Photographer Brendan Barry was commissioned by the Exeter Canal and Quay Trust to turn a room in the Custom House in Exeter, U.K. into a large camera obscura.
Barry had a residency at the Custom House in Exeter and during his time, he used a variety of analog cameras to capture images of Exeter Quay. Of his work, Barry says, ‘My work aims to challenge our understanding of what a camera is, what it can do and how one can be constructed, taking the whole notion of what a camera might be, unpicking these preconceptions and creating new ways of inviting an audience into having a transformative experience in a space.’
Image credit: Brendan Barry
Brendan continues, ‘During my residency at the Custom House I will be transforming a number of rooms in the building into giant cameras and using them to capture images of Exeter Quay using a range of analog photographic processes and techniques.’ Barry created a very informative video of the experience, which can be seen below. In his video, Brendan shows the entire process, from his approach to building a camera obscura and the equipment he uses to create large prints.
As you can see, Brendan required a lot of equipment for his project. After getting his equipment into the upstairs room, he must create a large frame with a backboard to hold the photographic paper. Next is setting up the lens holder in the room’s window, blacking out the rest of the window and setting up a holder for a graduated neutral density filter to ensure a balanced exposure.
Image credit: Brendan Barry
This is not Brendan Barry’s first foray with making a large analog camera. You can check out Barry’s previous projects in which Barry turned his shed into a camera, as well as an older project wherein he turned a skyscraper into a camera obscura.
If you’d like to see more videos from Brendan Barry, be sure to check out his YouTube channel. To see more of his work, visit his website and follow him on Instagram.
Autofocus has gotten very good. Scarily good, even. But some situations call for good old fashioned manual focus, whether you’re shooting macro, video or channeling your inner Cartier-Bresson on the street. For these occasions, Chris and Jordan have a few quick tips that will help you nail your manually focused shot every time.
Introduction
Punch in focus
Peaking
Hyperfocal distance
Focus marks
Focusing with camera movement
Snapping into focus
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Google has released an updated version of the Google Photos app for Android, bringing with it a few new features, including an after-capture Portrait Light mode, a one-tap editing feature and a slightly revamped editing interface.
As Google briefly demonstrated during yesterday’s Pixel 5 event, the new Portrait Light mode will edit the image to appear as though there’s light coming from a light source not actually in the image. While limited to Google’s new Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 devices for the time being, this feature lets you apply ‘lighting’ in post-production by editing the image to appear as though it’s coming from a specific direction.
As noted by PetaPixel, it’s possible this new adjustable lighting technology is derived from a research project Google participated in back in 2019. Google says this feature will be coming to other Pixel devices, but doesn’t specify which ones or a definitive timeframe.
Also included in this Google Photos update is a one-tap editing feature that uses ‘machine learning to give you suggestions that are tailored to the specific photo you’re editing.’ In its current form, only three suggestions are available: Black and White, color Pop and Enhance, but Google says more options for landscapes, portraits and more will be available ‘in the coming months.’
Google has also changed the user interface (UI) of the manual editing tools. There’s now a scrollable toolbar at the bottom with round buttons and icons, akin to the interface of Apple’s Photo app, VSCO and others. This updated interface, in theory, makes it easier to quickly find the settings you need and make the appropriate adjustments.
This update will go live in the Google Play Store this week. If you don’t already have the Google Photos app, you can download it for free; if you do, be sure to keep an eye out for updates. Google hasn’t specified whether or not we’ll see these new features and redesign make their way to the iOS version of the app.
Ahead of Luminar AI’s release this holiday season, Skylum Software has shared additional information about how Templates will work in the upcoming all-in-one photo editing software and how Templates can be used to save photographers a lot of time and energy when processing many images.
In many traditional photo editors, users must adjust different sliders to get the desired results when processing images. There are often available presets, which will speed up the editing process, but presets have limitations, and photographers are often left feeling like their creativity has been removed from the editing process. Ideally, many of us want to save time without sacrificing creative control. Skylum believes that Luminar AI’s Templates will remove the frustration and overcome the limitations of presets in other photo editors.
Photo credit: Elia Locardi
The artificial intelligence in Luminar AI has been integrated throughout the entire editing process and has been trained with ‘expert input from artists, photographers, colorists and scientists.’ Alex Tsepko, Skylum’s CEO, says, ‘With Luminar AI, we wanted to ensure that AI not only was easy to use, but that it also provided creatives a way to express themselves. Through our unique 3D depth-mapping and segmentation technologies, we’re able to recognize the contents of a photo, recommended edits and then allow creatives to refine every aspect of that recommendation. Doing this lets creatives retain their unique style in their edits without tedious, manual work. Professional results, but in a fraction of the time.’
Artificial intelligence starts operating as soon as you open an image in Luminar AI. The software identifies the contents of an image, analyzes potential problem spots, and evaluates the depth of the image. Luminar AI then offers a list of carefully selected Templates for users to select from.
Users can test out different Templates and see how they impact their image. Skylum states that a preview is created in less than a second. When you evaluate a specific Template you can even see which AI tools were utilized in the Template. For beginners, it should prove useful to see which tools are used to create different images and how each tool changes the look and feel of a photo.
Photo credit: Javier Pardina
Templates will offer novices a variety of ideas to help choose the direction they want to take an image. For advanced photographers with more editing experience, they can choose when and how they want more advanced manual control over their image edits. They can pick and choose which AI tools they want to utilize and then create their own templates for future use on single images or when batch editing. Skylum states that utilizing templates will allow photographers to save ‘up to 90% of their time spent editing.’
You can learn more about Luminar AI here. For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Luminar AI, click here. Luminar AI is available for preorder at a special price, which you can learn more about here. As the release of Luminar AI approaches this holiday, stay tuned for more information, including a planned hands-on preview ahead of the full public release of Luminar AI.
Sigma has unveiled an all-new 105mm F2.8 macro lens, which will provide 1:1 reproduction and will be offered for E-mount and L-mount mirrorless cameras. It features a new optical formula comprising 17 elements in 12 groups, including one SLD (Special Low Dispersion) element.
The 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro features a 14cm (5.5″) working distance, an aperture ring that functions either clicked or de-clicked, and a three-zone focus limiting switch. The lens is dust- and splash-proof, and the L-mount version is compatible with Sigma’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters.
The Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro Art lens will ship in late October for $ 800.
View our sample gallery
Press release
Sigma Announces the 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | Art Lens, Redefining Mirrorless Macro Performance
Life-sized magnification (1:1) short tele macro for full-frame mirrorless
Dust and Splash-proof construction
Completely new optical formula for exceptional sharpness and pleasing bokeh
Hypersonic Motor optimized for both contrast and phase detection autofocus
Clicked and de-clicked aperture ring with Aperture Ring Lock Switch
Focus Limiter switch for macro, portrait, or full range autofocus
Available in L-Mount and Sony E-Mount
MSRP: $ 799
Anticipated Shipping Date: Late October 2020
Ronkonkoma, NY – September 30, 2020 – The SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | Art lens is the first prime macro lens designed by Sigma exclusively for full-frame mirrorless cameras, as the DG DN in the name indicates. Announced today by Sigma Corporation, this lens offers 1:1 magnification (life-sized) at a 5.5-inch working distance with internal focusing, and it is available in Sony E-Mount and L-Mount formats.
Exceptional focal plane sharpness with minimal aberration is achieved through a new optical formula featuring 17 elements in 12 groups with one SLD element. The lens design also features excellent peripheral brightness for pleasing bokeh, complemented by nine rounded aperture blades. The L-Mount version of the 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | Art lens is compatible with the SIGMA Teleconverter TC-1411 and TC-2011, increasing the maximum magnification to 1.4:1 and 2:1, respectively.
“In order to capture the minute details of small subjects, macro lenses must meet an extremely high standard of optical precision, and the new SIGMA 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | Art lens truly delivers,” says Mark Amir-Hamzeh, President of Sigma Corporation of America. “Whether you are shooting images of flowers, insects or just interesting objects around the house, the sharpness, bokeh quality and practical functionality of this lens will exceed the expectations of professionals and hobbyists alike.”
The Hypersonic Motor delivers smooth, quiet, confident autofocus in both close-up and portrait-distance settings, and the three-zone focus limiter switch allows for even swifter response when focusing exclusively in either the macro or more distant range.
The Sigma Art line has been consistently redefining both imaging excellence and satisfying handfeel, and this new lens continues that journey. The dust and splash-proof design, aluminum and TSC (Thermally Stable Composite) construction, a brass bayonet mount, plus well-damped switches and rings demonstrate the level of build quality that the Art name represents. The Aperture Ring can be clicked or de-clicked by flick of a switch, and the lens also includes an Aperture Ring Lock Switch function. Additional benefits include a programmable AFL button on the lens barrel, and compatibility with face and eye-detection autofocus.
The lens will begin shipping late October 2020. / MSRP: $ 799
Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro specifications
Principal specifications
Lens type
Prime lens
Max Format size
35mm FF
Focal length
105 mm
Image stabilization
No
Lens mount
L-Mount, Sony FE
Aperture
Maximum aperture
F2.8
Minimum aperture
F22
Aperture ring
Yes
Number of diaphragm blades
9
Optics
Elements
17
Groups
12
Special elements / coatings
1 super-low-dispersion element, Super Multi-layer coating
The post Tips for Using Photographic Minimalism to Great Effect appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.
In today’s article, you’ll learn a key tip for improving your photography. After all, when you understand that photography is the art of subtraction, it makes sense that minimalism works so well for photography.
This means that employing photographic minimalism in your work will immediately improve your results. Let’s take a look at what minimalism is, where you’ll find it, and how to use it in your own photos.
Shooting upward toward the fisherman helped produce a minimalist photo.
What is minimalism?
Minimalism, as the name suggests, is about keeping things simple. It means avoiding clutter, which in photography equates to removing unwanted elements from your photos.
You do want a main subject, though; this is needed for the minimalist parts of your photos to have something to contrast with.
Key elements of photographic minimalism
The great thing about minimalism is that it can be applied to almost every genre of photography, including portrait, landscape, and still life. The only area where minimalism doesn’t always work well is street photography, where you often want to show more of the scene.
Therefore, the key aspects of photographic minimalism are the following:
Negative space: This refers to an area of empty space in your photo. The negative space still needs to work compositionally, but that space is what will give your photo its minimalism.
Small main subject: The main subject should not fill the frame. It needs to be present, but have enough space around it for the photo to breathe.
Avoid clutter: When you compose a photo, do so in such a way that you include the main subject and the background with little else.
This photo uses a wall similar in color to the ice cream.
The best location for photographic minimalism
It’s possible to produce photographic minimalism in almost any location.
The important factors are the angle you photograph at and the focal length of your lens. Here are a few possible ideas you can use:
Minimal locations: Places like coastlines and deserts offer minimalism pretty much wherever you point the camera.
Urban settings: Look for a plain wall and use this as a background for a minimalist portrait.
A shard of light: Go for low-key minimalism by locating a shard of sunlight, or by putting a snoot on a flash and aiming it at a person. Then expose for the light on that person, while leaving the background underexposed and dark.
Product photos: Use a lightbox to produce high-key product photos that are surrounded by white (or by the background color that you choose).
The ocean is minimal by nature. The ripples on the water add interest to the negative space.
Which lens works best?
The lens that works best for minimalism will depend a lot on the location you’re photographing. It may be hard to produce minimalism with a wide-angle lens in an urban setting, but take the same lens to a desert and it’ll do a great job. The following is a guide to help you choose the correct lens:
Wide-angle: Use a wide-angle lens in a location where you can fill the frame with one particular background. That background will often be the sky, but could equally be rolling green hills. This works best in rural areas.
Telephoto: It’s easier to produce minimalism when you use a telephoto lens. This is because you can zoom in on a specific area to avoid elements that clutter the frame. When using a long focal length, ensure there is enough negative space around your main subject.
It’s possible to take minimal street photos, as well. Simply find a wall with a strong color to photograph against.
Change the angle
A simple change of angle can have a big impact on your photos and help you produce photographic minimalism. Stepping to the side or crouching down to the ground can be all it takes to remove a distracting element from your composition.
Here are some options that will turn a cluttered scene into a minimalist one:
A bird’s-eye view: This works best where you have fields or a coastline, so the location is already minimalist.
Crouching below a wall: Use a wall as the horizon line and aim up towards the sky. The wall blocks out the usually busy horizon, and you can add a person as a silhouette against the sky.
Compression: I already talked about this in the section about lenses and focal length, but zooming in to remove distracting elements from the edge of the frame works well.
Move to the side: A single step can be all it takes to change the background from cluttered to minimal.
This photo shows a monastery at Meteora in Greece. A long focal length is used and the rocks create a minimal, textured background.
Post processing can help
Now, it’s best to get your photo right from the start and simply change your position so that you can compose a minimalist photo.
That said, there are times that creating a minimalist composition in-camera isn’t possible, yet the photo is still very much there to be taken. There could be a lamppost or an electric pylon that comes into your frame.
Fortunately, it’s increasingly easy to clone out unwanted elements from your photo. And once you’ve done that, you’ll have created minimalism.
This farmworker in Laos works as a great main subject to add interest to the composition.
Maximize your photos with minimalism!
A lot of successful photos use minimalism to great effect. Are you a minimalist with your photography? If so, how do you go about taking photos in the minimalistic style? If you have ideas and photos you’d like to share, please do so in the comments section below.
Now it’s time to maximize your creativity with photographic minimalism!
The post Tips for Using Photographic Minimalism to Great Effect appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.
TTartisan is back with its latest lens, an ultra-affordable 35mm F1.4 lens for APS-C mirrorless camera systems.
The fully-manual TTartisan 35mm F1.4 lens retails for just $ 80 and is available for Canon EOS M, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mount camera systems. It’s constructed of seven elements in six groups, has an aperture range of F1.4-F16, uses a ten-blade aperture diaphragm and has a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (11”).
The front filter thread is 39mm and the lens measures in at 44mm (1.73”) long, 56mm (2.2”) diameter and weighs just 180g. Below is a sample gallery of images captured with the lens, provided by Photo Rumors, an authorized retailer of TTartisan gear.
You can purchase the lens over on Photo Rumors’ online shop or any other authorized TTartisan retailer.
Today, at its ‘Launch Night In’ event, Google unveiled the details of its new Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 devices.
Pixel 4a 5G
The Pixel 4a 5G is, as its name suggests, a 5G variant of the budget-friendly phone released last autumn. But it’s not just an improved cellular modem that’s been added to the 5G variant.
The Pixel 4A now has a larger OLED screen — 6.2” over the 5.8” on the 4a — as well as a slightly faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor (compared to the 730g found in the 4a). All of these upgrades together have increased the starting price of the 5G variant to $ 499, $ 150 more expensive than the base Pixel 4a at launch.
Pixel 5
Compared to the improvements the Pixel 4 brought over the Pixel 3, the Pixel 5 feels like a much smaller update. While the specifications haven’t improved dramatically, Google has added a number of new and improved features, particularly in regards to the camera software.
Starting with internals, the Pixel 5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor with an X52 5G modem that supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G. This is a bit of an interesting move as more flagship devices are beginning to use the Snapdragon 865 or 865 Plus, but using a slightly older chipset means the price of the Pixel can keep it below more top-tier Android devices.
The Pixel 5 features 8GB of RAM, starts with 128GB of internal storage, uses a 4080mAh battery. Other notable details include reverse wireless charging, IPX8 water-resistance and the newest version of Corning Gorilla Glass.
The 6” screen is a 2340 x 1080 OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Although it retains the 8MP hole-punch front-facing camera, the lack of the Motion Sense array means the screen now stretches the full width of the device.
As for cameras, the Pixel 5 has an optically-stabilized 12.2MP main camera with a 77-degree field-of-view (FOV) as well as a 16MP ultrawide that covers a 107-degree FOV. To make the most of the humble hardware, Google is, as it has for years, relying on its software to get the best image quality possible.
New shooting modes include the inclusion of a Night Sight Portrait mode, improved HDR+ capture and a new AI-powered Portrait Lighting mode that will automatically adjust the lighting on subjects captured in Portrait mode. Also new are three new image stabilization modes: Locked, Active and Cinematic Pan. The new Cinematic Pan setting is designed specifically for capturing gimbal-like footage, complete with slow-motion capture.
The Pixel 5 will be available on October 15 through Google Fi, Verizon and unlocked starting at $ 699 for the 128GB version — a $ 100 drop from the $ 799 the Pixel 4 retailed for at launch. AT&T will also offer the Pixel 5 later this autumn. Pre-orders are available starting today.
Astropad successfully funded Luna Display for Mac on Kickstarter in late 2019. The company is back with another project, Luna Display for Windows. The new project was fully funded in its first hour on Kickstarter. Luna Display for Windows allows iPad owners to turn their Apple device into a wireless PC display.
Astropad states that Luna Display for Windows is the only hardware solution available to turn any modern iPad into a wireless second display for a PC or Mac. You can connect your iPad via Wi-Fi or with a wired connection. For a physical connection, you can select between USB-C or HDMI Luna Display units. Astropad promises ‘lag-free lightning-fast speeds’ and compatibility with any Windows or Mac application
Luna Display for Windows boasts many features, including support for iPad touch gestures. Image credit: Astropad
Luna Display for Windows is fully compatible with external keyboard and mouse peripherals, full iPad touch gestures and supports Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity. Astropad promises low latency and a ‘crystal clear’ display.
When working on a single display, especially a smaller notebook display, it can be difficult to fit your entire workspace. With a second display, you can instantly and easily expand your workspace, allowing additional flexibility when working. If you don’t need a second display but would like to be untethered from a desktop computer, you can use Luna Display wirelessly to work on your iPad anywhere you can connect to your Wi-Fi network, such as in a more comfortable room in your home or maybe even outside.
In order to ensure a low-latency and clear wireless image, Luna leverages its own custom video compression technology, LIQUID. The rendering system adjusts in real-time to prevailing network conditions to ensure fast performance. Luna Display promises latency as low as 16 milliseconds, which is considerably faster than the 204ms of Windows Connect and 64ms performance when using Apple’s Airplay technology. Further, LIQUID uses GPU acceleration when available to ensure stable performance.
Luna Display requires the use of a small device, which you can plug into an HDMI port (Windows compatibility only) or USB-C (compatible with Windows and Mac). The device’s size varies slightly with the selected port type, but in either case, it weighs a little over an ounce.
Once your Luna Display is inserted into your computer, you will need to open a dedicated Luna Display app on your computer and your iPad. As soon as the applications are running, you’re good to go.
Luna Display for Windows requires Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit, Build 1809 or later. It requires an Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support that is 2 GHz or faster. As for RAM, Luna Display requires at least 4 GB. Luna Display for Windows is compatible with Intel HD Graphics 520, AMD Radeon RX Vega 3, NVIDIA GeForce 820m or later; or an equivalent DirectX 11 compatible GPU. On the iPad side of the equation, nearly any iPad will work. Luna Display is compatible with iPad Mini 2 (2013 or later), iPad Pro (2016 or later), iPad 5th generation (2017 or later) and iPad Air (2013 or later). Your iPad must be running iOS 9.1 or later and 32-bit devices are not supported.
Image credit: Astropad
You can pledge $ 49 USD to support Luna Display for Windows and save up to $ 31 off retail price. Luna Display for Windows is scheduled to begin shipping in May 2021. For additional information and full pledge details, head to Luna Display for Windows Kickstarter project page.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
The Nikon Z5 is an entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera that looks and handles almost exactly like its higher-end Z-mount siblings, the Z6 and Z7. It’s built around a stabilized non-BSI 24MP CMOS sensor, which is likely more closely related to the generation of chip found in Nikon’s D750 DSLR, rather than the newer BSI sensor in the Z6.
Slightly stripped down and more stills-focused, the Z5 shares the same 273-point hybrid AF system, Expeed 6 processor and 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder as the Z6. But niceties like a top plate display are absent. Likewise, the Z5’s max burst rate and video capabilities are considerably less than that of the Z6: 4.5 fps vs. 12 fps and heavily cropped 4K vs. un-cropped, oversampled 4K. But from an image quality and handling standpoint, the two cameras are quite similar.
Key Specifications:
24MP full-frame CMOS sensor (not BSI)
Hybrid AF system with 273 phase-detect points covering 90% of the frame
4.5 fps continuous shooting with AF
5-axis in-body image stabilization
3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
Dual UHS-II SD cards
4K/30p video capture (with 1.7x crop)
1080/60p video capture (no crop)
Headphone and microphone ports
Dust and moisture sealed
The Nikon Z5 sells for $ 1399 body-only, $ 1699 kitted with the new 24-50mm F4-6.3 lens and $ 2199 kitted with the 24-200 F4-6.3 VR.
What’s new and how it compares
The Z5 is essentially a stripped down Z6. Here’s what Nikon changed in the camera to keep the price down.
Read more
Body, handling and controls
The Z5 is the same exact size, weight and shape as the Z6. But there are a few small differences between the two bodies.
Read more
First impressions
DPR’s Dan Bracaglia has been busy shooting with the Z5. Here’s why he thinks it’s such a tempting camera – and why he may buy one in 12 months’ time.
Read more
Image quality
How does the Z5’s 24MP sensor stack up against the latest BSI chips? Quite well, in fact.
Read more
Autofocus & Video
Autofocus performance from the Z5 is quite good, whether shooting moving or static subjects. But video performance is not the camera’s strong suit.
Read more
Conclusion
The Nikon Z5 is arguably the best bang-for-your-buck stills-oriented camera on the market, which is why it’s earns our gold award.
Read more
Sample gallery
Pups, mountains and summertime vibes. Check out our initial Z5 sample gallery.
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