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Archive for January, 2019

Weekly Photography Challenge – Light Trails

12 Jan

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Light Trails appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

This week’s photography challenge topic is light trails!

Tree Top Circus © Caz Nowaczyk

Your photos can include light trails from vehicles, light painting, or any other moving light source. Have fun, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Some Inst-piration from some Instagrammers:

 

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A post shared by Johan Weesie (@jowie_pictures) on

 

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A post shared by Carlos Bolivar (@photo_charles) on

 

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A post shared by Om Prakash Sethia (@om_prakash_sethia) on

 

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A post shared by RECYCLED PHOTOS (@recycleartz) on

 

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A post shared by Phutter Blog (@phutterblog) on

 

Check out some of the articles below that give you tips on this week’s challenge.

Tips for Shooting Light Trails

How to do Long Exposure Photography and Light Trails at Night

Stacking Light Trails for Night Photography Special Effects

How to Create Dynamic Photos of Car Light Trails

How to Photograph Light Trails from the Back Seat of a Car

7 Tips for Shooting and Processing Star Trails

How to do Light Painting and Illuminate Your Photography

Long Exposure Photography 101 – How to Create the Shot

 

Weekly Photography Challenge – Light Trails

Simply upload your shot into the comment field (look for the little camera icon in the Disqus comments section) and they’ll get embedded for us all to see or if you’d prefer, upload them to your favorite photo-sharing site and leave the link to them. Show me your best images in this week’s challenge.

 

Share in the dPS Facebook Group

You can also share your images in the dPS Facebook group as the challenge is posted there each week as well.

If you tag your photos on Flickr, Instagram, Twitter or other sites – tag them as #DPSLighttrails to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.

 

Feature Photo by Alen Rojnic on Unsplash

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Light Trails appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.


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Indemnis Nexus parachute for DJI drones is first to achieve crowd safety standard

12 Jan

Indemnis has announced its Nexus parachute system designed for DJI drones is the first to be certified as compliant with the ASTM F3322-18 standard. The system is designed to prevent a faulty DJI drone from free-falling to the ground by deploying a small parachute, which slows the drone’s descent for a safer, more gentle landing.

Both the US and UK require drone operators to get permission before operating a small UAV (sUAV) above a crowd, a limitation that intends to protect innocent bystanders from injury in the event of a drone crash. Waivers are offered on a case-by-case basis by both the US’s FAA and the UK’s CAA, but require operators to show how people below will be protected if the drone experiences a failure mid-flight.

The FAA granted its first waiver in October 2017, when it gave CNN permission to fly a Vantage Robotics Snap drone featuring protective rotor cages over a group of people. A parachute system like the Indemnis Nexus offers a different type of protection, one that is the first ever to meet the international ASTM F3322-18 standard for small UAVs.

The standard covers deployable sUAV parachute systems, including design, fabrication, and testing, and was designed to help drone operators get permission for flying over crowds from agencies like the FAA and CAA.

According to Indemnis, it was required to pass a series of 45 functionality tests spread across five drone failure scenarios. Testing took place at New York’s Griffiss International Airport in a controlled airspace; the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance oversaw the process.

The Indemnis Nexus system is designed to strap onto existing DJI drones, which it monitors using sensors. If the sensors detect a flight disruption, a ballistic launcher deploys a parachute at 90MPH / 144kmh. The tube containing the parachute is designed to inflate in order to protect the parachute from the drone’s rotors and body.

The drone was validated for use with the DJI Inspire 2, but may be offered for the Matrice 200 and 600 series, as well, by the end of the year.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Western Digital releases MyPassport Go SSD portable storage

11 Jan

Running out of digital storage while out on an extended photographic shooting session is never a good thing and Western Digital’s latest MyPassport Go SSD, which was formally introduced at CES, looks like an easy solution for avoiding such situations.

The portable SSD features a rugged case that comes in blue or yellow. Rubber bumpers allow for a 2m / 6.5ft drop resistance and Western Digital claims read speeds of up to 400MB/s which according to the manufacturer makes the MyPassport Go SSD 2.5x faster than conventional drives.

An integrated USB 3.0 cable is on board for easy connection to your PC computer or Mac. The drive comes with an automatic backup software for Windows and is also compatible with Apple’s Time Machine. The new My Passport Go is available now and will set you back $ 90 for the 500GB variant. The 1TB version is $ 170.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The Sony FE 24mm F1.4GM goes to Sedona

11 Jan

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The Sony 24mm F1.4 GM is an impressively compact, high quality lens. In fact, it earned our 2018 DPReview annual award for best prime lens, when we described it as follows: “It’s uncannily sharp edge-to-edge wide open with little to no coma, bokeh is smooth, and longitudinal chromatic aberration – that purple and green fringing we loathe on many fast wide primes – is well controlled.” Yep, good things do come in small packages.

So, when DPReview contributing writer Jose Francisco Salgado had a chance to shoot with it in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, he jumped at the opportunity. Click through to the gallery to see his photos.

Want to learn more about this lens? Watch our hands-on shooting experience on DPReview TV:

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon, Atomos team up to offer 4K Raw capture over HDMI to the Ninja V external recorder

11 Jan

Atomos has announced it’s working alongside Nikon to develop PreRes Raw recording with Nikon’s Z6 and Z7 mirrorless cameras. This marks the first time any mirrorless camera will be able to output 4K Raw video over HDMI to an external recorder, in this case the Atomos Ninja V.

‘Capturing Apple ProRes RAW video with the Ninja V unlocks complete control of the video image at the highest quality possible,’ says Atomos in the press release. ‘The maximum dynamic range, color accuracy and detail is preserved, while at the same time every aspect of the video image can be controlled with precision for maximum creativity.’

Atomos explains the Raw video capture works by streaming Raw data across an HDMI cable to the Ninja V external recorder. That footage is then repacked into the ProRes Raw format and stored to a removable SSD drive inside the Ninja V.

When the SSD drive is full or shooting is completed, the drive is then removed and connected to a computer for post-processing. The resulting footage is decoded (debayered) on the computer, as it’s quite a processor-intensive process, and ready to be edited accordingly.

As previously noted, this is the first time 4K Raw video over HDMI has been seen in a mirrorless camera. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K offers Raw output both internally and over USB Type-C, but not over HDMI.

Atomos and Nikon are currently showing off the new 4K Raw recording feature at CES 2019 (Booth #14006), but there’s no official timeframe on when we’ll see this new capability publicly.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Vello LW-500 Extendá Plus wireless controller brings remote control to select pro cameras

11 Jan

Camera gear company Vello has announced its new LW-500 Extendá Plus Wi-Fi Camera Controller for remote camera control. The new controller supports select Canon and Nikon, as well as most Sony cameras, making it possible to wirelessly control them using a Windows, Mac, Android or iOS device from as far away as 60m / 197ft.

The Extendá Plus brings remote access to select cameras, enabling users to browse, select, stream and share content from a smartphone, tablet or Windows PC. As well, the controller provides remote access to camera settings, enabling photographers to adjust white balance, exposure, shutter speed, and more with a real-time preview from a distance.

The LW-500 has a 10MB/s transfer rate, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, intervalometer with bulb mode and support for touch focus and live view. The controller is compatible with the following Canon and Nikon cameras:

Canon 1Dx Mark II, 1D X, 5DS R*, 5DS*, 5D Mark IV, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 6D Mark II*, 6D, 7D Mark II*, 7D, 80D, 70D, 60D, 50D, 77, T7i, T6s, T6i, T5i, T5, T4i, T3i, T3, T2i, T1i, SL2 and SL1

Nikon D5*, D4S, D4, D3x, D3s, D3, D850*, D810*, D800*, D800e*, D500*, D750*, D610, D600, Df*, D7500*, D7200*, D7100*, D7000*, D90, D5600, D5500*, D5300*, D5200*, D5100*, D3400, D3300* and D3200*

* Use the USB cable that is supplied with your camera

Though most Sony Alpha cameras are supported, Vello warns some cameras don’t support all of the controller’s functions. The company provides a list [PDF] with each model’s compatibility.

The Vello LW-500 Extendá Plus wireless camera controller is available to preorder for $ 299.99. B&H Photo currently shows an expected availability date of January 16.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon ranked in top five for US patent awards for 33 consecutive years

11 Jan
The Canon Sure Shot Delsol used solar panels on its front cover to power some of the camera’s functions. Solar power drove the AF system, the electro-magnetic shutter unit, film advance and even the flash. A secondary lithium battery was used as a back-up. C1995

Canon has proudly announced it ranked third in the world for the number of patents awarded to it by the US Patents Office during 2018. The company is quite used to being at the top of the table though, and has managed to remain in the top five every year for the last 33 – since 1985. The company also says that it has ranked as the number one Japanese company in the charts for the last 14 years.

Canon explains in a statement that the US is an important market not only for its products but also for its technologies. The company says its innovations ‘serve society’ as they lead to better products, more convenience and improved manufacturing techniques.

It is important to remember the photography is just a part of Canon’s business, but it would be interesting to know what proportion of its 3000+ awarded patents last year came from its photographic operations.

Press release

Canon places top five in U.S. patent rankings for 33 years running and first among Japanese companies for fourteen years running

TOKYO, January 8, 2019—Canon Inc. ranked third for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2018, becoming the only company in the world to have ranked in the top five for 33 years running, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. What’s more, Canon once again ranked first among Japanese companies.

Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances.

Canon promotes the acquisition and application of intellectual property rights, not only for fundamental technologies required for next-generation products, but also such technologies as the wireless communication and image compression technologies shared by next-generation social infrastructure. Canon contributes to the realization of technology that serves society by continuing to provide even better products, greater convenience and by contributing to the development of manufacturing.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon exec says an 8K mirrorless camera is on the ‘EOS R-series roadmap’

11 Jan

In an exclusive interview with Dave Etchells of Imaging Resource Canon’s top product-planning executive, Yoshiyuki Mizoguchi, shared a number of interesting details regarding the future of the Canon R series.

Considering his position in the company, Mizoguchi-san is the foremost expert in terms of understanding where Canon is currently at and where it anticipates on going with the EOS R lineup in the future.

The interview is full of smaller tid-bits regarding the Canon EOS R series, but the stand-out detail from the lengthy interview is the mention of an upcoming EOS R camera that’s capable of recording 8K video.

When inquired by Etchells as to how video plays a roll in the EOS R series — both in terms of lenses and cameras — and how important it will be within the product lineup, Mizoguchi-san had the following to say:

Video will play a huge role in the EOS R System for sure. For example, an 8K video capable camera is already in our EOS R-series roadmap. And we are not just looking at video from a camera perspective, we are also working on how to make RF lenses better for video capture as well. [Emphasis provided by Imaging Resource]

The answer continues on with Mizoguchi-san saying the RF 24-105mm F4L was designed, in part, with Nano USM technology due to its ‘silent and smooth autofocus while shooting video.’

Mizoguchi-san wraps up the answer saying ‘Paired with Dual Pixel CMOS AF, a wide range of Nano USM equipped RF lenses will promise video creators great image quality as well as impressive autofocus together in the R-series.’

As Imaging Resource pointed out in an editorial note underneath this specific question and response, the phrase ‘on the roadmap’ could mean later this year or within the next decade. However, the fact Mizoguchi-san even mentioned it shows it’s very likely a sooner-rather-than-later sort of deal considering how conservative and quiet Canon tends to be when talking about future technologies.

There is plenty to dig into within the full interview, but a few other notable mentions include Mizoguchi-san saying 4K without crop factor, faster frame rates, and in-body image stabilization (IBIS) are all features Canon ‘[is] aware of and are working on.’ Mizoguchi-san also confirms that Canon is very much focused on ‘satisfying’ both the DSLR and mirrorless market, at least for the time being.

To read the full interview, head on over to Imaging Resource. It’s a fantastic dive into the EOS R system and its future with the man who would know best.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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How to Customize Your Lightroom Workspace for Better Workflow

11 Jan

The post How to Customize Your Lightroom Workspace for Better Workflow appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

Although it is sometimes overshadowed by its powerful cousin Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom is a robust post-processing program in its own right.

Lightroom is designed with simplicity in mind, however, it still offers a lot of options and can be confusing to new users.

This article assumes you have a basic familiarity with the appearance of the various panels in the Lightroom, and gives you some tips on how to customize your Lightroom workspace for better workflow and productivity.

Lightroom Workspace in Grid View-Darina Kopcok-DPS

The Lightroom Workspace in Grid View

Modules

Lightroom is organized into seven Modules: Library, Develop, Map, Book, Slideshow, Print, and Web.

You can find these modules in the uppermost right-hand corner of your screen. This panel or bar is called the Module Picker.

Customize Lightroom Workspace-Darina Kopcok-DPS

Each of these modules contains a set of tools that work specifically within that module.

For example, if you want to design and print contact sheets of select images from a shoot, you would navigate to the Print module, where you would find the required tools to do that.

You will find, however, that there are some modules that you rarely (or even never) use.

Most users of Lightroom spend the majority of their time in the Library and Develop Modules. Therefore, Lightroom gives you the option to hide these modules from view if you wish.

To set up which modules you would like to remain visible, right click on the module panel to bring up a pop-up menu:

Module Panels in Lightroom-Darina Kopcok-DPS

The panels that are visible are noted with a checkmark. To make the module invisible, simply click on it to uncheck it in the menu.

For example, I never use the Book and Slideshow modules, so I have those checked off in my own Lightroom workspace.

The missing modules are still available under the Window menu; you can use keyboard shortcuts to open them.

Keep in mind that if you do this, Lightroom will automatically add the missing module back to the Module Picker.

Window View Lightroom-Darina Kopcok-DPS

Panels

Lightroom Panels-Darina Kopcok-DPS

In the above image, the following are noted:

A. Library Filter bar
B. Image Display area
C. Identity Plate area
D. Panels displaying photos
E. Filmstrip
F. Module Picker
G. Panels for working with metadata, keywords, adjustments
H. Toolbar

There are four panels in each of the Lightroom Modules. Only two panels – the Module panel and Filmstrip panel – appear in all of the different modules in Lightroom.

For example, the Library module has a top Module Panel, the Navigation panel is located on the left-hand side. The right-side panel is mostly for Metadata, while the bottom panel is where the Filmstrip appears.

Develop Module has Develop and Preset panels instead of Navigation and Metadata.

Tabs are small panels inside of panels.

Below are the various tabs in the Develop panel in the Develop Module in Lightroom:

Tabs in Develop Module Lightroom-Darina Kopcok-DPS

You can customize your workspace to display only the panels you want.

  • To open or close all the panels in a group, hit -> Command-click (Mac) or Ctrl-click(Windows).
  • To open or close one panel at a time, simply Option-click (Mac) or Alt-click (Windows) on the panel header.
  • To show or hide both side panel groups choose Window ->Panel -> Toggle Side Panels, or press the Tab key.
  • To hide all of the panels, including the side panels, the Module Picker and the Filmstrip, choose Window -> Panels -> Toggle All Panels, or press Shift-Tab.

Lightroom Panels-Darina Kopcok-DPS

If you don’t use a panel often, you can hide it form view: Control-Click (Mac) or Right-Click (Windows) on any panel header in the group and choose the panel name.

Change the Screen Mode

You can also change the screen display to hide the title bar, menus, and panels.

Choose -> Window -> Screen Mode, and choose an option from the drop-down menu.

Full Screen Mode Lightroom-Darina Kopcok-DPS

When in Normal, Full Screen with Menubar, or Full Screen Mode, press the F key to cycle through them.

If you’re on a Mac OS, note that Full Screen mode and Full Screen and Hide Panels mode both hide the Dock. If you don’t see the Minimize, Maximize, or Close buttons for the application, press the F key once or twice until they appear.

Press Shift-Tab and then the F key to display the panels and menu bar.

  • Command+Option+F (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+F (Windows) to switch to Normal screen mode from Full Screen with Menubar or Full Screen Mode.
  • Shift+Command+F (Mac) or Shift-Ctrl+F (Windows) hides the title bar, menus, and panels.

To dim or hide the Lightroom Classic CC workspace, choose -> Window then -> Lights Out, then choose an option. Press the F key to cycle through the options.

Identity Plate

You can brand your Lightroom with the logo of your photography business through the Identity Plate Setup.

It’s not going to impact your workflow in any way, but this is a cool customization you can make to appear more professional when working with clients and utilizing tethered capture.

Identity Plate Editor in Lightroom-Darina Kopcok-DPS

To access the Identity Plate Setup click on a Mac -> Lightroom and choose -> Identity Plate Setup from the drop-down menu. For Windows, go to -> Edit and choose -> Identity Plate Setup.

Under Identity Plate, choose -> Personalized and Custom.

Click on -> Use a Graphical Identity Plate and then -> Locate File to navigate to wherever you have your logo saved on your computer.

However, if you don’t have a logo, you can still customize the text that appears in Identity Plate by changing the font, size of the font, and the color of the module names.

To sum up

A customized workspace can help you improve your workflow and therefore efficiency when working in Lightroom.

Hopefully, some of these tips will help you navigate Lightroom a bit more easily and has given you some ideas on setting up the interface in the way that works for you.

The post How to Customize Your Lightroom Workspace for Better Workflow appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.


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