Let me state right at the beginning of this piece that I am not an equipment freak. But like most photographers, I do get excited about gear that can help me do my job better or do something I couldn't do before. That excitement is usually reserved for lenses--long, wide, fast, zoom, soft focus, etc. Some of the more mundane items in photography--tripods, light stands, posing stools, bags, and other hardware--are must have items, but our purchasing decision is usually based on size, weight, and other very practical parameters. There just isn't much new that usually happens with this type of equipment.

Well, I'm here to tell you about a light stand that is one of those why didn't anyone think of that before deals. It's the ingenious Red Wing Quick Stand. What's so different about it? When you pick it up, the legs collapse so you can move it easily. That's not even the best part. When you set it down, presto, the legs spread back out. It takes some getting used to, because it seems like magic at first, but once you're used to it, you get to like it real fast.

I tried using it in the studio and it's good for picking up and placing on seamless and other backgrounds, but where it really shines is on location and outdoors. That's because you can pick it up and set it down with one hand. You don't need to set your camera down to free up both hands because you only need one. I had mine set up to hold a shoe mounted flash and umbrella. This works great for a second light at a wedding or to use as the main light when doing outdoor portraits. Slap on the radio control and you're ready to shoot.

The stand is very lightweight and I found myself using it on location when I needed to bring my studio lights. For more information contact BKA (Brandess/Kalt/Aetna Group, Inc.), 701 Corporate Woods Pkwy., Vernon Hills, IL 60061; (847) 821-0450; or web site: www.BKAphoto.com.