SOPHA - The Studio of Photographic Arts - the official blog

New England Orchid Show

2012-01-29T17:02:00.004-05:00

A reminder that the New Hampshire Orchid Society is having its annual show at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua the weekend of February 11 and 12.

The regular show is open from 9am to 5pm on each day, Saturday and Sunday. Because of the crowds, they don't allow tripods, etc. because of the tripping hazard.

To accommodate photographers, they open one hour early on Saturday and Sunday to allow photographers to come in with tripods, etc. They send you out the door at 9am.

They haven't charged admission in the past, but I usually make a donation to their group for the good mojo.

If you go, know that there can be many photographers - which is why I go Sunday morning. Also, and this is important - don't touch the flowers. Not even a little.

Hope to see you there!

For Sale: White Lightning X1600 studio lights

2012-01-29T13:55:00.000-05:00

SOPHA has for sale a number of White Lightning X1600 studio lights. Great lights, but we are upgrading to Einsteins across the board. If you want one, they are $300 cash, more with a CC or shipped. Includes power and sync cords and shipping cover. Call the studio for details or email me.

Next lens for a Nikon D3100

2012-01-28T11:37:00.003-05:00

A question from one of my students in our beginning KickStart Digital SLR class (a new class every month).

Is the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED the next lens I would want to buy if I were going out to buy one for my Nikon 3100?

Awesome question! Awesome, but complicated.

Short answer: for most folks, probably. And at $250, it is hard to go wrong. Well, you could go wrong - you don't want the non-VR version. At $80 cheaper, you might be tempted but don't do it! You want VR - vibration reduction goes a long way to reducing the effects of camera shake at longer shutter speeds at long focal lengths. It is a no-brainer!

Now, before you run off to World Wide Photo Mart, I have a few other thoughts for you.

You might want to upsize your combo meal. Nikon came out with a longer focal length version of this lens, the 55-300. Now, it is a price jump upward, at $400, but it might fit your needs better, depending on what you wanted the lens for in the first place. And now we get down to the nitty gritty.

Now the long version:

When ever someone asks me about the "next lens purchase," I always ask, "what do you want to do with the lens?"

If you want a longer zoom telephoto for most routine uses, the 55-200 will be a fine choice. But if you are into shooting youth field sports, for example, you might be happier with the longer reach of the 55-300. Now, for certain the 300mm of this focal length lens is not the same as our 300mm f/2.8 lens in our rental department, but comparing a $400 lens to a $6000 lens is unreasonable...

Now if we expand your question a bit, what might be a nice second lens? Assuming you have the kit lens - an 18-55mm, you might consider a lens with a nice big fat wide open aperture. I shoot often with the 50mm f/1.4 lens, which at $440 is pricey, but worth every nickle. You might want to peek at the slightly less capable, but oh-so-much cheaper 50mm f/1.8 lens (we call it the nifty fifty). At $220 it is a steal!

The 55-200 and the 50 f/1.8 aren't the same lens, nor do they meet the same needs, but both have a useful place in a beginner's camera bag. Me, I would want to have the ability to use wide paertures for shallow depth of field. but I shoot portraiture and people far more often than sports or wildlife.

A few more thoughts. Don't buy "imported" or grey market lenses - they don't have a Nikon USA warranty. Don't buy the older "D" series lenses for use with your Nikon D3100 - they won't autofocus! You want "G" series lenses.

Now, get out and shoot!

(The image at the top of this post is from SOPHA Member Elsa, taken during a past KickStart Digital SLR class here at SOPHA in Manchester, NH).

SOPHA Gallery Show: Remembering Charles Saulters

2012-01-27T20:53:00.002-05:00

As the SOPHA community now knows, Charles Saulter passed away this past week unexpectedly. His loss has given many of us a moment's pause.

Today SOPHA announces that we will be hosting a special one night gallery show of Charles' work.

The Memorial Celebration and Gallery Show will be held here at SOPHA (15 Merrill Street, Manchester, NH) on Friday, February 3rd, from 630pm to 930pm. No RSVP is required.

We will use our studio space to display a sampling of Charles' photographic works. If you knew Charles, as a friend, customer, family, or fellow SOPHA member, we encourage you to join us for this night of remembrance.

Should you have any questions, please contact the SOPHA office.

Special Announcement: Gallery Show 2/3

2012-01-26T13:44:00.002-05:00

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: SOPHA will be holding a special gallery show Friday February 3rd to celebrate the life and work of Charles Saulters. More details forthcoming!

Charles Saulters, 1984-2012

2012-01-24T18:41:00.003-05:00

Many of you will have heard the tragic news by the time you read this post. Charles Saulters, an active young man in the photographic community and vibrant SOPHA member, has died. He was 27.

I spoke with his long time girlfriend, Sarah, this evening. She reported that Charles, who was otherwise a very healthy man, had a very sudden onset of severe difficulty breathing in the early morning hours last night. She reported that within moments he became unresponsive. She began CPR and dial 911. Two hours later he was pronouced dead at Leominster Hospital.

Charles was a member of SOPHA since September, and I knew him to be an enthusiastic photographer and videographer. He most recently completed a shoot at the studio featuring the ballerina Shela Murphy. He made a behind the scenes video.

I knew Charles in that he was a great member of our community - participating in our First Friday image review sessions, sharing his ideas for future studio growth, and, well, being a really good guy. I looked forward to his shoots here - he brought good mojo.

Sarah tells me that at this moment arrangements are incomplete, but the thoughts are that the family may want to do a Celebration of the life of Charles type of event in a week or so. I will share with you all the details as we have them.

I went in search of images of Charles, and I was saddened to see that I didn't have any. How is it I don't have images of Charles? I have no idea. I borrowed the image above from his facebook page - and the more I think of it, I believe I clicked the shutter for him on this one. But I can't recall.

I wish I could say that I knew Charles better, but I cannot. But even a cursory glance at his online profile shows the scores of condolence messages - he clearly was surrounded by many good family and friends.

What better measure of a man? He brought good mojo and he had great friends.

Charles you will be missed.

BUD and the entire SOPHA Community

A note on the Einsteins

2011-12-30T22:11:00.002-05:00

My good friend Joe Dimattia just pointed out that the Einsteins, when pruchased new, do NOT include a 1/8 to 1/8" sync cord (3.5mm) you need to connect Pocket Wizards (or Cyber Syncs).

Wow. I didn't realize that. This might be the first time I am disappointed in Paul Buff.

Shocked really.

Model Announced for Dave's Group Shoot

2011-12-27T20:02:00.002-05:00

It is about that time when we announce the featured model for the next installment of Dave's Group Shoot (and Evening Shoot with Dave).

The model is Fischee.

Dave has worked with her a few times in the past, and he assures me that she meets his every standard.

Of course, more models are added as enrollment grows.

Folks holding certificates from our Black Friday sale - be sure to give us plenty of notice that you are coming!

Our group shoots are a bit different than others you might have heard of - ours are structured, the models are paid, and we coach folks as needed!

Led by our own Dave Dawson with Bud Thorpe and the rest of the SOPHA staff backing him up - this group shoot is a great way to jump into glamour photography. the skills found here are applicable to many areas of studio photography! Remember though - not a workshop but a shoot!

The structure will be multiple sets and a 4:1 photographer to model ratio so there will be ample shooting for all participants.

The featured model scheduled to appear varies from month to month and is shown in the image above. More local models are added with enrollment.

The shoot is held once per month on a Friday night, from 7pm to 11pm in Studio A and Studio B at SOPHA.

Dave will utilize some of his favorite lighting setups and will be available for questions and coaching.

Questions? Give us a call or email!

Christmas Light Bokeh Shot in Studio

2011-12-23T22:34:00.002-05:00

We just uploaded this video we shot today in Studio A at SOPHA. Specifically, it describes a popular shot we do here in the studio using Christmas lights to create fantastic looking bokeh - or out of focus highlights in the final image.

We even show how to manipulate those highlights using an artificial tape-on aperture - in this case, one cut to resemble the shape of a snow flake.

Let us know what you think!

Also available on Vimeo for higher quality.

Tax Talk for Photographers

2011-12-21T17:26:00.006-05:00

Join us as veteran tax professional (and SOPHA Member) Larry Ober shares with us his 30+ years of tax experience in this one evening class.

Topics will include banking, record keeping, business entities, business expenses, and of course, federal and state tax laws. As always, we have allotted time for audience questions.

This class is $10 for non-members, free for SOPHA members. Members: an RSVP is required for this event to assure you will have a class handout.

More info about the class can be found here.

Friday, January 27, 2012, from 630pm-9pm. We hope to see you there!

Larry Ober (Oberco.com) is an Enrolled Agent, and is licensed by the IRS to represent taxpayers at all levels including examination, collections, and appeals.

New class: Marketing 101

2011-12-21T16:51:00.003-05:00

Marketing 101

Self-Promotion for Artists

A new class at SOPHA! Why not start the new year with a class on marketing your business?

Kickstart your efforts with this three evening class!

We will jump right into the basics of marketing using photography-specific ideas. Topics include everything from getting started, branding and self-promotion, to networking and social marketing. We will talk about best practices, press kits, the benefits of paid advertising, how to work within a shoe-string budget and much more. Every class will include one-on-one attention from the instructor for your specific needs, as well as how to interpret the success of your efforts.

Your instructor is Erica Templeman. She is a graduate of Emerson College with a bachelor's of Science in Marketing and Advertising, with a minor in Sociology. She worked as a social marketer for high end hospitality, Columbus Hospitality Group and in client services for top social marketing agency, New Marketing Labs. She is currently a full time freelance fashion designer.

Interested? Check out the class website here. Remember, SOPHA members gets 20% off the cost of this class!

The program runs over three Thursday nights, February 9,16, and 23 from 630pm to 9pm each night. Handout materials are included in the course cost.

More questions? Contact the office for more information!

Note: SOPHA has a new phone number (603) 206-8372.

Which studio light to buy?

2011-12-20T12:04:00.002-05:00

A question from Chris (not that Chris, the other Chris):

You love the Einstein lights right? Would you get them over the Elinchrom or Alien Bees for a 2/3 light setup?

Short answer: Yes and Yes. Long answer: It depends.

We are (obviously) fans of the Paul Buff lights. We like the bang for buck, we love the customer service, and we have a looooong track record with them. And truthfully, I find the company itself to be well intentioned and honest. And I absolutely love dealing directly with the company that makes them (i.e. no four level deep distributor networks here!)

No, the Einstein is not as tough as an Elinchrom 600RX, but it doesn't come with a $800 price tag either. An Einstein does more and does it better, for less. It is that simple. Comparing the two lights, the Elinchrom wins only for durability and for it's modifier mount - a continuing problem with the Einstein.

(As a side note, I own four Einsteins, and they all have been back to Buff twice for their modifier mounts. This has been a well documented issue with these lights for me, and they are working hard on it. But I run a rental studio - we average 15 to 20K pops per light per month. Your lights at home may stand up better.)

There is one place where the Einsteins kick the snot out the Elinchroms though - flash duration. The "action" mode on the Einstein works as advertised, and the Elinchroms are little old ladies by comparison.

Now - would the Alien Bee work for you? Sure, why not? At $279, the lights are a steal. You are literally robbing Paul Buff every time you buy one. And if you don't like them, return them within 60 days and they give you your money back. After 60 days? Just put them on eBay and get 85% of your money back.

Why pick the Einstein over the Alien Bee B800? Power, fine control, and geek factor.

Finally - I realize that some will disagree - I find that the Elinchrom D-Lites are junk. The are a lower priced line straight from China, and have about as much in common with the 600Rx as a Mazda Miata does to a Porche. One is simply an imitation - some folks will be happy (especially with the price), but the performance is not nearly the same.

As always, send us your questions, and we will give you our opinion!

A new way to book studio time

2011-12-18T13:07:00.003-05:00

Howdy SOPHA members!

As you know, SOPHA has gotten a bit busy lately with the turning of the seasons, and to help with the influx of studio bookings we have added an online booking page to the SOPHA website.

Candidly, our motivation for creating this form is to decrease the volleys of emails back and forth as we attempt to glean all the necessary information to make your booking.

Now, before you run off and check it out, please understand a few things:

1. This is just a simple form that when completed correctly, sends us an email. The sign up process is still manual on our end. There is still a short lag before seeing your booking posted to the studio calendar.

2. We need all the information listed. The form will not send information to us unless you fill it out completely.

3. The form is only for SOPHA Members. Non-members can book studio time, but they will need to call.

The new for can be found at www.theSOPHA.com/booking.

You will still continue to receive a good old fashioned "all set" email from either Dave or I.

Finally, it is very important that you recheck the calendar to confirm that your booking is entered correctly. Time has shown us that this is a very effective built in error correction tool.

As always, with any change in systems, we expect a few speed bumps. Don't hesitate to give us feedback, positive or negative, so that we can improve our process.

Thanks for all your support!

Tonight: The SOPHA Holiday Party!

2011-12-17T10:14:00.002-05:00

Come join us tonight, Saturday December 17th, so SOPHA's Annual Holiday Party.

Join Bud, Dave, and the entire SOPHA Staff and Crew for a festive evening of food and frolick.

We might even break out the festivus pole.

No RSVP required, but it is a BYOB situation. If you want to bring a food item, feel free, but it is not required.

Note that the studio has a new phone number - (603) 206-8372.

15 Merrill Street, Manchester, NH. Park any place you can find a spot - just don't run into the reindeer!

Seeing multiple google calendars on an iPad

2011-12-15T21:02:00.002-05:00

I realize that this a very narrow post, but it solves such a difficult problem so simply, tha tI had to share in a "searchable" spot online.

If you use an iPhone or iPad AND you use google calendars, AND you have more than one calendar, getting your iDevice to see the multiple calendars has been difficult.

It isn't.

On your iWhatever, just log into your google account (i.e. gmail). Open another Safari browser window and navigate to www.google.com/calendar/iphoneselect. Click on the calendars you want to see on the device. (Hint: click them all).

Now here is the hard part (it isn't hard - it just isn't well documented): in the Settings menu, select "Mail, Contacts, Calendars", then click on Gmail. When the new menu comes up, toggle the "Calendars" setting to "On." Done.

You must first have your Gmail set up on your device, obviously, but otherwise it is a pretty simple thing to do.

Hope this helps!

How to clean your lenses

2011-12-14T15:45:00.003-05:00

We followed up out video on how to clean your camera sensor with this video on how to clean your camera's lenses.

This might be really basic, but basic skills are very important! Let us know if you like these videos - and please share out there on the interwebs!

Studio Phone Number Change

2011-12-12T22:01:00.000-05:00

Our studio number is now 603 206 8372. I am working on getting the old one back.

Video: Cleaning your DSLR Sensor

2011-12-12T16:49:00.004-05:00

We get a lot of questions here at SOPHA, and high on the list is how to clean your camera.

In this video, Bud will show you how to clean your camera, and specifically, the methods he uses to clean DSLR sensors.

Yes, this is service we have here at SOPHA - we clean cameras and sensors. But folks asked for a video, so here it is.

If you have ideas for more videos, send us a line.

New dates psoted of Intermediate DSLR Class

2011-11-30T20:57:00.002-05:00

We have just posted a new class session for Intermediate Digital SLR class.

It will run on Tuesday nights in January. As a bit has passed since the last class, we expect this class to fill to our max of twelve quickly. If we have more interest, we will add another section!

Details here.

Call with questions!

Two new videos are up!

2011-11-26T16:16:00.003-05:00

We decided to make a few simple videos that describe our two most popular classes. We hope this helps answer some questions for folks considering either our KickStart Digital SLR class or KickStart Studio Lighting class.

Vimeo version here.

Vimeo version here.

Black Friday Deals at SOPHA

2011-11-24T10:46:00.004-05:00

As you know, here at SOPHA, we don't do sales. It just isn't our style to offer a service at two different prices to two different customers. Yes, we have discounts for members - especially on classes - but that is the farthest we have ever gone with sales.

Until now.

From now until midnight Friday night we are having a Black Friday Sale. Here are the deals:

Offer #1
25% off DSLR Sensor Cleaning. That's right - one of most popular services at a big discount. Regularly $40, we are offering gift certificates for DSLR sensor cleaning at $30! The certificate is good for one year - more details are below.

Offer #2
35% off our KickStart Digital SLR class for December or January sessions. Regularly $199, during our Black Friday promotion, this class becomes $130. If you are giving or receiving a DSLR this holiday season, or just want to get up to speed on what your camera has to offer, now is the time. See below for details.

Offer #3
40% off Dave's Evening Group Shoots. Regularly $125, during this promotion we are offering certificates for his shoot at $75. These certificates are good for any of our regular monthly Dave shoots through 2012. For those that regularly attend, or just want to check it out, we will never offer a better deal than this. Note that to use your certificate you must (without exception) give us seven days notice you are attending. See below for details.

Offer #4
We saved the best for last! We are offering 50% off our Intermediate Studio Lighting class. Yes, our crazy great SL2 class for just $90. This offer is only for the January 14th class session, and the details are below.

About our offers
These offers are only good through midnight on Friday November 25th, no exceptions. You must pay online or in person. (A note to you cash customers who I often let things slip a bit - not this time - cash on the barrel head. I love you all, but this is going to get nutty around here.)

There are no refunds on these offers.

Membership discounts do not apply. In other words, there is no "double discount."

While you can transfer or sell you "offer" to some one else, you have to let me know. Obviously.

These offers have an expiration date. They are only valid for the times listed. But we aren't mean - if you miss the dates listed, your certificate still has its face value for a gift certificate to SOPHA for any product or service - essentially there is no risk. Example: you buy a certificate for a $30 sensor cleaning, but don't use it for over a year, out of the range of the offer. The certificate is still good for $30! You can use it on anything you like here! Again, no risk.

If you have any problems with our cart or check out system, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bud and Dave Show for November

2011-11-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

Also on Vimeo

Dave's Monthly Shoot at SOPHA

2011-11-13T18:49:00.002-05:00

This coming Friday night, November 18th, Dave will be hosting his monthly group shoot.

The event runs from 7pm to 11pm, and is $125 for non-members, $99 for members.

The scheduled model is Ramagious (see her portfolio on Model Mayhem here), and we will add models for a 4:1 photographer to model ratio as enrollment progresses.

As always, call or email the office if you have questions.

If you are joining us, won't you consider bringing a new unwrapped toy for our Toys for Tots Campaign? Thanks!

See you there!

New props for the studio

2011-11-07T13:32:00.008-05:00

As you know we have a lot of props for the studio here at SOPHA world headquarters. But can you ever have enough?

We made a run to Ikea the other night, and came back with a few new props for the studio. All are available now.

We got two child-sized chairs - a nifty little green chair and a natural colored wicker number. They should be popular!

We also got a canapy-type veil. It was cheap, but I am sure that someone will use it!

Finally, we got this nifty hanging chair - it is in a bright blue color - and hangs over the cyc wall in Studio A. Although the mount in the studio and the rope are sturdy, this chair probably has a max weight of around 150 pounds - so you big guys should probably take a pass on this one!

Special thanks to Kiera for creating these images of our new stuff!

Best lens for soccer and football?

2011-11-06T16:44:00.002-05:00

This just in from a friend of mine:
"I have a Nikon D40 (I hope to upgrade soon) and was wondering which lens you recommend for shooting sports. Specifically football and gymnastics."

Well, there is good news and bad news. The ideal lens exists, but you probably won't want to shell out the dough. My choice is the Nikon 70-200mm VR2, f/2.8 lens. At $2400, it is painful on the pocket, but it is truly an uber lens in the Nikon line up. Its fast f/2.8 aperture, combined with its fast (really fast) autofocus and nifty VR, I love what this lens can do. It is built like a tank, and weighs about the same. B&H Photo has it here.

Assuming you don't want to spend your annual grocery budget on a Nikkor lens, I would give serious thought to the Nikon 55-300mm VR2 f/5.6 lens. Yes, it is a consumer level lens, its autofocus isn't nearly as snappy, but for $400 it is a steal! A complete steal! It reaches out to 300mm (albeit at f/5.6), it is light, and fits in anyone's camera bag easily. Yes, at f/5.6 you will need to jack up your ISO for those night games or indoors (and the high ISO performance in the D40 is not nearly as nice as a new D5100, but that is entirely another post.) B&H Photo has the 55-300 here.

Don't forget - if you are buying or selling used photo gear, be sure to check out this Saturday's Photo Flea. And check out our post last month on "what's my gear worth". Also, check ou tthe post: Should I buy this?

The Manfrotto 2983 Crossbar

2011-11-06T15:11:00.003-05:00

We get asked often what we use for background support systems here at SOPHA.

Great question.

First, we don't use them often - most of our background are built into our Studios (take a video tour here). And when we do use muslins, we just clamp them to our existing curtains, which are held up with 3" diameter black pipe.

When we do need a portable background system, we have two options here at SOPHA.

1. We use the Savage Port-A-Stand. I have a love hate relationship with the system. It works well and it all fits in one nice carrying bag. The down side is that the stands they include are "pin stands" - they don't have the standard 5/8" inch adapter at the top which makes them uni-taskers - they can only be used for the background support system. If I am going to schlep something to a location shoot, I want maximum flexibility, and the ability use those stands for lighting if I need to. That said, we rent out this system often because it is cheaper to rent than renting option #2 below with the necessary stands. Again, there is nothing wrong with it, but I prefer...

2. The Manfrotto 2983 cross bar along with two heavy light stands or c-stands. I prefer this method because it is the sturdiest and lightest. It expands to over nine feet (it fits nine foot seamless no problem.) It collapses down to about 44 inches, so any light stand bag which will hold a large kit stand will also hold this cross bar.

The Manfrotto cross bar is about $65 from our friends at B&H Photo.

Don't forget to like us on facebook!

Pin Up Workshop at SOPHA

2011-10-30T22:33:00.002-05:00

On November 9th, Dave will be holding a new class: Pin Up Workshop.

This program will show you step by step how Dave creates his pin up images, from concept building, model selection, hair and make-up direction, prop selection, and lighting.

We will be shooting two complete “looks”, possibly more. We will be shooting live in the spacious SOPHA Studios.

There will be ample time for student shooting and for participant questions. This is a hands-on course!

The class will be held from 1pm to 7pm at SOPHA.

The model scheduled is Dinah Deville (MM 530715), one of Dave’s favorite pin up models. Dinah brings both her extensive experience as a pin up model and her experience as a set designer and sculptor.

As always, please contact the office for any questions; we are here to serve you!

New Video: SOPHA Studio Tour

2011-10-26T21:24:00.003-05:00

A video tour of our studio is now online on YouTube, Vimeo, and our Facebook Page.

We have been talking about doing this since we opened the doors to "SOPHA 4.0" over a year ago - so Monday Tom and I just ran out and did it. Natural light, one camera, and about ninety minutes.

The audio is imperfect in places, but for those of you who haven't visited us, you should get a good feel for our space.

If you want to schedule a super deluxe in-person tour, just give us a call or email.

Let us know what you think!

Photo Flea: NH's Fleamarket for used photo gear

2011-10-23T17:41:00.009-05:00

On Saturday, November 12^th, SOPHA will be holding a photography community flea market in our spacious Studio A from 9AM to Noon.

Introducing Photo Flea: New Hampshire's Flea market for used photography gear!

This is your opportunity to sell photographic equipment that you are no longer using. It is also your chance to score a really good deal on some used gear.

What can be sold at the SOPHA yard sale?

Any photography related equipment that you no longer need or want.
Assorted items that you may use in your photography business including backdrops, props, carry bags and cases.

What does it cost?

It is just $10 to participate as a seller, with $5 going to Toys For Tots.
Free to those just buying or browsing.

Do I need to be a SOPHA member?

No, this event is open to all interested, no membership required.

What’s the catch?

Well, there is no catch, but there are a few rules:

Studio A must be totally cleaned out by 12 noon.
All items must be somehow related to photography.
All sales are private between the buyer and seller.
SOPHA assumes no responsibility for any sale or purchase.

What’s the deal with Toys for Tots?

Last year be participated in our first toy drive for Toys for Tots, and it was a great success! This year we will starting our drive sooner, and collecting dollars as well.
Half of the money we collect selling table spaces will be given to Toys for Tots.
We will also be collecting toys - donations must be new unwrapped toys. We thank you in advance for your donation!

Questions? Call the office!

After Action: Joe Brown to speak on his coverage of the Woburn PD shooting

2011-10-13T11:38:00.002-05:00

This month's speaker is Joe Brown (JoeBrownPhotos.com). Joe is a full time photo journalist for the Woburn Daily Times and a part timer for the Lowell Sun. With dozens of years of of real world experience, Joe is a true community-based photographer.

In September Joe photographed the first, and nearly only, images of the aftermath of a Woburn Police Office shot while trying to intervene in a jewelry store robbery.

At his talk Joe will speak about that day and those images, speaking not only to the role of a community newspaper photographer, but also the importance of maintaining image copyright, working with media outlets, and a whole lot more.

This talk will begin at 630pm. Free for SOPHA members with advanced RSVP (send an email) or for non-members with a $20 fee. (Half of the $20 fee goes to our Toys for Tots campaign).

More info on our website.

Dave's Monthly Shoot at SOPHA

2011-10-13T11:36:00.003-05:00

This month's featured model is Mara.

Interested? Check out our webpage for more details.

- BUD and DAVE

How do I sell my old gear?

2011-10-05T18:41:00.003-05:00

This is a great question that we answer at least three times per week. In fact, it is silly that I have not made a blog post before now.

The short answer
Sell your stuff on eBay or Craigslist, and know that you won't get but 50% of what you think it is worth.

The long answer
I bet that you made the choice to sell your gear because it wasn't of any real use to you any longer. Ask yourself, is it of no use to you because it is old and outdated, or of a beginner or consumer-level quality? If so, you need to realize that it is unlikely that you will recoup even the smallest fraction of what you originally paid.

It is true that if you do have a current-run lens or body sitting around unused that you will fair better, doubly so if that item is pro-level quality.

Assess the condition of your gear.
The first step is to assess your item's condition. Is it clean? Worn? Beat up? You need to know this when you go and look up online what other folks are paying.

Figure out what it is worth.
First, look what your item is selling for on eBay. eBay is a great place to sell (and a lousy place to buy, but that is another post entirely). Just type in your item in the search bar, and then filter your search (down on the left side) for completed listings. Look for the GREEN numbers - those are items that actually sold. Red numbers are items that didn't sell, so ignore them. When looking at the sold items, try to ball park an average selling price, less shipping charges. This is what you can expect to get if you sold your item on eBay.

Then, look on your local Craigslist. Bear in mind that it is unlikely that you will see many of your items listed in the 2-3 week window that CL ads run, if you find any at all. But it is worth a look. If you do see an item listed, bear in mind that it is an asking price. In general, I think folks posting on the Photo section of Craigslist are absolutely high on drugs. Their prices are always excessive, and completely out of touch with reality. And it is exactly why you will be able to sell your item without difficulty there. More on this later.

Finally, look at B&H Photo in their used section and see if the item is there as well. If it is it is probably a fair price. B&H Photo moves a ton of gear.

Sell your stuff
If you aren't in a rush, go ahead and put your stuff on eBay. Put a low reserve on the item (I usually put $1). It may seem crazy, but the item won't go for a $1. As long as your item is well described, and your item has an accurate title (spelling counts) you will be fine. I only ship to US addresses, PayPal confirmed only, no eChecks.

Now, if you are in more of a rush, or you aren't a fan of the eBay/PayPal continuum, you can post locally on Craigslist. Take four good pictures of the item, and post away! How much should you post it for? 80% of your eBay average. I have never failed to sell within a week with that pricing scheme. The real-world pricing is a breath of fresh air to Craiglisters. Now, I recommend only doing face-to-face sales with cash only, no refunds, and I never bend on the price. Meet the person in a public place such as Starbucks or Barnes and Noble for safety.

Thoughts on trading in
In general, a camera store will take your gear to sell (or as a trade in) ONLY if they think they can sell it almost immediately and at a good profit. My rule of thumb is this: if the store will take it in trade, you shouldn't trade it. Yes, I am really stepping on their toes here, but if you know me, you know I don't care: camera stores don't pay me, photographers do. So should you trade in your gear? No. Hell no. Sell it on eBay. My opinion is that you will get about 40% more money.

Where else can you list your gear?
Fred Miranda has a forum that is busy, and Sports Shooters seems to move a bunch of gear through their forums too. We will post on our blog for our members upon request.

Selling gear can be a pain - and most of the pain comes from realizing the startling depreciation that our gear undergoes. But don't forget when that gear got you - great images. And that is something!

Should I buy this?

2011-09-19T16:37:00.003-05:00

Every day we help photographers navigate the retail waterway that is our photographic world. Today we heard from Ryan who is contemplating his first studio light purchase. Up to now he has been using his speedlights, a la Strobist, and is looking for the upgrade.

He sent me this screen shot of his shopping cart. He asked my opinion.
(click on the image above to make it larger).

The Alien Bee AB800 is a solid performer, and you cannot go wrong. We have many of them here at SOPHA, the rent nearly continuously, and the service from Paul Buff is tops. Now, should he get a pink one? Well, Ryan is very comfortable with his manhood, but I would reconsider the pink selection. Why? Resale value.

When ever we buy any piece of capital gear here at SOPHA, we consider its resale value. And it is clear from even a basic look on eBay, that the pink and lime versions don't fetch as much used.

You will also see that his cart includes a 7" reflector. He doesn't need it as it is included in box with the AB800. (Note that the reflector is not included with the Einstein. Beware!)

Does he need the whole set of 7" honey comb grids? Probably not now, but at that price point, it doesn't make sense to buy them individually.

The 13' stand is fine, although I am partial to the Manfrotto stands, but they are twice the price.

The Cybersync receiver and transmitter are solid performers. Be sure to keep spare batteries handy, especially the "2450" coin cell the transmitter requires.

The large foldable soft box is fine - but I would give serious thought to the new Parabolic Light Modifiers. No, they are not quite the same, but close. My thoughts aren't going to price, but rather to options - if you had a silver PLM, medium, with a white face, you would have something like a large softbox and something that could do large hard light... Oh, and it packs down smaller too.

Anyway, this is a pretty typical question here at SOPHA. Hope this helps!

New Video: Training for Help Portrait Manchester

2011-09-18T18:51:00.002-05:00

On October 1, 2011, The Studio of Photographic Arts in cooperation with New Hampshire Catholic Charities will be sponsoring the Manchester, New Hampshire edition of Help Portrait.

Our goal is to provide family portraits to 200 in-need families, for free, in one day.

This video is a training primer for our generous volunteers.

Using over 80 volunteers and our 6,000 square foot facility, we hope to leverage our photographic community to give back to those families that are less fortunate.

You can read more about our event here.
More info about Help Portrait nationally can be found here.
More info about the great work done my New Hampshire Catholic Charities can be found here.

Note: a higher quality link on to this video on VIMEO is here.

What is my used camera worth?

2011-09-17T09:12:00.004-05:00

I get this question often. And that is an easy one - what ever someone is willing to pay for it!

OK, clearly, that isn't the information that folks want when they ask the question. The simple answer is that it is the average of the ebay and craigslist selling prices.

I received this email this morning:

Hi Bud,

I hope that you and your staff are all doing well! I attended one of your classes over the summer and you mentioned we could ask you questions any time. I was wondering if you could give me an idea on how much to sell my equipment for, I’d like to purchase the Nikon D5100. I currently have a Nikon D40x with the 55-200mm & the 18-55mm lenses. I purchased the package about 5 years ago and paid about $1000. It also came with a nice camera bag, DVD tutorial and lens hood.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Beth

What a great question! And I especially love that she gave me all the information, in one email, that I needed to give her the advise she needed. Here is my response below:

Well, here is the bad news. Its not worth nearly as much as you might think.

This is pretty descriptive, and similar to what I see on ebay - about $400 for the body and BOTH lenses. Ouch.

You would be lucky (!) to get $175 for the body. And most won't sell on ebay.

If you were to post the whole kit on craigslist, you would get someone to buy it at $350-400 in a face to face transaction, but it would take a while to sell. Again, if you were lucky.

That said, I see that in the end most folks keep the old body as a back up, buy a new body, and then as they graduate to better lenses, sell off the older lenses one at a time. I have to admit I would keep the 18-55 because it is so cheap, light, and handy, it makes a fine lens back up if your pricey main lens fails on you.

Five years ago, you got a steal for the kit at a $1000, not only in dollars but in value. With the exception of wide apertures, it can do about anything... Said another way, your $1000 investment, now worth $400, cost you $600 over 5 years, just $120 per year - that is just $10 per month. You spent more on coffee this week! And what did coffee give you? A more awake experience running to the bathroom more frequently?

My twisted humor and analogies aside, it always comes down to budget. And while I like the D5100 very much, I always caution folks to give serious thought to lenses - about half of your initial investment in a system should be in lenses. They will stay with you longer, and not depreciate nearly as quickly.

Depending on your style of shooting, you really should pick up a 35mm f/1.8 or a 50mm f/1.8 lens to go with your new camera - the difference is noticeable and the wide open apertures are both handy and artistically significant.

Your thoughts?

Now this is funny

2011-08-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

An Open Letter to Canon.

It isn't from me, but I wish it was.

New rental Item: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 lens

2011-08-20T17:03:00.003-05:00

We just added the uber-glorious Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.

We have lusted after this lens for a while, and we added it to our Rental Department today.

How popular is this lens? It went out on its first rental 15 minutes later.

Seriously.

Posing with the lens is our very own Jay Foley (Creativist).

Need something? Give us a call - we are here to help!

Note: our new cart system will be online very soon - much easier to follow and see what we have available in our rental pool.

New Rental Item: Manfrotto 561BHDV Video Monopod

2011-08-19T16:00:00.003-05:00

New Rental Item here at SOPHA: the Manfrotto 561BHDV Video Monopod.

Here the lovely Sera is holding it up so you can see what we are talking about.

There are really three nifty bits about it for shooting video:
1. This thing gets really tall. Nearly seven feet. So the tall shot is very practical, and even more so if you have a rotating screen (like on the Canon 60D or Nikon D5100).
2. It has a little tripod sort of foot arrangement. It swivels, but can stand up on its own. This adds quite a bit to the stability of the device when you are shooting video!
3. It has the proven Manfrotto video head on it. And that little arm coming off, intended for making smooth pans and tilts (it is a fluid head after all), can tuck right up under your arm for more stability - much like a wooden stock on a rifle.

You can see what StillMotion has to say about it in their video here.

Available from the SOPHA rental department. Just call, email, or drop by.

This Friday Night: Insurance for Photographers

2011-08-17T15:46:00.000-05:00

The next lecture in the SOPHA lecture series is this Friday night!

Tony Lemmo of Sevigny & Lyons Insurance will be here this Friday night (8/19) to speak to us on the subject of insurance for photographers.

As you know, having a solid plan for managing risk is an important part of any business plan. Come learn why having the right insurance can make or break your long term business success.

We start at 630pm. Please RSVP via email to Bud@theSOPHA.com. Non-Members may attend for $10 (all the money collected will go to our October 1st Help Portrait Event.) Call for details.

We hope to see you there!

More rental gear at SOPHA!

2011-08-11T14:53:00.003-05:00

We have been adding tons of new gear to our rental list here at SOPHA. If you need a lens, body, or bit of lighting gear, heck - even some HDSLR video gear - we very well might have it and at a price just about anyone can afford.

Today we just added a Zoom H4N stereo field recorder. What a great audio recorder! And the built in Mics rock!

Yes, you could buy this for $300, but why not just rent it from us? It rents for $20/$25 (member, non-member). And remember - same day rentals (returned the same day they are taken out) are 30% off!

Get off the couch and come down to SOPHA.

(Image above of our very own Kiera, holding the Zoom H4N in our reception area.)

PodCamp New Hampshire 2011

2011-07-27T15:13:00.003-05:00

This year's PodCamp is but a few days away. August 16th at the New Hampton School Short money, $5, and extra geeky. Extra extra geeky.

I am speaking (or rather, I have offered to speak - I haven't heard back from them officially) on Product Photography and on Better Camera Phone Images. Should be interesting!

More info? Check out PodCampNH.com.

After Action Report: Night Shots

2011-07-27T09:46:00.008-05:00

This report just came in from Marty, our Field Trip Leader about his recent Night Shots program held in downtown Manchester this past Saturday night:

When you’re shooting around urban areas, you never know what you’re going to see. In fact you could go out the shooting the same area the very next day and get completely different images. Now add darkness and you’ve added an element that both challenges and forces you to use techniques you may not use on a regular basis. Add to all this a Saturday night in Manchester, a group of 9 and plethora of tripods and you quickly become a target for inquisitive stranger-folk. (editor’s note: this is a near-Biblical understatement!)

Our group met in front of the old SOPHA location, a bit depressing looking in at the empty space since I painted nearly every surface in there. Anyway, we went over our agenda and techniques to keep in mind. Most importantly to look beyond the “things” you see and instead see the shapes, forms, textures, and colors those “things” take on in an artistic way.

We headed up Hanover Street and took advantage of the lighted tree-lined street, parking garage, the Palace Theater sign (you know...I’ve never been inside…shame on me). We kept in mind design principles like balance, proportion, unity and variety as we strolled along getting to know each other. About half our group newly discovered SOPHA and we look forward to giving those folks a tour at the studio real soon.

As the sun went down and darkness prevailed the tripods and fast lenses came out. We were practicing streaking taillights when right in our frame of view about 80 cop cars had a convention to arrest one guy, why, I don’t know but there was a ton of blue to play with.

Mind you, this was a hot and steamy night but it didn’t deter our group from taking full advantage of the dark alleys, reflections in the plate glass, geometry and all the different types of light before us.

We took the group shot at about 11:30pm on some stairs with some landscaping lights in the background to show the nightly effect of the evening. We finished up at City Hall doing some light painting on a statue (honestly, I don’t even know who it was…..maybe John Stark) anyway the guy had a sword. So out came the mag lights and bulb settings. Honestly, there was so much more we could have played with and experimented with but for some of us bedtime was long past and the heat had wrung me of all moisture.

This class promises to be a nice addition to the SOPHA lineup, in fact I’m already thinking about how this field trip would be in the winter!
- Marty Page, SOPHA Instructor

I joined in this field trip and I can tell you that I had a blast! Thanks to Marty and all the participants for a great time.

We heard from a few participants that they had a great time as well:

I want to thank you both for providing an engaging and worthwhile learning experience last Saturday evening. Not only was the evening fun but with your coaching and prompting, I learned alot about photography. I think I probably made a vertical leap in my ability in just a few short hours. It was all because you were generous with your advice, tips, and ideas, and so very supportive.

I look forward to your next offering.

Thanks again!
-Wayne

Photography Tip of the Day: Back up your business files

2011-07-26T20:18:00.003-05:00

We spend much time convincing people of the need to back up their images - portable hard drives, storage in the cloud - even burning DVDs - we have recommended it all (and still do!)

But let us take a moment to consider your business files. From important correspondence to Quickbook back up files, from spreadsheets to your business plan - every working photographer has uber-important files which he cannot afford to lose.

About a year ago I bought a little flash drive (also called a USB drive or thumb drive) made by Verbatim called a Tough-N-Tiny. I have the 16 gigabyte model.

It is small - very very small. Smaller than a penny. And it stays on my key chain. I make my daily back ups here at SOPHA World Headquarters onto it, and it is always with me. I even keep copies of all my course handouts, presentations, and flyers on it - I never know where I will be and if I will need them, but I know I always have them with me.

It looks dainty, but I assure you that it has survived just fine dangling on my key chain. For about $35, I really have to say, it was cheap. The 32gb model is under $70.

I don't use it to back up images, nor as a portable portfolio (I use my iPhone for that, and yes - I still maintain a printed portfolio).

Consider backing up your important business files on a flash drive - and keep that flash drive separate from your business computer!

New Rental Item: Nikon 300mm f/4 Lens

2011-07-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

For you Nikon-based sports and event shooters - we now have a nifty Nikon 300mm f/4 ED lens.

This lens is a huge step up from the popular consumer level lens out there right now - the 70-300 f/5.6.

Now available in the SOPHA Rental Department for a two night rental at $30 for SOPHA Members, $40 for Non-Members. For availability or more info call or email the office!

New Rental Item: GoPro Hero HD

2011-07-24T10:33:00.004-05:00

We just finished a nine state shake down tour with SOPHA's newest HD camera - the GoPro Hero HD camera.

Now, if you are new to the scene, the Hero is a very (read: very) small HD video camera. It is about the size of a half a pack of cigarettes. Small. Really small.

It can shoot 1080 or 720 HD video, and does so rather handily. But this camera's real strength is in its light weight. Because of this it can be mounted easily just about anywhere. And because the mount is water proof, "any where" is a real option.

We have a whole bag of mounts for it - from a headband mount (like a headlamp), to helmet mounts, to velcro plates - we have something for just about every application. We also have four more mounts coming in this week (tripod, chest, bicycle/motorcycle, and car/suction cup)

The GoPro Hero is available now in the SOPHA Rental department for $35 for two nights for SOPHA Members, $45 for non-Members. Call the or email the office for availability or for a full price list (.PDF).

Now get out there and shoot!

Photography Tip of the Day: Take a different route

2011-07-19T20:07:00.004-05:00

We all get stuck in our same old routines. We drive to work the same route, we drive home the same route, and we drive to grandma's house on the same streets.

And as a result, we see the same things every day. And perhaps, we get visually "stuck."

Take a different route! Drive a different way! Peruse a different road! Meander down a different path!

Trust me, knocking yourself out of your daily travels, if only by a few yards, can truly help to open your eyes up to different images.

This image was taken back in 2005 outside of Brattleboro, Vermont. My good friend Mauro has "hijacked" this truck we found on the side of the road and is shooting Isabel. I think the resulting image is still in his portfolio. Had we not gone out of our way to avoid the main roads, we would have never stumbled upon that truck. (Note the Vagabond Version 1 and the cheap eBay triggers! I think that is a D70 he is holding!)

Now, go out and shoot!

Photography Tip of the Day: Have a Flashlight

2011-07-18T14:21:00.003-05:00

Whether you shoot during the day or during the night, sooner or later you will find a small flashlight very handy to have in your camera bag.

And although I carry an expensive flashlight everyday (a habit from being a paramedic), I also have a few of these super cheap, super handy little flashlights around. I keep one or two in each camera bag, and one on my key chain.

Why are they so handy? Trying to read camera dials, find dropped gear, putting keys into locks... the list is long.

And at about 45 cents each, why not?

Carry a flashlight - its extra handy!

Photoraphy Tip of the Day: Bring a Chair

2011-07-17T22:17:00.003-05:00

Its true - I am getting older. And the older I get, I find that the ground is getting farther and farther away. That said, I have taken to bringing a little stool with me to location shoots that last more than an hour or so. It gives me a place to rest my rear, if even for a moment, while the chaos is unfolding itself around me.

I use the tall WalkStool. I warn you: this is pricey, but I have had it for years, and as many of you know, I am sort of an extra medium sized guy - it has held up very very well. Two thumbs up. The manufacturer's website is here.

The Walkstool in the image has been hijacked by my good friend and SOPHA member Richard. He too is extra medium - at nearly seven feet tall, you can see the WalkStool is supporting him just fine!

After Action Report: Mount Major Field Trip

2011-07-14T14:47:00.006-05:00

So the outdoor location/landscape field trip was a success!

A group of SOPHA members and some new faces met at the base of Mt. Major in Alton NH. The weather was really nice, a bit hazy up on top the summit but it was off in the distance.

We started with a tailgate meeting and talked about gear. What to bring, what not to bring. I showed off my cool Cotton Carrier (Cotton’s just the inventors last name) which worked out for me better than expected. My camera sat right up on my chest pointing downward and was ready to grab a moments notice. The weight was nice too as it balanced out my backpack filled with an embarrassing amount of water.

We went over some of the rights photographers have to take photos and not be accosted by “the man”. We looked over a handout with things to keep in mind about landscape photography like the rule of thirds, depth of field & focal point. Christopher was our pack mule and was loaded with extra water, the first aid kit….I think he got off easy……I carried my own tripod. We even had two dogs join us, my own collie Guinness and the Greg's clan (who came from near Cape Cod) brought Abby (a lab I think).

The first mile up was the best light we had all day, it was coming through the canopy like spotlights and a number of us used it just like a snoot. The hiking pace was nice and slow so you never got out of breath or anything like that. Tons of stuff along the way, cool path shots, weather trail signs, mosses, mushrooms, fallen trees, rock formations, lots of textures. We took plenty of candid fooling around shots too that I think just about everyone snagged one as a profile pic on Facebook.

On the summit we were joined by half the population of Greece. We ate too much, laughed plenty & kept shooting. I set up my tripod in the one lane that wouldn’t be blocked or include another hiker and did some HDR shots, and some panoramas. I used a graduated neutral density filter to cut the exposure of the sky to better balance the greenery in my lower portion of the frame.

We topped off the summit with a group shot using my remote trigger, took about a dozen shots, I think Janelle & Deanamarie did something silly in all of them. We took a different and more-steep route down, I think next time we’ll reverse that.

All in all nobody got hurt and everyone got some good work in. A number of us went a few miles down the road and jumped in Winnie to cool down, Janelle didn’t bring swimwear so she went in fully clothed. Christopher has video of this! After cooling off the group narrowed down and we went to a local pizza place to replace the fat we had just burned off. This would be a great do-again in the fall!

Don't miss Marty's next adventure: Night Shots here in downtown Manchester. More information about this event can be found here.

New Field Trip Announced: Night Shots

2011-07-14T14:45:00.004-05:00

SOPHA Field Trip
Hands on photography in the city!
Night Shots
Saturday July 23rd

Join photographer and instructor Marty Page has he leads a night field trip in the heart of Manchester, New Hampshire in our latest in the Field Trip Series: Night Shots!

In this jaunt, Marty will lead our group around downtown Manchester all the while discussing photographic options. This is a hands-on photographic walk – so bring your camera and lets have some fun! Those of you with fast lenses and/or tripod should definitely consider bringing them!

A few things you should know. Participants must be physically capable of getting around downtown Manchester. Camera bags/packs should be kept to a lightweight minimum (for comfort). More information will be sent to participants via email. The class will meet in front of the old SOPHA building at 941 Elm Street.

Interested in joining us? Sign up now! SOPHA members should contact the office for an invoice to reflect your member discount.

Last Chance for Dastardly Dave's Master Series Class

2011-07-14T14:32:00.003-05:00

This Saturday, internationally published photographer Dave Dawson, known for his high-end, high-concept glamour photography, will be hosting a class here at SOPHA World Headquarters.

The lead model is scheduled to be Jade Vixen. We have worked with her in a class setting before and she really is kinda extra awesome.

Interested? Read more about the class here. But I would act now - the time is almost upon us!

Should I buy “Grey Market” photo gear?

2011-07-14T13:46:00.004-05:00

We get that question often here at SOPHA: should you, the consumer, consider purchasing grey market photography gear?

What is grey market anyway?

This might seem confusing, but it really isn’t. In a nutshell, when Canon makes a lens, such as their 70-200 f/2.8L lens, it is made in Japan. The big corporate Canon then sells the lens to its regional companies (all owned by corporate Canon), in our case Canon USA. Canon USA imports them, marks them up, and sells them to distributors and retailers throughout the country. When they import the lens, they warranty the lens – if anything goes wrong, Canon USA owns the problem, not Canon Corporate in Japan.

All Canon is not Canon, and all Nikon is not Nikon.

What is interesting is that each regional company (Canon USA, Canon Europe, Canon Asia, etc.) sets their own price based on local market conditions, currency exchange rates and a number of other factors. In the end, some regions sell the lens for more, some for less.

Example:

B&H Photo in New York City sells the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L lens for $2,399.
Camera World in London, UK sells that same lens for £1,999, which at today’s exchange rate is a whopping $3,228. The warranty on this lens is from Canon Europe.
In comparison, the street price of the lens in Malaysia is about RM6,800 ringgit, and luckily I know the conversion rate is 3:1, meaning the lens sells for $2,266. Yes, the lens really is cheaper in Malaysia.

Let the capitalism begin!

Imagine you are an enterprising U.S. distributor or retailer. What is you bought a pallet load of them from one of your photo buddies in Malaysia (or Hong Kong, or Singapore, etc.)? You wouldn’t pay any local tax, but you would have to figure in US import tariffs. Let us say in the end you get a good deal, so you now offer those Canon lenses in your US store. You can offer a great price, beating your competition handily.

Are Grey Market Products the same?

In most cases, yes. A 70-200 f/2.8 lens imported outside of the supply chain is the same as one imported by the official USA distributor. Where you might see differences are in video gear (NTSC vs. PAL) and in some cases in which charging cords are supplied with the product, but this is rarely a problem and is usually well described by the retailer.

But what about the warranty?

Now the fun begins. Remember that pallet load of lenses you imported and now sold? Because the lens you sold was imported by Canon Malaysia, and not Canon USA, Canon USA never got their cut of the deal, and as a result, they (rightly) would not warranty the product. The consumer who bought this lens bypassed the normal distributor chain, and is so doing, does not have a USA warranty.

Camera retailers aren’t foolish – they will usually offer a similar warranty using a third party service to fill the gap. B&H warranties their Grey Market products for one year, or the length of the normal USA warranty whichever is shorter. Read what B&H Photo has to say about it here.

How big a savings is there with Grey Market products?

Here is the shocker: not much. On the lens we have been using as an example, the difference is $20. That’s right: one lousy Jackson. Why bother losing a USA warranty (and in effect not supporting the USA staff of Canon in this case) over paltry $20? Exactly, you wouldn’t.

The Bottom Line:

I don’t buy Grey Market products because it makes no sense financially, either short term (the shopping cart), nor long term (in terms of supporting the distributor network). I like my USA manufacturer’s warranty!

This Saturday: Master Series Class - Beauty Headshots

2011-06-20T11:08:00.005-05:00

Master Series: Photographing Beauty with Dave Dawson.

Master Series programs put you side by side with working photographers as they show you step by step how they create their greatest images.

This program will feature our own Dave Dawson, SOPHA Staff and Instructor and noted Glamour Photographer.

This program will show you step by step how Dave creates his images, from concept building, model selection, hair and make-up direction, lighting, image selection and post processing.

Dave will be shooting live in the spacious SOPHA Studios, narrating his work as he goes, so students will be able to understand not only WHAT he does, but WHY he does it. He expects to shoot two complete beauty headshots during the class. Students will then have an opportunity to shoot the same set and model that Dave did, to better understand in fine detail how his process works.

Don't confuse this class with Dave's other Master Series Class: Alternative Glamour. They are very different programs with entirely different subjects!

This class is limited to FIVE students only. This will allow maximum instructor-to-participant interaction, and ample time for questions.

The class will be held from 1pm to 7pm at SOPHA this Saturday, June 25th.

The model scheduled is Emma. You can see more of her work here.

Non-members can sign up online, while SOPHA members should contact the office for a invoice reflecting your membership discount.

SOPHA Field Trip: Mount Major this Sunday

2011-06-20T11:02:00.001-05:00

Join SOPHA work our first Field Trip of the season! This Sunday June 26th, we are holding a SOPHA sponsored field trip to climb up Mount Major in Alton, NH.

This trip will be led by our own Marty Page as he leads our group up the mountain!

Mount Major is in Alton, New Hampshire. It is a favorite hiking destination for Marty, as it provides striking views of cliffs, and Lake Winnipesaukee. The trail ascends about 1100' over about two miles to the top. Considered a "moderate" trail, most trail guides rate it as suitable for all ages.

In this hike, Marty will lead our group on a careful and slow jaunt to the top. With plenty of stops for photography along the way, there will be plenty of time for him to impart his landscape and photographic wisdom to participants.

A few things you should know. Participants must be physically capable of climbing the mountain, and must bring their own food and water. Camera bags/packs should be kept to a lightweight minimum (for comfort). More information will be sent to participants via email.

Interested in joining us? Sign up on our website. SOPHA members should contact the office for an invoice to reflect your discount.

As always, contact the office if we can help you in any way.

"The Logisitics of a Photoshoot" Friday Night!

2011-06-20T10:59:00.002-05:00

Our monthly lecture for June will be titled "The Logistics of a Photoshoot" and we will be taught by SOPHA founder and owner Bud Thorpe.

From concept to print, we will discuss all the planning that goes into a successful photo shoot.

Using the Tao of Bud as a guide, we will explore all that goes into a well executed shoot, how to plan for contingencies, and how to adapt to change and adversity.

These talks are free for SOPHA Members, and non-members are welcome to join us for a $20 fee. Pre-registration is required - no walk ins.

Members can register by responding to the email sent to you, and Non-Members can sign up on the SOPHA website.

New Video: The Three Hour Portfolio

2011-06-13T10:17:00.005-05:00

The latest video from the crew at theSOPHA.com!

One good friend, model, and make up artist Erin ("Ramageous") asked us to help her update her make up and styling portfolio. We said yes! She wanted to use Sera as the model, and I wanted to use Mike for my First Assistant and Marina for video. The only trick was that with our busy schedules we only had a three hour window to get as many "looks" for Erin's portfolio as possible.

With a bit of planning, and a one light kit from the SOPHA rental department, we shot ten looks in three hours. check it out!

Interested in learning more about location lighting? Check out our Location Lighting class this weekend (6/18/11). A full day of learning and shooting hands on a fantastic farm in Deerfield, NH. More at theSOPHA.com or call the office!

You can see the video here on Vimeo (or YouTube here).

Don't miss the blooper reel (Vimeo here, YouTube here.)

New Video: Location Lighting Class, Thoughts on Gear

2011-06-12T17:24:00.005-05:00

This coming Saturday, SOPHA is holding our big Location Lighting class in Deerfield, New Hampshire.

The class teaches studio lighting outdoors, along with "Strobist", and using natural light too. We run the whole thing at a fantastic horse farm - a great setting for photography.

In this video we talk about some so gear you should consider if you join us!

More details about the class can be found on our website, theSOPHA.com

You can see the video on Vimeo here, or on YouTube here.

Bud and Dave Show for June 2011

2011-06-09T14:50:00.003-05:00

Bud and Dave Show for June 2011 from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

Okay, this is coming out a week later than we wanted, but it has been super busy here at SOPHA central!

Join us for this month's episode of the Bud and Dave Show as we:

- Update you on Florida Dave
- Introduce our FOUR new interns
- Talk about their upcoming Location Lighting Class
- Announce our next Open House event
- Talk about Dave's Group Shoot
- Announce the next Master Series program
- Describe our latest venture, Field Trips - the first to Mt. Major!
- Make you look up the word "verbose"
- and finally, remind you to save the date for our Help Portrait event

..plus a whole list of other programs and events at SOPHA.

Check out the latest episode on Vimeo (preferred) or on YouTube (why not?).

We always record our work in HD video, and we recommend you watch in HD too.

As always, call or email if we can help!

Group Shoot with Dave this Saturday Night!

2011-06-09T10:07:00.001-05:00

We are trying out a new type of event here at SOPHA, led by our own Dave Dawson. Not a workshop but a shoot!

The structure will be three sets and a 4:1 photographer to model ratio so there will be ample shooting for all participants. The featured model is scheduled to be

Manchester (from NY) and additional local models will be added with enrollment.

The shoot is this Saturday, July 11th and runs from 8pm to Midnight.

Dave will utilize some of his favorite lighting setups and provide lighting diagrams for each. Dave will be available for questions and coaching.

More info can be found here. (Note: this event is the same days as our Open House, only later!)

Open House this Saturday!

2011-06-09T10:05:00.001-05:00

SOPHA will be hosting an Open House and Meet and Greet event on Saturday, June 11th from 3pm to 6pm. That is this Saturday afternoon!

Come on down and get the deluxe tour, meet the staff and and mingle with many SOPHA members.

Why not bring your portfolio and share your work too? A good way to network!

Although an RSVP is not required, it would help us out to know how many folks are coming. We will have some light refreshments on hand.

Feedback from the Lakes Region Camera Club

2011-06-09T09:26:00.002-05:00

I spoke this past week at the Lakes Region Camera Club up in Meredith New Hampshire. Nice folks!

Anyway, here is what they had to say about my talk:

Thanks ever so much for your program Tuesday night. The Club Members were still buzzing about it after you left, and a number of them made a point of telling me they really enjoyed it..........and that they LEARNED SOMETHING! It was a great program to have as our final one for the year. Hopefully you will see some of our Club Members at some of your future SOPHA training or events.

Regards,
Leslie Inman

Hi Bud -

Just wanted to thank you for your program last night at the camera club.

An informative and entertaining session! Thanks for traveling up to the sticks.

Kristin Hand

The subject of my talk was "Printing 101." Are you part of a camera club or other photographic group? Would you like a speaker for one of your meetings? Give us a call!

Why you should own a weather radio (and why we do!)

2011-06-01T15:17:00.005-05:00

In a world of tweets and facebook, IMs and emails, and constant cellular communications, I have a very simple First Alert weather radio hanging on the wall here at SOPHA.

This radio serves one purpose - to make very loud noises when scary weather comes our way. We have a lot of photographers around here, and they have a prediliction for standing in wide open fields with tall metal poles with wires hanging from them (read: studio lighting). It seems to me that an unanticipated lightning storm could end badly.

You don't have to listen to the computer weather voice all the time. When you get the radio, you program in your location by way of a few codes (Cheese programed ours), and it will alarm when the National Weather Service sends out an advisory, alert, or watch notice.

This little gizmo set us back a whopping $34 on Amazon. If you search out a different radio, make sure it has S.A.M.E. - the system by which is can give location announcements, without having to hear every alarm in the Northeast.

I think every home should have one for another reason - they are simple battery powered radios that can share a lot of information in untoward times. And although you plug it into the wall, this model even takes AA batteries which (assuming you put NiMH rechargables in it) stay charged and ready in the event of a power failure.

Consider having a weather radio around and plugged in. At worst it may save you some hassle. At best it may save a lot more!

New Fabric Backgrounds

2011-05-01T19:28:00.004-05:00

We just put into service a number of headshot- and 3/4- sized fabric backgrounds. They are all about 6-8 tall, and about 3-5 feet wide, depending. They have sewn rod pockets top and bottom for your convenience.

Please note that they are not meant to be used as anything other than a suspended background (i.e. not for draping or floor use, sorry!).

I am sure you will find these to be a valuable addition to the five metric tons of textiles we already have!

-BUD and the SOPHA Staff

New Video: the Tao of Bud

2011-05-01T18:54:00.007-05:00

Tao of Bud: The logistics of a photoshoot. from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

We received an email from long time SOPHA Member Pat Crean who asked if we might run a class on the logistics of a photo shoot.

Well, I don't think we can run a whole class, but we did put this video together highlighting what we call the Tao of Bud.

The Tao of Bud
1. Form a concept.
2. Plan your lighting.
3. Determine the exposure.
4. Manage color.

The video is on Vimeo here (preferred) or on YouTube (ok, but they compress too much!).

Thanks for making SOPHA part of your photographic life!

New Bud and Dave Show Posted: Special Guest Hosts!

2011-05-01T18:50:00.005-05:00

We have just posted a very special Bud and Dave Show for May 2011. We were honored to have Tyke and Tor in the studio!

You can see the show on Vimeo here, or with slightly less quality and finesse on YouTube here.

As always, thanks for being part of SOPHA!

SOLD: SOPHA is selling an X800 light

2011-04-29T20:26:00.006-05:00

Here it is:

SOPHA has a ton of studio lights. We have Alien Bees, White Lighting X1600s, and Einsteins. We love them all.

But we have ONE White Lightning X800. One. A lone sheep in our pen. And quite honestly, it has to go. why?

You try running a busy rental studio where ONE LIGHT IS DIFFERENT. That's right folks: I spend an inordinate amount of time explaining how this light is different. It just isn't worth it to me! I have had this light for a few years, and it has given good service. It is about the same power as an Alien Bee AB800, but with two big pluses:

1. It is more durable design.
2. Its form factor allows for easy use of a beauty dish (Alien Bees can not be tilted downward with a beauty dish without an adapter.)

New at Paul Buff (White Lighting), this light goes for $389 plus shipping. Used on eBay they sell for $279-325. I am selling mine for $250 cash. I am including a power cord, sync cord, and protective cap. No warranty is provided - but the light works fine, and it just came back from Paul Buff's repair center as one of the internal connectors was loose. No biggie.

Cash sale, face to face here at SOPHA World Headquarters. First email gets it. No phone calls please. I will put SOLD in the title of this post when it is gone. If it lingers at all, it will go on Craigslist, then eBay.

How you can help SOPHA!

2011-04-29T13:19:00.002-05:00

Click on this link to see more...

SOPHA Member selling Canon L lens

2011-04-27T20:45:00.005-05:00

A new feature on the SOPHA blog - SOPHA Members selling gear. Why not?

Greg Martella, SOPHA Member, writes:

Would you know of anyone looking for a canon 24-105 f/4L? I picked up a 24-70 2.8 and don't have a use for both of them. Before I put it up on Craigslist I figured I'd check with you. If it's someone at the studio I'd sell it for $800.

There you have it folks. Contact the office if you would like contact info for Greg (we won't post it here to avoid spamming, we hope you understand).

Note: SOPHA isn't part of this of any used sale transaction. We are just being the nice guy and forwarding his posting. We love Greg and all our SOPHA members, but Caveat Emptor always applies!

Have you taken the Hue Test?

2011-04-22T11:02:00.004-05:00

As we print more and more images for our customers here at SOPHA, I have drawn two conclusions.

1. You must profile your monitor. In order for all of use to speak the same language, we all have to be seeing the same things on our monitors. I can't match your expectations if you aren't working in a calibrated space. Yes, calibrators are expensive (upwards of $450). To help you with this, we rent either the Color Munki or the Eye One Display 2 for $5 for two nights. Simple enough.

2. Not everyone can see color in great detail. My understanding is that it is just a variation seen in nature - 1 in 10 adults has some level of color blindness, true, but many folks just can discriminate subtle hues. Curious how you rate? Take a moment to take the "Hue Test" on X-Rite's website.

As I have said time and again, our goal in printing is to match what you SHOT, not match your screen. But it sure does help if you are in touch with the limits of your system!

(If you would like us to send you a copy of our current rental list, complete with pricing, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks!)

SOPHA nominated for NH Business in the Arts Award

2011-04-19T15:17:00.002-05:00

We just got word that we were nominated for a New Hampshire Business in the Arts award.

SOPHA was nominated along with some very good company - and I wish all the businesses in all the categories the very best of luck!

We will find out more at the awards ceremony on May 16th - until then, keep your fingers crossed!

Feedback from this sunday's Studio Lighting Class

2011-04-18T14:48:00.004-05:00

We just got this email and I thought I would share:

Bud-

I had a great time on Sunday! I was challenged but nothing went sailing too far over my head. The best part was your manner. You embody that perfect mix of professionalism and warmth and I am honored to be among your mentees. Thank you Bud. I would really really like to attend the Farm shabang...

All the best,

Wendy

Wendy is talking about her participation in this past Sunday's KickStart Studio Lighting class. In fact, the image at top is Wendy shooting during the class. I made the image with my iPhone while I was "supervising." Not to be out done, our good friend (and SOPHA member) Joe Dimattia made a picture of me taking a picture of Wendy, taking a picture of Erin. Whew!

The "Farm Shabang" she is describing is our Outdoor Location Lighting class called Down on the Farm, which will be happening June 18th (Saturday).

Thanks Wendy for your kind words!

phones

Stock Photos and the USPS

2011-04-16T16:30:00.004-05:00

Woops.

That's right - the United States Postal Service, in selecting an image for their latest "Forever" stamp, "Forever" immortalized their stupidity. Yes, folks, they confused The Statue of Liberty for the knock off of the Statue of Liberty at the New York, NY Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Nicely done. How could this happen?

It appears they used a stock photograph "from a service" which was incorrectly labeled.

Yes, you read that right - the image on the stamp was a stock photo. The USPS couldn't have someone make a shot of the Statue of Liberty? Seriously? Is this how far we have come?

Most images on the stock photo sites are $15 or under for full resolution. Hiring a photographer to get the shot would have cost, what?, a few hundred dollars.

Here is what is interesting to me. The property in Las Vegas is both the physical and intellectual property of MGM Resorts. Do they now have an IP claim against the USPS?

Sigh.

Models announced for Marina's Wedding Class

2011-04-03T10:41:00.002-05:00

This weekend is Marina's class here at SOPHA, Mastering the Skills of Wedding Photography. (April 9th and 10th).

Today we are proud to announce that are model couple will be Christiann and David. You may remember them from last year's Engagement Portraits class that was held on the farm in Deerfield.

Christiann and David were fantastic to work with! They are a couple, and as luck would have it, they will be getting married this summer!

The Wedding Photography class will be held at SOPHA with a field trip to St. Anslem's Abbey Church as well.

More information can be found on the SOPHA website. Feel free to contact us for more information!

First Friday is ON for tinght

2011-04-01T12:44:00.002-05:00

Although we had a prediction for a horrible debilitating storm, it appears that the effects were mild here in Manchester.

That said, tonight's Members Only event - First Friday Peer Image Review is on. We start at 630pm.

Thanks!

A bold new move?

2011-03-30T09:12:00.003-05:00

As you know, I rarely repost other blog postings here at the SOPHA blog. It just isn't our style. But this crossed my computer today and I couldn't help but share.

The number one error that budding photographer's commit is to under value their work by giving it away for free. Worse, to give it away at a less-than-reasonable rate.

It is ok to charge for your services! It's OK. Really. As obvious as this sounds, not a day goes by where I don't give out this simple, yet effective, business advice.

For more business advice, consider out Business of Photography Course.

Latest Bud and Dave Show has been posted

2011-03-25T14:17:00.003-05:00

Bud and Dave Show April 2011 from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

The latest episode of the Bud and Dave Show has been posted.

The Vimeo version is here (preferred). The youtube version is here (a bit less prefered, but still...)

Enjoy!

Bud and Dave

A question (via video) for the SOPHA Membership

2011-03-20T16:06:00.004-05:00

A Question for SOPHA Members from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

We have posted a question to the SOPHA Membership through a video.

You can see the video on Vimeo here (preferred) or YouTube here (not so preferred).

The Question? Should SOPHA invest more time and money in infrastructure to make certain improvements to Studio A so that it could be used to hold gallery shows?

To know if members support this initiative, we are asking members to pre-buy their admission into the first show. Then we will know if folks are interested! If the build doesn't happen, we will gladly refund your money (and move on to other projects).

The link referred to in the video can be found here.

As always, call or email the office if you have any questions.

The Studio of Photographic Arts (SOPHA) is a community-centered photography studio and teaching space in Manchester, NH. You can learn more about SOPHA at theSOPHA.com.

Wedding Photography Class Announced!

2011-03-19T15:33:00.002-05:00

The Studio of Photographic Arts is proud to announce our newest class: Wedding Photography with Marina Z.

This two day class will be a fast-moving, hands-on course featuring Marina's unique style. Using both studio and location work, and incorporating models acting as the bride and groom, Marina will lead the class through creating great images before, during, and after the ceremony.

Day One

We will start at SOPHA and discuss how to communicate effectively with the bride and groom and how proper planning will positively affect your results. While our model bride and groom are getting ready, we will demonstrate Marina's portable lighting technique both indoors and out. This will prepare us for the afternoon session which will be held at St. Anslems Abbey Church where we will learn and shoot hands on using this beautiful backdrop. As time allows we will be using the St A's grounds as a backdrop for our formals.

Day Two

During the first part of the day we will concentrate on the "getting ready" phase of the wedding, with the model bride getting into hair and make up. We will also discuss the importance of photographing the rings and the dress separately, which will be demonstrated. We will end with both studio and location formals, stressing the importance of capturing the interaction of the newly married couple.

What you need to know

Participants should have a working understanding of their camera, and should have some experience with off-camera lighting. If you aren't sure if this course is right for you, please just give us a call and we can help you out! Participants should be prepared for a very busy weekend.

What is included

Model fees and lunch for both days are included in the course cost. As always, SOPHA Members enjoy a 20% discount off the course cost. Members should contact the office for an adjusted invoice.

Want to see more of Marina's work?

Take a look at her website here.

As always, seats are limited, so why not register today?

Our 100% No Baloney Guarantee

And remember, all our classes are backed by our 100% No Baloney Guarantee

- if you aren't happy with any SOPHA class, we will refund your money. We are that confident that you will love our programs!

New Feature in Studio A

2011-03-19T13:10:00.009-05:00

After much discussion and planning, we have installed a "hard point" or anchor point into the ceiling of Studio A above the white cyclorama.

Why? The request came from a member photographer who wanted to photograph an aerialist on the white cyc. But without a reliable ceiling mounting point, this wasn't possible. Now it is.

In this image, our landlord Tom is swinging from the mount. It seems pretty sturdy to me!

This means that photographers can attach any manner of things to the ceiling very easily.

SOPHA - there's always something new!

KickStart Digital SLR Class announced!

2011-03-18T14:30:00.003-05:00

We just posted a daytime KickStart Digital SLR class on the SOPHA website.

Although we offer an evening class every month, we only offer a daytime section every few months or so.

If you have been waiting for a non-evening class, now is your chance!

Second model for Down on the Farm class announced!

2011-03-06T11:23:00.002-05:00

Our very popular class, Down on the Farm: Location Lighting, has just added our second (of at least five) models: Emma.

Now, many of you know Emma joined us for our first Farm class. In this image of her, taken at the first Farm class by our own Dave Dawson, you can see that she possesses not only beauty, but grace as well!

You can see more of Emma's work here.

Interested in our Location Lighting class? Check it out here!

Dave's Master Series Class is SOLD OUT!

2011-03-06T11:15:00.003-05:00

Master Series: Alt Glamour with Dave Dawson has sold out BOTH sessions for March.

We have started a waiting list which we will us to fill any spots which open in the class. We will also give seating preference to those on this list should Dave run this class again in the future.

Please email the office if you would like to be placed on the waiting list. Thanks for your continued support!

- BUD, Dave and all the SOPHA Staff

Down on the Farm: First Model Announced

2011-02-27T10:28:00.007-05:00

Last summer, SOPHA held a fantastic location lighting class called Down on the Farm. Held at a gorgeous working farm in Deerfield, New Hampshire, the program featured multiple instructors, multiple models, great food, and a real big dose of SOPHA lighting instruction and experience. In short, the program was great, and we sold out seats in the class for good reason.

This year is going to be even bigger.

The date is set for June 18th. Now, that does seem to be a very long time away as I write this on a very snowy Sunday morning in February, but I assure you that a program like this requires planning well in advance!

Today we are announcing our first model (of at least five): Alicia. She has been a friend of SOPHA for some time, and is a veteran of our first program at the Farm. You can can see more of her here and here. She is not on Model Mayhem, so I can save you the search.

The two images of Alicia are courtesy of our own Dave Dawson who created these images during a lull in the action at our last Farm class.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can check out the class description here, and you can sign up now if you like.

New Class: Master Series: Alternative Glamour with Dave Dawson

2011-02-22T18:09:00.004-05:00

Our good friend Tor called us the other day. He had an idea. Now usually when Tor says that he has an idea, we start filling sand bags and checking our hazard insurance premiums.

But this time was a bit different. He had taken the last month's Glamour Photography class with Dave and rather liked it. But he felt that he would get more watching Dave's process, how he sets up the shoot, how he communicates with the model, how he shoots, and how he edits the image. Tor suggested that we run a class with a very small number of participants so that the interaction with the instructor could be more intense.

We agreed. While the original Glamour class will stand, we present: Master Series: Alternative Glamour with Dave Dawson".

Master Series programs put you side by side with working photographers as they show you step by step how they create their greatest images.

The first program will feature Dave Dawson, SOPHA Staff and Instructor and noted Glamour Photographer.

This program will show you step by step how Dave creates his images, from concept building, model selection, hair and make-up direction, lighting, image selection and post processing.

Dave will be shooting live in the spacious SOPHA Studios, narrating his work as he goes, so students will be able to understand not only WHAT he does, but WHY he does it. He expects to shoot two complete clothed-to-nude sets during the class. Students will then have an opportunity to shoot the same set and model that Dave did, to better understand in fine detail how his process works.

This class is limited to FIVE students only. This will allow maximum instructor-to-participant interaction, and ample time for questions.

The class will be held from 1pm to 7pm at SOPHA. The first session of this class on Sunday March 27th has already sold out just on the rumor of it running. We have added a second session - Saturday, March 26th. As of this writing only four spots remain.

The model scheduled is Alysha Net, Model Mayhem 469272. She is coming in from Philly for this event - you don't want to miss it!

Call or email with any questions - we are here to serve you!

New Class: Youth Sports Photorgraphy

2011-02-13T19:40:00.002-05:00

Youth Sports Photography

Capturing great sports imagery requires skill, patience, and a knowledge of the game. Join us for this three session class as veteran sports photographer Geoffrey Bolte shares his experience in SOPHA's newest class "Youth Sports Photography."

We will be offering this class on Wednesday mornings in March, on the 16th, 23rd, and 30th. Each class will run from 930AM to 1230PM. An evening class may be offered, if you are interested, please contact the office.

The full class description can be read here. We hope you will join us!

About the Instructor
Geoffrey Bolte is a full-time sports photographer working throughout New England. You can read more about Geoff here, and you can see more of his work here.

Member Discount?

Remember, SOPHA members get 20% off most every class at SOPHA. Members should call or email the office and we will get you squared away!

Two new SOPHAs at SOPHA

2011-02-03T18:25:00.004-05:00

I thought I would put a quick post - we have two new props here at SOPHA. One is a late 1800 era buggy seat that was converted into a stand alone bench sometime in the early 1900s. Nifty black leather, small love seat sized.

The second piece has a bit of a story to it. At our old location, 941 Elm Street, our next door neighbors were closing their store. And they had a partially finished camel back sofa (SOPHA!) that they had no use for. Dave, always looking for another prop, snatched it right up! I won't lie - this came right about the time we were moving to our new facility, and I wanted more couches like a hole in the head - doubly so for a couch that wasn't ready to use.

Enter our good friend Galina. Sure, she may have trained as an architect, but she sure knows how to do upholstery! She spent a few hours yesterday working on the couch, and when the hammering stopped, she had this beautiful piece. Thanks Galina!

Both are stored in Studio A. Enjoy!

Another Award-Winning Episode of the Bud and Dave Show!

2011-01-29T13:51:00.004-05:00

Tune it to the latest episode of the Bud and Dave Show shot before a live studio audience in Studio A of SOPHA's Worldwide Headquarters in glorious downtown Manchester, New Hampshire.

Hear Bud and Dave regale you with tales from the studio - our upcoming classes, new and exciting photographic opportunities, and even a gaff or two.

You can see the video on Vimeo (preferred) or YouTube (its OK).

And don't forget to friend us on facebook! (just search for SOPHA, you can't miss us!)

First Review of the Vagabond Mini Lithium

2011-01-22T17:11:00.005-05:00

We just posted a new video - SOPHA's first review on the Vagabond Mini Lithium portable battery system from Paul C. Buff, Inc.

We received three of these units last week, and we were very impressed. Watch the video to see our test results and our first impressions. Vimeo here (preferred) and YouTube here.

These lithium packs have a built in inverter and are intended to power studio lights in the field (away from main AC power).

We made three tests.

In the first we replaced the modeling lamp in an AB800 with a 40 watt bulb (taking out the standard 100 watt bulb). We then ran the Alien Bee AB800 light with the modeling lamp on until the battery died. During this run, the AB800 was kept at full power. It ran for THREE HOURS. Yes, it means you can use your modeling lamp (albeit a lower powered one) on location. For those with Canon DSLRs that do not have the auto focus assist lamp, this is huge!

The second test was bit more brutal - we set up a camera to fire a full power Alien Bee AB800 every ten seconds to see how many pops we could get out of the battery pack before it died. We got 785 pops before it croaked! And the recycle time never got longer 2 seconds. Out of this 3.5 lb pack? Amazing!

It gets better. In the third test we set the camera to fire every five seconds but we left the 40 watt modeling lamp on. Again, the AB800 was left at full power. We let it run until it died. Again, we got great results - 775 pops and it died at one hour and two minutes. ONE HOUR? 775 pops! 3.5 lbs!

The detractors? The light stand mount essentially doesn't work, and I imagine that we will start seeing work-arounds very soon. Check out the video for more details.

New dates for the Business of Photography Class

2011-01-20T18:06:00.003-05:00

New dates to make your business better!

The Business of Photography I class will be held on Monday nights in February on the 7th, 21st, and 28th. Register today!

Future weather closings will be reported on WMUR

2011-01-20T18:00:00.002-05:00

Oh my, how SOPHA has grown. It seems like only yesterday that we held classes in small rented closets and had to hike uphill both ways in a snowstorm to get to class. Sigh. The good old days!

But SOPHA has outgrown our tin can and string weather cancellation system. We have gone big time, really.

Which is my way of introducing that effective right now, should we have a weather cancellation, we will be announcing it through WMUR Channel 9. Their website is very handy, and you will likely see any cancellations on air as well.

Of course, we will do our best to email folks, and post here on our blog as well, but we thought you should know.

New: SOPHA Sixty Second Tech

2010-12-25T22:52:00.004-05:00

Introducing SOPHA's newest show: Sixty Second Tech!

That's right - bite sized bits of photographic technical goodness.

Two episodes are available online now, on both our Vimeo (preferred) or YouTube accounts.

The first video is here.

The second video is here.

Let us know what you think!

- The SOPHA Staff

The Bud and Dave Show for December 24, 2010

2010-12-25T20:33:00.003-05:00

The latest episode of the Bud and Dave Show has been posted!

The Studio of Photographic Arts (SOPHA) presents this short video where Bud and Dave talk about the upcoming classes and events at SOPHA.

In this episode with introduce two new classes: Advanced Photoshop and The Business of Photography. We also talk about our upcoming First Friday Image Review in January, along with our next member class on January 21st, where we will work on headshots! All that and a lot more! Whew!

You can view the video on Vimeo (preferred!) or on YouTube.

New Classes: The Business of Photography I and II

2010-12-12T13:12:00.004-05:00

An interesting observation I make daily here at SOPHA: creative types aren't always innately business types.

I see great talent in SOPHA members and those that attend our classes, but it is far less frequent to see folks with a knack for the Business of Photography.

You see, I was raised in a family of entrepreneurs - learning to run a business was something I learned to do at about the same time I learned to ride a bicycle. Seriously.

And all this lead to the reasoning behind our latest course offering here at SOPHA: The Business of Photography.

From how to set up a business entity, to finding and maintaining clients, it is my hope to hit it all in this exciting new program.

Because we have so much material to cover, I have divided the course material into two seperate programs, labeled I and II (complicated, I know!) You need not take I to participate in II - they just cover different materials.

This class is a bit different than most of SOPHA's other offerings - this is a lecture/discussion class, and you can safely leave your camera at home. Also, we will be utilizing a text; the book Best Business Practices for Photographers, Second Edition, by John Harrington (ISBN 978-1-4354-5429-3). All participants should acquire this book, as it is not included in the program cost. Heck, most every photographer will find this book useful even if you don't take my class! (The book can be found on amazon.com and half.com)

You can check out The Business of Photography I and The Business of Photography II on the SOPHA website. I hope to see you there.

A Photographic Yard Sale

2010-12-10T16:44:00.003-05:00

My friend Jeff Dachowski is having a "Photographic Yard Sale" tomorrow at his studio from 7am to 10am Saturday December 11th.

It seems a few photographers are off loading some of there unused gear for good prices. I have no idea what they are selling, but it might be worth a look!

His studio is in the Langer building next to the Merchants Auto Stadium on South Commercial Street.

-BUD

Update: SOPHA is collecting for Toys for Tots through Saturday night!

2010-12-10T11:53:00.002-05:00

Toys for Tots is short toys this year.

One of our good SOPHA members pointed out this news article that our local Toys for Tots initiative will be short 100,000 toys this year. That is one heck of a shortage.

To help out we will be collecting toys here at SOPHA through Saturday nights party. Please consider dropping off an unwrapped toy to help a child who may be less fortunate this Holiday Season.

On Sunday morning we will truck them all down to the local drop off point at the Mall of New Hampshire.

If you want to make a financial donation, you can do so through the Toys for Tots website.

As always, thanks for being part of the SOPHA community!

The 2010 SOPHA Holiday Party

2010-12-06T18:10:00.003-05:00

Join us this Saturday night, December 11th for the 2010 SOPHA Holiday Party.

With a convivial environment, catered goodies, and a whole heap of people! Heck, you might even find the staff wearing fancy red Santa hats!

The event will run from 7pm to 10pm. No RSVP is required.

Come on down!

(The image is by Renee Perkins, with graphic design by Dave Dawson. Thanks guys!)

Bud is back at SOPHA

2010-11-26T15:24:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, I have been absent from SOPHA for the past three weeks. I under went a bit of surgery that took a turn for the worse, and required a bit more recuperation than I had originally planned.

But I am back.

I want to thank the dedicated SOPHA staff that covered for me in my absence. Without the staff, SOPHA would not be possible. I thank you all!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program!

BUD

Seana Collins presents: "I am."

2010-11-18T16:34:00.003-05:00

The next Gallery Show at SOPHA

Join us on December 2nd for an exhibition of photographs by staff member Seana Collins. She will be showcasing a series of portraits and self portraits in a show titled "I am."

The reception will be from 7-10pm at our new location on 15 Merrill Street and all are welcome!

Come by and show your support for both a budding artist and the SOPHA community!

The Bud and Dave Show for October 30, 2010

2010-10-31T09:54:00.002-05:00

Bud and Dave Show for 10/30/10 from Bud Thorpe on Vimeo.

Yes, folks! A new episode of the Bud and Dave Show!

In this episode with introduce our friend Tom, talk about our new SOPHA 4.0 studio (we moved!), introduce a new class for members (First Fridays), talk about Bud's upcoming absence, and announce our next gallery show (Seana Collins, "I am." on December 2nd.). Whew!

The Vimeo version is here (better quality) or...

The YouTube version is here.

New Office Hours at SOPHA: Noon to 8pm

2010-10-31T09:31:00.003-05:00

SOPHA will have new office hours at our new space at 15 Merrill Street. Our office hours will be Noon until 8pm. Studio hours, which are booked in advance, can be booked any time, and remain unaffected.

Previously at our more "retail" like location on Elm Street downtown, we maintained longer office hours. This is wholly unnecessary in our new space and the few extra hours in the morning will allow us to clean the studio, perform bookkeeping, etc. without having to watch the door.

As always, if any SOPHA customer has a particular need, don't hesitate to contact us and we will be here for you!