Essential non-photographic equipment

photobum

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With November comes dark, gray, gloomy weather. My photography moves indoors to still life until the snow falls. My favorite essential piece of non-photographic equipment is a Black & Decker dual height workmate. I use this as the base for all my still lifes. It will clamp anything to anything. As a table base it is small, stable and portable. All kind of set material can be attached and locked down tight.

Next would be Silly Putty and Dap fun-tak. How did Edward Weston hold up those shells before the invention of Silly Putty?

So what weird stuff do you use for your photgraphy?
 

jolefler

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Gaffer's tape and then a little more gaffer's tape....speaking of which, anyone know if Freestyle or B&H carries it? My stash depletith.
 

Steve Roberts

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photobum said:
So what weird stuff do you use for your photgraphy?
Click to expand...

Frank Woodall's "Steam Engines and Waterwheels".

This and other mining books (my other obsession) are vital in getting the camera to approximately the correct height on my horizontal copying stand before I make the final tweaks on the baseboard, which is actually vertical and slides up and down in runners.

Well, you did ask.

As for gaffer tape, do like me and get a TV related job. It's quite cheap then ....

Steve
 

fotch

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jolefler said:
Gaffer's tape and then a little more gaffer's tape....speaking of which, anyone know if Freestyle or B&H carries it? My stash depletith.
Click to expand...

Question, when I viewed gaffer tape at a on line catalog, it looks like high priced black duck tape. How does it differ? Really would like to know.

Thank you
 

eric

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fotch said:
Question, when I viewed gaffer tape at a on line catalog, it looks like high priced black duck tape. How does it differ? Really would like to know.

Thank you
Click to expand...

For studio use, you will never, ever, ever go back to duct tape. Good gaffer's tape IS NOT CHEAP. Can you imagine a high budget movie and the gaffer is working for 1/2 hour trying to remove tape residue?
These things stick like glue, and come off like masking tape. I removed some from somewhere where its been on for years and years and nada, no tape residue. And you can slice a thin strip, and it'll cleanly pull out that width.

When I worked in studios, I had a few rolls of gaffers tape, masking tape and some cloths pins on a rope around my waist.
 

removed account4

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TheFlyingCamera said:
Gaffers Tape is meant to stick well when applied, but come off without residue or marks when removed. It is also usually a matt-finish surface to be non-reflective.
Click to expand...

yup, i think it was also invented by ross lowell ( as in lowel light ) ...

gaffer(tape) = used by lighting specialists ( gaffers )
duct (tape) = used to secure metal and non metal hvac duct work ( and rusty cars and ... ) nasa suggests not to use it in outter space
duck = webbed feet to stamp out forest fires and goes quack

faites gaffe = be careful
 

Steve Smith

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fotch said:
Question, when I viewed gaffer tape at a on line catalog, it looks like high priced black duck tape. How does it differ? Really would like to know.
Click to expand...

Proper Gaffer Tape can be used to mend anything!


Steve.
 

fotch

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OK, makes sense. I knew there must be reasons others would pay more, just did not know. I do a fair amount of studio shooting and it will be hand to have. I will get some the next time I mail order.

Asking for advise rather blindly buying is a huge benefit of this forum.

Thanks to everyone.
Jim
 

Mark_S

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For many applications which traditionally use gaffers tape, I use the black cloth tape sold in hockey shops. Don't get 'friction tape' it is thicker and has a gooey back- the standard stuff, which comes in a bunch of different colours is made of fabric, comes off easily and is great to fix film holders, bellows etc. Usually about a buck a roll, sometimes $5 for 7 rolls.
 

BWKate

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I have several pieces of black velvet cloth, a couple of small flashlights, and lots of tiny, frozen fish bait for my "Fish Photos" and still life work.
 

bjorke

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Alan Gordon sells lots of colors of gaffer tape

I use black in various widths and also neon pink to mark my gear

I wrap packs of AA batteries in gaffer tape, just a short length because that way if I'm using flash anyway there's a good chance i MIGHT need some gaffer tape.

I have some strips on my laptop computer too, for similar purpose

And wrapped around parts of some cameras to make them properly black and easier to grip.
 

kwmullet

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My Leatherman Wave pocket tool.
http://leatherman.com/products/tools/retired-tools/wave/

Goes with me just about everywhere. It's opened many a 35mm canister, cut off many a leader or trimmed it to be useable in a barnack camera. It's tightened and loosened many tripod mounts, opened and closed camera strap lugs, if held just right with your jaw screwed in just the right position, can be a lack-of-anything-else spanner wrench, opened up just about every joyful photo purchase I've gotten from UPS, Fedex or the US Postal Service. In a pinch, it's even cut processed rolls of film into strips.

I know what it will do, it never fails to do what I ask of it, it never presents me with any surprises.

I went through serveral of its siblings earlier in life. I'd show them off to friends, wear them as belt candy, lend them out for others to use. Ultimately, I'd take them for granted, use them, misuse them, and invariably leave them behind somewhere like under a machine room floor or fallen unceremoniously out of my pocket under a commode on the cold tile of a public rest room floor.

This one came to me with much anticipation. It's the second Wave I've owned. The first one was too loose from the start, and that was a dangerous proposition. This one was just right. I make sure it stays that way by washing it and rubbing it with oil at regular intervals and wiping it clean and dry with a cotton cloth. I never stress it more than I should, and it's thanked me by serving me well. I like to think I'll keep this one until it won't have me anymore.

-KwM-
 

raucousimages

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Pam cooking spray to knock down shine in still lifes.
Small tool kit
20ft of thin bungi cord
Lazer pen to give a sharp focusing point in low light
Dop Wax instead of clay or silly putty
 

JBrunner

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A flask of Jameson, in the hip pocket of my man skirt.
 

Mike Kennedy

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I am just recharging my hand warmers (liquid until you snap a small metal disk,recharge by boiling them in water for 10 mins.)
Small LED flashlight for camera bag.
Leatherman multi-tool for belt or bag.
 
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