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Posts Tagged ‘Inspire’

4 Young Photographers Who Will Inspire and Amaze You

09 Feb

Since I started teaching photography I’ve had the opportunity to teach a few kids as well as adults. Some special parents were able to see that their child had an interest in photography and a gift for doing it as well, and they encouraged them to pursue it. I gladly jumped on that bandwagon and supported them as well.

So I’ve rounded up not one, but four young photographers whose work will amaze you. You may think it slightly depressing that these youngsters can do such amazing work at a tender age (while you may be struggling to figure out how to shoot in Manual), but instead – allow them to inspire you!

Award-winning wildlife photographer age 13

Josiah Launstein started doing photography at age 5, using his dad’s old camera and got “serious” about it when he was only 7. Now he’s won awards for his photography and has been displayed in national galleries. Watch him in action photographing one of his favorite subjects, bighorn sheep. AND he’s Canadian like me!

See more of Josiah’s work on his website where you can buy prints, art cards, and calendars. I liked his work so much I bought a calendar myself!

Teen featured in national publications

By age 16 Alex Currie’s work was being featured in National publications, even recognized by Vogue magazine. He’s also produced short films with some of his friends.

See some of Alex’s current work on his website here. He also was on the Flickr Top 20 Under 20 list.

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A day with a teenage pro photographer

Our next young sensation is Ryan Parrilla, a Manhattan-based teen photographer. He’s been doing photography since age 12 on the streets of NYC. His camera of choice is a Canon Powershot G7 Mark II. Follow along to see a day of shooting with Ryan in his city.

See more of Ryan’s images on 500px or his Instagram profile where he has more than 90,000 followers.

10-year-old’s photography business – helps his autism

In this final inspirational video story, learn about how Morgan Wolfers picked up a camera to help him “focus”. He and his parents realized that photography helped with his autism and that he was naturally good at it.

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See more of this amazing kid’s photography on his website here.

Inspired yet?

I hope these stories of kids doing photography have inspired you to get out there and do more shooting yourself. Look for the dPS weekly photography challenge if you need some ideas on what to shoot.

The post 4 Young Photographers Who Will Inspire and Amaze You by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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5 Amazing Free e-books To Inspire Every Street Photographer

19 Oct

The concept of street photography is something that by definition, has no objective definition. My only rule is that it must be candid. There are no rules about gear or lighting. Famous US photographer Chase Jarvis says “the best camera is the one you have with you” which suggests anyone with a smartphone has the potential to do street photography. Continue Reading

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DJI publishes film shot entirely with Inspire 2 drone

18 Nov

A couple days ago DJI introduced a pair of new drones with some very impressive specifications, especially when it comes to video. One could even argue that DJI just leapfrogged traditional camera manufacturers when it comes to video capabilities, and impressively so.

To highlight the potential of the new Inspire 2 drone, DJI worked with cinematographer Claudio Miranda, ASC (Life of Pi) to produce a 13-minute short film called The Circle, shot entirely on the Inspire 2. It’s an impressive piece of work and gives you a sense of what the new drone and camera are capable of.

If you want to learn more, Dan Chung over at NewsShooter has published a short article exploring the implications of these new drones and cameras, including some behind-the-scenes videos from the filming of The Circle. There’s also a video with the colorist who graded the film from Raw footage shot on the Inspire 2. If you’re interested in aerial photography, or even where video technology on small cameras is headed, it’s worth a look.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DJI announces new Phantom 4 Pro and Inspire 2 drones

16 Nov
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro

DJI has announced the release of two new drones, the Phantom 4 Pro and the Inspire 2, and both of them are packed with interesting upgrades and features.

Visually similar to the original Phantom 4, the Phantom 4 Pro includes a camera with a 1″ 20MP sensor with ‘almost’ 12 stops of dynamic range. Of particular interest, the Phantom 4 Pro has a mechanical shutter to eliminate rolling shutter effects from fast motion. It can record 4K/60p video at 100 mbps and offers H.265 video compression. Its FlightAutonomy feature uses three sets of visual systems to map obstacles in front of, behind and below the drone to help it avoid obstacles, while a Landing Protection function will help it avoid landing on uneven ground or water. It has a maximum speed of 45 mph and a high performance battery provides up to 30 minutes of flight time. It also includes new intelligent flight modes.

The Inspire 2, similar to DJI’s Inspire 1 model, is oriented at the professional and semi-professional audience. Its magnesium-aluminum alloy body increases stiffness while lowering weight, while a new battery system allows flight time up to 27 minutes. It also offers a new forward-facing camera that will give the pilot a view for flying while a camera operator can independently control the Zenmuse camera mounted on the main gimbal. It includes a new image processing system, called CineCore 2.0, which improves file processing and supports 5.2K video at 4.2 Gbps for CinemaDNG Raw video capture, as well as support for ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 4444 XQ, H.264, and H.265.

DJI has also released two new Zenmuse cameras for use with the Inspire 2. The Zenmuse X4S includes a 1″ 20MP sensor with 11.6 stops of dynamic range, a 24mm F2.8-11 lens and a mechanical shutter. The Zenmuse X5S has a 20.8MP Micro Four Thirds sensor with 12.8 stops of dynamic range, and it supports 8 lenses ranging from wide angles to zooms. DJI says that a handheld mount will be available for both cameras in the future.

The Phantom 4 Pro will retail for $ 1,499 with a standard controller and $ 1,799 with a high luminance display controller. The Inspire 2 will retail for $ 2,999 (aircraft only), and $ 6,198 for the Inspire 2 with the X5S camera, CinemaDNG, and Apple ProRes license, but will be available for $ 5,999 if ordered before January 1, 2017.

If you want to get your hands on one of these you won’t have to wait very long: the Phantom 4 Pro will begin shipping one week after launch, the Inspire 2/X5S camera combo will begin shipping in early December, and the Inspire 2 and X4S/X5S cameras sold separately will ship in early January, 2017. All products are available for immediate pre-order.

Press release:

DJI Raises Bar For Aerial Imaging With Two New Flying Cameras

Inspire 2 And Phantom 4 Pro Give Creators Unique High-Performance Tools

November 15, 2016 – DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial technology, Tuesday introduced two new drones that raise the bar for professional imaging: Inspire 2, the best ready-to-fly platform for high-end film and video creators, and Phantom 4 Pro, the smartest and most creative flying camera of its size.

“Professional filmmakers and photographers always push to create images that have never been seen before, and DJI never stops trying to give them the tools to achieve their vision,” said DJI CEO and Founder Frank Wang. “Our newest flight platforms and stabilized aerial cameras are smarter, faster and more powerful than ever before. We can’t wait to see how creators use Inspire 2 and Phantom 4 Pro to capture dazzling images.”

Inspire 2

Advanced Imaging for Professional Results

Inspire 2 offers powerful capabilities and is easy to operate. The nimble new magnesium-aluminum alloy body increases stiffness while lowering weight. It has a top speed of 67 mph and takes only 4 seconds to accelerate to 50 mph. With the new dual battery system, flight time is up to 27 minutes. A new forward-facing camera offers the pilot the best flight view for operating the master controller, while the camera operator receives a separate feed from the professional Zenmuse camera mounted on the main gimbal. The Inspire 2 supports the brand-new Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras and will support additional cameras in the future.

An entirely new image processing system, called CineCore 2.0, is embedded into the airframe, which allows processing large files faster than ever before. Inspire 2 captures 5.2K video at 4.2 Gbps for Adobe CinemaDNG RAW videos and leverages a newly-designed, fast CINESSD storage for a smooth work experience. A variety of video compression formats are supported by CineCore 2.0, including Adobe CinemaDNG, Apple ProRes 422 HQ (5.2K, 4K) and ProRes 4444 XQ (4K), H.264, and H.265. When recording 4K video in H.264 and H.265, the birate is up to 100Mbps.

Inspire 2 offers professional capability and control suitable for many scenarios. With optional high-altitude propellers, Inspire 2 can reach a maximum service ceiling of 16,404 feet above sea level, and the self-heating dual battery redundancy system maintains good performance of the battery to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Through an optimized mode, Inspire 2 streams smooth video at the widely used 1080i50/720p60 broadcast standard. Enhanced Lightbridge video transmission makes smoother HDMI video possible.

High Performance and Professional Reliability

The dual-battery system ensures that if one battery fails during a flight, the other will be able to provide power for a safe return to home. Stereo vision sensors have been included on the front and bottom of Inspire 2 for obstacle detection, and upward facing infrared sensors on top of the aircraft add protection when flying in enclosed spaces.

The redesigned propulsion system can safely carry Inspire 2 through incredible vertical camera moves, climbing at almost 20 feet/second and descending at almost 30 feet/second. Redundant systems provide reliability for the IMU, barometer, electronic speed controller communication and satellite navigation modules. The master and slave controller range now extends to 328 feet and users can switch between 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies to cut through any noise for greater signal stability.

Creative Freedom

Inspire 2’s new intelligent flight modes expand DJI’s computer vision technology to safely fly routes that give creators new ways to capture what they envision. Spotlight Pro Mode locks onto a subject during flight while the aircraft flies freely in another direction – and automatically rotates the aircraft to stay on the shot if the gimbal reaches its rotational limit. The forward-facing camera offers TapFly, which directs Inspire 2 to any point on the screen while avoiding obstacles along the way. ActiveTrack recognizes common subjects such as people, cars and animals, sending Inspire 2 to follow behind, lead in front, circle above or track alongside while always flying forward, ensuring the forward-facing obstacle sensing system keeps the aircraft safe. 

New Zenmuse Cameras

DJI is enhancing the imaging potential of the Inspire 2 by expanding its line of interchangeable Zenmuse cameras, which are designed for aerial imaging and communicate directly with the aircraft’s gimbal and flight controllers. For situations that require a balance between weight and image quality, the new Zenmuse X4S has a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor with 11.6 stops of dynamic range and a 24 mm equivalent focal length. The Zenmuse X4S offers aperture control (f2.8-11) and a mechanical shutter that cancels rolling shutter distortion. The new Zenmuse X5S has a larger Micro Four Thirds sensor with 20.8 megapixels and an incredible 12.8 stops of dynamic range. The Zenmuse X5S camera now supports 8 lenses from wide angles to zooms. It shoots 20fps continuous burst DNG RAW (20.8 MP). In the future, a handheld mount will be available for the Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras, bringing those cameras down to the ground for more flexible filmmaking.

Professional Accessories to Enhance Performance

A series of powerful DJI accessories will meet the needs of operators under various filming conditions. DJI Focus, a battery charging station, DJI CINESSD, CINESSD station and other optional accessories are available.

An optional DJI Crystalsky high-brightness IPS monitor features an ultra-bright screen that is clearly visible in direct sunlight and ideal for outdoor shooting. It comes in 5.5-inch and 7.85-inch sizes, with the highest brightness up to 1000 cd/m2 and 2000 cd/m2 respectively, and its dedicated system reduces video transmission latency. Dual Micro-SD Card slots within the screen make it easy to back up footage and can also be used to transfer and play back files. It operates in extreme temperature conditions from -4 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Phantom 4 Pro

Professional Imaging

Phantom 4 Pro offers a powerful imaging system for professional photo and video creators as well as non-professionals who demand excellence from the camera and platform they use to pursue their creative visions. The camera now packs a 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor, and almost 12 stops of dynamic range bring out levels of detail and low-light performance unprecedented in a flying camera of this size. Its mechanical shutter eliminates rolling shutter distortion in fast-moving scenes. Phantom 4 Pro can capture slow-motion 4K video up to 60 fps at a maximum bitrate of 100 mbps. In addition, the Phantom 4 Pro offers H.265 video compression, which substantially improves video quality at the same bitrate.

Reliable with Enhanced FlightAutonomy System

Phantom 4 Pro builds on DJI’s original obstacle avoidance system with FlightAutonomy – three sets of visual systems that build a 3D map of obstacles in front, behind and below the aircraft, as well as infrared sensing systems on both sides. FlightAutonomy can position, navigate and plan routes for Phantom 4 Pro, enabling it to avoid obstacles in a sensing range up to 98 feet at front and rear, even in complex 3D environments. When returning to home and tapping to initiate auto takeoff or landing, the Landing Protection function is able to detect and help avoid landing on uneven ground or water. Phantom 4 Pro has high-performance battery technology that provides up to 30 minutes of flight time. The Phantom 4 Pro flies at 31 mph in P mode with obstacle avoidance in effect, and has a 45 mph top speed in sport mode.

Professional Control with New Remote Controller

Phantom 4 Pro’s revolutionary new compact remote controller comes with an optional high luminance display, providing a clear and vivid live HD view from the main camera as well as essential telemetry data, even in direct sunlight. The aircraft will automatically choose between 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz once powering on to gain a clear signal in areas with high radio interference. The new controller has a built-in GPS, compass, Micro-SD card slot and HDMI port.

Intelligent Flight

New intelligent flight modes make Phantom 4 Pro the smartest flying camera of its size, opening new vistas for creators, such as the new Draw Mode that allows operators to draw lines on the controller display and direct the Phantom 4 Pro to fly that route.

ActiveTrack recognizes common subjects such as people and bikes, then follows them from any angle while maintaining camera focus, and includes three new modes – New Circle, Profile and Spotlight.

Narrow sensing enhances obstacle avoidance sensitivity so the aircraft can fly through complex environments like narrow doorways. TapFly now works backwards and comes with a new Free mode that allows a pilot to set the direction of flight, turn the Phantom 4 Pro or tilt the gimbal without changing the direction of flight. With the new AR Route feature, operators will be able to tell the flight route on the screen.

As an additional safety feature, within a minute of losing GPS signal, the aircraft will automatically return to the last connected position and hover there precisely to wait for the pilot’s command. With the enhanced return to home function, the aircraft knows where it should be going from up to 984 feet away and avoids obstacles along the route.

Price and Availability

Phantom 4 Pro’s U.S. retail price is $ 1,499 with a standard controller. The Phantom 4 Pro, which includes a Phantom 4 Pro aircraft, and a high luminance display remote controller, will be available at $ 1,799. Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Pro are immediately available for pre-order at dji.com/phantom-4-pro and DJI flagship stores in Shenzhen, Seoul and Hong Kong. These products will begin shipping one week after launch.

The U.S. retail price of the Inspire 2 aircraft is $ 2,999. The Inspire 2 Combo, which includes one Inspire 2 aircraft, one Zenmuse X5S, CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes License Key, is available for $ 6,198. Customers who order the Inspire 2 Combo before January 1, 2017 can enjoy a special price of $ 5,999. Inspire 2 and its accessories will be immediately available for pre-order at dji.com/inspire-2 and also in the three DJI flagship stores. Inspire 2 Combo will start shipping in early December 2016 while customers who purchase the aircraft and camera separately can expect their orders to start shipping in early January 2017.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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7 Ideas to Inspire Your Creativity

06 Sep

When I’m stuck in a rut and not feeling like my photos are that amazing, it usually just takes going to a beautiful new place or going out when the light is incredible to get my back on the path of being excited about taking photos. But not always. Sometimes I need some added inspiration for my creativity. Can you relate?

Inspire Your Creativity - red tred

Sometimes I think all the busyness of my mind, the client who wants something yesterday, the endless emails that needs answering, the toilet that needs fixing in my studio, take over that part of my brain that is flowing and waiting to take photos. It’s almost like these tasks put a huge stopper on my creative flow.

When this happens I like to turn to minds wiser than my own. Over the years I’ve come across ideas that have sparked something in me, helping me to look at the world in new and different ways. Just remembering these ideas when I am down in the depths of not-creating, usually helps to jumpstart my mind and get me back into creating again.

Inspire Your Creativity night shot

I love hearing advice about creativity from all sources, because it is an act regardless the medium. From singers (“Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.” Miles Davis) to painters (“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Picasso), everyone has something illuminating to share about the creative act.

Here are some of my favourite ideas to inspire creativity:

1. Look for indirect inspiration (via Ernst Haas)

I love looking at other photographers’ work. I like to put myself into a place where I am inspired by other people’s creative visions. But when I am stuck in my own photography, looking at other photographer’s work is probably the worst thing to do.

Funny enough, my favourite photographer of all time – Ernst Haas – agreed! He warned against seeking too much direct inspiration, as it:

“leads too quickly to repetitions of what inspired you,” and instead he recommends you should: “refine your senses through the great masters of music, painting, and poetry. In short, try indirect inspirations, and everything will come by itself.”

So fill your life with beautiful, joyful, and interesting things. Things that make the hair on the back of your neck tingle.

Inspire Your Creativity

2. Beware the barrenness of a busy life (via Socrates)

Let’s just assume something: our work and your life responsibilities are an endless flow of stuff, and you will never get it all done. Ever. It’s impossible. So stop trying, and give yourself permission to just wander, percolate, get bored. Day dream and do all those awesome things that eventually lead to creativity.

So given that it’s endless, how about deciding that in order to have a happy life, one that is rich with fulfilment and fun and adventure, you have to break free occasionally. Because it’s so satisfying.

Socrates said: “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”

Think about the things that really make you feel fulfilled and inspired. Things that nourish you deep down, that make you feel happy to be alive. You need more of that and less of the constant emails – right?

Turn off the faucet of tasks and prioritize being creative.

Inspire Your Creativity square image

3. Kill perfectionism (via Anne Lamott)

When I start a photo project I am visited by that evil force – perfectionism. (It visits me towards the end too, and usually in the middle, in that vast sea when I am unanchored and often unsure of where to go next. It always catches me when I am feeling most vulnerable). I start to worry – “What if my best shot is behind me, what if I’ll never shoot anything amazing again, what if, what if…!?”

And, wow, is perfectionism easy to get sucked into. It’s something on which we believe, that we’re just being super focused. When in fact:

“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.” – Michael Law

Inspire Your Creativity people photo

That’s why you have to kill it, because perfectionism will stop you in your tracks. It will stop you before you even get started.

Perfectionism often appears when you’ve cleared everything out of the way and are ready to get down to it. You’ve turned off your phone, cleared the diary, extracted yourself from the ever flowing font of responsibilities. When you are faced with the actually doing.

But what happens if you give into it, and keep giving in to it and never get started?

“Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen.” – Anne Lamott

Inspire Your Creativity street scene

So how do we deal with this beast? Weirdly what seems to work the best for me, is to say to myself, “It doesn’t matter if what you do is terrible, just do it.” In fact I slightly encourage myself to be terrible, so that I have removed all that pressure to achieve something amazing. Therefore I’ve killed perfectionism at the root (because perfectionism is a desire to either be perfect or pretty amazing).

Then once I’m out the door and taking photos, I’ll fall into the flow and forget all about that horrible perfectionism. Most of the time I’ll even end up with some pretty good shots! Getting started is better than never striking out. Or as Seneca said:

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca

Inspire Your Creativity park sunlight

4. Make creativity a habit (via Maya Angelou)

I read this quote to my 10 year old son the other day because he had started writing a story. After an initial burst of enthusiasm he said his inspiration had disappeared and he didn’t want to carry on.

“In writing, habit seems to be a much stronger force than either willpower or inspiration.” – John Steinbeck.

Although this may be about writing, it is totally true of any creative pursuit. That is because:

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou

I love that quote because it shows that making an active effort to be be creative on a regular basis (whether it’s every Sunday afternoon, each morning for an hour at 6am, or Wednesday evenings) will guarantee that you will generate more creativity. It’s all about making the time to do it. Because, by the way, there is never the right time, or enough time for everything else. Even professional photographers, like me, need to literally carve out time to be creative.

Inspire Your Creativity London at night

5. But on the other hand….destroy your other habits (via Henry van Dyke)

“As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge” – Henry van Dyke

Because our brain is a very helpful entity, wanting to make our lives as simple as possible (thank you brain), it creates habits very quickly. Although that makes it easy to get up in the morning, make breakfast, get ready for work, get to work and do your job without actually thinking about it too hard, or making any huge decisions – this is terrible for your creativity.

Why?

Because most of the activities you do are by habit. That includes 70-80% of the thoughts you have today, you had yesterday (and will have tomorrow. Scary!) Which means you are for the most part living your life on autopilot. So if you want to create something new, in fact just the act of creating is by nature doing something new, you have to abandon those habits that keep you thinking and living the same way over and over again.

To be aware is to not be locked in habit, or lost in a sea of your ever-revolving thoughts. So take a new route to work, change your morning routine, take a walk in the evening – anything that wakes up that mind of yours and gets you doing and thinking in new ways.

Inspire Your Creativity rainbow

6. Your mind is made of play-doh (via Gandhi)

On my workshops many people come with preconceived ideas of what they are good at, and most definitely what they are not good at. Although I agree we all have predispositions to being naturally good at certain things, what science is now learning about the brain, is that it can continue to learn, change, adapt and evolve throughout your whole life.

“New research shows many aspects of the brain remain changeable (or “plastic”) even into adulthood.” – Wikipedia

How exciting is that? So when Gandhi said this:

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.” – Gandhi

Inspire Your Creativity night shot

Not only was he totally right, but he was showing us that when we put our minds to something, and really focus and concentrate, we can learn and create whatever we want. As Thomas Edison said:

“If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”

So not being good at something now, or not being a very technical or creative person should not limit you. If you want to be more creative – go out there and work at being creative. If you want to become a technically adept person – do it! Everything is possible if you believe (that’s science saying that, not me).

When I get stuck with the things I struggle with photographically, I remember that I need to not give in to that thought, and instead push through with what I want my photography to be.

Inspire Your Creativity sunset

7. Dreaming with your eyes wide open (via Ernst Haas)

Being open and creative is something that all children excel at, but it is often squeezed out of us as we grow up. Children are amazing at making connections between disparate ideas; they have an openness and freedom to look at things without thinking, “I can’t think that, I can’t do that, I can’t try that, I’m not good at that.”

So as you were creative as a child, you can be creative again!

It’s about opening yourself up to the wondrous magic that is in the world all the time. Take a walk with a three year old, and it won’t be in a straight line. It will take four or five times longer, or more! Children are not goal-orientated, they are all about noticing that beautiful flower or funny face in the shop, a piece of colourful glass on the floor, or a ladybird!

Inspire Your Creativity canal

Haas calls it “dreaming with your eyes wide open”. I love that it’s about shaking off the shackles of that adult training. So just look, wander, get lost, daydream. That’s when you start seeing things that you’ve blocked out in your ordinary day to day life.

Finally, I think many of us have become a culture aimed towards being too goal-orientated, so used to spending our time achieving things, and exchanging our time for achievement. But while it’s important to regularly take time to be creative, it doesn’t always have to lead to an outcome. Just the act of being creative, or looking, is fuel for the fire, even if it never leads anywhere. In fact let’s just throw outcomes out of the window, and get involved in taking photos for the sake of taking photos.

I think being creative is an incredible way to live, because it’s not just being locked into doing stuff, achieving stuff, focused on outcomes. It’s about being in wonder and awe of life.

Inspire Your Creativity quote fog

I think Henry Miller summoned it up perfectly when he wrote:

“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.”

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5 Ways Travel Can Inspire Your Wedding Photography

09 Aug

If you’ve shot a wedding you’ve likely had that moment where some obscure family tradition threw you off balance, you struggled to attach the right lens in time, and missed that once-in-a-lifetime shot. You can shoot a thousand weddings, but without knowing what to look for, you just might miss the biggest moments of the couple’s wedding day. But, if Continue Reading

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5 Ways Travel Can Inspire Your Wedding Photography

04 Aug

If you’ve shot a wedding you’ve likely had that moment where some obscure family tradition threw you off balance, you struggled to attach the right lens in time, and missed that once-in-a-lifetime shot. You can shoot a thousand weddings, but without knowing what to look for, you just might miss the biggest moments of the couple’s wedding day. But, if Continue Reading

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Think Tank Photo launches Helipak backpack for DJI Inspire drone

11 Jun

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Bag manufacturer Think Tank Photo has announced a new backpack designed for users of the DJI Inspire drone and other quadcopters of a similar size. The Helipak is capable of holding a single DJI Inspire craft as well as its gimbal, three lenses, spare propellers and six batteries, according to Think Tank Photo. There are also compartments for a 17in laptop and a pair of 8in tablets.

The idea of the Helipak is that it makes transporting the drone to ‘scenic’ locations much easier than via a hard flight case as it features shoulder straps that allow the whole thing to be carried on the user’s back. The backpack straps can also be stowed away to make the Helipak into a normal case with top and side handles.

While the case is made with soft materials it uses ‘twinwall’ reinforcement via a pair of ABS plastic shields within the outer construction that add extra rigid protection for the drone. The exterior is made with nylons and polyester that the company says provides a hardwearing and water repellent barrier, while zips are YKK RC Fuse and feature metal ‘hardwear’. In a promotional video Think Tank Photo claims that DJI’s own $ 200 case for the Inspire has poorly made zips that are prone to failing.

The bag is available now and costs $ 339.75. For more information see the Think Tank Photo website.

Press release

Think Tank Photo’s Helipak™ for DJI Inspire Backpack

Offers Superior Organization, Comfort, and Travel Portability

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA –Think Tank Photo has released the most well thought-out, comfortable, and protective backpack for users of DJI Inspire or other similarly sized quadcopters. The Helipak for DJI Inspire easily holds a DJI Inspire (parked with gimbal and rotors detached), Zenmuse gimbal with 3 lenses, 6x batteries, 2x controllers, 2 x 8” tablets, lots of extra propellers, and a 17” laptop and charger.

Movable dividers allow users to customize the fit of their gear in this fully featured backpack. The contoured tuck-away harness with lumbar support, cut-away air-channel, the adjustable sternum strap, and the removable padded waistbelt allow for extreme comfort while trekking into remote areas or simply pulling it from the car.

“The backpack’s ABS twinwall reinforcement provides a rigid shell that protects sensitive gear from impacts, bumps and scrapes,” said Think Tank Photo’s president and
lead designer, Doug Murdoch. “It also features YKK™ RC Fuse zippers, 1680D Ballistic nylon bottom panel, metal hardware, and nylon webbing that are the most durable, longest
lasting materials on the market. The last thing drone users want to worry about is if their backpack will hold up in rigorous outdoor conditions.”

ADDITIONAL KEY FEATURES

  • Large front pocket fits auxiliary items for the day’s outing: light jacket, 17” laptop pocket or a large tablet
  • Lockable zippers
  • Internal see-through mesh pockets for small accessories: propellers, screwdriver, cables, etc.
  • Deluxe organizer for smart phone, wallet, pens, keys, business cards, etc.
  • Water bottle pocket on side
  • Height adjustable sternum strap
  • Elastic pockets on shoulder straps for phone, energy bar, etc.
  • Robust handles on three sides ensure rapid and easy retrieval from airline overhead bins, car trunks, etc.
  • Seam-sealed rain cover helps to protect gear and stows away inside backpack when not in use

MATERIALS
Exterior: For superior water-resistance, all exterior fabric has a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating, plus the underside of the fabric has a polyurethane coating. It also has YKK® RC Fuse (abrasion-resistant) zippers, 1680D ballistic nylon bottom panel, 600D polyester, 420D velocity nylon, 3D air mesh, ultra-stretch pockets, Y-buckles, antique finish metal hardware, nylon webbing, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

Interior: 6mm ABS twinwall, removable closed cell foam dividers with PE board reinforcement, 200D polyester, polyurethane-backed 3-layer velex liner, 2x polyurethane coated nylon 210T seam-sealed rain cover, Belly-O mesh pockets, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Exterior Dimensions: 19.3” W x 24” H x 9.4” D (49 × 61 × 24cm)
Interior Dimensions: 17.3” W x 21.7” H x 7.9” D (44 × 55 × 20cm)
Laptop Compartment: 12.6” W x 16.9” H x 1.2” D (32 × 43 × 3cm)
Weight (with all accessories): 8.5 lbs. (3.9 kg)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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5 Tips for Thinking Out of the Box to Inspire Your Photography at Home

05 May

Have you ever felt like the inspiration well is running dry ?

You carry your camera with you everywhere you go, day in and day out, but you just don’t see Kodak moments any more? If you know that feeling, than you must have been around shutters and lenses for some time now, and can’t wait to see something new.

Wait no more! here are some ideas that will inspire you, and help you get rolling again.

Istanbul railway station

1 – Understanding the box in order to think out of it

Photography can be a very technical act; operating your camera in a scientific way, following exact rules that will bring the wanted results. Or it can be the act of an instant emotional reaction to the world, you see a moment and click, you grabbed just it before it’s gone forever, thinking can be done afterwards. Both ways are good and every photographer is captivated by a different mix of both.

Thinking out of the box requires a box to begin. If you find yourself uninterested in doing things that you already know and have done, that is your box. Underneath it is the magic that made you grab the camera for the first time, the thing that got you excited when you held your eye to the viewfinder. On your first encounters with the camera you fell in love with a simple magic that the camera can do, it is now the time to go back to that magic and do it all over again.

The hunt for an interesting texture photo while on a short brake from computer work, led me to this photo out of my studio’s window.

texture out of the window at home

2 – The routine dichotomy

Routine is often thought to be a major enemy of creativity. You walk by the same corner every day for years, and you get used to it so much that you stop seeing its potential to make great photos. On the other hand, routine is the frame in which you create. Once you get used to the background noise, you can pay attention to the little changes in light, color, and small details that are never the same as the day before.

Make routine your friend by focusing your attention on smaller details every time you walk by the same scene. Look out of your window at different hours of the day, over and over again until new details start popping up in your viewfinder.

look for details out of your window

3 – Shoot without a camera

You may put the blame for the drought on your camera, and go look for the latest pixel beast to get you all excited again, or you can try something new, you can try seeing pictures without a camera.

As you do things during your day, try to imagine what they would look like in different photos, with different focal lengths or different exposure values. You may also look at things through a paper cut frame. Hold the frame at a different distance from your eye to zoom in and out, think of your composition, and move on.

Using your imagination instead of a camera will ignite a new spark in the way you see photography. Then, next time that you want to take a photo, you will see it before even having the camera up to your eye.

think-out-of-the-box-photo

4 – The Dead End

Back in the days before smartphone and GPS, you had to find your way around when driving in a new place, and once you faced a dead end street, you had to u-turn and find a new way. That’s when you had to be creative and come up with an inventive solution. That leads to thinking out of the box.

That survival skill is still there and can be kicked in by defining small boundaries in which you photograph, limiting yourself to taking pictures in uncomfortable conditions. For example, do portraits with just a wide angle lens, or look for triangle shapes only with a telephoto lens. Creating dead ends for your photography will force you to find creative solutions, which will lead to new and exciting photographs of the same old world.

The Fuji X100's fixed lens has made me cross the street to get closer to this group of boys and created a strong feeling of speed. Photo by Ouria Tadmor

The Fuji X100’s fixed lens has made me cross the street to get closer to this group of boys and created a strong feeling of speed.

5 – Experiment with home made light

In your home there are many different light sources that would make a good starting point for a photo session, they can be the subject of your photo and the light source at the same time. When you start from the light source and challenge yourself to see where you can go with it, you challenge your creative mind to take a different path than the more common way of seeing something you want to photograph, and thinking how to light it. Mastering this thinking technique can be of use later when you might need to photograph a subject that is not talking to you, just go for the light.

Home lights as photo inspiration

Conclusion

It is not always possible to stay creative and inspired in photography, but the innovative side of your brain can be kept in shape by repeating these small exercises regularly, at home with any type of camera. Do so and you are promised to come home with better photos next time you go on a photographic vacation.

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DJI Inspire 1 Raw Edition with Zenmuse X5R 4K MFT camera starts shipping March 28

26 Mar

The DJI Inspire 1 Raw Edition quadcopter with Micro Four Thirds Zenmuse X5R camera will begin shipping on March 28, the company has announced. Additionally, DJI plans to start shipping the standalone Zenmuse X5R camera on March 31 for those who want to buy it separately. The Zenmuse X5R features interchangeable lenses, remote-controlled aperture and focus and records 4K video.

According to DJI, the Zenmuse X5R is the smallest lossless 4K camera designed for use with drones. Videos are recorded at an average bitrate of 1.7Gbps (up to 2.4Gbps) in CinemaDNG to an internal SSD. Likewise, the X5R also features a D-LOG mode for more flexible post-production color grading.

The Inspire 1 Raw with Zenmuse X5R was announced in September 2015 and is currently available for preorder. DJI stated today that both products will go up for sale through its own stores and through its dealers, as well as through ‘all sales channels’ starting next week. The drone with camera is listed for $ 5,999 on B&H Photo’s website.

Via: DJI Forum

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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