Today I want to share a tip for traveling and protecting your valuable camera.

I'm sure you like me sometimes while traveling end up in some places you don't feel too good about walking around with $ 9000 in your hand. Also walking into many interesting environments with a big gray lens like this things often change. That's why best travel shots often is taken with a point and shoot because life goes on and people don't pay much attention to you. 

The first step of increasing safety from theft is to wrap the camera strap around your wrist, but let me show you something I came up with years ago that have worked very well for me.

A grocery bag, yes that cheap and simple. People don't see your camera, it is protected from dust, sand and water. I still hold on to the strap or wrap it around my wrist. Enjoy your travels, and thanks to Devin from Kenny's Photo for modeling for me.

PS. I always travel with my camera in a hard case Pelican case. I also always travel with hard case suitcases, and lock up my valuables in them when I stay in Hotels, or in a Hotel safe. A camera case is to obvious.

When I go on out of state/country on jobs, bringing larger light stands and a good tripod have been difficult. The great bags made by Manfrotto is just not protective and large enough. I love the Manfrotto bag for smaller set ups locally, it just don't pull it off for me and air travel.

Another thing is the abuse luggage can take with high drops etc in the airports luggage systems. So then I used a ski bag and now even better a HARD CASE golf case. The airports are always happy with ski bags and golf cases, anything else odd I'm not so sure. I was looking at my son Stevens golf case which he use for flying to golf one day, and thought....that should work perfectly!

I the golf case I can have a good camera tripod and couple of light stands and umbrellas. I can also fit my California-Sunbounce Mini & Sun Swatter . It fits well when taken a part even the rod for the swatter. Then I usually trow in some shoes that I rather have there then in my suitcase making clothes wrinkly.

 PS. And YES it got wheels :-)

I asked people on Twiiter and Facebook to pick one image to give a how-to lesson on from Friday's blog post called " 1 Shoot - 1 Model - 10 Images " Here is the readers' choice picture.

If we look back at the 10 images, most of them where shot with 4 or 5 strobes including ring flash. I think it is really great that the readers picked the only image done with 1 single light, no reflectors. 

I set up the light in the same position today and shot an overview* for you to see. First of all, simplicity is very often the very best. This dress was her retro dress so I wanted to go with the old style wall paper for the background. See how little you need to wallpaper for a shot like this!. Also, I wanted the lighting to have a more old days feel to it, back when the light used mostly was daylight coming in from windows. My light is an Elinchrom 600 ws Strobe w/ the 53" Junior Octa my favorite all round soft box ever.

I put it far enough behind her that it highlighted what I call the most important part of a face, the triangle. On shots like this, it help to be in a dark studio so you can really see how the light hits her from the modeling light on the strobe. The quality of light in this image comes from being exact with the placement of light and her distance to the background, so you get the right light spill on the background. I set the light to just wrap around her. She is far enough from reflective surfaces to keep the shadows really dark, which I wanted. I kept the softbox as close to her as possible to get the softest light possible to resemble window light and give me max control. Another little detail that is not typically me is the profile that is not clean, just almost, which you often see in paintings, especially old once. (Yes this is a retro shot :-) )

A profile shot is one of many things that should be in a models portfolio, so I wanted the light to emphasize on her profile. Thanks for responding to which image to blog; responses make it so I'm way more motivated to take the time to keep blogging.

* I love overviews and I know they are helpful, but PLEASE forgive me for not always having them. There are reasons! When I get into a shot and a rhythm it can really break it to suddenly starting thinking about and shooting overviews. Sometimes, like in workshops, I invite a past student to come and shoot overviews for me. I will try to bring in a photographer more often to do them in the future, especially since I will be coming out with a book on lighting in November 2011.

Just wanted to post another exposure to show I quick variation on the same set up. This is also another "rule breaker" because there is more space behind her face than in front. That gives it impact. Know the rules, then break them at the right times. This image was processed with one click only with a brand new action my wife MaryLyn just made. Main image on top Photoshopped by MaryLyn and I have no clue what she did, haha. 

Welcome to the most images I have ever put into one blog post. Thanks Savanna :-)

Hi everyone, Todays blog is a bit different than normal. I usually make my blog posts very educational which I do prefer and believe in. That means that I usually post one image and maybe some overviews clarifying what's been done. 

This post is in honor of a friend that claims he never looks at blog posts unless they have many pictures, so here it is Scott :-) It is kind of the old test, you are only as good as your last job. I finished this shoot about 24 hours ago. The job is photographing beautiful, sweet Savanna who has signed with Elite Model Management in NYC. She is flying out tomorrow with her parents for some training and her sister is doing a shoot for Seventeen Magazine. Savannah needs to put together some portfolio shots for the trip, that is why all these images are in the 3:4 format, because standard size for model portfolios is 9 x 12. It was her very first model shoot and it was an honor to be the photographer for it. How old do you think she is? 13 with a bright future, and parents behind her that will totally look after her; good to see.

I used 2-5 strobes in these shots and sometimes a reflector in addition. All Elinchrom which I love except my ring flash is an Alien Bee. 5 different light modifiers on the Elinchrom strobes.

See I can't post without talking about the images—I want to share. I will put one overview under image number 10. Now I will try to not comment anymore, hope you enjoy looking at 10 images from 1 shoot of 1 beautiful, promising model. I think it would be fun if the readers would suggest 1 image with a comment about what they would want on a seperate blog post. Maybe about how it was done? All shots Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III.

Yes this is the light set up on two images up, 3 backlights, a fill into wall and ceiling behind me ( neutral grey walls) then my ring flash, see the shadow behind her, and then look how cool it works on the actual image :-) PS. Yes, the lamp with the beauty dish is not on in this shot, have a great weekend!

Born in Toronto, Canada in 1960, Gregory Colbert is a film-maker and photographer best known as the creator of Ashes and Snow an exhibition of photographic artworks and films housed in the Nomadic Museum.

To date, Ashes and Snow has attracted more than 10 million visitors, making it the most attended exhibition by a living artist in history.

About 5 years ago I was really tired and in great need of a break. I flew to Maui to spend 5 days at my dear friends Nancy & Michael Gilbert. Their home is sitting in a very beautiful place on a hill in Kihei. They spoiled me, fresh juice from fruit in their garden in the morning etc etc. 

One day Michael which BTW is as a marvelous Photographer and Artist (also from Toronto like Gregory) walked over to me and put a book in my hands. It had such an instant impact the way it was bound and designed. I opened it and was like knocked over. Page after page all I could say was amazing, unbelievable, from beginning to end.

Gregory Colbert have truly made something VERY unique for generations to enjoy and marvel at.

Take a look at Ashes and Snow website etc  from the links underneath. See the perfect books for you and such great gifts, something truly amazing to share. You will not want to miss out on the work of this project!

I wanted to make this blog in my series of Great Photographers in case some of you have missed out on this great project for some reason. ENJOY! Tell me what you think?

WEB: ashesandsnow.org  WIKI: Gregory Colbert  WIKI: Ashes and Snow  YouTube: Ashes and Snow