No. 1 - Wireless Studio Flash

I mentioned that my studio flashes are now triggered wirelessly (i am one of the really late ones in that regard). But instead of opting for something sophisticated, i opted for something that doesn't need batteries. At least not the receivers on each studio flash. It is only the transmitter (put on the hot shoe of the camera) on the camera, which uses a battery.

Most time of my life, i used a sync-cord - but since it is always connected to a big camera on a big tripod - the cords often was in the way. Especially when you have to navigate though a bunch of (3) lightning tripods and their electricity cords also being strewn across the floor... it is nice to eliminate the important cord that is connected to the camera.

So. Wireless it is from now on.

 

No. 2 - Wireless Remot Trigger

On top of that, i also have a wireless trigger (for Canon, which in the basics works even with Fujifilm GFX, and i assume for the Olympus OM-1 as well, since they all share all the same plug). This device can trigger the camera wirelessly in order to take a photo.

 

Solution: Hot Shoe Splitter

Even this transmitter has a hot shoe... Since the camera only has one hot shoe - one transmitter is dangling down the camera via a cord. Therefore i thought adding a little utility which may solve this. So, that there is nothing loose hanging down from the camera.

This splitter supposedly works for Canon, including TTL - but in my case, that doesn't matter. It is just to keep both transmitters fixed on the Fujifilm GFX camera. That way, it is easy to turn the Fuji GFX camera into vertical position, without any device and cord interfering. I ordered it from Amazon for 205 SEK / something like 18 €

Neat !

 



 

 

Black Aluminum Foil / Cinefoil

This is very nifty indeed. Especially now that i bought a simple snoot (a black cone you put over the flash light in order to produce a narrow spot of light, or colored light, against the background) - but also bought a special gel-reflector allowing to mount colored gel filters. Here however the angle of the "spot" is to broad for my taste. I would like to cover the side of the reflector a bit,m so that the light path isn't as broad (same goes for example bouncer / light box / reflector

Hell, even a lens that flares, you shade off the disturbing light from the sid,e by making a temporary lens hood / or at least shadow one side where the light tends to "leak in". The thick Aluminium foil is black matte - which makes it perfect.

 

The issue with flare when adapting
6x7 mediumformat lenses on Fuji GFX

The Pentax 6x7 lenses when used in the studio are extremly sensitive to flare, i have noticed. When just a little bit of the soft box flash light shines into the lens (on the side or outside of the frame), it creates directly flare on the side of the image.

The normal lenshoods don't work, because they are made for the lenses in 6x7 cm format, and not the smaller Fujifilm GFX 33x44mm format. It means the lens hood doesn't really shield the lens enough, when you mount a 6x7 lens (and its much larger image circle) when mounted on a Fujifilm GFX camera.

Supposedly the cone of illumination from a Pentax 6x7 lens is a whopping 92x92mm, while the circle of sharpness is 70x70mm. So, the lenses have much wider illumination circle, going way outside of the smaller Fuji GFX sensor with 33x44mm - creating flares and stray light.

Then you can try to use the sturdy, flexible black aluminum foil.

If you careful - you can reuse it.

 

 

 

Different Price options


Amazon (Selens)
30 cm x 7.6 m = 740 SEK / 62 €

Scandinavianphoto.se (different cinefoil brand)
60 cm x 7.6 m = 1790 SEK / 154 €

Kaffebrus.com (Selens)
30 cm x 3.8 m = 479 SEK / 42 €
30 cm x 7.6 m = 579 SEK / 51 €
60 cm x 3.8 m = 579 SEK / 51 €
60 cm x 7.6 m = 879 SEK / 76 €
90 cm x 7.6 m = 1679 SEK / 146 €



Interesting

It seems that Kaffebrus.com have the best prices and that it is the same Selens brand. Clearly lower priced than Amazon's option. Plus Kaffebrus.com often has them in stock, while often does Amazon not. GREAT !

Scandinavianphoto.se on the other hand, sells things almost twice the price... Which isn't unusual gor them. By the way; Kaffebrus writes following about the Cinefoil


"Blackfoil Matt Black Aluminium Foil


The double-sided matt black aluminium foil paper is perfect for controlling light. The black surface does not reflect light, to reduce reflections and glare.

Made from a 0.1 mm thick aluminium substrate of just the right thickness. Mouldable enough to shape as needed and still keep its desired shape.

Create a wide range of lighting effects for your photography. You can use it as a background, mould it or combine it with other materials to achieve the desired effect. Cine film is waterproof, heat-resistant and odourless. Can be reused many times and used with high power lamps for a long time."

 

The cheap alternatives ?

When i wrote this about about the matte black cinefoil - i got later a flash, thinking... you know what ? I can also use aluminium foil. I mean now all covering / masking requires exactly BLACK foil. It can also work with normal aluminium foil, in order to shape a cone of light.

So, it doesn't always have to be expensive, complicated or sophisticate.d I mean if we are talking about home studio. It then also occurred to me - that in the earliest years, one used what one had. And it does add a flair of adventure.

 

The Art of creation out of (almost) nothing

Here i really take Sal's daughters Carla and Paola as my primary greatest inspiration AND reminder: They make so much incredible stuff out of almost nothing. They put their brains into many projects, art, installations, and gods know what else - that it comestimes takes me breathe out. Yes, i know. I sound over the top. But in my world, they are very different from my own past experiences (alone most of the time). Therefore, they are an interesting opposite pole to my memories and "ambitions" and creativity. Who brought it so much further, than I ever dreamed about to do myself (often because I was perhaps too conflicted - and that splinters energeis into many smaller streams, but not always very effective - bringing things to a point).

Anyway. Their projects, reminds me of what is possible when you put your head, mind and heart into something - how far you can go increation. And that it doesn't always need tools that are "ready for usage". They make those tools instead.

 

Cheap, easy, expensive, alternatives, yes and no

So, i skip a third version of a reflector for colored gels and flaps around it to shape a light cone. I simply use aluminum foil. (Which I happen to have plenty of). I do this, simply because i like the idea of doing my own things, instead of having another, third utility, which may or may not really be what I have in mind. The two reflector shapers (snoot + 50 degree reflector for gels) are enough. I add the aluminum foil to one of them - which for what i do will be good enough.

Sometimes, using alternative materials - is that you can get new or other ideas, as well experience. What works, and what doesn't.

Of course, not everyone is wired like that; in today's world we tend wanting to choose "ready things" - a kind of illusionary comfort in tools we think gives us all what we wanted. The promise of easier use. (and most people are not super pro's with super budgets). So, we all compromise here and there in some corners. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Deep down we hunger for more/different/better. Those all in truth - mostly based on deceptions - or better said, psychological tricks getting us to consume more. To always consume.

In today's world, neither easy, cheap - not even expensive - always gives you "nirvana" or at least "something better"; e.g. giving you whatever you thought being promised. And alluded your mind into believing that another tool will be better / easier, etc ´

The ghost in the machine can still strike, even in the most fancy lenses, cameras, utilities. As it can in cheap utilities as well. It ain't a strict tool. It also depends on your needs, in your illusions, on your goals, and... your knowledge ! Both theoretical as well real one.

So, keep that in mind, expensive isn't always the answer. And yes, I would agree that cheap isn't it either.

It depends !

Quite often we buy cheaper alternatives, or even cheapest, in the hope that it might work anyway. Or being good enough. Or because we are impatient. Or not knowledgeable enough. Plus whatever. That's part of the game behind cheap things for "the masses" (think Amazon, often source of favoring selling low quality China stuff. Quite often you can say = buy cheap, pay twice). Albeit... there are exceptions to be found. So, it ain't a 100% rule, but quite often.

I have sometimes found utilities in photography, which despite being from China and affordable - showed surprising quality properties.

So, it really all depends.

Naturally, as a home photographer doing my stuff in my free time, I don't need the greatest, best in test or super expensive things. That time has passed, and I do everything because i have a certain drive in me which loves to tinker, tamper and do photography.

I love studio portraits portraits , with the desire to get back into it.

So I do.


Page 10 • Year 2025