360Photography

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  • The Dutch police have shut down their drone-catching eagle program

    Dutch police are retiring their drone-catching eagles due to a combination of performance issues and a lack of need, according to a report from NOS. The eagles were originally deployed as a way to intercept wayward (and potentially dangerous) drones, but training the eagles is reportedly too costly, and the need for them is too low.

    Various solutions have been developed to deal with the issue of drones flying where they’re not allowed, but the eagles were probably the most interesting, and definitely the coolest to watch in action. In fact, you can see a demonstration of one of these trained eagles in the video below:

    Other drone-control solutions involve police drones that launch nets to capture the unwelcome drones, and jamming devices that disrupt a drone’s ability to communicate with its remote control, causing the device to return home. The Netherlands, however, chose to experiment with eagles instead.

    Unfortunately, despite intense training, the eagles didn’t always act as intended, reports NOS, citing a statement from a police spokesperson. Given these training troubles, officials worries that the eagles might not perform as expected when used outside of their training environment.

    Between this possibility and a (surprising?) lack of demand for drone-catching eagles, the program is now officially shut down.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • High Sight launches the Mini portable cable camera system

    Manufacturer of cable camera systems High Sight has unveiled the latest addition to its product lineup. The Mini System was designed with portability and ease of use in mind, but builds on High Sight’s experience building larger and more complex products. The unit is controlled via a button interface and can carry gimbals, such as the DJI Osmo, Gopro Karma Grip and similar models.

    “The High Sight Mini has been a blast to create and will be a game changer.” said Kevin Brower, president and chief executive officer of High Sight. “The Mini has evolved into something more than we could’ve hoped for. With our ping pong mode, you can set it up and walk away, it’s like having an extra cameraman on set just continually getting great footage.”

    The Mini uses speed and position sensing for smooth movement and has been developed to be be fully autonomous. According to High Sight, this means the operator can focus on camera control, allowing for single user operation when normally two users would be required.

    The Mini is made from machined aluminum and weighs only 1.3 lbs (0.6 kg). It can carry a payload of 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) and easily fits into a backpack.

    The demo reel below will give you a better idea of the kind of shots that are possible with the company’s cable systems. And if you think the Mini could be a useful tool for shooting your next video, you can find more information on the High Sight website.

    Press Release:

    High Sight Mini Sets The Bar With Ultra-Portable Design And Smart Functionality

    Features Fully Autonomous Mode, Whisper Quiet Movement, and Reliable Performance. High Sight Launches New Product Allowing One of a Kind Shot.

    Salt Lake City, Utah, November 7th, 2017 – High Sight (highsightcam.com) cable camera systems is proud to launch the ultra-portable and fully autonomous Mini system. The new system was developed through years of experience building larger and more complex products. The Mini was brought about when creator and owner of High Sight saw a need for a smaller version in their current product line.

    “The High Sight Mini has been a blast to create and will be a game changer.” said Kevin Brower, president and chief executive officer of High Sight. “The Mini has evolved into something more than we could’ve hoped for. With our ping pong mode, you can set it up and walk away, it’s like having an extra cameraman on set just continually getting great footage.”

    Innovative: The Mini was designed to be compact, easy to use, and intelligent. Through years of experience High Sight developed the mini to be fully autonomous. By eliminating the task of controlling the Mini the operator can focus live camera control. This functionality allows for a single user to capture the same shot that would normally require two users. The Mini is great at capturing new and creative angles. Use it to shoot
    interesting b-roll or set it on ping pong mode and capture great moments in your next BTS video.

    • Intelligent speed and position sensing for perfectly smooth movement
    • Fully Autonomous mode
    • Button interface for quick and easy operation
    • Compact size allows for maximum portability
    • ¼-20 mount to carry gimbals like the DJI Osmo, Gopro Karma Grip and many more
    • Machined aluminum for increased durability and protection
    • Made in the USA

    Specs and Details:

    • Weight: 1.3 lbs. / .6 kg
    • Dimensions: 7.48” Long : 3.2″ Wide : 2.3″ Tall
    • Max Payload: 3.3 lbs. / 1.5 kg
    • Max Speed: 10 mph
    • Battery: Rechargeable: Lithium ion battery

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • These are the winners of Nat Geo’s Nature Photographer of the Year 2017

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    National Geographic has revealed the winners of their annual Nature Photographer of the Year contest, and as usual, every photo from the Grand Prize winner all the way to the Honorable Mentions and People’s Choice awards are fantastic.

    The Grand Prize this year—and title of Nature Photographer of the Year—went to Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan of Singapore, who captured an intense wildlife portrait of an orangutan crossing a river in Indonesia’s Tanjung Puting National Park. The photo, titled “Face to Face in a River in Borneo,” was selected from over 11,000 entries and earns Bojan $ 10,000 in prize money, in addition to his image showing up in an upcoming issue of National Geographic.

    Speaking of the moment he captured the shot, Bojan told Nat Geo:

    Honestly, sometimes you just go blind when things like this happen. You’re so caught up. You really don’t know what’s happening. You don’t feel the pain, you don’t feel the mosquito bites, you don’t feel the cold, because your mind is completely lost in what’s happening in front of you.

    You can see Bojan’s grand prize winning image, as well as every 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and People’s Choice winner in the slideshow above, or by visiting the National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year website.

    Press Release

    National Geographic Announces Winners of the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

    WASHINGTON (Dec. 12, 2017) – Selected from over 11,000 entries, a wildlife photo of an orangutan crossing a river in Indonesia’s Tanjung Puting National Park has been selected as the grand-prize winner of the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The photo, titled “Face to face in a river in Borneo,” was captured by Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan of Singapore. He has won $ 10,000 and will have his winning image published in an upcoming issue of National Geographic magazine and featured on the @NatGeo Instagram account.

    Bojan took the winning photo after waiting patiently in the Sekoyner River in Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, Indonesia. After spending several days on a houseboat photographing orangutans in the park, Bojan learned of a location where a male orangutan had crossed the river –­ unusual behavior that he knew he had to capture. After waiting a day and night near the suspected location, a ranger spotted the orangutan the next morning at a spot a few minutes up the river. As they drew near, Bojan decided to get into the water so the boat did not scare the primate. About five feet deep in a river supposedly home to freshwater crocodiles, Bojan captured the photo when the orangutan peeked out from behind a tree to see if the photographer was still there.

    On capturing the photo, Bojan said, “Honestly, sometimes you just go blind when things like this happen. You’re so caught up. You really don’t know what’s happening. You don’t feel the pain, you don’t feel the mosquito bites, you don’t feel the cold, because your mind is completely lost in what’s happening in front of you.”

    Karim Iliya of Haiku, Hawaii, won first place in the Landscapes category for a photo from Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park; Jim Obester of Vancouver, Wash., won first place in the Underwater category for a photo of an anemone; and Todd Kennedy of New South Wales, Australia, won first place in the Aerials category for a photo of a rock pool in Sydney at high tide.

    The judges for the contest were National Geographic magazine’s senior photo editor of natural history assignments, Kathy Moran, National Geographic photographer Anand Varma, and photographer Michaela Skovranova.

    Contestants submitted photographs in four categories – Wildlife, Landscape, Aerials and Underwater – through National Geographic’s photography community, Your Shot. All of the winning photos, along with the honorable mentions, may be viewed at natgeo.com/photocontest.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    1st Place | Wildlife and Grand Prize Winner

    Photo © Jayprakash Joghee Bojan, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    A male orangutan peers from behind a tree while crossing a river in Borneo, Indonesia.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    1st Place | Underwater

    Photo © Jim Obester, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Jim Obester, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Blue-filtered strobe lights stimulate fluorescent pigments in the clear tentacles of a tube-dwelling anemone in Hood Canal, Washington.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    1st Place | Landscapes

    Photo © Karim Iliya, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Karim Iliya, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Shortly before twilight in Kalapana, Hawai’i, a fragment of the cooled lava tube broke away, leaving the molten rock to fan in a fiery spray for less than half an hour before returning to a steady flow.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    1st Place | Aerials

    Photo © Todd Kennedy, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Todd Kennedy, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    In Sydney, Australia, the Pacific Ocean at high tide breaks over a natural rock pool enlarged in the 1930s. Avoiding the crowds at the city’s many beaches, a local swims laps.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    2nd Place | Wildlife

    Photo © Alejandro Prieto, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Alejandro Prieto, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    An adult Caribbean pink flamingo feeds a chick in Yucatán, Mexico. Both parents alternate feeding chicks, at first with a liquid baby food called crop milk, and then with regurgitated food.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    2nd Place | Underwater

    Photo © Shane Gross, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Shane Gross, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Typically a shy species, a Caribbean reef shark investigates a remote-triggered camera in Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen marine protected area.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    2nd Place | Landscapes

    Photo © Yuhan Liao, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Yuhan Liao, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Sunlight glances off mineral strata of different colors in Dushanzi Grand Canyon, China.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    2nd Place | Aerials

    Photo © Takahiro Bessho, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Takahiro Bessho, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Snow-covered metasequoia trees, also called dawn redwoods, interlace over a road in Takashima, Japan.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    3rd Place | Wildlife

    Photo © Bence Mate, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Bence Mate, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Two grey herons spar as a white-tailed eagle looks on in Hungary.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    3rd Place | Underwater

    Photo © Michael Patrick O’Neill, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Michael Patrick O’Neill, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Buoyed by the Gulf Stream, a flying fish arcs through the night-dark water five miles off Palm Beach, Florida.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    3rd Place | Landscapes

    Photo © Mike Olbinski, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Mike Olbinski Photography, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    A summer thunderstorm unleashes lightning on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    3rd Place | Aerials

    Photo © Greg C., 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Greg C., 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    On the flanks of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai’i, the world’s only lava ocean entry spills molten rock into the Pacific Ocean. After erupting in early 2016, the lava flow took about two months to reach the sea, six miles away.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    People’s Choice | Wildlife

    Photo © Harry Collins, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Harry Collins, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    A great gray owl swoops to kill in a New Hampshire field.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    People’s Choice | Underwater

    Photo © Matthew Smith, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Matthew Smith, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    A Portuguese man-of-war nears the beach on a summer morning; thousands of these jellyfish wash up on Australia’s eastern coast every year.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    People’s Choice | Landscapes

    Photo © Wojciech Kruczynski, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by Wojciech Kruczy?ski, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Sunset illuminates a lighthouse and rainbow in the Faroe Islands.

    2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

    People’s Choice | Aerials

    Photo © David Swindler, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year.

    Photograph by David Swindler, 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

    Green vegetation blooms at the river’s edge, or riparian, zone of a meandering canyon in Utah.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Lomography’s 3-in-1 Neptune lens system is officially on sale

    After raising $ 585,085 through Kickstarter earlier this year, Lomography is finally ready to release its Neptune three-in-one lens system for sale to the general public. This odd system uses a single lens base that accepts three different front element groups to can create three individual focal lengths.

    The Neptune system provides 35mm f/3.5, 50mm f/2.8 and 80mm f/4 optical configurations via the interchangeable front groups, and two switchable iris units. The kits are available in Nikon, Canon and Pentax mounts and cost £840/$ 990.

    The kits come with all three front element groups—called Despina, Thalassa and Proteus—as well as a set of cut-out stops that influence the shape of out-of-focus highlights to create stars, discs and crosses, among others. A set of adapters is also available for MFT, Fujifilm X and Sony NX cameras that work with the Nikon F and Canon EF mount versions.

    For more information, read the full release below or visit the Lomography website.

    Press Release

    The Neptune Convertible Art Lens System

    One Story, Unlimited Endings – Now Available in the Lomography Online Shop and Gallery Stores Worldwide

    • One System, Three Prime Lenses, Two Aperture Mechanisms: The Neptune Convertible Art Lens System packs countless creative options into one compact package. Mix and match focal lengths, f/stops, and special aperture plates to adapt the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System to your style, mood or subject.
    • Three Fixed Focal Lengths for Flawless Images in Every Situation: This handcrafted lens system delivers superb optical quality at a fixed focal length of 3.5/35mm, 2.8/50mm or 4/80mm. The Neptune Convertible Art Lens System offers clean and crisp shots, dense colors and unlimited freedom of choice.
    • A Dual Aperture System for Extended Creative Options: Rely on the seamless iris diaphragm aperture mechanism for stunningly sharp photos and videos, or use the special drop-in aperture plates to create rich bokeh.
    • An Expandable System to Grow With Your Creativity: Inspired by Charles Chevalier’s innovative concept, the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System looks to the future — Lomography is already designing a brand new front lens with an ultra-wide- angle focal length of 15mm.

    One System, Three Prime Lenses, Two Aperture Mechanisms:

    The Neptune Convertible Art Lens System offers unlimited stylistic possibilities to a whole new generation of photographers. It’s a single lens system that consists of three interchangeable lenses, each of which can be attached to the lens base to shoot at a fixed focal length of 3.5/35mm, 2.8/50mm or 4/80mm. What’s more, you can switch through a range of apertures and use special drop-in aperture plates to achieve countless shooting styles.

    Ideal for photography and perfect for videography because of its seamless aperture, the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System offers you the ideal tools and much more for complete creative freedom — whether you’re capturing street, fashion, nature, portraiture or just the beautiful simplicity of everyday life. After months of hard work and incredible support from Kickstarter backers around the world, Lomography is excited to announce the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System is now available in the Lomography Online Shop and Gallery Stores worldwide.

    Three Fixed Focal Lengths for Flawless Images in Every Situation:

    Each Neptune Convertible Art Lens System has been carefully assembled by hand using the finest multi- coated glass optics. Your shots will be clean, crisp and filled with strong, saturated colors even at the unrivalled closest focusing distances of 0.25m (35mm), 0.38m (50mm), 0.8m (80mm). With three elements in three groups in the lens base, and four elements in four groups in each of the interchangeable front lenses, the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System delivers prime-lens optical quality whilst offering a choice of three different fixed focal lengths.

    Use the Thalassa 3.5/35 Art Lens to frame architecture, street and urban scenes at 35mm; rely on the versatile 50mm focal length of the Despina 2.8/50 Art Lens for fashion, editorial and everyday; or change to the Proteus 4/80 Art Lens and shoot perfect portraits and beautiful nature photography at 80mm. Inspired by Neptune’s moons, each focal length is determined by the proximity of their lens’ namesake to that distant, blue planet. Handcrafted to be lightweight and portable, the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System is small, compact and the only thing you need in your bag — no matter where your creativity takes you.

    A Dual Aperture System for Extended Creative Options

    Each of the interchangeable lens elements of the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System works with a seamless iris diaphragm aperture mechanism to produce meticulously sharp images at smaller apertures, and beautiful smooth bokeh at larger apertures. Each prime lens has its own optimal maximum aperture — f/3.5 for Thalassa, f/2.8 for Despina and f/4.0 for Proteus; but you can also push beyond these to experiment and produce unique effects with the Thalassa and Proteus lens elements. And that’s not all — the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System also includes special aperture plates that you can insert in front of the iris diaphragm to edge your frame with delicate bokeh.

    An Expandable System to Grow With Your Creativity

    The potential of the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System is unlimited. Inspired by Charles Chevalier’s first convertible lens from the 19th century, Lomography is redefining this classic yet ground-breaking concept as an expandable lens system.

    Thanks to the support of Kickstarter backers worldwide, Lomography has already been able to release a Neptune Convertible Art Lens System macro adapter. And that’s not all — having asked backers to vote for their preferred focal length, Lomography is also designing Naiad, a brand new front lens with an ultra-wide-angle focal length of 15mm.

    No matter where your creativity takes you, with this Art Lens System in your bag, you’ll be ready for everything. Available in Canon EF, Nikon F or Pentax K mount and compatible with a wide range of other cameras using adapters available from Lomography, it’s the ideal solution for photographers and videographers everywhere.

    Thalassa 3.5/35mm Despina 2.8/50mm Proteus 4/80mm

    Tech Specs

    Focal Length: 35mm, 50mm, 80mm, front element group convertible
    Aperture: Dual aperture system

    • Multi-scaled diaphragm aperture: 35mm: extended, f/3.5 – f/22 , 50mm: f/2.8 – f/22, 80mm: extended, f/4 – f/22
    • Drop-in aperture plates

    Field of View: 35mm: 63°, 50mm: 46°, 80mm: 30°
    Lens Mounting Profile: Canon EF, Nikon F or Pentax K
    Closest Focusing Distance: 35mm: 0.25m , 50mm: 0.4m, 80mm: 0.8m
    Lens Construction:

    • Lens Base: 3 elements in 3 groups
    • Front Lens: 4 elements in 4 groups for each focal length

    Filter Thread: 52mm
    Lens Coating: Multi-coated Electronic Contacts: No Focusing Mechanism: Helicoid

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Have your say: Best smartphone of 2017

    This year was a busy one for smartphone manufacturers, with major new handsets released from all of the big players. Take a look at some of 2017’s noteworthy new phones, and vote for your favorite!

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Smartphones dominated Flickr’s 2017 uploads, but DSLRs are on the rise

    Photo by Max Delsid

    The iPhone has dominated Flickr’s annual ‘top devices’ list, representing 54% of the site’s top 100 devices in 2017, as well as the majority of the site’s 10 top devices list. These figures were published as part of Flickr’s end-of-year analysis, in which the platform reveals what cameras are most popular among its users, as well as highlighting the site’s top photos of the year.

    Flickr’s 2017 Year in Review report shows that smartphones were once again the device of choice among the site’s users, increasing from 48% in 2016 to a full 50% of uploads in 2017.

    But it’s not all smartphones this and smartphones that. In fact, DSLRs were used to take 33% of the images uploaded to Flickr this year compared to just 25% in 2016. And in an utterly predictable turn of events, the use of point-and-shoot cameras dropped from 2016’s 21% to a paltry 12% this year.

    Mirrorless cameras were the only ones to hold steady, boasting just 4% of uploads in both 2016 and 2017.

    Looking at brands specifically, Apple dominates Flickr’s 2017 annual review, with its iPhone representing 54% of the top 100 devices of the year. Flickr says that 9 of the top 10 devices were iPhone models; only the Canon 5D Mark III tarnished that record, coming in at #9. Canon, overall, was the second biggest brand on Flickr this year, accounting for 23% of the top 100 devices. Nikon came in third at 18%.

    Flickr has a very large user base at 75 million, making its annual report a notable insight into which devices are most popular with the general public. Just like its top 25 photos of the year give us an idea of the photographic styles that appeal to the most people.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Lumoid gear rental service has been shut down

    Lumoid, a startup that offered photography gear and other gadgets for rent, has been officially shut down. The process had actually been underway for months, but was only officially revealed to the public late last week. According to company founder Aarthi Ramamurthy, who recently posted about the matter on Facebook, the team had “gradually wound down Lumoid” over the last four months, including selling its IP and assets.

    The Lumoid website is still live and showing various gadget rental categories; however, clicking on any given rental item shows that it is no longer in stock. Speaking to TechCrunch, Ramamurthy indicated that it was Lumoid’s deal with Best Buy earlier this year that led to the decision to close the service down. The company was ultimately unable to get the money it needed to scale up the business to meet Best Buy’s needs.

    Though Lumoid is gone, other camera and lens rental services remain, including the newly merged Lensrentals and LensProTogo, and Borrow Lenses.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Olympus 45mm F1.2 Pro sample gallery updated

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    The Olympus 45mm F1.2 is one of the company’s three F1.2 lenses, promising ‘feathered’ bokeh wide open, and a portrait-friendly effective focal length of 90mm. We’ve had one for a while, and we just updated our samples gallery with some F1.2 images shot on an Olympus-organized trip to Charleston, South Carolina.

    See our Olympus 45mm F1.2 Pro
    sample gallery

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Major Update: Adobe adds tone curve, split toning and more to Lightroom CC

    The tone curve, one of the most important features missing from Lightroom CC 1.0, is finally being added. Photo: Adobe

    Adobe has launched a major update to the entirely Lightroom CC ecosystem today, releasing major updates for Lightroom CC on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and the web, in addition to a few updates for Lightroom Classic CC and Adobe Camera Raw. If you’re a Creative Cloud subscriber, you’ll want to update ASAP.

    Here’s what Adobe has in store for you with this latest Lightroom update.

    Tone Curve and Split Toning

    Two of the most useful and conspicuously absent features in Lightroom CC 1.0 were the Tone Curve and Split Toning. Well, there’s no longer any reason to hop back into Lightroom Classic CC to take advantage of these: they’re coming to Lightroom CC.

    You’ll find the Tone Curve next to the Auto button in the Light panel, where you can choose between Parametric Curve or Point Curve modes, as well as the Red, Green, and Blue channels.

    Split Toning lives in the Effects panel, where you can … well … split tone.

    Adobe Sensei Auto Mode

    Another major feature improvement coming with the December update is Auto mode, which is now much more intelligent thanks to Adobe Sensei artificial intelligence platform. From Adobe’s blog post about the update:

    Using an advanced neural network powered by Adobe Sensei, our artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning platform, the new Auto Settings creates a better photo by analyzing your photo and comparing to tens of thousands of professionally edited photos to create a beautiful, pleasing image.

    This new Auto mode is launching ecosystem wide—you’ll find it in Lightroom CC, Lightroom CC for iOS, Lightroom CC for Android, Lightroom CC on the web, Lightroom Classic, and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).

    Everything Else

    The three updates above are the most impactful, but the December update comes with a bit more to enjoy.

    • Lightroom CC now lets you change the capture time of an image or batch of images (“providing relief for those times that you forgot to change your camera’s time or time zone settings.”).
    • Lightroom CC for Android received several bug fixes and the ability to launch directly into popular modes from the home screen by pressing and holding the app icon.
    • Lightroom CC for iOS now lets you create and customize a text based watermark for your images on export, and HDR capture has been improved.
    • Lightroom Classic CC and Adobe Camera RAW are seeing some ‘refinements’ to the Color Range Masking tool.
    • And, finally, Adobe has added support for new cameras and lenses, including the Sony a7R III, Leica CL, iPhone X, and Google Pixel 2 among others.

    You can read more about the December update on Adobe’s blog. CC subscribers just have to update their copy to the latest version to take advantage of all the features described above.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • 19 inspiring entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    The Sony World Photography Awards—one of the largest annual competitions in the world of photography—is just a month away from closing its entries. To remind photographers of this deadline (and just maybe brag a little bit about the quality of the entries they’ve received so far—World Press Photo has released a teaser of 19 stunning entries submitted to the competition so far.

    From perfectly composed black-and-white street portraits, to spectacular wildlife images, to landscape photos that’ll rev up your wanderlust, there’s a little something for everyone in this Holiday teaser.

    Scroll through the slideshow to see them all for yourself. And if you’re planning to submit your own entry, you can do so for free right here. Just remember: the submission deadline for the Open, Youth, and National Award competitions is January 4th, 2018, and the deadline for the Professional – Best Series of Works competition is January 11th, 2018.

    Press Release

    New images released to mark one month until deadline of 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    December 5, 2017 – Photographers worldwide have just one month left to enter the 11th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards. To mark this deadline, the World Photography Organisation, the creators of the Awards, today releases a new selection of entries from the Open competition. Submitted by photographers from around the world, the images cover a wide variety of topics, from stunning aerial landscapes to intimate portraits and animals in the wild.

    The internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards are one of the most important fixtures on the worldwide photographic calendar, with many of its shortlisted and winning photographers gaining global exposure and recognition. Last year’s Photographer of the Year, Frederik Buyckx (Belgium) said, “Being named Photographer of the Year has given me more exposure than I could ever have imagined. It has opened doors but, just as importantly, the awards has also encouraged me to keep on working on my personal projects.”

    Past shortlisted photographer Simon Butterworth (UK) said “It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this achievement to my career, the global coverage was amazing, in fact, interest in my work as a direct result of the awards continues to this day.”

    All entries to the Awards are free at www.worldphoto.org/swpa

    Deadlines and Jury

    The 2018 judges have been tasked to reward the very best contemporary photography from the past year across the following competitions:

    Open – best single image
    Youth – photographers aged 12-19, best single image
    National Award – best single image taken by a local photographer from 60+ countries Deadline: January 4, 2018

    Professional – best series of works
    Deadline: January 11, 2018

    The juries are chaired by Mike Trow, Picture Editor, British Vogue (Professional competition) and Zelda Cheatle, Curator (Open, Youth competitions and National Awards). Full details about the 2018 jury can be found at www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/2018- judges

    Key dates

    The shortlist for all competitions of the Awards will be announced on February 28, 2018. The Open and National Awards winners will be announced March 20, 2018. The Photographer of the Year and the Professional category winners will be announced April 19, 2018.

    Prizes and exhibition

    Prizes include $ 25,000 (USD) for the Photographer of the Year and $ 5,000 (USD) for the overall Open competition winner. All category winners will receive the latest Sony Digital Imaging equipment and Professional category winners are flown to London to attend the Sony World Photography Awards dinner on Thursday April 19, 2018.

    The Awards’ winning and shortlisted images will once again be exhibited at Somerset House, London. Running April 20 – May 6 2018, the exhibition will also include exclusive new works by the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award, to be announced in January 2018. Previous recipients include Martin Parr (2017), RongRong&inri (2016), Elliot Erwitt (2015) and Mary Ellen Mark (2014)

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Back to the future by Sung Lok Cheung | Image © Sung Lok Cheung, Hong Kong (China), Entry, Open, Portraiture (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    The photo was taken at TeamLab, Dance! Art Exibition, Shenzhen, China, in a venue called the Crystal Universe. The light illusion is an artwork that uses an accumulation of light points to create a sculptural body.

    By this time, I had been waiting with my friend for the right composition to happen. I saw a little girl in a red dress running around. I kept on waiting and waiting expecting that she would come to the perfect spot. Luckily she ran out again by the channel. I found it is so called “The Decisive Moment”. I couldn’t wait to press the shutter, when the lighting was perfectly right, to create a beautiful moment. It looked like the girl was crossing a time tunnel.

    That is why I put “Back to the Future “ as the title of my photo. I was inspired by the idea that opportunities are to be left to those who are well prepared. Or, to put it another way, that good preparation is the way to become successful. By pressing the shutter at the right moment, an amazing photo was finally realised.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Life in Macau by António Leong | Image © António Leong, Portugal, Entry, Open, Street Photography (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    Macau is probably better known as a gambling city near Hong Kong, but very few know that it is the most densely populated city in the world—over 18,000 people packed in a km square. High rise residential buildings are everywhere in town. How many stories are in each Kilometer cube?

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    African Mystery by Matthieu Rivart | Image © Matthieu Rivart, France, Entry, Open, Wildlife (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    The photo was taken during my last trip in Kalahari (Kgalagadi Park, South Africa), last September. The Kalahari lions are famous for their black mane.

    After a long drive through the park, I came across two of them, sharing a springbok kill. A violent fight took place between the two to get the best pieces. They ultimately headed towards the nearby waterhole, where they got a rest during the sunset, which gave me the perfect opportunity to capture their legendary beauty.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Morning Glory by Huibo Hou | Image © Huibo Hou, United States of America, Entry, Open, Landscape & Nature (2018 Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    Morning glory hot spring in Winter, Yellowstone National Park, USA

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    The Horns at sunrise by Vincent Chen | Image © Vincent Chen, China, Entry, Open, Landscape & Nature (2018 Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    I took this photo in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Patagonia region in Feb 2017.

    I came to this secluded viewpoint in early morning and was fortunate to get pretty amazing weather. The sunshine shone onto the famous Cuernos del Paine peaks—they looked magnificent and incredible.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    On White by Chris MacDonald | Image © Chris MacDonald , Canada, Entry, Open, Wildlife (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    A red fox stands in the snow. I was out for a hike in the early January snow when I cam across a set of fox tracks. I followed them around a curve and found this fox standing in a clearing. I got down to my knees quickly to try not to scare him off and started taking pictures.

    As some of the heavy snow fell of the trees, he paused and turn to see what was making the noise. I have photographed this fox over many years. His nose is so distinctive it helps to identify him. By getting low, it gave me the snow in the background to create the isolated effect of white.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Untitled by Oliver San Juan | Image © Oliver San Juan, Philippines, Entry, Open, Street Photography (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    This photo was taken somewhere in the famous Divisoria Market of Manila, and shows 3 generations of men.

    First is a kid that seems to be playing, the middle-aged man in the center seems to be thinking of something deeply, while the last man sits very relaxed while reading a newspaper. It is like an evolution from being a playful kid to a relaxed, worry-free old man.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Newspaper… by Martin Schubert | Image © Martin Schubert, Czech Republic, Entry, Open, Street Photography (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    I was waiting on a tram in Prague, and this man was sat eating a snack. First, I photographed the scene from another angle, but when I noticed the poster behind him I moved fast to the right place and shot this picture. After 30 seconds he stood up and left.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Little Indian by Virgilio Liberaton | Image © Virgilio Liberato, Philippines, Entry, Open, Portraiture (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    The photo is taken around March or February 2017, when its still cold here in Kuwait. Its a park we shoot in actually here in Kuwait, where its not allowed to shoot at any park or location unless you have permits—let’s just say I’m a run and gun photographer.

    The park is named Green Island. It’s near the seaside and not too many photos were taken there because you need to pay to get into the park. It was a little bit cold at that time, so not too many people were going to the park. The model is wearing a Native American headdress because we can’t bring extra people on that shoot, and its also not allowed for that headdress to be seen here in Kuwait.

    This scene was just timing. We had finished our shoot, and while going home I found the spot that would be great for her: a bush that she could pass through, but only a little space so I imagined letting her pass by and calling to her. In the instant I captured her eyes, its hard for her because of small thorns of the bushes.

    So thats how I got her photo. Paying attention at the last minute helped me find that great spot, which I didn’t see when we came to the location.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Nattfari, Húsavík by Matteo Redaelli | Image © Matteo Redaelli, Italy, Entry, Open, Travel (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    Whale watching is a wonderful experience to enjoy if you travel across Iceland. This boat, Náttfari, is a traditional Icelandic wooden boat sailing the most of the year around Skjalfandi Bay, where you can enjoy this majestic and unique experience of whale watching.

    The afternoon I took this picture was really unexpected because the morning the weather was truly better. That is the fun part of Iceland. I feel joyful when a normal morning suddenly transforms into an unusual afternoon. That was exactly what happened during this day.

    I remember that it was very cold but at the same time so nice because was unexpected such a lot of snow around Skjalfandi Bay on Náttfari. Knowing that the Bay was surrounded by humpbacks whales was another point for the wonderful experience it was. I love to travel and share my time with nice people as the crew was on Náttfari for the time I was there for a scientific project.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Lunch Break by Omer Faidi | Image © Omer Faidi, Turkey, Entry, Open, Street Photography (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    At lunchtime in my office, I went out to the balcony and when I saw the workers at the construction site next door, I said “wow!” I went back inside to get my camera and shot them from the 6th floor. They were looking very peaceful and natural.

    I returned shortly after, and the moment had passed.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Jump by Milo Angelo Ramella | Image © Milo Angelo Ramella, Italy, Entry, Open, Wildlife (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    Jump: A snowy owl flies, alarmed by the call of another female.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Wanma Pentium by Shen Jianfeng | Image © Shen Jianfeng, China, Entry, Open, Travel (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    My image was taken in July 2017, in the grassland grazing area of Wulangbu Dam in Inner Mongolia, China.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    The Big Meringue by Placido Faranda | Image © Placido Faranda, Italy, Entry, Open, Landscape & Nature (2018 Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    Scala dei Turchi (The Turkish Steps) is a white cliff in Realmonte (Sicily), made of a soft limestone and a blinding white marlstone. Natural erosion has created steps on the cliff face, making it look soft and sinuous, like a Big Meringue covered with sprinkles (the people sitting and walking on it).

    The origin of the name “Turkish Steps” is intriguing. While there is a big resemblance to Pamukkale (Turkey), the designation of “Turkish” was given centuries ago by local people, for the frequent raids carried by Turkish pirates on this area. Legend says they would find a shelter for their boats behind this rocky formation, and then climb the “steps” of the cliff and raid the villages.

    Today, Scala dei Turchi is a wonderful spot for viewing the sunset, as the bright white marl turns into a strong orange. Only after shooting this image, while watching it on a bigger screen, did I notice the newlywed couple in the frame kissing for their wedding photoshoot. Exactly at the edge of the cliff.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    K means kite by Krzysztof ?wik | Image © Krzysztof ?wik, Poland, Entry, Open, Street Photography (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    The kite competition on the Marseille beach. France.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Papuma by Haryadi Bakri | Image © Haryadi Bakri, Indonesia, Entry, Open, Enhanced (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    The picture of Papuma taken on 8 October 2017 on my 7 day trip to Bromo Mountain, then to Papuma Beach at East Java, Indonesia.

    It was my first time visiting Papuma beach, at Jember City. I arrived at midnight from the Surabaya night train after finishing my 3-night trip hunting star trails at Bromo mountain.

    Papuma Beach is not actually at the city, but far on the southern tip of the coastline. I had to return to to beach 3 times in a day just to make sure I had the right location for capturing the clouds and the stars at night—sadly, it was very cloudy at night, so I’m combining the star trails from Bromo mountain.

    That’s it, but before combining, I made sure the south pole in the picture is in the right position as the real location. No doubt, this is the image that I wanted to create.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    The child and the reindeer by Pehuen Grotti | Image © Pehuen Grotti, France, Entry, Open, Travel (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    Every morning, all the reindeer are released so they can graze all day, and at night they all come back themselves. Here we can see one of the Tsataan children taking care of his reindeer before the cold night comes.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Golden Happy Hour by Hans Gunnar Aslaksen | Image © Hans Gunnar Aslaksen, Norway, Entry, Open, Landscape & Nature (2018 Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    This image was taken in October in a small bay in Larvik, southern Norway. Larvik is a small town south of Oslo.

    The location for this image is not far from where I live. It is kind of a secret gem that few people know about. I discovered the place and its potential on a local hike I did. I have been here several times under different weather conditions. This location is quite tricky as it needs perfect waves to work. That means that they cant be to big or else you and the camera will get soaked. But calm water will not add enough interest and dynamic to the image.

    This specific evening the waves where just perfect. Just big enough to wash over the stones and not to big so I could get a low angle with the camera. The setting sun was also in a perfect position—the low sun was not obstructed by clouds and it lit up the rocks in the bay beautifully.

    I knew that the sun would set in just half an hour, so I had to work fast and find the best composition. The light just got better and better and I knew that I had a chance to capture something special. I tried to anchor the shot with the beautiful stones in the foreground and experimented with different shutter speeds to create interesting movement in the waves. I tried to make every element lead up to the sunstar for a strong composition. I am very pleased that also the clouds acts as leading lines towards the setting sun.

    19 of the best entries from the Sony World Photography Awards

    Frazzled by Zhayynn James | Image © Zhayynn James, India, Entry, Open, Wildlife (Open competition), 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

    A handsome alpha male Lion-tailed Macaque keeps a wary eye on the rest of his troop after a drink of water. They are one of the most endangered primate species in the world and are highly endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.

    Their species is fragmented across the Western Ghats in pockets and their future, much like this male’s mane, looks frazzled.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)