I have a confession to make. I am an advanced amateur. Yes, we can be annoying. Sorry, we can't help it. Before you go somewhere, you toss your little, sleek point 'n' shoot into your pocket. Maybe take it out and get a shot or two of the kids playing or whatever. We Ad-Ams, no way. We're thinking things through. Big, black DSLR hanging around our necks, debating on whether to carry a flash and another lens or not. We're always walking around the edge of things, looking for the best angle.

To that end, I have been amassing a nice little lighting kit. A few light-duty stands and umbrellas, 2 'older' flash units, a set of inexpensive RF triggers, a few homemade light modifiers and such. I may be obsessed, but I am also frugal (read: cheap). My goal is to be versatile and economical as possible. The single most expensive thing in my kit (beside the camera and lenses) was probably the bag it all goes in.

To a snapshooter, this is all far more trouble than it's worth. To a pro, they're toys. For me, it's just right.

(I owe a serious debt of gratitude to the Strobist for educating and enabling me on this journey. Anyone interested in taking the next step, his site is invaluable daily reading.)

Back in the film days, using flash was tricky and results were unpredictable. It's easy to understand why it intimidated amateurs and drove manufacturers to make smaller, smart, built-in flash systems. With digital, it's easy to experiement, Just shoot, review, adjust. Repeat 'til it's right.

I'm always looking for new ways to use my gear. Just ask my kids.

Last week, my daughter was invited to a fashion show / birthday party, complete with runway, outfit changes and an MC. It sounded like fun so I volunteered my kit with the intention of just adding some paparazzi atmosphere to the event. I figured I'd just 'pop' the flashes as they walked the runway. "But why waste all that light," I thought, so I decided I might as well actually set up the lights for real and take the pictures. Of course, this meant I now had to take things a bit more seriously but I had to do it without interfering with their fun.

I made sure beforehand to gather up all the little bits and pieces of my kit, charge up the batteries, clear the memory card, etc. I arrived early, set up quickly, and then waited for the show.

The girls thought it was great fun. Some hammed it up at every opportunity. Ironically, I think I got better shots during the 'rehearsal'. The real show, with music playing, MC talking and audience (parents and siblings) really quieted them down.

I typically set up a shot and can take my time and make adjustments as I go. Here, I couldn't control the environment or action at all. I had to try to anticipate their actions. It was a good exercise and all part of the fun.

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