Category Archives: Photography

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Army widow Tanya Warren’s image of highland cattle surrounded by winter frost at River Bourne Community Farm will represent the month of December in Help for Heroes’ 2023 calendar. (Image: Tanya Warren)

THE widow of a Salisbury Army veteran has won a competition to have her photography featured in Help for Heroes’ new 2023 calendar.

Tanya Warren, 57, is one of six amateur snappers from the Armed Forces community to have her talents showcased in the calendar, which celebrates the great outdoors and is on sale now.

Her photo, which illustrates the month of December, captures Highland cattle on a crisp morning at River Bourne Community Farm.

Tanya said: “I was a carer for my husband, Bill [Brig. Robert William Warren, MBE], after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He reached out to other charities, but Help for Heroes was the only one that could offer emotional support.”

Bill received counselling from Help for Heroes and Tanya was introduced to its fellowship events, including gardening workshops, a respite weekend, and photography courses.

Tanya said: “I felt really isolated being a carer. Meeting people during this difficult time in my life helped me to look after myself, so I could look after my husband.”

Tanya’s husband passed away in 2019 at the age of 58, having lost his battle with bowel cancer. She said Help for Heroes helped her cope with her loss, which was made even more difficult due to isolation caused by the pandemic.

Tanya said: “After I lost my husband in 2019, the pandemic hit – grief and facing the unknown felt overwhelming. Help for Heroes gave me hope and a sense of belonging.

“During the pandemic, I signed up to the Help for Heroes online photography courses. These courses have been a lifeline. I’ve met some amazing people on the way, learnt new skills and developed a new hobby which I’m passionate about.”

Tanya said the course leader is very approachable, knowledgeable and gives excellent guidance.

She added: “When I found out that my image would be part of the 2023 calendar, I was over the moon. I can’t wait for other people to enjoy the calendar.”  

Help for Heroes’ launched photography courses during lockdown to help veterans in their recovery through fighting social isolation, providing a routine and generating a sense of pride and achievement.

Since then, the virtual and face-to-face meet-ups with professional photographer Siorna Ashby have attracted hundreds of veterans and their families. who all learn how to improve their picture-taking skills, whether they are using a camera or a mobile phone.

To ensure delivery before Christmas, the deadline to order the Help for Heroes 2023 veterans’ calendar is December 16.

Australian fine artist Wanda Comrie creates beautiful hyper-realistic still-life paintings with vivid and vibrant colors. Wanda responds to shadow play in domestic scenes and locally found botanicals, she reflects on the beauty and complexity that everyday living can provide. Many years after studying graphic design, her work retains a solid graphic influence with a strong colour palette.

Here in this post, you can find 20 of the best paintings by Wanda Comrie. Scroll down and inspire yourself. Please check Wanda’s Instagram for more amazing work.

You can find Wanda Comrie on the web:

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National Geographic has released its roundup of the most intriguing photos of 2022.

The brand’s “Pictures of the Year” issue showcased stunning photography captured in locations all around the world — and right here in the U.S. as well.

Of a whopping 2,238,899 total photos snapped by NatGeo’s team of photographers, 118 were selected as the top shots.

FIVE US DESTINATIONS MADE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S ‘BEST OF THE WORLD’ TRAVEL LIST: ARE YOU SURPRISED?

The pictures were taken with the help of 4,000 pounds of gear shipped into the field by NatGeo staff photo engineer Tom O’Brien.

The images capture everything from scenic Mount Everest views to a tapir strolling through Emas National Park in Brazil.

Here are 10 of National Geographic’s best photos of the year.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch over Blue Cypress Lake, Florida

Photographer Mac Stone caught the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Cape Canaveral in the early hours of June 19, 2022.

The rocket left a bright streak in the sky over bald cypress trees in Florida’s Blue Cypress Lake.

This was the second time a SpaceX rocket snuck into one of Stone’s frames while he was photographing at night in a remote swamp, according to National Geographic.

TERRIFYING CLOSE-UP OF AN ANT’S FACE GIVES HORROR MOVIE MONSTERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY

Stone said in a statement that the increased frequency of launches without fanfare “suggests that we have crossed over into a new era where cosmic missions are simply business as usual.”

‘Combined’ photo of Bears Ears National Monument, Utah

Photographer Stephen Wilkes told Fox News Digital that he and his team endured rough terrain and windy weather to grab this unique shot of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.

Wilkes took 2,092 photos over 36 hours and combined 44 of them, according to National Geographic, to show the sun, a full moon and the alignment of four planets.

CALIFORNIA CLIMBER LEADS FIRST-KNOWN ASCENT OF ONE OF THE TALLEST CLIFFS ON EARTH

“Beyond the sense of awe and beauty, there’s a palpable sense of history with every step you take,” he said.

Collecting samples from La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja eruption in Canary Islands, Spain 

Spanish military emergency specialist Armando Salazar was photographed collecting samples from the eruption of La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge in Canary Islands, Spain.

Photographer Arturo Rodriquez snapped a photo of Salazar doing his everyday duty as he steps across sizzling rocks and collects lava on a pitchfork.

Samples from the 2021 eruption can help scientists better understand the 86-day event and the site’s potential for future blasts, National Geographic explained.

This photo made the cover of National Geographic’s December 2022 “Pictures of the Year” issue.

Blur of tourists at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Lincoln Memorial, visited by thousands of tourists each year, celebrated its centennial in 2022.

Photographer Sasha Arutyunova captured the hustle and bustle of tourism surrounding Washington, D.C.’s presidential monument made from 38,000 tons of marble, limestone and granite.

The long camera exposure blurs the crowds of different passersby who’ve treated the monument as a backdrop for protests, prayer vigils and celebrations of all kinds this year.

NORTH CAROLINA OWLS PHOTO WINS TOP PRIZE IN NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD PIC CONTEST: SEE OTHER STUNNING ENTRIES

“In using a long exposure, I was trying to capture a feeling of the sea of visitors to the memorial each year, while positioning the Lincoln statue as this steady constant,” Arutyunova said.

Mother and daughter shelter from bombings in Przemysl, Poland

Mother-daughter duo, both named Oksana Hapbarova, embrace for a photo taken by photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind.

The pair waited out Russian attacks in a Kyiv bomb shelter at the onset of the war in Ukraine.

“For six days in the shelter, I couldn’t sleep, because I was scared I would never wake up,” the younger Hapbarova said.

Sailing between two icebergs in Greenland

Photographer Renan Ozturk made a risky move when he launched his camera drone from a moving boat to grab this shot.

The National Geographic expedition ship Polar Sun was five weeks into its journey when Ozturk went exploring off the coast of Greenland.

As the ship veered between two ice-blue icebergs, Ozturk told National Geographic that he took a chance on getting the photo from the air.

“Launching the drone from a moving boat is always a dangerous and exciting affair,” he said. “It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to shoot such a feature.”

A tapir beneath a harvest moon in Emas National Park, Brazil

Photographer Katie Orlinsky told Fox News Digital that this vivid shot of a tapir took a lot of patience and pure luck.

The tapir named Preciosa was spotted on a hazy morning under a harvest moon in Brazil’s Emas National Park.

Preciosa wandered down the road as Orlinsky doubted ever spotting her again — but she noted how animals can behave strangely under full moons.

“It was definitely not this tapir’s usual route,” she told National Geographic.

The tapir species dates back some 50 million years as one of the few survivors of the Ice Age extinctions of megafauna — or really big mammals like mammoths.

STEVE IRWIN-LIKE WILDLIFE ENTHUSIAST SHARES JOY AT FINDING RARE PINE SNAKE IN SOUTH GEORGIA: ‘INCREDIBLE’

Today, tapirs like Preciosa help regrow Brazil’s degraded forests by eating fruit and spreading seeds, according to NatGeo.

Unfortunately, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, all tapir species are either threatened or endangered.

Recording baby brain activity – University of Virginia

Neuroscientists at the University of Virginia recorded the brain activity of nine-month-old Ian Boardman.

Photographer Lynn Johnson caught the moment in which baby Ian looks up and smiles at a doctor who’s brushing his skin to activate nerve fiber responses.

Western Arctic caribou herd in Kobuk River Valley, Alaska

Photographer Katie Orlinsky used a drone to photograph a group of caribou trekking across the Alaskan landscape.

The Western Arctic herd is seen galloping across the Kobuk River Valley near the small town of Ambler, National Geographic reports, during its spring migration.

THREE US DESTINATIONS MAKE LONELY PLANET’S ‘BEST PLACES TO VISIT’ IN 2023: CAN YOU GUESS THE PICKS?

While caribou populations throughout North America are dwindling, the Western Arctic herd has also been whittled down to a record low of less than 200,000.

Hyenas at night in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

This nighttime photo, taken by photographer Jen Guyton with an infrared camera, catches two hyenas baring teeth — and a little one caught in the middle.

A dominant hyena female — named Moulin Rouge by scientists — towers over a submissive hyena called Palazzo, as Palazzo’s cub peers out in between them.

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The African predators showed their frisky nature, stealing a tripod from Guyton during the shoot.

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Anyone who would like to see more of this year’s best photos from National Geographic can visit its website.

Monitor manufacturer ViewSonic revealed the winners of its third ColorPro Award at a ceremony in London last week. 

Themed ‘Breakthrough’, the award is open to entrants around the world and a total of 11,000 works were submitted, across the Photography and Digital Art categories. 

Donald G. Jean from Italy shoots this perfect mood in street photography which definitely feels like a thriller movie. Seems to be a big fan of shadows, and accepts that he has no interest in technically perfect photographs. In his own words, he likes to shoot dramatic light, plenty of shadow, and solitary, silhouetted figures. Adding to that Don also likes to shoot imposing architecture, negative space, and rain. What I like about his photographs.

1. The signature style in all these photographs are very intriguing and definitely makes me feel something
2. The compositions are stellar and makes me go in awe at every single photograph here
3. Low light photography is no easy game and Donald G.Jean proves that he is one of the finest contemporary artists here.

Could you introduce yourself?

My name is Don, I’m a retiree, and I live in northeastern Italy (about 30 miles west of Venice)

What do you think is the reason you shoot such splendid silhouettes?

I think many of my silhouette shots turn out well because I try to keep them simple and uncluttered. I like clear and distinct shapes so I avoid shooting scenes with people close together. Also, when I shoot people passing through a scene I tend to be aware of where the contrasting light is and I try to time my release to get the sharpest silhouette.

Man with the hat. How did you get this signature series?

I never intended to start a series of shots with myself as the protagonist. However, as someone who has spent a lot of time waiting for an “interesting person” to walk into a scene, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I bought a couple of PocketWizard radio transmitters/receivers–and a hat–and got into the business. While I enjoy making these shots, I’d still rather take pictures of strangers. BTW, I’ve never given this series of shots a name, but I guess Man In The Hat is as good as any.

Your gear?

I’ve been using Nikon cameras and lenses for more than forty years, but–for the most part–I don’t think it matters what gear or brand name you use. What’s important is that you know your gear well enough that you can use it comfortably without having to think much about it. I also shoot film (both small and medium format) and like the superb Zeiss ZF.2 series of manual focus lenses too.

Most of your photographs seem to be shot late. Any specific reason?

I’m primarily a night shooter, so usually don’t even go out until well after dark.

Your inspiration?

I find inspiration in places like Flickr and Tumblr and I also enjoy thumbing through photography and art books.

Some of my favorite photographers are:

Painters include:

According to Don, what makes a good picture?

As I alluded to above, simplicity (of light) and an interesting background are keys to a good image. Whenever I scout a potential scene for a shoot these are the two things I’m looking for.

Final thoughts?

Learn how to “work a scene.” By this I mean when you find a good scene shoot it from different angles and perspectives and also revisit it to take advantage different light and weather conditions.

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You can find Donald G. Jean on the Web:

Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted to Donald G. Jean. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.

The new issue of Digital Photographer (opens in new tab) is out now!

This month we have another amazing issue for you, packed full of pro techniques, advice and insight.

Shoot in low light

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Winter is well and truly here – the nights have drawn in and it seems we spend most of our lives in the dark. There are advantages to this however. Low light conditions offer tremendous drama and atmosphere, to match a huge range of subjects. Learn not only to overcome the main challenges of low ambient light levels, but to embrace the colour and deep shadows for unique effects. Capture stunning images of the night sky, as part of a wider landscape, use motion blur for energy and enhance detail in software.

Capture your best urban landscapes

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Cities offer us so much to tantalise the senses, even before we pick up a camera. One of the mistakes we make after we do is that we focus on the familiar aspects, to the exclusion of many of the other textures and patterns the urban environment has to offer. In our feature this issue we have collated a selection of the best pro tips for shooting city locations for maximum impact. Use movement to your advantage, work with contrasty lighting, focus on textures and use seasonality to your advantage. Wherever you live and whatever the season, there’s something here for you to try!

Top wildlife photo skills

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Birds have always inspired artists – they piqued Da Vinci’s interest so you’re in good company. They are also amongst the most tricky subjects to shoot correctly, with both technical quality and creative impact. In our Creative Project this month Graeme Green (opens in new tab) walks us through his insider secrets to better bird photos, from the shoot to the edit.

Carnival photography

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Best photo backpacks

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Get your copy of DP Issue 260 today (opens in new tab)! (opens in new tab)

A photographer has headed out each day for the past seven years to capture a stranger’s portrait in his diverse local community.

Brian Molyneaux set about exploring his hometown of Oakland in California armed with a Nikon D850 and a vintage f/1.4 50mm lens.

The Chicago-born photographer tells PetaPixel that the project is a great way of getting out and meeting people.

“I wanted to put my hand in someone else’s hand and say hello. It started that way and it turned into a bunch of different things,” he says.

Molyneaux says the project was “politically motivated” to begin with and a response to the division within the United States.

“I live in every diverse part of California. I think Oakland is the tenth most diverse place in the country, it’s high up on the list.”

Indeed Molyneaux’s photos show an array of colors and creeds that reflects Oakland’s diversity score which stands at 99 out of 100.

The photographer says that he doesn’t find it “super difficult” to approach people.

“I’ve only been rejected less than 90 times,” he says. Before adding: “It’s a challenge, the project is a challenge.”

Part of the motivation for Molyneaux flexing his social skills each day on the project is deeply personal.

“My mother has Alzheimer’s and it’s pretty advanced, something I read is that meeting and socializing is good for your memory and retaining your memory and staving off Alzheimer’s,” he explains.

“It became a weird homage to my mom, she’s still here, but she’s been gone for years mentally.”

Molyneaux says that he learns something every day from the project and about the people he meets.

Because he shoots with a manual, analog lens he always tries to keep within the classic restrictions of film.

“I shoot 24 photos per person maximum, I want to honor how I learned with film,” he says.

“Most of the time it’s six or seven. One dude said ‘Oh, you wanna take my photo, I’ll give you three shots.’”

More of Molyneaux’s work can be found on his website, Instagram, commercial website, LinkedIn, and Workbook.

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Image credits: All photos by Brian Molyneaux.

David Bouscarle from France shows us his mind-blowing photographs on nature and landscape. In this fine Interview with 121clicks.com, David shares some great thoughts on the lines of art and photography. Some of those advice are very inspiring and motivational.

Three things I love about his photography:

1. Top-notch landscape photographs with spectacular light
2. Elements such as fog and mist plays a great role in elevating these photographs
3. Crisp photo editing which really stands out and deserves a mention

Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is David Bouscarle. I am 36 and live in the South East of France. I have only been a semi-professional photographer since last year.

How did your journey as a Landscape Photographer happen?

I live in one of the most beautiful areas of France, la Provence. Thus I can easily have access to the seaside or the mountain within less than two hours’ drive. And this has been a real opportunity at the time I started photography. Year after year, landscape photography became a real passion. With its own motives. Even though I still love every aspect of photography.

According to David what are the most important traits of being a Landscape Photographer?

Several parameters have to be kept in mind to get a good landscape picture: composition, light, textures, the site itself, the point of view, and the originality of those parameters. Trying to be original has certainly become one of the most critical aspects in my mind today. We often see the same pictures of the same places, from the same angle, with the same composition, etc… Trying to put down these mental fences, which we put up ourselves, is in my opinion what really needs to be focused on.

How do you prepare yourself before any photo trip?

Nowadays I usually plan my trips and my holidays depending on what inspires me most. I have several softwares I use for this. Google Earth, GeoPortail, and Photographer’s Ephemeris, and I can thus get a rough idea of the lighting conditions of the site I am planning to visit. But I still love to leave some dark areas in the plan. Some great pictures are still taken during a rush of excitement.

Your Gear?

I use a Canon 6D and I essentially bring three lenses on the field. A 16/35, a 70/200 and a 85mm which I use a lot in forests. Along with a good tripod, I insist, a LOT of batteries. I also use a lot of filters NG, GND and above all a polarizer on each of my lenses. There is this thing to that is often left aside when one thinks photography, but a good backpack and an even better pair of shoes also have a huge place in the landscapes photographer’s mind.

Your Inspiration?

I find inspiration in a lot of different disciplines. Photography of course, but also cinema and even music. Some photographers who really inspire me these days are Xavier Jamonet, Adam Gibbs, Guy Tal, Dorin Bofan and actually a lot more. Some movie makers are inspirations as well: the way they use colorimetry in their movies, but also the atmosphere they build. Guillermo Del Toro, Christopher Nolan and Daren Arofnosky are good examples.

Your Photographs are rich in colors and composition. Can you share us your post processing techniques?

I spent a good amount of time on post-production techniques to eventually find my own « touch ». I manage my galleries with Lightroom, I export and apply the initial process with DPP Canon and then I finish with Photoshop with which I usually set up contrasts and colour via a lot of luminosity mask and selective colour mask. Tony Kuiper’s panel can be found on the internet. And I use it a lot.

One thing David has learnt as a photographer over the years?

To become a good landscape photographer, I think that one really needs to develop, and eventually master, the ability to read the field like a book. It allows the photographer to quickly adapt to a site he or she has never been before, thus increasing efficiency. But above all, this ability allows the photographer to really become him(her)self in creating new dimensions and new pictures. Undoubtedly the work of a lifetime.

Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity with 121clicks.com, any final thoughts?

As a conclusion, there is this advice I can give to anyone into photography: spend your « extra money » on plane tickets. Forget about the extra photo gear! Buy yourself the essential stuff you need and get the f*#k out!

Many thanks to 121clicks.com for this wonderful opportunity to share some of my work and reflexions on photography.

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You can find David Bouscarle on the Web:

Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted to David Bouscarle. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.

A Helena’s tree frog, camouflaged against bark except for its glowing golden eyes, has been named as the overall winner of this year’s British Ecological Society photography competition, organizers have announced.

A close-up of pink-tipped daisy petals, a terrestrial hermit crab using a plastic bottle cap as its new home and a steenbok’s desperate battle for survival were among the winning and highly commended images in the individual categories.

Roberto Garcia Roa, a conservation photographer and evolutionary biologist, took the winning photo of a tree frog and spoke about the threats the animal faces.

“This image reveals the beauty of nature hidden in Tambopata, (Peru), a region that is currently threatened by gold mining,” he said in a news release. “It is paradoxical to see the eyes of this frog as small golden pearls, because in reality, the true treasure lies in ensuring the protection of this area and its inhabitants.”

All the winning and highly commended images “celebrate the diversity of ecology, capturing flora and fauna from across the globe,” the news release said.

The photographs display each of nature’s many faces — some photos are tranquil, some restless, some wild, some entangled with the human world.

“Locking eyes with this year’s winning image, I’m impressed by how it captures in such exquisite detail the sometimes-otherworldly beauty of life on Earth,” Yadvinder Malhi, president of the British Ecological Society, said in the news release.

“Altogether, these photographs display the incredible breadth and beauty of biodiversity. The winners have done an excellent job of capturing ecology in intriguing and thoughtful ways, presenting a powerful reminder of the many joys and intricacies of nature.”

A selection of the winning and highly commended images can be viewed in the gallery above.

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