A Night with the Canon G9

I've mentioned this before, but I picked up a Canon Powershot G9 a while back so I would be able to have a camera with me at all times. So far, that has worked out really well, as the camera is with me everywhere I go. I find I am taking pictures all the time, not really worried how they turn out. Turns out that isn't working out too well for me - I'm just getting adjusted to not having a wide-angle view of the world!
What I have been doing, however, is taking time-lapse videos every day. I've managed to make at least two a day every day since a couple of weeks ago, documenting my drive to and from work.
Those videos can be found here on Youtube and here on Vimeo.


My most popular sets on Flickr are the shots I take at The Smoke. It's a local monthly 60s dance party that is really popular and usually means that I'll have thousands of visits on the day that I put up the photos.
Here's a link to the party they held at New Year's Eve this year.
I get asked about the lighting in these shots a lot, so I'll be writing about it in a Blog post shortly.

Last night, I decided to switch it up a little, and instead of pulling out the big guns (DSLRs and studio flashes), I decided to try using just the G9. It was a cool experiment, and it makes me even more impressed with what this little camera can do.
Below is a video I put together of everything I shot on the G9, photos and videos. I added music by The Damn Well Please Organ Trio.

Canon G9

I recently picked up a Canon G9 so I'd have a more portable camera to have with me when an SLR is just too much camera. So far, I've been very happy with it.
It's a big switch for me - letting the camera choose all the settings and *gulp* shooting in JPG may take some more time (I shoot JPG + RAW), but so far the results have been really great. I'm looking forward to taking it out and about like I do with the SLR and seeing how it turns out.

So far, the only issue I've had is with using a gelled flash in the hotshoe. When shooting indoors, a CTS filter lives on my 580 EXII, but the camera likes to keep the white balance to 'Flash'. The workaround is to set a custom white balance, which is quick and easy and might even give better results. Need to check this out some more.

The reason I went for the G9 and not the newer G10 is because Canon removed the time-lapse video feature on the G10. I've already made some videos with this feature and have more uses in mind.
Will post some examples here at a later date.

Remote Trigger round-up

This morning, Pocket Wizard announced new models that really push the technology of wirelessly triggering flashes and cameras.
David Hobby and Chase Jarvis have talked about them in detail on their blogs.

When I bought my remote flash triggers, I bought the cheapest ones possible because at the time, I didn't need a huge range - I just wanted to be free of cables. They have served me well, and have more than made up for their ridiculously low cost. They're not completely reliable, but for most shoots they're fine. If they fail, I just take another shot. Unfortunately, that dosen't work out quite so well with shooting film.
I will say that I've found that they work much better with studio strobes - I use them with 1/8" to PC cables and I hang the triggers from the metal mount of the strobes. I wonder if that combination gives better reception - and if the higher synch voltage somehow helps.
Regardless, I've shot film from 20 - 30 feet away with 3 flashes and had a very good hit rate - about 1 or 2 flash failure in 2 rolls of 120 film.

This brings me to the point of this blog entry - I need to upgrade.
So let's review (what I consider to be) the options...


1 - Pocket Wizards

Pocket Wizards are the gold standard of wireless triggers. You buy them. They work. Period.
Because of their design, there is such a small transmission delay that they can be used to trigger both remote cameras and flashes in the same shot. At up to 1600 feet away.
There aren't many professional photographers not using these, and I don't know of anything else used by magazine sports shooters that use multiple cameras.
Some strobes and meters even come with Pocket Wizard receivers/transmitters built-in.
They used to be just triggers, though - just telling a flash/camera when to fire. With today's announcement, now they can relay information from the camera, enabling wireless TTL.
They are expensive, though - even with the current $25-off coupon, the cheapest transceivers are $165 each - and you need at least 2, plus the necessary cables to connect them.
The cost of the new models may offset the cost of cables as they connect via hotshoe to both camera and flash.


2 - CyberSync by Paul C. Buff

Made by the same company that makes AlienBees strobes, these triggers have received great reviews. Working at up to 400 feet, they cost $60 for the transmitter, $70 for the receiver.
There's also a CyberSync Commander which is due to be released shortly and looks to be amazing if you shoot with AlienBees.
Since I don't use AlienBees, I don't really have a need for the Commander, but the CyberSyncs look really good.


3 - Elinchrom EL Skyport

There are numerous comparisons made between the Skyports and the CyberSync. The Skyports are slightly more expensive at $99 for both trigger and receiver, but they use a rechargeable batter instead of AA or AAA batteries.
Because of this, they are a little smaller and I think look better.
Personally, I prefer the idea of the proprietary battery in the Skyport. I would be using rechargeables anyway, and plugging everything in to charge is part of my normal routine.


4 - Radiopopper JrX

This is the product I plan on buying once it's released. Put simply, it's the best of all of the other triggers in one.
It has a range of over 1600 feet, allows for manual adjustment of remote lights - but the best part is the cost.
At $99 for a transmitter and receiver set, it's a steal compared to other triggers.
Plus, with the $249 transmitter, the bottom-of-the-line JrX will sync at speeds up to 1/8000 with any strobe.
Upgrading to the $249 receiver gets you wireless TTL as well, but it looks like the new Pocket Wizard may have an impact on sales for Radiopopper.


For a simple wireless trigger, the JrX can't be beat for my money.

I have read other reviews where people downplay the importance of a long range with these triggers. Not many people shoot 1600 feet away from their flashes, but if the signal is strong enough to travel that far in the open, it will probably be able to pass through 3 or 4 walls indoors. So the distance isn't of significance, except that it hints at the signal strength, which is what we're going for - a completed circuit every time.

Stay tuned for updates as I make a purchase and actually use them!

Art Con 4 Check Presentation

Art Con 4 Check
Originally uploaded by d double u

Last night, Art Conspiracy 4 presented a check for $20,000 to Preservation LINK, a non-profit that teaches students in South Dallas and Fair Park media literacy and self-esteem through photography and videography programs.
It was at Jack's Backyard, which seems to be the latest hot venue in town.

It was great to be a part of Art Con this year, my first year to be involved, and I'm really looking forward to this year's event.

New Look to the website!

So the new website is up and running and I'm really excited about it.
I have some how-to posts planned for the blog and also some personal projects in the works, so there should be more content to both the site and the Blog.

White House Shooter

Watching this video really shows how you have to be ready to shoot at a moment's notice.

Hope they're not paid by the hour!

Coming Soon!

davidwilsonphoto.com is only days away from being launched!
This will be the spot where I talk about some of the photos shown on the site, I will attempt to share some pearls of wisdom and basically talk shop.

Stay tuned!