Photography

I know some of you already use a ring light to take photos with your phones, but I was wondering if anyone uses a Neewer RF550D Macro LED Ring Flash on their DSLR cameras?

Finding many of the Macro LED Rings were really expensive, some even more than what I paid for my Canon. I looked at quite a few reviews before I read this recommendation.

"If you're working to a very limited budget and simply need a ring flash that works, we'd recommend looking at the Neewer RF550D Ring Flash. While it doesn't have anywhere near the level of functionality of other ringflashes on this list, it is incredibly cheap and gives you the basics of what you need to start shooting macro. Compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras with macro lenses attached, it can be used as a flash or continuous light, with manual and auto modes available. The build feels plasticky and cheap, though that's mostly because it is, but the flash itself works pretty well, and provides a tidy amount of illumination where you need it."

So I looked for one to see exactly what it was and this is what I found:

Description: This RF- 550D Macro LED RingFlash is specially designed to use in the field of macroshot, scientific research, medical and personal photography in very close distance shooting. It can provide continuous and stable semi light or full light to meet higher photograph needs. The device fits any model of NIKON or Canon brand DSLR.

Package Contents: 1 x Macro ring head
1 x Power control with LCD display
8 x Adapter rings (49mm, 52mm 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm)
4 x Flash diffusers (amber, blue, oyster white and transparent).

I was drawn to the "personal photography in very close distance shooting", as I thought it described exactly what we do when we photograph our dolls. I wasn't too fussed about "it feeling plasticky and cheap", I was happy that "the flash itself works pretty well, and provides a tidy amount of illumination where you need it".

I also thought the diffusers could be fun to use. The price was definitely affordable and it was readily available at a number of online stores. So for AU$51.99 including free delivery, I chose to order mine from Amazon and it should be here on 4th September.

When it arrives I'll take some photos with it and share my thoughts on how effective it is. In the meantime, if you have used one, I'd love to hear your review.

Did You Know?

After many years of success, Paola Reina presented a collection of Las Amigas Articulated dolls. Unfortunately I never saw them until recently.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PAOLA REINA

Of course all the above dolls are sold out on the PR website, but there are still one or two available on the secondary market at double the original price.

These innovative dolls maintain the style and originality of the classic Las Amigas, but with an improved and more flexible body. They are made of vinyl and have 10 high quality joints in shoulders, elbows, legs, knees, waist and neck that allows each joint to move independently. Thanks to their flexibility, they can adopt multiple positions and you can place them in a wide number of poses to take photos.

Neck: Like the classic Las Amigas dolls, the head can turn to both sides.

Shoulders & Legs: They have the same joints as always, being able to move the arms up and down. The union of each leg with the hip, has a traditional joint with which you can move it back and forth.

Elbows & Knees: They have a ball joint, which offers greater flexibility of movement, allowing you to pose them in a greater number of positions.

Waist: These dolls have a new joint in the waist that allows you to turn half of their body laterally to the left and right.

And after spending hours and hours browsing, I came across this darling doll on Etsy who I simply HAD TO HAVE.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CATHY RING TOY

But when I went to order her, Cathy (the artist) told me she had dyed her hair and given her a fringe.  CLICK HER TO SEE HER NOW What a difference a day makes . . . so what do you think? To me she had lost her appeal, even though she still had everything else the same, I could not feel the love I initially had. Hopefully Cathy will eventually make another doll down the track that will steal my heart. SIGH!

Now I'm going to sulk and sew to take my mind off my lost love.

A Grand Adventure

Once upon a time there were three little elves who lived deep in the Elvin Forest. They liked to think they were adventurous little elves, always up for a challenge. On this occasion, while Hershey and Lint were folding up their washing, Cadbury told them about a scroll she had found up in their chocolate box attic. (Yes, chocolate box homes in the forest actually do have attics!)

Cadbury: Look, see here, it says their is a haunted house nearby.

Hershey: I wonder if that is the big Manor House up on the hill?

Lindt: Oh don't be so silly, if it was the Manor House, we would have heard about it being haunted before now.

Cadbury: Well let's go to the Manor House and see for ourselves if it's haunted?

Hershey: Oh I'm not sure I want to. I love an adventure, but I don't know whether I would enjoy haunted things.

Lindt: Don't be such a scaredy cat. It will be fun to go on a grand adventure.

Cadbury: Well here we are, but this old house doesn't look very scarey at all. In fact I think it's quite a pretty house.

Lindt: Of course not, houses don't look scarey, they just are. I wonder how we can get inside, that door is very tall and heavy. Besides, we're so short I don't think we could even reach the handle to open it.

Hershey: Mmm I guess you're right. Let's look around the back, there maybe a way to get in there.

Lindt: Come here quick, I found an entrance! We just need to clamber through this ivy and we can get in through the vent.

Sometime later, after making their way through the ivy and squeezing through the tiny vent, they came upon an opening to a tunnel. It was very, very dark and there was quite a narrow pathway. They hesitated, just for a moment, all three were thinking to themselves, "should we really venture down this long, dark tunnel?"

They eventually did, but the tunnel was much longer than they had anticipated and the narrow pathway had turned into a tiny ledge. The ledge was so narrow now, they had to turn sideways and hold onto the wall to progress further.

This itself was scarey, but the fearless trio continued on. Until . . .  Lindt suddenly screamed!!

Hershey: What did you do that for, you made me just about jump out of my skin!

Lindt: There's something cold and boney here, it feels yucky. Ooo ah, it's slimey and not very nice at all.

Cadbury: What are you on about, let me see. Oh you are so silly Lindt, it's only an old skeleton.

Hershy and Lindt: An old skeleton? That's it, we're outta here!!

Cadbury: So much for being brave and having a grand adventure!

They never did find out if the Manor House on the hill was haunted, discovering the skeleton was adventourous enough for these three little elves.

Hope you are all having a grand weekend adventure of your own!