*Flash* Ow! My eyes!

Well, my first professional strobe unit came today, although i guess one or two of my on camera flashes were more expensive and probably professional too, just not quite right for studio type shots of people. I have to admit i do feel a little silly, as i don't have a light meter, which i'll have to get before the shoot. I've only relied on the in camera meter, as the flashes used E-TTL and i could pretty much rely on that to get good exposure. Never really thought about it too much before, that the strobe wouldn't exactly know the camera settings. Oops. So besides the on camera flashes, i've only done available light, which i prefer so far, but i've also not taken pictures of many people in situations like that. It's always been at events where i didn't have or want to use flashes, some worked out great, others not so much. Seems like i have a lot to learn and get comfortable with it in a week, no pressure. ;) On a side note, i still want to get the ringflash, a b400 for backgrounds, and a b1600 for a main light when i'll move the one i have to fill or secondary. For now i'll probably just use one of the older flashes as background and a reflector for fill. At least that's the plan.

Another issue is how to get them all to talk, my plan is to use Pocket Wizards, but as i now have zero of them, i'll need at least two for one light, and more etc. Not cheap little units, but from what i hear, they last forever and never fail. It would also get rid of cords running all over the place, which would help. Why can i never pick a cheap hobby or career path? ;)

Unrelated stuff, been sick, feeling like crap, got that stomach thing that everyone else got around christmas it seems. Ugh. Good times. Yeah, not the most thrilling thing in the world.

Well, now to go get my dollfie Alice to do some modeling for me while i learn to use the strobe. She's patient, photographs well, all that, but a little smaller than a real person. Which may cause some issues scaling up, but oh well. It's not like i have a significant other to annoy with things like this, and i'm sure i'd do that, annoy and constantly be taking photos of them. The funny thing is almost all the girls i've dated hated having their pictures taken, well, besides "the model" (or she who shall not be named, lol). It's funny, i'm a behind the camera person as well, but besides the ones with stalking issues, some were really adverse to having their picture taken. Which reminds me, i really wish i hadn't lost (or whatever happened to it, i'm guessing the fairies at my last house took it, you wouldn't believe the shit they stole) that one photo i had done with the beyond awesome cloak Rose made for me. It was a great photo, i was dressed pretty medieval, with that huge black cloak, walking stick in my multi-ringed fingers. Damn it, i miss that photo, it was flattering too. Rose might still have a copy, but i lost touch with her years ago and even my google fu can't find her. Poo.

Speaking of possible awesome photos, i would *love* to photograph Twig the Fairy someday. Even if it's just candids at the ren fest, that would rock. She is the most adorable person ever.