revjim.net

Jess helped me work out a plan for syncing all 5 portable flashes in the "Myschievia Portrait Studio":http://revjim.net/2006/09/15/myschievia-portrait-studio/. All of the cabling will use household extension cords and electrical outlet splitters, an idea I stole from "Strobist":http://strobist.com/ ("Part 1″:http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/04/lighting-101-build-pro-synch-cord-pt-1.html, "Part 2″:http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/04/lighting-101-build-pro-pc-cord-pt-2.html, and "Splitters":http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/05/adding-and-synching-second-strobe.html). This really cuts down on costs and makes it dead simple to buy/find replacement parts when needed. So, all I have to buy is parts to make adapters for my wireless trigger receivers and each light source I intend to use. Well, that and make sure I don't accidentally plug any of the household extension cords I'm using into an AC outlet. I'm thinking I'll either buy only one color of cable that I don't use for anything else or I'll wrap the plugs in red electrical tape as a warning.

The problem with building these adapters is that I can't find a source for one of the connectors I need. I can buy the exact cable I need pre-made for $6, but it's sold out in every place I've managed to find it except one, where it costs $24. So instead, I bought 6 cables at $6 each that have only one end that I need. I intend to cut the cables in half and attach my own connector to the other side.

I ordered the $40 in parts that I need from the online camera store. I still have to get $30 or so in parts from the hardware store, and another $5 or so in parts from the electronics store. This, along with the stuff I bought on eBay last week should cover most of my equipment needs. Now I just have to deal with studio construction and camp setup. We're getting there though. I'm thinking that, since I have, essentially, unlimited space, I may as well build a nice big studio. 20′x20′ with curtains on the sides would be ideal, but that may be more than I can fabricate in the remaining two weeks.

Speaking of camp setup, I'm still waiting for suggestions for silly, fun, or interesting options to put on my menu of photography services at the Myschievia Portrait Studio. Jowling was suggested, which is a great idea. I think though, to be true to my roots, I'll call it an Ooglie instead, since that's what it was called when Kim introduced me to them several years ago.