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There’s a notion among amateur photographers that spending thousands of dollars on high-end DSLRs will instantly turn every shot into a masterpiece. But in reality, a talented and skilled photographer can create magic with any calibre of hardware—even a £14 Buzz Lightyear camera designed for three year-olds, as David Hobby of Strobist proves.
Accompanied by only a trio of low-end flash units, David joined DigitalRev’s Kai Wong on a Hong Kong shooting challenge that forced him to rely on his skills and resourcefulness in lieu of highly customisable hardware. And not surprisingly, the results are far more impressive than what most DSLR-touting tourists are able to capture.
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David Hobby is a legend in the off camera lighting community, I learned so much from Strobist.com. It’s a must visit site for anyone looking at learning to use speedlights off camera.
Likewise, I owe pretty much everything I know about lighting to David Hobby. I had the privilege of buying him a whisky when he was up in Edinburgh for a seminar recently, seemed the least I could do…
I think it proves hardware does matter…
Agree. He may not be using expensive pre-made hardware, but he surely is using a lot of handmade stuff.
Agree with this.
I think it also proves that reputation counts easily as much as hardware, as if he wasn’t a “pro photography” people probably wouldn’t rate them nearly so high. The photo of the monk, for example – if an ‘amateur’ had taken the exact same photo, they’d be picked apart for the technical flaws, etc.
“this is a yellow Audi Quattro”
what the…
Also he’s still using a lot of hardware AND assistants.
I guess technically it is an Audi Quattro. Well maybe a VW Quattro.. ahh you know what i mean…
Im actually more amazed that that little buzz lightyear camera has the ability to sync slave flash units! Is that how the the manufacturer see a 3 year old childs play camera? “it must be indestructible, look like a childrens animated movie star, have big playful buttons but yet must have the ability to sync wirelessly with up to 17 off camera flash units just incase they need to light their action figures correctly. Good work!!
I’m guessing the slave flashes were optically triggered.
Yes! didnt even think about that! Those FUQ flashes must be better than speedlites then, but im guessing he had optical triggers attached to those. With his long of accessory equipment, he could bought himself a nice DSLR!
The FUQ flashes are a rip-off of another Chinese model that has a built in optical slave – they’re pretty inexpensive, even for the official one. The problem he had getting the flashes to sync was that the buzz camera’s shutter was way to fast for the flashes to fire, hence shoving a filter in front of it to slow it right down (and hence the blurry monk).
Actually, sorry, they’re a rip-off of this flash
People have been taking amazing photos for 100s of years with very primitive cameras. Photography is about light, composition and story telling. It doesn’t matter what camera you use.
True, it’s all about visions and angels but you can’t do long exposed night photography like a dslr though.
Hey, this is a tech blog, no need to bring religion into it, i’m sure its got a lot more to do with science and fact and science than it has feathery neon ring headed groinless Hymn warblers!!!
(That one was for you if your reading Pheonix, no hard feelings!!)
Angle* lol
Bazinga x