You aren't signed in     Sign In    Help

The Reading Lamp - Self Portrait

love the cat strolling across the frame
The Reading Lamp - Self Portrait by sumrow.
Was inspired by Snapifly's Umbrella photo So I played with some Cactus "ebay" Triggers last night. Mr. Spooky walked by in this one. The Spook-man, the Spook-in-a-tor. :D

Storbist information: One Vivitar 285 bounce off the ceiling for fill. One Vivitar 283 ball-bungied to my head w/ a coffee filter diffuser. Both with Cactus "ebay / Gadget Infinity" radio triggers. :D The ball bungie took a few hairs with it. But it was worth it.

Learn how to light at Strobist
This photo has notes. Move your mouse over the photo to see them.

Comments

view profile

Ryan Brenizer  Pro User  says:

Faved for this sentence: "One Vivitar 283 ball-bungied to my head w/ a coffee filter diffuser." Excellent.

--
Seen in Strobist.com (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

sumrow  Pro User  says:

Thanks Carpe icthus! The things we must do for art. Shiii...Golly!

The cone shaped coffee filter was the ticket! Just used it to hood the 283. Worked like a charm. Seriously, I think it would be cool to try to cut the bottom off one of these filters and slip it over any on-camera popup flash and turn on the instant lighting drip! Gotta try it...
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

StrikingShots Photography  Pro User  says:

That is one of the best lines of description EVER!!!!

Instant fave....
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

The Good Reverend Ogalthorpe [deleted] says:

Not only is this a totally cool, creative shot, it's also technically well executed.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

geowulf says:

I'm with Ryan! Faved for the sentence alone!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

sumrow  Pro User  says:

Thanks Ogalthorpe! I like your photos! We thinky allike!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

rantfoil [deleted] says:

great work! excellent strobist shot. impressive.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

adamTphoto says:

haha, ccol.

--
Seen on strobist.blogspot.com (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Debbi in California  Pro User  says:

You are the weirdest person I ever met...wanna get hitched?
Debbi
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Jim_Hunter says:

Way to go Dude, now you've gone and hit the big time. By the way guys, just in case you didn't notice the family resemblance, that's my nephew. Ouch, maybe I shouldn't have said that.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Zeke.K says:

Inspiring. Nice job!

--
http://strobist.blogspot.com/ (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Fidel Mercado says:

"Ball-bungied to my head". Hilarious! Hahaha!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Kipourax (very busy these days)  Pro User  says:

inspiring indeed, I need to goof off more with my gear at home

--
Seen on strobist.blogspot.com (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Bill Millios  Pro User  says:

My question is, how did you trigger the camera? Pocketwizard under your big toe?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Nicholaus Haskins  Pro User  says:

lmao...no..pocket wizard triggered by tongue! What a very creative self portrait...man I wish I would have though of that....
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

molney says:

BRILLIANT -- Adding this to my list of photography party tricks.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

nickolus.gragg says:

The idea is great. But, i don't think the composition is all it could be. A slightly lower angle and minus cat in the bottom left corner would have been perfect. I don't like the cropped legs either.

Otherwise, awesome. =)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

James Debenham  Pro User  says:

Inspired! Great to see someone having fun with image making...
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Apocrypha  Pro User  says:

That's hilarious :D
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

[schmuckphoto] says:

super! HAHAHAHA

--
http://strobist.blogspot.com/ (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

roel  Pro User  says:

Marvelous!
Instant fave. :)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

cham128  Pro User  says:

Anything that makes me spit tea out over my work computer screen is worth a fav from me!

seen on www.strobist.com
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

sidsiva  Pro User  says:

lol..rocking!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

hereward99 says:

Ball bungie. Head. Priceless! Fun pic too!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

snapify  Pro User  says:

Now that's art! Bravo! (Superbly executed too.)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Jon Thornton  Pro User  says:

I'm trying to think of something funny to say, but topping "One Vivitar 283 ball-bungied to my head" is a really hard.

Great shot.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

guzi4real  Pro User  says:

Amazing shot, nicely executed and the touch added by the cat is just priceless! Thanks for sharing & making our day :-)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

pangalactic gargleblaster says:

what book are you reading?

--
Seen on strobist.blogspot.com (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Rui M Leal  Pro User  says:

Cool stuff. And did you saw the stars? LOL
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Michelle Jones UK  Pro User  says:

Ha ha ha, brilliant! Love the concept, it's something out of the X Files...Lampshade man!

--
Seen on strobist.blogspot.com (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

sumrow  Pro User  says:

Holy Shhiiii... Golly! Umm... just got in this morning to 30 comments. (Blushing) Gimme a sec to respond. Getting c o f f e e ....
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Michael Brownlee  Pro User  says:

Too cool.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Alex Nesbitt  Pro User  says:

Am I the only one who thinks the photo is even better because of the unimpressed expression of your cat?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

flashfanatic says:

Way to spend your free time! Awesome...
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

jsotelo  Pro User  says:

I love the cat! I think that it was perfect timing, intentional or not.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

PicSeshu says:

Where can I get a print of this - it is AWESOME! Beautifully executed!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

thinfilmjedi says:

Impressive! What a great idea!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

pa_digiorgio says:

It would be absolute perfection... if you didn't cut off your feet :-)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Andreas Reinhold  Pro User  says:

Imagine, your wife comes home and sees you sitting in a chair with a lamphead on. I have to try this! :-)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

sumrow  Pro User  says:

Debbi in California: "You are the weirdest person I ever met...wanna get hitched?" Umm. Taken. Buuuut THANK YOU! :D

Uncle Jimmy: Whoot! Whoot!

Kipourax: YES! Your gear secretly wants you to play with it. Goofing off is a direct path to lateral thinking and fun! But you knew that. ; )

wmillios: 10 second timer! It was kinda funny running back and forth, sitting down and putting a lampshade on, trying to look "book-reading-ish".

molney < -- "Party Trick", hell yeah! Great idea! Get your fwends involved.

nickolus.gragg: Sadly I had lots to juggle and my toes were not on my mind. But I agree!

sidsiva: Dude! Thank you! Your DJ shot is this Shineola!

pangalactic: Reading "The Sun" by Frans Masereel. I HIGHLY recommend Passionate Journey". A novel told in 165 woodcuts. Sublime!

Alex Nesbitt: Spooky was kinda pissed. He kept getting in the chair every time I got up to reset the camera, and I would have to bump him out again. But he was happy to be involved in my pwojects.

Seshu: Where can u get a print of this -umm... e-mail me? And thank you!

pa_digiorgio: DAMN YOU SIZE 10's!!!!

Andreas Reinhold: I don't know if it's a good thing or what... but my wife just comes home and sees things strapped to my head and camera stuff thrown around and she doesn't even blink anymore. ^__^

Thanks everyone for the lovely Comments!!

Damn.... now what do I do? Time to play...
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

botkiller says:

So tight. I love it.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Big BAD Benny  Pro User  says:

Sweeet, I have seen the light!

--
Seen on strobist.blogspot.com (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

bluheron  Pro User  says:

HI-LARIOUS! Thanks for sharing!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

pxlsnfr  Pro User  says:

This image is destined to become one of the all time great Flickr photos! The thought of a grown man running around in his living room with a lampshade on his head to create a self portrait... priceless!!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

memos to the future  Pro User  says:

reminds me a bit of the old nadav kander photos for wrigley's orbit gum :






Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

CARMON rinehart  Pro User  says:

Nice. So much fun!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

j-spears says:

Wacky fun!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

oh_pumpkin says:

You are a unique and talented artist. I love the stuff you create, but I especially enjoy this shot! And I must be the luckiest girl alive because I get to see each step you take in the creative process. You know how much I dig this pic, it's totally rad!

As for the dude who would have preferred it sans Spook, well he obviously has never been to the Sumrow casa...EVERY project ends up with some sort of kitty influence! That's just life in a one bedroom apartment and no private studio space. ;)

NICE WORK!

PS Sorry, Debbi in Cali, you'll have to settle for second weirdest person. This guy is all mine.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Jade Renee  Pro User  says:

I love this!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Matthew Flannery  Pro User  says:

I think the cat adds something to the composition.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

S M P H O T O  Pro User  says:

Dude - nice cat!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

PJ Phlip says:

Agreed on the cat adding something to the composition. It looks like an odd diorama if that makes any sense. Great pics from the Hyperfest show. Im the turntablist from Raine Vivian you talked to. I want more of the pics!! Thanks for doing an awesome job of documenting that show.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

PJ Phlip says:

just noticed the message in my box, you beat me to it!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Debbi in California  Pro User  says:

LOL to oh_pumpkin (I'm already hitched anyway, but to not nearly as 'creative weirdo' as yours!)
Debbi
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

ACME-Nollmeyer  Pro User  says:

Nice,

Also this reminds me of the photo of David Jay over on Gary Fong's blog: It's a funny photo of the new "whale Tail" light diffuser (aka fong dong).

later,

Adam Nollmeyer
Acme Photography

www.acmephotography.net - Web
www.flickr.com/photos/acmephoto - Recent Images
acmephoto.blogspot.com - BLOG





--
Seen on the Web. (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

alphaquam  Pro User  says:

This is a great, creative photo.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called I Love Lamp, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

LexyGirl says:

Hilarious/ I love it
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

benrobertsabq  Pro User  says:

Ah I knew I recognized your avatar from somewhere... Saw this a while back on the Strobist pool.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

James Edward Creamer  Pro User  says:

FUN!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

shadowbomb  Pro User  says:

Sometimes I worry about Flickr types...
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Madddy  Pro User  says:


I saw this in the 100+ Faves group and Faved it.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

mymonxter -.- says:

so nice surrealism 100%¡¡¡¡¡
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Essam Al Hedek  Pro User  says:

Nice shot .
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

8.59 cc  Pro User  says:

Not only the set-up is wonderful in its own right, but the cat makes it just priceless.

(I was guided here by the author's comment on his homage.)
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

VolaVale  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called INSOPPORTABILE!.......I CAN'T TOLERATE!, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Kristof.pattyn says:

What the hell is that? Said the cat! Haha, Faved!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Ginsky - Saint Claire Studio  Pro User  says:

OK, you're just having TOO much fun. Your wife must have incredible tolerance!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

fstop studios says:

This is fantastic, love your style.
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Andrea // AT Graphics!  Pro User  says:

that's excellent!! brilliant!!
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

GroupFounder  Pro User  says:

Present your 100 F photo to a wider audience.
At the 8-language QualityGroup World100F.
展现您的100F相片给一较广泛的观众群.
在译成8种语言的QualityGroup World100F里。
Muestre su foto 100 F a un público más amplio.
En el GrupoCalidad World100F en 8 idiomas.
Apresente a sua fotografia 100 F a um público mais vasto.
No GrupoQualidade World100F em 8 línguas.
Présentez votre photo 100 F à un vaste public.
Dans le GroupeQualité World100F en 8 langues.
Zeigen Sie Ihr 100 F Photo einem breiteren Publikum.
In der 8-sprachigen QualityGroup World100F.
Mostra le tue foto 100 F a un pubblico più vasto.
Nel GruppoQualità World100F in 8 lingue.
귀하의100 F 사진들을 많은 관객에게 보여 주십시오.
8개국어의QualityGroup World100F.



www.flickr.com/groups/world100f/
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

lemon hound  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Books & Portraits, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

A N N O says:

♥ |[

{ .. heheeeheeee Crazy But AmaZing

..

Fav

]| ♥

Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

matt_hext says:

What lens and can we have the exif info please
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

*Saariy*  Pro User  says:

Great composition & image
You are invited to add
This beautiful photo to
*Saariy's Quality Pictures Gallery*
Sunset & clouds
1 POST / 2 COMMENTS. 10 FAVES ARE REQUIRED
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

laverrue  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Crème de la Crème/Cream of the cream, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

BPlunkett  Pro User  says:

I just got my Cactus set in and saw this in the included book. Just fantastic. Probably the most creative use of wireless flash I've ever seen.
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

pclover says:

nice!
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

malavoda  Pro User  says:

Funny!
Posted 5 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).

[?]
view photos Uploaded on May 15, 2007
by sumrow

sumrow's photostream

235
uploads

This photo also belongs to:

Most Interesting (Set)

20
items
Part of: Photography

.:Utterly Surreal:. (Pool)

Canon DSLR User Group (Pool)

red! (Pool)

Creative (Pool)

top-f [ 25+ faves ] (Pool)

Surrealism (Pool)

Conceptual photography (Pool)

Imagination (Pool)

Weird Photography (Pool)

100 faves (Pool)

1000 views + 100 favourites (Pool)

200 faves (Pool)

Strobist.com (Pool)

100+ Faves 1-2-3 (Post one,Comment and Fave two) (Pool)

INSOPPORTABILE!.......I CAN'T TOLERATE!... (Pool)

* 50+ Faves 2009:The Most Recent!(Com. 2) * (Pool)

Books & Portraits (Pool)

Unreal Portraits (Pool)

I Love Lamp (Pool)

Selfportrait performace (acting a part...) (Pool)

World100F – The QualityGroup (Pool)

StrobistOnline (Pool)

Crème de la Crème/Cream of the cream (Pool)

Eragon,Eldest,Brisingr. (Pool)

Tags

Click this icon to see all public photos and videos tagged with cat cat

Additional Information

All rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Add to your map