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Posts Tagged ‘Detailed’

Google Images will soon show more detailed licensing information on individual images

19 Aug

Google has announced it will soon make it possible for website owners to display more detailed licensing information of photographs in images that appear in Google Image searches.

Image License is currently in the beta stage, but the company plans to make it easier for those using Google Images to find out how to pay to use images that appear in searches, as well as allow photographers to have their conditions-of-use displayed. The idea is to encourage those using images to pay for them by making it clearer that they need to pay, as well as how to pay and who owns the picture. Although the feature isn’t currently in use, Google suggests photographers should begin preparing their websites for when the feature goes live.

A diagram showing how license information may show up in Google Images once the feature goes live.

Preparation involves attaching licensing information on your website and adding information to each image displayed on the site. Google has shared a guide on how to prepare your site and images in its Image License guide.

How the licensing link will be shown in the Google Images display pane

Google says it will be able to access and display information attached to images via structured data or by IPTC photo metadata to show searchers that an image is available to use. Google will also show a link to the license conditions page on your website if you’ve set one up.

Structured data needs to be coded into the web page, but IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) metadata can also be attached to individual images in imaging software before they are loaded onto the Internet.

These changes are set to go live this summer, so we should expect the feature to be activated very soon.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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B&H Photo releases detailed statement refuting allegations it defrauded New York out of millions in sales tax

22 Nov

Update: (November 20, 2019): We have added more details regarding the entity Mr. Gerstel claims is an ‘anonymous’ accuser and have added more context on the taxation and rebate process.


B&H Photo spokesperson Jeff Gerstel has released a statement rejecting the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit that claims that B&H allegedly failed to report and pay for additional sales tax when customers received discounts on certain purchases.

In an email sent to DPReview, Gerstel says ‘the [New York] Attorney General is trying to create a new tax on discounts [and] wants consumers to pay sales tax for what they actually pay plus an additional tax on discounts they receive.’ Gerstel adds ’this makes no sense and there is no law that requires consumers to pay this tax on discounts.’

Gerstel goes on to say that ‘these claims are without merit’ and claims ‘the entire consumer electronics retail industry takes the identical approach to what we do’ — an assertion Gerstel later backs up in his email using pricing examples from other electronic retailers. Gerstel adds:

B&H has done nothing wrong and it is outrageous that the Attorney General is attacking a New York company that employs thousands of New Yorkers while leaving the national online and retail behemoths unchallenged. The Attorney General wants to charge New Yorkers a tax on money they never spent. It’s wrong and we won’t be bullied. We will fight these allegations aggressively. B&H is not a big box store or a faceless chain; we are a New York institution, having operated here for nearly 50 years with a stellar reputation. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has done countless audits and never once – not a single time – mentioned any issue with this widespread retail industry practice.

To highlight how much additional sales tax consumers could pay on items, Gerstel provided the following chart with example prices using popular items from B&H Photo’s inventory:

Under a headline titled ‘Pay Tax on What You Pay, Not on What You Save,’ Gerstel writes:

Consumers pay sales tax based on what they actually pay. If you buy a $ 150 item on sale for $ 100, you pay $ 100 and pay tax on $ 100. If the Attorney General’s office has their way, customers could have to pay sales tax on the $ 100 actual sale price, plus an additional tax on the $ 50 discount that they received. Common sense, and the law, says that this new tax on discounts makes no sense. That’s why virtually the entire consumer electronics industry takes the same approach to sales tax collection that B&H does.

Gerstel provides context and precedent for his claims by showing how the same Canon EOS Rebel T7 camera kit, which retails for $ 650 and is currently on promotion for $ 499, is priced and taxed by six other (unnamed) retailers, as well as B&H Photo:

The formatting was done in tables via email, so it’s a bit messy, but you can view the full-resolution image to see the details from each of the unnamed retailers.

Following the above graphic, Gerstel explains that ‘retailers who sell consumer electronics collect New York sales tax in the identical manner as B&H, following the rule of both the law and common sense.’ He also notes that it’s not B&H Photo’s responsibility to ‘charge’ tax, but instead to collect and remit it accordingly. Therefore, he says, ‘any increase in the sales tax that retailers are obligated to collect will result in a charge that would be passed through to customers.’

It’s worth noting that just because other retailers charge the same sales tax at checkout doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not appropriately paying taxes on the rebates they’ve received from the manufacturers — income that, according to the lawsuit, B&H hasn’t paid taxes on to the tune of millions.

According to his statement, Gerstel is claiming the full tax price would be passed on to customers. However, as noted in the examples he provided, the customer is only required to pay the sales tax on the amount they’re paying for the discounted product. B&H Photo, on the other hand, would be responsible for paying the remaining difference between the discounted price and the full price, which is refunded to them through the manufacturer. Gerstel himself notes that it’s their job to ‘collect and remit’ sales tax collected from the customer, but what he fails to mention is the tax on the remaining money B&H receives from the manufacturer to make up the full cost of the products.

The email wraps up by noting B&H Photo’s ‘crystal clear’ tax history wherein B&H Photo ‘has been audited by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance regularly’ without the Department of Taxation ever once raising this issue with B&H Photo in the past. He goes so far as to call these allegations an ‘unfair smear campaign.’

Gerstel concludes with two questions of his own for the New York Attorney General. Under the headline ‘Where is the State Tax Department?,’ he writes:

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance – the agency responsible for sales tax – is not part of this case. Why not? The tax department has audited B&H for years and has approved our tax reporting for many years.

Under the headline ‘Strange Contingency Structure,’ Gerstel says:

‘In the most bizarre twist of this suit, there is an anonymous LLC accuser that could receive 25 percent of any funds recovered by the Attorney General. It is surprising that the Attorney General is trying to create a new tax on discounts, which would enrich an anonymous entity. We believe the Attorney General should disclose who stands to gain financially from this action.’

Gerstel’s assertion appears to be that B&H Photo is playing by the rules every other electronics retailer adheres to when collecting sales tax on items with discounts in the form of instant rebates, and for unknown reasons B&H Photo is being singled out.

In regards to the ‘anonymous’ LLC Gerstel mentions, the lawsuit notes the entity is RD Litigation Associates, LLC, a domestic limited liability company registered in Monroe County, New York. No registered agent is given, but the entity’s address is listed as 1600 Bausch & Lomb Place in Rochester, New York (Google Maps).

The lawsuit specifically labels RD Litigation Associates, LLC as a ‘whistleblower’ in the lawsuit. New York takes part in the SEC Whistleblower Awards, which can distribute between 10-30% of the money collected if the lawsuit is successful and fits a number of critical guidelines. Thus, Mr. Gerstel’s claims that the noted LLC is ‘anonymous’ is a bit of a stretch and the 25% the LLC gains to stand falls within the 10-30% as laid out in the SEC guidelines. Yes, B&H might not know the alleged whistleblower, who appears to be represented by RD Litigation Associates, LLC (if it’s not RD Litigation Associates itself who filed the complaint), but the LLC itself is rather well documented as required by law.

We contacted the New York Attorney General’s office for comment and were directed to the press release the New York Attorney General’s office published last week regarding the alleged sales tax fraud and told ‘[the New York Attorney General does] not have any further comments beyond what is mentioned in our release.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samyang’s new XEEN CF Cine Prime full-frame lenses detailed ahead of Q3 launch

13 Sep

Samyang has launched its new line of XEEN CF Cine Prime full-frame lenses made from lightweight carbon fiber. The XEEN CF will be offered in 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm options for Canon EF, Sony E and PL mounts. The model features a T1.5 aperture, 11-blade diaphragm and luminous numbers on the lens rings for making adjustments in dark conditions.

The XEEN CF lenses feature the company’s proprietary X-Coating for minimized reflections paired with controlled ghosting and flares for halation, producing a ‘dramatic effect.’ Users are promised ‘beautiful bokeh’ thanks to the 11-blade diaphragm and excellent low-light performance from the bright aperture.

The lenses are designed for large format and 8K sensors, offering the durability and light weight of carbon fiber at 0.9kg (2lbs) to 1.1kg (2.4lbs), depending on the model. Due to the low weight, the new XEEN CF lenses can be used with gimbals and drones in addition to movie cameras.

The company will initially launch its 24mm, 50mm and 85mm lenses in Q3 2019; the 16mm and 35mm options won’t be released until early next year. Prices are unclear at this time, but ePhotozine claims the lenses will be showcased at the 2019 IBC Exhibition in Amsterdam from September 13 to 17.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Viltrox APS-C lenses for Fujifilm, Sony and Leica detailed ahead of launch

23 Aug

Chinese camera gear brand Viltrox is planning to release three autofocus lenses for Fujifilm X-mount, Sony E-mount, and Leica M-mount, according to FujiRumors, which initially spied the upcoming products back in May.

In a new report published this week, FujiRumors detailed the alleged specs for the three lenses, product images for which it found published on Viltrox’s official profile on Chinese social media website Sina Weibo. Below are images of the lenses and a breakdown of the specifications based on the charts provided by Viltrox:

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Viltrox 23mm F1.4:

  • Aperture range: 1.4 – 16
  • Aperture blades: 9
  • 10 Groups, 11 elements
  • Filter size: 52mm
  • Weight: 250g (8.8oz)

Viltrox 33mm F1.4:

  • Aperture range: 1.4 – 16
  • Aperture blades: 9
  • 9 Groups, 10 elements
  • Filter size: 52mm
  • Weight: 270g (9.5oz)

Viltrox 56mm F1.4:

  • Aperture range: 1.4 – 16
  • Aperture blades: 9
  • 9 Groups, 10 elements
  • Filter size: 52mm
  • Weight: 290g (10.2oz)

It’s unclear when the new lenses will launch. The initial report in May claimed on behalf of a source that the new models may launch in October, but the latest report points toward ‘around November’ as the official release time frame. Prices haven’t been revealed at this time. These three lenses will join Viltrox’s previously launched 85mm F1.8 autofocus APS-C lens.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leaked images: A detailed look at the unreleased Zeiss Otus 100mm F1.4 lens

11 Apr

It’s not official yet, but it appears Zeiss will soon announce the Otus 100mm F1.4 lens for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts, making it the longest focal length in the Otus lineup. DPReview has obtained leaked images, with permission, from Nokishita showing in detail the impending manual lens and its accompanying specifications from Zeiss.

According to the leaked technical sheets (that appear to come directly from Zeiss), the lens will feature an Apo Sonnar design with 14 optical elements in 11 groups including one aspherical element placed at the very back of the lens and multiple ‘special glass’ elements throughout. It will feature an aperture range of F1.4 – F16, have a minimum focusing distance of 100cm / 39.37in and weighs in at 1336g / 2.95lbs for the Nikon F version and 1405g / 3.10lbs for the Canon EF version.

The lens features a nearly identical design to Zeiss’ three other Otus lenses — the 28mm F1.4, 55mm F1.4 and 85mm F1.4 — and features the same 86mm front filter thread as the other three to negate the need of stepping rings for filters and accessories. Below is a full gallery of product shots of the unreleased lens:

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Being the lens isn’t yet official there’s no detail on availability or pricing, but based on the $ 4,990 price tag for Zeiss’ other Otus lenses, it’s a safe bet the 100mm F1.4 will end up around the $ 5,000 mark.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ESA unveils most detailed 3D star map ever captured

04 May

The European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia mission has released a new star map of the Milky Way, giving us the most detailed view of our galaxy to date.

Launched in December 2013 from Kourou, French Guiana, the mission of the Gaia space observatory is to create the largest and most detailed 3D space catalog in existence. To do this, it uses what the ESA calls the ‘largest digital camera in the Solar System,’ a one-billion-pixel camera made up of more than 200 CCD sensors.

Gaia’s sky in colour. Image provided by ESA

This new set of data, released on April 25th, details the location and movement of more than 1.3 billion stars. For context, the first set of data released by the ESA in May 2016 contained similar information of a mere two million stars. It’s not only the position and movement of the stars either.

As well as positions, the data include brightness information of all surveyed stars and colour measurements of nearly all, plus information on how the brightness and colour of half a million variable stars change over time. It also contains the velocities along the line of sight of a subset of seven million stars, the surface temperatures of about a hundred million and the effect of interstellar dust on 87 million.

The new information will be used for many years to come by scientists all over the world. “Gaia will greatly advance our understanding of the Universe on all cosmic scales,” says Timo Prusti, Gaia project scientist at ESA, in the announcement blog post. “Even in the neighbourhood of the Sun, which is the region we thought we understood best, Gaia is revealing new and exciting features.”

The ESA expects many more datasets to be released in future years, with the full and final catalogue set to be published sometime in the 2020s. Originally, Gaia was only set to operate until mid-2019, but the ESA has already approved an extension to its mission that should see it functioning well into 2020.

You can access the data from Gaia’s first release on the ESA’s archive site and view a collection of 360-degree videos in a dedicated VR page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Wedding photographer’s work lambasted by clients in detailed 30-page report

12 Jan

A dissatisfied newlywed couple in Hong Kong have reportedly published a 30-page report that extensively details the various issues they have with photos taken by their wedding photographer.

The critique, which was released on Chinese social media and later published in a report by DCFever, is said to be written like a lab report, including highlighted explanations of alleged issues in individual images. Many of the images even included a rule-of-thirds overlay with specific compositional mistakes pointed out.

According to DCFever’s video, the critique was “leaked” onto social media, where it has since been heavily discussed. Complaints reportedly include overexposed backgrounds and framing issues, with some commentators agreeing and others backing the photographer by saying that the photos hadn’t yet been retouched.

It is unclear based on DCFever’s written report whether the photos had been retouched before the couple received them, and whether the photographer was paid for their work. But if you want to see the full report for yourself, DCFever published several screenshots with thumbnails of the alleged wedding photos… for better or worse.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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17 Highly Detailed Images That Display Texture

08 Aug

I hope you enjoy this detailed image collection of subjects with a lot of texture. To capture texture in an image requires a few elements to come together – the right lighting, the right camera angle, and a good degree of image sharpness.

I’ll start you off with a couple of my own images, and then we’ll branch out to see what a few other photographers have done to capture texture with their cameras.

By Darlene Hildebrandt (shot in Havana Cuba)

By Darlene Hildebrandt (shot in Granada, Nicaragua) 

By JLS Photography – Alaska

By Nicholas Erwin

By ROBERTO CABRAL PHOTOGRAPHY

By Thad Zajdowicz

By Suzy Hazelwood

By Gabriel Caparó

By Sandy Sarsfield

By BriarCraft – crazy busy in July

By Kate Ter Haar

By XoMEoX

By Peyton Stanton

By Hernán Piñera

By Iain Merchant

By Marco Verch

By Alexander Day

The post 17 Highly Detailed Images That Display Texture by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Magic Ink: Highly Detailed Optical Illusion Drawings Pop Off the Page

03 Jun

[ By SA Rogers in Art & Drawing & Digital. ]

Strategically placed shadows and highlights make these incredibly intricate nature-themed drawings more than just impressive pages in an artist’s sketchbook. The pieces reveal unexpected depths and textures, and sometimes seem to lift right off the pages and into the real world, as if the sketchbook just couldn’t contain their vitality. Artist Visothkakvei shows off a variety of optical illusion techniques on his Instagram.

Fighting for the night. Once he's freed, the world will turn dark forever.

A post shared by Visothkakvei (@visothkakvei) on

Many of Visothkakvei’s works are contained within the bounds of his books. Though the drawings of flowers, leaves, vines and other organic subjects may look like simple doodles, it’s the way the artist layers them, packs them onto the page and adds shadows that makes them special. Some begin to creep beyond the boundaries of the paper.

Awaken #original #art #visothkakvei

A post shared by Visothkakvei (@visothkakvei) on

And, in some cases, it’s clear that more than just two-dimensional physical drawing is involved, though the artist doesn’t reveal his secrets. Some of this looks like he’s taken a photograph of his own hand working on the drawings, and layered digital drawing on top of it in a style that matches, making it unclear where the originals end and the digital additions begin.

Everytime I do the artwork, I see it around me. #original #art #visothkakvei

A post shared by Visothkakvei (@visothkakvei) on

Doodling #art #visothkakvei

A post shared by Visothkakvei (@visothkakvei) on

Check out lots more of these works, along with videos of the drawings in progress, at Instagram.com/visothkakvei.

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[ By SA Rogers in Art & Drawing & Digital. ]

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Sample reel: the Sony RX100 V shoots impressively detailed 4K video

16 Oct

Sony’s RX100-series has always been a capable machine for video as well as stills, and the Mark V version is no exception. With the addition of phase-detection autofocus and oversampled 4K footage, we’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen so far. In this video, you’ll be able to check out 4K footage, 1080p footage (scaled to 4K), high frame rate footage, and more. Note that for the image stabilization demo, no attempt was made to smooth the camera motion – just normal walking with a camera out in front.

The only adjustments applied in post were to conform the higher frame rate clips to 30p, and to upscale as necessary to fill the frame (there is no change in crop-factor when going to 1080p as long as you haven’t enabled active or intelligent active IS, the shift in the fountain shot was just a reframing of the camera on our tripod). Otherwise, all clips are straight-out-of-camera.

Click here to download the clip for yourself.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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