Steve Kaeser Photographic Lighting

Customer Gallery- Be an S. KAESER photographer

2010-12-29T12:17:00.001-08:00

Hello All,

We have decided to launch an online customer gallery where our customers and friends can publish their work online. This will be a place for you to highlight studio work created with our lighting equipment, muslin backdrops, or photographic accessories.

To submit your SKAESER creations, simply email a JPEG of your piece to

stevekaeser89@gmail.com and title the email "customer gallery submission"

We look forward to seeing some of your work!!!

-S. Kaeser and Staff

2010-12-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas Muslins are going FAST FAST FAST. Today is one of the last days to order these and still get it by Christmas without upgrading to expedited shipping!
ORDER TODAY!
http://www.skaeser.com

VLD 1000 is HERE

2010-09-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

This is the brand new upgrade to the ever popular VL-1000. The new model is called the VLD-1000, and comes equipped with a digital display for the variable output feature of this light. The new VLD-1000 also comes with a whisper quiet fan feature. The fan is adjusatable by 50%. If you are shooting video, and need a quiter fan, simply hold down a button for three seconds, and the fan noise cuts down by 50%. No more annoying buzz, no more annoying hum.

This is the perfect halogen light for the "jack of all trades" photographer / videographer.

Order yours today!

PBL StudioFlo7 NOW AVAILABLE!!

2010-06-24T11:05:00.001-07:00

Softbox Kits Starting at Only $199

http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-854/CONTINUOUS-PHOTO-VIDEO-7/Detail

On Color Temperature

2010-05-07T13:32:00.001-07:00

Color Temperature is another one of those terms that is used on a daily basis in the photographer's world, but is rarely understood. Whether it is fluorescent or halogen, people want to know the color temperature of their bulbs.

I am not going to be outrageously technical in this post, so if you are looking for an explanation of Planck's law, or Maxell's color triangle... maybe next week. : )

When you are buying photographic lighting, the color temperature of a bulb is almost always rated in Kelvin. Kelvin is a scale of temperature, and thermal energy. The relationship between heat and color is used to explain how these bulbs glow. Typically the Sun at noon is scored at around 5500K. Halogen light is typically around 3000K. Candle Light is a lot "warmer" at 1500K. You will notice that the "warmer" the color is, the smaller the number. This is very important, if you are looking for "cooler" lights with a "cooler" color, make sure the temperature rating is higher! I remember this by thinking that a blue flame is the hottest flame around... The image in this post will show an exaggerated gradient as an example of how this is seen by the eye.

Accessory Packs

2010-04-19T12:54:00.001-07:00

Here is the newest item added to the SKAESER catalog. The S.K. Accessory Pack

This would make a great gift for your favorite "artsy" friend, or would be a great addition to any photo video studio.

This Accessory pack comes with 1 Camera Mounting Action-Capture MonoPod, 1 Photo Clamp Light Holder Mount Adapter, and 6 Professional VELCRO Cable Ties.

http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-843/Steve-Kaeser-Accessory-Pack/Detail

PBL Clamp with Light Holder Attachment.

2010-04-02T12:18:00.001-07:00

This thing is incredible. This will change the way you think of studio setup. This will give you the ability to attach a light anywhere. No more transporting big light stands, and wasting time setting them up.

Here is a link to the product page, and description.

http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/the-837/PBL-PHOTO-STUDIO-CLAMP/Detail

PBL Action-Capture Monopod

2010-03-05T11:05:00.001-08:00

Well, Here it is. The long awaited action-capture mounting monopod. This neat little monopod is the perfect way to capture moving video, with virtually no shimmy'n'shake. Attach this little monopod to your car window, bike's handlebars, skateboard, or motorcycle, and film the whole trip with ease.

Here is a video that we made the other day near Hollywood beach, CA.

We were driving in a neighborhood for a while, playing with the blur of the fencing, and then i cut it to a boat speeding in the ocaen, that just happened to be running parallel to us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hybeh83ISs&feature=youtube_gdata

Turn Your Photography in to Some Extra Cash...

2010-02-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered how you could make some money with your photography? Some budding photographers buy a new camera and expect the jobs to come rolling in... But National Geographic hasn't called yet... so here are some simple ways to pay the water bill with your newly found love of photography. (There are countless blogs out there that promise you fame and riches with the snap of a shutter. We are not one of them.) BUT, in this blog we will walk you through some realistic, simple ideas as to how to turn your hobby in to some extra spending money.

1- PORTRAITS (home studio): This may seem expensive and overwhelming. Don't fret. There are some really attainable ways to create a home studio these days. The best way to start taking portraits and transform any room in to a home studio is a background support system A background support system is the basis of any home studio. I say that because if you are on a really tight budget, you can always take this outside, and use the sunlight to light your subject. A backgound support system with a muslin backdrop is the only thing the picture will reveal. You can get a support system with the essentail backdrops for right around $100 bucks. This is the best way to transform any photo in to a professional portrait. http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/Categories?category=BACKGROUND+SUPPORT+SYSTEMS:KITS

2- PRODUCT: If you want to make a few dollars, and have some extra stuff lying around, a picture is worth a thousand bucks... maybe. A great way to photograph product is using a product photo tent. These work wonderfully for small to medium objects and are really easy to use. The tent itself works as a diffuser- softening the light, and getting rid of any harsh shadows. The best part of about these is you don't need a fancy camera. Any point and shoot camera wil get the job done! We sell complete product tent kits with light stands and daylight balanced fluorescent bulbs for right around $100 too. Check them out here. http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/Categories?category=LIGHTING:LIGHT+TENT

Well, i hope that helps. If you have any ideas for another blog or any questions at all- let us know.

What is an F-Stop? Aperture Explained...

2010-02-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

So,

You have been taking pictures for a while, and have always wondered what it actually means when people refer to an F-Stop... right?

The picture above is a great visualization as to what an F-stop can do to an image. The upper left hand corner is shot with an f-stop of f32, and the lower right hand corner with an f5. As you can see, depth of field is the most obvious thing that changes with an F-stop. Pictures taken with a lower F# tend to have only one subject in focus, and a higher f# will have more in focus. (more depth of field)

Now we have to tackle the problem of light. You will quickly notice that as soon as you adjust your f# to a higher number, your pictures will look exponentially darker... (There is something known as reciprocity that explains the relationship between exposure, ISO and F#.)

To combat this problem we must adjust the shutter speed in a corresponding mannner, and luckily for us, on 99% of the cameras out today, shutter speeds are arranged in a similar way, so that one step in the shutter speed scale corresponds to one stop in the F# scale.

So, have fun shooting!

(A rule of thumb for adjusting aperture manually is as follows: doubling the f-number increases the necessary exposure time by a factor of four.)

Happy Holidays from skaeser.com

2009-12-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy Holidays!

We at Steve Kaeser have been busy preparing for the holidays, and have some wonderful new products to offer just in time for your seasonal family portraits. We have hung the mistletoe, strung the lights, and decked the halls- now for the gifts!!

We are proud to present the newest members of the skaeser line of quality lighting Products.

The PBL 4-Flo Octagon Softbox Kits

This is a new professional digital "Cool Flo" photo/video lighting kit. This studio fluorescent kit comes with one, two, or three- 4 light PBL 4-FLO Octagon Softboxes. With the included daylight balanced fluorescent bulbs you get 1600. 3200, or 4800 watts of soft white light.
Intended for digital still or video production, this lighting kit can be used as your main light source or as an addition when you need soft, 5100K lighting to illuminate your subject or scene.

This light is perfect for your next chromakey production, or holiday portraits!

These daylight balanced lights will provide the perfect illumination for fine art reproduction and product photography. Their even, soft light always delivers a crisp, clean image.

You can adjust each light head output. The options are up to you!

visit http://www.skaeser.com/servlet/Categories?category=COOL-FLO+NEW for more information!

Happy Holidays,

-Steve Kaeser and Staff

2009 Photo Contest Winners

2009-07-13T11:18:00.001-07:00

Kristy Ellison

Grand Prize Winner

Fine Art

Lifestyle

Landscape

Portraiture

The grand prize winner received a check in the amount of 500 Dollars! and all category winners will be receiving 50 dollar gift certificates to www.skaeser.com

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all who entered.
See you next year!