Steve Weinrebe's Mode Studio

What is this, a high tech Blob? No, it’s another of my essential items of photography gear, a piece of hard black rubber. Ages ago a photographer in a neighboring studio (back when my studio was in an industrial building of cavernous studio spaces filled with photographers, graphic designers, artists and so forth) brought me into his darkroom to show me his latest invention, a 4” x 6” x 1/2” piece of black rubber. He was using it to bang his developing tank into after each agitation, to release air bubbles. He had an extra block of the material and gave it to me.Since then I’ve cut the rubber in pieces (slices like butter, with a matte knife) and have used the pieces over and over in various studio situations; usually as a skid-proof marker when swapping out props, where I don’t want to lose the plane of focus; or as a skid-proof shim, spacer, or lift for props. I also use the rubber under impromptu tables to keep the top from shifting.Pieces of the hard rubber have honored spots on different work surfaces in the studio, and I always carry a small piece in the camera bag.Posted by Steve Weinrebe