quick video 1 : easy softbox assembly
June 5, 2008 – 12:30 amThis is a really quick video (just around a minute long) aimed at studio beginners. Nick left a comment on the quality of light video asking:
“I know that the ad blurb says it’s compatible with Elinchrom speed rings, but does that mean that any soft box will work, only an Elinchrom, or what?”
Nick, I hope this video explains how the whole softbox / speedring relationship works. If anyone else has a question on studio terminology or how something works I hope you won’t hesitate to ask. Either I or someone else reading your comment will be happy to jump right in. Actually, I’d like to open up the comments on this post for questions that might make another good one-minute “quick video”. Is there something you might understand better (anything to do with photography) if you saw it demonstrated?
**Today’s video is also an experiment with a new, higher quality video player. I’m inserting both the standard YouTube version (first) and directly below it is a higher resolution video in a new delivery format that I’m testing out. If you’re in a hurry, the YouTube version is a safe bet. If you can give the new version a try, I’d really appreciate your feedback. I wouldn’t have them both running at the same time, though, that would really slow things down.
subscribers view video page here
Standard YouTube version:
New video player version:
If the new style video worked properly, great! If it didn’t work properly, may I ask what operating system and browser you’re using?
Thanks always for watching and for your input, I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.
- Jim T.
p.s. if the new video delivery worked well, you can also hover your cursor over it and click the box in the lower right corner for a full screen view.
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26 Responses to “quick video 1 : easy softbox assembly”
Video is slower to download, but plays without any problems even in full screen. Mac OS X, and Safari.
By Jason Phillips on Jun 5, 2008
Sadly, no joy from embedded video either in RSS or on this page. Using Vista SP1 and Firefox 2.
Love the videos! Thank you.
By Mike on Jun 5, 2008
Video doesn’t play (although the player indicates that it has loaded)in-line or via the popout. Windows XP Pro, Firefox 2.0.0.14. Fine in Utube though.
By Steve Hughes on Jun 5, 2008
Video worked fine in FF2 if I open your page but not when reading the post in Google Reader. Nice quick demonstration, thanks.
By Paul D'Andrea on Jun 5, 2008
Hey Jim,
Video Quality looks great. One thing of note, though. Your intro music is in stereo (coming out of both R and L speakers) but your voice is mono (which is not a problem at all) but is only coming out of the Right Channel. I find this a little distracting. If you could pan the voice to center in your video editing software it would be a suggested improvement. Otherwise, very nice indeed!
By Toby Fairchild on Jun 5, 2008
Video plays without any buffer and maybe it is my connection speed but he result is stuttering. If I pause and let it fully load then no problems. Slow to download because of size. Firefox 3.0b5 on Ubuntu Hardy
By Will on Jun 5, 2008
Opps, forgot to mention that the video does not play at all in feed reader (Google Reader). It appears and there is a play button but the images remains black.
By Will on Jun 5, 2008
The video looks great on XP IE7! I really like the idea behind this series. I know I struggled for what seemed like forever trying to put a softbox together for the first time.
By Noah on Jun 5, 2008
The player didn’t work through Goggle Reader, but it did work through XP with IE7. It takes longer to cache before it starts playing, but it is definately better quality video.
By Craig Lee on Jun 5, 2008
Yup, the video worked in my Firefox on OS X, but the audio was only in the right channel.
By Edwin on Jun 5, 2008
Video worked fine on page or full screen for me with XP and IE7.
Keep up the good work.
By Clay on Jun 5, 2008
Video works on Safari 3.1, but not Firefox 3 (RC1, I think), both on Mac OS X Leopard.
By stuart on Jun 5, 2008
I couldn’t get the video to work in Firefox on Linux this morning (Ubuntu Studio 8.04). I’m not sure what the problem was. The video player appeared to have loaded, just not the video. I’ll check it again tonight.
Also, the voice track is panned full right while the music track is properly balanced.
By John Brainard on Jun 5, 2008
Thanks to everyone, I really appreciate the input! I decided to put both video versions on this page, just so no one would have to jump outside to get the video.
The information you’ve given me helps immensely. Your observations on things like Google Reader and the audio are really helpful insights. YouTube appears to be the safe, universal bet to go with for the web page. But if I ever have the budget maybe a higher resolution version (even HD) could be offered for those willing to download the video to their computer. We’ll see what the future brings.
And how about all those Linux users…right on! This blog is largely created on Ubuntu on my home machine.
By Jim Talkington on Jun 5, 2008
Jim, I’m curious about your use of Linux. Do you use it at all for photography?
By John Brainard on Jun 5, 2008
Love the new Video format absolutely Crystal clear, fast download, smooth playback almost no pixelation (like youtube always seems to have) and W I D E S C R E E N! Love it.
Mac OSX and seamonkey HOWEVER playback in Safari (while I had this window open) playback was jittery. Playback in Firefox was smooth and fast even with all three browsers open. Mozilla Rules OK!
thanks for the awesome trainings. Stick in a can rules too!
Mark
By M. Playback in Firefoxark Andersen on Jun 5, 2008
Took a bit longer to load up the first time, but the new video works great in Firefox 2.0.0.14, OSX 10.5.2, especially full screen. Get to see better detail. …what’s the key for?
By elzora on Jun 5, 2008
I just noticed that your expression in the thumbnail/frozen-frame before you run the video is the same as the SmugMug icon in the lower right corner. Coincidence?
By Craig Lee on Jun 5, 2008
John, I’ve played with Linux for photography but the tools just don’t seem to be there for really serious use. I’ll keep playing with it, though, and when anything cool appears I want to try it. How about you, any luck?
Mark, I totally agree…Mozilla rules! I can’t imagine using any other browser than Firefox and the great plugins.
Oh, man, that freeze frame on the beginning of the video is about the most unflattering photo I’ve ever seen of myself (baby pictures included). Craig, let’s do the math: the video is 69 seconds long and there are 30 frames a second and that’s the picture randomly chosen to represent? Hmmm, but now that you mention it…maybe it wasn’t random at all! Is anything really a coincidence?
By Jim Talkington on Jun 5, 2008
Jim, rather than write about my experience with Linux in your comments section, I decided to write a blog entry. Hopefully you don’t mind me posting it here. I would like to hear about other people’s experience using Linux and whether or not anyone is using it professionally to sell prints or in a commercial studio such as your own.
http://dorkyphotographer.blogspot.com/2008/06/linux-experience-so-far.html
By John Brainard on Jun 5, 2008
I forgot to mention that I checked the video last night again on my Linux machine and it worked just fine.
By John Brainard on Jun 6, 2008
“Into” the e-mail didn’t work … at all.
Here, in your website, perfect … no delays.
Quality 10!
MAC OSX 10.5 - Safari.
Regrds,
CB
By Carlos Bruno on Jun 6, 2008
ops! no new style video working here
XP Pro SP2
Firefox 2
Google Reader
By jaybee on Jun 6, 2008
Hi - It worked - sort of - I had both Audio and Video although I only had the right channel for audio. It would play for 3 seconds stop for 1 play for 3 stop for 1
Windows XP Pro002 Service Pack 2 - Firefox - Huge bandwidth
By Arne on Jun 6, 2008
The audio only working on one channel is totally my fault, I’ve got it figured out now. I’ll keep exploring the video possibilities. This has been GREAT feedback.
Elzora, key = gym locker.
By Jim Talkington on Jun 6, 2008
G’gay Mate,
Just found your site and am eagerly going through but its been already booked marked.
I’m runnung XP Pro Firefox 2.0.0.14 and didn’t have any trouble with the video at all.
Your doing great work mate. it’s much appreciated!!
By peter on Jun 9, 2008