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  • Halide Mark II is a redesigned Raw camera app for iPhones with over 40 new and improved features

    Lux Optics, the company behind the popular iOS camera app Halide, has announced the release of Halide Mark II, a second-generation camera app for iOS that’s the culmination of more than 18 months of work.

    Halide Mark II is an entirely new app with a revamped interface designed from the ground up to make a more a user experience that is simple to use, but rich in professional-level features for those who want to get the most out of their iPhone photography.

    Halide Mark II has the same exposure control and focus gestures as before, but has further refined the experience with additional interface elements. Now, when manually adjusting focus, a new Focus Loupe will appear in the center of the screen that zooms in to help ensure you get focus just where you want it. When you let go, the Focus Loupe will disappear and show the usual overlay so you can compose your shot.

    The manual exposure controls, including ISO and shutter speed, have also been moved and are now accessible with a quick swipe from the right-hand side of the screen. The app keeps its interface minimal, but when tapping on an icon, a text description of the tool or setting you’re adjusting, as you can see in the below GIF:

    With Halide 1.0, you were given the option to see both Color and Luminance histograms to ensure you achieved just the right exposure. Well, as with most things in Halide Mark II, both of these have been updated with option to make the overlays smaller on the screen. Also new is the ‘Color Zebras’ feature, which breaks down three separate color channels — red, blue and green — into individual waveforms with zebra stripes that will appear if certain colors are clipped in either the highlights or the shadows. This ensures that no matter what color the scene you’re composing is, you can ensure you’re not clipping the highlights or shadows for any three of these channels.

    If you’re using the histogram, waveform or zebra tools while in fully-manual mode, where you adjust the ISO and shutter speed, things get even more powerful thanks to a new feature Lux Optics calls XDR Analysis. Rather than using the post-processed 8-bit data other camera apps do to display the waveform and histogram data, Halide Mark II uses the full 14-bit Raw data, in real time, to calculate the exposure. Although Lux Optics says it has a more in-depth post in the works on the technology behind XDR Analysis, it sums it up like this in its blog post:

    ’Consider that video of the Golden Gate Bridge from earlier. Your histogram, analyzing 8-bit data, might think the sky is clipped. If you saw that in your zebra stripes, you’d say, “It’s over exposed, I should go down turn things down a bit.” In fact, the cloud are not over exposed in the RAW, and there’s no need to turn down your exposure. By under exposing, you’re now going to lose details in the shadows!’

    The redesigned image reviewer now shows more accurate metadata information and allows you to view both the Raw and JPEG/HEIC image with a toggle between the two buttons.

    Halide Mark II also features ‘Coverage,’ a new capture mode that takes two photos — one with Smart HDR 2/3 and Deep Fusion, and one in RAW. This gives you the benefit of having a more robust Raw file to work with in an editor as well as an instantly sharable JPEG or HEIC file to share with family and friends. Also new is ‘Instant Raw,’ a feature within Halide Mark II’s image reviewer that uses a 17-step process powered by onboard machine learning to instantly create a sharable image from an iPhone Raw file.

    If all of these new features, settings and modes seem confusing, don’t worry. To complement the new app is a built-in 10-day course that will not only show off the features of Halide Mark II, but also teach a number of photography concepts along the way through examples.

    As Lux Optics explains at the conclusion of its introduction blog post, it’s decided to make Halide Mark II an entirely separate app from Halide 1.0; one that’s free-to-download with a one-week trial and two options for continuing to use the app after the one-week trial is up.

    After spending time talking with current users of Halide, as well as beta testers of Halide Mark II, the Lux Optics team decided to offer both a one-time purchase option in addition to an annual subscription option, both prices of which were based on the suggestions of users. A one-time purchase, which will include all future updates and features, costs $ 30 at launch and will go up to $ 36 after the introductory offer. Subscriptions will start at $ 12/month with a limited $ 10/month introductory offer that will lock you in at $ 10 for the life of the app.

    Users who have already purchased Halide 1.0 will get Halide Mark II for free and have a year’s membership comped to their account.

    You can download Halide Mark II in the iOS App Store and find out more information on the Halide website. For a full run-down of all the new features and updates, check out Lux Optics’ thorough introduction blog post.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Loupedeck announces Adobe collaboration and new Loupedeck plugin at Adobe MAX

    Adobe has announced a massive Photoshop update which included, among many other features, the integration of Adobe’s new Unified Extensibility Platform (UXP) for plugins. Shortly after Adobe unveiled the new version of Photoshop, Loupedeck announced its collaboration with Adobe on a new plugin for Photoshop.

    The free plugin, which can be downloaded through the new Plugin Marketplace in the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop application, introduces new features and improvements for owners of the Loupedeck CT and Loupedeck Live. You may recall that we covered the new Loupedeck Live product last month, which you can learn more about here.

    Image credit: Loupedeck

    In addition to the improve performance and usability offered by Adobe’s UXP architecture, the new Loupedeck Photoshop plugin includes the following features, per Loupedeck:

    • Ability to add adjustment layers and control their corresponding parameters with dials and/or wheel
    • Reset functionality for individual adjustment parameters
    • Intuitive control over Font settings
    • Quickly scroll through and view history panel with dial and/or wheel
    • Increased control over Curves, including the ability to adjust color channel curves separately and control curve points
    • Smoother control over Brush settings and Zoom In/Out functions
    • Streamline workflow by combining Photoshop actions into macros within the Loupedeck software
    • Full control over Layer Properties
    • Ability to control Quick Actions (e.g., select object, remove background) introduced in Photoshop 2020
    • Better performance for Camera Raw

    Of the new plugin, Loupedeck’s founder and CEO, Mikko Kesti, says, ‘We collaborated with Adobe to develop the new plugin and to ensure Loupedeck users could easily integrate and maximize their creative potential with the new features offered by Photoshop the moment they are available. Our new plugin for Photoshop incorporates the software’s new features into both the Loupedeck CT and just-launched Loupedeck Live, giving creators the power to further customize their Photoshop experience.’

    Image credit: Loupedeck

    Vijay Vachani, Adobe’s Senior Director of Product Management and Partner Ecosystem for Adobe Creative Cloud adds, ‘Photoshop users will now have increased functionality when using their Loupedeck devices and the ability to take even more control over a wide variety of Photoshop features, including the newly introduced Quick Actions.’

    You can download the plugin from Adobe’s Plugin Marketplace by clicking here. You can learn more about Loupedeck Live and purchase it directly from Loupedeck. To learn more about Loupedeck CT, click here.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Manual Exposure Cheat Sheet for Beginners: How to Expose Manually

    The post Manual Exposure Cheat Sheet for Beginners: How to Expose Manually appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

    Photographers are visual people. Learning is often made easier for us with the help of graphics and images. In this article, I want to break down this classic manual exposure cheat sheet:

    manual exposure cheat sheet

    Beginner photographers, and even more experienced ones, often think that Manual mode is complicated.

    It’s not.

    But to learn how to use Manual mode well, you need to understand a few basics. These are the three camera controls that manage exposure:

    • Aperture
    • Shutter speed
    • ISO

    You also need to use the exposure meter, LCD, or viewfinder to assist you in choosing the best settings. If you read the light, you can then set your exposure.

    This manual exposure cheat sheet will help you understand these few essentials.

    Woman in a red sofa outdoors manual exposure cheat sheet
    © Kevin Landwer-Johan | Nikon D800 | Nikon 35mm f/1.8 | 1/125 sec | ISO 100

    Reading the light

    All modern cameras have a built-in exposure meter. This tool indicates when you have your settings balanced to achieve a good exposure. In most cameras, it looks something like this:

    Exposure meter illustration manual exposure cheat sheet

    Some cameras use a number system and a + or – symbol to show the exposure value.

    Whatever display method your camera uses, you are aiming to have the meter read “0.” This is the indication you have a good exposure. If the display indicates the exposure is toward the – side, your photo will be underexposed. If it’s showing that the exposure is toward the + side, your photo will be overexposed.

    This is a very simplified explanation of the metering system. To gain a more in-depth understanding of how it works, please read this article: Understanding Exposure Metering Modes.

    With many cameras, you can also use the rear LCD to help you determine the best exposure settings. Additionally, mirrorless cameras allow you to see the effect of changes you make via the viewfinder.

    To discover if your camera has this function, turn on Live View and set your camera to Manual mode. Now adjust your aperture and/or shutter speed. Can you see the brightness value of the LCD change as you do this? If so, you can use your LCD screen and/or viewfinder to help you manage your exposure settings. If you are new to using Manual mode, this method will make learning easier.

    Whether you look at the exposure meter graphic or use your viewfinder/LCD to help you choose your settings, treat these as a guide. Your camera does not know what the main subject of your composition is. You must control the exposure so the most important part of your image is well exposed.

    Tropical sunset manual exposure cheat sheet
    © Kevin Landwer-Johan | Nikon D700 | 20mm | 1/125 sec | f/5.6 | ISO 400

    Adjusting your aperture

    Every lens has an aperture. This is an adjustable diaphragm that controls how much light can enter the lens. Each aperture setting corresponds to an f-stop.

    A smaller f-stop number indicates more light will enter the lens. A higher number means the opening is smaller and less light will enter.

    Aperture illustration for manual exposure cheat sheet

    On this manual exposure cheat sheet, you can see there is a range of aperture settings. The smallest aperture setting, on the left, is f/16. To the right of the graphic is the widest setting, at f/1.4. Not all lenses have the same aperture settings. Some will have wider or narrower minimum and maximum settings.

    Along with governing the amount of light that enters the lens, the aperture setting influences depth of field (DOF).

    DOF is the amount of the photo that is acceptably sharp. The wider the aperture setting you choose, the shallower the DOF will be. You can see this on the cheat sheet graphic of the person and tree. At f/16, both the person and tree are sharp. At f/1.4, the person is sharp and the tree in the background is out of focus.

    A narrow aperture setting allows less light to enter the lens. It also means you’ll have more of your photo in focus. A wide aperture setting allows more light into the lens and the DOF is shallower.

    You can adjust the aperture setting to help balance your exposure and control how much of your composition is in focus. The amount of DOF can be used creatively in your photographs.

    Woman taking a photograph manual exposure cheat sheet
    © Kevin Landwer-Johan | Nikon D800 | 105mm | 1/320 sec | f/2.8 | ISO 100

    Setting your shutter speed

    Inside your camera, there’s a shutter. This typically consists of two “blinds” that open and close when you press the shutter release button. Opening the shutter exposes the camera sensor to light, which allows it to create an image.

    The duration the shutter is open for controls how much light will affect the sensor. If the shutter is open for too long, the photo will be overexposed. If the shutter is open for a duration that is too short, the photo will be underexposed.

    Your choice of shutter speed can also affect how sharp your photos will be.

    If you choose a shutter speed that’s too slow and your camera moves during the time the shutter is open, your photo will be blurred. This is known as camera shake.

    If you have a moving subject and use a slow shutter speed, your subject will be blurred. This is known as motion blur.

    Using a faster shutter speed will help you avoid camera shake and unwanted motion blur.

    Shutter speed illustration manual exposure cheat sheet

    In the manual exposure cheat sheet, you can see the graphic of a person running. At a shutter speed setting of 1/1000s, the figure is sharp. At a setting of 1/60s, the figure is blurred a little. At a shutter speed of 1 second, the figure is very blurred. The relationship between how fast your subject is moving and the shutter speed will determine how much blurring occurs.

    You can adjust the shutter speed to help balance your exposure and to control blur from camera shake or motion. Motion blur and camera shake, or a lack thereof, can be used creatively in your photography.

    Woman at the fresh market - manual exposure cheat sheet
    © Kevin Landwer-Johan | Nikon D800 |35mm | 1/2 sec | f/11 | ISO 100

    Determining your ISO

    ISO settings control how responsive your camera’s sensor is to light. A low number means your sensor is going to be less responsive than when you use a high number.

    I prefer to use my ISO as a foundation for my exposure. I generally only adjust it when lighting conditions change significantly.

    Outside on a sunny day, you will want to choose a low ISO. Inside or at night, you will want to choose a high ISO.

    ISO illustration manual exposure cheat sheet

    Unlike your other two exposure settings, ISO has no creative influence on your photos. It will affect the technical quality, though. At higher ISO settings, digital noise will start to appear in your photos. The color and contrast will also tend to flatten out.

    In the manual exposure cheat sheet, you can see that lower ISO settings mean the sensor is less responsive compared to higher ISO settings. To avoid seeing digital noise in your photos, always aim to use the lowest ISO setting you can.

    Thai entertainment
    © Kevin Landwer-Johan | Nikon D800 | 105mm | 1/250 sec | f/4 | ISO 6400

    Stop! This is important

    Each incremental change indicated by the manual exposure cheat sheet is one “stop.” The term “stop” in photography is the measurement of exposure. Plus one stop means the exposure is doubled. Minus one stop means the exposure is halved.

    A stop can be controlled by aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. If you adjust one setting by plus one stop, you can always achieve the same initial exposure by adjusting another setting by minus one stop, and so on.

    As you can see on the cheat sheet, the increments I have used for the shutter speed and ISO are clearly half or double the adjacent numbers. The f-stop numbers appear a bit random, however. This is because they indicate the aperture opening size in relation to the lens focal length. But each f-stop setting is either half or double the setting on either side of it.

    red lanterns against a blue sky
    © Kevin Landwer-Johan | Nikon D700 | 20mm | 1/60 sec | f/4 | ISO 400

    Manual exposure cheat sheet: Conclusion

    Manual exposure of your photographs is not so complicated. All you need to do is manage the relationship between the three exposure settings.

    The relationship between aperture settings, exposure, and depth of field is plain to see on this cheat sheet. How your choice of shutter speed affects both exposure and blurring is also well illustrated. Keep your ISO in mind and make it as low as you can. But don’t hesitate to alter it when you need to.

    Print the manual exposure cheat sheet to make learning and mastering Manual mode a little easier. It will not happen without some commitment and practice.

    But once you become familiar with Manual mode and manage your exposures well, your photography will become more creative.

    The post Manual Exposure Cheat Sheet for Beginners: How to Expose Manually appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.


    Digital Photography School

  • Adobe Premiere Pro can now natively decode ProRes Raw video files

    Adobe has announced Premiere Pro (version 14.5) will now natively support ProRes Raw, finally opening up editing of Apple’s Raw video format to all Premiere Pro users.

    Earlier this year, Adobe started selectively supporting ProRes Raw, but only for Windows users running Nvidia GPUs. With this new update, both macOS and Windows users will be able to edit ProRes Raw video regardless of what system or GPU your computer has packed inside.

    The initial support is limited, in the sense you aren’t offered full control of ISO and White Balance settings as you are with Apple’s Final Cut Pro X, but it’s likely Adobe is working to get this functionality in place too. Adobe has also added ProRes Raw to LOG color space conversion.

    As more cameras get ProRes Raw recording, most notably with the help of Atomos who’s already brought ProRes Raw support to more than 20 cameras via its Ninja V monitor/recorder, it’s nice to see Premiere Pro finally getting the ability to decode and work with the files.

    Other improvements in the October 2020 release (version 14.5) of Premiere Pro include support for HDR workflows in Rec2100 PQ color space, improved hardware decoding when using AMD and Nvidia GPUS and faster audio pre-roll.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • HP launches eight new monitors for creative professionals at Adobe MAX 2020

    During the Adobe MAX conference on Tuesday, HP introduced the newest products added to its HP Create Ecosystem, including the next-generation DreamColor and Z by HP monitors. According to the company, these models were made ‘with the creator in mind,’ offering everything from frameless designs to the promise of ‘seamless color accuracy,’ 4K resolutions and USB-C connectivity.

    The HP create Ecosystem was first announced at Adobe MAX 2019, introducing a variety of products and partnerships aimed at supporting the creative community, including photographers and videographers. The new expansion of this ecosystem announced during Adobe’s 2020 conference adds a total of eight displays, all created for visual professionals.

    Leading the lineup is HP’s Z25xs G3 and Z27xs G3 DreamColor displays; these models boast more than a billion on-screen colors, PANTONE Validated color gamut and the promise of color accuracy straight out of the box. HP says that these DreamColor models are the world’s first ‘color critical HDR monitors’ to feature a one-touch brightness adjustment feature, enabling users to rapidly increase display brightness.

    Users are likewise promised up to HDR 600 and customized workflow color presets, USB-C connectivity and support for both macOS and Windows from the DreamColor monitors.

    Those two models are joined by the six new Z Core displays, all of which HP describes as premium and offering creators ‘flawless color accuracy’ straight from the box. The Z Core models are notable for their incredibly thin profiles, nearly bezel-free displays — something HP calls a ‘frameless’ design — and support for all devices with its 100W USB-C power delivery.

    HP notes a number of features that come with the Z Core displays, including the integrated HP Display Manager for remotely managing the monitors, as well as HP Eye Ease, a proprietary technology that offers ‘always-on low-blue light’ that HP claims offers ‘ultimate comfort with zero impact on color fidelity.’

    The company likewise says that its Z by HP product family was made with a focus on sustainability, noting that, for example, the Z Display lineup uses plastics featuring more than 80% ocean-bound and consumer waste plastics. Likewise, 75% of the aluminum used in these monitors has been ‘upcycled’ and the packaging used to ship the monitors is 100% sustainably sourced.

    The inclusion of USB-C connectivity makes these monitors ready for the latest and greatest laptops on the market, but they can also be used with other hardware, as well, due to the inclusion of DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 (DreamColor models). The new product lineup brings a variety of resolutions at various price points ranging from Full HD to Quad HD and $ 239 to $ 749.

    HP lists the new monitor availability and pricing as follows:

    • HP Z25xs G3 QHD USB-C DreamColor Display is expected to be available in March 2021 for a starting price of $ 599
    • HP Z27xs G3 4K USB-C DreamColor Display is expected to be available in March 2021 for a starting price of $ 749
    • HP Z24f G3 FHD Display is expected to be available in January 2021 for a starting price of $ 239
    • HP Z24n G3 WUXGA Display is expected to be available in January 2021 for a starting price of $ 299
    • HP Z24u G3 WUXGA Display is expected to be available in May 2021 for a starting price of $ 349
    • HP Z27q G3 QHD Display is expected to be available in January 2021 for a starting price of $ 399
    • HP Z27u G3 QHD Display USB-C is expected to be available in March 2021 for a starting price of $ 449
    • HP Z27k G3 4K USB-C Display is expected to be available in March 2021 for a starting price of $ 599

    The new HP DreamColor display models join Dell’s newly announced UltraSharp HDR display, a particularly pricey model at $ 5k launched to directly compete with Apple’s Pro XDR Display, beating it specs-wise by offering a 2,000-zone mini-LED array versus the 576 zones found in Apple’s model.

    HP’s new models are quite a bit cheaper, of course, pitting them against Dell’s newly introduced and likewise less expensive UltraSharp 24 USB-C Hub monitor with ComfortView Plus tech and a WUXGA resolution; this model is priced at $ 450. In addition, Dell also released its new UltraSharp 34 Curved USB-C Hub monitor with a massive 21:9 aspect ratio, USB-C with 90W power delivery and an $ 800 price tag.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • DxO announces PhotoLab 4 with new DeepPRIME AI technology

    It’s been a busy week for photo editing software announcements. The day after Adobe announced the latest versions of Lightroom and Photoshop, DxO has joined the party with its announcement of DxO PhotoLab 4.

    PhotoLab 4 includes numerous new features and improvements, but the highlight is DxO’s new DeepPRIME technology. DeepPRIME utilizes artificial intelligence to perform improved demosaicing and denoising in a single step. DxO has used machine learning and millions of images to train the DeepPRIME algorithm. The result is that all images, particularly those captured at high ISO settings or with smaller sensors, will look better than ever before. DxO also states that photos captured with early-generation cameras will experience a pronounced gain in overall quality.

    A traditional approach to processing raw images comprises demosaicing and noise reduction separately. However, with DeepPRIME and its deep learning, these two steps are combined into one ‘to deliver exceptional performance.’ Compared to DxO’s previous denoising algorithm, DxO PRIME, DeepPRIME ‘delivers a gain of around two ISO sensitivity values at a comparable level of quality.’

    Of DeepPRIME, Jérôme Ménière, DxO’s CEO, says, ‘There are a number of applications for DxO DeepPRIME. [It] creates new creative opportunities by helping expert photographers overcome digital noise or a lack of light. For amateur photographers, DxO DeepPRIME compensates the drawbacks of the smaller sensors on compact and bridge cameras, which can typically only take high-quality images in bright light. Lastly, it can also be used to revamp photos taken by less advanced cameras from the start of the digital era.’ The idea of breathing new life into old images is certainly appealing and it will be interesting to see how much of an improvement DeepPRIME delivers.

    DxO’s new DeepPRIME algorithm promises improved performance and image quality compared to the former DxO PRIME tech. DxO states that the most noticeable gains will be experienced when working with high ISO images and photos captured using small or older image sensors. Image credit: DxO

    In addition to the new DeepPRIME technology, DxO PhotoLab 4 incorporates a new workspace, dubbed DxO Smart Workspace. The workspace is centered around a system of filters accessible via the toolbar. DxO describes it as follows, ‘It allows users to show tool palettes by correction type, only display their pre-selected favorite palettes, or only show palettes with activated corrections.’ You can also utilize a dedicated search field to locate a specific tool. DxO states that the new workspace will not only allow experienced PhotoLab users to work more efficiently, but it will also allow new users to acclimate to the software and its available tools more quickly.

    Another workflow improvement includes the ability to batch rename multiple files at once. This can be achieved via the DxO PhotoLibrary or Photo Browser. You simply select multiple files and then use a dedicated dialog box to rename the files.

    The new DxO Smart Workspace promises improved access to image editing tools plus a new search function, allowing experienced and novice users alike to track down a specific tool. Image credit: DxO

    There’s a new History palette in DxO PhotoLab 4 as well. This displays all edits in chronological order and shows the specific edits made to an image, allowing you to go back at any time to a specific change you made to your image. For example, if you adjust exposure, it will show this adjustment and the amount that exposure was adjusted. Adjustments can also be grouped by type and then hidden if you don’t need to see the full list.

    Similarly, PhotoLab 4 allows the user to selectively copy and paste edits across multiple selected images. DxO states, ‘From the Photo Browser, users can select the specific edits they want to apply to one or several other images by editing type, such as lighting, color, detail, local adjustments, geometry, or watermarking.’

    In order to protect your images when sharing them online, PhotoLab 4 includes a new Instant Watermarking feature. You can embed text and/or an image on selected photos simultaneously and get a live preview of the watermarking. You can adjust placement, scale, orientation, opacity, and margins. There are also seven available blend modes, something DxO says is unique to PhotoLab 4.

    DxO believes its new Instant Watermarking tool is the best in the business. Image credit: DxO

    More than 60,000 camera and lens combinations are supported in PhotoLab 4, including new camera support for the following cameras: Canon EOS R5, EOS R6, and EOS 850D, the Nikon D6 and Z5; the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV; and the Panasonic Lumix S5 cameras.

    DxO PhotoLab 4 is available now from DxO on Windows and macOS. Until November 19, DxO is offering promotional prices. DxO PhotoLab 4 Essential Edition is available for $ 99.99 USD and the Elite Edition is $ 149.99. This represents a savings of around $ 30 and $ 50, respectively. Existing owners of PhotoLab 3 can purchase an upgrade license by signing into their customer account on this webpage. You can also download a fully-functional one-month trial. For more information, visit DxO.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Slideshow: Winners of the 1st annual Paris Aerial Photography Awards

    Winners of the 1st annual Paris Aerial Photography Awards

    Several thousand photos from 65 countries were submitted to the 1st annual Paris Aerial Photography Awards – a competition open to artists using drones, kites, balloons, helicopters, and planes to capture imagery. The jury, including From Where I Drone’s Dirk Dallas, Costas Spathis, Women Who Drone’s Elena Buenrostro, the Abstract Aerial Art team, and Florian Ledoux awarded 106 photos in 22 categories and 11 photographers in 6 master categories.

    ‘When I submitted my images to the Aerial Photography Awards I knew the competition was going to be fierce. The number of aerial photographers has grown exponentially in the past few years. The advent of high quality, inexpensive and easy to fly drones is the obvious cause. But it takes more than just good gear. The incredible images submitted to the competition shows the dedicated and talented artists that the Aerial Photography Awards attracts,’ Jamie Malcolm-Brown, who received a nod in the Special Mentions section, tells DPReview.

    A few of the Master category winners include these photos, from left to right, in the Abandoned, Travel, and Cityscapes categories.

    Sebastian Nagy was awarded overall Aerial Photographer of the Year. He got his start in aerial photography on city rooftops. Six of the images he submitted were category winners. Make sure you check out the Awarded Photographers, Aerial Photos of the Year, and Special Mentions.

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Daily Life: ‘The Lady of the Sea’ by Duy Sinh (Vietnam)

    Artist Statement: A fishing boat is dropping a net and accidentally the waves pull the edges of the net into a lady on the blue sea. An accident of creation.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 2nd Place, Daily Life: ‘Anchovy Catching’ by Thien Nguyen (Vietnam)

    Artist Statement: Soft light of new day illuminating the long smoke from fishing boat engine & the shape of green nets moving underneath the water surface when local fishermen pulling their nets.

    Many local fisherman families along the coastline of Phu Yen province will follow the near-shore currents to catch the anchovy during peak season. Salted anchovy is the most important raw material to create traditional sh sauce – the spirit of Vietnamese cuisine.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Patterns: ‘Umbrella Crossing’ by Daniel Bonte (Japan)

    Artist Statement: Crossing of umbrellas bring colors on a gray rainy canvas.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 2nd Place, Editorial: ‘Eid Congregation’ by Azim Khan Ronnie (Bangladesh)

    Artist Statement: South Asia’s largest Eid-ul-Fitr Congregation held in Gor-e-Shahid Boro Math, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. According to the organizers’ claim, over 600,000 devotees participated in this Eid congregation. The prayers began at 8:30 am with devotees coming from different parts of the region. Eid-ul-Fitr is a Muslim festival of happiness celebrated all over the world.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Single Category Winner, Digitally Enhanced: ‘Airplanes’ by Cassio Vasconcellos (Brazil)

    Artist Statement: These aerial images are all constructed after many different photos that I did flying by helicopter. All images presented here are done after 2015 but is impossible to determine just a one-day shooting since I use sometimes hundreds of photos.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Helicopter

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Documentary: ‘Fire Attack’ by Marc LeCornu (Jersey)

    Artist Statement: Firefighters from the Jersey Airport Rescue & Firefighting Service work as a team to attack a simulated aircraft response. These live response scenarios are designed to ensure the crews are fully skilled and ready should a real incident occur.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Waterscapes: ‘Arctic Paradise’ by Kyle Vollaers (United Kingdom)

    Artist Statement: This image was taken o the coast of Qeqertarsuaq in -25° celsius. One of the most beautiful yet abstract places I’ve ever seen.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Landscapes: ‘Skyggnisvatn’ by Sebastian Müller (Switzerland)

    Artist Statement: The Highlands of Iceland.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Trees & Forests: ‘Forest Path’ by Mehmet Aslan (Turkey)

    Artist Statement: Herd of sheep uses forest road to return home.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Abstract: ‘Tatacoa Desert’ by Johan Van Den Hecke (Belgium)

    Artist Statement: A topdown view of the rock formations of the Tatacoa desert at sunset.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Aerial Photographer of the Year 2020, 1st Place, Accommodations: ‘Colors of Dubai’ by Kevin Krautgartner (Germany)

    Artist Statement: Real estate shooting for accommodations in the Burj Khalifa.

    Aerial Photography Technique: High point of view.

    Special Mention: ‘Love Island’ by Jamie Malcolm-Brown (United States)

    Artist Statement: The fog dissipated as the sun rose behind some storm clouds over this heart-shaped island.

    Aerial Photography Technique: Drone

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • 3 Lightroom Tools to Enhance Your Nature and Wildlife Photography

    The post 3 Lightroom Tools to Enhance Your Nature and Wildlife Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Shreyas Yadav.

    Do you want to bring out texture in your images of flowers, butterflies, plants, or macro subjects?

    Are you looking to remove haze from your beautiful landscape images?

    Do you want to reveal fine detail in your wildlife images?

    Then you’re in the right place.

    lightroom tools nature photography mountain

    Because today I am going to share with you three Lightroom tools for nature photography. I use these three tools to enhance my own nature and wildlife images. And I am sure these tools will be helpful to you, as well.

    And the best part is?

    All of these Lightroom tools are easy to apply. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an intermediate-level photographer; you can pick up these tools and start enhancing your nature images right away.

    Note that these three Lightroom tools can be applied to an overall image (as a global adjustment) or to a targeted area of the image (as a local adjustment).

    Let’s do this!

    The 3 Lightroom tools for nature photography

    Here are the three Lightroom tools that will instantly enhance your nature photos:

    • Texture
    • Clarity
    • Dehaze

    To access these tools, head to the Develop Module, find the Basic Panel, and scroll down to Presence:

    develop module lightroom tools nature photography
    The Texture, Clarity, and Dehaze sliders in Adobe Lightroom.

    Texture

    Texture has a subtle sharpening effect. It brings out the finer details.

    You can use the Texture tool in Lightroom to subtly add sharpening to flowers, patterns, plants, and more.

    By default, the Texture slider is set to “0.” Drag the texture slider to the right to increase the texture effect.

    Or drag the Texture slider to the left to reduce its effect.

    Here is an example of the Texture slider in action. First, take a look at this chameleon photo without any added texture:

    Chameleon before the texture slider is applied in Lightroom
    Before applying the Texture slider.

    Then, as you increase the texture, the chameleon details appear sharper:

    Chameleon after texture slider is applied in Lightroom lightroom tools nature photography
    After applying the Texture slider.

    Here’s a final before and after:

    texture slider before and after lightroom tools nature photography
    The effect of the Texture slider (before and after).

    Clarity

    The effect of the Clarity slider is more prominent than the effect of the Texture slider.

    What does Clarity do?

    It primarily increases the midtone contrast.

    Now, the Clarity slider is set to “0” as a default.

    To add Clarity, drag the slider to the right:

    the clarity slider in Lightroom
    The Clarity slider is a useful Lightroom tool for nature photography.

    To reduce the effect, drag the Clarity slider to the left.

    Since the effect of the Clarity slider is strong, make sure you use Clarity in moderation.

    If you capture a well-exposed image with a relatively centered histogram, then the Clarity slider will improve the midtone contrast and can bring out additional details in your picture.

    Here’s an image without the Clarity slider applied:

    bird before the Lightroom Clarity slider is used
    Before applying the Clarity slider.

    As well as its corresponding histogram:

    the histogram in Lightroom
    The histogram before applying the Clarity slider.

    And here’s the image with the Clarity slider applied:

    The bird with the Clarity tool applied
    After applying the Clarity slider.

    And its corresponding histogram:

    the histogram in Lightroom after the Clarity slider has been used
    The histogram after applying the Clarity slider.

    As Clarity increases, the midtone contrast increases, too; notice how the center of the histogram has expanded.

    Additionally, after increasing the Clarity, details on the bird have begun to pop.

    Dehaze

    The Dehaze slider is quite helpful for landscape images.

    When out photographing, you may end up with haze in the atmosphere. Additionally, fog or rain will make an image look hazy.

    You can use the Dehaze slider to reduce the haze.

    To apply the Dehaze effect (and reduce the haze), drag the Dehaze slider to the right:

    the Dehaze slider in Lightroom
    The Dehaze slider in Lightroom.

    To reduce the Dehaze effect (and increase the haze), drag the Dehaze slider to the left.

    As you increase the Dehaze effect, haze in the picture will be reduced, and the overall saturation of the image will increase. If the saturation increases too much, then bring down the Saturation slider slightly.

    Note that the Dehaze slider will shift the histogram to the left (toward the side of the histogram representing the darker tones in the image).

    When I was photographing the scene below, there was mist and drizzle over the forest valley. Here’s the image prior to applying the Dehaze effect:

    mountain landscape before the Dehaze tool is applied
    Before applying Dehaze.

    And here’s the same image, but with the Dehaze effect applied:

    the mountain landscape after the Dehaze tool is used
    After applying Dehaze.

    As I increased the value of the Dehaze slider, the haze was reduced. The difference between the original and edited images is quite significant.

    You can also use the Dehaze slider for early-morning images, wildlife during the winter season, photos captured in the rain, and wildlife captured from a distance.

    The elephants pictured below were moving along the riverbank. I was photographing them from a boat at a far distance, it was evening, and there was a slight fog in the atmosphere, hence the image appears a bit hazy:

    two elephants before the Dehaze tool is used
    Before applying Dehaze.

    But, thanks to the Dehaze slider, the haze in the picture is reduced:

    two elephants after the Dehaze slider is used
    After applying Dehaze.

    The Lightroom tools for local adjustments

    There you go!

    Those are the three Lightroom tools for nature photography that will instantly enhance your photos.

    But here’s one more thing you should know:

    Texture, Clarity, and Dehaze aren’t only available as global adjustments. They’re available as local adjustments, too.

    You can apply local adjustments using a Graduated Filter, a Radial Filter, or an Adjustment Brush.

    As you apply your local adjustments, you can shift the Texture, Clarity, and Dehaze sliders.

    Let me give you an example. Here’s an unedited image:

    An unedited road

    After making global adjustments in Adobe Lightroom, I used a local (targeted) adjustment on the sky:

    the road with a targeted adjustment applied

    On the stormy clouds:

    the road with another targeted adjustment applied

    And on the road passing through the grassland:

    the road with a third targeted adjustment applied

    Note that these local adjustments include the Texture, Clarity, and Dehaze sliders.

    Here is the final image:

    final edited road with storm clouds using lightroom tools nature photography
    The final, post-processed image.

    So you can use these three tools when adding local adjustments, too!

    Lightroom tools for nature photography: Conclusion

    I hope these three Lightroom tools will help you enhance your nature and wildlife images.

    Now I would like to hear from you:

    Which of these Lightroom tools for nature photography are you going to try first?

    Let me know by leaving a comment below.

    The post 3 Lightroom Tools to Enhance Your Nature and Wildlife Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Shreyas Yadav.


    Digital Photography School

  • Using Lightroom vs Photoshop: A Quick Reference Comparison

    One of the most common questions we get from photographers that are just starting out is about photo editing software and which one they should use. Most people have heard of Adobe and its Photoshop and Lightroom software but are confused to what the differences between them are and exactly which one they should be using. Let’s take an in Continue Reading

    The post Using Lightroom vs Photoshop: A Quick Reference Comparison appeared first on Photodoto.


    Photodoto

  • DJI’s new Pocket 2 three-axis-stabilized mini camera offers larger sensor, wider lens and more

    DJI has announced the release of its new DJI Pocket 2, a second-generation three-axis mini camera.

    The updated camera drops the Osmo nomenclature its predecessor bore and improves its performance across the board. Despite keeping its compact size, weighing just 117g (4.2oz), the Pocket 2 has a larger sensor and wider lens than the Osmo Pocket, which DJI claims has dramatically improve image quality for both photos and video.

    The new 1/1.7” sensor (Osmo Pocket had a 1/2.3” sensor) works in tandem with a new 20mm (equivalent) F1.8 lens to capture 16MP photos in standard mode and up to 64MP images in high-resolution mode. The Pocket 2 can record 4K video at up to 60fps at a 100Mbps bitrate. DJI has added HDR recording and the device now offers up to 8x zoom using the 64MP high-resolution mode or 4x lossless zoom when shooting at 16MP or in 1080p.

    DJI has also improved the focus system, which should make it easily to track moving subjects faster and more accurately than with the Osmo Mobile. The Hybrid 2.0 AF feature uses a combination of contrast and phase detection to deliver these performance improvements.

    DJI Matrix Stereo also improves upon one of the weakest points of the Osmo Mobile—audio. The new audio system uses an array of four microphones to capture what DJI calls an ‘immersive audio experience.’ DJI has added a number of audio features, including Directional Audio, SoundTrack and Audio Zoom. Below is a description of the new features straight from DJI:

    ’Directional Audio enhances sound recording from those microphones to pick up as much detail as possible, with SoundTrack adjusting the audio based on where the camera is facing, while Audio Zoom narrows the sound field when zooming the camera in. To further filter out unwanted background sounds, an optional wind noise reduction helps keep the audio clean in outdoor settings.’

    As with nearly all of DJI’s products, there’s a handful of pre-programmed shooting modes included with the Pocket 2:

    • Pro Mode: Control advanced camera settings such as ISO, shutter speed, EV, and focus mode.
    • ActiveTrack 3.0: Select a subject and let DJI Pocket 2 keep it in the frame automatically.
    • Slow Motion: Capture the fast-moving world in slow motion with a max speed and resolution of 8x at 1080p.
    • Timelapse, Hyperlapse, Motionlapse: Speed up the world around you with the varying effects of three different time-lapse operations. Hyperlapse automatically integrates Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for added smoothness. Users have the ability to save individual images separately, record in RAW format, and use ActiveTrack 3.0.
    • Panoramas:
      • 180° Pano: Captures four photos for sweeping landscape images.
      • 3×3 Pano: Merges nine images for a wide and detailed view.
    • Livestreaming: Livestream directly to Facebook, YouTube, or RTMP.
    • Story Mode: Preset camera movements, color profiles, and music make it easier to choose a template, record the moment, and share to social media instantly.

    Other features include a new Fast Wake option that will instantly turn on the device so you don’t miss any action, a Drop Aware function that will ‘take preventative measures when it senses the gimbal falling’ and a Pause Recording feature that will quickly pause video recordings.

    With new hardware comes new accessories, including a charging case, wireless microphone set, waterproof housing, a more compact control wheel, an extension rod, a (more) wide-angle lens attachment, a wireless module and a smartphone support system. All of the above features and more can be controlled with the free DJI Mimo smartphone app, available on both Android and iOS.

    The DJI Pocket 2 can be purchased in two configurations: the DJI Pocket 2 with the Mini Control Stick and Tripod mount for $ 349, or the DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo, which includes the Mini Control Sitck, tripod mount, wide-angle lens attachment, wireless microphone with windscreen, the do-it-all handle and the micro tripod for $ 499. Units can be purchased through DJI’s online store and authorized DJI retailers.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)