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2StbPS2008W/9174/299/3490/2740

NEW Two Strobe Beginner's Portrait Studio Lighting Kit VIII
Now with Muslin Backdrop & 3 Umbrellas!
Plus a FREE Bonus: Cell Phone Antenna Extender!
All Brand New for 2003! SPECIAL SALE PRICE!
(limited time sale price)

 Here's a GREAT New Portrait Studio Package! All BRAND NEW!

Here's what you get:
1) Two Britek PS-200 120WS Professional Strobes
(Show me)
2) Two 32" Black/Silver Umbrellas (Show Me)
3) One 32" Transparent "Shoot-Through" Umbrella (Show Me)
4) Two 6 1/2 Foot Light Stands
(Show me) <- Free Upgrade to 7'!
5) Two Unique Umbrella-Capable Reflectors (
Show Me)
6) Two Sync Cords
7) Two Power Cords
8) All Necessary Bulbs
(flash tubes, modeling light bulbs, etc.)
With this package you'll have everything you need to start making great pictures! See just below.
Now with 3 New BONUSES!
9) One Raw Muslin Background
(Show Me)
10) One Carrying Case for Strobes & Accessories (Show Me)
11) One Carrying Case for Light Stands & Umbrellas
(Show Me)
Plus, as a Free Bonus!
12) One FREE Cellular Phone Antenna Booster! $20 Value! (
Show Me)

Just scroll down or click on a "Show Me" link to jump to the item. (Kit #9174)

This is a Great starter Portrait Studio setup, for an amazing price! You'll have what you'll need to start getting fabulous portraits (also great for product photography)! With 2 powerful 120WS Master strobes, you'll have two strobes to appropriately light your victims (er, your "subjects, that is:) from two opposing locations, which will allow you to get professional-level results with the necessary interplay of light and shadow, resulting in the depth and texture characteristic of pro portraits. Also, professional strobes (like these) come with all the bells and whistles already built-in - like what, you may ask? Like Modeling Lights, (see here and here), variable power with the flip of a switch, removable and interchangeable umbrella-capable reflectors, and the capability of using an almost infinite variety of light modifiers (such as umbrellas, softboxes, SoftCases, snoots, honeycombs, etc.).

In addition, you'll have two Light Stands for your strobes, AND In addition, you'll have a three great umbrellas to creatively soften the light and effectively help to hide the lines, sags, and wrinkles often found on our older clients (it makes them look younger, more vibrant, and attractive - and often results in the photographer being called names, like "Artist" and "Genius" :), and umbrella lighting is also great for removing or reducing the reflections from glass, chrome, or any reflective surface; as well as mellowing out the light for detailed product photography! Two Umbrellas are standard Black/Silver Umbrellas, and the third Umbrella is a fabulous Transparent "Shoot-Through" Umbrella, which functions just like a softbox, so you'll have plenty of choices available in order to create the lighting effects you want.

Plus, you'll also receive an umbrella-capable reflector with each strobe, and all the sync cords, power cords, and bulbs. Over all, this is a fabulous professionsal-level starter package which will give you what you need to start you off in portraiture or product photography the right way, and is infinitely upgradable! Unlike other kits, this starts you at the pro level, and allows you to expand whenever you like - without being stuck with amateur equipment that you wasted your money on. And you get all this for less than one-HALF of what you'd pay for just one single strobe from a competing manufacturer (and less than a dinner or two would cost you at a nice restaurant - and this professional lighting equipment is absolutely guaranteed to last longer than any dinner you'll ever have ;-).
See more on this subject just below.

Wondering what the price is? See it below.

Another great photographic deal from Photographer's SupplyStation! "PhotoSource3" on eBay
Important: I just HATE IT when I buy a "kit" or "package," and then when I receive it, I discover that I can't use it because there's something else I need (usually at a substantial additional cost, too) to make it work (i.e., the "batteries not included" syndrome)! So I'd never do that to my (cherished) customers! With this fabulous package, absolutely everything is included (well, except a camera, film, and photographer, that is)! When this package arrives, all you'll have to do to start making great photographs, is open it up, unwrap your new goodies, put the strobes on the light stands, plug 'em in, point them at your favorite victims, and, baby, just like Elvis, go ahead and rock and roll (fire away)! NO additional equipment or parts are needed to start using your new studio lighting package!



 Want a whole professional 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, or TEN strobe photographic lighting studio in one dynamic kit? Maybe some NEW Continuous Digital lights? Only a strobe or two? Something really, really special for the photographer you love with all your heart (like, perhaps, yourself:)? Look no further!

You can find ALL these things right now in my other auctions (except for the luscious lovely to the left; I'm gonna keep that one for myself:)

<-Looks almost like natural light, doesn't it? Not completely! Strobes made this lovely image better. The give-away? The main light looks like it's coming from the left (which it is - for the main light - a window), but look at the catch lights in her eyes! That's coming from 2 strobes; one just behind and (barely) to the right of the camera, and the other just to the left of the camera (a Minolta Maxxum 7, btw)! From now on, whenever you're looking at pictures in magazines, notice the eyes for clues to the lighting setup - and where the catch lights appear in the models' eyes. The secret to ALL magnificent images? That's an easy one; it's the LIGHTING! A photographer is a LIGHT writer! See below for more information and lotsa photographic tips and tricks...

Please read THIS before ordering ANY lighting equipment

Portraiture! The art making people look great (or at least better than they really are:). This is the most popular and useful branch of photography today, and nothing's going to change in the future, so even if you're not into portraiture now, you might as well plan on doing some (or a lot) of portraiture work soon. Also, remember that EVERYONE you'll ever see, meet, or pass in the street is a portrait customer! When do people need their portraits made? The answer to that question would take at least a week just to scratch the surface of all the possibilities! But for just a few examples, consider these reasons: birthdays, graduations, school yearbook pictures, sports teams (baseball, football, soccer, swimming, skiing, etc.), bands & musical groups, etc., anniversaries, new babies, holidays (Xmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Channukah, etc.), religious reasons (baptisms, bar mitzvahs, confirmations, marriages, etc., etc.), and a million more reasons. Basically, everyone you'll ever know (even if you live to be 101) will have a hundred different reasons to want their portraits taken. And one client with a few kids can pay your rent every month!

It doesn't matter if you've never made a pro picture in your life, or even if you're a product photographer, a still life photographer, a fine art photographer, a landscape photographer, or even an architectural photographer; as soon as people find out you're a photographer, they'll start asking you to take pictures of them, their kids, or their friends and relatives. So no matter what type of photography is your first love, sooner or later (most likely sooner), you'll most assuredly find yourself making pictures of people. And every single one of us has parents, friends (and sometimes spouses, children, and relatives coming out of our yin-yangs:). If you're a beginning photographer, portraiture is the fastest and easiest way to find clients, because everyone you meet - and everyone you know - is a potential portrait client!

It's also a great way to meet those beautiful girls and gorgeous guys, while making money as well as new friends (i.e., "Hi, I'm a photographer, and you're just the type of model I need for my portfolio; I'd love to shoot you one day... Um, with my camera, that is"). ;-)

Reality Check: This package is specifically designed to be the least expensive "Bare Bones" Professional-Level starter portrait package available anywhere. And at the fabulously-low sale price, you're getting an amazing bargain, too! When making portraits, we need - at a minimum - two strobes to light our victims (um, our "subjects, that is:), one strobe for the highlight side of our victim's face, and another for the shadow side (fill) of the face. True, it would be nice to have a third strobe to light our background (which not only eliminates those pesky shadows, but also gives us the depth and separation between our victim and the backdrop). And ideally, we'd want a fourth mini-light for a hair light (ever notice how the pros' pictures always show the shining, glow on the hair? The hair light is the secret of this healthy and shining hair). But in an ideal world, we'd all be rich and famous photographers; in the real world, though, many of us don't have sugar-daddies (or mommies:), and we have to start someplace (see my other auctions for the larger kits). That's what this kit is designed to do: get you started in portraiture or product photography with the minimum set of Professional Level equipment that you'll need in order to make great Professional portraits. After a few profitable portrait sittings, you can add other equipment, like a backlight, a hairlight, a custom backdrop, and a background support set. But realize that - with this package - you'll have what it takes to start making great images. If you want a 3 or 4 strobe portrait kit, or a package that includes a background, just check my other eBay auctions and my eBay store!

How do the pros make their older subjects look so much better than they really look? That's easy - when you know how! Just soften the light with umbrellas (or a softbox or softcase), which helps hide all those lines, wrinkles, and sags on so many of our older victims. No portrait setup would be complete without these secret weapons (umbrellas), so this kit includes the umbrellas for you!

Just open the boxes that will arrive at your front door, and you'll be in business! Add one photographer, a camera, some film (or digital cards), and a victim to photograph, and you're ready to fire away! Although I have several entry-level 2 and 3 light kits available, if you're serious about making great people pictures (and especially if you're just starting out in studio lighting techniques), this is the package to buy, because the strobes are pro equipment with modeling lights, variable power, interchangeable reflectors and accessories, and capable of using all kinds of light-modifying equipment (check my other auctions for other portrait packages that include additional strobes, a background support set and a custom backdrop). And now you can own this complete starter portrait studio package without taking out a second mortgage on your house! Heck, you can own this great package for LESS than ONE-HALF of what you might pay for just ONE competing strobe, or a couple of dinners at a nice restaurant! For more information on this, just click the "tell me more about photography" link below.

Hmmm. Tell me more about photography... and what equipment I'll need to succeed

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Important: I have many auctions that are not listed at the top of the eBay auctions page, and lots of additional equipment available for immediate purchase (no waiting for an auction to end, and no chance of being outbid) in my eBay store! The only way to be sure you haven't missed something that might be perfect for your needs is to check ALL my eBay auctions and store items by clicking HERE! <- Clicking here will open up a new page in your browser with a list of my auctions and eBay store items; this auction page will remain open behind the new page, so you won't lose your place.

Shop with confidence!
Bid with confidence!
Buy with confidence!
From a Profoundly Proud
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This GOLD PowerSeller proudly provides a plethora of perfect photographic products - PLUS - pure, powerful, and peerless customer service!

--> Check out all my other wonderful eBay auctions!

Be Careful, dear friends, when you choose your photographic equipment! All strobes and kits are NOT equal... and you should know what you're ordering before spending your hard-earned money.

Take Care, gentle photographer - when choosing your lighting equipment. There are many strobes and much lighting equipment of lesser quality, fewer capabilities, and much less versatility being sold online nowadays. Of course, it's you who will make the decision about who you will buy from, and which equipment you will buy; however, before making your purchasing decisions (and forking over your hard-earned cash:), ask yourself a few questions: Do these strobes come with modeling lights? Do these strobes have removable reflectors? Does it come with variable-power capabilities? Is it expandable and are there accessories available for the strobes to easily and inexpensively expand your lighting capabilities? Does it come with a guarantee backed by an American-based manufacturer/distributor to provide warrantee service or replacement? Does it even come with a warrantee? If the kit includes umbrellas, are they appropriately matched to the strobe's output power? Does it come with an American power plug, or does it require adapters just to make it work (at extra cost to you, as well)? And how much help and information can you expect from the seller? If the equipment you're considering buying fits your needs, even without the capabilities I usually like my equipment to have, then make your purchase knowing what you're ordering and what you're going to have to work with when your equipment arrives. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't buy equipment with lesser capabilities, just that you should understand what you're getting before you spend your hard-earned money. But, of course, you're the customer, and you decide what to buy, and from whom to buy it.

Here's why I like my strobes to come with the capabilities I've described: 1) If a strobe doesn't come with a modeling light, you'll have no way to know what your picture will look like until after you get the prints back! In fact, modeling lights are probably the greatest capability any strobe can have (especially for beginners in studio lighting). See below for details on modeling lights. 2) If a strobe doesn't have a removable reflector, then you can't control the light spread (coverage angle) - you're stuck with whatever output angle the strobe comes with, so it's far less useful to us (sometimes we want a narrow light spread to highlight our subject; other times we want to remove the reflector completely for a broad 180º light spread to light backgrounds, large areas, or groups, for example). 3) If a strobe doesn't have variable power capabilities, you'll need a larger studio area because you'll have to physically move the strobes farther away from your subject in order to reduce the light when needed (with variable power strobes - such as these - we simply flip a switch). 4) If you're only buying 2-3 master strobes, you're much better off having them be of the same power; it makes it quicker and (much) easier to set up your shots and allows you to get perfect exposures more easily. 5) One of the greatest disappointments for new strobe owners is to discover that they cannot (easily and inexpensively) expand the capabilities of their lights (by using color filters/gels to allow us to change the color of our backgrounds and subjects or to direct and modify the light with barndoors because the strobes we bought didn't have the ability to use these helpful accessories, etc.). 6) And finally, if you're buying umbrellas with your kit, the size of an umbrella should be matched to the strobe's output; too large of an umbrella will result in too much light reduction (and consequently forces you to use either a very slow shutter speed, or a much larger aperture, which cuts down your depth of field, and may be out of reach for many zoom lenses), and too small an umbrella will allow light spillover and substantially decreased effect. That's why I always match the correct umbrella size to the strobes' output power in all my packages (if you want larger or smaller umbrellas, just ask; you da boss:).

So use your head, choose your equipment carefully, review the seller's feedback, check out the supplier's web sites, and no matter where you buy your equipment, have fun and make some great pictures! Thank you for visiting this auction, your time and consideration are most sincerely appreciated. You might care to review my business philosophy, if you like.

Using a Digital Camera? There are those who "claim" their strobes will work perfectly with ALL digital cameras. Ha! BEWARE, dear friends, beware. This is untrue! There are some digital cameras which will NOT work with pro strobes, and unlike the others who DON'T tell you the truth, I've explained this situation ethically and honestly (see THIS for the explanation). When you deal with Photographer's SupplyStation - PhotoSource3 on eBay, you get more than just great equipment and fabulousely low prices - you also get honesty, integrity, and help, too. I won't sell an item that will disappoint you (just check my feedback for proof of this). Even though the cheaper strobes may cost less than the decent equipment I sell; often in life, we find that the cheapest things we buy end up costing us the most money in the end. But "you pays your money, and you takes your choice," and no matter who you buy your photographic equipment from, I wish you all the best! See my business philosophy.

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What is the sale price? | What are the shipping charges?

Top 10 Questions about this Package!


The NEW 2003 Britek PS-200 Professional Studio Flash


The NEW PS-200 Monolight
This brand new Britek PS-200 is a great starter Monolight for the beginning professional, the pro with tight budget constraints, or the advanced amateur who is ready to bring the professional look to his or her photographs (without mortgaging the house).


Why are photogs so in love with their studios? BECAUSE (in our studios) WE CAN CONTROL THE LIGHT! And a "studio" can be a corner of any room, as long as we can CONTROL THE LIGHT. In our studios, we can play God! We can make it daytime or evening or night; we can shoot 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can CREATE anything we can imagine - as long as we can CONTROL THE LIGHT!

After all, the word "photographer" itself (from Greek) actually means Light Writer, or "one who writes with light."

The term is meaningful because those of us who make photographs are slaves to light. Light is both our nemesis and our salvation (when we can control the light). Without the right types of lighting equipment, we can never progress to professional level studio pictures. Or location pictures.

Sure, we can make beautiful photos with available light... when the light's just right, at the exact time we need it, and at exact place we need it, if it's not raining, if it's not snowing, if it's not too cold, if it's not too hot, if it's not too dark, if everyone we need to make the photographs are available at the exact time the light's just right for our needs, under all the right conditions.... beginning to see now? When we can control the light, we can make the best photographs.

PhotoSpeak: BTW, did you notice, above, that I said "make" photographs, and not "take" pictures? Well, here's your first lesson in how pros speak about photography (photospeak): "Snapshooters" or "point and shooters," who don't think and plan their shots (e.g., most of us) are the ones who "take" pictures (the rank amateurs). Photographers "make" great photographs by careful thought, detailed planning, and, most of all, scrupulous attention to lighting. Before they even think about pressing that shutter, they "design" their photos carefully. Soon, with a little effort, you'll be "making" great photographs! It's not that hard, believe me. But ya gotta CONTROL THE LIGHT!

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This little beauty cranks out a full 120 watt seconds* for mamma or poppa (or both)!

Why do photographers want powerful flash equipment (strobes)? Because (both indoors and outdoors) with strobes, WE CAN CONTROL THE LIGHT! Sound familiar? Starting to get the picture, now? (sorry, I just couldn't resist ;-)

BTW, did you realize that both the photo above, and the photo on the left, were both taken against the same background? Yup. The backdrop was a pure white canvas. Why does the picture on the left look like it has a brown background? BECAUSE I COULD CONTROL THE LIGHT. Even with a cheapie old (really old) digital Fuji (no speed control, no slr, no aperture choice, etc.). How? See the "technique section below).

Hmmm... Light!

What the heck is a "Watt Second?" And what's a "GN?"

Technique: How was I able to make the background that's in the top picture pure white, and the very same background, in the picture above, appear brown? It's easy - when you know how (it's sorta like this: What kind of question is a hard question? Answer: One you don't know the answer to. And what kind of question is an easy question? Answer: That's the one you do know the answer to). Here's how it's done: In the top picture, I lit the background with a backlight strobe (it's own strobe), so it received enough light to expose properly, and consequently it came out pure white. In the picture above, I did not light the background; I just used the tiny little built-in flash on the digital Fuji, which was enough to (barely) light the strobe I was photographing, but too weak to reach or brighten up the backdrop to white; therefore, the background underexposed and looked brownish, even though it was really a pure white canvas! Carried to an extreme, I could even make a white background look black, if I wanted to. How? By lighting the subject so brightly that the (unlit) background would underexpose (i.e., not receive enough light) so badly it would come out black. It's all in the LIGHT folks; it's all in the light! Remember, a photographer is a LIGHT writer.

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Need more information about the equipment in this auction? Care to see more pictures of the item(s)? Want to check out my FAQs? Would you like to visit my eBay store? Wanna see what way over 1,000 other eBay buyers think about this equipment and my commitment to 100% customer satisfaction? Wondering what kind of customer service you can expect from me? Wanna see ALL my wonderful eBay auctions? You're only a click away!

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You also get a fabulous FREE Bonus: A Cell Phone Antenna Extender!
Order this kit, and you'll receive this $20.00 Antenna Booster - Absolutely FREE!

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At the great price you'll get for this fabulous package, you could buy 2 or even 3 of these kits for LESS than what you might pay for just a single competing strobe! BTW, when I tested this fabulous new strobe, I discovered that it clocked in at an incredible F16 at 10 feet! Whatta powerful little sucker it is! Plus, you can set it for full OR half power.
Technique: BTW, I purposely made the photograph above to show you an example of a photographic situation (perspective distortion) that often plagues our amateur images. I used this technique to distort the relative size of the reflector, compared to the strobe's body. Look at the picture at the top of this auction description (or the small one to the left); then look at the image above. The reflector in the image above appears larger than it really is, in relation to the body of the strobe (compare the relative sizes of the strobe and the silver reflector). Why does this happen? It's called "perspective distortion" and I'll spare you the physics of the explanation, but whenever one part of an object is closer to the camera's lens than the other part of an object, the perspective is distorted (it's due to the rendering of a 3 dimensional object into a 2 dimensional image). For fun, try this: come in really close to someone's face with your camera, and with the person's nose closest to your lens, take a picture. When the print comes back, you'll see the nose looks huge (compared to the rest of the face). Of course, you can do the same with almost any object you photograph. The lesson? Beware of holding the camera too close to your subject (unless you want perspective distortion for some reason, like this example, or for fun). This most often happens when we're using wide angle lenses (since we can fit more into the frame, we sometimes bring the camera too close to our subjects), but it happens with all lenses. For portraiture, use somewhere between an 85 to 135mm lens (the short telephoto range makes most faces look better). The opposite of the perspective distortion effect is a compression of space caused with long telephoto lenses. If a subject really does have a large nose, shoot your victim with a longer telephoto lens; it will compress space, and make the nose look smaller. Just a couple more tricks up the professional photographer's sleeve. Read on, and learn more.... Back to top of page

More about the new PS-200.....
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Now lemme tell ya about another great feature on these dynamite little units that's not found on many competing strobes costing 3-5 times the price of these: when you set these units for 1/2 power, the modeling lights ALSO dim to 1/2 power! What a great feature (what's a "modeling light?" see the explanation just below this picture)! [Why, you may ask, would we want to reduce a strobe's power output? see the "technique" section, below.


As we can see from the back view, The New PS-200 is well-stocked with controls and comes with all the extras already built-in.

The PS-200 is a "Monolight," which means that all the required components are included in the one package (as opposed to other strobes which may have the flash head in one segment, and then need an additional and separate power supply in order to get it to work; at an additional cost, too). With these units, everything is included; just plug them in, and fire away!

The "ready" light goes on to let us know when the strobe is charged and ready to fire; the "test" button lets us fire the strobe to test its proper functioning or to take a meter reading; the "sync" terminal lets us attach a sync (or PC) cord to the sync terminal on our cameras to control the firing of the strobe with the shutter button on our cameras; and the "optical slave sensor" lets us fire the strobe automatically with the flash of any other strobe or flash unit (so we don't have to use a sync cord at all, if we don't want to). The Full/Half Power switch lets us choose the power output with the flip of a switch. The other controls are pretty much self-explanatory.

BTW, a "Modeling Light" (see the picture of the modeling light, below) is a separate, additional, light (in addition to the strobe's "Flash Tube") that's built into the strobe and throws continuous light over the same area as the strobe's flash tube will (see the picture below for a close-up). You turn on the modeling light (before your shot), so the photographer can see what the modeling will look like, as s/he adjusts the lights before he takes the shot and fires the strobe ("Modeling" is PhotoSpeak for the highlights (light areas) and shadows (dark areas) that fall upon the subject, giving it the depth and texture necessary for professional results). This great feature (modeling light) is usually only found on much more expensive lights.

This unit can be activated by the PC Cord (included, of course), the Test Button, or the Slave Sensor (which means that any other flash, even your camera's little built-in flash, can automatically fire this unit by it's light alone, so you don't even need to use a sync (PC) cord unless you want to). BTW, a "PC Cord" (Push Contact), also called a "Sync Cord" is a wire that connects the strobe to your camera, and fires the strobe when you press the camera's shutter button.
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The PS-200 comes ready to go, with built-in umbrella holder, built-in light stand connector, and the ability to set the direction or tilt of each light to perfectly fit your needs for every shot!

See the image above for a description of each of the controls on the unit.

This is a Fabulous deal, but let's not lose sight of the reality. If you're rich, have a sugar-mommy or daddy, are a high-income pro, or if you can get financing, my advice would be to spring for something (several somethings, in fact) more powerful, more feature-rich (and a LOT more expensive). Lights are like hard disks and internet connections: no matter how big a hard disk is, and no matter how fast your net connection is, they're never big or fast enough. But if you're just starting out, or are on a budget, or are an advanced (or advancing) amateur, these little babies sure make a lot of sense. Let's face it, your portrait clients (or your mother-in-law) won't have any idea whether you paid three hundred or three thousand for each of these strobes; they'll just be impressed (let them think they cost you an arm and a leg; especially those snooty, skinny, little models - "Ya want great head shots, sweetie? It's gonna cost ya; hell, my lights are so valuable, whenever I trade one in, I gotta pay it alimony!") Umm, just some photographer humor, folks :) - it sorta grows on you as you progress in photography; you'll see.

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We can see the difference between the Modeling Light Bulb and the Flash Tube (the circular tube surrounding the modeling bulb) in this close-up shot of the PS-200's business end (with the reflector removed, of course).

The modeling light is a fabulous photographic aid for every photographer - but especially valuable to the amateur, because it let's us "see" exactly where the light will fall when the strobe flashes. This feature alone is worth at least a hundred rolls of ruined film (which you'll save by having a modeling light)! One of the major questions (and hesitations) I had when I was beginning to learn photography, was "If you use strobes, how do you know what the subject will look like, or how and where the light will illuminate the subject, if you don't have continuous lighting to judge by?"

The answer was really simple: You don't. UNLESS your strobes also have MODELING LIGHTS! With modeling lights, you can see exactly where the strobe's flash will illuminate the subject, because the modeling light falls on the subject the same as the strobe's light will fall on the subject (less intensely, of course)! And this is why the pros pay lotsa money for good strobes that come with modeling lights. That's why the professional photographer's pictures look so much better than ours do: they have the right equipment for the job! They can CONTROL THE LIGHT! And now, so can you. back up to rear view of PS-200
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PhotoSpeak: What's a "Slave Sensor?" Well, if you had to use a PC Cord for every strobe, just think what a mess of tangled wires you'd have if you were using 5 or 6 or more strobes to light your subject (as many pros do)! So, science came to our rescue with slave sensors. It's a tiny little sensor built into most good strobes, that sits & waits for a short, intense burst of light. When it detects this burst of light (the flash from another strobe), it automatically sets off the flash tube in the strobe its built into. Voila! Now, with strobes that have slave sensors (often just called "slaves"), we can connect only one strobe to our cameras (with the PC or Sync cord), usually the strobe closest to our camera, and when we press the shutter button, firing the one connected strobe, that flash will automatically set off all the other strobes we may be using for that shot! Ah, ain't technology wunnerful (sic)? Even most of the little flashes built into most modern cameras can set off most strobes with slaves. A strobe that has PC socket, or both a PC Socket and a slave sensor is called a "Master" strobe; a strobe that only has a slave sensor and no PC socket (usually less expensive units) is called a "Slave." Whichever strobe you're using with a PC cord is referred to as your "master" strobe for purposes of that shot. Most of the better strobes have both PC sockets and slave sensors, so they're more versatile and useful to us (however, there are many very good slaves out there today, and you won't need all your strobes to be masters, so don't hesitate to buy some decent slaves when the time comes - and, believe me, if you stick with photography, the time will come).

Complete: Each of these PS-200s comes complete with umbrella-capable reflector, sync cord, AC cord, Flash Tube, Modeling Light, built-in umbrella holder, and standard light stand connector; it's ready to plug in and fire away! Since these strobes are A.C. units, they're ready to rock! No batteries or powerpacks or light heads or connector cords are needed; just plug 'em in, and (just like Elvis) you're ready to rock and roll. As with all quality strobes, these are capable of using many additional custom accessories, of course (e.g., snoots, barn doors, softboxes, stands, unbrellas, honeycombs, gel holders, etc.). BTW, pros use umbrellas to "bounce" the strobe's light off of (or sometimes through) to make the light softer, reduce or eliminate shadows, and "mellow-out" the picture. Softboxes (and SoftCases) and umbrellas are specifically designed for this purpose (and yes, these are able to use custom-fitted softboxes & softcases).

These are brand new, 100% guaranteed, with the manufacturer's full one year warrantee . These are NOT seconds, blemishes, or anything other than brand new, absolutely perfect, current 2003 models! Just 'cause the price is great, doesn't mean these are in any way less than perfect! Questions? Requests? just e-mail any questions or requests, to me at PhotoSource3@pss3.com.
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Point of Information: Why, you might be asking yourself, have virtually all photographers switched to using strobes, when "regular" continuous lights (photographers call them "hot" lights) are everywhere, and it's easier for us to see how the lighting will look with them? Well, the continuous lights, like the ones in our houses (tungsten lights), or halogen (and similar) are called "hot lights" for a reason: they get hot. Really hot! And the special photographic hot lights get twice as hot as household bulbs! This tends to make certain things, like flowers, foods, animals, and those darn pesky models, wilt. Especially models. They get very, very, unhappy when they wilt. Whine, gripe, groan; you'd think a little melting makeup, and running mascara, limp hair, and sticky lipstick, and beads of sweat running down their lovely curvaceous (umm, let's say noses) was a big deal or something, the way they complain! ;-)

Next, there's a little problem with the "color temperature" being way off with hot lights, so we have to use special films (3200K or 3400K) or filters, or special photographic bulbs, when using them (strobes are perfectly balanced at 5500K to simulate sunlight, so we can use all the regular daylight films we've come to love/hate over the years). You'll notice that most of your pictures taken indoors without using a flash turn out with a yellowish color cast; that's because household lights are loaded with yellow and red light. The solution is to either use special films, or special filters. But why create more problems for yourself? Using strobes eliminates all these headaches (and heat!). Also, with continuous lights, they're always shining; usually right in our subject's eyes, causing squinting and annoyance (and ugly looking pictures). With strobes, nothing is shining in their eyes, and the flash is too short to cause any of this discomfort to our beloved subjects (until AFTER the flash, when they might be chasing all those little light blips around the room:). Additionally, with strobes, we can control the light much better! We can adjust the power output with the flick of a switch. We can modify the light with umbrellas, softboxes, softcases, filters, scrims and gobos, doo-dahs, and thingamajigs, etc., etc. We can direct the light with barn doors, snoots, honeycombs, and many other accessories. In short, with strobes, we can play God with our photography; WE CAN CONTROL THE LIGHT! And we can do it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whenever we want, no matter what the weather is, and without regard to daylight or night. There are yet other, more esoteric, as well as mundane reasons why strobes are the preferred means of photographic lighting in the modern world, but we'll pass on those things for now. You've probably had enough information shoved down your throat already (sorry, but I can't resist trying to educate everyone about photography).

BTW, technically speaking, all professional photographic flash units, even though nearly all pros call them "strobes," are not technically strobe lights. A real stroboscope is capable of dozens (or hundreds or even thousands) of flashes per second, and many can maintain that flash rate for hours on end. Our photographic strobes would die a dozen deaths if we tried to set them off 25 or 50 times a second! However, since photographers almost always call these lights "strobes," we'll just stick with the term; but, technically..... Well, you get the idea ;->
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Technique: Why would we want to dim a strobe to 1/2 power? Because in order to get great pictures, we have to be able to control the light (sound familiar?) in a number of ways. Sometimes a full power flash is too powerful for the effect we're after; other times we may want to reduce the illumination to create a different mood. In people pictures, for a head shot (that's what photographers call a picture of a person's face, often the face and shoulders), we often want part of the face highlighted, and the other part of the face in a light to medium shadow. This interplay of light and shadow is called "modeling," and is a hallmark of good photography. Anyway, as an example, a common lighting ratio for people pictures is a 1:2 (also 1:3, 1:4, or even 1:5) ratio - full illumination on one side of the face, and 1/2 that amount of light on the other side of the subject's face (we rarely want full frontal lighting, because it gives the face a flat and unappealing look, as well as other negative aspects). The 1:2 (full/half) lighting combination can give us an interesting and often flattering image, with a good ratio of light and shadow - revealing the character, and giving us depth and texture (but be sure to play around with other lighting ratios, too, for even more creativity). Whenever we have two strobes to work with, we can achieve this 1:2 ratio by moving one strobe (the one providing the shadow side lighting) twice as far away from the subject as our main light (the strobe providing the full illumination). But often things get in the way, like walls and such; not all of us have lots of room in our studios (especially living room studios :) to move our lights as far away as we like. Aha! The scientific wizards devised a most convenient solution! A variable-power strobe (like this great PS-200)! Now, instead of moving lights all over the place, all we have to do is flip a switch, and Voila! 1/2 power without any hassle at all! In some very powerful strobes, we might even find variations from full power, all the way down to 1/32 power. Another way to achieve a lighting ratio (when we only have one strobe) is to use a reflector to "bounce" some light onto the shadow side of the subject's face. You can buy a "professional" reflector for as much as $100.00 or more, but I just use a white poster board, which you can find at any art supply store for under two bucks. You don't have to spend a fortune to make great pictures, just use your equipment to its fullest extent - and use your head!
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Specifications: PS-200 Pro Studio Monolight

 AC Input  110-120 Volt
 AC Fuse  5 Amp
 Modeling Lamp  100W Halogen (rated 1,000 hours)
 Flash Tube  BC-100Y (rated 10,000 flashes) 120WS (huh?)
 Guide No. (ISO 100)  GN: 45 Meters / 120 Feet (huh?)
 Trigger  Test button / Slave / PC Cord
 Slave Effective Distance  15 Meters / 50 Feet
 Sync Socket  5 ø Standard Earphone Type, 6V DC
 Diameter of Light Head  70 ø mm
 Recycling Time  1-3 Seconds
 Dimensions & Weight  240 x 80 x 140mm 0.65Kg

These units also have the ability to accept all the standard light-modifying accessories, of course.

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Important: I have many auctions that are not listed at the top of the eBay auctions page, and lots of additional equipment available for immediate purchase (no waiting for an auction to end, and no chance of being outbid) in my eBay store! The only way to be sure you haven't missed something that might be perfect for your needs is to check ALL my eBay auctions and store items by clicking HERE! <- Clicking here will open up a new page in your browser with a list of my auctions and eBay store items; this auction page will remain open behind the new page, so you won't lose your place.



Q. What the heck is a "WS" and what's a "GN," and what in the world do they mean? .

WS = Watt Second | GN = Guide Number

Here's a brief explanation (using, for this example, your (well, it might be yours soon:) new PS-200 strobe, which have a power level of 120WS, and a GN of 125):

The "120WS" (or the 80WS, or 20WS, etc.) is the output power of your strobe and a watt second is equal to the electrical term "joules," a high-falutin power level. The Guide Number (GN) of these PS-200 units is also 125 (for ASA/ISO 100 film), with a standard reflector. Often, the Watt Second power output is close to the guide number. What good is knowing the guide number? Well, the GN gives us a method of calculating exposure (for any strobe and any film) in this way: to calculate the correct approximate exposure for any subject at any distance, simply divide the distance (in feet) that the subject is from the strobe, into the strobe's GN (guide number); the result is our approximate "F" stop.

For example, (presuming you're using ISO/ASA 100 film), our GN is 125, and the subject is 12 feet away, then: 125 (GN) divided by 12 (feet away from the subject) = 10.4, so we'd use an exposure setting of just under F11. If our subject is 8 feet away, then: 125 divided by 8 = 15.6 which would give us an approximate F stop of F16. See? Umm, if you don't understand it, don't worry about it (it took me years to fully comprehend). Suggestion: If you're serious about improving your photography, you should consider getting a handheld flash/ambient light meter see links here (sorry, I don't carry any at this time, but I will offer some suggestions).

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You're getting Two Britek PS-200 Professional Strobes with this kit


You also get a fabulous FREE Bonus: A Cell Phone Antenna Extender!
Now win and you'll receive this $20.00 Antenna Booster - Absolutely FREE!
Each and every order will include one FREE Cellular Phone Antenna Booster. Please understand that you will receive one free antenna booster with your order (regardless of how many kits or packages you order). Unlike with other sellers, this is not a gimmick - there are no additional costs to you, there are no additional shipping charges tacked on - this is really and truly a FREE bonus! Wondering if these products are really as good as they sound? Just check my feedback! See this great antenna booster here!

What is the sale price? | What are the shipping charges?

Top 10 Questions about this Package!


Here's some information about the items comprising
your new starter studio:
Brand New 2.8 to 6.5 Foot Light stands
<- Free Upgrade to 7'!



Unlike many of the items you'll find listed on eBay, all these items are Brand New, not old, used, banged-up cast-offs that someone else is trying to get rid of. These are 100% new, perfect, and come with the manufacturer's full warantee. Consider this when making your purchasing decisions.
Top: 3/8" stud, 1/4" thread, type A.
Size: 2.8 ft to 7.5 feet; Weight: 2.4 lbs. ea.

Here's a fabulous deal on an excellent quality light stand. This Brand New Britek light stand extends to a height of 7 1/2 Feet, and folds down (fully assembled) to only 2.8 feet for easy packing and transport.

These stands have a black finish which reduces unwanted glare; three vertical sections (19mm, 16mm, 13mm), and three double-braced legs (16mm), which provide excellent stability in the studio or on location. They're topped with a standard 3/8" stud with 1/4" thread, type A. Sturdy as all get out, yet only weigh about 3 lbs. (so you can pack up a set of three stands for under 10 lbs. for location shoots - believe me, schlepping around anything heavier can give you a hernia, especially when added to all your other gear). Yet these babies can be folded up and put in the corner of your closet and take up very little space.

I've been using these same stands for over 3 years now, and couldn't be happier! You'll probably love 'em, too. They're sized perfectly for multiple uses: with a low height of under 3 feet, they're great for background lighting; at their full 6.5 feet, they're perfect for lighting standing subjects, lighting from above for kids or sitting subjects, or even hairlights; and adjusting them anywhere in-between, they're perfect for subject-level lighting, whether you're photographing kids or adults (or things)! BTW, as stated above, you'll be buying brand new stands here, NOT my used ones (those are mine! you can't have them; I like them, and I'm gonna keep them; you go buy your own! (hey, at this great price, buy several. :).

Reality Check: Hey, if you're rich, I'd suggest buying a set of bigger, heavier (& more expensive) stands for your pro studio setup, and another set of lightweight stands for location shoots; but my studio is in my house, and I don't have 20 foot ceilings for the 15' stands anyway, so these stands work just fine for me. 6.5 feet is plenty high for most uses, and we have larger stands should you need more height. And they're sturdy enough for studio work, and light enough for location work. Realize, though, that these stands, while certainly a great deal and a marvelous value, are the working photog's Chevys and Fords; not Rolls Royces. Treat them with minimal respect, and they'll see you through to old age; but if you're looking for the Ferraris of light stands, go buy something else. This sturdy light stand is rated to hold a load of 10 pounds (but, personally, I try to keep the load under 9 lbs when it's fully extended) either way, it's likely to be able to hold darn near any lighting unit you're using. Of course, there are bigger and heavier stands, too.

All the sections of these stands are quality tubular stock, NOT the cheapie solid ones (which are heavier and less versatile, as well as cheaper). The only "cheap" part of these stands is the price - not the quality! Bid now, while they're still in stock.
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You're getting Two 6 1/2 Foot Light stands with this package <- Free Upgrade to 7'!



Free Photo Tips!
Technique: Which background should we use? That's a question with a million answers; the answer is: It depends. It depends upon what effect we're after, which mood we wish to create, how we choose to present our victim (um, er, our "subject," that is:) to the world. But there are a few basic guidelines we can follow. If our victim has striking blue eyes, for example (blue, brown, or whatever color, if their eyes are beautiful, use a similar color backdrop), but for this discussion, if our subject has beautiful blue eyes, consider a background with blue as a predominant color (see my eBay store for some great backgrounds). If our victim has wonderful blond hair, consider using a backdrop with golds, tans, or light browns in it. If our subject is wearing a red blouse or dress, use a background with reds in it. If our subject is wearing a green suit, consider a backdrop with greens or blacks. It's our job - as photographers - to make our subjects (whether they're people in portrait pictures, or products, or buildings) look as good as we possibly can. And one of our most powerful and potent allies in this quest is the use of backgrounds! It's up to us to make our pictures make our subjects look as beautiful (or handsome, or striking, etc.) as we possibly can!

The Portrait Session: If, for example, we're doing a portrait session, and we only have a blue background and a brown background to work with (hey, not all of us can afford to have dozens of different backgrounds when we're just starting out, y'know), what do we do? That's easy: tell our portrait client to bring two (or more) changes of clothes; in one set of clothes, wear something blue, and in the other set of clothes, bring something brown! This way, we get to make our clients look great using the backgrounds we already have! Also, tell them to bring one dressy outfit, and one casual outfit, so we can get images that show them urbane and sophisticated, and another set of images with them casual and comfortable. Oh yes, and this way we get to sell them twice the number of prints, too! One set for business and impressing folks, and one set showing that they're pretty darn attractive in jeans & cowboy boots, too (or whatever their particular casual attire may be).
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Tip 1: Ask the client what they enjoy doing; ask them about their hobbies, their passions, their interests. If they play the guitar, have them bring one along; if they love basketball, have them bring one to the session; if they just adore their dog or cat, bring them, too (more pictures, more poses, equal more SALES!).

Tip 2: If they have a child, then tell them to bring the child along (unless it's strictly a business sitting, where children would be inappropriate), and bring a couple of sets of clothing for the child. too. Make some exposures (in addition to the standard single-subject portrait poses, of course) with the victim and the child, and some exposures of the child alone. Have the child in dressy clothes for some shots, and in play clothes for another set of shots (film is the cheapest part of your costs, so don't be afraid to use a lot). Then, be SURE to ask the subject to bring the child's grandparents (or uncles & aunts) along to view the prints - I guarantee you, 90% of the time, the grandparents will - at the very least - triple your sale! They just can't resist ordering pictures of their little darlings! A couple of 11 x 14s for the walls in the house (and for the office walls, too); a few 5 x 7s for their relatives, and some wallet-size prints, to carry with them! Remember, you're not only a photographer - you're also in business to make a living (quite a nice living, too, if you use your head)! See my other auctions for some more tips see here.

Quickie Technique #3: Portraits - Set the camera at subject's eye level; focus on the eyes; light one side of the face brighter than the other (half in light to medium shadow); to hide wrinkles use umbrellas or softbox; to de-emphasize a large nose, raise camera level slightly and shoot full or 3/4 face; to de-emphasize a receding hairline, lower camera slightly or have subject raise head slightly. More "quickie technique" information will be included in other auction descriptions. Thank you for viewing this auction, and good luck! Tell me more about getting perfect exposure...see here
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Here's some information about the items comprising
your new starter studio:
Brand New Strobe and Accessories Carrying Case

This is a beautiful, brand new carrying case which will hold ALL your strobes plus tons of accessories! And there's room for more as your studio equipment collection grows.
http://myphotohome.com/
As you can see, this beautiful carrying case is stocked with all the extras! Quick-release front latches, padded carrying handle, storage compartments on both ends, and a giant additional storage compartment in the front, as well as a roomy and customizable interior to safely and conveniently hold your strobes, cameras, accessories, film, filters, lenses, etc. A full 14" wide, by 7" deep, by 9 1/2" tall, this roomy and convenient carrying case is designed to make any photographer's or videographer's life easier and more convenient. This brand new case comes with sholder strap and movable, removable, and customizable interior pads (see below). Back to top of page

http://myphotohome.com/As this view from the top shows us, the brand new FotoCity carrying case provides us with a completely customizable and incredibly roomy interior sections.

Use the top zipper compartment for your filters, lens cleaners, and all sorts of camera accessories.

The heavily-padded interior not only protects our valuable equipment, but allows us to customize each compartment to fit our specific needs! The large center pad, as well as both smaller separator pads have velcro attachments, and can be removed completely, or relocated to virtually any position that would fit your needs! You won't find a better camera case at anywhere near this price. Of course, you can also use this case for cameras or any other products that you can fit inside this roomy case.

http://myphotohome.com/As this rear view illustrates, the two end "D" rings allow you to attach the case to your belt for use as a "fanny" pack, if you don't want to use the shoulder strap (also included, of course).

Made of heavy-duty Cordura Nylon material, this case will become your favorite in quick order - guaranteed!

IF - for any reason whatsoever - you don't agree this case is the best you've ever owned, simply return it for a complete refund (excluding shipping charges, of course).


You're getting One brand new strobe & accessories carrying case with this package
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Remember, folks, there's virtually nothing for sale nowadays that someone couldn't make a little cheaper, using lower quality materials, less reliable components, poorer manufacturing processes, and unskilled workers. Those of us who make our purchasing decisions based solely upon price are this unscrupulous person's legitimate prey. For goodness sakes, don't pay a cent more than you have to for a product - but in my (sad) experience whenever a deal seems "too good to be true," it usually turns out not to be true. Please check my feedback - and then make your purchasing decisions; after all, it's your money, and you have to decide upon what to purchase, and from whom to purchase it. Thank you for being kind enough to visit this auction, and may the Photographic Gods smile upon you (um, a little help from the Lottery Gods wouldn't hurt either, huh?).
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 Don't miss all the great Free Photographic Tips and Techniques I place in all my descriptions! Where? See here and here and here! Where else can you find both great deals on fabulous equipment AND learn how to make better photographs - whether you buy anything or not? Huh? Nowhere else! So who da man?



Here's some information about the items comprising
your new starter studio:
Brand New Light stand and Umbrella Carrying Case

But what about my Umbrellas and my Light Stands, you might ask? Hey, folks, please remember who you're dealing with here! Photographer's SupplyStation ("PhotoSource3" on eBay) provides everything you might need! Fear, not sweet photographer! I've got you covered!

This fabulous, Brand New Light Stand and Umbrella Carrying Case will hold both your light stands, plus both your umbrellas, AND will still have room for more! Don't tell anyone, but I manage to stuff 4-5 light stands and 3-4 umbrellas in this same carrying case! So you'll have plenty of room to expand for the future.

You're getting One brand new light stand & umbrella carrying case with this package

Need more information about the equipment in this auction? Care to see more pictures of the item(s)? Want to check out my FAQs? Would you like to visit my eBay store? Wanna see what way over 1,000 other eBay buyers think about this equipment and my commitment to 100% customer satisfaction? Wondering what kind of customer service you can expect from me? Wanna see ALL my wonderful eBay auctions? You're only a click away!

 Tell me more about this photographic equipment

Technical Questions

FAQ

my business philosophy

See my eBay Store

See my eBay Feedback

Contact Info

See ALL my eBay auctions!

E-mail Me

Shipping & Payments

Should I order Strobes or Digital/Video Continuous Lights?
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What is the price of this equipment? | What are the shipping charges?
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Photographic Tips & Techniques

Technique: The most important "secret" of good photography is the thought the photographer puts into a picture before s/he even considers what type of film to use! The point here is that we have to train ourselves to think before we shoot! What color is our subject? How can we make that color (or shade) stand out? In the lovely picture to your left, notice how the blue-violet shadows to the right of the model's head accentuate her blue eyes. Notice, too how half the face is in a light shadow, adding depth and texture. We have to ask ourselves: What do we want to emphasize in our picture? How will we direct our viewers' eye to our subject? If it's an outdoors photograph, how will we separate our main subject from any other distracting elements in our photograph? At which angle should we shoot? Is it important to establish place in this photograph (i.e., is it important for the viewer to know where our subject is? Or do we want to hide the location)? If we're shooting people, what is our victim's least appealing feature (i.e., a large nose, a bald head, pot belly, lotsa wrinkles, etc.:)? How can we hide or de-emphasize it? What's our subject's most appealing feature (i.e., eyes, profile, smile, boobs - oops! sorry, I couldn't resist:) ? How can we emphasize the attractive aspects of our subjects? These are the questions photographers have to ask, before we shoot. THINK before you shoot! MAKE a photograph - don't "take" a snapshot! Review the "Tips" in my auction descriptions; take the time and thought to prepare your photo sessions long before your subject arrives! Learn to know what you want before you put film in your camera. Learn to "design" your pictures before you pick up your camera! Take a piece of paper and a pencil, and sketch out what you want in the picture you're considering; this will be a great help in the beginning, and after a few weeks or months of doing this, you'll start to do it all in your head, and won't need the pencil and paper any more. Is your subject a child? If so, have some colorful toys around. Is your victim a man? Have him bring a suit and some jeans to the session. Is your subject an attractive and shapely young woman? Ask her to bring a dressy outfit and a sexy outfit or a bikini. Is your subject older? Be sure to have an umbrella or softbox ready to hide the lines and wrinkles. Shooting outdoors? Avoid placing a subject in the bright sunlight (which causes squinting eyes and harsh shadows), and find some open shade to shoot in (overcast days are great for outdoor shoots). I promise you that a good photograph doesn't require the genius of an Einstein - it just takes a little thought and preparation (creativity and practice doesn't hurt either)! You don't have to study photography for 20 years, just train yourself to think before you shoot! Don't try to plan out 100 subjects all at once; think about one or two, and then use 10 rolls of film on just a few ideas. Shoot from different angles; shoot from different heights; shoot with different lighting angles; shoot with color film; shoot with black and white film; think, then shoot! Pretty soon, you'll wake up one day and realize that you've changed; you'll look at the world differently; you'll "see" things most people never even notice; one day, you'll realize that you've become something special; something different, but different in a most amazing and wonderful way; you will have become - a photographer!
© 2002
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Quickie Technique #5: Exposure - All meters built into all cameras are "reflection" meters; they read the light reflected by our subjects AND everything else in our viewfinder! This often causes incorrect readings, and pictures that turn out looking like doo-doo. Instead of letting our camera's meter read the exposure from our whole frame, set your built-in meter to its "spot" setting. Then, center the most Important part of your subject (i.e., the face of a person, the flower petals of a flower, the coat of a dog, etc.) in your meter's spot circle and take your reading; then, when our viewfinder's spot circle is filled with our subject and NOT with the surroundings, lock in exposure (e.g., press the shutter button half-way down), re-compose the shot, and then press the shutter button all the way down and make the exposure! I think you'll be pleased with the results! More "quickie techniques" information will be included in my other auction descriptions. Thank you for viewing this auction, and may you have the very best of luck!

Photo Tip #29: Go buy (or subscribe to) at least a half-dozen top magazines (Vogue, Cosmo, GQ, Elle, etc., etc. and don't forget my favorite, Playboy:). Then get a 3-ring binder and a 3-hole punch; this will become your idea and guide book. Go through the magazines and tear out every page with an image that you admire, find interesting or striking, or has dramatic lighting. Then take the pile of pages, punch the holes in them, and put them into your binder. Separate the images into categories. Study each picture to determine where the strobes were located, how the shadowing was arranged, what the background was (and how it was lit). When you're about to do a portrait session, look at your victim's face; find similar features and similar clothing on models in your binder, and see how the pros lit them. Pay attention to where and how the hands are placed in the pictures. Pay attention to where and how the legs are placed in the pictures. Pay attention to what angle the body is placed in relation to the camera; see how the clothing is arranged, and how it relates to the background. Pay attention, read the magazines, tear out pages, put them into your binder. Study them. Emulate the best you find. This is the best way learn: from those who are great - and successful - photographers!
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From whom should you buy your photographic equipment? Hey, it's your hard-earned money, so you should buy from anybody you darn well like! However, one of the advantages of buying from another photographer is that, unlike "salesmen," who just want to "sell" things to you, a photographer will know what you need, and what you don't need; a photographer will know why you'll need something, and why you won't need something; a photographer will have actually used the equipment being sold, and will be able to offer advice based on real-life experience. Of course, the facts that photographers (like us) are usually much better-looking, a lot smarter, definitely kinder, and unquestionably much more creative than other folks, doesn't hurt either, does it? ;-)

Unlike the others who try to cover up their own photographic illiteracy with not-so-vague warnings cautioning you against buying from anyone else (but them, that is:), I won't stoop to such reprehensible behavior; I guess I'm just not greedy enough to do such things. In addition, I trust you to be smart enough to make up your very own mind, without my self-serving advice, telling you who you should and shouldn't patronize. Sure, I'm in business to sell photographic equipment, but I'd rather lose a few sales than insult my customers' intelligence with admonitions like: "Buy from me! Don't buy from the other guy!" So go ahead and check out what's available, compare prices, quality, and customer service philosophies see here; see who you think will provide more help and support. Then, check out the feedback profiles see mine; go look to see what the other "photographic experts" were selling a few months ago (that'll be a revelation:). Next visit the web sites, of your potential suppliers (especially those who claim to be photographers with "100 years experience," and see how much they really know about photography). Then, in addition to the usual, logical, informed, procedures for making your purchasing decisions, check with the old standby that's almost always right, your gut feelings. Check things out; make up your own mind. Then, without doubt, you'll come to the right conclusion. [However, - just in the interest of saving you time and trouble ;-) the conclusion you'll surely come to is that "PhotoSource3" on eBay (who is also the beloved founder and talented creator of MyPhotoHome and Photographer'sSupplyStation) is "Da Man" from whom to buy your photographic goodies! =:-) ] Thank you for being kind enough to view this auction (I hope you realize that my humor is meant to be fun, and is intended with good will), may you have the best of luck, and don't forget, as always, no matter who you choose to honor with your photographic purchases, take (or better yet, "make") lots of great pictures! And remember, you can't get good - unless you get started.
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Now with a fabulous FREE Bonus: Cell Phone Antenna Extender!
A $20.00 Value - Absolutely FREE!
Each order comes with one FREE Cellular Phone Antenna Booster.

"PhotoSource3" on eBay

Ever have your cellular phone fail to find a signal when you really needed it? Those of us who have cell phones, have them because we never know when we'll find ourselves in a situation where it will save our butts (or those of our spouses, kids, or friends) from some emergency.

Other times, when we're on our cell phone with an important call, we discover that we've just "dropped" the call during the most important part of our conversations. It's happened to all of us, and I really hated it when it happened to me!

We've all seen the ads on TV and in the magazines and newspapers for these Cell Phone Antenna Boosters, and hundreds of thousands have been sold for $19.95 each! And, yes, they DO help (I've tried them on my own cell phones). They're easy to install (just peel and stick them on the phone behind the battery). To be perfectly honest, though (and I always am:), they're nowhere as "Wonderful" as the TV ads make them out to be (what is?:), but they really do help pull in the cell signals when you're in a "fringe" area or inside buildings. I certainly don't think they're worth $20, but in an emergency, these little antenna boosters could make the difference for you. And one thing's for sure: you can't beat the price! It's FREE!

I just happened to come upon a fabulous deal for these cellular phone antenna boosters, and I feel that it's something we should all have - after all, when an emergency happens to us, we'll NEED to have a connection that will work (but no guarantees:)!

Sure, I could have sold these for five or ten (or maybe even fifteen) dollars each (as others are doing) and I could have made a great profit on them - but I'm NOT the average eBay seller (you might care to review my business philosophy, here), and I feel that if you're kind enough to purchase this great pro lighting equipment from me, the least I could do would be to give you one of these as a FREE gift! So I'm including one of these Cellular Antenna Boosters with EVERY order. For FREE! Just my way of saying: "Thank you for your patronage!" So "Who da man?" Huh? Who da man? ;-)

Each and every order (placed from this eBay auction listing) will include one FREE Cellular Phone Antenna Booster. Please understand that you will receive one free antenna booster with your order (regardless of how many kits or packages you may order from a dutch auction). Unlike with other sellers, this is not a gimmick - there's no "catch," there are no additional costs to you, there are no additional "shipping" or "handling" charges tacked on (as so many other sellers do) - this is really and truly a FREE bonus! Wondering if my products are really as good as they sound? Just check my feedback for assurance, and see for yourself!
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Important: I have many auctions that are not listed at the top of the eBay auctions page, and lots of additional equipment available for immediate purchase (no waiting for an auction to end, and no chance of being outbid) in my eBay store! The only way to be sure you haven't missed something that might be perfect for your needs is to check ALL my eBay auctions and store items by clicking HERE! <- Clicking here will open up a new page in your browser with a list of my auctions and eBay store items; this auction page will remain open behind the new page, so you won't lose your place.


Accessories & Information

Point of Information: BTW (btw means "by the way" for any "newbies" paying us a visit), a "Reflection" umbrella is one that reflects the strobe's light back onto the subject, and thereby softens and diffuses the light. This technique is often used in portraits, delicate items, and for photographing reflective surfaces, and performs many beneficial services for all us hard-working, and under-appreciated photographic artists. Keep it a secret from others, though, and let them think we get our beautiful images through some sort of secret and esoteric magic, passed down through the centuries, from master to disciple. It helps increase our value ;-) - and please don't send me any e-mail explaining that photography hasn't been around for centuries, I know that. Duh. Actually, photography (in one form or another) has been around for about 150 years.

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 Silver/Black Reflection Umbrellas: 32"

The Silver/Black umbrella is made of the new P-Satin clothes-PU bonding with high denier Satin. Their Black cover can achieve almost 100% light reflection rate and provide soft almost shadowless light, which is suitable for indirect and diffusive lighting. A wonderful method of softening the light. You get TWO Umbrellas with this fantastic kit!



Technique: Photographers use these umbrellas to diffuse and soften light; in portraits, for example, this soft lighting very effectively hides many of the lines and wrinkles on the faces of our victims (umm, our "subjects" :), making them look younger and more vital. It's also great for photographing highly reflective surfaces, such as jewelry, glass, and chrome (it avoids the bright reflections that mess up our pictures). But don't let our clients know our little secrets, just accept their appreciation (along with your quickly-escalating fees), and let them believe it was your phenomenal photographic skill that made them (or their products) look so damn good! Look, you're spending a lot of time and money acquiring the equipment, and learning the skills of the photographic arts; you're becoming a skilled professional; your work is valuable as well as beautiful. Don't price yourself out of the market, certainly, but don't sell yourself cheap, either.
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Transparent White "Shoot-Through" Umbrella: 32"
The "poor photographer's softbox"

Ah, now here's a truly valuable and versitile addition to every photographer's tool kit! The transparant material of this great umbrella allows us to either use it reflectively, or - and here's the true value - to direct our strobe through this umbrella, resulting in a truly fabulous way to soften our light - without losing a few stops of exposure (and without costing us an extra hundred bucks or so)! This is almost the exact same thing that the softbox does, and this gives us yet another method to control our lighting. When you start using this kit, you'll quickly see the differences between using the reflection umbrellas, and the shoot-through umbrella. The more tools we have, the more creative we can be, and that's why I include the most valuable photographic tools in these packages. I promise you, studio lighting is a blast, and this package allows us to greatly improve our photography! And with this kit you have the equipment you'll need for both reflective-umbrella and softbox-style Transparent Shoot-Through lighting! You're getting one of these transparent umbrellas with this great package.

Where? Photographer's SupplyStation of course!"PhotoSource3" on eBay
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 3614 6
 H70- 150mm 7" Umbrella Reflectors
Used alone for about 60º coverage, or with optional barn doors to control lighting spread, or with an umbrella to create soft and diffuse lighting. This custom reflector is designed with a special "slot" in it to allow for the use of an umbrella, without the need for a special umbrella holder accessory! A unique innovation! This is usually the reflector that comes with the Britek PS-200 Strobes, since they have an integral umbrella holder built in to the strobe's light stand connector. You get TWO of these reflectors with this package!
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Raw Muslin Backdrop

Now you'll have a truly useful photographic background/backdrop material, to go along with your lights. This raw muslin background material is 6 feet 8 inches wide by 9 feet tall (plenty of room for almost all common photographic requirements). It's one of the most popular and useful backdrops in use today! The raw muslin - a light, creamy, tan color - has been used successfully by professional photographers for decades, and will doubtlessly give you the same creative abilities. Easy to use and popular with both portrait and product photography, the raw muslin has helped improve images for countless photographers worldwide. With this fabulous background/backdrop to start you out, you'll be ready for virtually any photographic challenge that comes your way!
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Each and every order (placed from this eBay auction listing) will include one FREE Cellular Phone Antenna Booster. Please understand that you will receive one free antenna booster with your order (regardless of how many kits or packages you may order from a dutch auction). Unlike with other sellers, this is not a gimmick - there are no additional costs to you, there are no additional shipping or handling charges tacked on (like so many other unscrupulous sellers do) - this