Shutterbug Staff

Bowens has launched a unique, affordable ringflash, the lightweight Ringlite
Converter. Priced at $480.00, this innovative converter is said to make ringflash-style
photography affordable. Said Mark Aherne, Bowens technical director, "Traditional
ringflash generally comprises flash tubes, cable and a powerpack, so the full
kit required is quite unwieldy and expensive. We built the converter and followed
up with associated bracketry to ensure the unit would be suitable for most cameras
on the market. We have created an attachment which allows photographers to convert
their standard Bowens strobe lights to produce ringflash-style light. Using
this new converter photographers can simply put the camera lens through the
centre of the light source. This creates a softer, wholesome surrounding light
around the lens which reduces shadows. It can also create shadowing around the
outline of the subject so users can work with a specific photographic effect.
The additional benefit of the converter is its `backwards capability'.
Photographers can take a standard Bowens product going back many years and use
it - as long as it has an S-Type adaptor. This will bring additional cost benefits
to our customers."

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Kingston Technology Company, Inc.will feature renowned Brazilian photographer
Claudio Edinger on its Icons of Photography Web site. Frequently referred to
as the "Master of the Essays" for his natural ability to tell a
complete and detailed story through photographs, Edinger will share some of
the techniques he feels have made him successful and believes can be applied
to anyone. Edinger will also share his thoughts on digital imaging and how it
has changed his professional career--becoming an essential and exclusive part
of his equipment lineup.



This month, Edinger shares some of his thoughts, philosophies and shooting styles
which allow him to separate his commercial photography from the journalism he
finds himself doing for TIME Magazine and other news publications.



"For my personal work," said Edinger, "I like to photograph
small universes, where the human element is special, even exceptional and I
can stop and talk to the people. With my work, I try to understand what the
human being is, why we are here, and mainly, who I am. The journalistic pictures,
on the other hand, require agility and quickness, especially with specific assignments."



"Digital imaging has changed the way I shoot and the way I see,"
Edinger continued. "I rely on different things today, including my Kingston
media cards. When I was shooting film, I had a favorite type like many photographers.
Media cards today are no different. It really comes down to who you trust so
you can concentrate on the art."



"When it comes to equipment, the real key is what you feel comfortable
using and trust to help you get the job done," said Jaja Lin, Flash memory
marketing manager, Kingston. "Kingston's reputation and longstanding
heritage as a worldwide leader and provider of `everything memory'
has become the basis for the relationship with world class photographers we
enjoy today. It is a great honor to be associated with these photographers--and
a great responsibility. And certainly one we don't take lightly,"
added Lin.



Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in Sao Paulo, Edinger moved to New York when
he was 24 years old. After 30 years of admiring Rio, Edinger released the book
"Rio," nominated as one of the best of the year by Photo District
News in 2001 and American Photo magazine in 2003. At that time, Edinger defined
the photo essay as, "An attempt of picking up the dream, the utopia, that
place where, as the chamber of secret of each one of us, where we go to reload
ourselves to continue. The place where we get undressed and find ideally the
fraternity and the sameness: the beach."



Every month Kingston spotlights a world-class photographer who provides helpful
tips and interesting anecdotes for taking better pictures. Photographers previously
featured at Kingston.com include Colin Finlay, Douglas Kirkland, Barbara Bordnick,
Chris Rainier, Peter Read Miller, Gerd Ludwig and Harry Benson. These accomplished
Icons of Photography deliver useful suggestions that photo enthusiasts at all
levels can apply to their own photography as they learn to make digital imaging
a natural part of their workflow, or learn a unique process or trick the Icon
has provided to give them a competitive edge.



Kingston will introduce a new photographer with their featured photographic
tip, gallery of images, calendar of events and biography around the 15th of
each month. Photographers and consumers can read the latest tips and view images
by visiting http://www.kingston.com/digitalmedia/iop

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Visatec USA has introduced the Powerbox 900 battery solution for powering strobes
on location. The Powerbox 900 is a sine wave inverter based battery with a standard
Edison connector. This allows you to plug in any single strobe up to 900 watt
seconds, or with a standard power strip you can plug in any amount of strobes
that add up to 900 watt seconds, such as three Visatec Solo 800B's (300
ws each).

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Brooks Institute of Photography has announced that it's "5 x 5"
fine art photography exhibition will be the school's featured event as
a participant in the Downtown Organization's 1st Thursday initiative.
A public artist's reception will take place on Thursday, February 1, 2007
from 5 -- 9 pm at the Cota Street Campus and Gallery, located at 27 E.
Cota Street in Santa Barbara.



Five photographic perspectives by five recent Brooks' graduates depict
this "artist invitational" public exhibition. More than 50 images
will be on display by photographers: Chris Buckpitt (2003), Adam Gerlach (2003),
Kodiak Greenwood (2004), Serena Lee (2005) and Matthew Rainwaters (2003).



Adam Gerlach, who serves as the gallery's assistant director, specializes
in black-and-white photography. He also specializes in hand-toning his work
to transform reality and create strange and unfamiliar qualities in his images.
Greenwood, a native of Big Sur, has twice earned awards in the Fuji photography
competition, and is represented in private galleries. His extensive photography
of the West Coast -- both in color and black-and-white -- has garnered
critical acclaim.



In contrast to outdoor and landscape photography, Chris Buckpitt strives to
capture the essence of people. About his work, he says "I have a very
deep connection to the human race, and I have always found the human body to
be very beautiful."



Serena Lee, already distinguished in her field of portrait, wedding and fine
art photography, finds that her passions lie in using antique and alternative
processes, and digital imaging, to mix the old world with the new. Her work
has been seen in many venues, including the International Photography Hall of
Fame.



Matthew Rainwaters began working with cameras at age 14 shooting skate videos
with his friends. Five years later, he bought a Pentax K-1000 and took a junior
college photography course. A teacher's comment that he was "pretty
good" forever changed his life. Today, his work's featured twice
in the Advertising Photographers of America annual Personal Ads show, appeared
in the notable Focus on Aids charity auction in Beverly Hills, and has shown
in the Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House. He presently teaches photography
and reprints portfolios for publication.



The `5 x 5' exhibition, which opens on January 18, will run through
March 31, 2007. In the coming months, the Cota Campus and Gallery will feature
exhibitions by a range of professional photographers, as well as shows presented
by Brooks Institute students and alumni. The public is invited to visit the
gallery on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 9
p.m. For more information, call the Brooks Institute Cota St. Campus and Gallery
at (805) 690-4913.


www.brooks.edu, or call
805-966-3888.

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