Better photos are coming...

I just felt like updating the blog, and I think the most exciting news right now is that a friend and I built a diffuser box for taking photos. I'll post pictures of it, but basically it's 1/2" PVC pipe with some elbows and "t" connectors to make two squares that are connected at the top to form an open bottomed box (yes, pictures would -really- help). We tried it on a few simple items, comparing regular flash photogrpahy in ambient light, to forcing the camera to use the light diffused into the box and then allowing the camera to fill-flash the box. Both pictures with the box were vastly superior to the "regular" photos.

I also purchased a hot-shoe flash for my camera to help control the flash even more. I took some pictures at the Washington State Convention Center over labor day weekend and the onboard flash was just strong enough to give people red eye, but not really improve the photo. This flash should be strong enough to take pictures at 40 feet using ISO 100 eqivalent. I've seen some test examples that people have done and they look great. the unit reads the info from the camera and adjusts the power of the flash AND the distance of the flash bulb from the opening of the housing to give the perfect lighting for the situation (in theory).

So, hopefully no more flashy pictures that don't really show the detail I'm looking at. Which is more aesthetically pleasing for readers and more informative for potential customers.

EDIT to add picture: