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Posts Tagged ‘2019’

Nikon’s 2019 Mirrorless Shipments Lag Behind Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus

22 Sep

The post Nikon’s 2019 Mirrorless Shipments Lag Behind Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Nikon's 2019 mirrorless shipments

Last month, we reported on Nikon’s decreased 2019 market share (Nikon now sits behind both Canon and Sony, but ahead of Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Olympus).

And we can now follow that up with additional data that highlights Nikon’s struggles, recently published in Nikkei article.

In 2019, over eight million interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) were shipped, and here’s the breakdown by camera manufacturer:

  1. Canon: 4.16 million ILCs
  2. Nikon: 1.73 million ILCs
  3. Sony: 1.66 million ILCs
  4. Fujifilm: 500,000 ILCs
  5. Olympus: 330,000 ILCs
  6. Other Manufacturers: 280,000 ILCs

These numbers are pretty much what you’d expect, with Canon leading the digital camera manufacturers by a large margin and Nikon in second place, closely followed by Sony. Fujifilm sits at the back half of the pack, then Olympus, while Panasonic and Ricoh/Pentax fail to make the top five.

Here, we can see that Nikon still remains competitive, even as Sony threatens its position. But bear in mind that these numbers include all interchangeable lens cameras, not just mirrorless models.

And when you look at mirrorless cameras (MILCs) alone, Nikon’s position becomes much more tenuous:

  1. Sony: 1.65 million MILCs
  2. Canon: 940,000 MILCs
  3. Fujifilm: 500,000 MILCs
  4. Olympus: 330,000 MILCs
  5. Nikon: 280,000 MILCs
  6. Others: 240,000 MILCs

As the data indicate, Sony is firmly on top, though I expect its lead will narrow over the next year or so. Canon’s dedication to its full-frame mirrorless system, as displayed in the EOS R5/EOS R6 release, will boost Canon’s numbers to at least become competitive with Sony.

But for Nikon, the future isn’t looking so rosy. It’s now been two years since the release of Nikon’s initial mirrorless offerings, the Z6 and the Z7. And while we’ve gotten two additional mirrorless cameras to show for it (the full-frame Z5 and the APS-C Z50), Nikon hasn’t even outperformed Olympus, a company in the process of selling its unprofitable camera division.

It’s clear that Nikon has big plans for the future (rumors of a Nikon Z8 abound), and Nikon recently announced several impressive Z-mount lenses. But right now, the company seems to be held up primarily by DSLR sales, which just doesn’t seem sustainable.

Let’s just hope that Nikon manages to turn things around in the coming years. For me (and, I imagine, for most photographers), more camera choice is pretty much always better.

Now over to you:

What do you think about Nikon’s recent camera sales? Do you think the company will make a comeback? What do you think Nikon needs to do to be successful? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Nikon’s 2019 Mirrorless Shipments Lag Behind Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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April data shows mirrorless camera sales in Japan were down 75% compared to 2019

19 May
An illustration from BCN Retail showing the unit sales%age, by manufacturer, of Canon (Blue), Olympus (Green) and Sony (Red) from February 3 (far-left) to April 20 (far-right).

BCN Retail, an analyst firm that collects daily sales data of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras from online and in-person points of sales in Japan, has released its figures for April 2020 that show just how much the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to decimate the camera market.

Last month we shared BCN Retail’s March report, which showed a 50% drop year-over-year Unfortunately, it seems that was just the beginning. April 2020 numbers from BCN Retail show MILC sales are just 26.1% what they were April 2019 and down nearly half (49.5%) from the already abysmal March sales numbers.

While the decrease in sales is alarming, it’s not unexpected. Canon reported in its recent financial statements that it expected things to get worse before they get better and Nikon is expecting a dramatic decrease in sales as well due to the ongoing pandemic.

Unlike last month’s report, which covered March, BCN Retail doesn’t note whether or not Fujifilm is still on the rise (it was the sole company to increase its market share year-over-year), but BCN Retail’s April stats do show Canon, Olympus and Sony are still battling it out for market share in the Japanese market with only eight or so percentage points separating the three as of April 20, 2020.

A chart showing the top-selling camera models in April, based on BCN Retail’s data.

The market share of individual camera models also remains largely unchanged with more affordable crop-sensor cameras taking the top ten spots. As has more or less been the case for the past few months, the Canon EOS M50 takes the top spot, with the Sony a6400, Olympus Pen E-PL9, Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III and Canon EOS M100 rounding out the top five. One newcomer is the Fujifilm X-T100, which managed to sneak in at the ten spot.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Research firm claims Sony had nearly half of the image sensor market share in 2019

18 Feb

Sony held nearly half of the image sensor market share in 2019, according to Japanese research firm Techno Systems Research (TSR). The detail was spied by PulseNews, which points out that Sony’s 49.1% market share greatly eclipsed the second biggest market share, 17.9%, held by Samsung. The South Korean company recently launched its 108MP Nonacell image sensor with its new Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone.

The news isn’t surprising. In December, Sony revealed that its semiconductor business was working 24/7 through the holidays in an effort to keep up with the demand for its image sensors. The company is building a new facility in Nagasaki in order to boost production capacity due to this demand; it is expected to go online in April 2021.

Samsung remains the biggest competitor to Sony’s image sensor business. In 2018, the South Korean company announced that it would expand the production capacity of its own image sensor business and that its ultimate goal was to overtake Sony. Based on the TSR data, the company still has a long way to go toward reaching that milestone.

Still, Sony’s image sensor business may have a rocky future. Earlier this month, Sony expressed concerns about the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak in China where the company has four large factories. According to Sony CFO Hiroko Totoki via the Nikkei Asian Review, the impact of the coronavirus on the company’s supply chains could potentially cause enormous disruption to Sony’s image sensor business.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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CIPA’s 2019 numbers detail worst year of the decade for the camera industry

04 Feb

Camera & Imaging Products Association, more commonly referred to as CIPA, has released its December report, which not only provides the details for the final month of the year, but also gives us a complete picture of the camera industry in 2019.

For anyone paying attention, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the news isn’t great. In fact, it’s downright terrible if we’re only looking at the numbers and not contextualizing the industry as a whole as it continues the transition from DSLR to mirrorless cameras. But, even then, it’s not a pretty sight.

According to CIPA’s data, digital still camera sales decreased by approximately 14 percent year-over-year. DSLR unit sales dropped almost 34 percent, while their value dropped roughly 28 percent. Meanwhile, mirrorless unit sales dropped by 10 percent, but the value of mirrorless camera sales increased by almost 6 percent, suggesting more advanced mirrorless cameras are increasing in popularity. Fixed-lens cameras saw a unit sale decline of 23 percent, while value dropped 12 percent.

As a whole, these numbers define what’s easily been the most dramatic year-over-year decline in the past decade; and most camera company’s don’t seem too confident the market will improve much next year if we’re to consider their financial projections as any indication.

However, as noted by CIPA’s mirrorless numbers, it does appear as though mid-to-high-end mirrorless cameras are providing more revenue year-over-year, and with both Canon and Nikon expected to ship more advanced mirrorless models in the coming year, that number will likely only go up, even as DSLR and fixed-lens sales continue to decline.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon’s annual results show a rough 2019, but tease ‘advanced’ mirrorless camera, lenses for 2020

31 Jan

Canon has published its 2019 fiscal year financial results and presentation. In the documents, Canon highlights how the company has done, shedding light on what we can expect in the coming year, both fiscally and on the development front.

On the financial front, Canon’s Imaging System division recorded net sales of 807.4B yen and a net operating profit of 48.2B yen a decrease of 16.8 percent and 62 percent, respectively, year-over-year. Canon anticipated a dramatic drop-off in both net sales and operating profit, due to ‘market contraction and the intensely competitive environment,’ but the final results are still slightly worse than expected at 14.6B yen and 2.6B yen lower than Canon’s projections as of last quarter.

Echoing CIPA data, Canon notes the interchangeable-lens camera market shrank 15 percent, with entry-level models being the most impacted due to the increasing capabilities and popularity of smartphones. Canon also recognized its own shortcomings, with a note in the presentation saying:

‘Although we have launched two full-frame mirrorless cameras as well as ten dedicated lenses, our lineup is still insufficient.’

Looking forward, Canon remains realistic, saying it ‘expect[s] camera revenue to decline due to the impact of continuing market contraction,’ but feels confident it will ‘put a stop to the decline in profitability, by further enhancing our mirrorless lineup with an advanced feature full-frame model and lenses, and by accelerating review of our business structure.’

Specifically, Canon makes it very clear that it’s working on more advanced mirrorless cameras, saying:

‘In order to recover from our late entry into the mirrorless camera market, we have plans to launch a model that incorporates a newly developed image sensor and image-processing engine that offer even more advanced features. We will work to raise our presence in the mirrorless camera category, leveraging large trade exhibitions around the world. Even amid increasing competition, we will expand sales of higher-end models driven by new products and aim for top market share even in the mirrorless camera market.’

Canon is projecting its net sales and operating profit for the 2020 fiscal year will be 787B yen and 53.7B yen, respectively, which would equate to a 2.5 percent decrease in net sales and an 11.5 percent increase in operating profit, year-over-year. In addition to offering more ‘advance feature full-frame’ mirrorless cameras and RF lenses, Canon’s projected increase in profitability will also likely be helped with fabrication costs now that it appears to have its mirrorless manufacturing facilities up and running.

Canon’s sentiments expressed in the presentation further lend credibility to the ongoing rumors about its forthcoming mirrorless cameras, but certainly fall short of telling the whole story, which we will only find out with time.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photo Gallery: Winners of the 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards

25 Jan

Winners of 2019’s Travel Photographer of the Year Awards

During an awards evening at the Fujifilm House of Photography in Covent Garden, London, the winners and runners up were announced for Travel Photography of the Year’s (TPOTY) 2019 competition. Over 20,000 images were submitted from 144 countries. Amateur photographer Katy Gomez Catalina is the first-ever Spanish overall winner and the second-ever female overall winner in the 17-year history of the awards.

TPOTY co-founder Chris Coe said: “Judging these awards, whilst arduous with so many excellent images to choose from, is always a joy and it is both exhilarating and stimulating to see the wealth of creativity evident from around the world. This year’s winning entries are outstanding in all categories, elegant and sometimes thought-provoking and gritty. The portfolio from the overall winner Katy Gomez Catalina is beautiful, sensitive and diverse. Only the second-ever female overall winner of Travel Photographer of the Year, Katy is an amateur photographer and a very, very worthy winner.”

The TPOTY awards were judged by an international panel of photography experts including Panamanian double Pulitzer Prize-winner Essdras M Suarez and Lawrence Jackson, a former official White House photographer under the Obama Administration. Winning images can be viewed at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, London from April 7th to May 12th. The exhibition will also appear at the South Transept of Chester Cathedral, in June, and at the Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah from September 17th – 20th.

It was incredibly difficult to select 15 images to display on this slideshow. All of the portfolios and individual winning images are nothing short of breathtaking, in this author’s opinion. I highly encourage you to visit TPOTY’s Winner’s Gallery and view them all.

Overall winner, Travel Photographer of the Year 2019: Katy Gomez Catalina, Spain

Credit: Katy Gomez/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Lake Mutanda, Uganda

Winner’s biography: Born in Ubeda, Spain Katy is an amateur photographer with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Her job is related to official control in public health, with focus on the interaction between human and animal health. A passionate travel photographer, Katy has visited more than 60 countries, and her images have been exhibited throughout Spain and also in France, UK, Germany, India, Iran and Colombia.

“I look at the world, not only to testify what I see, but mainly, to express a personal perspective, a point of view, an interpretation and not just a representation. My subjects are very varied being travel photography a common link in all my work. The camera has become an inseparable companion, I cannot see the world if it is not through the eyes of a camera, with these images I compose my travel story as a writer with his diary. I do not take pictures for others, but for me, for the pure pleasure of photographing. But, if I can also evoke an emotion in those who view them, my satisfaction is multiplied.”

About this photo: In 1991 the Batwa pygmies were expelled from their ancestral forest territories and now live under the yoke of misery, lost in an environment they do not understand and find it difficult to adapt to.

Gear and specs: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24- 105mm lens, f5.6, 1/160s, ISO 200

Winner, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2019 aged 15-18: Ankit Kumar – India, age 16

Credit: Ankit Kumar/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Danum Valley in Borneo, Malaysia

Winner’s biography: Ankit Kumar began his journey in photography when he got his DSLR in 2015. Over the last four years, he has had the opportunity to travel to interesting locations in Africa and Europe, where he has taken wildlife and landscape pictures. Winning the Young Travel Photographer of the Year award in 2016 was a turning point in his passion for photography. It ignited in him a thirst for recording wildlife and the changing environment, with an eye towards conservation especially of hunted species and their disappearing world.

Since then, Ankit has won the Asian Geographic Youth Photographer of the Year 2017, was twice Highly Honoured by Nature’s Best Photography Asia in 2017, and Highly Honoured by Nature’s Best Photography in 2018. He is inspired by photographers such as Paul Nicken, Brain Skerry, Beverly Joubert and Keith Ladzinski, who care about the protection of animals and habitats. He also puts his photographic skills to use by supporting charities through an initiative that he, along with his sister have founded, called www.wayto.help.

About this photo: The clouds wrap around the trees in Danum Valley, Borneo.

Gear and specs: Sony A9, 100-400mm lens, f/8, 1/640s, ISO 2000

Winner, Art of Travel portfolio: Paul Sansome, UK

Credit: Paul Sansome/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Reykjavik, Iceland

Winner’s biography: Paul Sansome is a professional fine art and travel photographer based in the south of England and in Vietnam. His artistic photography is produced to the highest standards and his work, which is released in strictly limited editions, is intended to provide that special focal point. Paul is also an experienced photography tutor and has been leading photography holidays for over 15 years. Destinations have included Italy, Morocco, Kerala and Rajasthan in India, Iceland, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Paul started out as a landscape photographer but says “One of the compelling facets of photography is the diverse range of genres that we are able to give our attention to. I have always enjoyed the challenge of wildlife photography, particularly attempting to photograph birds in flight. More recently, much of my photography has been travel based and here the challenge is to portray the emotion of the subject or to tell a story. One common thread through these genres is that the timing of the shot is critical – a fleeting moment of light in the landscape, a moment of animal behaviour or the flash of emotion on a person’s face.”

About this photo: The mesmerizing modern architecture of the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland. This building provides endless photography opportunities both from inside and outside.

Gear and specs: Canon EOS 6D MkII, 15mm F2.8 fisheye lens, f10, 1/60s, ISO 800

Highly Commended, Art of Travel: Ted Lau, Hong Kong

Credit: Ted Lau/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Pyongyang, North Korea

About this photo: Since the Mass Games resumed in 2018, all the school kids get involved. After months of training, most all of them are near- professional gymnasts.

Gear and specs: Nikon D850, 70-200mm lens, f8, 1/320s, ISO 2000

Special Mention, Art of Travel: Trâ?n Tuâ?n Vi??t, Vietnam

Credit: Trâ?n Tuâ?n Vi??t/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Ung Hoa, Hanoi, Vietnam

About this photo: A female worker collects bundles of incense in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Gear and specs: Canon 1Dx, 24-70mm lens, f/2.8, 1/1250s, ISO 200

Winner, Endangered Planet portfolio: Alain Schroeder, Belgium

Credit: Alain Schroeder/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Sibolangit, SOCP Quarantine Centre – Northern Sumatra, Indonesia

Winner’s biography: Alain Schroeder is a Belgian photojournalist. In 1989 he founded Reporters, a well-known photo agency in Belgium. He has illustrated over thirty books dedicated to China, Iran, the Renaissance, Ancient Rome, the Gardens of Europe, Thailand, Tuscany, Crete, Vietnam, Budapest, Venice, the Abbeys of Europe, Natural Sites of Europe, etc. Belgian book titles include Le Carnaval de Binche vu par 30 Photographes, and Processions de Foi, Les Marches de l’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse.

Publications include National Geographic, Geo, and Paris Match. He has won many international awards including a Nikon Japan award for the Who Will Save the Rohingya series, Travel Photographer of the Year 2017 and a World Press Photo 1st Prize Sport Stories, and participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide.

About this photo: Fahzren the orangutan is undergoing a routine medical check. Fahzren is 30 years old and comes from a zoo in Malaysia where he has lived since he was a baby. His medical condition is fine but he does not have the skills to survive in the wild.

Gear and specs: Fujifilm X-Pro2, 14mm lens, f3.2, 1/140s, ISO 1600

Winner, People & Cultures portfolio: Trevor Cole, Ireland

Credit: Trevor Cole/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Mundari, Terekeka county, South Sudan

Winner’s biography: Trevor Cole was born in the city of Derry, Ireland, but has lived most of his life outside the bounds of Ireland; in England, Singapore, Togo, Italy, Ethiopia, and Brazil. He returned to Ireland (Donegal) in 2012.

“My photography, together with travel, have become two of my life’s passions. My photography focuses predominantly on culture and landscapes; images which reflect a spatial and temporal journey through life and which try to convey a need to live in a more sustainable world. I seek the moment and the light in whatever context I find myself and endeavour to use my photographic acumen to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Capturing inimitable moments today to reflect upon tomorrow. My own ‘take’ as a geographer photographer!”

About this photo: Mundari Camaraderie. The bond between the tribesmen and their animals is reflected in the tribal bond itself. The smoke, fires and dust create a scene which is almost biblical. The symbiotic bond between man and the cattle is a scene to behold.

Gear and specs: Nikon D850, 70-200mm lens, f3.5, 1/125s, ISO 3200

Winner, Best Single Image in a People & Cultures portfolio: Debdatta Chakraborty, India

Credit: Debdatta Chakraborty/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Kolkata, India

About this photo: On the day of Chhath festival in India, Hindus, mainly the women, perform Dondi, a kind of penance to appease the divinity and thereby praying for a happier future.

Gear and specs: Nikon D750, 24-120mm lens, f5.6, 1/500s, ISO 800

Winner, Thrills & Adventures portfolio: Brian Clopp, USA

Credit: Brian Clopp/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Dugway Proving Ground – Utah, USA

Winner’s biography: Brian Clopp spent his birthday week in 2019 living amongst the Onaqui wild horses in harsh desert conditions, capturing these stunning images. On recent travels, his hard drive containing a year’s worth of photography was stolen when thieves hacked his rental car, but becoming a TPOTY finalist encouraged him to continue his art.

His portraiture photography subjects include President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, Jessie Jackson, James Earl Jones, and more. His work has often been featured as CNN’s Travel Photo of the Day. He is a ‘purist’ photographer who doesn’t edit his shots, striving to capture every setting perfectly.

Brian co-produced the Golden Globe nominated film ‘First They Killed My Father’ directed by Angelina Jolie. He recently completed his directorial debut on a short film about Penelope Stout, the first surviving settler of New Jersey, and the Lenape natives who save her life during a time of war. An Eagle Scout, Brian’s project instilled a collection drive in his small farm town of Cranbury NJ that continues to this day, collecting tens of thousands of winter clothes, hygiene items, and art supplies for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Now, Brian is co-launching The Giving Herb, a wellness CBD company that gives half to charity.

About this photo: To get this shot, I lived amongst the wild Onaqui herd for a week, camping out in a dusty desert environment. Here wild stallions battle dramatically for hierarchy, sending young foals scattering from the melee.

Gear and specs: Nikon D850, 600mm lens, f8, 1/3200s, ISO 640

Winner, Best Single Image in a Thrills & Adventures portfolio: Quanhou Lu, China

Credit: Quanhou Lu/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Xingjiang, China

About this photo: Transferring animals between pastures can take them on an adventurous route.

Gear and specs: Canon EOS-1DX Mk IIO, 24-70mm lens, f4, 1/320s, ISO 100

Winner, Dusk to Dawn: Sumit Dua, USA/UK

Credit: Sumit Dua/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Havana, Cuba

Winner’s biography: Sumit Dua is an amateur photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. By profession he is a doctor, and started photography during medical school. Initially his photography was done on a primitive digital camera borrowed from his uncle. “Photography helps me observe the world and find moments that I would otherwise miss. My passion for photography started with an impromptu trip through many regions of India and it still remains my favorite destination to photograph with its vibrant colors and old textures. My other hobby includes magic.”

About this photo: Walking around the streets of Havana after sunset I came across this ordinary scene where two neighbours were chatting. The. Lighting and colours reminded me of the ‘old master’ paintings.

Gear and specs: Canon EOS 5D Mk III, 70-200mm lens, f2.8, 1/100s, ISO 3200

Commended, Dusk to Dawn: Lance McMillan, Canada

Credit: Lance McMillan/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Blue Pond, Biei – Hokkaido, Japan

About this photo: The larch and silver birch trees within the pond were once living, but are no more – the pond itself was artificially formed years ago as a result of the creation of a dam to protect from the effects of the nearby volcano at Mt. Tokachi. The site is illuminated at night, and the quietness on this chilly evening allowed me time to take in, and photograph, the beauty of the pond.

Gear and specs: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 35mm lens, 2.8, 2.5 sec, ISO 800

Winner, Oceans, Seas, Rivers, Lakes: Ignacio Palacios, Australia/Spain

Credit: Ignacio Palacios/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Parque Nacional dos Lenc?o?is Maranhenses, Brazil

Winner’s biography: When it comes to photography and travel, few can rival Ignacio Palacios’ experience, skill, and passion. A third-generation photographer, Ignacio has been honoured with over 100 prestigious photography prizes and awards from around the world and has travelled to over 90 countries in his 22 years career. Born in Spain, Ignacio now calls Sydney Australia home – through his unmistakable Spanish spirit continues to influence his work and define his signature style.

Combining his love of travel and photography has proved a powerful combination, and today Ignacio leads photography tours to incredible destinations around the world. As an AIPP double Master of Photography, Ignacio shares his insight, experience, and technique with his clients to help them find their own success and joy on their photographic journey. Ignacio’s distinct, award-winning style can be defined by his mastery of composition, colour, and light. With his minimalistic style and unique ability to connect with his audience through storytelling. Through his images, Ignacio invites his audience to experience the subject not as how he captured, but how he experienced it, evoking an emotional connection between the viewer, subject and artist. Photography and travel will always be Ignacio’s passion, and he is dedicated to helping others ignite their passion too.

About this photo: A lonely tree survives the elements among the sand dunes. This image was shot from a light plane with the doors off.

Gear and specs: D850, Nikon 70-200mm, f8, 1/1250, 400

People’s Choice award and Winner, Street Life: Robin Young, Malaysia

Credit: Robin Young/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Old Havana, Cuba

Winner’s biography: Robin Yong is a multi-award-winning travel and commercial photographer, trained by the famous American photographer Jim Zuckerman, the world famous Venetian Masks Florine Houee and Danielle Massart, and legendary Hollywood photographer Greg Gorman. He enjoys traveling to exotic destinations to befriend and photograph the locals. He is best known for his work on the Omo Valley tribes in Ethiopia, the Venetian Masked models in Venice, the Bokator boxers of Cambodia and the Maikos of Kyoto. He calls these works his Travel Portraits, his Art of Travel Medicine. For most of his works, he does not use flash, reflectors or artificial lighting, depending solely on natural lighting alone. The photos are often dramatic, colourful and extremely beautiful. For Robin, every photo must look like a movie poster.

Over the past few years, Robin has quickly become one of the most popular and influential photographers at the Venice Carnevale and within the past few months, Flowers of Ethiopia alone has gathered numerous awards, finalist status and honourable mentions in many International photography competitions, including Alfred Fried Awards, Antu Sente Cup, Australia’s Top Emerging Photographers, International Photography Awards, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), Istanbul Photo Awards, Moscow International Foto Awards, One Eyeland Awards. The Prix de la Photographie Paris, Sienna International Photo Awards, Tokyo International Foto Awards, Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) Awards, Xposure Awards etc. In just slightly more than two years, Robin’s travel photos have gathered more than 700 awards worldwide.

About this photo: A street scene in Old Havana, Cuba…the contrast of the young and the old, the rebellious and the wise…

Gear and specs: Canon 5DM3, 50mm lens, f/3.2, 1/80s, ISO 100

Winner, TAPSA: Kiran Ridley, UK

Credit: Kiran Ridley/www.tpoty.com

Photo location: Admiralty, Hong Kong

Winner’s biography: Kiran Ridley is an award-winning photographer based in Paris and working throughout Europe and Asia. Most of his work concentrates on news, social political topics and the human experience. Fascinated by people and naturally curious by the human condition, Kiran, is passionate in documenting ongoing situations throughout the world, capturing the human dynamic, seizing the unique moments that humans create, whether in our hopes and dreams, fears or our anger.

After picking up a camera for the first time at the age of 16, he was enthralled at the ability to capture and bear witness to history in the making and to tell the stories of the people within it. There started a journey of learning and discovery, embracing cultures and environments wherever he is, allowing him to blend in and become accepted, capturing distinct and intimate moments of those around him.

Now, his work is published throughout the world including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Times and The Financial Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Le Figaro, Le Point, Die Welt, El Pais, Forbes, Observer and Guardian newspapers, Time, Spiegel, Economist Magazine, GQ and Conde Nast amongst many others.

About this photo: A pro-democracy protestor throws a molotov cocktail towards police, setting fire to other protestors during anti-government demonstrations.

Gear and specs: Canon EOS1DX Mark II, 24-70mm lens, f7.1, 1/640s, ISO 1600

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Best Photos of 2019 by JMG-Galleries Blog Readers

16 Jan
Hoary marmot – Glacier National Park, Montana

A hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) in wildflowers at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park in Montana.

I’m excited to share the results of my 13th annual Best of Photos project.  112 photographers from around the world (amateur and professional alike) have shared their best photos of 2019.  I’m always amazed at the quality of work shared and I hope it’s a source inspiration to you for the coming year.

For those who are new to my blog project, photographers taking part span the gamut of photo enthusiasts to professionals. The great thing about photography is that no matter what your skill level we all can relate equally in our love for the art of photography and visually exploring. With that in mind I encourage you to reach out to photographers whose work you enjoy to keep sharing & growing as an artist.  I am incredibly thankful that this tradition has been embraced and enjoy seeing how familiar faces have evolved their work & grown over the years.  I hope reviewing your best photos of the year and comparing them to years pasts keeps you inspired and aware of your progress as a photographer.

If you’d like to take part next year and be informed when submissions open for the “Best Photos of 2020” blog project add your name to my mail list. You won’t be spammed. I send out newsletters quite infrequently.

Thank to everyone who took part!  I invite you to visit each link below as I have and introduce yourself to many of the participating photographers.

Best Photos of 2019

  1. Best Photos of 2019 – JMG-Galleries – Jim M. Goldstein
  2. My Top 10 Photographs Of 2019 – Michael Russell
  3. My Ten Favorite Photos of 2019 – ADVENTR – Randy Langstraat
  4. Favorite Photos of 2019 – T.M. Schultze
  5. My Favorite Photos from 2019 – Alexander S. Kunz
  6. Best of 2019 – Dave Wilson
  7. Harold Davis—Best of 2019 – Harold Davis
  8. 2019: A Photographic Retrospective – Johann A. Briffa
  9. Top 10 Favorites of 2019 – Stefan Baeurle
  10. My Best Natural History Photos of 2019 – Phil Colla
  11. My Best Photos From 2019 – Daniel Brinneman
  12. Best Photos of 2019 – Peter Tellone
  13. Rétrospective des meilleures photos de l’année 2019 – Francis Gagnon
  14. Best of 2019 by Rachel Cohen – Rachel Cohen
  15. Photo Highlights 2019 – Alan Majchrowicz
  16. My Top 10 Nature Photos of 2019 – Greg Vaughn
  17. 2019 – The Year in Pictures | Russ Bishop Photography – Russ Bishop
  18. 2019 Favorites – A Split Year – Joseph Smith
  19. My 12 Favorite Photos of 2019 – Chuq Von Rospach
  20. Wild Drake Photography – Drake Dyck
  21. Matt Payne Photography – Matt Payne
  22. My Favorite Images Of 2019 – Werner Priller
  23. Favourites from 2019 – Bryn Tassell
  24. My Favorite Photos of 2019 – A Year-End Retrospective – Gary Crabbe / Enlightened Images
  25. 2019 Favorite Photographs – Pat Ulrich
  26. Without reflection we go blindly on our way – Bjorn Kleemann
  27. 2019 – Ten moments – Ramen Saha
  28. top photos :: 2019 – Denise Goldberg
  29. Changing Perspectives – Best of 2019 – Jenni Brehm
  30. Island in the Net – Khürt Williams
  31. Best Photos of 2019: My Favorites of the Year – Todd Henson
  32. My Ten Best of Images of 2019 – Mike Chowla
  33. 2019 Favorite Photos – Alan Dahl
  34. Tech Photo Guy – Best Photos 2019 – Aaron Hockley
  35. 2019 Favorites – Martin Quinn
  36. Best of TheDarkSlides 2019 – TheDarkSlides
  37. 2019 Jim Goldstein Project – J.J. RAIA
  38. My Favorites of 2019 – Rich Greene
  39. My Favorite Images of 2019 (aka ‘Best of 2019’) – Pete Miller
  40. 2019 Year in Review, Decade in Review – Robin Black Photography
  41. Under Pressure Photography – Scott McGee
  42. My favorite Slovenia photos of 2019 – Luka Esenko
  43. 5 Moments in Time – 2019 – Gavin Crook
  44. My favorite photos of the decade – Matt Payne
  45. My Ten Favourite Images of 2019 – Jens Preshaw
  46. 2019 in Pictures – Milan Hutera
  47. Twelve from 2019 – Tom Whelan
  48. My Favorite Photos of 2019 – Jeff Hubbard
  49. 2019 Favorites – Rick Holliday
  50. Best of the Best 2019 – Richard Valenti
  51. Best Landscape and Nature Photos of 2019 – Clint Losee
  52. Best of 2019 – My Favorite Images of the Year – Rob Tilley
  53. 2019 Year in Review – Greg Russell | Alpenglow Images
  54. Best of The Decade Including 2019 – Adrian Klein
  55. Best of 2019 – Brian Knott
  56. Natural History Photography – Highlights from 2019 – Gabor Ruff
  57. Best of 2019 – Jeff Dupuie
  58. Top 2019 – Eric Chan
  59. Best of 2019 – Greg Clure
  60. Twenty Nineteen: In retrospect – Charlotte Gibb
  61. Favorite Blog Photos of 2019 – Jim Coda
  62. My Favorites 2019 – Beth Young
  63. Living Wilderness: Best of 2019 – Kevin Ebi
  64. 2019 Favorites – Mike Cleron
  65. Best of 2019 – Romain Guy
  66. 2019 Favorite Images – Sam Folsom
  67. Michael Katz Photography – Michael Katz
  68. Twenty Nineteen – Mark Graf
  69. 2019 in Review – and Happy New Year”
  70. Photography & Travel – brent huntley
  71. Top 10 Favorite Images from 2019 – Derrald Farnsworth-Livingston
  72. My Photo Highlights of 2019 – Caleb Weston
  73. Lagemaat Photography – Best images of 2019 – Jao van de Lagemaat
  74. Favorites from 2019 – Kyle Jones
  75. A Baker’s Dozen – Mike Christoferson
  76. 10 Favorites of 2019: An Amazing Year – Kurt Lawson
  77. Top 20 Photographs of 2019 – Year-End-Retrospective – Landscape Photography Reader/David Leland Hyde
  78. Favorite Photos of 2019 – Deb Snelson
  79. Favorites – 2019 – Daniel Leu
  80. Best of 2019 – Steve Cozad
  81. Fog from Above in 2019 – Andrew Thomas
  82. Favorites of 2019 – Mick McMurray
  83. Some Favorites from 2019 – Josh Meier
  84. Top 10 Images of 2019 – Stephen L. Kapp
  85. Top Ten of 2019 – Holly Davison
  86. Best 2019 – Barbara Michalowska
  87. The Creative Photographer – Andrew S. Gibson
  88. My Favorite Photos of 2019 – Patricia Davidson
  89. A Thousand Words – Lucy Autrey Wilson
  90. 2019 Top Twelve Photographs – David J Grenier
  91. Urban Dinosaurs – Steven M. Bellovin
  92. Best of 2019 – Thomas Yackley
  93. Carol’s Little World – Best of 2019 – Carol Schiraldi
  94. My favourite shots of 2019 – Catalin Marin
  95. Top 2019 Photos – Matt Conti
  96. Top Ten 2019 – Phyllis Whitman Hunter
  97. Favorites from 2019 – Tim Aston
  98. Robb Hirsch- Best of 2019 – Robb Hirsch
  99. 2019 Top 25 Images – Yesitis – Harold Klein
  100. Environment Alyssa – Alyssa Bueno
  101. Jeff Sullivan Photography – Jeff Sullivan
  102. My Top Favorites of 2019 – Sara M. Photos
  103. 2019 Year in Review & Favorite Black & White Photos – Sarah Marino
  104. 2019 Year in Review & Favorite Photos – Ron Coscorrosa
  105. Favorite 8 Photos from 2019 – Maria Struss
  106. Top Photos Of 2019 – Bryan William Jones
  107. Favorite Photos 2019 by Lori Hibbett – Lori Hibbett
  108. Bob’s Best of the Best 2019 – Bob Blakley
  109. Best Overall 2019 on Flickr – Sue Shuey
  110. 2019 A Year in Review – Jim Patterson
  111. Photo Blog – Ron Niebrugge – Ron Niebrugge
  112. Expeditions Alaska 2019 Tour Ramblings – Expeditions Alaska

Have a great 2020!


JMG-Galleries – Landscape, Nature & Travel Photography

 
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DPReview Readers’ Choice Awards 2019: Product of the Year

06 Jan

Product of the Year 2019: the results

The final round of voting has closed and a winner has been chosen in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards! Starting in December, DPR readers picked their favorite cameras, zoom lenses and prime lenses released in 2019. The winners of that initial round of voting were then pitted against each other for the title of Product of the Year. Take a look and see which products came out on top.

Product of the Year: third place

The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS was a late 2019 arrival, making its debut in November. Still, that was enough time to convince a large portion of our audience that it deserves a spot in the top three products of the year. It’s not hard to see why – the lens’ compact size at 70mm is truly astonishing and its image quality is just as impressive.

Product of the Year: runner up

Coming in second is the GFX 100, Fujifilm’s 100MP medium-format body. The combination of its high resolution and in-body image stabilization make it possible to take the studio with you – if you can stomach the $ 10,000 price tag. But what’s the fun in bringing price into a discussion about the best gear of the year? Fujifilm set out to make a truly impressive camera and it seems that its mission has been accomplished.

Product of the Year: overall winner

It may have been its 60MP resolution, or its class-leading 4K video, or maybe its ability to shoot 10 fps with AF. Some combination of those features no doubt contributed to DPR readers choosing the Sony a7R IV as their Product of the Year. Beyond the headline-grabbing specifications, the a7R IV is just a darn good camera and we whole-heartedly agree that it’s worthy of recognition – not only was it the DPR community’s top product of 2019, it was ours too.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Gear of the Year: what we loved shooting with in 2019

04 Jan

Each year DPR staff pick the gear they most enjoyed shooting with over the past year – and that’s the only criteria. It doesn’t have to be the best or fastest, just enjoyable. Here are all of our 2019 picks in one place.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Best Photos of 2019 by Jim M. Goldstein

04 Jan

Thanks for checking in to see my best photos of 2019. This year for a variety of reasons I didn’t have many opportunities to get out and pursue photography to the degree I’d have preferred. Some of the reasons why were good (new house, settling in, kid activities with both boys being in elementary school for the first time, etc.) and some were downright bummers (passing of my grandfather, getting used to this aging thing, etc.). Through it all though I got the kids out on some bigger trips this year beyond our regular trips to Yosemite. We drove from California to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Glacier National Park in Montana. With my focus on the boys having a great experience my normal serious photographic endeavors were kept on the sideline. As always I felt good with that decision after hearing how much they loved Glacier National Park, especially given Glacier it is a personal favorite of mine. In 2020 I’m looking forward to exploring more of my favorite locations with them and seeing it all a new through their eyes.  All that being said enjoy my best of the year…

 

Landscapes & Wildlife

Much of my time outdoors this year was spent showing the boys more of my favorite locations and experiencing the great outdoors while indulging them with great views and of course many evenings of campfires and s’mores. The following view at Two Medicine lake in Glacier National Park was incredibly memorable as we explored the shore and skipped rocks.

Two Medicine Lake

A serene moment at Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park

 

Of all my time at Glacier National Park I’ve never once seen a Pika… until this year. Not only are they well camouflaged and hard to see, but they’re incredibly fast. Being small even photographing them with a 400mm lens isn’t nearly enough magnification. The first photo below is a severely cropped photo taken at 400mm. The uncropped photos, 2 down, is included to give you an idea of how hard it is to find them in a rock pile. Add in their constant state of running, to forage food for the winter, you have an even tougher subject to photograph. That said I do have a good number of Pika butt photos now.

North American pika (Ochotona princeps)

North American pika (Ochotona princeps) at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park

North American pika (Ochotona princeps)

North American pika (Ochotona princeps) at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park

 

While in Glacier National Park it’s always fun to see marmots scurrying about. On a hike at Logan Pass my boys and I saw several. One of the more interesting was perched in a tree surveying his territory.

Hoary marmot – Glacier National Park, Montana

A hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) in wildflowers at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park in Montana.

Hoary marmot in a tree – Glacier National Park, Montana

A hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) resting on a fallen tree – Glacier National Park

 

Adventures with the Kids

My boys enjoying a brief encounter with a curious ground squirrel was amusing. Even more amusing was the play structure my youngest son built for him with rocks near his den.

Kids meeting a ground squirrel

My kids meeting a ground squirrel while on a hike at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park in Montana

 

My youngest still has not shaken his interest in photography. While he wasn’t as steadfast about using a tripod this year he still seemed to enjoy taking some ‘serious’ photos.

Young Photographer

My son photographing a waterfall in Glacier National Park

 

A brief moment my kids weren’t a blur from running around, tackling each other, and/or tackling me.The Dudes

 

A personal favorite of mine taken by a passing hiker. Thanks unknown hiker, I salute you and your ability to capture a well framed photo while maintaining focus. You’d be surprised how hard it is to get that even with an iPhone.The Dudes and I

Thanks for checking in and Happy New Year!


JMG-Galleries – Landscape, Nature & Travel Photography

 
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