Back in the Macro Mode...Only with no Macro Lens

A photo of one of Stephanie's angels using my homemade built softbox on Saturday July 29, 2006. This photo was shot using a Canon 550 on 1/4 power at 1/250 second at f20. The lower highlights are blown a little out.

I found a cheap way of making a small softbox from another blog named Strobist. The name of the article was "How to: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio." In actuality I made it absolutely free. It took me about an hour to make it and I justed used gift wrap paper. I'm going to make it a little bit better tomorrow when I can get some more materials, but I had to do with what I had tonight.

I need to work with it a bit, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it. I really need to get a small stand for my 550 and apparently clean either my lens or camera really bad. When you have an all white background like that you never realize how much dust shows up. I thought I cleaned it pretty good at work today too. Anyway, just sitting here bored on a Saturday night with nothing to do. I did buy a 1963-66 Polaroid camera from a Salvation Army today. I'll have to get a shot up of that pretty soon. Off to finish my movie, "The Squid and the Whale." Definitely recommended for anyone with divorced parents and/or people who like dark humor such as "Life Aquatic" or "The Royal Tenenbaums."

IPPA Photonight = Fun Times

I wonder if Mr. Manley is excited about the homerun he just hit or the fact that now he can go back to his 312 beer and his Camel Lights?



I went to the 4th annual IPPA Photonight at Chris Hankins' home in Belvidere, Ill., the other night. I posted a few of the photos that I took from the event. My three favorites are the one listed above, the semi-silhouette of Brian Valentin and Scott Bort playing whiffle ball, and one with Bill Manley and Ryan Rayburn playing whiffle ball. I had a blast. It was nice to be around photographers again.

Speaking of which I got a new job Saturday. I got a position as a camera salesman at Lundgren's Camera Store in Rockford Ill. It's less pay, but I think it will be better for me mentally and artistically. At least I won't groan to go to work everyday.

I also decided on a new name for my photo business. Creative Vision Photography is what I decided. I have new business cards coming and hopefully within the next 2 months I can start posting my photos to Clark's Photonews Website.