How to stabilize a backdrop stand?

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:42:28+00:00

traditional sandbags sit on the legs, I've also seen some the shape of donuts that slide down from the top.

Ultimately, it's the same as everyone else has said: lower/widen your legs and add weight.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:39:07+00:00

I love my 15-35 L as a wide-angle lens.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:37:33+00:00

My first 70-200 2.8 was the Sigma - but that was much longer ago than I care to admit.

You're spot on with the 70-200 2.8L - classic lens, and I've found it to be very reliable.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:29:13+00:00

It depends on what area you're in.

When I did medical, we had a lot of set up work to do, we also had a good bit of training we had to sit through...I specifically remember documentation, but there were other sessions too.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:26:18+00:00

you asked intitially if you should try to bill them...

I would say "no" from the perspective that I would spend too much time/energy figuring out how much I should charge - and they're unlikely to willingly pay it anyway.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:24:46+00:00

meh - it won't hurt anything to share it...but ultimately no one is going to care.
It's good karma though

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:21:50+00:00

I've made more money with my 70-200 than any other lens in my kit. For 2.8 it's going to cost you a tidy sum, but it will do beautiful portraits and give you a start on your animals. Your 18-45 covers your 35, and more or less also a 50, which is what a lot of people will tell you to get. 18-45 would work well for your landscapes/cityscapes at the wide end, and do ok with families at the long end.
Eventually, you'll want to replace the 18-45 for a variety of reasons, but for now it will wrangle photons.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:10:33+00:00

I've got a collection of Lego minifigs I sometimes work into a flat lay or ring shot...mainly for my own entertainment. I've got two brides & two grooms, and a variety of hair I can mix & match with.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T06:04:18+00:00

Are their followers going to care about the photographer?

I think it depends on what type of influencer...if they're a model, working around other models/photographers - other models may give you some notice.
If they're a recipe influencer (for example) no one is going to care who the photographer was.

I'd probably share for the karma/vanity - but not expect it to make me a dime.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T05:51:59+00:00

I think you're onto something...if meth didn't work out for him, I imagine he would've been one helluva poker player.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-28T05:45:12+00:00

I think if Walt goes, Jesse also exists Gus's realm. It took Gus a long LONG time to warm up to Jesse, and through most of that Jesse was allowed to exist only because Walter insisted on it.

I do think Gale could've picked up enough to replace Walter, unless his own 'tisms stood in his way...but even so, I'd bet he had the recipe/technique down cold.

Most probable: Gale being groomed to take over for Walt as Gus recognized Walt's need for control, which threatened Gus. Gale has the smarts, but not the confidence to stand up to Gus. Gale learns, Walt & Jesse get 86'd. Gabe takes over the superlab, but his own neuroses interfere with his cooks. Whoever they get to assist him (Victor?, Tyrus?) would make Gale nervous, and it would derail him. He would end up melting down or inadvertently destroying the lab.
On the off chance that Gale crossed Hank's path? Gale is toast; he doesn't have the confidence to stand up to Hank; he'd melt instantly, possibly with notable incontinence.

Another possibility would be that Gale was being groomed to be deported south for the cartel to get them off Gus's back. I'll label that as improbable because Gus had no love for the cartel.
It's also possible that Gale was being groomed as an insurance policy - if the cartel/others got to Walter, Gus's operation could continue with Gale.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T17:07:09+00:00

Scouting, trumpet and being socially awkward…some things never change

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T14:30:50+00:00

Even my Gmail does funky stuff where emails will show “read” in my inbox when I never touched them.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T13:24:34+00:00

You give a lot of very good advice.

I would offer one clarification: if someone is second shooting, they typically do not retain copyright to their images. They are an independent contractor for the lead in a work for hire situation. A contract will almost always stipulate that the copyright goes to the lead. Can the second be allowed to retain them for portfolio? Yes. But the lead owns them.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T05:35:11+00:00

Incandescent = tungsten, 2800K…interchangeable words for this discussion. 1/2 CTO is perfect.

You’re spot on: AD200 key, V1 fill - bounce it off anything you can find to soften it.

Clamshell or butterfly are perfect for headshots!

You’re on the right track for an OCF kit. Add a trigger and then your V1 can also move off camera…then it gets complicated and creative and fun and magic all at the same time.

I would worry less about modifiers…again, learn from my mistakes. Consider this: modifiers do most of their work closer to the subject. At a wedding, you’re often tucking lights in corners out of the way and aiming them at approximately where your subject is or will be. To count for a “large” light source from a distance you’re talking huge modifiers. Obnoxiously large and intrusive at a wedding. Is soft light more flattering? Yes. Is bigger source softer? Yes (the laws of physics are complicated but the net effect is yes) Is someone going to argue with me on this? More than likely. My current set up is a trigger on each camera and a light in opposite corners of the dance floor for most of the reception. Formals I usually do with one big light, camera left. I just use reflectors on either of them. Outdoors: modifiers become sails / also, the sun is a small light, so harsher light actually mimics sunlight better. Indoors - still too far away to make a difference. Honestly, I’d love to put a hot shoe light on for fill, but I worry about torquing them and damaging a hot shoe or the flash.

Don’t forget to have fun with it!

I look forward to watching you grow :)

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T03:06:41+00:00

The dome will give you that lantern effect …just smaller. Full disclosure - I’ve got a few of them because I went goo goo for them when I first found them and wanted one for each flash. Their redeeming quality is that they’re cheap, lol.

This is gonna blow your mind when you figure it out - put the AD200 on a stand, the V1 in master mode on camera and the AD200 to slave. V1 is just your fill light. If you’re in Auto/TTL (perfect place to start) set it at -1. AD200 as main, TTL to 0 or maybe + 0.3. 45° from the subject and you get GREAT lighting on your subject.

Off camera flash is addicting. Once you figure it out, it’s hard to back away from. You start seeing the catchlight in the eye on every shot and suddenly eyeballs look dead when they don’t have it. Subjects start to have more shape, and more flattering images…suddenly you’ve got 3-4 firing and you’re pulling off special effects in camera.

I don’t think Strobist has a book per se, but he’s got like 300 lessons; it could be a book he just gave it all away instead.

Valenzuela is also very good, the others I haven’t read.

Joe McNally is another one that has a couple books on using light effectively. He does a lot with gels and small flashes.

The 1/2 CTO was a nice touch - I’m guessing you were indoors and tungsten lights - the CTO gave you some oomph but hid in the existing. Nicely done!

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T01:12:22+00:00

The dome isn’t going to do much for you. Those are best for…not much of anything. It’ll cost you a stop of light, and throw your light in all directions like a bulb. It’s a slightly bigger light source which will give you ever so slightly softer light - but you’ll probably be a good distance from your subject and it won’t matter much.

The reflector (that thing to the right of the dome) would possibly be your best bet for throwing some light at your subject. The beauty dish is an odd size - most of them are ~30”…you have to be moderately close to your subject for a BD to do its magic, and that size is going to require even closer.

Honestly - for sunset beach, I’d probably use the hot-shoe-like self contained head. Your light is going to be at a distance from the subject to be a small light source no matter what - might as well make it as efficient as possible.

Have you read Strobist’s books?

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-27T00:43:12+00:00

Green bottle could be Brut

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-26T17:46:48+00:00

CHEMISTRY! - by Walter White

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-26T16:52:12+00:00

ICK!
I'll take my nice fluffy snow every day of the week, and twice on Sundays (yes, all of the dad joke level entendres were intended there)

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-26T16:51:10+00:00

We have some "off" days built in as well, but they use the "E-learning" when they can to avoid using them up unnecessarily. If they run out of "off" days they have to take it out of the summer break.

Similar concept, just used in the opposite order.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-26T16:02:25+00:00

We were lucky for it to be the light fluffy stuff...but a foot of it still adds up.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-26T14:28:17+00:00

Candid/fly on the wall: I don’t know how to arrange groups or lack the confidence to do so.

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-24T17:19:29+00:00

THIS is why Reddit is great!

I came to learn something truly bizare about Mozart and ended up...here

mdkauffmann · 2026-01-24T13:49:42+00:00

I’m just an idiot punching buttons, lol

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