The Universal kit comes with 20 tabbed filters and a band to attach the gels to any sized speedlight. The kit includes various dramatic colors for effect, and a set of color correction gels to match your light with just about any available light from tungsten to florescent. A really cool feature of these gels is that each one comes printed with the actual color and the number of stops of light each gel uses. This can be really handy when determining how much light to use. These gels also attach very easily to any speedlight with the included band.
The Rogue Grid kit is designed to be used with the new Rogue Grid and these fit easily in to the Rogue Grid holder. This kit comes with the same tabbed 20 filters as the Universal kit and each gel is also marked with the color and number of stops of light each gel uses (I love this feature). If you already have the Rogue Grid then this is a must have addition, and if you don't have the grid, go out and pick one up, its priced right and easy to use!
Both kits come with their own carrying pouches which if you've used gels at all, you know how cumbersome it can be to keep these organized and stored for quick use. Also, both kits have tabbed dividers inside that tell you what gels it contains and information about each gel ...again this is an awesome feature! ...did I say that already?
I use gels all the time in my photography and you can never have too many. The new Rogue Gel Kits make it easy to have a broad selection of colored gels, organized and ready to use at a moment's notice. I included a short video below that shows you how to attach both sets of gels to your flashes.
Why stand in line? Shop from the comfort of your own home! Besides, you’re probably full of turkey and pretty mellow right now.
Make sure and check out all the great deals this weekend! From Doorbusters, to a killer Demo sale and Gura Gear specials, we’ve marked down all kinds of good gear!
It’s fall here in the US, and photographers are out and about, capturing lots of color in mountains and forests. But the early morning chill in the air and the honk of migrating geese remind me of my favorite fall place: Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
Bosque del Apache was the site of my first photo workshop, and where I was bitten hard by the Bird Photography bug. Not only is Bosque a great place to learn bird photography, it’s become an annual “meet and greet” for the outdoor photographer community. Photographers of all levels, either on a workshop or on their own, invade the little town of Socorro and comingle, exchange ideas and socialize both in the field and the various hangouts around town. I’m trilled to be going back this year with Rick Sammon and Juan Pons for a great workshop.
If you’re heading there for the first time, you can take advantage of those of us who make it an annual pilgrimage, and plan ahead for your gear and supplies. You won’t be heading to a remote place like Africa, so if you forget something, you can always pick it up at a local store. However, Bosque is so enchanting you won’t want to miss a single minute of shooting time by shopping!
Let’s start with non-photographic gear. You’ll be in desert air, with wild temperature fluctuations throughout the day. In the before-dawn when we set up, it can get cold. For most of us, I mean really cold. I’ve spent many mornings in below zero temps at Bosque. By afternoon, it can reach 70! So, dress in layers. Invest some good outdoor clothing and supplies. Check the weather ahead of time! Here’s a good non-photographic gear list:
Good windproof outer shell parka.
Long underwear. My favorite is made by SmartWool. Expensive but worth every penny.
Warm socks and sock liner. Again, SmartWool.
Warm shoes. We won’t be hiking, but warmth is the key here.
Gloves that allow you to work your camera. AquaTech Sensory Gloves are our best sellers, and for good reason. You may also want to get a pair of thin gloves or liners you can wear under the AquaTechs, like FoxGloves.
Hand warmer packets. Get these ahead of time. You’ll need them, and the local Walmart will be sold out as lots of folks get them on their second day after frozen hands on their first!
Hiker’s Headlamp. These are really handy for early morning setups. Try and get one with a red lamp to save your low light vision. Yes, you’ll look funny, but you’ll be very glad you have it!
NEOS Overshoes. If you have room in your bags, these could come in handy. Some shots, like the iconic Bosque shot with mist and cranes, might require you to stand in some shallow water, depending on the reserve’s water levels. Not a requirement, but they might be nice to have.
Hats. One stocking cap (SmartWool!) to cover your ears in the morning, and a billed cap for the day.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm for the desert day.
Water. Pick up some water when you get to town to keep in your room. The dry air really takes it out of you.
As to photographic gear, Bosque del Apache is a place where you can find a use for nearly every piece of photo gear you own, from a point & shoot camera to your longest lens. If you could pack every camera and lens you own, you’d be able to use it. Certainly, you’ll want to bring your longest lens, along with your sturdiest tripod and head. Bosque is a great place to practice flight shots, as the Sandhill Cranes that fly around are big and slow. If you are looking for an excuse to purchase that 500mm lens, or a new tripod or gimbal head, now’s the time. You’ll never find a better place to learn how to use them.
In addition to your longest lens, bring your shortest, widest lens you have. Bosque provides some wonderful landscapes and “birdscapes” during spectacular sunrises and sunsets. In addition to the refuge, the area has some cool buildings and old cars, as well as the Very Large Array of radio telescope dishes made famous by several movies. There are lots of uses for your wide angle lenses. Since there are not a lot of mammals at Bosque, other than the occasional coyote, middle range lenses such as a 70-200 are used only occasionally. If you have to pare down lenses in your travel bag, go for the extremes.
Speaking of camera bags, a roller bag such as the Think Tank Airport Security works best at Bosque. Bring as much gear as you can! We won’t be shooting far from our vehicles — you can’t leave the road in the refuge. As such, you can bring a bag or two that hold your gear, and you can “pack heavy” instead of paring down your stuff to fit in a backpack.
You’ll be able to shoot quite a bit from your car at Bosque if you like. A gravel road circles the refuge and folks drive it looking for shots. When you see a bunch of cars parked, chances are something good is going on. To shoot from our car, you can bring a beanbag. The Apex Beanbags are nice in that they have a tripod mount on top of them for your gimbal head or ballhead. Bring your beanbag empty and fill it with birdseed from Walmart. When you’re ready to go home you can just dump it out and give the local birds a treat.
As Bosque offers all kinds of shooting situations, and you can pack heavy, bring all your odds and ends you might use on a shoot: items like a bubble level and polarizer for landscapes, flash, cord and Better Beamer for fill flash, extra memory cards, hard drives and so on.
Here’s a list of suggested photographic gear to recap and to add a few things:
Card reader to download your images—much faster than from the camera
Portable hard drive to back up your computer
As I wrote earlier, you’ll find a little bit of everything at Bosque del Apache and the surrounding areas. You’ll also find a host of friendly photographers and friends that you may have only met online. You’ll find that you will want to visit every year.
I’m happy to be going this year! Rick, Juan and I will see you at the Owl Bar in San Antonio, right outside the refuge, for a world famous green chile cheeseburger. (Did I mention bring some Tums?)
Congrats to our pals over at Gura Gear for winning the PopPhoto award!
Here’s the text of PopPhoto’s award release:
Best for the Gear-lugger:
Gura Gear Kiboko 30L Backpack designed by photographers while on safari in Africa and made of tough, lightweight fabric of the sort used in America’s cup sails, this 4-pound pack can hold lenses up to 800mm, and pro-level DSLR or medium- format bodies. The butterfly-opening front flaps keep you from exposing your equipment to the elements, and the backpack straps tuck in and stow. $429
Think back to when you were a kid, heading to school in the snow or rain.
Your mom dressed you up to look like that poor little kid in Christmas Story, including horrendous, floppy black galoshes. You just knew that the other kids would make fun of your big floppy rubber boots.
Things have changed dramatically today. Galoshes, renamed overshoes, have gone hi-tech. Gone are the slippery soles, the big ugly buckles and the floppy rubber. Modern material, grippy soles and a tight fit take their place. New overshoes fit like shoes, are easy to walk in, and most importantly, keep your feet warm and dry.
The best overshoes we’ve seen are made by NEOS, a company that makes both consumer and industrial footwear. Their “uppers” are made from waterproofed Denier nylon (think high-end backpacks) and their soles are lugged just like your favorite hiking boot. They are pretty snazzy-looking too!
NEOS come in insulated and non-insulated styles. The non-insulated overshoes at 20º of warmth to your feet and the insulated styles add 40º. The NEOS Navigator even has a 5” gaiter you can extend out of top of the boot for deep snow.
These new NEOS overshoes are high-tech and dare we say, even fashionable. You won’t have the big kids teasing you anymore with these.
You can check out the NEOS overshoe line the OPG Store.
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.
Most clamps have a clamp the other end that attaches to your tripod for support. I've found this to be a disadvantage as the tubing doesn’t always reach far enough to hold my diffuser or reflector, as my tripod may be to far away from my subject with longer focal length lenses. The FMS system anchors with a non-twist stake in the ground next to the subject. This makes it easier to position the diffuser or reflector where you need it, and you can move your tripod around wherever you need to.
Below, you can see how I set up my FMS System staked into the ground near a leaf to shade it from the early morning sun. I can move about with my tripod independent of the diffuser.
The FMS System can also be used for holding a flower stem if you would like to use it for that purpose.
If you'd like to covert your present clamp system into an FMS, Craig also has a conversion kit.
You can see the FMS System and conversion kit in the OPG Store here.
You can visit Mike's blog and learn about his workshops here: Tiny Landscapes
Mike's eBooks are available in the OPG store here: Mike Moats
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.
The Multi Rolly comes fully loaded with gear pouches, hooks, no slip grip handles and even a fold-down shooting seat.
Here are some of the features: German engineering and construction 10″H x 3″W (25 x 8 cm) knobby all-terrain tires Rust proof heavy duty aluminum frame Cargo hooks attached to frame Pockets hold tripod feet securely Separate fold-down seat allows you to sit & shoot without unpacking
And the all-important specs: 110 lbs (50 kg) hauling capacity 264 lbs (120 kg) seating capacity Payload space 20W x 14D” (50 x 35 cm) Payload back height 21.5″ (55 cm) Seat size 18W x 16D” (45 x 40 cm) Weight 15.4 lbs (7 kg) Folds flat 27.5 x 26.8 x 6″ (70 x 68 x 15 cm) PRICE: $299.95
Below is the Beach Rolly Gear Cart which has a simpler design and is the one I decided to go with, as I like the side covers. This model also comes with the no-slip grips and the all-terrain tires that I like so much.
Here are the Beach Rolly Features: German engineering and construction 10″H x 3″W (25 x 8 cm) knobby all-terrain tires Rust proof heavy duty aluminum frame Double-walled nylon bucket hopper/seat construction Converts from hauling mode to seat
Beach Rolly Specifications: 176 lbs (80 kg) hauling capacity 264 lbs (115 kg) seating capacity Payload area floor 18 x 14″ (46 x 35.5 cm) Payload back height 24″ (61 cm) and 41″ (104 cm) high with windscreen Weight 10 lbs (4.5 kg) Folds flat 28 x 26 x 3.5″ (71 x 66 x 9 cm) PRICE:$199.95
I added a Multi-Holding Bar so I could strap in my tripods and other gear. It's available for both carts.
There are other accessories too, such as a cargo net (definitely recommended), a bottle holder and a fold out bar to add space to the bottom payload area.
Here is an image of my gear cart shown with my two tripods, my 500mm lens, 1 camera body (I was shooting this image w/ the other ). My 100mm Macro lens and assorted gear. I still have room for my cooler and some additional lenses. The black plastic cart is from Staples and cost $6.99. I use the straps that come with the optional Multi-holding bar to secure my tripods. I place my other gear including my 500mm lens in the cart. The black netting is elastic and secures easily to the cart with the hooks that come with it. I can also pull the netting up over my gear if I overload the cart.
I'm thrilled that I was able to replace my homemade cart. These Eckla carts are fantastic. Once you use one, you'll realize how easy it makes it to haul your gear around. I'm sure you'll see lots of them on the beaches when you shoot!
For 48 hours only, we’ve made a special arrangement with Gura Gear to offer the New Kiboko 30L Bag at an unheard of price of $329. (reg. $399)
The Kiboko is the gold standard in photo backpacks for long lens gear and demanding world travel. Ultra-lightweight, durable and comfortable, the Kiboko is our best selling backpack, for good reason.
Feeling like a pumpkin hunter? Find a pumpkin on our site and get a discount code to get the Gura Gear Kiboko Bagfor only $299!
We’ve hidden 10 pumpkins on our site. Find one, click on it and get a discount code to save $100 of the regular price of the Kiboko!
*Limited quantities of pumpkin discounts. Sale lasts for 48 hours only and expires at noon on Thursday October 13 EST. Due to the extreme nature of this sale we cannot offer any rainchecks or price matching.
I was at a photo conference in July, and got a first hand look at this great combo from Vanguard, who is just coming out with a new line of tripods and heads. I was really impressed with Vanguard's quality at this price. You will not find a better set-up for macro at $219.95. I will be posting a review of this tripod soon, with images of the system in use in the field.
I contacted my friends at Outdoor Photo Gear, and they picked up the Vanguard and put together another Macro Kit for me.
List price on these items separately is $290.00, but I and OPG put together the Mike Moats Vanguard Macro Kit for you at a discounted price of $219.95!
Chances are, if you're a photographer, you probably have dozens of AA batteries lying around. These days it seems like everything photography related uses them (if you're lucky), from speedlights, to radio triggers, to light meters etc etc. I know I have at least around three dozen batteries, all of which are rechargeable, and it can be a chore to keep them all organized and together.
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.
Another thing I really like about this system, is that you can get these cases that will hold various quantities and types. I personally prefer the 4-packs because most of the devices I use, either hold four AA's or two such as my radio triggers. The 4-packs are handy to me because one important thing with batteries is to not mix and match them. In other words, when you get a quantity of rechargeable batteries, you always want to keep them in the original group, otherwise you can have problems keeping them charged. Some chargers will not charge batteries evenly when you have batteries of various charge levels in the charger. So, when I get a set of four batteries, I mark them with a sharpie so that I know which set goes together. The new PowerPax cases now enable me to keep those same four batteries together in a much easier system.
A couple of other cool tidbits about the PowerPax caddies is that they come in multiple colors, which can help you even more in organizing your batteries. You can even get them in a glow-in-the-dark color! ...which should come in handy for all you night flashers ;)
This product has been on the market for some time and apparently, pilots, the military and other similar groups have been using these with great success. Now I can see these really taking off in the photography world.
To show how easy these are to use, I included a short video showing how to load and unload the batteries. (please excuse my poor video skills) Again I have to say I REALLY love this product and am planning on getting one of these for every set of batteries I have.
). My 100mm Macro lens and assorted gear. I still have room for my cooler and some additional lenses. The black plastic cart is from Staples and cost $6.99. I use the straps that come with the optional Multi-holding bar to secure my tripods. I place my other gear including my 500mm lens in the cart. The black netting is elastic and secures easily to the cart with the hooks that come with it. I can also pull the netting up over my gear if I overload the cart.
