Press conferences - what are they for?

Just attended my first press conference in years. Lots of waiting around, nothing said of any interest, no photos that anyone would ever want....The Lightsphere worked well, though, I think. Only concern is that I bought the 'universal fit' model because I suspect that at some point I'll buy an SB-900 which has a much bigger flash head than the SB-800s, but it keeps falling off. The first time was because someone brushed past it, which is OK, but the second time I was just walking along with it. I think it's going to need some padding.

People tell me you have to adopt an all JPG workflow for this sort of event, but I have to say I'm not convinced. Shooting RAW+Small Basic JPG, as I do for events stuff and on my 4Gb, 64-bit Vista HP Compaq 6710b laptop, Lightroom's absolutely fine. For convenience (and due to lack of space on the laptop hard drive) I'm using a NextODI CF image tank. It's Firewire capable, but I didn't bring the lead so it's just running USB 2 and its fine.

For now, I'm working straight off the external drive, pointing Lightroom at it but importing the images without copying them. It's pretty easy to find the ones worth working on for 'editorial' use - OK, today it's just the blog, but I'm practising for tomorrow when I hope to have everything I need to do for the two websites I'm working for and Cycling Weekly done long before I leave the stadium - and quite possibly before the event is finished. It depends hwo strongly my petrolhead tendencies kick in after the Hoy vs Hamilton race. I may well brave the elements and do the editing at the outdoor workstations, which will allow me to keep taking photos while I work...

Comments

[Dennis]

Found this on the Gary Fong site re the Lightsphere:

The famous Gary Fong Lightsphere -Now in a UNIVERSAL size to fit almost ANY on-camera flash!
The grip is so strong that it can support the entire weight of a camera, drive and flash securely.
Attaches with patent pending grip system -
WILL NOT FALL OFF!

Maybe you attached it at the wrong end. ;-)

[swarbrick]

I'll have to read the manual. Or, possibly, look at the website - given that I didn't get a manual with it...