It’s no secret that I’m not impressed with Alien Bees or White-Lighting marketing hype or the quality of their products–simply put, the owner and CEO of the company, Paul C. Buff, knows my biggest beef is about their use of the word “effective” when describing watt-seconds of their products. I’ve more than once have asked Buff to join me on the Glamour1.com photography forums for an open discussion on this and other topics related to his products, he’s refused and countered back with false statements and libelous claims.
So far I’ve ignored his unprofessional actions, but was rather disturbed when he posted a racial slur about me on DPReview.com (in reference to another poster’s photo) and I quote,
“Now if he’d used Rolando’s body grease you would see more. But maybe he didn’t want greasy bodies?”
Describing a Latino’s body as greasy is not a smart move by any corporate CEO when Latinos are more than 40-million strong in the United States alone—many are photographers too. Being of Latin descent I take the latter remarks by Buff very personal and find it a rather off-color remark, but Buff doesn’t stop with just this Latino, he slaps our European friends and family too!
On DPReview, Buff (click thumbnail to view screen capture) states:
I suppose us Americans are different than you Europeans – let’s see “your-o-peein” is that the correct way to pronouce the word. Is than derived from the common practice of dogs peeing on your $3000 packs?
Here we don’t generally have that problem nor need strong French perfume to keep our equipment odor free.
Indeed, lots of valuable info on this thread.Paul
According to Buff, he’s now banned from DPReview. I can see why with those types of statements.
I just returned from a three-country tour of Europe for Calumet and California Sunbounce and I can assure you, the European people received me with open arms and are some of the best people on this planet. I once lived in Europe for three years, not to mention my own ancestors are from European descent and the photographers there are phenomenal and like the people of Europe themselves, great people.
Has Buff forgot where photography was invented?
Buff’s statements are, as one editor of a popular photography magazine (not associated with Rangefinder) put it, “Unbelievable, disgusting!”
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Buff statements not only show his true colors, but Buff also demonstrates his integrity when he makes false statements and totally-untrue claims, by stating that I was banned from the Rangefinder Organization and banned from Rangfinder and WPPI. I guess Buff doesn’t remember I was the cover story for the Rangefinder (Sept. 06) magazine when the topic was, Mysteries of Lighting Revealed.
Obviously Buff’s statements concerned me, so I went to the President of Rangefinder and WPPI, Skip Cohen, along with the editor, Bill Hurter to see if there was truth in Buff’s statements. Both Cohen and Hurter, assured me they knew nothing of it and the claims by Buff were inappropriate and totally false. Cohen, himself a former CEO (Hasselblad) personally called me and assured me that Buff’s claims were totally false and unacceptable.
Buff obviously owes an apology to a lot of people and needs to be reminded that the United States is in fact a country of immigrants. Even the U.S. military is filled with people from other countries and people with different ethnicities, I know, I served proudly for almost nine years, active-duty in the U.S. Army to protect and defend our country. Mr. Buff, don’t forget the men and women who ensure you the conditions to speak freely, many are of European descent.
Whether it be one European, one Latino or one person of any race, anything with race-implied slurs and making fun of an entire continent is not smart, especially when it comes from the CEO of a company. Perhaps Buff needs to have a talk with Don Imus and ask him how “effective” it was when CBS fired Imus over his racial slurs of the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
Thanks, rg sends!
How can a CEO be trusted to speak with integrity about his product line when his own personal integrity is so blatently compromised by the making of racial slurs? The photographic community is the poorer when personal attacks replace constructive dialogue. Let’s hope this guy rises to the occasion and isses an apology before somebody suggests that photographers of either Latino or European descent boycot his products…
I find it hard to believe that a CEO can public say the things he has. Paul retract your idiotic camments while you can. A shooter of the caliber of Mr. Gomez deserves an apology in person. Do I continue to look for other lights and forget about yours. I may have to do just this because of you disgusting remarks.
This is totally unbelievable in this day and age. I have known Rolando for over 10 years and can say without a doubt he is one of the most honorable men I know. I have been to his workshops, and will be going to the VI in Nov.. and his advice and photographic knowledge has always served me well. My Hensel kit will be at the house when I return from the VI. In fact I almost bought AB/WL until I tested what Rolando was saying. I can say that color does change much more dramatically with the AB/WL’s. Again, Paul has had the chance to debate/explain his products and has chosen not to… for him to post a racial slur even as a way of explaining shiny skin while in quotes… well.. totally unforgivable…. CEO’, coaches, IMUS have all been fired for similar.
This further strengthens my resolve never to purchase a Buff made product.
I have said that for year about the watt seconds. I tested the first white lightnings that came out years ago when everybody thought that they were so great and couldn’t understand why you would call something 1800 when it was less power than a 600 ws unit. It’s an entry level unit at best, look at how many you see in the used market!!!! No matter his comments are not cool!!! Take Care Johnny Johnson
It is incredibly stupid for any person, let alone a CEO of a company to make comments such as these. It is also disturbing that these comments were of such a classless nature. If self incrimination was an artform the above would be a master fool. Sorry this happened to you Rolando.
I don’t understand why you keep saying “Greaser” when the comment made by Paul was “Body Grease”. Now I don’t live in Paul’s head and a diligent re-read of the statement should probably have caused it to be changed to “Body Oil”, but then again you are in Texas and Oil is associated with Texas, so that might be another slur nobody has thought about, but I’m sure they will. YMMV
I fail to understand Mr. Buff’s purpose of all this reiterate. Even though his product it not one of the best overall, it does provide a niche for those with limited budgets and/or first time starters.
Attacking a group or an individual in this matter is unacceptable. I for one am very disappointed in his actions. A simple way for to respond to this is by not recommending his products or encouraging purchasing, since his company has done well over the past years.
A CEO is responsible for his actions and words on every level. This would be a simple way respond.
I am very surprised at all of this. I have used White Lightning products before and found them to be well-built. But I do agree, the watt-second rating is pretty optimistic. But if Mr. Buff wants to defend his position, defend it intellectually. Show us some facts, figures, studies, etc… Taking the debate to the childhood level of name calling and insulting your opponent on a personal level is something that the CEO and President of an American company should not stoop to. It is evident that be a CEO in the US today it takes less scruples and more chutzpah.