So I needed a larger portable drive, my OWC drive is getting a little too full and I wanted to try USB 3.0. So I ordered a iOmega ego 1TB drive:

Looked like a great choice, a company we all know, USB 3.0, small in size…. on paper it seemed like the best choice. That is until I received it and installed. The drive comes with two partitions. One partition is the basic usable space and the other its a read-only CDFS image that CANT BE REMOVED.

So when you plug your drive in you’ll get:

As you can see there are two drives mounted. Drive F: is the drive I want to use and Drive D: is a read only image that contains their crappy encryption software. Couldn’t they just include that software on the main partition? we know 99% of us will delete that software since there are better encryption options (think TrueCrypt).

So I tried removing the partition from Windows, Linux Gpart, and even that software used to get memory sticks to be write-able. YOU CANT REMOVE IT! its safe to say that I returned the drive and that I will not buy stuff from iOmega for a while.

Other bad things about this drive; you need to plugin both USB leads to use it. (I least for USB 2.0) my OWC drive never required this.

So if you want a real good external drive get a OWC drive, they are great drives, you can get multiple interfaces, and they work. (I’m getting a harddrive to replace the one on my OWC enclosure)

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go

Ever wanted to take some macro shots but just didnt want to pay upwards of $500 for a lens that you’ll seldom use?!?!? Well if you have a pocket digicam you’re in luck!!!

I sometimes shoot weddings and wanted to be able to shoot the brides ring in macro fashion but just couldn’t bring myself to purchasing a lens just for this.

So for this (fugly) simple test I used a regular pocket digicam,  just switch the dial to macro mode:

Focus and shoot!…. please ignore all the oil and lint… I took this in a hurry

Click to enlarge

I’ve had the Nexus One cell phone since it came out and its been an amazing phone. I’m running Cyanogen’s ROM on it and I regularly get updates that give the phone more features. The latest build has HD video recording an MP4 and it also adds many tweaks for the camera app.

Here are some photos I’ve shot at Red Rock Canyon in Vegas. These are straight from the phone (I resized them down, nothing else has been done).

I think they look pretty awesome for a cell phone.

[Show as slideshow]

I just bought a Canon 7D to complement my 5D…. I’ll keep you guys posted on its performance.

So far things I like:

• It can control my Canon Flashes off camera
• It has a “level” so it can help you keep things straight
• The viewfinder has an electronic grid “focus screen”, you can turn it on/off
• Feels solid like my 5D MKII

I use external battery packs with my Flashes so to extend the amount of shots and also shorten recycle times. I have two CP-E4 knockoffs I bought on eBay, I use them with my Ex580 II and Ex550.

When shooting inside high ceiling buildings like churches, or temples, and using E-TTL the flash will not receive much bounced light so it will try to compensate by boosting its power. This is really bad because if you dont notice it soon enough your flash can overheat and stop working or you can waste your batteries really quick. (If you’re rapid shooting)

Once simple thing that can help in this situation is a flash modifier like a stofen:

There are hundreds of light modifiers, the Stofen is good because its really small and even if pointed upwards it will send light out in every direction.