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Posts Tagged ‘Year’

Canon teases September 14 launch event, calls is ‘the most exciting announcement of the year’

07 Sep

It looks like September 14, 2021 is going to be a busy day. First, Apple announced it will be hosting a livestream event. Now, Canon has announced that it too will be hosting a livestreamed event on YouTube at 12pm CEST (+2 UTC).

Canon doesn’t say what we can expect to see at the event, but the animated graphic in the teaser video shows an illustration of an RF camera mount. Make of that what you will.

You can click through on the video to set a reminder on YouTube to be notified when the event goes live.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Slideshow: A bewildered roadrunner at the US—Mexico border took hom the grand prize in this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year competition

02 Sep

Bird Photographer of the Year 2021 winners

Winners of the 2021 Bird Photographer of the Year awards were announced today. Over 22,000 images were submitted from around the globe. Mexican photographer Alejandro Prieto took home the £5,000 grand prize for his image of a roadrunner standing next to the 3,000km-long US–Mexico border.

‘The border wall crosses deserts, mountains, and even mangroves. It is not just desert, and is in fact very biodiverse with more than 1,500 animal and plants species threatened by the wall,’ says Prieto. ‘I have watched many different animals reach the wall before turning around and heading back.’

The Bird Photographer of the Year awards also gives back. The organization donated £8,000 to Birds on the Brink. They fund grass-roots bird conservation projects around the world. All 2021 winners can be viewed on the competition’s main website.

Gold Award Winner and Bird Photographer of the Year: ‘Blocked’ by Alejandro Prieto (Mexico)

About this Image: The 3,000km-long US–Mexico border traverses and straddles some of the continent’s most biologically diverse regions. It is home to uniquely adapted mammals, reptiles, birds and plants, some of which are found nowhere else on the planet. Numerous species will be affected if the US government decides to build a wall along the border with Mexico. Border infrastructure not only physically blocks the movement of wildlife but it also destroys and fragments habitats.

Many desert animals are, to a degree, nomadic wanderers and a wall would sever habitat connectivity and prevent them moving freely from one place to another. In this photograph, a Greater Roadrunner approaches the border wall at Naco, Arizona, with what almost looks like a sense of bewilderment.

Gear and Specs: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length 112mm, 1/320 second, f/14, ISO 200.

Gold Award Winner, Best Portrait: ‘Underwater Portrait’ by Felipe Foncueva (Spain)

About this Image: This underwater image of a Brown Pelican was taken off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, near the mouth of the T.rcoles River, where there are small fishing villages. Groups of pelicans await the return of fishermen and take advantage of the scraps they throw into the sea.

Looking at this image, I am struck by the similarity between the way the pouch beneath the pelican’s bill functions and the throat of a feeding baleen whale. At first glance you could be forgiven for thinking you are looking at a marine mammal rather than a bird!

Gear and Specs: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Canon 8–15mm f/4 Focal length 15mm; 1/10th, f/9, ISO 200.

Silver Award Winner, Best Portrait: ‘Sing Heartily’ by Maofeng Shen (China)

About this Image: June marks the start of the breeding season for Demoiselle Cranes on the vast grasslands of Keshiketeng in Inner Mongolia. It is a blessing to witness the arrival of these beautiful birds, and a privilege to have documented their nesting behaviour. In order to capture wonderful, intimate moments of breeding behaviour without causing disturbance, I did a lot of homework.

I drove more than 800km to the vast prairie of Keshiketeng two days before I planned to photograph and did my groundwork. I got up at 3am on 29 June 2018 and rushed to the location of the breeding cranes. In order not to disturb their peaceful life, I had previously set up my equipment in the long grass and lay down, disguised on the ground.

In the morning light, the figures of the Demoiselle Crane family of four gradually appeared out of the gloom. Just as they were leisurely foraging for food, suddenly the distant sound of shepherds herding sheep could be heard. It seemed as if the sound was enough to inspire the pair of adults to call, as they stood back to back. This evocative sound cut through the silent sky for a brief moment, then everything quietened down again. I enjoyed the company of the crane family for the next four hours.

Gear and Specs: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with Canon 600mm f/4 lens, 1/640 second, f/6.3, ISO 400.

Bronze Award Winner, Best Portrait: ‘Night Hunter’ by Jonas Classon (Sweden)

About this Image: Poised for attack and staring intently, this Great Grey Owl has fixed its penetrating gaze on a vole in a Swedish forest. On the night of a full moon, I photographed the owl as it raised its deadly taloned foot, with my car headlights adding a little more illumination to the scene. When I looked at the photo afterwards it gave me goosebumps.

Gear and Specs: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with Canon 200–400mm f/4 lens. Focal length 300mm, 1/160 second, f/4, ISO 3200.

Silver Award Winner, Birds in the Environment: ‘Claiming the Forest Floor’ by Joshua Galicki (United States)

About this Image: This image shows a male Ovenbird singing on top of a fallen log. The bird is staking its claim to a breeding territory shortly after arriving from a lengthy migration to the northeast United States from wintering grounds in Central America. Ovenbirds are quite small – 15cm or so in length – and unlike most other New World warblers, prefer to forage on the forest floor among the leaf litter. I have observed and studied North American songbirds for years and care deeply for all of my subjects.

This shot was taken with a non- intrusive remote set-up to capture the expanse of the Ovenbird’s environment. The camera and lens were camouflaged next to the bird’s favourite singing log and the shutter was remotely triggered. No bait or tape lure were used for this shot, nor was any stress placed on the bird. As a result, this is an image of an Ovenbird behaving naturally.

Gear and Specs: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III with Canon 24–70mm f/4 lens. Focal length 24mm, 1/500 second, f/8, ISO 6,400.

Bronze Award Winner, Birds in the Environment: ‘Yellow-billed Oxpecker with Cape Buffalo’ by Barbara Fleming (United States)

About this Image: Yellow-billed Oxpeckers chatter constantly as they fly in and out of a Cape Buffalo herd, landing wherever they can to rest and feed. They spend almost their entire lives around large mammals, to the point where even courtship and mating take place in their company. Oxpeckers feed on ticks and other insects, although they also have a predilection for the mammal blood.

In this image both oxpecker and buffalo were in motion, moving in different directions and at different distances from the lens. This added to the challenge of capturing this symbiotic pair, but enhanced the satisfaction at achieving my goal. The image was darkened in post-processing.

Gear and Specs: Nikon D4S with Nikkor 500mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter. Focal length 700mm, 1/1,600 second, f/8, ISO 1,600.

Gold Award Winner, Attention to Detail: ‘Disappearing’ by Rafael Armada (Spain)

About this Image: Reflections are one of the details I like most in nature because light undergoes incredible transformations when it interacts with water. In a way, it is nature playing with us, with our forms and with the forms that we see. In this photograph, the same water that creates the reflection strikes with force to destroy it, in a sense to overthrow the King. The King is still standing; he knows his reign is not over… not yet. But it will end the day that water no longer creates reflections in the sand.

Gear and Specs: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 II lens. Focal length 100mm, 1/30 second, f/14, ISO 100.

Silver Award Winner, Attention to Detail: ‘Growing Up’ by Raymond Hennessy (United States)

About this Image: Great Northern Divers (known as Common Loons in North America) and their chicks take to the water soon after the chicks hatch. The size difference between adult and youngster is evident in this image and shows just how much growing is left for this tiny chick: it is dwarfed by the large bill of the adult next to it. I took this photo as the pair floated incredibly close to my kayak in the soft afternoon light.

Gear and Specs: Nikon D4S with Nikkor 500mm f/4 lens. Focal length 500mm, 1/640 second, f/4, ISO 400.

Gold Award Winner, Bird Behavior: ‘Floral Bathtub’ by Mousam Ray (India)

About this Image: This image was taken at North Bengal Agricultural University in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. To set the scene, here in India autumn days (when the photo was taken) are typically hot and humid – sporadic rains interspersed with sweltering heat – while the nights are cold. I was keen to capture images of Crimson Sunbirds drinking nectar from banana flowers. Typically, these flowers point towards the ground, but in some ornamental species they point skywards and some of their outer petals open up like cups, holding water from rain or dew.

Late one evening, a female Crimson Sunbird suddenly arrived and started sipping nectar. Her thirst quenched, she then started bathing in the water stored in this banana flower petal. It’s quite common to find birds refreshing themselves in the evening, visiting puddles and pools, dipping their heads and wetting their wings and body. However, it was a unique experience to see this sunbird immersing herself upside down in water contained in an ornamental flower petal, like a lady in a bathtub. Her relaxed and indulgent manner, lit by the glow of sunset, was truly a sight to behold.

Gear and Specs: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 300mm f/4 and 1.4x teleconverter. Focal length 420mm, 1/4,000 second, f/7.1, ISO 1,600.

Silver Award Winner, Bird Behavior: ‘The Face of Death’ by Massimiliano Apollo (Italy)

About this Image: After many years of frequenting these rice fields in northern Italy, I finally managed to capture what is for me the perfect shot! In late summer, prior to migrating south, the region’s Purple Herons try to feed as much as possible and take advantage of the abundance of prey present in the rice fields.

I had long dreamt of a shot like this, one that would allow me to see the expressions of the two subjects – predator and prey. I can also say with some satisfaction that this shot is completely wild and no form of baiting was employed – just a lot of patience, perseverance and, why not, a little luck!

Gear and Specs: Sony A9 II with Canon 600mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter. Focal length 840mm, 1/2,000 second, f/6.3, ISO 3200.

Bronze Award Winner, Bird Behavior: ‘Entangled’ by Julie Halliday (Falkland Islands)

About this Image: In the past, the Imperial Shag went by the name of King Cormorant. This subantarctic and Antarctic species breeds in dense colonies, and on the Falkland Islands it favours gentle cliff-top slopes, often mixing with Southern Rockhopper Penguins and Black-browed Albatrosses.

Imperial Shags use various displays to reinforce pair-bonds, ranging from head-wagging, gargling and kinking their necks, to making throat-clicking noises and nibbling or biting the tips of the bill. This pair allowed a close approach, and as one came in to land, they went through a ritual courtship greeting.

Gear and Specs: Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon 70–200mm f/2.8 II lens and 2x teleconverter. Focal length 400mm; 1/1,600 second; f/5.6; ISO 250.

Gold Award Winner, Birds in Flight: ‘Thirsty’ by Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel)

About this Image: Common Swifts live their lives on the wing and are a challenge to capture in flight. With a diet of flying insects, they need to drink from time to time, and even that behavior is performed on the wing. I had had this image – of a swift skimming over water – in my mind for a long time.

I finally found a suitable place to attempt it, and to get the photo I had to sit in water wearing a wetsuit, shrouded by a portable hide, every day for three weeks. Eventually, I got this photo on the final day – the day after the birds had all gone.

Gear and Specs: Nikon D500 with Nikkor 300mm f/4 PF lens. Focal length 300mm, 1/4,000 second, f/7.1, ISO 1,800.

Silver Award Winner, Birds in Flight: ‘The Art of Motion’ by Nicolas Reusens (Spain)

About this Image: This image is one of my favorite shots from my last trip to Ecuador. Using a complicated set-up, I was able to trigger two sets of flashes during a single exposure, using a shutter speed of 1/25 second. I then tried to introduce a sense of movement into the image by adding continuous lighting to the scene. After three days of photographic attempts to get a single picture with an intense atmosphere, this is what I achieved. I hope it was worth it!

Gear and Specs: Canon R6 with Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens. Focal length 100mm, 1/25 second, f/13, ISO 200.

Bronze Award Winner, Birds in Flight: ‘First Come, First Served’ by Hannes Lochner (South Africa)

About this Image: This image captures the moment when two Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills chase after the same insect in a mid-air competition. In hornbill society, there appears to be no such thing as a fair fight, and the slower of the two birds played dirty by grabbing the tail feathers of the other. In spite of this cheating, the attempt failed, so maybe there is some justice after all in the world of hornbills!

Gear and Specs: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8 lens. Focal length 120mm, 1/5,000 second, f/4, ISO 200.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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See the Stunning Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners

04 Jun

The post See the Stunning Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners

The Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2021 winners have been announced, featuring a mix of wildlife, landscape, and macro photos – all of them breathtaking.

More than 8000 images fought for the £1500 grand prize. In the end, it was Thomas Vijayan’s gripping photo, entitled “The World Is Going Upside Down,” that won the judges’ hearts and secured Vijayan the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year title:

Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
The World Is Going Upside Down – Overall Winner, Animal Behavior Winner
© Thomas Vijayan / Nature TTL

Vijayan explained, “After spending a few days in Borneo, I got this frame stuck in my mind. To get this shot, I selected a tree that was in the water, so that I could get a good reflection of the sky and its leaves on the tree. The water formed a mirror, making the image look upside-down. Then I climbed up on the tree and waited for hours. This is a regular path for the orangutans to use, so patience would surely pay off.”

Vijayan’s image stands out thanks to its surreal composition, astonishing perspective, and intense intimacy. And it is in good company: in addition to the grand prize, judges awarded prizes in nine different categories to an astounding group of images, some of which are displayed below.

If you love nature photography or you’re after some powerful nature photography inspiration, then I recommend you check out the winning photos below. And to see additional winning images or to learn more about the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year competition, head over to the Nature TTL website.

Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Fish Caught by Surprise – Animal Behavior Runner-Up
© Johan Wandrag / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Silhouetted Wood Mouse – Camera Traps Winner
© John Formstone / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Pine Marten in an Abandoned Cottage – Camera Traps Runner-Up
© James Roddie / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Tree of Life – Landscapes Winner
© Jay Roode / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Bouquet of Flowers – Landscapes Runner-Up
© Fanny Reed / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Dance of the Termites – Small World Winner
© James Gifford / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Nature’s Pitfall – Runner-Up
© Samantha Stephens / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
The Eye – The Night Sky Winner
© Ivan Pedretti / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Sleeping Dragon – The Night Sky Runner-Up
© Amos Ravid / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Manta Space Ship – Underwater Winner
© Grant Thomas / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Round – Underwater Runner-Up
© Zhi’yue Shi / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Winged Family Members – Urban Wildlife Winner
© Kallol Mukherjee / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
The Fox of Arabia – Urban Wildlife Runner-Up
© Mohammad Murad / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Sleepy Polar Bear – Wild Portraits Winner
© Dennis Stogsdill / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
The Cauldron of Creation – Wild Portraits Runner-Up
© James Gifford / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Spoilt for Choice – Young Overall Winner, Under 16 Winner
© Thomas Easterbrook / Nature TTL
Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners
Fight in the Mountains – Under 16 Runner-Up
© Raphael Schenker / Nature TTL

The post See the Stunning Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Winners appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year

08 May

The post Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

two autofocusing tilt-shift lenses may debut next year

Canon will release its first RF-mount tilt-shift lenses within the next year, claims Canon Rumors. What’s more, these will “be the first tilt-shift lenses with autofocus.”

At the time of writing, Canon offers a number of tilt-shift lenses for its DSLR lineup, including the 17mm f/4L, the 24mm f/3.5L II, and the 90mm f/2.8L Macro. But all of Canon’s TS lenses are manual focus only, and Canon has not yet produced a tilt-shift option for mirrorless shooters. 

If the rumors are right, Canon will release two wide-angle TS lenses:

  • A 14mm f/4L lens
  • A 24mm f/3.5L lens

The 14mm f/4L lens should be perfect for ultra-wide landscape photography; with a 14mm focal length, you gain the expansive field of view that’s especially popular among pro landscape photographers. It’s a perspective that cannot be matched by Canon’s current tilt-shift offerings (Canon’s widest TS lens is the aforementioned 17mm f/4L, followed by the 24mm f/3.5L II).

The 24mm f/3.5L, while perhaps less groundbreaking, offers a “standard” wide-angle perspective. It’ll undoubtedly excel when shooting landscapes, architecture, and even environmental portraits, either as a conventional lens or with the tilt-shift effects applied. 

But what’s the value of a tilt-shift lens?

Lenses featuring tilt-shift capabilities allow you to address certain problems posed by architecture and landscape photography (though the TS effect is also just cool!). Specifically, tilting the lens adjusts the plane of focus. You can use this to produce a “miniature” effect, where all the elements look small and human-made – or you can use it to keep certain elements in focus while blurring out other elements. 

So a landscape photographer might use the tilt effect to keep an entire scene in focus from front to back, even with a shallow depth of field. And a portrait photographer might use the tilt effect to creatively blur out all but the subject’s face.

You can also shift the lens; this essentially lets you choose a vantage point off to the side of your camera, but without having to move the camera body. It’s invaluable for architectural photography, where shifting the lens upward prevents unwanted distortion. You can also use the shift effect when capturing panoramas in landscape photography (it makes for beautiful, easily stitched results!).

Currently, Canon’s tilt-shift lenses are relatively expensive, and I doubt this RF-mount glass will break the mold, especially given the added autofocus capabilities. But we’ll ultimately have to wait and see; Canon Rumors suggests a “first half of 2022” announcement (one that should, incidentally, come “alongside a high-megapixel camera”).

So keep an eye out for more information. And if you’re thinking about purchasing a tilt-shift lens, you might want to hold off until these RF-mount options have been unveiled.

Now over to you:

What do you think of Canon’s potential tilt-shift lenses? Would you be interested? What draws you toward tilt-shift glass? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Slideshow: Winning photos from the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 contest

07 May

Winning photos from the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 contest

Editor’s note: There are images in this gallery that show animal carcasses being butchered (slide 8 and 9, in particular). Keep this in mind going forward if you would rather not see this content.


The winning photographs for the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 contest have been announced, with the overall prize being taken by Chinese photographer Li Huaifeng for their photograph Taste, which shows a young family enjoying a meal in their home as the sun cast rays through the smoke-filled room.

The Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year awards is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The finalists and winning images were whittled down from nearly 10,500 entries submitted from more than 70 countries around the world.

In lieu of an in-person event, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the winners were announced in a livestream, which can be watched in its entirety, below:

In addition to the usual categories, this year’s contest also featured a ‘very special category’ to honor Claire Aho, ‘Finland’s greatest woman photographer,’ according to contest organizers. The inaugural winner of the Claire Aho Award for Women Photographers was Marina Spironetti for ‘her magnificent portrait Female Butchers of Panzano – Martina, one of the women trained by Dario Cecchini, world-famous butcher of Panzano.’

As for the judges of this year’s contest, the event organizers say:

This year’s global judging panel, chaired by legendary food photographer, David Loftus, includes Fiona Shields, Head of Photography, Guardian News & Media, Susan Bright, Writer and Curator, Nik Sharma, Cookbook Author and Photographer, Chef Simone Zanoni, Restaurant Le George, Four Seasons Paris, Alison Jacques, Founder, Alison Jacques Gallery and Vitalie Taittinger, President, Champagne Taittinger.

An exhibition for the 2021 finalists will premiere at The Royal Photographic Society in Bristol from November 20 through December 12. Entry is free.

The following gallery will showcase images from twelve of the more than three dozen categories in this year’s contest. You can see all of the finalists and winning images on the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 contest website.

Taste, Overall Winner

Credit: Li Huaifeng via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Li Huaifeng, China

Image Description: The photograph was taken in Licheng, Shanxi, on a warm and sunny day, and shows a young family sharing in the joy of preparing food.

Drying Okra, Bring Home the Harvest

Credit: F. Dilek via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: F.Dilek Uyar, Turkey

Image Description: Drying okra flowers in Tokat, Turkey. Women pick okra flowers from the field and arrange them on a rope, then the dried flowers fall and the okra becomes ready to be used in winter

A Grape View, Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year – Overall

Credit: Oscar Olivera via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Oscar Oliveras, Spain

Image Description: The photograph captures the filling up of Semillon grapes ready to be pressed at the cellar. It was taken on the first day of the harvest of Sauvignon Blanc at Chateau des Ganfards, in Saussignac, France. The harvesting machine is unloading the fruit into the tractor, ready to take them into the winery for pressing. The tractor is being driven by M. Jean Claude Géraud, the owner of Château des Ganfards. Oscar took the photo whilst working there as a winemaker.

Breakfast at Weekly Market, Food at the Table

Credit: Thong Nguyen via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Thong Nguyen, Vietnam

Image Description: People enjoy their Pho (beef of chicken noodle) for breakfast at a local weekly market.

Making Rice Noodles, Fujifilm Award for Innovation

Credit: Abdul Momin via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Abdul Momin, Bangladesh

Image Description: A worker is inspecting rice noodles if they got dried rightly or not.

Old Friends, Politics of Food

Credit: Sandro Maddalena via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Sandro Maddalena, Italy

Image Description: Tskaltubo – Refugees from the Abkhazian – Georgian conflict gather in the basement of an abandoned sanatorium to share their food. Almost thirty years after the conflict, Abkhazian refugees are still living in abandoned buildings in conditions of poverty.

Female Butchers of Panzano-Martina, The Claire Aho Award for Women Photographers

Credit: Marina Spironetti via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Marina Spironetti, Italy

Image Description: Part of a project about the female butchers at Dario Cecchini’s, the world’s famous butcher from Panzano in Chianti. For some time now, Dario has been training a team of young ladies, who came to Tuscany from all over the world to learn the art of deboning. Traditionally, women butchers have always existed in Tuscany.

Head to Head, The Philip Harben Award for Food in Action

Credit: David Thompson via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: David Thompson, Taiwan

Image Description: Taken at Wanhua District night market, Taipei, Taiwan the photo depicts a butcher preparing cuts for the daily traditional market, here seen working on a pigs head cutting out the cheeks.

Family, WFP Storytellers Award

Credit: Ziney Abdulhakim Ibrahim via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Ziney Abdulhakim Ibrahim, Iraq

Image Description: The importance of all family members meeting around one dining table at least once a day, as this habit helps to strengthen family ties and gives family members a sense of emotional warmth and provides an opportunity for dialogue, exchange of ideas and problem-solving.

Orishas Tribal Markets, Young – 11 – 14

Credit: Indigo Larmour via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Indigo Larmour, India

Image Description: The tribal markets in Odisha are some of the most colourful in all of India. Vendors commonly sit on the ground and spread-out vegetables that they are selling.

Spill the Tea, Young – 15 – 17

Credit: Dewi Hollema via Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

Photographer: Dewi Hollema, Egypt

Image Description: Men gather round on the side of the street in old Alexandria to share the local gossip with a cup of black sweet tea and snacks. This is a common sight in Egypt where their national drink is enjoyed throughout the day: tea ???.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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‘A Year in Photos’ documentary covers winning imagery from Sony World Photography Awards

24 Apr

The annual Sony World Photography Awards is one of the world’s most reputable competitions for creatives. DPReview makes it a point to cover every announcement. Over the course of the past year, over 330,000 images were submitted to its myriad of contests covering contemporary events and issues. A documentary, produced by Chocolate Films, showcasing the winning images, as well as the stories behind them, was recently released.

Hosted by British stand-up comedian and art historian Jacky Klein, who curiously stated that submissions came in from over 200 countries (she possibly meant territories as well), A Year in Photos from Sony World Photography Awards 2021 features imagery, behind-the-scenes takes, and interviews from some of the award-winning photographers. Some of the jurors also share what they love about a particular photographer’s style the most.

Winning imagery addresses how some people believe the novel Coronavirus was a conspiracy.

Naturally, a good deal of imagery discussed in the hour-long film cover the impact of climate change and the pandemic. As winning photographer Coenraad Heinz Torlage stated early on in the film, ‘I think photography is a powerful medium to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.’ A Year in Photos from Sony World Photography Awards 2021 can be viewed in its entirety above or here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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See the Stunning Bird Photographer of the Year 2021 Finalists

09 Apr

The post See the Stunning Bird Photographer of the Year 2021 Finalists appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Bird Photographer of the Year finalist

Bird Photographer of the Year, “the world’s most prestigious bird photography competition,” has announced a handful of 2021 finalists. 

BPOTY 2021 features stunning bird photography from entrants around the world; this year, the contest received 22,000 submissions spanning 73 countries, all competing for a £5,000 grand prize plus category prizes from sponsors such as Swarovski Optik and F-Stop Gear.

Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Mario Suarez Porra / Bird Photographer of the Year

While the contest winners won’t be revealed until September 1st, the released images represent some of Bird Photographer of the Year’s best submissions, though not all finalists have been announced. According to BPOTY, these images are simply a “sneak preview of what is still to come.”

Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Mark Williams / Bird Photographer of the Year

The BPOTY Director, Will Nicholls, notes, “The standard of photography was incredibly high, and the diversity in different species was great to see. Now the judges are going to have a tough time deciding the winner of the competition!”

For those interested in entering: While the 2021 contest is closed to submissions, the 2022 competition will open before the year is out. 

Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Gábor Li / Bird Photographer of the Year

To learn more about the current and future competition and to view past winners, head over to the Bird Photographer of the Year website.

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at a collection of stunning BPOTY 2021 finalists. And when you’re done, leave a comment letting us know which image was your favorite!

Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Thomas Vijayan / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Taku Ono / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Anupam Chakraborty / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Daphne Wong / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Tzahi Finkelstein / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Aguti Antonio / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© David White / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© James Wilcox / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Zdenek Jakl / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Andy Parkinson / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Amanda Cook / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Brad James / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Raymond Hennessy / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Irma Szabo / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Fahad Alenezi / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Irene Waring / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Scott Suriano / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Diana Schmies / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Mark Sisson / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Tom Schandy / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Gail Bisson / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Daniela Anger / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Terry Whittaker / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Øyvind Pedersen / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Li Ying Lou / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Daniel Zhang / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Brian Matthews / Bird Photographer of the Year
Bird Photographer of the Year finalist
© Eirik Grønningsæter / Bird Photographer of the Year

The post See the Stunning Bird Photographer of the Year 2021 Finalists appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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See the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award Winners

13 Feb

The post See the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award Winners appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

The Natural History Museum in London just announced their Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award winner plus four highly commended images, and they are stunning.

Over 55,000 votes were cast. Here is the overall favorite photo, “Bushfire,” by Robert Irwin:

Robert Irwin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Robert Irwin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

As explained by the Natural History Museum:

“After spotting smoke billowing out of the horizon, Robert knew he had a prime opportunity. Launching his drone, he sent it straight over to the location of the fire. With only a few minutes of battery left, he knew he had to act fast. Taking it right into the thick of the smoke, he managed to frame a clear 50:50 shot, with a pristine natural conservation area on one side juxtaposed with the blackened, devastated remains on the other. Taken near the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland, the area is of high conservation value and is home to over 30 different ecosystems with many endangered species.”

Robert goes on to comment:

“I am incredibly excited to win the Wildlife Photographer of The Year People’s Choice Award. For me, nature photography is about telling a story to make a difference for the environment and our planet. I feel it is particularly special for this image to be awarded, not only as a profound personal honor but also as a reminder of our effect on the natural world and our responsibility to care for it.”

The four “Highly Commended” images are equally inspiring.

First, Ami Vitale’s heartbreaking photo, entitled “The Last Goodbye:”

Ami Vitale / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Ami Vitale / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

“Joseph Wachira comforts Sudan, the last male northern white rhino left on the planet, moments before he passed away at Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. Suffering from age-related complications, he died surrounded by the people who had cared for him. With every extinction we suffer more than loss of ecosystem health. When we see ourselves as part of nature, we understand that saving nature is really about saving ourselves. Ami’s hope is that Sudan’s legacy will serve as a catalyst to awaken humanity to this reality.”

Then Andy Parkinson’s gorgeous image, called “Hare Ball:”

Andy Parkinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Andy Parkinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

“Andy spent five weeks watching the mountain hares near Tomatin in the Scottish Highlands, waiting patiently for any movement – a stretch, a yawn or a shake – which typically came every 30 to 45 minutes. As he watched, frozen and prostrate, with 50 to 60 mph winds surging relentlessly around him, the cold started to distract and his fingers clasping the icy metal camera body and lens began to burn. Then relief came as this little female moved her body into a perfect spherical shape. A movement of sheer joy. Andy craves such moments: the isolation, the physical challenge and, most importantly, time with nature.”

Next, Guillermo Esteves’s “Close Encounter:”

Guillermo Esteves / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Guillermo Esteves / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

“The worried-looking expression on this dog’s face speaks volumes and is a reminder that moose are large, unpredictable wild animals. Guillermo was photographing moose on the side of the road at Antelope Flats in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, when this large bull took an interest in the furry visitor – the driver of the car unable to move it before the moose made its approach. Luckily, the moose lost interest and went on its way after a few moments.”

And finally, Neil Parkinson’s “Drey Dreaming:”

Neil Parkinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Neil Parkinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

“As the weather grew colder, two Eurasian red squirrels (only one is clearly visible) found comfort and warmth in a box Neil had put up in one of the pine trees near his home in the Scottish Highlands. In the colder months, it’s common for the squirrels, even when unrelated, to share dreys. After discovering the box full of nesting material and in frequent use, Neil installed a camera and LED light with a diffuser on a dimmer. The box had a lot of natural light so he slowly increased the light to highlight his subjects – and using the WiFi app on his phone he was able take stills from the ground.”

The Natural History Museum in London is currently closed. But when it reopens, you’ll be able to view the physical images – along with other Wildlife Photographer of the Year photos – in person.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.

The post See the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award Winners appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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TTartisan celebrates Year of the Ox with a bright-red version of its M-mount 50mm F0.95 prime lens

18 Jan

TTartisan has announced a new special-edition version of its fully-manual 50mm F0.95 Leica M mount lens to celebrate the Year of the Ox.

The lens is optically identical to its more monochrome siblings, featuring eleven elements in eight groups including one double-sided aspherical element, one ultra-low dispersion element and five high-refractive elements. It features an aperture range of F0.95 to F16, offers a minimum focusing distance of 70cm (28“), uses a 14-blade aperture diaphragm and has a 67mm front filter thread.

What sets this lens apart is its bright red paint job and a custom-engraved lens cap with a stylized silhouette of an ox. TTartisan says it’s only produced 500 units, which will be sold by retailers around the world.

The lens measures 89mm (3.5″) long, 72mm diameter and weighs 687g (1.5lbs). While it’s available at various retailers, Photo Rumors has it listed for $ 909 (international shipping included) — a roughly $ 132 premium over the black and silver version of the lens.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Happy New Year from the dPS Team (Plus Our Ultimate Guides)

01 Jan

The post Happy New Year from the dPS Team (Plus Our Ultimate Guides) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Happy New Year 2021 from the dPS team

On behalf of the entire dPS team, I’d like to extend the warmest of New Year’s greetings!

2020 hasn’t been easy, but it’s over – which means it’s time to think about 2021.

Here at dPS, we’ll continue to bring you photography tips, tutorials, and techniques of all kinds, so make sure you check back regularly for our best new content.

And for those of you looking to get a head start on your photography education, I’ve shared our dPS Ultimate Guides below – which offer a quick way to master new photography topics. You can even download the guides as PDFs; that way, you can take them with you wherever you go.

Simply click on the links below to view the Ultimate Guides:

  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Photography for Beginners
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Landscape Photography
  • The Ultimate Guide to Learning How to Use Your First DSLR
  • The Ultimate Guide to Street Photography
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Getting Started in Lightroom for Beginners
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Taking Portraits and Photographing People
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Photography Terms
  • The Ultimate Guide to Nature and Outdoor Photography
  • The Ultimate Guide to Night Photography
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Food Photography
  • The dPS Ultimate Guide to Fine Art Photography

And if you feel these ultimate guides are valuable, make sure you share them with your friends!

The post Happy New Year from the dPS Team (Plus Our Ultimate Guides) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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