and can withstand my style of shooting!

The new 8X CT-Series of Induro tripods are the strongest, most stable tripods ever offered. A wide stance cross-braced magnesium alloy spider, ultra-light 8X layer Carbon Fiber legs, oversized center column lock and enhanced leg angle locks, contribute with up to 35% greater stability, rigidity and higher load capacity. The new 8X CT-Series also includes interchangeable rubber feet and stainless steel spikes, a tool kit and deluxe carrying bag and strap.

Let’s look at the new features:

Features:

• Wide Stance Cross-braced Magnesium Alloy Spider: This feature alone provides an excellent core system stability and support. While I’m not a big fan of the tripod base, I must say that I adapted to the new magnesium alloy spider style base with ease. After all, if the tripod is more stable with the new magnesium alloy design, I’m happy!
  

ExpoImaging has come out with a cool new modifier for speedlights called the Rogue 3-in-1 Grid.  These are the same guys that brought us the Rogue Flash Benders for speedlights which are essentially snoots, gobos, bounce cards and flags all rolled in to one customizable shaped modifier.  For photographers who like to pack light, you can't beat the small size and portability of this latest series of flash modifiers.
 

The Rogue Grid is a really nice system because it has three different grid sizes in one small package.  These grids come in 45 degrees, 25 degrees and 16 degrees spreads that have a somewhat soft-ish fall off to the edges, unlike using a snoot.  This system comes with the two grids (stacking them makes the third grid), the grid holder and a cool little bag to carry the system in.