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Video: Photographer Sean Tucker on recoloring images using Photoshop

Photographer and filmmaker Sean Tucker has published a new video teaching viewers how to accurately recolor their images using Gradient Maps in Adobe Photoshop. The process involves selecting the objects to be recolored using the Pen Tool, then using the Gradient Maps to choose the target colors and transform the selections.

The new tutorial, which is approximately 20 minutes long, joins Tucker’s other videos, which include everything from discussions on ‘law and ethics in street photography’ to tutorials related to street photography, editing portraits in Photoshop, color grading footage and more.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

February 22, 2020
Canon removes dozens of authorized dealers in the United States

Canon USA has updated its authorized dealers list, removing dozens of dealers from its network. According to Canon Price Watch, this change took place on February 13 and initially involved 86 authorized dealers; however, Canon reached out on February 18 to clarify that certain dealers had been removed due to ‘administrative errors’ and that they had since been added back on to the list.

Sources speaking to the website claim the changes were made as a way to cut Canon USA’s operating costs. Online-only dealers and small stores were primarily affected by this change. Canon says that it added back in some dealers, including military exchanges, which were initially removed by mistake.

As of February 18, a total of 71 authorized dealers had been removed by Canon, including destinations like 33 Street Camera, Maui Digital Imaging, Rochester Institute of Technology, Santa Monica Camera, Camera Center of New York, B&C Photo and more. New York and California experienced the largest number of removals.

Canon USA maintains a list of its authorized dealers on its website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

February 21, 2020
A little bit of everything: Fujifilm XF 16-80mm F4 sample gallery

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Fujifilm’s XF 16-80mm F4 lens gives a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 24-120mm, which makes it an incredibly versatile walk-around lens. So we did a lot of walking around with it. The built-in stabilizer means the lens is more flexible than you might think for indoor shooting, and the claimed weather resistance means we didn’t let a little rain or snow shower keep us from packing it along. Check out how this lens performs in our sample gallery.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

February 21, 2020
DIY: How to Create a Coffee-Stained Texture for Aging Images in Photoshop
The post DIY: How to Create a Coffee-Stained Texture for Aging Images in Photoshop appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.

As a kid, I remember coffee-staining scrap paper to create ancient maps that marked out treasure in the backyard. Nowadays, I’ve discovered that the same process can be great for photography projects too. With help from Photoshop, experimenting with textural layers is a great way to introduce an aged look to your images. But sometimes it can be hard to get a hold of quality textures on the internet. That’s where a bit of DIY comes in. By making your own coffee-stained texture, you can create seemingly aged canvases, which can then be applied to your images.

What you’ll need:
- 1/4 cup of instant coffee granules
- 1 teaspoon
- a damp cloth, sponge or paper towel
- a few pieces of white paper (I use plain old sheets of A4 copy paper. While copy paper does pucker when water is introduced to it, I think it adds to the overall aged effect. Plus, it’s less expensive than good art paper!)
How to coffee-stain paper
1. First, lay out your sheets of paper on a wipeable surface. I prefer to work on the kitchen bench.
2. Sprinkle some instant coffee on your sheets of paper – about a teaspoon per sheet.
3. With a damp cloth, sponge or paper towel, begin to press the instant coffee granules into the paper. As the coffee moistens, you can start to spread the granules around the paper with broader strokes. The more varied the strokes, the rougher the effect will be.
4. You can add more coffee and a little water if you need it. The more coffee you add, the darker the coffee-stained paper will turn out. You can even leave some partially-dissolved coffee granules on the page.
5. Once you coat the paper, place the sheets somewhere safe and leave them to dry for a few hours.
6. Sometimes the drying process can lighten the stained effect somewhat. If this happens, add more coffee and water to darken the paper further.
Here’s my result:

How to apply coffee-stained textures in Photoshop

Once your coffee-stained paper is dry, scan or photograph the page/s and save the files somewhere handy on your computer.

Next, open an image in Photoshop. This will be the image we’ll apply the coffee-stained texture to. I went with the image below:

1/100 of a second f/4.5 ISO 100

With your chosen image open, add a Black & White Adjustment Layer by clicking the Black & White icon in the Adjustments panel (the names of the icons appear when you rest your mouse on them).

If you can’t see the Adjustments panel, select Window from the top toolbar and then click on Adjustments. The Black & White Adjustment Layer will non-destructively convert your image to black and white.

Toggle the Black & White Adjustment Layer settings until you are satisfied with your image.

Next, with the Black & White Adjustment Layer selected in the Layers panel, click File from the top toolbar. Then select Place… and locate and select the coffee-stained image file.

The coffee-stained texture layer will be imported over your original image.

If needed, adjust the dimensions of the coffee-stained image by dragging its corners to completely cover the entirety of the canvas.

With the coffee-stained texture selected in the Layers panel, click on the Blending Modes drop-down menu located within the layers panel. Set the Blending Mode to either Overlay or Soft Light. Overlay is a bit harsher in contrast than Soft Light, so test out both options before settling on one.

Next, select the coffee-stained texture layer and click on the Curves icon in the Adjustment Layers panel. Adjust the Curves settings until you are happy with the overall contrast of your image.

At this point, you can refine the Black & White Adjustment Layer further or even add additional coffee-stained layers to increase the intensity of the aged effect.

This is my finished result…

Here are two more images I’ve attempted to age a little with the same method…

What do you think? Up for a cuppa? If you’ve given the coffee-stained texture method a try, be sure to share your results in the comments!

The post DIY: How to Create a Coffee-Stained Texture for Aging Images in Photoshop appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.

Digital Photography School
February 21, 2020
Sony reportedly cuts planned mirrorless camera features in response to DRAM shortage

Update: This story originally stated that Bloomberg’s sources alleged that PS5 production was given preference over mirrorless features that would require scarce components. Bloomberg’s story only points out that both mirrorless cameras and Playstation divisions are suffering due to the scarcity of DRAM and NAND; our story has been updated to reflect this.

Sources recently speaking to Bloomberg allege that Sony has nixed some features it had planned for an unnamed future mirrorless camera model due to the scarcity of certain hardware, namely DRAM and NAND flash memory.

The current demand for NAND and DRAM is high among smartphone manufacturers, according to Bloomberg, which reports that Sony is struggling to keep down the cost of its upcoming PS5 console. The article makes reference to high DRAM prices having an impact on other parts of the company, with cameras in particular being called out.

According to the article: ‘Sony has already canceled some previously planned features for a new mirrorless camera due this year owing to the constrained DRAM supply, several people with knowledge of the matter said.’

The report doesn’t specify which camera model will suffer as a result of this alleged decision nor which features were eliminated, though it does claim that Sony plans to release the camera this year.

The wording is interesting, in that it suggests the camera will still be delivered, shorn of the capabilities that fast DRAM memory would have provided. It could be that Sony planned to expand the use of stacked DRAM image sensors beyond the a9 and newer RX100 models, but will instead proceed with a more conventional CMOS sensor.

Given the current state of Sony’s lineup, the a7 III replacement seems a likely candidate. Or maybe the technology was meant to underpin the long hoped for NEX-7 high-end APS-C successor or an update to the a7S series.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

February 21, 2020
Interview: How the brother duo at Abstract Aerial Art create masterpieces from above
Interview: How brothers at Abstract Aerial Art creates masterpieces from above

Photoshop wasn’t involved here. This image of a real-life puzzle piece was captured with a drone in the Netherlands.

JP and Mike Andrews, brothers from the United Kingdom, have gained international recognition for their compelling images taken from an aerial perspective. There’s a good chance you may have already encountered their work in some capacity; they’ve been featured in major publications including The Guardian and National Geographic.

The duo, who refer to themselves professionally as Abstract Aerial Art, had an epiphany back in 2016. While they didn’t have a concrete plan, one thing was clear: they were fed up with their day-to-day lives and needed to change their circumstances. Without a concrete plan in place, they embarked on a journey through the Australian outback, with the intention of taking a hiatus, and unexpectedly found their true calling.

All the images in this slideshow, and on their popular Instagram feed, are taken from real, un-staged locations around the world. Besides slight color and contrast enhancements, the images are not manipulated. ‘The point is not to work out what it is, but to show how weird and wonderful the world can look from above.’ What really sets their work apart is the composition, something the duo has mastered. That last component has transformed their images from mere photographs to works of art.

How do they do it? I’m lucky to call these two friends and they were gracious enough to answer my questions about their background, initial attraction to the drone world and how they monetize their work so they can continue to live the type of adventurous life that most photographers wish they had. All images in this article are published with permission from Abstract Aerial Art.

The Congregation

What is your background?

Mike had been working as a commercial photographer, predominately focused on the product side of things. The technical knowledge he built up over the years was certainly a contributing factor in our decision to buy a drone in the first place. JP was working as a music producer and sound designer and had absolutely no experience in photography.

In early 2016, heartbroken and fed up with day-to-day life in the UK, we made the joint decision to leave everything we knew back home, purchase a one-way ticket to Australia and, with no plan whatsoever, fly to the other side of the world. It was during this life-changing adventure around the Australian continent that we were inspired to get into aerial photography.

The Vault

What was your initial attraction to the drone world?

The idea first came about during the year we spent traveling around Australia, specifically the time we spent in the outback. With the intention of filming some of the incredible sights we had seen whilst we were out there, we decided to purchase a drone after an evening in the pub… we will let you draw your own conclusions from that! At the time, we knew nothing about drones. We had never even seen one, let alone flown one.

Heading back out into the Australian wilderness, we started to take some shots of the landscapes surrounding us. Looking back at the images we had captured, we realized we had a number of extremely unusual photographs that loosely reminded us of abstract artworks. As a result, Abstract Aerial Art was born.

The Zipper

What gear and accessories are you currently using?

We have two drones, a DJI Phantom 4 Pro and a DJI Mavic 2 Pro. The Phantom 4 Pro is the drone responsible for the majority of our work and in our opinion, the best drone currently available for a balance between quality and practicality. We initially brought the Mavic 2 Pro as a backup drone to the Phantom 4 Pro. However, we have found ourselves using it more and more in recent times, primarily for its practicality.

Each has their benefits but they are both capable of shooting extremely high-quality stills and videos. We also carry a Canon 5D MK4 and a GoPro Hero 7 for ground-based shots and behind-the-scenes video stuff.

Accessory-wise, we have very little other than the PolarPro Cinema Series filters for both drones. We consider them a must-have for anyone serious about shooting quality content from a drone (disclaimer: they are brand ambassadors).

Aqua Phone

Some of your shots are incredibly unique, whether they’re close up or display an entire landscape. How do you find these places?

We dedicate a huge amount of our time to meticulously researching the planet for things that interest us. Almost every single image we have ever taken has been found during these research sessions. Only on very few occasions have we stumbled across something by accident out in the field.

When we say research, what we are referring to is using satellite applications to search for things that we want to photograph. We then screenshot these finds and save the coordinates of the location with the intention of shooting it for real at some point in the future. The process can be frustrating, even mind-numbing at times, but, in our opinion, it is absolutely essential to finding interesting places to photograph.

Thanks to apps such as Google Earth, the whole world is visible from an aerial perspective. As a drone photographer, you can imagine how useful that is! Using this method to find unique places to photograph is something that we cannot recommend highly enough if you are interested in getting into aerial photography. We have written a blog post on our website that includes some photo examples of how we go about this research process if you’d like to find out some more information.

Riding Solo

From what I’ve noticed, you’re always traveling around the world for your art. How do you monetize your work so you can keep shooting in new locations?

Whilst we are always exploring new avenues for potential income from our work, we currently have two main sources of income. Both are online.
1. Print sales – We have an online shop on our website where prints of our images can be purchased on different materials at a variety of price points.
2. Image licensing – We sell licensed, digital content to brands and businesses for commercial usage. Our images have been purchased by customers for a wide range of purposes including advertising, printed media, and website design.
Burnout

Your work has a distinct style. When and why did you decide to focus on abstract art?

As we touched on earlier, the initial shots that we took in Australia loosely reminded us of abstract artworks and it was purely that which inspired us to explore how bizarre the world could look from an aerial perspective. To this day, we are blown away how surreal even the most mundane objects, structures, and landscapes can look from above.

All we have ever wanted to do since taking those first shots is focus on trying to shoot something different. As beautiful as the more well-known locations are, there is still a whole world out there still waiting to be discovered and the more we find, the more we realize we are yet to scratch the surface.

Skyline

What image or series are you the proudest of?

The image we are most proud of is entitled ‘Skyline.’ The planning behind the shot took over 6 months. It all started on a completely unrelated shoot during which we had seen the shadows cast by these enormous ships under the right conditions. On our return home, we immediately set about working out how, when, and where we could best perfect the shot we had in mind.

There were so many variables that all had to be exactly right for it to work. These included sun positioning, tidal depths, wind speeds, and extremely precise angles. After a huge amount of research, we set off from the UK and drove into Europe arriving at our destination just before sunrise. Waiting until the ship we had chosen was in the correct position and the morning sun had risen high enough to cast the defining shadows, we sent out the drone to start taking pictures. After all the previous months’ planning, the actual shot was done within 15 minutes.

Fire and Fury

What is the craziest situation you’ve been in while shooting?

Whilst driving through the Australian outback during one of the many wet season storms, we encountered a bolt of lightning strike the bushland surrounding us and set it alight. In an instant, we found ourselves at the centre of a raging wildfire. With very little consideration to the incredible danger we were in, we couldn’t resist the chance to jump out and capture Mother Nature at her ferocious best. Setting up the camera in what must be the quickest amount of time we ever have managed to achieve, we began photographing the scene.

Five terrifying minutes later, we had a shot of the wildfire and a lightning bolt in the same frame. We managed to get out of there just before our car was completely engulfed by flames. In hindsight, it was probably the most stupid thing we have ever done. That being said, it was a unique opportunity to capture something that few people will ever witness and despite the very obvious dangers, at the time, we thought it was well worth the risk.

Another Planet

I’m not going to use the clichéd phrase ‘bucket list,’ but I’m curious to know where you have not been yet or what you consider a dream shoot?

We would love to photograph volcanic activity, especially lava. It has always been something we have just wanted to see, let alone have the opportunity to photograph. We are currently in the process of working out what we could do creatively with it, and how and where we are going to do it. There are obviously many challenges involved but these challenges are one of the many reasons we enjoy what we do so much.

The Maze

What advice would you give to aspiring photographers, whether it’s aerial or ground-based?

The best piece of advice we can give any budding photographer is simply ‘love what you do.’ With the modern-day pressures of social media recognition, it’s very easy to forget those four simple words. We cannot express how grateful we are for the continued love and support we receive on social media and truthfully, it’s unlikely we’d even be in the position we are today without it.

That being said, from day one, we have never let that dictate what we wanted to shoot. That will never change. We photograph the things we do because we love it. Expressing yourself through any creative process is meant to be fun. Never let what you think others might find popular take your work in a direction that does not reflect you and your happiness.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
February 21, 2020
Sigma announces pricing, availability for its MC-31 PL-to-L-mount adapter

Sigma has announced its upcoming Mount Converter MC-31, which will allow PL-mount lenses to be used with L-mount camera systems, will start shipping on February 27, 2020 for a retail price of $ 679.

First announced at IBC2019, the MC-31 is constructed of an aluminum-alloy with a brass mount and locking ring. When used on the Sigma fp, the lens can also fasten with a screw thread for even more security while shooting.

Conventional? No. But it certainly gets the job done.

Sigma has included shim adjustments within the adapter at two points on the mount. ‘The flange depth can be adjusted on the camera-side mount as well as the lens-side for proper calibration of both camera and lens accuracy,’ according to Sigma.

There’s also a removable tripod socket, making it possible to attach the MC-31 to a tripod or other filmmaking rigs, as well as luminous paint (the same used on Sigma’s Cine lenses) for times when you’re shooting in low-light environments.

We will update this article with purchase links when they go live at the usual retailers.

Press release:

Sigma Mount Converter MC-31 to Begin Shipping on February 27, 2020

Pricing for the MC-31, which allows PL-Mount lenses to be used with L-Mount cameras such as the Sigma fp, will retail for $ 679 USD

Ronkonkoma, NY — Sigma Corporation of America, a leading camera, photography lens, cine lens, flash and accessories manufacturer, today announced that its Mount Converter MC-31 will begin shipping on February 27, 2020. The Mount Converter MC-31 will retail for $ 679 USD from authorized Sigma dealers.

Announced at IBC2019, the new Sigma Mount Converter MC-31 is a converter that allows creatives to easily adapt PL-Mount cine lenses, which are widely used in filmmaking, for L-Mount cameras including the Sigma fp as well as cameras from Leica and Panasonic. Designed for durability, its metal construction with aluminum alloy body, brass mount and locking ring ensures a secure connection between lens and camera.

For full product details and technical specifications as well as press imagery, please refer to the official press release here and imagery here.

Key Product Features:

Shim Adjustments

The MC-31 has shim adjustments on two points of the mount. The flange depth can be adjusted on the camera-side mount as well as the lens-side for proper calibration of both camera and lens accuracy.

All-Metal Construction

With an aluminum-alloy body and strong brass mount and locking ring, the MC-31 boasts excellent durability. It is also designed to be fastened on the mount of the Sigma fp with a screw thread, ensuring an even more secure connection between the lens and the camera. This allows users to shoot steady without the lens rattling even after long-term use.

Tripod Socket

The removable tripod socket allows MC-31 to be attached to a tripod or other filmmaking accessories such as a camera cage.

Secure Lens Mounting

With the screw thread removed, the stopper of the locking ring is released. This makes it possible to use MC-31 with a PL mount lens that requires tighter mounting than the MC-31’s specifications, allowing the lens to lock securely in place on the converter.

Luminous Paint for Low Lighting

The markings on the upper part of the converter are in the same luminous paint as the one used for Sigma Cine Lenses, helping make it easier to replace or adjust a lens in the dark.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

February 21, 2020
Leica M10 Monochrom sample gallery (DPReview TV)

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Leica’s new M10 Monochrom is a dedicated black and white camera with no color filter array. Combined with legendary Leica optics, it promises to deliver 41MP images in stunning detail. How much detail? Do some pixel peeping in our sample gallery.

View sample gallery

Watch DPReview TV’s review of the Leica M10 Monocrhom

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

February 21, 2020
DPReview TV: Leica Monochrom M10 review
The M10 Monochrom is Leica’s newest dedicated black and white rangefinder camera. Is it a street photographer’s dream come true? Chris and Jordan take it to the mean streets of Calgary to find out.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.
- Introduction
- Lenses
- Sample images
- Handling
- Appearance
- Low light image quality
- Protecting highlights
- Rear dial
- M10 weaknesses
- Color filters
- Conclusion
Sample gallery from this episode

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
February 21, 2020
Our Two Tamron Contest Winners Announced

The post Our Two Tamron Contest Winners Announced appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

The Winners of the Tamron 100-400mm (model A035) in winner’s choice of Canon or Nikon mount, and a Tamron SP 35mm (model F012) in winner’s choice of Canon or Nikon mount are…

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who entered our recent contest from our friends at Tamron.

Yet again, the response was AMAZING with thousands of shares and over 500 entries! But now…onto the winners! Drum roll please, and the winners are:

Grand Prize

Tamron 100-400mm Di VC USD

The grand prize winner is:

Laurel H.

Tamron 100-400mm Di VC USD Ultra Telephoto Zoom Lens – Value $ 799.

Winner’s choice of Canon or Nikon mount.

Second Prize

Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD

Second Prize Winner is:

Mitzi H.

Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD SP Series 35mm lens produces stunning high-resolution quality across a wide range of focusing distances – Value $ 599. Winner’s choice of Canon or Nikon mount.

We were all thrilled with the entries! You tugged at our heartstrings, made us laugh, and made us smile. But most importantly, you made us keep wanting to do more of what we are doing – providing you quality information and guidance to become a better photographer.

We were so pleased to see that you came from every part of the world – young adults to grandparents, and everyone in between. Thank you all for your entries!

Winner’s entries

Here are the posts from the winners of the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD, and Tamron SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD, respectively.

Laurel

Wow! What a great lens! I would love to win a new lens like this. Over the past ten years, as my skills have greatly improved, I have upgraded my DSLR three times. I need to replace my aging 50-500 telezoom with a faster, more responsive AF lens with vibration compensation. Sadly, at this time, I cannot afford it. My passion and dedicated hobby is bird photography in all seasons. I love sharing the bird photos with my homebound parent and with others.

Should I win the A035 lens, it would be a dedicated lens for bird and wildlife photography. The challenge of shooting birds, who are mostly never quite still to flight shots of raptors and hawks, requires a rapidly focusing lens to clearly focus on the bird’s rapid wing movements of the tiniest hummingbirds to the largest raptors. I have reviewed the specs of the A035, and these are the strong selling points that stand out to me: highly responsive AF, APSC format for Nikon, handheld ability, moisture resistance with leak-proof seals throughout the whole lens barrel, the eband for reducing glare and ghosting, minimum distance of 1.5m, smoother background blurring, the USB connection to update lens firmware (never had that before on a lens), f stop of 4.5-6.3, the fluorine coating on lens. I also like the detachable mount for tripod, as I do use one from time to time. I am extremely impressed by this lens’ capabilities, which far exceeds my current telezoom lens. Thank you for reading my entry.

Mitzi

After a hiatus of many years, I am re-engaging in digital photography. Going through two major life transitions has pulled me back to my camera: I got sober in early 2016 and entered long-term alcohol recovery, and my Dad, an avid photographer for his whole life, developed ALS/MND in late 2016 and died in mid-2017 after a terrifyingly fast progression.

Something about these events made me want to get behind the lens again. The combination of the technical and creative aspects of photography helps with recovery (substance, as well as trauma/grief) by giving my brain something new and demanding to do, and the process makes me feel closer to my Dad.

Having a fast 35mm prime for my full-frame DSLR is a dream of mine. Travel and street photography are highest on my list of interests, and the ability to give context even to close shots would be fantastic. In this new stage of shooting, I find that I want to get close to my subjects more often than not (a change from my earlier days, when I loved to zoom), and the close focus distance would be brilliant for that. As well, my family has started a new tradition of traveling together at Christmas, and it would be so rewarding to have this lens to capture our memories for Christmas 2020. Finally, this is a new focal length for me and one that would spark new development/learning — which, as noted, I’ve discovered to be excellent therapy.

Thank you for running this contest and letting me tell these parts of my story.

Special offer for dPS readers

Now, for those of you that didn’t win, Tamron has invited ALL dPS readers to take advantage of their Tips and More section. You can find them here.

The winners will be emailed with details of how to collect their prizes. Please make sure to look for our email.

Thank you again for all the wonderful submissions and to Tamron for sponsoring this competition.

Tamron Rebates

For all of you residing in the USA, when you do purchase your next Tamron Lens, make sure to take advantage of the rebates* up to $ 200 off through March 1, 2020. Find additional information HERE!

*Current rebate offers end March 1, 2020. US RESIDENTS ONLY.

About Tamron

Disclaimer: Tamron is a paid partner of dPS.

The post Our Two Tamron Contest Winners Announced appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

Digital Photography School

February 21, 2020