Why am I talking about Bitcoin here? Because everyone is? Not exactly. For one, you can now exchange bitcoin into dollars and that can buy some nice photo gear. If only there was a way to get bitcoin without spending thousands of dollars building a rig that sounds like an airport runway in your basement and destroys your electric bill. Continue Reading
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Some amateurs think that photographing real estate is as easy as walking into a room and taking a photo. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. It’s a skill you must practice so you can master it. That is if you want to succeed in this competitive field. In real estate photography, one of the questions asked by amateurs is the Continue Reading
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Google Photos is the default online image management platform for many mobile and desktop users, but until now, it’s been lacking one pretty basic feature that is available in most comparable applications: the ability to favorite photos.
Today Google closed this glaring gap in the Photos feature set, announcing via Twitter that it is rolling out a feature that allows users to tap a star in the upper right corner of any photo in their library. This automatically adds the image to the new Favorites album, making it easier to manage your most cherished images.
It’s OK to play favorites. Rolling out this week, tap the ?? button to mark a photo as a favorite. Head to the Albums tab and view all your favorites in one place. pic.twitter.com/eWnSMDKQ72
— Google Photos (@googlephotos) May 21, 2018
Additionally, you’ll soon be able to “heart” photos that have been shared with you. This is essentially the Google Photos equivalent to a Facebook-like, and adds a social network element to the service.
These features come in addition to improvements announced at Google’s recent I/O developer conference, and should help develop Google Photos into a service that has something to offer for everyone—from casual shutterbugs to seasoned enthusiast photographers.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Product photography is one of the more technical types of photography. Whether I decide to shoot natural light or create in my studio, I need to be aware of and control everything in the area. Lighting, product position, depth of field, image stabilization, and the brand itself all come together in a product shoot. So what are the first things Continue Reading
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With the release of the HTC One M8 in 2014, HTC was a true dual-camera pioneer; unfortunately, that phone was also slightly ahead of its time. The One M8’s camera only had a lukewarm reception, and overall the device did not prove to be particularly popular. As a consequence, HTC dropped the dual-camera concept after the M8… until now. HTC has finally rejoined the ranks of dual-camera proponents with the launch of the brand new HTC U12+.
Building on the camera performance of last year’s U11+, the new model appears to have a lot to offer mobile photographers.
The main camera features a 1/2.55? 12MP sensor with stabilized F1.75 aperture lens and 27mm-equivalent focal length. The secondary 2x optical zoom camera features a 16MP pixel count and 54mm equivalent focal length. The aperture is F2.6. The autofocus combines PDAF and laser technology and there are also a “Pro” photography mode for manual control and RAW-support, as well as a background-blurring portrait mode.
On the video side of things, the HTC U12+ is capable of capturing movies at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second which is still quite an unusual feature on a smartphone. 240 fps slow-motion is available at 1080p Full-HD resolution. The front camera also comes with a dual-camera setup. However, unlike the main shooter it is not optimized for zooming but instead designed for creating a natural-looking bokeh effect in portrait mode.
Here’s a quick video into to the new smartphone and all its “bigger, bolder and edgier” features:
Other specifications include Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB of RAM and a 18:9 6-inch Super LCD6 display that supports HDR10 and DCI-P3 and comes with a 1,440 x 2,280 pixel resolution. The phone comes with 64GB or 128GB of storage that can be expanded via microSD card, and all components are housed in an IP68 certified body.
With the addition of the secondary tele-camera, on paper the new HTC looks like a very solid upgrade over its predecessor. We’ll have to wait and see what the camera is capable of in real-life shooting situations.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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In a recent presentation at its investors relations day in Tokyo, Sony was not shy about its ambitions in the photography market. According to the presentation, Sony intends to occupy the top slot in the overall camera market by the end of 2020 by boosting its interchangeable lens systems to beat back Canon and Nikon.
Already doing quite a good job of grabbing market share, the company has told investors that it plans to expand its lens business and push towards the professional market while ‘strengthening products’ in the interchangeable lens camera segment.
Despite predicting only very modest growth in 2018 and acknowledging that competitors are becoming more aggressive, the company told investors that it will “win in an increasingly competitive market and continue to generate high profit” in the mid-term. Citing its crop of awards from TIPA, EISA and Camera GP Japan to back up the claims, Sony stated that it intends to broaden the range of lenses it offers and to expand its professional support services worldwide.
According to figures shown at the event, Sony achieved a 20% share of the still camera market in 2017 by value, and managed to rank third behind Canon and Nikon. It says it was the number one brand in the mirrorless market, and was number one in the premium compact business.
To learn more about Sony’s plans, check out the whole Sony Imaging Products and Solutions Segment presentation here.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Taking beautiful photos should not be a problem for those who wear eyeglasses. When you take pictures, it’s obvious that the photographer gets as close as possible to the viewfinder to get the best view as possible. However, people with eyeglasses have a problem in doing so. If you are using eyeglasses, this problem can be solved if you follow Continue Reading
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Flashpoint/Godox have just announced the EC-200 extension head, adding an effective and extremely low-cost tool for cosmetic and macro photography. These heads are exclusively designed for the Evolve 200 / AD200 pocket flash, a widely popular and highly efficient product, operated by long-lasting lithium batteries.
Throughout my career I have used various types of ring flashes and parabolic umbrellas. I also collaborated with Swiss lighting manufacturer Broncolor for over a decade on countless marketing and promotional projects, and shot their launch campaigns for the original Para 330 and Ringflash C.
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| Super model Iman for DeBeers global campaign (2003), shot with Broncolor Para330, and Fujifilm GX680III, on Fujifilm Provia film. |
These types of lights are often used by fashion photographers, as they are both easy to work with and offer many options—the Broncolor Paras in particular, which range from the 88 to 330, can produce a wide variety of effects. However, neither types are ideal for extreme close up work when balanced, even front-lighting is required.
The new remote heads from China on the other hand, are small and light enough to allow for several of them to be mounted on a camera flash bracket and rail.
Selecting tiny but wide-angled reflectors, the resulting light is much less harsh, and more feathered than the output from a ring flash, in very close distance. The total weight of, let’s say, four extension heads with the small reflectors and including the bracket/rail set is just about 24 ounces, making handheld shooting is easy.
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This new kind of ‘Quad Ring’ set up offers also the additional advantage over traditional ring flashes of allowing individual control of each of the flash heads in turn, which permits me to limit the output of the flash hitting the model’s face from underneath.
This is not as easily achieved with a ring flash.
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| Placed on tripod, the four extension heads are still mounted on the bracket and rail, but the camera is hand-held, so the four lights hit from a slight angle.
Fujifilm GFX 50S, GF 250mm lens, F8, 1/4000 sec, ISO 100 |
The Evolve 200 / AD200 pocket flash performs extremely well and reliably in HSS (High Speed Sync) mode, and when used for this ‘Quad Ring’ arrangement, provides output powerful enough to completely black out direct midday sunlight.
This four-light arrangement also makes an excellent off-camera light by simply setting the contraption on a tripod and shooting from various angles around it.
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| The ‘Quad Ring’ is also off-centered in this image. This time it’s placed to the camera angle, resting on a tripod.
Fujifilm GFX 50S, GF 120mm macro lens, F11, 1/125 sec, ISO 100 |
As evident by the unusual catchlights, the four extension heads are mounted on bracket and rail around the lens here.
Fujifilm GFX 50S, GF 120mm macro lens, F11, 1/125 sec, ISO 100 |
The announcement of the new remote heads is timely. The recent release of new macro extension tubes by Fujifilm for the mirrorless medium format GFX 50S (and the release of the GF 120mm macro lens) have ushered in a new era for macro photography. One can now easily shoot 1:1 handheld, with very fast and reliable autofocus, or manually focus while zoomed in.
Compared to previous systems, macro photography with medium format mirrorless cameras has become easy and accessible. Adding the creative options created by the convenient new remote heads, it has never been more fun to shoot close up!
About the Author: Markus Klinko is an award-winning, international fashion/celebrity photographer and director, who has worked with many of today’s most iconic stars of film, music, and fashion.
Klinko has photographed the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, and Iman. His editorial clients include Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, and Interview magazine.
You can find more of his work on the Markus & Koala website or by following him on Instagram.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
During the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin last week, HP unveiled two new DesignJet Z Series large-format printers: the DesignJet Z6 and Z9+. Both models will be available in 24-inch and 44-inch formats with onboard vertical trimmers, new HP Pixel Control color technology, and a redesigned poster application.
According to HP, the new Z Series printers are able to print 2.5 times faster than the DesignJet Z3200 Photo Printer while utilizing fewer inks, the end result being improved performance and reduced costs. The company claims these new large-format printers offer the “fastest printing capabilities available on the market today.”
The DesignJet Z6 printer is designed specifically for Geographical Information Systems (GIS) users and creators, as well as anyone else in need of water- and fade-resistant large-format prints. The Z9+ model, meanwhile, is targeted at consumers and retailers in need of “amazing photographic quality prints.”
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HP explains that its Pixel Control technology coupled with HP Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) results in true-to-color prints made using nine instead of 12 inks; there’s also support for HP Professional PANTONE Emulation. Other features include dual drop technology, HP Secure Boot and JetAdvantage Security, and HP PrintOS for remote printer management.
HP plans to release the DesignJet Z6, Z6x10, and Z9+ large-format printers on June 1st, with the larger 44-inch models with dual roll and the vertical trimmer not arriving until around July 1st. The company didn’t specify which markets the printers will launch in, or how much they will cost when they do.
Press Release
BERLIN, May 15, 2018 – HP Inc. unveiled its new DesignJet Z Printer series at FESPA Global Print Expo to showcase innovative large format technologies offering amazing image quality and fast, simple output for print service providers (PSPs), retailers, and creatives to deliver beautiful photos, impactful graphics and technical applications.
The market for large photo merchandising grew seven percent in 20171 with nearly 1.3 trillion photos taken in the same year2. The demand for simplicity and unrivaled photo quality is growing, fueling the need for printing solutions that remove bottlenecks and increase time savings.
The new HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ Printer series is designed to easily maximize printing performance for amazing photo output. By tightly integrating the materials, hardware, and software together, the new printers offer amazing photo quality and print permanence with fewer inks to simplify manageability and reduce costs. New vertical trimmer is featured on select models to optimize output in addition to other innovative technologies for rapid high-quality production from professional photo quality prints to retailer signage. The result is printing 2.5 times faster3 and post-production 20 percent faster4.
“The new DesignJet Z Printer series radically enhances the customer experience and reinvents printing possibilities for both professional photo and signage to ignite business growth and adapt to future needs,” said Guayente Sanmartin, General Manager and Global Head, HP Large Format Design Printing, HP Inc. “We thoughtfully designed the new printers to deliver impressive photo quality without compromising time resources and output speeds with the new vertical trimmer and innovative color technologies.”
The DesignJet Z Printer series will debut at FESPA 2018 at HP Booth 3.2 C20.
HP DesignJet Z Printer series, both available in 24- and 44-inch formats, are built to give PSPs a competitive edge by enabling the fastest printing capabilities available on the market today. As an industry first, the HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+offer a premium option with onboard vertical trimmer for fast and efficient production. New color technology, HP Pixel Control, now for the first time manages colors in a truly digital way to help customers embrace new opportunities for color-rich and dynamic printing.
For print service providers who rely on amazing professional photographic quality prints, the HP DesignJet Z9+ printer allows for a broad range of graphics and technical applications.
The DesignJet Z6 Printer series is designed for Geographical Information Systems (GIS) creators and users, print service providers, and retailers who require a simple to use solution for high-quality technical and graphics applications with water/fade resistance. The new print series is designed to handle even the most complex files with powerful processing architectures and the Adobe PDF Print Engine.
HP is also announcing enhanced HP DesignJet Z6x10 Printers for a better user and output experience. Boasting a new fresh design, the new printers have new labeling indicating the printer colors to simplify ease-of-use. The printers have new printheads and Chromatic Red Ink formulation to deliver sharp detail and precise line quality. Optimized fast and normal print modes for heavyweight coated, polypropylene and canvas to speed-up production and enhance image quality. Lastly, the new printers will have 500 GB HDD with more virtual memory to process complex and graphic intensive prints.
HP offers a wide variety of innovative media including the new:
Follow HP Graphics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
The HP DesignJet Z6, Z6x10, and Z9+ Printers are expected to be available on June 1, 2018. The 44-inch HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ with dual roll and vertical trimmer are expected to be available on July 1, 2018.
1. Source: Photo Merchandising report from Infotrend
2. Source: New York Times
3. Based on internal HP testing April 2018, tests done on mechanical printing time. Up to 2.5 times faster printing compared to the HP DesignJet Z3200 Photo Printer series. May vary depending on print mode and media type.
4. Vertical trimmer and dual rolls included with the HP DesignJet Z9?dr 44-in PostScript® Printer with V-Trimmer only. Up to 20% reduction in post-processing labor time based on internal HP testing compared to HP DesignJet Z9?dr series printers without built-in vertical trimmer.
5. Embedded in the HP DesignJet Z9? Printer series is an i1 spectrophotometer from X-Rite. Close collaboration between HP and X-Rite ensures a reliable solution that’s been thoroughly tested to meet customer demands for ease, quality, and dependability.
6. Based on internal HP testing April 2018, tests on mechanical printing time, comparing to HP DesignJet Z9? series printers without gloss enhancer. HP Gloss Enhancer can be used on photo paper, except for matte-finish papers. Optional upgrade available second half 2018.
7. Requires an HP Applications Center account, Internet connection, and connected Internet-capable device. For more information, see http://www.hpapplicationscenter.com.
8. Performance may vary based on writing system differences. Print permanence estimates by HP Image Permanence Lab based on the same formulation of HP Vivid Photo Inks used with the HP DesignJet Z6200 Photo Production Printer, using 6 inks. Water resistance performance varies based on printer and print profile. Water resistance testing by HP Image Permanence Lab on a range of HP media and follows ISO 18935 method. Display permanence rating for interior displays/away from direct sunlight by HP Image Permanence Lab on a range of HP media. For more information, see http://www.HPLFMedia.com/printpermanence.
9. Pricing and availability subject to change.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Whether it’s a newly minted company or a well-established one, companies want their brand to stand out. One of the best ways to do so is with highly professional, well-executed corporate photography. Every business can benefit greatly from professional photographs. With the online marketplace continuously expanding its reach, the quality of your photographs will make all the difference. After all, Continue Reading
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