Gabre Cameron

[pxjunkie]

6 Reasons Why the Godox XT32c is My Go-to Trigger

My first introduction to the Godox trigger system was late 2015, I started using a Godox FT16 - it superseded the trigger system I had before. I was in love with the fact that I could control my flash from the top of my camera.

For a while I used two different trigger systems for my Off-Camera Flashes (OCFs) but the Godox system was wooing me. I eventually changed all my OCFs to Godox right about the time when they came out with their 2.4Ghz X radio trigger systems.

I’ve noticed where a few Jamaican photographers have gravitated towards the Godox X1T triggers but I couldn’t get over the fact that it supports 3 to 5 groups and didn’t allow me to turn off the flash (it will only take the flash unit to its lowest power output). I felt like it was giving me less than I had with the FT16 so I decided to look at the Godox XT32c.

I was fortunate that I use a Canon camera because the Godox XT32c was available from the get go. What I love about it is that it ...

Displays the Channel Configuration for Godox XT16 Receivers I owned Godox OCFs prior to the release of the 2.4Ghz X system and in order for them to work with the new system I would need new receivers. The display on the Godox XT32c shows me how to configure these receivers eliminating the guesswork.

Enables the Auto Focus Assist Beam/Lamp to be turned ON on the Flash Unit by the Click of a Button I’ve used this feature a handful of times in low light situations. I don’t use it very often, primarily because the OCF is often in a modifier and the autofocus assist beam on the Godox XT32c works well.

Facilitates Turning Off the Flash This is ideal when I’m using multiple OCFs on the same channel in different groups and I need to isolate each light during setup/testing. I get to see what each light is doing and can make adjustments before starting a session. Also, it comes in handy when I have a light mounted out of reach and it needs to be off during the shoot; possibly to create another look for the client.

Gives the Option to Lock the Settings to Prevent Changes Accidentally After I’ve selected the desired output for each OCF I can lock the screen, preventing my settings from being changed accidentally if my hand touches a button or rotates the dial.

Supports 16 Groups I currently own 5 lights which I have had to use on the same channel in its own group. I intend to get more OCFs and being able to give the additional flashes their own group won’t be an issue.

Allows the Recycle Indicator (the beep) to be Turned on Remotely by the Click of a Button I use the feature to let me know when the flash has recycled after each shot. The minute I don’t hear it after pressing the shutter it's an indication to me that the battery for the flash is either dying or dead.

Overall, it feels like an upgrade to the Godox FT16.

I did get a Godox X1Tc as a backup transmitter and I must admit that it has a few features the Godx XT32c doesn’t have - like Through The Lens (TTL) support, single pin firing, the ability to change the power output of all groups on the same channel simultaneously, a hot shoe (for a OCF or other transmitter) and the ability to control mixed OCFs (TTL & manual flashes on the same channel in different groups) but that’s not enough to make it my number one. My biggest turn off is the fact that everything I can control with just the click of a button on the Godox XT32c I have to access by going to the custom functions on the Godox X1Tc. This ends up being too much work, especially in a run and gun situation. The Godox XT32c makes my workflow way smoother.

Here is one more reason why I love the Godox X32c ...

What trigger system do you use and why?

[pxjunkie]

Appleton Rebooted

Roughly 7yrs ago I took the photo below lighting it with a 45 watt fluorescent bulb (equivalent to a 225 watt incandescent bulb) and a clamp light.

Recently I decided to recreate this image equipped with a better understanding of lighting and a few tricks up my sleeve.

In the original image I used real ice and actual Appleton rum. In the reboot I used diluted "browning" (a liquid seasoning) and acrylic ice cubes. I also had a 'stand-in' - an old rum cream bottle and glass with fake ice. This gave me enough time to get the lighting right before I photographed the 'hero'. (you can get an idea of the setup here - https://www.instagram.com/p/BSX5BCxDEVq)

After I was done I played around a bit and came up with these additional images, which I shot handheld.

This was a result of using a speedlight with a 10 degree grid hitting the background behind the bottle at 1/64th power and fill cards. I did a bit of editing to pull out some details in the shadows.

Straight out of the camera (S.O.O.C.). Yup! This images is S.O.O.C. I shot RAW + JPEG and this is the JPEG straight out of the camera. My objective for this image was to have a white background with limited shadows and a lit VX logo without having to do any post work, similar to this D&G Malta image. I drew a bit of inspiration from a Karl Taylor video I watched some time ago.

This personal assignment took a lot longer than I imagined but was well worth it. Malcolm Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours to master your craft. Let's get those hours in!

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A Little is Just Enough

Every now and again I struggle with Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.) but I remember the days when I my equipment list was less than 5 items long and my creativity was my greatest asset.

I understand that different modifiers produce varying qualities of light and off camera flashes come in numerous shapes, sizes and power outputs. However, I felt the need to challenge myself and use as little gear as I could for a session with Joy Kelly.

Armed with a softbox, speedlight, light stand, camera and trigger, just enough tools to fit in my camera backpack, I took to the streets of New Kingston with the team and created a few of the images you see below.

This was definitely a reminder that a lot can be accomplished with little. Remember if you’re preoccupied with what you don’t have you’ll forget to appreciate the tools already in your hands.

Model: @msjoykelly Makeup Artist: @jpalmua Assistant: @thecolourjess Photographer: @gabrecameron

[pxjunkie]

In Chase Jarvis' book The Best Camera is the One that’s with You he says "The gear you don’t have is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has little to do with photography." and I agree. At one point or another each photographer may have struggled with G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), I know I have and I'd like to push myself this year to take it back to basics. For this year's 28 Day Photo Challenge (yes I know we have a leap year and February has 29 days) I'll be photographing whatever  my heart desires with the camera that's with me all day every day - the one on my cellphone; I don't even think it's 2MP. I've decided not to give away anything this year or have anyone critique a collection. This year I'll be doing it for the love of the art in the hopes of pushing my creativity. It's a simple challenge but simplicity doesn't necessarily means easy. I invite you to join me on this year's challenge and use the hastag #28dpc2016 posting to social media ... Actually I double dog dare you. Here is your mission if you choose to accept it - http://bit.ly/1PKdYfW ;)

[pxjunkie]

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week I’m offering a US$20 discount on professional headshots booked between Tue. Oct. 20 - Sat. Oct 24.

Sessions can be done wherever you’d like - your home or office. Nine spots available on Saturday October 24th.

On Saturday we’ll be shooting at Face Forward Cosmetics in The Orchid Village Plaza, Shop 9A, 20 Barbican Road. Pay as low as US$20 or JM$2,500 to have your make-up done by one of Face Forward's Make-up Technicians for your session 

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Forgive me if I haven’t been posting regularly but for the past couple of month’s I’ve been working on a few projects, from Trash the Dress sessions at Hellshire to Engagement sessions in the Palace Cineplex. A lot’s been happening behind the lens and I promise to do my best to keep you abreast. Oh! You can follow me on Instagram; @gabrecameron, to get a prips of the various projects from time to time (wink wink)

[pxjunkie]

Took this iconic headshot of Joel Bain while working on the promotional material for Rooted & Built Up. The theme of this year’s conference is “Abide” and they’ll be examining John 15: 1-17. You can learn more about the conference here  - http://bit.ly/rbu2015.

It was a pleasure working with Joel, I got to flex my videography muscles. 

[pxjunkie]

There has been a lighting setup in the back of my mind, haunting me, for the last couple of months but I was unable to bring it to fruition until now due to my workload ... Like the Bible says “...there is nothing new under the sun” so I’m sure you've seen this type of lighting before (especially since it was inspired by Joel Grimes) but its not a lighting setup I use often so it’s fairly new to me and I must say “I likie!”

* I originally shot my Alijahno, my nephew, against a white background using 3 speedlights and then replaced the background in post.

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In 2013 I started promoting myself as a headshot photographer and my 1st client was Dayna Wallace. My style then was inspired by Peter Hurley - that “clean in studio look” which I love.

As I grew as a photographer I kept looking for ways to challenge myself when taking headshots and I came across Dylan Patrick’s  headshot work which I also admire. With Hurley’s and Patrick’s influence I took a leap and photographed this “iconic headshot” of Dayna Wallace outdoors with one speedlight  and a reflector in Half-Way Tree, Kingston, Jamaica. * make-up by Face Forward Cosmetics

[pxjunkie]

I’ve tried my hand at stock photography a few times before; with freeimages.com (formerly known as sxc.hu) + dreamstock + istockphotos.com. I’ve even gone as far as purchasing eBooks like (micro)STOCK by Nichole S. Young to educate myself but always avoided photographing people. So what changed? Well, in my pursuit of becoming a better photographer I’ve forged relationships with gorgeous people, worked with talented make-up artists and interacted with a lot of individuals in the industry along the way. So when I got the call from Jason McCook of Clash Studios not only was it the perfect time but I was itching to do something of this nature.

For many years as a graphic designer my struggle was to find the right stock photo at the right price for Jamaican clients. Clash Studios had a plan to solve this problem and offered additional features that other stock photography website didn’t; one of which is the ability to contract a photographer through the website to do work for hire.

Clash Studios has enlisted several talented Jamaican based photographers such as Randy Richards +  Will Twort + Anna-Lisa Guthrie + Nicole Brown + myself + many others. You can become one too and I’m sure that you will agree that Clash Studios brings something new to the market when you take a look at their website. * You can follow Clash Studios on Instagram + Twitter + Facebook

[pxjunkie]

Day 28 of 28: Family

In the early stages of this 28 Day Photo Challenge my brother-in-law suggested that I photograph a family of beers. I thought instead of doing all the various types of Red Strip Beers I'd photograph a few beverages brewed and bottled by Desnoes and Geddes, here in Jamaica.

For this shot I grabbed a few coloured decorative stones as my fake ice (used them years ago at my sister's 50th birthday soiree). I removed the colour in post and added a blue hue to mimic that of ice. I lit the bottles with 1 speedlight; fired it into a rectangular piece of white corrugated cardboard to diffuse the light and create a rectangular highlight on the bottles (this was camera left). On camera right was a similar piece of cardboard that acted as a fill.

* Thanks to @andykane05 for the suggestion.

[pxjunkie]

Day 27 of 28: Tipsy 

What happens when you put your child to bed and you fall asleep; waking up after 12:00 a.m? ... Well! No photo gets taken...

"I so totally didn't get to take a photo on day 27..." Okay... Can you read that again in the voice of Hillary from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I know I need help :)

So it's now day 28 and I have two photos to take so I asked @shortycake87 to give me a hand with my Red Stripe Beer, and she did ... Thanks Shanique!

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Day 26 of 28: Take a Dive

I decided to take my Red Stripe Beer  with me while location scouting for a project I'm working on, this location so happens to be a friend's house. Looking around I was in two minds; "Can I photograph the images for the project here? ... Where can I get a good shot of the beer?"

My friend offered a few props and I accepted the two pink floating noodles you see in the background. I took a few shots and felt like it needed something more so I asked my friend to just sit on a chair in the background which is the final shot you see here ... Thanks Toni!

* Non-Strobist Info: 1/500th sec at f/4, ISO 100, 50mm

[pxjunkie]

Day 25 of 28: The Hand You're Dealt

Coming out of my "pop down-ness" (i.e tiredness from my Sigma assignment) I knew I wanted to do a domino shot ... But could I find the box dominoes? My children have them scattered all over the house and I had no idea where to look. Thankfully my Brother-in-law had an entire set ... Thanks Andy!

* I like using flashguns when photographing; primarily because the results are repeatable in a controlled environment. However I felt the urge to photograph my Red Stripe Beer on Day 25 using only natural/available light.

[pxjunkie]

Day 21 to 24: Playing Catch Up

Arranging for the servicing of a vehicle, meeting with a wedding client (yes I shoot weddings), preparing for an assignment at Sagicor's Sigma Corporate Run (the following day) along with all my regular duties as husband and father didn't allow any time to take a photo for the 28 Day Photo Challenge.

I toyed with the idea of taking the Red Stripe Beer along with me while on assignment but at the end of the assignment I was beat and I had to give the client their images within 24hrs ...  Now that those images have been delivered and I've recovered I'm back on track.

* I must say a big "Thank You!" to @taylor2nd (Gladstone Taylor) who made the assignment that much easier.

[pxjunkie]

Day 20 of 28: T.G.I.F. 

It's Friday and my children are asleep, no school tomorrow; no drop-offs, pick-ups or packing of lunches ... I've finished editing and submitting images for Family and Faith Magazine's March issue ... the house is quiet and I have a bit of time to myself, I can breath easy ... Thank God it's Friday. * After the first few frames I added a blue gel to give the shot a bit of mood; a tired man unwinding with a bottle of Red Stripe Beer at the end of the week (possibly in a bar).

[pxjunkie]

Day 19 of 28: Admiration

So I took a leap and asked on Facebook what should I photograph and someone said "mirrors and infinite reflections" ... Unfortunately I didn't have mirrors I could move and shoot something like that so from there I thought what would be cool is having the Red Stripe Beer looking in mirror and see himself as a "Limited Edition" long necked Red Stripe Beer ... so I shot this "over his shoulder" so to speak with the limited edition beer in focus.