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3 Legged Thing’s new tripods feature leveling base, video heads, table-top option and more

Tripod manufacturer 3 Legged Thing has announced a new range of premium tripods that are designed to suit both stills and movie photographers. Inspired by the skateboarding world, the Legends range will offer video heads for the first time as well as new leg locks, a leveling base as well as three detachable legs that can become monopods or booms arms for lights and microphones. The company has launched two models, Mike and Jay, and promises more for the future.

The 8-layer carbon fiber legs offer a lightweight tripod without compromising stability and rigidity according to the company, and new Rapid Latch locks on the tops of the legs make them quick and easy to open for those with disabilities.

Mike is the taller of the two, measuring 66.7cm (26.26in) when closed, but extending to a maximum height of 147.5cm (58.07in). Mike weighs 1.65kg (3.64lbs) and can support kit of up to 14kg (30lbs). Jay is designed to be travel-friendly and measures 40.5cm / 15.94″ when folded and extends to a maximum height of 111.2cm (43.78in). He weighs 1.41kg (3.1lbs) and can hold the same weight as Mike – up to 14kg (30lbs).

Jay has a minimum height of 10.0cm / 3.94″ and Mike of 13.5cm / 5.31″, but both models can have their legs removed and optional ‘footwear’ mini-legs attached so that they can be used very close to the ground or on a tabletop. With the mini-legs attached the leveling base can double as a 3-legged stabilizer for one of the main legs when used as a monopod.

The company has also released its first video heads, which offer left or right panning arm placement, fluid movement and adjustable tilt motion. The AirHed Cine comes with either an Arca-Swiss clamp and plate or a standard version, and both have a mounting thread for attaching accessories.

Mike will cost $ 549.99 / £499.99 on his own, or $ 849.99 / £729.99 with the AirHed Cine, while Jay costs $ 479.99 / £449.99 on his own, or $ 779.99 / £679.99 with the AirHed Cine. The AirHed Cine costs $ 349.99 / £299.99 by itself. The company says there will be more to come for the Legends system in the next few months.
For more information see the 3 Legged Thing website.

Press release:

3 Legged Thing Announces New Legends Tripod Range

The award-winning British tripod manufacturer introduces a new ultra-premium tripod range and the first three products.

Following the phenomenal growth in popularity of its Pro and Punks tripods, 3 Legged Thing is excited to announce Legends – the most radical departure from conventional tripod design ever developed. Designed and engineered in Stagsden, England, the new products deliver unbelievable strength, maximum versatility, and incredible build quality. It is the first time 3 Legged Thing has introduced products designed for both photo and video.

Taking its inspiration from skateboarder, musician, photographer and 3LT Pro Team member, Ray Barbee, the ethos of the Legends range is innovation, outstanding performance, and creativity.

3 Legged Thing’s CEO and Founder Danny Lenihan explains: “With every incarnation of tripods, we bring new and exciting technological advances, and upgrades to existing design and engineering. Legends is a back-to-the-drawing-board look at how we use and need tripods in modern photography and videography, with ideas dating back five years that we had previously left undeveloped. With emphasis on workflow and user-friendliness, we’ve simultaneously lowered the weight, and increased the load-to-weight ratio, without compromising stability or rigidity. We’ve added advanced functionality, the likes of which have never been seen before, and made major aesthetic changes for our most incredible tripod range to date.

Danny continues: “When I first saw Ray Barbee, as a teenager, making his Bones Brigade debut in the Powell-Peralta film, Public Domain, my perception of skateboarding instantly changed. Here was this kid, who had defied normal conventions of neon and garish 80s fashion, and replaced them with a tee, jeans, Vans and a baseball cap. His style was smooth, inimitable, flowing and utterly effortless, and it was this that inspired me most. The parallels between Ray Barbee’s ethos and creativity, and the ideas forming in my head were tangible and quantifiable. I wanted to bring this new range to life, with fluid workflow, effortless movements, and unbounded style. When I mentioned to Ray that we’d like to name a tripod as a tribute to him, he was incredibly modest and humble. I knew then that it was exactly the right thing to do. Whilst the Ray tripod isn’t the first in the range to launch, it is important to understand that the influence and inspiration for the rest of the range, and the three debut products, all stem from Ray Barbee’s commitment to the arts, and I look forward to launching his signature product in 2020.”

The first two tripods in the range are Mike and Jay, 3 Legged Thing’s first levelling-base, hybrid photo/video tripods. Equally useful for video makers or landscape photographers, levelling base systems enable smooth and fast set-ups on challenging terrain. Mike is a full size carbon fibre tripod, designed for incredible stability in any conditions, whilst Jay features shorter carbon fibre legs with more sections, creating a travel-friendly video option, the first of its kind.

Mike is named after one of the original Bones Brigade skateboarders, Mike McGill. Inventor of the McTwist (arguably the most iconic trick ever invented), Mike is one of the most famous skateboarders in the world, and a professional for over 30 years. Jay is named for the late Jay Adams, the Dogtown skateboarder, whose style was inspired by surfing, influencing a whole new generation of skaters.

Similarly, the tripods in the Legends range share this DNA of innovation. These tripods have not one but three detachable legs, adding a level of versatility rarely seen in a tripod system. The legs can be used as a monopod; as boom arms for lights or microphones, or both!

With the legs removed the tripod can be used on table-tops or at ground level by joining a set of 3LT’s tripod footwear to the leg hinges. This enables both Mike and Jay to be used for macro work, bringing photographers a varied range of perspectives from which to shoot. With the addition of 3LT footwear, the levelling base can also be used as a foot stabiliser for a monopod leg, adding an extra level of versatility to the products.

The tripods are constructed from 8 layers of 100% pure Japanese carbon fibre, and aerospace-grade, anodised magnesium alloy, providing incredible strength, rigidity, and durability.

The new tripods have 3 Legged Thing’s new Rapid Latch, a hardwearing anodised mag-alloy latch with auto-engage lock, which is used to open and position the legs. The Rapid Latch has been specifically designed to make adjusting the legs quick and simple, even if the user is wearing thick gloves. Rapid Latch is also designed to be friendly to those with disabilities or hand injuries, enabling them to easily change the leg angles without complication or fuss.

Each of the legs can be used at three optimal angles creating different shooting heights, and can be positioned independently for use on uneven ground. The tripods come with removable rubber Bootz, which can be replaced with one of four varieties of alternative footwear, to increase stability on even the most challenging surfaces.

The Legends range tripod leg locks have new external designs with raised O-Pads for improved, grip, leverage and water displacement. Internally, the locks have been engineered with a new design of Chicken Lips (shims) which give the locks greater strength and grip, and formidable anti-rotation.

Mike and Jay’s levelling base has a friction control that enables users to finely-adjust the positioning. Both tripods are also available in kits with 3 Legged Thing’s stunning new video head, the AirHed Cine.

Precision milled from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, and featuring a distinctive spiderweb design, the AirHed Cine has an adjustable, fluid-motion, tilt mechanism that offers smooth movement and can be controlled directly, or with the included panning arm. The arm can be fitted to either side of the head for right or left-handed operation. The AirHed Cine is available with a choice of standard video clamp and plate, or an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp and plate, and features a ¼”-20 thread for externally mounted devices such as articulated arms.

The first two tripods in the Legends range are available for pre-order starting today. Mike’s suggested retail price is £499.99 / $ 549.99 for tripod only, with tripod kit including AirHed Cine SRP of £729.99 / $ 849.99. Jay’s SRP is £449.99 / $ 479.99 tripod only, and £679.99 / $ 779.99 for Jay Kit with AirHed Cine. The AirHed Cine is available separately with a suggested retail price of £299.99 / $ 349.99.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 26, 2019
Google Photos is rolling out image markup tool for annotating on the go

A few weeks ago new Google Photos features, including an image markup feature, were discovered by a Twitter user in the app code but had not been activated yet.

Now Google is officially rolling out the markup feature and it should be available globally on Android devices in the near future. The company has already amended its editing instructions for Google Photos accordingly.

@khouryrt HI Rita This is new? New edit tool in Google Photos pic.twitter.com/MeQwFXpzqT

— ~????? ??????~ (@_julionihili_) November 21, 2019

The tool lets you draw on your images, choosing from several colors and two-line types, a marker or a brush. Those users who already have the function available can access it via an icon within the editing toolbar at the bottoms of the app UI.

Overall, this looks like a very simple tool that’s not meant to be used for any complex image editing but will certainly be helpful in certain situations. The feature has not arrived on any of our devices yet but let us know in the comments if you’ve been able to try it out.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 25, 2019
Peak Design updates its Everyday line with new and improved bags, slings and totes

Peak Design’s Everyday line of camera bags has received a V2 update that includes new materials and features, inspired directly from customer feedback and improvements in material design.

The list of the overhauled bags includes the Everyday Backpack (20L + 30L), Everyday Messenger (15L), Everyday Sling (5L is now 6L + 10L) and the Everyday Tote 15L. In addition to the redesigned originals, Peak Design has also added a number of new bags: Everyday Totepack (15L), Everyday Backpack Zip (15L + 20L) and the Everyday Sling (3L).

All of the bags feature more robust ‘UltraZips,’ improved fabrics that are 100% recycled and Bluesign approved (except for black), improved MagLatch connections and new cord hook external carry straps. The Everyday lineup is also receiving new colorways: Midnight Navy (navy blue) and Bone (tan).

Everyday Backpack

The Everyday Backpack is Peak Design’s most popular design. Although the V2 update isn’t dramatic, the small improvements that have been made do make for an overall improved experience as our hands-on attests to.

The Everyday Backpack V2 features a slightly refined shape that should help it stand upright on its own when filled with gear and has redesigned straps that should better contour your body. It also receives the new UltraZip design, improved MagLatch connections, new internal zippered pockets and the expansion straps found on most of the other V2 bags.

The Everyday Backpack 20L and 30L are available today for $ 259.95 and $ 289.95, respectively.

Everyday Backpack Zip:

The Everyday Backpack Zip is what would happen if you took Peak Design’s Travel Backpack, shrunk it, and added a number of features found in its Everyday line. It comes in 15L and 20L versions and features dual-access zips on either side of the bag for easy gear access. It also has a dedicated top-zip for laptop and tablet access as well as side and top grab handles.

The Everyday Backpack Zip 15L and 20L are available today for $ 189.95 and $ 219.95, respectively.

Everyday Messenger

Similar to the Everyday Backpack, the Everyday Messenger features an almost identical design as its first-generation design but improves upon a number of key features. In addition to the new 100% recycled 400D weather-resistant fabric, the Everyday Messenger features an improved MagLatch design, the new UltraZips and a few small aesthetic changes throughout the bag’s design to clean up the seams found throughout.

Below is a feature rundown of the new Everyday Messenger V2:

The Everyday Messenger 15L is available today for $ 219.95.

Everyday Sling

The Everyday Sling lineup has a number of changes from its V1 iterations. First, the 5L sling has been redesigned to add an extra liter of internal storage, now making it a 6L bag. Peak Design has also added a smaller 3L model that takes the features of the large slings and packs it down into an even smaller form factor.

The 3L and 6L bags can convert to was it packs, while the 10L bag offers a luggage carry pass-through for times when you don’t want it wrapped around your shoulder in the airport.

The Everyday Sling 3L, 6L and 10L are available today for $ 79.95, $ 99.95 and $ 149.95, respectively.

Everyday Tote

Much like the Everyday Messenger, the Everyday Tote isn’t much of a change from the previous version. Aside from a cleaner external design, the more robust UltraZips, the 100% recycled fabric and the external cinch straps the Everyday Tote remains largely unchanged.

The Everyday Tote 15L is available today for $ 149.95.

Everyday Totepack

The Everyday Totepack is more or less an Everyday Tote that’s been made a little larger (20L instead of 15L) and adds a set of straps so it can be worn as a backpack.

The Everyday Totepack features dual zip access points on either side of the bag as well as internal FlexFold dividers and stretchy pockets for organizing your gear as you see fit. It features the 100% recycled 400D weatherproof shell and also has two storable carry cinch straps for those times when you need a little more gear.

The Everyday Totepack 20L is available today for $ 179.95.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 25, 2019
3 Things Aperture Mode is Perfect For in Photography
The post 3 Things Aperture Mode is Perfect For in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

Many new photographers are overwhelmed by all the settings on their camera. But what if you could ignore most of the settings on your camera and just choose one to experiment with? Where would you begin?

I suggest you begin by experimenting with the aperture because this setting has a huge effect on your photos.

Once you know the things Aperture Mode (or Aperture Priority) is perfect for, you’ll have increased your creative possibilities and simplified the camera setting problem.

Here are three things you can do with Aperture Mode.

But first, how to put your camera on Aperture Mode

For most cameras, to put your camera on Aperture Mode you need to turn the dial to A in order to take control of your aperture (Av for Canon).

This is a Nikon camera. On Canon, you’re looking for Av

When you look at the screen on your camera, you’ll notice a number with an F beside it. This is your aperture value. Use the scroller on your camera to change that number. Experiment and see how high and how low you can make that number go.

When that number is smaller (1.8, 3.5, 5.6) the aperture is wider or more open.

When the number is larger (11, 16, 22) the aperture is narrower or more closed.

As we move through the tips, you’ll see how opening or closing your aperture affects your photo. When you’re intentional about setting your aperture, it will drastically change your photo.

1. How to create background blur (or keep the background in focus if you prefer)

Think in terms of opposites for a moment.

Normally, when we take a portrait, we only want the person to be in focus. But when we photograph a landscape, we want the whole photo to be in focus.

I’ll show you how you can use aperture to create background blur for portraits. I’ll also show you the opposite; how to keep the whole scene in focus for landscapes.

The principle is as simple as this: open your aperture for portraits, close it for landscapes.

PS – the technical term for background blur is bokeh (like a bouquet of flowers).

Remember to open your aperture to create background blur in your portraits. Opening your aperture means setting it to the smallest number possible (probably 1.8 or 3.5 or 5.6). I set the aperture to F/2.5 for this portrait.

F/1.2 using the 56mm Fuji prime lens

Remember to close your aperture to keep the whole scene in focus for landscape photos. Closing your aperture means setting it to a larger number such as 11, 16, or 22. I set the aperture to F/11 for this landscape photo.

The aperture is set to F/11 for this landscape photo.

How to achieve better bokeh (background blur)

The first thing I told you about bokeh is that you need to open your aperture all the way. That means that you need to set it to the smallest number possible. That number might be 5.6, 3.5, or even 1.8, depending on your lens.

However, opening your aperture all the way isn’t always enough. So I’ll show you a formula for getting an even better bokeh.

My goal for the following portrait of Batman is to have him in focus with a nice blurry background.

There are four simple steps involved; let’s look at them one at a time.

1. Open the aperture

The aperture is set to 3.5

Now, I opened the aperture all the way, but the building isn’t really out of focus. The back part of the building is out of focus, but the part directly behind Batman is still pretty crisp.

The biggest problem is that he is too close to the background, so the second step will make a huge difference.

2. Bring Batman away from the background

Batman has been moved away from the background.

Now the building is out of focus, but let’s make it even more out of focus.

3. Zoom in

So far, I set my lens to its widest angle of 18mm. When I zoom all the way to 55mm, the background will go more out of focus.

The aperture has closed a little bit to f/5.6 because I zoomed in. This will happen with most lenses.

As well as blurring the background, zooming in also gave the photo a more compressed look.

Would you like the background to be even more blurry? Is it even possible?

4. Get closer

Yes, it is!

The closer you get to Batman, the more out of focus the background becomes.

I used my Olympus Tough TG-6 for this photo. The microscope mode allows me to get very close. The aperture is set to f/6.3 because I zoomed in.

For great bokeh just remember:
- Open your aperture
- Step away from the background
- Zoom in
- Get closer
Controlling your background blur is just one of the things Aperture Mode is perfect for. Now let’s see what else it can do.

2. Starburst effect

The starburst effect adds interest to your photos because we don’t normally see this with our eye.

To achieve the starburst effect, it’s as easy as closing your aperture.

For this landscape photo, I closed the aperture to F/8.

For this photo, I set the aperture to F/8. I thought that it would be interesting to capture this bridge using the starburst effect. But I’m disappointed with the angle or perspective. When the river freezes over, I’m going to come back and photograph the bridge from a different perspective. I consider this to be a “sketch shot.” I tried it out, and I know that it’s worth pursuing another photo later on.

The starburst effect is one of the more creative things Aperture Mode is perfect for. Now let’s see one of the biggest problems that Aperture Mode will help solve.

3. Low light photography

One of the biggest problems with dim light is that your photos become blurry from motion.

A typical blurry photo caused by dim light and a slow shutter speed.

Photos become blurry because there is not enough light and the camera takes more time to capture the photo. Technically, it’s a slow shutter speed issue.

The important thing to know is that you need to get more light into the camera. You can get more light in by opening your aperture all the way.

You should also raise your ISO higher (1600, 3200, or 6400).

Your shutter speed may still be a little bit slow, which could lead to motion blur in your photos. But if you hold still while taking the photo, and wait for your subject to hold still, you’ll get a pretty crisp photo.

I captured this candlelight portrait at F/2.0, ISO 4000, shutter speed 1/60 sec

F/2.0, ISO 2500, shutter speed 1/60 sec

An extreme low light photo captured at f/2.0, ISO 5000, shutter speed 1/15 sec

Sometimes you have no choice but to have a slow shutter speed. Why not get creative and make the most of it?

You’ve increased your skill as a photographer!

You’ve learned four things aperture mode is perfect for. These creative effects are achieved by simply opening or closing your aperture:
- Blur your background by opening the aperture
- Keep a landscape in focus by closing your aperture
- Create a starburst effect by closing your aperture
- Improve dim light photos by opening your aperture
Focusing on this one camera setting will help improve your photography and simplify camera setting confusion.

Try these out, and let me know how you go in the comments!

The post 3 Things Aperture Mode is Perfect For in Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

Digital Photography School
November 25, 2019
News: Sigma Will Produce Canon RF Lenses (With More to Be Revealed in 2020)

The post News: Sigma Will Produce Canon RF Lenses (With More to Be Revealed in 2020) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Earlier this week, Canon Rumors reported that Sigma has created a roadmap for Canon RF lenses and that this roadmap will be unveiled in “early 2020.”

According to Canon Rumors, “distributors have received some early information about Sigma’s plans,” though nothing has been released to the public.

While Sigma’s plans have not yet been confirmed, this is excellent news for full-frame mirrorless Canon shooters, Canon DSLR shooters who may be making the switch to mirrorless, and just mirrorless fans in particular. The more RF-mount lenses available, the better (and the more attractive Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system becomes).

Of course, Canon produces its own RF line, and there are always debates about Sigma’s quality versus Canon’s quality. But it’s nice to have additional options, and Sigma has proven itself quite capable over the last few years.

Furthermore, this addresses one of the biggest complaints regarding new mirrorless systems: the number of lenses available. For Canon RF shooters, it’s frustrating to have to wait for a robust lens lineup to materialize, so Sigma’s participation will undoubtedly help things along. Plus, there are plenty of Canon DSLR photographers who have held back due to the limited number of lenses in the RF line. Sure, Canon offers EF to EOS R adapters, but most photographers want lenses that are designed to take advantage of their camera system’s features.

Not to mention another great thing about Sigma glass: It’s cheaper than Canon glass. Much cheaper.

This has become especially relevant given the high price points of several Canon RF lenses. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM currently goes for $ 2000+ USD, and the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM is just shy of $ 3000 USD.

While there are no rumors regarding a Nikon roadmap, this certainly makes you wonder if and when one will be coming. So Nikon shooters, stay tuned. And Canon shooters, you’ll hopefully have some great lens options coming your way!

The post News: Sigma Will Produce Canon RF Lenses (With More to Be Revealed in 2020) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Digital Photography School

November 25, 2019
Hands-on with the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2

Hands-on with the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2

Peak Design has updated the entire Everyday line of camera bags and we got early access to the new Everyday Backpack V2 (20L). Of all the bags in PD’s Everyday line, we’re told the original Everyday backpack is by far the most popular – it’s a bag we thoroughly enjoyed using when we reviewed it and a pack that several of us on staff own personally.

Version 2 brings about several small, yet meaningful changes including stronger zippers, a new shape (that’s less likely to fall over), more comfortable straps and updated hardware. Keep reading for all the details.

New shape

The Everyday Backpack V2 (right) has a slightly more rounded shape than the original backpack (left). It also leans forward less when placed on the ground making it less likely to fall over, a common annoyance associated with the original model.

Peak Design also redesigned the bag to include fewer noticeable seams. It’s hard to tell in the image above, but less exposed seams means less places water or dirt could penetrate. The bag is also slightly lighter than the original by about 150 grams (5.3 oz).

New zippers

Every exterior zipper on the bag has been redesigned. We’re told zipper failure is the most common ‘end of life’ point for most PD bags, so the brand decided to create a better zipper. To do this, they partnered with company Zoom zippers to develop the proprietary ‘UltraZip’.

According the Peak Design, ‘UltraZips use Ultra-High Molecular-Weight Thermoplastic thread to bind the zipper coil to fabric tape. This increases zipper strength 20x compared to standard, out of the box zippers from YKK.’

Having dealt with blown zippers on first generation Peak Design bags, we really appreciate the effort the brand has put into solving this all-too-common problem. Less blown zippers are good for everyone: the customer (less annoyance), the brand (less repairs) and the environment (less bags that could ultimately end up in the trash).

Redesigned straps

The straps on the new Everyday Backpack have also received a slight redesign. Additional foam has been added and the shape has been adjusted to better contour to the body. These are small changes but they add up to a bag that’s a bit more comfortable to carry.

Another nice update is the addition of magnets in each strap that allow them to attach to the back of the bag when not in use. This is especially handy for keeping them out of the way if you’re using the luggage pass-though.

New interior pockets

First generation Peak Design Everyday backpacks offered one big zipping pocket on either interior flap with organizational pockets inside. The new version instead offers a lower zippered pocket (still with organizational pockets within) and an upper pocket that closes magnetically. Opinions on staff were mixed about whether we’d prefer a single pocket or two separate ones, but everyone agreed the magnetic closure is slick.

Updated magnetic latch

We’ve long been big fans of Peak Design’s ‘Maglatch’ – it allows storage to expand or contract as needed with four points to latch to. On V2 the latch itself has been slightly redesigned to be sleeker and easier to open with one hand. The design also makes it possible to open the bag silently if needed.

Redesigned expansion straps

In general, all of the hardware on the backpack has gone through a redesign including the hooks on the external carrying straps. These straps are tucked inside the bag but can be deployed as needed to attach stuff like a jacket or sleeping bag. The new hooks on these straps are easier to engage with the anchor loops compared to the old ones.

Speaking of anchor loops, they’ve also been redesigned to be more low profile. Additionally, Peak Design has added more of them throughout the bag, further expanding its carrying capability.

Weatherproofed exterior

Weatherproofing is not new to the Everyday line. In fact one of the reasons we love these bags is they can survive rainy Seattle winters without a rain cover. The exterior is made of 100% recycled* 400D nylon that’s double poly-coated to repel water. So rain or shine, your stuff stays dry.

*The black bag is not made of recycled materials, all other colors are.

Flex-fold dividers and laptop storage

Anyone familiar with Peak Design bags is familiar with the company’s unique ‘Flex-Fold’ dividers. These inserts can be bent and contoured in various ways to accommodate a wide variety of gear. Here’s a video to better explain them. The Everyday bag 20L ships with three.

And like the original Everyday backpack, a zippered compartment in the back provides space for a laptop. This compartment offers two sections with varying depths for either a 15-inch or a 13-inch computer, ensuring regardless of your laptop’s size, it’ll be at your fingertips when you unzip (unless of course it’s an 11-inch).

Availability and price

Peak Design’s new Everyday Backpack V2 is available now in Black (shown here), Tan, Ash, Charcoal as well as new color: Midnight Navy. The 20L is $ 259.95 and 30L is $ 289.95. For more info head to PeakDesign.com.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 25, 2019
Video: Lynsey Addario on how being a war photographer got her kidnapped twice

American photojournalist and New York Times bestseller Lynsey Addario has defined her career on the battlefield, capturing incredible images from conflict zones around the world.

She recently sat down with VICE to talk about how her life as a photojournalist has resulted in her being kidnapped twice. The eight-minute interview also sees Addario talk about life, death and a number of other contemporary topics. It’s an inspiring interview that shares an inside look at the life, work and mind of a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient and someone whom Jennifer Lawrence will be playing as in her biopic.

You can find Lynsey Addario’s book and browse her extensive portfolio on her website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 25, 2019
Why Using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC is a Good Idea (and How to Set Them Up)
The post Why Using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC is a Good Idea (and How to Set Them Up) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

Smart Previews in Lightroom CC will help enhance your workflow. They are a smaller file you can work with rather than working on full-sized RAW files.

One of the biggest advantages of using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC is when you work remotely. You can store your RAW files on your main hard drive and keep the smart previews on your portable drive. So if you have your RAW files imported to your main computer hard disk, you can make smart previews for your laptop or external drive. You can even store them on a flash memory device like a thumb drive, SD card, or the cloud.

How to use Smart Previews in Lightroom CC

Creating Smart Previews in Lightroom CC is easy and can be done when you import your files or at a later time. Lightroom makes a smaller DNG file (an Adobe Digital Negative RAW image file.) These are compressed and take up a fraction of the space RAW files do. The DNG files are located in a separate folder than the RAW files of the same images.

To configure Lightroom CC to create Smart Previews when you import photos, go to the File Handling panel. This is on the right of your screen after you have clicked on the Import button. Make sure that the Build Smart Previews box is checked.

You can create Smart Previews in Lightroom CC when you’ve already imported your photos.

Select the files you want to make Smart Previews of in the Grid mode. Go to Library in the top menu and choose Previews->Build Smart Previews. When an image has a Smart Preview, there is an icon indicating this in the Histogram window.

Working on a smart preview in the Lightroom Develop Module, you will be working on the compressed DNG file. This means your computer will run faster. To ensure you have this enabled, go to Edit->Preferences. Check the box ‘Use Smart Previews instead of Originals for image editing.’

What are the main advantages of Smart Previews

The three main advantages of using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC are:
1. Speed up your workflow
2. Save hard drive space
3. Easier remote editing
Once you have created the Smart Previews, your computer manages the image files using fewer hardware resources. The file sizes are smaller, so they draw less of the computer’s CPU, GPU and RAM.

Working with Lightroom CC on a laptop or with an external drive is better with Smart Previews. You do not need to have all your RAW files on a remote hard drive to be able to keep editing. Your edits will be auto-synced (keep reading to learn how to do this).

Remote editing from a laptop or classroom computer is much easier. This is because catalogs with smart previews are so much smaller. By only exporting the DNG files with your catalogs, you are saving a huge amount of space.

How to export and re-sync using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC

Once you have imported your photos and created Smart Previews in a Lightroom CC catalog, you can export the catalog or part of it. Simply go to File->Export as catalog and make sure to check these boxes:
- Export selected photos only
- Build/Include Smart Previews
- Include Available Previews
You don’t have to check the ‘Include Available Previews’. But if you have already made adjustments to some images, it’s a good idea to.

Uncheck the ‘Export Negative Files’ box.

NOTE: If you leave this one checked, you’ll be including all the RAW files. This is what you are wanting to avoid.

Save the file where you can locate it again easily. Now you can copy it to another storage device or the cloud.

When opening Lightroom on your laptop or another computer, select the catalog from your storage device. You can work from your device or copy the catalog to the drive of the computer you are working on.

If you open the catalog from where it’s stored, all the changes you make in Lightroom will be saved there. Copying the catalog file to the hard drive of the computer you are now working on requires you to export it again when you’re finished.

To bring the files you have worked on back to your main computer, simply connect the portable storage. Copy the Lightroom catalog with the images you’ve been working on back onto your main computer’s hard drive.

To do this, go to File->Import from Another Catalog. Now locate the catalog from your portable storage. From the drop-down box, select ‘Replace: metadata and develop settings only.’ Click OK. Your Smart Previews will appear in your catalog, including the changes you made.

Conclusion

Using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC is a game-changer if you often work on your photos from more than one computer. Being able to make use of your laptop because the file sizes are smaller and more portable is a great advantage. It may seem like a little more work to set up to use Smart Previews, but once you have done it a few times, it will seamlessly become part of your post-processing workflow.

Do you use Smart Previews? What are your thoughts? Share with us in the comments.

The post Why Using Smart Previews in Lightroom CC is a Good Idea (and How to Set Them Up) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

Digital Photography School
November 25, 2019
Photographic Inspiration or Copying? Where does the line blur?

The post Photographic Inspiration or Copying? Where does the line blur? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.

As photographers, we take inspiration from everywhere. Pictures we see on the internet, things our friends say to us over coffee, magazines, galleries and museums, even the advertising we see at the bus stop. All of it gets stored away inside our heads for later, even if we don’t realize it. All this visual information we have consumed throughout our lives becomes a part of the new photographs that we create in some way. It influences us to make certain choices about the way we style or shoot images or the way we post-process them. So if we’re all taking inspiration from the things we see around us, even without realizing, when is it photographic inspiration or copying?

Why is copying seen as such a bad thing in the photographic world? Moreover, is there a clear line between taking photographic inspiration, or is it fuzzy and open to interpretation?

Imitation or inspiration?

It’s often said that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery (a nineteenth-century English art collector originally said it). And in many ways, I agree with this.

If you’re imitating a picture by another photographer or you’re imitating their technique, then you must think it’s going to be worth putting in time and effort to learning more about what they do. And that’s where we get the idea that this process is flattery.

But it doesn’t always feel like flattery when you’re on the receiving end of being imitated. Instead, it feels like someone is just copying the hard work that you put in, without any creativity on their part.

Of course, in the commercial world, there can be real financial implications if another photographer copies your work. But perhaps it’s time, in the rest of the photographic world, to worry a little less about copying and to focus more on learning new skills and developing a voice.

Turning imitation into inspiration

We’ve all imitated others, I’m sure. Maybe a pose borrowed from one image, the lighting from another, or the setting from somewhere else. It’s so hard to be truly original when it comes to the creation of photographs. We can’t just close ourselves off from the world and stop looking at the imagery that surrounds us.

So how do you move from imitating another artist to using their work as inspiration?

I think that the difference happens when you start to bring your own experience to the images you create. If you allow the work to reflect your own view of the world and the things that have happened to you, then that’s when the originality starts to happen.

Is originality of subject as important as originality of voice?

Let’s face it – you’re unlikely to hit upon a genuinely original subject or concept for your next photograph. Most things out there have been photographed thousands of times before.

I’m not sure that having a totally original subject is that important, as long as you’re bringing your own voice to the photograph. If you’re saying things in your way with your viewpoint, then that is something truly original.

Think about many of the celebrity portrait photographers, or the well-known landscape photographers. Those photographers don’t usually have original subjects that have never been photographed before. But what they do have is originality in voice, an ability to find something unique about their subject, and the skills to show that uniqueness to the world.

Finding your voice

It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? “Just find your voice and make your images unique!” I guess you’re sitting there wondering how you find your voice and stop copying? Here’s a few pointers with that in mind.

1. Bring your own experiences

Nobody else has led your life and had your experiences. If you bring these elements of you to your image-making, you will automatically be creating something different from everybody else. Nobody else is you, no matter how much they imitate your work.

Of course, your own experiences could also be showing up at the right time and place to create a unique shot.

2. Critique your photos

For every photo that you think is great, write down five ideas that would improve it if you took that photo again. Even the daftest ideas are worth writing down. Put a small print of the image in a notebook and record your thoughts there if you can. Then you can revisit it when you want ideas of new things to try.

3. Keep shooting

Don’t give up. It takes most people a long time to find their unique voice and viewpoint when they’re making images. You have to shoot quite a few photographs before you start discovering what makes your images unique. The longer you shoot, the more likely you are to hit on something that makes your work truly your own.

How bad is copying really?

So, photographic inspiration or copying? In the grand scheme of things, in my opinion, copying isn’t really that big of a deal.

Artists have always copied other artists. Going back hundreds of years, artists have sat in front of the work of another artist and made sketches from what they see. It’s a way of learning and improving your skills, and photographers can (and perhaps even should) consider doing the same – photographically speaking.

If copying is being done for practice, learning, and curiosity, it should be encouraged. As long as nobody is claiming the ideas that they’ve copied as their own, then does it really matter?

The difficulty comes when people are using ideas and presenting them as their own, without taking the time to develop them fully and put an individual spin on the work.

So as long as you’re bringing something new to the work you present as being authentically yours, then I don’t think there’s any problem. And even if you are copying to learn technical or creative skills – so what? Does it even matter?

I’d like to know what you think about photographic inspiration or copying. What do you have to do to stop copying and start being inspired by other people’s work? How do you find your voice and make your own photographs unique? Share with us in the comments!

The post Photographic Inspiration or Copying? Where does the line blur? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.

Digital Photography School

November 25, 2019
2019 buying guide: Best cameras for kids
Whether you’re looking for a nearly unbreakable camera that your toddler can throw against the wall, or something for an older child who’s keen to learn more about photography, there are several options available that won’t break the bank.

We’ve broken this guide down into four categories:
- It’s okay if it breaks
- Rugged and inexpensive
- Indestructible, with great image quality
- For the budding photographer
Here are our picks for each of those categories:

It’s okay if it breaks: VTech KidiZoom Camera Pix ($ 40)

(Yes, it comes in pink too)

There are a million cameras in the $ 50 and under price range to choose from, and this VTech model is one of the most popular. The Camera Pix has a 2 Megapixel sensor (presumably smaller than that of a smartphone), 4X digital zoom, micro USB port, and both built-in memory and a microSD slot. The camera is rugged to some extent (though VTech doesn’t give any specifics) but is not waterproof. The KidiZoom also powered by four AA batteries – a bargain compared to $ 60 lithium-ion packs found in typical digital cameras.

Kids can take pictures through stereo viewfinders or with the 1.8″ LCD on the rear. In addition to taking stills, the KidiZoom also captures QVGA (that’s 320 x 240) videos for up to 5 minutes.

The KidiZoom has a few other tricks up its sleeve. The camera has an selfie mode, where it takes a photo when it detects faces. It also has four built-in games (!) and tons of special effects.

Overall, the VTech KidiZoom seems like a fun and inexpensive way to get your five-year-old into photography, and if it does break, it’s only $ 40 for a replacement.

Rugged and inexpensive: Nikon Coolpix W150 ($ 150)

If you want something a little more ‘camera-like’ than the cheap options, then the inexpensive yet rugged Nikon Coolpix W150 may be a good option.

The W150 can survive a drop from 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) and can function up at depths of up to 10m (33ft), so it’ll be alive if you find it at the bottom of the swimming pool. If you take it to the snow park, the camera should keep working at temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F). The camera is also dustproof, so the beach shouldn’t be a problem, either.

The design of the W150 is simple, with simple controls and large shutter release and video buttons. As with all current underwater cameras, it lacks a touchscreen, so there will be a small learning curve for a child used to a smartphone.

Tech specs for the W150 are unremarkable, but then again, that’s not why you’re buying it. The camera has a smartphone-sized 13MP sensor, 30-90mm equivalent lens, 2.7″ LCD and 1080p video capture. It does offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so getting photos onto your phone is easy.

Indestructible, with great image quality: Olympus Tough TG-6 ($ 399)

If you want a higher quality camera for a child who is more… responsible… with your electronics, then the Olympus TG-6 is a great option. Its rugged credentials are even better than the Nikon, with the ability to go much further underwater or get crushed (within reason). Build quality is excellent, with two locks on both of its doors and dual-paned glass to prevent the lens from fogging up.

The TG-6’s larger sensor and faster lens (which offers a versatile 25-100mm equiv. range) make it a capable point-and-shoot, even in low light. It won’t run circles around best-in-class smartphones in terms of image quality, but it’s the best you’ll find on a waterproof camera.

We could write a whole article about all of the features on the TG-6, but suffice it to say, it can shoot very fast bursts, capture photos that were ‘taken’ before the shutter release is fully pressed, take some truly impressive long exposures and records 4K video. If your youngster enjoys hiking, the camera’s ability to record the location, elevation and temperature for each shot make reviewing images more fun than a typical camera or phone.

For the budding photographer: Canon PowerShot G9 X II ($ 429)

If you have an older child who is developing a keen eye for photography and want something they can grow up with, we recommend Canon’s PowerShot G9 X II, which can be had for under $ 450. This camera is pocketable, produces very good image quality from its 1″ sensor and has a touch-based interface that smartphone users will quickly pick up.

The stabilized lens offers a 28-84mm equivalent focal range which, while not as versatile as more expensive enthusiast compacts, is more than enough for a pre-teen. Beginners can set the mode dial to the Smart Auto mode and the camera does the rest, like selecting the right scene mode for the situation. The are plenty of special effects modes, with ‘background defocus’ being one example, and some fun star modes that are easy to set up and enjoy. Transferring photos to a smartphone is a cinch using the camera’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

As your child grows, the G9 X II will be ready, offering manual exposure controls, advanced AF modes and Raw support, which opens the door to using more advanced cameras.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
November 24, 2019