Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details: For all those interested in participating in a sharing and mutual learning experience of strobist gear in downtown Toronto, please join up

What: Strobist Affair
When: Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Time: 7:30pm
Where: UofT, near Victoria College, along Charles St. West

Bring: as much gear as you would like to as you get to hopefully try out some stuff, or let others try out yours.

We're trying to settle the date down, so please put down your preferences here too. I'm putting the registration down as 10 ppl as if we had more strobes than that, we may just light up everything.

I'll be coming with reflector, 420ex, one flash stand, 2 tripods, softbox for flash, pocket bouncer, hopefully those yongnue triggers from Dealextreme, and a wired remote-release

I'm also trying to arrange a model that day, when we pick one, so we don't just keep shooting each other.

stuff I can bring:

Canon 430EX for sure
set of Cactus V4 radio triggers that may have range issues or may just need a new transmitter battery - should have that sorted by then
set of Yongnuo RF-602 triggers (should have arrived by then)
Canon ETTL OCF cable (should have arrived by then)
Wired shutter release
Remote shutter release

tripod, monopod, camera, lenses, etc etc

depending on when this is, I probably can come. I am interested, but somewhat busy at the moment.

I have a camera, lens, 580EXII, and ordered a Yongnuo RF602 trigger set.

So, I'm going to say "yes" for now...

I'm interested but it depends on when, where, who, why .. lol.

i'm interested too but i only have a 430exii and no pocket wizards or wireless trigger or etc etc~~~

Maybe.

I've got pocket wizards.

I got flashes with gels, safesyncs (since some have high triggers), but I mostly use optical slaves. I also don't leave home without a reflector.

For me though time and date may influence my attendance.

Well, lets first decide on a time first.

Is everyone ok with meeting say at 7:30pm? on a weekday evening?

That doesn't help me because I'm currently teaching some weekday evenings, and I'm taking classes some Saturdays. I can only say yay or nay once the date has been finalized.

well, I propose Sept. 10, 7:30pm... location to be announced but I've been thinking about Don Valley brickyards, since I know they have electrical outlets there.

I picked sept. since everyone a busy summer at the end of August, and labour day puts everyone back as well.

Hope this date works for everyone...

you don't need outlets for strobist work.

it's speedlights for god's sakes, not profoto 7b heads

i only figure for ppl charging stuff... cause inverters aren't going to kill my car battery

I thought UofT downtown would be a good site location too... any ideas?

double A's don't charge that fast anyway, so it's a moot point.

In evening, you're shooting at 1/4 power if that. No sun to nuke, so the batts should last a while.

Should be fine. I did a 3 hour shoot with 2 flashes on one set of batts each in the guns at 3 in the afternoon back in June and they were still fine for refresh rates. (at 1/4 to full power)

U of T would be a nice place.

Sept 10? I really dunno what my schedule would be like then, but 7:30 sounds very doable for me.

Sept 10 doesn't work for me...

You might want to arrange more than one model... ten photographers crowding around one subject might get crowded... hehe

My AA charger does 4 batteries in 15 mins... seems pretty fast to me.

How about Sept. 9?

the 9th works better for me but don't reschedule just on my account. I can come to the next one.

If anyone can't make it please let me know. I'd love to join in on this one

I unregistered since everyone is committing to the 10th as the date. have fun!

Thanks chromewaves!

I disagree about the chargers not being fast, as my duracel charger charges in 15minutes. I have two extra sets(of 4AA) batteries, if other's run out. But as mentioned, everyone's batteries shouldn't run out as we likely will not be using full power, also everyone should have their batteries charged before heading out.

It's too bad that I looked up the post too late as I would have liked to participate. Please PM me if you decide to expand the number of people or set up another second day for this.

I could've brought my 580EXII, Cactus V4 trigger, and tripod.

I have IKEA cheapies as backups

So, I think that I will call it for September 10, at 7:30pm in UofT, Victoria College, close to Charles St. A bunch of enclosed places we can go there, and also some trees.

How many models do we want to have?

how much would the models cost?

I was even thinking we could shoot one another, and get a feel how irritating being flashed multiple times can be.

A digression:
I got myself a set of Yongnuo RF602 triggers. They're make use of the latest generation 2.4GHz FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) modulation technology, and are supposed to be very reliable.

With 16 channels, claimed 100m range, and remote shutter capability, and at the low low price of USD41 with shipping, I could not ask for better.

The kit comes well built, and of the over 100 shots, I only have had 1 timing issue at 1/250s (my camera flash sync speed) where the second curtain blocked the lower part of the frame. No misfires, but then, I have not tested it at ranges more than 3-5 metres.

Disclaimer: I do not work for Yongnuo or its affiliates. I'm just happy with this product and recommending it as an inexpensive (not cheap) way to get wireless flash.

Did a bit of a OCF photowalk today. First outing, took a while to figure out settings. Here's a nice picture, IMO, if only she was looking at the camera:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-tan/3840109917/" title="Colourful blouse by mike.tan, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3840109917_74c7c9fa5a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Colourful blouse"></a>

Very nice very nice

I got some yongnuo's on dealextreme and they are very similar...

is that on Bloor near Bay? heh heh heh

Nice example!

Oh the models I hope that they will be free actually... I'll probably buy them dinner or something

Yeah, the dealextreme ones are the same thing, I think. If I ever expand into more flashes, I'd probably get extra receivers from them. I think they have a good deal going.

Yeah, you're right abut the location. Shooting OCF candids is quite tricky; even in the day, it's so hard to be unobtrusive about it; although I think I admire the style (and guts) of Bruce Gilden, I doubt I'd work up enough guts to do what he does.

Man that's ballzy... see I think that since he's an old man, some ppl may just think he's nutz. If I did it, I think I'd get chased and beaten down.

Msg me cause I work like near the Louis Vitton store there I can always bring another light source and receiver!