any flash that does manual and auto flash.. I'd look for a newer vivitar 285 (not made in japan models)
if you can adjust manual output to 1/2 or 1/4 or 1/8 power and get it off camera with a cheap adaptor, you'll have a very versitile starting point...

Desperately trying to get the time to ride my motorcycle out to the maritimes.....
Two things came up this year though...
My Mom died this past spring, and she needed 24-7 care... palitive care in her home for nearly two months... now.. my spouse, Gerri has found her biological father..(she was adopted). he's in Vancouver, so the trip I was planning end of next week, is being changed, We're riding to Vancouver....
I keep telling Mac I'm comming to see him too, but I don't think it'll happen this year, I want at least two weeks to explore Nova Scotia....

sad to hear... I know that dog was much more than a pet to you two...
Send my condolences to your wife also...

anybody remember a while back, I posted about a tent I bought and use for photography?
link
Those strobist copycats are copying me again...
link

this is like deja-vu there also another time, when they started posting about using a ring flash for on axis contrast control...

Oh well... I've been using mine for a while now and am happy with the results!

Buy Mattmattics ebook.
trust me.
I'm a pro and even I found that book useful

I think a layer of frost (perhaps an inverted compressed air can) on the rose would sell it... Don't get me wrong, the image is an achievement, but... it needs something to tell a story... a reason for the smoke...

kids and puppies.. thats sick... I think it gave me a toothache....
they're not pulling any punches... the rack focus on the flowers was nice...

video does open a whole new class of expenses, learning, and problems...
mics...


mixing boards


lighting


video cameras



on top of that there are light modifiers, radio slaves, lenses, card readers...laptops, dvd burners, printers...grip equipment, tripods... photoshop and finalcut




and all that for a job I have to shoot monday. I get two hours to set it all up, have to photograph everything from food to flowers to people, and videotape speeches and powerpoint presentations, then build a website, master a dvd, and make prints.

if the video recording length ever gets into hours, as opposed to 1/2 hr or 4 gigs, then I might be able to at least cut back to two cameras instead of five... that would also mean less batteries/battery types and chargers to tote....

I've had to learn so much about equipment, I sometimes forget my name, cause my head is too full...

If you ever add a chapter on advanced multi flash p-ttl set ups let us know... ps it has been a couple weeks now and Gerri is improving! I still go with everything on manual...

Never mind Hanks, ever try catching those plastic pink lawn flamingos while drunk? 'Mingo hunting is danerous, and some of us will wind up at the ER, but damn it, you are my favorite Scotsman in the whole world...
You come to my part of Canada, I'm buying the first round!

oops, sorry to any NY'rs out there that was a blonde ale not a pale ale...
I started salivating at the thought of beer and was thinking about an Alexendar Keiths india pale ale...