Sometimes crazy ideas merit an off-leash run for creative exercise. While, grandslams shouldn’t be expected, failures are rarely discussed.

Today is different. I share my worst photo purchases in attempt of breaking bad, just so you won’t do the same.

Background

I conduct extensive reviews and testing of gear before I buy. A ton of thought goes into researching new technology, education, and photo techniques. I feel that is part of being on the cutting edge. It takes time and patience, lots of it. And I hope it helps my readers (“a rising tide raises all ships”). I also preach the following mindset to myself:

• There is a balance between being prepared and not. Even boy scouts know when to lighten the load.
• What you buy is just as important as where you buy. Top concerns: product quality, value, & customer support. My recommendations shared here.

I’m frugal and relish creative finds at Home Depot. I enjoy bargain shopping and doing more with less, too. Yet, I don’t mind spending hard earned money on quality that lasts. You know what they say about the poor man: “pays twice.”

My Downfalls

“God created a few perfect heads, the rest he covered with hair,” my high school biology teacher once stated (he was bald).

Since I still have a good head of hair, I’m faaar from perfect. Especially with choosing perfect gear.

I share with you today a few of the duds. They’re duezies.

4. Bad sync cords. They work one minutes, then fail when you least expect. And they don’t gloat as the sign of the problem, which makes troubleshooting under pressure even more difficult. Yet, they are still a necessary evil when triggering off camera strobes. Cheap ones will let you down just as much as the pricey ones, I’ve found. By design, they have fragile wire inside to transmit the signal. If the wire gets bent, so does your signal.

3. Di100FR2 Flash Rotator. I bought this device in 2007 for $243.80 because I saw another well-known photographer using it. It is bulky, heavy, awkward, and if you loose one screw it is worthless. Sure it keeps your flash above your camera when you rotate it in portrait mode. But wireless works better and doesn’t add a few pounds to your camera. Misteak #1: Don’t buy something because you see someone using it. Misteak #2. Just because it looks like a good idea, doesn’t mean it is. So what if B&H reviewers give it Five Stars. Or Ken Rockwell likes it.

2. Gary Fong Lightsphere. I should have learned from Misteak #1 from my silly Di100FR2 Flash Rotator, above. This was right when the industry shifted to selling cheap gear to newbies in hopes they would buy it. And they did in swarms of masses. I can remember watching Simple Photo Minute and my friend Jules Bianci had one. I needed one, too. The light really wasn’t much different than the plastic diffuser than ships with the speed light. And they fall off easily. And draw as much attention to your flash as stupid questions. Mine fell off on the dance floor and I never found it. Perhaps a guest mistook it as tupperware container for cake. Yes, it was a $60 tupperware container. The Chrome Dome (Power Booster) and AmberDome serve the bad memories only adding to the cost of what a slip of white paper and rubber band would have done better. What was I thinking?

1. My Worst Purchase, Ever… This THING:

It’s an old school theater light dome I bought from a vintage store for $100. I thought it would make a bomber speed light diffuser for my Single Flash Multiple Exposure technique. I thought it was a cheap Profoto magnum reflector that I could jury-rig to fit my D1. I was wrong. I didn’t think how it well it would travel. And if it was even efficient. It hangs, in my garage, as a reminder of my dumbness.

*** Golden Lessons ***

• While you can’t polish a turd, as a photographer, you can camouflage it. Thank you, Mr. Speed Light Gels. You are a good friend to product photography!
• Let’s Face it: some creative lighting modifiers and accessories sometimes FAIL. Come gain support at our next PUG meeting for your latest failure in creative lighting and share your winning insights as well. It’s tomorrow!!! March 26 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art 6:30-8pm near the Dogwood Coffee Modbar. There will be a contest to see who can do the most creative things with these devices. The winner will take all! Free coffee & desserts. Please RSVP by commenting below or the PUG  Group Page.