Steve Weinrebe's Mode Studio

I still remember my first trip to a photography and video supply house to buy orange handled “A” clamps at circa $18 each. That was many years ago and I still have some of those clamps. They worked well, but the orange was a real pain in the neck whenever I was shooting something reflective. I had to put black gaffers tape over the handles to mask the orange reflections; tape which left gummy residue when removed. Then one day Home Depot, Lowes, etc., came along with $1 black handled clamps, neatly piled as impulse buys in the checkout line. I tried a few out and then bought 20 or 30 or so. They might have a tad less strength than the orange ones (which now cost less at the photo stores, but still more than the hardware store version), but the difference is negligible, and the black handles make these “A” clamps better photo tools than the dedicated orange handle variety.I keep a pile in the location gaffers case, and a slew (email me if you know the difference between a pile and a slew) of them lined up, clamped, along the side of a rolling studio cart. In fact, you just don’t build a set in the studio without having a couple in your hands first, because if you don’t you will end up on a ladder with a roll of 9′ background in your hands and nothing to clamp it with; ever been there?Posted by Steve Weinrebe