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  • Lens Rentals celebrated Halloween by testing its rental gear for ghosts and good vibes

    In the spirit of Halloween, the team over at Lens Rentals decided to do a little experiment to see if any of their gear was haunted. However just one item in, the plan took a very Roger-esque turn, pivoting from a ghost-hunting endeavor to tearing down the very pieces of gear he was originally using to look for paranormal activity.

    After someone had remark that some of its photography gear was used to record various paranormal shows and another individual showed concern of whether or not any of Lens Rental’s gear was haunted, Cicala and his trusty sidekick Aaron decided to put their gear to the test unlike they’ve ever done before.

    The array of paranormal-detecting devices Roger and Aaron purchased.

    After hunting down an array of various paranormal-detecting devices (and purchasing a dozen 9-volt batteries), Roger and Aaron got to work setting up their testing area. At the suggestion of those more familiar with the paranormal, the duo set up what was supposed to be a pentagram (looks more like a random geometric shape in our book) with multiple ‘Ghost Detector’ modules around the perimeter and burned a candle in the middle to get the paranormal juju flowing.

    Clearly someone used that mic pack under sketchy circumstances.

    After letting the candle work its magic, the pair put a Sennheiser microphone in the center and used both the ‘Ghost Detectors’ and the EMF detectors to see which how it reacted. Sure enough, the wireless mic pack was haunted (according to the two detectors, at least). The pair also tested their microwave (definitely haunted), as well as their coffee maker (which was thankfully spared by the spirits). It was even discovered that Aaron was haunted too. As a result, it turned out their previous testings couldn’t hold up, as there’s the chance Aaron himself was causing the bad vibes.

    So, Roger and Aaron decided to instead direct the various paranormal-detecting devices they purchased to test out the Lens Rentals gear. We’ll let you see the full teardown of the gadgets over on Lens Rentals’ blog post, but suffice to say the Ghost Detector Array, EMF Meter and Ghost Magnet were all relatively cheap pieces of tech that mostly consisted of random PCBs and (in the case of the Ghost Magnet) motors.

    The inside of one of the EMF detectors Roger and Aaron purchased.

    Considering all of the paranormal devices are now torn down, it’s safe to say Lens Rentals will no longer be offering a spirit-cleansing add-on for future rentals. So you might want to be careful and bring a Shaman along with you on your next photo shoot just in case.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Weekly Photography Challenge – Black and White

    The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Black and White appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

    This week’s photography challenge topic is BLACK AND WHITE!

    Image: Photo by Jim Hamel

    Photo by Jim Hamel

    Inspired by our Black and White Photography e-book sale, I decided to make this weekly photography challenge Black and White. Black and white offers so much depth and emotion and has a timeless nature to it.

    So go out and capture anything in black and white. You can use Monochrome Mode on your camera, or turn them into black and white with your favorite post-processing application.

    They can be street photography, landscapes, architecture, patterns and textures, automotive, or use creative techniques such as slow shutter speeds, night photography, or intentional camera movement. Whatever you decide to photograph, just be sure they are black and white!

    Check out these inspiring pics by some of the dPS writers, have fun, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

    Black and white photography

    Photo by Andrew S. Gibson

    Image: Photo by Simon Bond

    Photo by Simon Bond

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

    Tips for Shooting BLACK AND WHITE

    A Beginner’s Guide to Doing Black and White Photography

    Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes in Black and White Photography

    How to Make Brilliant Black and White Photos with Dramatic Composition

    How to Use Color Temperature in Black and White Conversions

    Mastering Monochrome Mode

    Black and White in the Outdoors: Learning to see in Monochrome

    The Pros and Cons of Black and White Versus Color for Street and Travel Photography

    Experimenting with Low Key Black and White Photography

    How to Use a Black and White Filter to Improve Your Photos

    How to Create Silky Split Toned Black and White Photos Using Luminosity Masks

    How to Enhance your Black and White images with Infrared Photography

    Weekly Photography Challenge – BLACK AND WHITE

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

    Share in the dPS Facebook Group

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

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

    The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Black and White appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.


    Digital Photography School

  • Review: What it’s like to scan film on the Epson Perfection V600

    Film continues to be a popular medium among photographers today, and whether you’re an active or former analog user, the easiest way to share your treasured moments is by digitizing your film through scanning.

    Many photo labs offer scanning as part of their services, often using large scanners able to process a full roll of 35mm film in a few minutes. But, just like developing at a lab, having a lab scan your film costs money, which is why many people like the idea of scanning negatives themselves. There are a lot of options when it comes to digitizing film yourself (including simply using a digital camera), but some of these methods require complex setups, some have huge equipment costs, and some just aren’t very good. Others, meanwhile, are actually pretty good and affordable. Meet the Epson Perfection V600.

    Epson Perfection V600 key specs:

    • Compatible with 35mm and medium format
    • Max film scan resolution: 6400 x 9600 dpi
    • Dust/scratch removing technology
    • 48-bit color
    • USB 2.0
    • MSRP: $ 229.99

    The Epson V600 retails for $ 229.99, although there were several deals around the web for under $ 200 at the time of writing this article. In the box you get the scanner, two plastic film holder inserts, a power cable, a data cable and an Epson software CD.

    Outside of the film holders, this is a really straightforward out-of-the-box experience.

    Before I get too deep into breaking down what using this scanner is like I want to give some context. First, while the Epson V600 can be used for a variety of scanning applications, I’ll only be talking about using it to scan film. Second, I’ve been scanning my own film for several years using all sorts of various film scanners, and let me tell you there is a steep learning curve. Everything can be done right, but it just takes time to piece together each element and make sure you’re processing things in a way that works for you.

    There are, of course, many different approaches to getting a desirable image from scanning film; the opinions in this article are just based off of my experiences. Film negatives are a lot like Raw files; how you process them can make a big difference to how they end up looking (particularly in the case of color negative and black and white films).

    Getting the V600 set up

    The V600 can scan normal documents as well as negatives. To scan film, remove the white cushioning bit from the top of the scanner bed and set it aside. Now you’re ready to load up the supplied film holders. You can scan either 12 35mm or 4 medium format images at once.

    Once unboxed and set up, using this scanner is pretty straightforward: you lay your film in one of the supplied plastic holders, snap it shut and place it in the scanner so that your negatives are centered on the scanner bed. You’ll be able to scan up to twelve 35mm photos or four medium format photos at once. The scanner also comes with an additional film holder for mounted slide film.

    I wish the plastic holders were made of something higher quality. I’ve used other scanners that have magnetic strips for their holders and I prefer those by a long shot.

    Once your negatives are in place, it’s time to get scanning via the included software, ‘Epson Scan’. Depending on which scan mode you choose (more on that below), you simply set your desired scan quality, make a preview scan and select your scan area with a marquee tool (except in Full Auto mode). Then you commit to the final scan, which can take a long while or a short while depending on your quality settings. Sound simple? Not necessarily…

    On my Windows 10 desktop the scanning software was completely unstable

    When I initially set up the V600, I had it connected to my Windows 10 desktop and quickly found the software to be unstable, crashing frequently during the preview scan. Eventually I couldn’t even get my computer to recognize that the scanner was on and connected. This is apparently not an uncommon problem either (I tried all the fixes in the link to no avail). I ended up following a bunch of tutorials online to fix the problem and still wasn’t able to get it to work reliably.

    So, I switched over to my Apple Macbook which, though generally slower than my PC, had no issues at all running the software. Once I finally got it up and running, I actually found it fairly user-friendly. The design looks dated, but the operation is straightforward.

    Scanning modes

    The software has four modes, the specific options of which you can see in the images below (I’ve omitted the “Office Mode” because I’m not covering document scanning in this review).

    Full Auto Mode

    Full auto mode is the easiest of the modes to use, but will be too dumbed-down for most users.

    Home Mode

    Home mode is the mode I’d recommend as it offers just enough options without being overwhelming.

    Professional Mode

    Pro mode offers the most options but it can be overwhelming, with so many scanning quality windows that unless you really know what you’re doing, you’ll likely feel claustrophobic.

    If you’re using the Professional Mode, the desktop can get crowded real fast with the different modules. There’s actually an additional Color Palette module in Professional Mode that you can use to alter the hues of colors in your photos that isn’t pictured above because I couldn’t fit it alongside all the other windows. If you’re up for it, the Professional Mode offers a ton of control, but I think Home mode will likely suit most users just fine.

    ‘Home’ vs. ‘Pro’ mode

    Home Mode offers just enough control to get a good scan so that you can then make the rest of the adjustments to image quality in whatever photo editing software you prefer. You’ve got DPI, Brightness scale, and a handful of intelligent options like Color Restoration. The V600 also includes Epson’s ‘Digital ICE technology’ – available in all scanning modes – which automatically removes dust and small scratches (though I still advise dusting with canned air or a rocket blower before each scan).

    Home Mode offers just enough control to get a good scan

    Professional Mode, on the other hand, offers a full slew of adjustments and filters including Grain Reduction and additional dust removal alongside exposure and color adjusting tools like histograms, curves, white balance sliders, and so on. One other really nice feature is that you can change the bit-depth of your scans, with the option of 8- or 16-bit Grayscale and 24- or 48-bit Color. The DPI setting goes all the way up to 12800, so if you’re planning on making big prints this will set you up right for that.

    Home Mode Professional Mode

    Above you can see a comparison of the same shot scanned in Home Mode (left) and Professional Mode (right). The Home Mode scan has noticeably less dust and hairs while the Professional Mode (with dust removal turned off) has more dust but is a bit closer to how I think the photo should look after some slight white balance, tint, and contrast corrections. Photo was shot on Portra 400VC with a Hasselblad 80mm F2.8 and a Proxar macro filter.

    Quality compared to photo lab scans

    More important than how this scanner stacks up against itself is how it stacks up against scans done by professionals in a photo lab. Below is a gallery comparing photos scanned on the Epson V600 to ones scanned by the professionals at Panda Lab here in Seattle, WA.

    The Epson scans were all done in ‘Home’ mode at 4800 DPI (for 6400 DPI scanning you’ll need to switch to ‘Pro’ mode) and saved as Tiffs. This resulted in files ~6600 x 4400 pixels. For the sake of comparison we’ve downsized them to match the Panda Lab scans and saved them as JPEGs. Other than that, no additional adjustments were made to either scan.

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_7267226613″,”galleryId”:”7267226613″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

    When viewed at 100% or on a large monitor, the lab scans show more detail and significantly finer grain than the Epson scans. They also do a much better job reflecting the tonality of the Fujifilm Pro 400H film they were shot on. With the Epson scans, the color is OK, but there’s a need for color-correction.

    The corrected Epson scans are certainly good-enough for social media sharing or small printing

    The image below and to the right is an Epson scan edited in Lightroom to match the tonality of the Professional scan. With a little fussing, you can get the colors close, but the professional scan still looks sharper, more detailed and less noisy than the Epson. But depending on your intended viewing size, that may not matter; the corrected Epson scans certainly look good enough to me for social media sharing or small printing.

    Professional lab scan. Lightroom-corrected Epson V600 scan.

    Of course, the lab scans cost money (~$ 10) and the Epson scans cost you time, after initial investment. It took about 3 minutes to scan each 35mm frame, which means if you’re shooting rolls of 36 exposures, that’s 108 minutes of scanning. So if you purchase the Epson for the retail price of $ 229.99, you’d theoretically have to scan 23 rolls before saving money versus the cost of lab scans, which would take more than 41 hours.

    Medium format hiccups

    Note the slightly darker band in the highlights in the upper left quadrant of this photo (120 HP5+ Pushed two Stops and scanned with the Epson V600). This appears in several of my images.

    Sure, the V600 can scan at high resolutions and high color depth, but unfortunately some slight banding can be an issue when working with medium format film – I didn’t notice this issue with 35mm. Banding is not an uncommon issue for flatbeds, but it is something to be aware of.

    For those who don’t know, banding looks like what it sounds like: a portion of your photo will have a straight band of a slightly different exposure along the line of the scan. This is something that can sort of be corrected using Photoshop but depending on the complexity of your image it can become a huge pain to deal with.

    Below you can see a full gallery of that same roll of HP5+ all scanned using the Epson V600 and edited to taste in Lightroom.

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_4117815188″,”galleryId”:”4117815188″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

    The wrap

    The Epson V600 has some flaws, like flimsy film trays and dated-looking software. But assuming you can get everything set up successfully (sorry Windows 10 users), it’s relatively easy and straightforward to get decent-looking scans using Home mode, especially if you’re only looking to scan 35mm. However, for the highest quality scans, you’re going to spend a lot of time waiting around for the V600 to do its thing.

    Ultimately I think this product is a good option for amateurs and enthusiasts looking for a decent way to scan their current work, or for those looking to bring new life to old negatives. But for those desiring both high quality files and painless turnaround, your local lab is still your best bet – if you have one nearby.

    What we like:

    • Good price
    • Easy-to-use
    • Decent scan quality

    What we don’t:

    • Flimsy film trays
    • High-quality scans take a long time
    • Banding can be an issue when scanning medium format
    • Dated-looking scanning software
    • Hiccups with software on some Windows 10 machines

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Are Photography Competitions Good for Your Soul?

    The post Are Photography Competitions Good for Your Soul? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.

    are-photography-competitions-good-for-your-soul

    Are photography competitions good for your soul? The idea of diving headfirst into the promising ocean of photographic competitions is one that can be appealing. Imagine yourself surrounded by admirers – fame, and accolades aplenty for your work. The thought is pretty appealing, isn’t it?

    Are-Photography-Competitions-Good-for-your-soul

    But for most of us, that cool blue water of success turns out to be little more than a dream. Most competitions for most photographers and artists end with little more than a rejection letter, or a place on the shortlist if you’re very lucky.

    What is there to gain?

    Well, to be quite frank, there’s an awful lot to gain from entering your photography work into competitions. And pretty much all competitions will help you grow and improve as a photographer if you put some thought into the images you’re selecting.

    Image: Internet competitions can be a good way of working out which are your better images.

    Internet competitions can be a good way of working out which are your better images.

    You can use competitions for different purposes. For instance, local club competitions or some of the online competition sites can be good for working out which variations of images appeal to people more. If you’re a little stuck with an image, then entering a local club competition might help you see some of the flaws in your shot.

    Prizes, notoriety, or self-improvement?

    At the top of the scale, there are huge cash awards and even residencies to win through photographic competitions. Of course, you can’t just make a living by winning competitions with your photos, but the kind of cash prizes that some competitions award will certainly pay a good chunk of your living expenses for a while!

    Are-Photography-Competitions-Good-for-your-soul

    But for most of us, what we gain is a wider audience and a better sense of our work. And these things are both important to photographers in their own way.

    Having an audience isn’t just important for pros, it can open all kinds of doors for amateurs too. Plus, as much as we sometimes loathe to admit it – nice comments and ‘likes’ can go a long way to making us feel good about our work.

    The process of selecting images to enter into a competition can be extremely powerful for your work. Trying to narrow all the photos you’ve taken into just a small handful that fit a brief is a difficult process. But this process should tell you something about yourself and your work, and perhaps even push your future work in a particular direction.

    Entering competitions can be a great learning experience.

    Protecting your mental health

    We don’t always win competitions. Of course, it would be impossible for everyone to win every competition that they entered. Not placing in shortlists time and time again can be tough on our mental health.

    Are Photography Competitions Good for Your Soul?

    You must make sure you’re entering competitions for good reasons, and not those that end up lowering your mood when you face rejection. Finding these reasons can be difficult even for seasoned photographers.

    So how can you change bad reasons to good?

    Think about why you’re entering competitions

    Every now and then I like to reassess where I am with my competition goals to make sure I’m on track, and I invite you to do the same right now. Take a notepad and a pen and spend no more than five minutes jotting down the reasons that you might want to enter competitions.

    Once you’ve taken some time to make that list, grab a coffee and review it. Take particular note of reasons that relate to your self-esteem. They could be reasons such as “I want to win competitions to prove I’m not a bad photographer,” or “I want to win competitions to show that time spent on my hobby is worthwhile.”

    By framing your ambitions in this way, you’re dangerously close to resting your photographing (and personal) self-esteem on the result of the competition. Screw up the competition, and your photographic self-esteem drops. Photography should be pleasurable and fun to participate in, and competitions should support that.

    Setting better goals

    Instead, try to focus on goals that aren’t tied to your self-esteem. Hone in on more positive reasons to enter competitions such as “I want to enter competitions to help me develop my photographic voice” or “I want to enter competitions to encourage me to shoot a wider variety of subjects.”

    Are-Photography-Competitions-Good-for-your-soul

    These goals are not only much more achievable, but we don’t face the same kind of mood drop if we end up not winning. We have met our goal because our goal was simply to refine our work or shoot more variety. Anything additional, like placing on a shortlist, is a bonus.

    Don’t forget to be kind to yourself

    It’s important when entering competitions to be kind to yourself. Winning a competition can be a glorious feeling, but allow yourself to fail too. Failing is a very human trait, and it’s not something you will be able to escape.

    Have compassion for yourself when the lows happen. Treat yourself to something you enjoy photographically and then go back out and get those goals on track.

    Ultimately, you mustn’t allow competitions to have power over you. If the results of competitions become tied to the worth of your photography, then you’re on a rocky path that could end up with you falling out of love with photography. And you wouldn’t be here on this site if you didn’t love taking pictures.

    Finding competitions to enter

    If you start building your network of photographers who also enter competitions, you’ll start hearing about opportunities via word of mouth. But that’s not the only way to find new places to enter your photographs.

    Are Photography Competitions Good for Your Soul?

    I use a service by Google called Alerts to keep up to date with what competitions are opening for entries. All you need is a Google account, and you can set the service up to send you regular alerts every time it picks up new content using the keywords you define.

    These alerts have led me to hear about some interesting photography competitions that I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

    So are photography competitions good for your soul?

    In my opinion, they certainly can be. I feel that they help me develop my practice as a photographer, allow me to experiment freely, and allow me to be judged amongst my peers. Those three things are very important to me.

    Competitions can also be a great chance to meet new photographers and discover new work. Going to your local camera club, or even the exhibition from a larger competition can be both productive and exciting!

    But you must take steps to understand why you want to enter competitions with your photography and if you’re entering for good reasons. When stepping into the competitive photography arena, you first of all need to take steps to protect your mental health and ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk.

    Do you think photography competitions good for your soul? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

    The post Are Photography Competitions Good for Your Soul? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Charlie Moss.


    Digital Photography School

  • The DJI Mavic Mini is an ultralight, sub-250g drone that captures 2.7K video at 30fps

    DJI has officially lifted the veil on its new sub-250g ultra-light drone, the Mavic Mini. The Mavic Mini is the smallest and lightest drone DJI has made to date, but despite its compact size, DJI has managed to pack quite a few features found in its more robust drones, such as the Mavic Air and Mavic Pro.

    Inside, it features a 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor that can record 2.7K video at 30fps and 1080p video at 60 frames per second (fps). The camera module is mounted on a three-axis that sits centered beneath the main frame of the drone.

    To coincide with the release of the Mavic Mini, the DJI Fly app has received an update that adds new features, fly modes and tutorials to help get first-time operators off the ground. In DJI’s own words, ‘New pilots can choose to fly in Position (P) mode for basic operation, more experienced pilots can unlock more capabilities in Sport (S) mode, and content creators can choose CineSmooth (C) mode to lengthen braking time for smoother shots and more cinematic footage.’

    DJI has also added QuickShots, which are pre-programmed flight maneuvers that can b e performed with the tap of a button. The modes are defined as follows:

    Rocket – Mavic Mini flies straight up into the air with the camera pointing downward following your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.
    Circle – Mavic Mini will circle around your subject at a constant altitude and distance.
    Dronie – Mavic Mini flies backward and upward, with the camera tracking your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.
    Helix – Mavic Mini flies upward and away, spiraling around your subject. Set a height limit of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 feet.

    DJI claims the Mavic Mini will offer up to 30 minutes of flight time. It features onboard Wi-Fi and GPS for transmitting video to the included controller and keeping tabs on where the drone is at all times. DJI notes the Wi-Fi system has a maximum range of 4km (2.5 miles) when unobstructed and not in a geo-locked area.

    As previously mentioned, the Mavic Mini weighs just 249g (0.55lbs). The weight of Mavic Mini is significant because it falls below the 250g limit imposed by the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that requires any drone heavier than 250g (0.55lbs) and less than 25KG (55lbs) be registered. By shrinking the weight of the Mavic Mini while retaining many of the technologies found in its heavier drones, DJI has opened up a new realm of possibilities for would-be drone operators who want a more compact drone that can be flown without registering it through the FAA.

    In addition to the drone and controller, DJI has made a new collection of accessories specific to the Mavic Mini. These include:

    360-degree Propeller Guard: Provides a 360° guard for added safety.
    Charging Base: Charge and display Mavic Mini with this unique, illuminated station.
    Propeller Holder: Travel easier with Mavic Mini with the propeller holder that locks the props into place.
    DIY Creative Kit: Personalize your Mavic Mini with custom stickers or draw your own design.
    Snap Adapter: Attach a toy building brick or a mini LED display to Mavic Mini to write custom messages.

    The Mavic Mini is available starting today on DJI’s online store for $ 399. The Mavic Mini Fly More Combo — which includes a dedicated carrying case, the 360-degree propeller guard, the charging base, and three extra batteries — is available for $ 499. You can also check out our hands-on with the DJI Mavic Mini.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Why Blurry and Unfocused Photos Can be Great

    The post Why Blurry and Unfocused Photos Can be Great appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.

    blurry-and-unfocused-photos

    Often looked over or discarded altogether, blurry and unfocused photos are usually dismissed as a waste of space on the hard drive.

    Upon closer inspection, however, these photos can actually be beautiful and highly engaging.

    Here are four ways in which blurry and unfocused photography can be great!

    Why Blurry and Unfocused Photos Can be Great

    Blurry or unfocused…What’s the difference?

    blurry-and-unfocused-photos

    Blur occurs during an exposure when the camera and/or subject moves.

    Unfocused imagery, on the other hand, is affected by aperture, focus, and distance.

    Blurry images are directional or streaky, while unfocused images are fuzzy.

    To achieve intentionally blurred images, photograph a moving subject and/or move the camera during an exposure.

    To make unfocused photography, use a wide aperture for a very shallow depth of field and/or use distance and manual focus to keep sharpness down.

    Of course, there are degrees of unfocused or blurry imagery. An unfocused image could still have elements nearing sharpness. Likewise, a blurry image could have aspects of near-stillness.

    How blurry or unfocused an image is will be up to you and the incidental whims of the photographic process.

    1. Color and light

    blurry-and-unfocused-photos

    We spend a lot of our photographic lives trying to achieve perfect sharpness, so why create intentionally blurry/unfocused imagery?

    The first reason is color and light.

    Color photography came into mainstream use in the 1930s. Since then, the incredible variety of colors in our world has been encapsulated both digitally and on film.

    Blurry and unfocused imagery strips a photograph back to the bare bones of color and light, generating an abstracted visual study of the environment around us.

    We assign specific properties to different colors too. For example, yellow is paired with joy and blue with sorrow.

    Because of this, blurred and unfocused depictions of color and light draw connections with viewers through powerful emotional associations.We recommend buying your favorite toothbrush at super low prices with free shipping, and you can also pick up your order at the store on the same day.

    2. Reflections on art history

    Why Blurry and Unfocused Photos Can be Great

    In looking back over famous contributions to art history, many tend to think about literal subjects like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans.

    But many artists have transcended the rigidity of the representative, instead, focusing on the event of light, color, and form.

    For example, Mark Rothko generated highly emotional responses from audiences with dreamlike forms and colors.

    Color field artists like Helen Frankenthaler and Ronnie Landfield, painted artworks that conveyed the subliminal mechanism of seeing.

    Blurry and unfocused photography makes images that are rooted in the history of visual art.

    This history strengthens a blurry or unfocused image, giving it form and a conceptual standing of its own.

    3. Abstraction

    blurry-and-unfocused-photos

    Also known as non-objective or conceptual photography, abstract photography depicts imagery free from an immediate association to the objective subject matter.

    Photographers like Eileen Quinlan and Barbara Kasten work within the realm of abstract photography to elicit a unique visual response.

    Without the presence of immediately identifiable subject matter, the experience of the ineffable filters through.

    Both incidental and intentionally blurred and unfocused imagery can take on the life of the abstract. Like an abstract painting, unfocused and blurry photography reflects the viewer’s own impressions and associations.

    In addition, abstract photography is subjective. Blurry or unfocused abstract photography encourages a viewer to imbue a photograph with their own meaning and experience.

    4. Fun!

    Why Blurry and Unfocused Photos Can be Great

    Nowadays there is a lot of emphasis on pin-sharp photography.

    Letting loose and allowing unfocused of blurry photography to come through can be a lot of fun.

    Unfocused or blurry photography is a little like finger-painting; part of the fun is in relinquishing the paintbrush and allowing the artistic impulse to guide your fingers.

    Fresh color combinations, new approaches to the subject matter, engaging camera motions…experimenting with blurry and unfocused photography is a great way to discover new angles to incorporate into your future photography.

    Conclusion

    Blurred and unfocused photography may seem like a strange approach to photography, however, letting go and experimenting with your camera is one of the most enjoyable and educational parts of photographic practice.

    Blurry photography introduces dynamic movement to an image, while unfocused photography distributes soft renderings of light and color.

    Moreover, blurry or unfocused photography can create engaging visual experiences that reflect the physical nature of seeing.

    By experimenting with blurred or unfocused photographic practices, you can generate an abstract perspective that is both engaging and unique.

    What are your thoughts? Do you think there is a place for blurry and unfocused photos? Share with us in the comments your thoughts, or your photos!

     

    The post Why Blurry and Unfocused Photos Can be Great appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.


    Digital Photography School

  • As promised, Canon updates EOS RP firmware to add 24fps recording, additional lens support

    As promised earlier this month, Canon has published the latest firmware update for its EOS RP camera that adds support for 24fps video recording.

    Firmware version 1.4.0 isn’t a major update, but it fulfills the promise Canon made to add Full HD 23.98p recording to the entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera. The update also adds support for the Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM DS lens, which is said to arrive before the end of the year.

    You can download firmware version 1.4.0 for the Canon EOS RP on Canon’s website for macOS and Windows computers.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Nikon Japan says it’s temporarily ceasing 58mm F0.95 S Noct pre-orders due to demand

    Nikon Japan has announced (translated) it’s temporarily suspending pre-orders for its new Nikkor Z 58mm F0.95 S Noct lens citing greater demand than the supply chain can currently handle.

    In a press release published earlier today, Nikon Japan says it has ‘decided to suspend pre-orders,’ according to a machine-translated press release. ‘It is expected that it will take a considerable amount of time to deliver the product because we received many orders exceeding expectations.’

    The press release goes on to say Nikon Japan is ‘working to resume orders, but the number of production of these products is limited due to the need for advanced manufacturing technology, and it may take time to resume orders.’

    Nikon Japan concludes by apologizing for the inconvenience and saying it will further notify consumers when pre-orders resume.

    At the moment, this appears to be a region-specific limitation, as other retailers around the globe still have the 58mm F0.95 S Noct available to pre-order. At the time of posting this, Adorama, B&H, Wex and Calumet still have pre-orders up. Neither Adorama nor Wex list an estimated shipping date, but B&H currently says the expected availability is November 27, 2019 and Calumet expects the first units to start shipping November 7, 2019.

    We have contacted Nikon to see if this pre-order limitation will affect any other region. We will update the article accordingly if we receive a response.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Tamron SP 35mm F1.4 sample gallery (DPReview TV)

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    The Tamron SP 35mm F1.4 can produce excellent images. But don’t take our word for it – check out the sample photos from this week’s episode of DPReview TV and judge for yourself.

    View the Tamron SP 35mm F1.4 sample gallery

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Video: 10 in-camera tricks for capturing unique images without Photoshop

    Jordi.Koalitic, a creative photography project from photographers Jordi and Arnau Puig, has published a video detailing 10 ways photographers can add interesting effects to their images without using editing software. These in-camera tricks include spraypainting alphabet pasta to simulate letters falling on a book, gluing dirt inside a pot to imitate shooting through a hole in the ground and more.

    Other effects detailed in the video include simulating action shots involving fruit, marbles, and a tennis ball, using a mirror to creatively capture a subject from a unique angle, using a slinky toy to create a swirly effect extending from the camera to subject and using glass to safety shoot water being thrown at the camera. The video includes sample images and the camera settings used to capture them.

    Additional images can be viewed at the team’s Jordi.Koalitic Instagram account.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)