C Me Jimmy...

The interesting object in the alley-way is an indispensable accessory for the modern photographer. Whether you are shooting products in the studio, political riots in the street, or ships at sea, you need this. Wedding photographers will want two*.

It is a Kupo "C" stand. Made of aluminium castings, steel tubes, and the sweat of honest North Asian labour. It weighs a lot, and therein lies the charm. It is heavy-duty gear for when you need to suspend something over a set or a subject.

The legs swivel out from the center column and snap-lock into position. You can position it close to a wall and still have stability out at the end of the arm. If you put the boom over the long leg you have enough stability to swing even a large flash head and softbox out there.

Of course it always pays to use a counterweight at the short end of the boom, and to secure the legs with sand bags as well, Steve Sint makes a point of the safety aspects needed in the studio in his book on still life photography and Steve Sint knows!

Please note that the center column shafts do not have air brakes inside the structure. If you release the clamp carelessly the only thing that arrests the drop of the boom is your fingers or head...be careful.

But look at all the clamp attachment points there on the assembly - there are more than enough possibilities there for the inventive photographer to swing lights any way they want to.

* Romance. Nothin' says lovin' like a pair of intertwined studio stands.