WHEW! It's HOT In Here!

For the record, I'm not one of those folks that doesn't believe that fire burns until I stick my hand in the flames. Nope. Not me. It's not that I have issues with taking risks, I simply have issues with taking unnecessary risks. Unnecessary risk is simply stupid. This is not to say that I've never done anything stupid. I'm just picky about my opportunities to be stupid.

I am pickiest when it comes to spending money. In a word, I'm CHEAP. Yadda, yadda, yadda....I know, I picked the wrong hobby in which to be a cheapskate. Just let me explain. I don't purchase cheap gear, I simply don't like to part with my money. I do however, after much bellyaching, purchase quality goods. Sheesh!

Ted, over at Nikon-Digital posted a REALLY great tip recently. He mentioned that he purchases backdrops from Home Depot. Go figure, eh? I thought that this was the best idea EVER! I ran down the street to my local Home Depot and picked up a 9x12 drop cloth. It cost me a paltry $20, WOO HOO! I also picked up some 3/4 PVC piping, two elbow connectors and a couple of t-connectors and VOILA! Instant backdrop and stand. The whole setup cost roughly $32 (and I'm a happy gal).

I also picked up a couple of clamp lights (cost: $6 each). I've got a roll of aluminum foil to make a reflector, some construction paper to make a snoot and a few other things.

Ok, so I'm sure you're wondering where this is all going, right? Well, if you haven't figured it out, you've got more problems than I could ever hope to never have. This is not my permanent setup (well, I'm sure I'll never trash the backdrops). I'm in learning mode and don't want to waste money on stuff I don't understand.

The future of 'strobiliciousness' for me may be a little snuggle time with Alien Bees (an idea I got from Mike Hodgson). Of course, I haven't ruled out speedlights just yet. Hugh at CameraCard just sent me some REALLY great photos that have got my brain-wheels a-spinning. Stay tuned folks, it's about to get HOT in here!