Problems and Solutions

Please accompany your questions with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish an immediate reply. Alternatively, you can e-mail me at: bhurter@rfpublishing.com.

From: Terry Thomas
Terrythomasphotos@mindspring.com
I’m afraid you need to get rapped on your knuckles for the error you made in the September “Insight.” The Inverse Square Law has nothing to do with the angle of incidence or the angle of reflection. The Inverse Square Law has to do with the fact that light falls off with the inverse square of the distance. So, in other words, if you double the distance of a light source to a reflective surface, the intensity is decreased to (1⁄2)2 = 1⁄4 of its original value.

Otherwise Rangefinder is a great magazine, and I enjoy getting it every month. The main thing I do is still photography on motion picture sets. It’s an interesting job.

You can’t see it, but my knuckles are now red from rapping. I really do know the difference between these two principles quite well, just not when I wrote that piece. I was referring to the Angle of Incidence equaling the Angle of Reflection and somehow the Inverse Square Law erroneously entered the equation. Glen Rand, who wrote the article on lighting reflective surfaces (Sept. Rangefinder, page 14) actually talks about merging both principles into a single, practical rule.
Thanks Thomas for pointing out the error, as painful to the editor as it may have been.

While we’re on the subject of errors in print, we made another one in the September Rangefinder. In the Lastolite article on page 56, we inadvertently listed Bogen Imaging, Lastolite’s parent company, as Bogen Photo, Bogen Imaging’s former name. We also listed the incorrect web site. Luckily, entering bogenphoto.com takes you to www.bogenimaging.us, the correct web address. We’re sorry for the error.

From: Pmaxheim@aol.com
I am trying to order Bunny’s Miracle Remover but the web site seems to no longer exist. Do you know how to obtain any of their materials or how the company can be contacted? Thanks in advance for your help.

The web site still exists, although the address may have changed. Here is the web site address: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bwsink/ink.html

Good luck.

From: Prof. Morris Miller, SIS&T
miller422@juno.com
When I said your “Problems & Solutions” page was the most popular in photographic history, I was right! After the August Issue, I received two letters from former students. Shaun Graham, class of 1982 and Walter Karpynka, class of 1969. They really triggered a lot of nostalgia! At 85, and after retiring 20 years ago as associate professor of photography at the Franklin Institute of Boston where I taught “Applied and Industrial Photography” programs for 25 years, these students certainly helped bring back many happy memories.

So glad to hear this.

From: Emile Pirro, Director
REPROGRAFICS TraDigital Design Inc.
Thank you for bringing us all your wonderful info material! Briefly, perhaps you can shed light on my dilemma: I’m at a loss to get any information on or from the Cycolor people. What gives? I’ve often wondered that I’ve never seen any articles in most magazines on photography or on labs! There must be an explanation! Are you au courant of the these goings on? Looking forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

I found a current web site that lists Cycolor’s address in Miamisburg, OH, but the phone number listed is no longer in service. That site directs you to the another site, www.cycolor.com site, which seems to be the official site of the company and appears to be currently under construction. I suggest you visit that web site and decide for yourself.

From Brad
bv1266@aol.com
I am looking to buy an existing studio. Do you know anyone in the market to sell? I would appreciate if you would have anyone contact me.

I am sending you a link from Rangefinder magazine’s most recent classifieds online. Here is the link: www.rangefindermag.com/Classifieds. It lists five or six studios currently for sale in various parts of the country. Usually there are at least that many listed in Rangefinder’s Classifieds.

We are constantly besieged with questions regarding demographics of wedding photographers in the U.S. How many are there? How much do they make? Where do they primarily live? Are they full- or part-time? We get these questions from a variety of different sources: media, government agencies, reporters and so forth.

Recently I made a friend, Michael Wolf, of the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. I have known for some time that the BLS was a good source for such data; however, Michael gave me an additional web site, which highlights the specific data in detail. The site is quite useful even if you only have a passing interest in the business of wedding photography. You can find a summary of the BLS’ 2003 (the most recent available) data on photographers at the following address: http://www.bls.gov/oes/2003/may/oes274021.htm

Under the subheading “Industry profile for this occupation,” there is a category entitled “Other professional and technical services.” Wedding photographers fall under this category, along with portrait and commercial photographers.

From: George Laing
scisales@ngscorp.com
I am disappointed with Rangefinder for the July 2004 review of the Epson 4000 printer. Claude Jodoin did a great job with the review, my issue is with the last sentence of the review which states, “For more information, visit this web site: www.epson4000.com/.” This link directs you to Logix, an individual Epson dealer, not Epson America or any other Epson division worldwide. The credibility of Rangefinder magazine is jeopardized by including a link to a specific dealer in what should be a neutral review.

According to Claude, it was the easiest way for anyone to get direct information about the 4000, as opposed to going through a dozen menus/button clicks at the Epson site, which would then eventually take you to a pro dealer anyhow if you wanted to buy one. The Epson site is also mentioned in the body of the article: www.epson.com/.