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Rangefinder Magazine
March 2003

Problems & 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: Don Battle
via telephone
In your “Problems and Solutions,” I have a suggestion regarding the Inverse Square Law and enlargers issue that was discussed a few months ago. You’re right on the money in taking a light-meter reading with an exposure meter but I would make the suggestion of taking the negative out so that the light readings are consistent. Then you don’t have to worry about hitting someone’s face or backgrounds, etc. Hope this helps.

Also, for those of you who are interested, I am no longer at Santa Monica College.

Thanks for passing this information along, Don. Always interested in hearing your take on things.

From: Cheryl Shores
bookmart@tband.net
I am a wedding and portrait photographer and I use Canon 35mm products.

My studio work is fine but the flash, especially at the reception, is unpredictable at best. I have tried using my studio lights at the reception for fill but even this doesn’t satisfy me. I use the Canon 500 flash.

I’m a little unsure of why you are unhappy with your flash. Are you getting uneven exposures or is the quality of light not to your liking? Whether you use your studio strobes to light large areas of the reception or you are using your camera-mounted flash to light small groups, or you are using your Canon flash to trigger your studio flash units, you should thoroughly test your system beforehand and if you are not using a good flashmeter, I would suggest you purchase one, at least to set your studio lights at the reception. Let me know more of what your specific objections are and I’ll try to be a little more helpful.

From: Christopher Baby
babyc@mmc.org
I am trying to find out the name of a portrait studio that was profiled in a recent issue. The studio was based out of the Columbus, Ohio area. I believe the article primarily focused on senior portraits. My copy was tossed out by mistake. Any help would be most appreciated.

I think you are thinking of Larry Peters who was profiled in the August, 2002 issue. Larry’s studio specializes in senior photography and is in Ohio, although I’m not sure it’s in Columbus. Let me know your street address and I’ll send you a new issue.

From: Ed Lowrey
edlowrey@worldnet.att.net
Fantastic. Thank you, Bill. [Regarding Smart Blur techniques for line drawings,] I tried PEI, Studio Photography and Rangefinder. I should have known to check with you first. Someone had it as an article in their publication and I couldn't remember who. At the office, I had it bookmarked, however, the new people didn’t feel it was that important. They have never taken the time to do a tone-line conversion or they wouldn’t feel that way. Thanks again.

From: Allen Lane
photolane@earthlink.net
Do you have a general wedding contract you can email me?

No, we don’t and we don’t recommend you use generic contracts because they’re not specific enough to deal with individual state’s laws. We ran a series of articles on wedding contracts in the WPPI Newsletter, WPPI Photography Monthly, by B.J.Khalifah. It is an excellent series and will give you an excellent framework for crafting your individual wedding contracts. The articles are on line at www.wppinow.com in the archives section. The articles ran in the July, August and September 2002 issues.

From: Jim Stordahl
stordahl@umn.edu
Thanks so much for taking the time to offer another solution [to the different size enlargement exposure question of a few months back]. Thus far, I have received two other excellent suggestions, both with slightly different approaches. All are most helpful. Thanks again!

From: Bill Kreher
Williams Photography
Falls Church, VA
I have been a subscriber to the magazine for many years and your “Problems and Solutions” column is the first thing I turn to when I receive the magazine.

I now find myself needing repair information. I have an old Honeywell Auto Strobonar Model 770 flash unit that needs new NiCd batteries and a new high-voltage capactitor. Do you know if anyone still repairs these units? This unit probably seems primitive compared to today’s fully automatic, do-everything flash units. But it was a workhorse and until now, never needed any repairs at all.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Try contacting Marflex Service Corporation, P.O. Box 633, 16 Chapin Road, Unit 906, Pine Brook, NJ 07058; Voice (973) 808-9626, fax (973) 808-1706. Marflex repairs and services all kinds of Honeywell flash units, including battery replacement and repairs. They may or may not have your capacitor, but it is still the place to start.