Steve Bedell

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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
GamiLight Light Modifiers: Versatile & Affordable Flash Add-Ons
Steve Bedell  |  Feb 04, 2014  |  First Published: Dec 01, 2013

GamiLight has been in the business of making light-shaping accessories for small, dedicated flash units like the ones from Nikon, Canon, Metz, etc., and has recently broadened their lineup. I had heard about their products and thought I’d give them a try, so they responded by sending me just about every modifier they make. I received their Square 43 with the Soft Plus 43 adapter, the Box 60, the Spot 2, the Event Pro, and a few mounts. As we go through this review I’ll let you know what these are all about, but my tests were aimed at determining how effectively the units work, how well they are made, how convenient they prove out in the field, and, most importantly, whether I should consider buying them to solve some of my lighting issues.

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Software How ToSoftware NewsSoftware Reviews
Portrait Professional 11: The Next Generation
Steve Bedell  |  Dec 31, 2013  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2013

This is the third edition of Portrait Professional I have reviewed so I’ll focus this review on three areas of investigation in Version 11: what can it do, how quickly can it do it, and what’s new. I should note that I am reviewing the Studio 64 version that can handle Raw files and utilize 64-bit versions of Windows 7 or Vista. The Standard version works with JPEG files or 24-bit TIFF files; the Studio version can also work with Raw files but is limited to 48-bit color. The program can be used with Windows XP and up and also Intel Mac OS X 10.5 or later. It acts as both a stand-alone product and as a Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, and Aperture plug-in.

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Family Photography How ToPro Techniques
Group Posing Tips: Families And Friends In One Frame
Steve Bedell  |  Nov 12, 2013  |  First Published: Oct 01, 2013

Photographing families and large groups can strike fear into the hearts of many photographers. As for me, there’s nothing I’d rather do. I not only get to meet a lot of great people, but family groups are the most profitable portraits that I take. Everyone wants a copy of a good shot, and many of my family group photos result in the sale of a wall portrait or grouping with frames, plus several smaller prints.

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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
F&V K4000 LED Studio Panel: Quality Light At An Economical Price
Steve Bedell  |  Nov 26, 2013  |  First Published: Oct 01, 2013

Portrait photographers are constantly looking for new lighting gear that will make their lives easier and produce great results. And while flash photography has been the studio standard for many years, it’s always been more difficult to previsualize the final effect since the image you see using the modeling lights is not always the same you see once the flash fires. The instant feedback of digital cameras has lessened that worry some, but you can still be in for some surprises. The new breed of LED lights eliminates most of these concerns with true WYSIWYG lighting, and with that in mind I was eager to check out F&V’s new K4000 LED Studio Panel to see how it could be used in my work.

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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
Priolite MBX500: The Next Generation Of Monolights?
Steve Bedell  |  Oct 11, 2013  |  First Published: Sep 01, 2013

“Look Ma, no cords!” That’s right; the Priolite does not have a power cord. It is run strictly off battery power. Each unit has its own interchangeable and removable battery, plus a built-in receiver to work with a Priolite transmitter. And, unlike most monolights, it has a usable modeling light even on battery power.

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Software How ToSoftware NewsSoftware Reviews
Athentech Imaging Perfectly Clear: A Quick Fix For Your Photos
Steve Bedell  |  Jun 18, 2013  |  First Published: May 01, 2013

As more photos are made on more types of devices, there’s a need for resultant images that aren’t just “OK” but as good as they can be. And part of the need, it would seem, is that some folks don’t want to spend a lot of time learning complex programs to get the image results they want. Companies like Athentech Imaging aim to make it a one-click affair.

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Software How ToSoftware NewsSoftware Reviews
ArcSoft Portrait+: Studio Auto-Retouching Software
Steve Bedell  |  Jun 21, 2013  |  First Published: May 01, 2013

The job of auto-retouching software is to retouch faces quickly, easily, and with as little human intervention as possible. Most require you to either set or confirm where the major points of the face are, like the eyes, ears, and lips. After you’ve identified those areas, the software then goes about its business of transforming little Pamela into little Princess.

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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
Sunbounce Sun-Swatter Pro: Harsh Light, Be Gone!
Steve Bedell  |  Apr 02, 2013  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2013

I am a dyed-in-the-wool natural light shooter. Outdoor portraits are my specialty and 95 percent of my outdoor portraits are taken with nothing but daylight. Yet, unlike other photographers I know, I actually prefer shooting on sunny days, and my studio schedules all day, so there is no waiting for the “golden hour” to get soft, directional light.

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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
The Ultimate Light Box From Harbor Digital Design: Affordable And Customizable
Steve Bedell  |  Apr 19, 2013  |  First Published: Mar 01, 2013

Like most photographers, I’m always trying to see just how versatile I can make my dedicated speedlights. In my case that would be Nikon SB-800 Speedlights. And when I really want to create a unique look I’ll sometimes use off-camera flash so I can vary the exposure on my subject in relation to the overall scene. That usually involves me adding light to my subject to either match or overpower the ambient light. When I do that I like to have a little more control over the quantity and quality of the light than what I’d have if I just aimed my flash at my subject with no modification.

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Lighting NewsLighting Reviews
Larson’s Larry Peters 16x60 Light Bender: A Uniquely Shaped Softbox
Steve Bedell  |  Jan 14, 2013  |  First Published: Dec 01, 2012

We all know what softboxes look like. They’re big, small, square, rectangular, sometimes round or shaped like octagons—we’ve seen them all. But there is nothing quite like the 16x60 Light Bender from Larson. It is long (48”), narrow (12”), and looks like a strip light that someone grabbed by the ends and yanked toward the middle. In this test I’ll take a look at just what this oddly-shaped light can do and why a photographer may consider adding it to his or her arsenal of light modifiers.

 

The Light Bender was designed by well-known photographer Larry Peters from Ohio and is produced and sold by Larson Enterprises.

After unpacking, I mounted the box to the backplate, a really snug fit, and then added the speed ring that allows me to mount and swivel the box on my light. After assembly, I mounted it on my Paul C. Buff Einstein unit. The light mounts dead center and the “wings” fly out to the side. There is no interior baffle in the design so the light is much stronger in the center and drops off rather dramatically as you move toward the edges.

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