Apple’s iPhone 15 and 15 Pro lineup debuted on Tuesday, and both feature big improvements to the camera systems they boast. Apple has been putting a lot of focus on photography for the past few iterations of its main moneymakers, likely because changes in other aspects of the devices are relatively modest year-over-year.
The cameras on both the iPhone 15 and the higher-end 15 Pro line both got better this year, as expected, but Apple also introduced new features and options that highlight another trend which I’d anticipate all camera makers lean into even more in the future: photographic character.
There aren’t any flagship smartphones from major manufacturers that take bad photos anymore, and even among mid-range phones, high-quality cameras are increasingly becoming a given. Differentiation, then, lies in lateral moves and creativity — and more than ever, in making sure users can create a look that’s at least somewhat unique to them.
New to this year’s iPhone lineup is the ability to set a default focal length for the main camera on the 15 Pro, choosing from between 24mm, 28mm and 35mm equivalents. Photographers will recognize those as the most commonly preferred focal lengths for fixed lens cameras aimed at general use and street photography. They translate to a fairly wide-angle view, all the way to a tighter focal length typically associated with print photojournalism and documentary capture.
The ability to set these as the default is yet another step Apple has taken to make it possible to venture away from what the company chooses as the best “standard defaults” for the built-in Camera app.
Already, you can create your own photographic style by tweaking things like contrast and color to apply an instant visual effect to everything you take, and you can also opt to have the camera default to a RAW format that allows for much greater editing flexibility after the fact. New this year is an option to capture photos in Apple’s default HEIF high-efficiency format but at the max 48 MP resolution the sensor is capable of capturing, too.
A default focal length option might not seem like much, but changing the framing of your shot changes a lot about its character — in a way that’s less obvious than futzing with things like contrast and saturation, but that actually has just as much potential to give your photos a hard-to-quantify “quality” that others can identify and associate with you over time.
Photos for many people are just ways to freeze a moment they want to be able to look back on and recall, but the quality of memory is not static, nor is it neutral or uncolored by personality and perspective. Making it possible to inject photo capture with individuality and identifiable character is not just a nice-to-have for smartphone camera systems going forward — it’s where the majority of differentiation will occur, and could become the biggest selling point in a market where many of the other technical and performance problems are long-solved.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – 17 former Fresno City College students have been featured in the photography exhibition by the Fresno City College Photography Program in conjunction with the Community Access Collaborative (CMAC) in Downtown Fresno.
The exhibition includes work from FCC Photo’s Student Archives. Officials say many of their former students have gone on to become industry professionals throughout California.
The exhibition was curated by Emily Redondo, Department Chair of the VMT Department at FCC.
“Our student archives span many genres and subjects of photography so I knew we had amazing images that would do just that, inspire creativity. I am thrilled to share these amazing photos from our Student Archive with the community,” said Redondo.
Officials say the work in this exhibition was produced by students while in the FCC Photography Program:
Sopheap An Ibarra.
Daniel Barajas
Hillarie Cerrillo
Don John Dizon
Victoria Flores
Ashley Gonzalez
Gregory Gonzalez
Larry Kenshalo
Deborah Kountz
Mabel Mazel
Jesse Merrell
Oscar Ramirez
Tyrus Ramos
Brandi Schramm
Victoria Arviso Servin
Lani Unk
Cherisse Villareal
Officials say the exhibition will stay in place for three years, and a new exhibition from the FCC Photography Student Archives will be installed in 2026.
The exhibition has been installed on the third floor of CMAC’s officers in Downtown Fresno.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Presenting the outstanding 15 winning photographs from The Mono Awards 2023, proudly sponsored by SanDisk. Now in its fifth year, this prestigious annual competition continues to attract the finest black and white photographers.
In this remarkable year, we celebrate a superbly camouflaged leopard captured in India by Tony Sernack, a brilliantly composed street photograph by Tebani Slade, and a ‘simple yet intricate’ image of a grass tree skillfully crafted by Mark Ditcham. These exceptional images share the spotlight in the competition, where photographers vied for a total of $12,000 in cash and prizes, spanning three categories: People, Places, and Animals.
Scroll down and inspire yourself, Check their website for more information.
You can find more info about Mono Awards:
#1 Animals Category Winner By Tony Sernack
Now you see me. The photograph was taken in Jawai in Rajasthan. This place is famous for its leopards who live in peaceful co-existence with the local shepherds, the Rabari. There are around 50 leopards living in amongst the quite spectacular granite hills that rise from the plain. Leopards are usually hard to see in most habitats. Your chances in Jawai are far better, although they are most often seen sunning themselves high up amongst the boulders, surveying their territory. This female was the first leopard we saw on this trip. Whenever you see a rare wild animal, it is a thrill. While I got to photograph a number of other leopards over the next few days, this image is one of my favourites, seeing her serenely and beautifully blending into the rockface.
#2 People Category Winner By Tebani Slade
When I captured this shot I was living in Spain in the coastal town of Sitges. I would often walk along the beachfront promenade late in the afternoons with my camera. On this day, I came across this man who was throwing bubbles to entertain children while their parents sat and watched.There’s something magical about bubbles – they bring so much joy. As the children danced and jumped to try and pop the bubbles, I wanted to capture a shot just like this. It was simply a matter of waiting for the right juxtaposition. It was a bleak and dull day, making it perfect for a black and white image.
#3 Places Category Winner By Mark Ditcham
Holding. This shot was taken during a sunrise shoot in a strip of remnant bushland amongst farming properties just east of Geraldton in Western Australia. This particular area is full of Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea spp), one of my favourite subjects to photograph. These trees are full of character and I like to hunt for ones with a human semblance. I found this dead and broken-down tree in a previously unexplored area of the bushland and was instantly drawn to its shape and form. The coppery colours of the internal structure of the trunk were beautiful, but I knew that processing it as a black and white image would be far more compelling.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced the winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 15, during an award ceremony held Sept. 14.
This was the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s fifteenth year holding the contest, which garnered more than 4,000 submissions from 64 different countries for 2023. A shortlist of winning submissions was released in July, and many of those spectacular images have made a reappearance.
This year’s winning image
Related: Stunning James Webb Space Telescope image shows young star blasting supersonic jets
As the world’s largest astrophotography competition, Royal Observatory Greenwich divides winners into 11 categories, and from those chooses an overall winner.
This year’s top spot came from the Galaxies category, and was awarded to Marcel Drechsler, from Germany, and French photographers Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty, with their photo of the Andromeda galaxy.
Galaxies and Overall Winner
Andromeda, Unexpected, the winning photo for Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy photographer of the Year 15. (Image credit: Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty)
This winning photo of the Andromeda galaxy from the amateur astronomer team led by Drechsler, Strottner and Sainty is titled Andromeda, Unexpected, for the large, blue plasma arc pictured next to our nearest galactic neighbor.
The plasma streak was, in fact, a discovery all on its own, according to a release from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, and is now being studied by scientists as possibly the largest phenomenon of its type in our little corner of the universe.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for the Galaxies category went to Weitang Liang, from China, and Paul Montague, from Australia, for their respective photos, The Eyes Galaxies and Neighbours.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for Galaxies, The Eyes Galaxies and Neighbours. (Image credit: Weitang Liang (left image) and Paul Montague (right image))
Auroras
Brushstroke, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Aurorae category. (Image credit: Monika Deviat)
Monika Deviat, from Canada, wins this years best aurora photograph with her image, Brushstroke. The singularity of this one aurora, according to the competition’s judges, set it aside from the usual “earthly perspective,” they said, “evoking the arts of brush-painting and calligraphy.”
Aurorae runner-up and highly commended recognitions were awarded to Andreas Ettl, from Germany, and Chester Hall-Fernandez, from New Zealand, with their photos Circle of Light and Fire on the Horizon, respectively.
Aurorae runner-up and highly commended photos, Circle of Light and Fire on the Horizon. (Image credit: Andreas Ettl (left image) and Chester Hall-Fernandez (right image))
Our Moon
Mars-Set, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Our Moon category. (Image credit: Ethan Chappel)
Ethan Chappel shot this photo of Mars and the moon during the Dec. 8 occultation in 2022, from Cibolo, Texas. Mars-Set shows the Red Planet setting behind the moon’s southern hemisphere, shining bright during the rare alignment.
Tom Williams, from the UK, and Miguel Claro, from Portugal, won runner-up and highly commended marks for their submissions, Sundown on the Terminator and Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars, respectively.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for Our Moon, Sundown on the Terminator and Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars. (Image credit: Tom Williams (left image) and Miguel Claro (right image))
Our Sun
A Sun Question, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Our Sun category. (Image credit: Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau)
A Sun Question was taken by Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau for the Our Sun category winner. The image features a large question mark-shaped solar filament rising from the sun’s surface, and shows our star in incredible detail.
Our Sun runner-up and highly commended awards went to Peter Ward for his photo, Dark Star, and Mehmet Ergün for The Great Solar Flare.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for Our Sun, Dark Star and The Great Solar Flare. (Image credit: Peter Ward (left image) and Mehmet Ergün (right image))
People & Space
Zeila, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s People & Space category. (Image credit: Vikas Chander)
This photo from Vikas Chander was taken on the Skeleten Coast, on the Atlantic Ocean. Located on one of Namibia’s northernmost coastal regions, the Skeleton Coast has earned a reputation for its treacherous waters.
Zeila, the name of this photograph, is also the name of the boat pictured. The vessel was stranded in 2008, and sits foreground to a 30-minute exposure of the rolling fog, with stars streaking in the grey night sky overhead.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for People & Space were awarded to Andrew McCarthy, for his photo of the International Space Station (ISS) transiting the moon, A Visit to Tycho, and to Katie McGuniness for her out-of-this-world star-trail photograph, Close Enounters of The Haslingden Kind.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for People & Space, A Visit to Tycho and Close Enounters of The Haslingden Kind. (Image credit: Andrew McCarthy (left image) and Katie McGuinness (right image))
Planets, Comets & Asteroids
Suspended in a Sunbeam, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Planets, Comets & Asteroids category. (Image credit: Tom Williams)
Suspended in a Sunbeam is a false color image of the planet Venus, from photographer Tom Williams, winning in the category of Planets, Comets & Asteroids. Using infrared, Williams was able to highlight details Venus’ upper atmosphere, revealing far more than can be seen with the naked eye.
Runner-up and highly commended recognitions went photos of Jupiter and Uranus and its moons, from photographers Marco Lorenzi and Martin Lewis, respectively.
Related: ‘Lightning’ on Venus is actually meteors burning up in planet’s atmosphere, study says
Runner-up and highly commended entries for Planets, Comets & Asteroids, Jupiter Close to Opposition and Uranus with Umbriel, Ariel, Miranda, Oberon and Titania. (Image credit: Marco Lorenzi (left image) and Martin Lewis (right image))
Skyscapes
Grand Cosmic Fireworks, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Skyscapes category. (Image credit: Angel An)
The extremely rare phenomena captured in this photograph from Angel An are called sprites. Sprites occur like lightning, high in Earth’s atmosphere, and are seldom witnessed from the ground. Astronauts aboard the ISS have been known to take photographs of sprites from time to time. An took this photo, Grand Cosmic Fireworks, from the highest ridge of the Himalaya mountains.
Louis Leroux-Gere and Peter Hoszang were awarded runner-up and highly commended for their respective photos of star trails over the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, in France, and noctilucent clouds over Hungary.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for Skyscapes, Celestial Equator Above First World War Trench Memorial and Noctilucent Night. (Image credit: Louis Leroux-Gere (left image) and Peter Hoszang (right image))
Stars & Nebulas
New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Kya, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Stars & Nebulas category. (Image credit: Marcel Drechsler)
The shining star inside the red, gaseous nebula was photographed by Marcel Drechsler and a team of amateur astronomers. In fact, the shining light at the gas’ center is actually a pair of binary stars, enveloped in the previously undiscovered nebula.
Runner-up and highly commended awards were given to Anthony Quintile and James Baguley, for both of their stunning nebula photos.
Runner-up and highly commended entries for Stars & Nebulas, LDN 1448 et al. and The Dark Wolf. (Image credit: Anthony Quintile (left image) and James Baguley (right image))
The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer
Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer category. (Image credit: Aaron Wilhelm)
Blinded by the Light is Royal Observatory Greenwich’s winning photograph for best newcomer, photographed by Aaron Wilhelm. The vibrant image shows the Sh2-132 complex near the constellations Cepheus and Lacerta, and was created using 70 hours of data to merge together the magnificent and colorful gaseous layers.
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
The Running Chicken Nebula, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year category. (Image credit: Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang)
Runwei Xu and Binyu Want win young astronomy photographers of the year with The Running Chicken Nebula, a hypnotic blend of swirling cosmic colors from the Running Chicken Nebula, IC2944. The young photographers captured this image using a 1,900 mm Newtonian telescope, over 5.5 hours of exposure.
Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation
Black Echo, the winning photo in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation category. (Image credit: John White)
Finally, John White won for the innovation category, with his photo, Black Echo. Using audio of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Perseus Galaxy, captured by NASA’s Chandra Sonification Project, White shot the vibrations of water in a petri dish as they fluctuated above the speaker’s soundwaves.
All the winning photographs, the runners-up, highly commended and more are currently part of an exhibit at the National Maritime Museum, in Greenwich, London.
RANGELEY —The Rangeley Friends of the Arts held the awards ceremony for the 8th Annual Western Mountain Photography Show on September 9, 2023. The Theme for the 2023 Exhibit was PERSPECTIVE.
The People’s Choice award is yet to be determined. Come in and cast your vote for your favorite image. Gallery hours are Tues-Sat 10am-2pm. Show will run through Sept 30th.
Stay tuned for next years theme and visit www.rangeley.org/ Visual Arts/Western Mountain Photo Show for rules and guidelines.
The 2023 Winners are:
Best in Show: Joe Wax “Tulip Stairs” Submitted photo
Color Category:
First place color John Holland’s “Winter Whirl.” Submitted photo
1st Place: John Holland “Winter Whirl”
Second place went to Samantha Cote for“Kennebago Evening.” Submitted photo
2nd Place: Samantha Cote “Kennebago Evening”
Third place by Alex Burke “Walking Purgatory Chasm.” Submitted photo
3rd Place: Alex Burke “Walking Purgatory Chasm”
First place black and white: Wess Connally’s “Looking up at a Boy Looking Out, Watching the Boats Go By.” Submitted photo
Black & White Category:
1st Place: Wess Connally “Looking up at a Boy Looking Out, Watching the Boats Go By ”
Second place B&W Mark Turner’s “Stand of Pines.” Submitted photo
2nd Place: Mark Turner “Stand of Pines”
Wess Connally with his third place entry, “Through the Culvert.” Submitted photo
3rd Place: Wess Connally “Through the Culvert”
People’s Choice winner: TBD
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Here are the 30 outstanding winning photos of the 2023 Ocean Photographer of the year. Jialing Cai, a marine biologist with a passion for photography, has been honored as the 2023 Ocean Photographer of the Year for her captivating portrayal of a paper nautilus adrift on debris, captured in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption in the Philippines. Cai embarked on a blackwater dive shortly after the eruption, and her resultant image outshone the entries from other exceptionally talented photographers in the competition.
Cai’s fascination with blackwater dives was kindled when she learned about diel vertical migration (DVM), the phenomenon in which zooplankton ascend from the deep ocean to the surface during the night. She recalls, ‘That realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. My professor conveyed that the deep sea was within my reach, that it would come to me. This epiphany was truly mind-boggling and is the reason behind my intense passion for blackwater photography.’
In addition to Cai’s remarkable achievement, the annual contest, organized by Oceanographic Magazine, celebrates other extraordinary winners. The winning images range from a young polar bear desperately clinging to melting ice to two amiable manatees engaging with a photographer, offering a splendid glimpse of the ocean’s diverse wonders.
All the winners will feature in an extensive five-month-long exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum, commencing on November 17, 2023, providing an excellent opportunity to experience these award-winning images in person. For a preview of the winning entries and some of our other personal favorites, please continue scrolling, and explore the full winner’s gallery online.
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You can find more info about Siena Photo Awards:
#1 The Ocean Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jialing Cai
“Following the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines, the water column filled with particles from stirred-up sediment,” says Cai. “Navigating through the low visibility and dense fog during a blackwater dive, I found this female paper nautilus taking a ride on a drifting wooden stick. When I pressed the shutter, the particles reflected my light. The scene felt unusually serene following the natural disaster and reminds me of a fairytale set in a snowy night. As underwater photographers, we aim to shoot in clear water but this image reminds us that grains of sand, organic matter, or tiny organisms are integral parts of the underwater environment. I aim to accept their presence and seek non-disruptive ways to incorporate them into my images.”
#2 The Ocean Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Andrei Savin
#3 The Ocean Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Alvaro Herrero Lopez-Beltran
#4 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jack Pokoj
A lizardfish’s open mouth reveals a surprise. “It seemed that the lizardfish was trying to swallow the other fish tail-first before it got stuck in its throat,” says Pokoj. “Both fish looked to be in some distress. Lizardfish are ambush predators and swim away if a diver gets too close, so this behaviour was highly unusual. The lizardfish kept its mouth open as if it wanted the fish inside its mouth to escape.”
#5 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Craig Parry
#6 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Nicholas Holton
#7 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jade Hoksbergen
“At night in the Maldives, bright lights shine down into the water as fishermen seek out baitfish for the country’s sustainable pole and line tuna fishery,” says Hoksbergen. “The light attracts plankton, which in turn attracts small fish. On occasion, they also bring in the largest fish in the ocean – whale sharks. While they were a nuisance to the fishermen in the past, a positive solution has been found by combining the two most important industries in the Maldives: tourism and fishing. Now, when a whale shark shows up at night, the fishermen call the team at COMO Maalifushi and eager guests are able to see and swim with an ocean giant. While taking this photograph, I was enveloped in darkness. I felt dwarfed in the shark’s presence.”
#8 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Alex Postigo
#9 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Henley Spiers
#10 Adventure Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Todd Glaser
Balaram Stack surfs at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of O’ahu. “I took this image with a drone which was new to me,” says Glaser. “I have photographed the Pipeline from every angle but have never seen it from above. I managed to get the swell, weather, wind, tide, and talent all in one shot. The rainbow at the edge of the wave is what made this one so special to me.”
#11 Adventure Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Gergo Rugli
#12 Adventure Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Franco Banfi
#13 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Sylvie Ayer
“I went to Florida with one dream: to capture beautiful images of manatees,” says Ayer. “With a local friend, we saw several manatees. The manatee in the picture came close to look at me and was suddenly perfectly positioned in front of the sun’s rays. I hope this photo helps raise awareness of the need to protect these mammals.”
#14 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Jules Casey
#15 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Gabriel Barathieu
#16 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – 1st Place By Jingyi Wang
“Humans have enjoyed the gifts of the sea for generations,” says Wang. “In China, these artisanal fishing fences stood proudly in the sea. I tried to capture this sense of pride and history in my image.”
#17 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – 2nd Place By Ioannis Pavlos Evangelidis
#18 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – 3rd Place By Jeroen Hoekendijk
#19 Young Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jarvis Smallman
For years I watched this wave from land just about any chance I could get. I studied the forecasts meticulously, learned about the swell sizes and directions, tides, and wind conditions. One day, it all lined up perfectly and me and bodyboarder Jarrad Linton went out to finally photograph the wave from the water. Big storm clouds blocked the sun and an electric blue colour came through the wave. I was stunned by the beauty of the scene. As Jarrad was paddling out, this perfect set came rolling in and I pressed the shutter.
#20 Young Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Aarron Sanders
#21 Young Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Jake Brandwine
#22 Ocean Portfolio Award – 1st Place By Sirachai Arunrugstichai
A young grey reef shark is hooked by an angler at night at Burma Bank, an offshore plateau in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Myanmar. “Although shark fisheries have been legally banned in Myanmar at the national level since 2009, there is a lack of enforcement at sea and poor trade regulation,” says Arunrugstichai. “This image is not a picture of an industrial shark fishing boat. The shark was incidentally caught and released.”
#23 Ocean Portfolio Award – 2nd Place By Renee Capozzola
#24 Ocean Portfolio Award – 3rd Place By Kat Zhou
#25 Female Fifty Fathoms Award – 1st Place By Merche Llobera
“In the Pacific Ocean’s crystal clear waters, these four Chilean devil rays glided gracefully around me,” says Llobera. “With my camera ready and my body submerged, I waited for the opportune moment to freedive and capture the sublime beauty of their aquatic ballet.”
#26 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Florian Ledoux
“In the breathtaking Arctic landscape of Svalbard, Norway, a poignant scene unfolds,” says Ledoux. “In this impactful capture, we glimpse both beauty and fragility, a stark reminder of the urgent need to preserve this majestic realm urging us to safeguard our precious Arctic for generations to come. The polar regions are vital for the entire planet. Without the icy regions, the stability of our world is collapsing.”
#27 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Jeroen Hoekendijk
#28 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Sirachai Arunrugstichai
#29 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Finalist: Artistic Ocean By Michael Haluwana
#30 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Finalist: Maui, Hawaii By Renee Capozzola
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Japanese artist Tatsuya Tanaka has gained worldwide acclaim for his enchanting miniature dioramas, a realm where he ingeniously transforms mundane everyday objects into whimsical creations that assume entirely new identities. Mundane items such as sugar cubes, plastic bags, and cups undergo a magical metamorphosis, becoming frozen peaks, enigmatic sculptures, and a plethora of other fantastical forms.
Since 2011, Tanaka has dedicated himself to meticulously crafting and capturing these minuscule realms, sharing his daily creations on his website under the captivating alias “Miniature Calendar.”
In Tanaka’s own words, observing ordinary occurrences through a miniature lens has the power to ignite a cascade of delightful musings. We extend a warm invitation for you to immerse yourself in this enchanting universe, with the hope that it imparts a touch of enchantment to brighten your day!
Scroll down and inspire yourself. Please check his Instagram link for more amazing work.
You can find Tatsuya Tanaka on the web:
#1
#2
Tatsuya Tanaka, born in Kumamoto, Japan, in 1981, is not just a miniature photographer but a visionary mitate artist. His journey began in 2011 when he initiated the transformative art project known as “MINIATURE CALENDAR.” Through this endeavor, he reshapes the mundane, offering a miniature perspective that turns everyday objects into something entirely new and intriguing. From that point forward, he has diligently shared his imaginative creations with the world through daily online presentations.
Tanaka’s artistic influence extends across borders, with exhibitions held both in Japan and internationally. One notable showcase, “MINIATURE LIFE: Tatsuya Tanaka’s World of Miniatures,” has captivated an impressive total of over 1.8 million visitors, showcasing the widespread appeal of his work..
It is said that the cake gets eaten, the flowers get withered but it is the wedding photos that last forever. Wedding pictures are a perfect way to preserve what are arguably the best moments of one’s life, and its value only increases with time.“Wedding photography is an art that stands as a testament to love; it transcends time. Cherished for generations, it is all about encapsulating emotions and not documenting pictures,” says Shrey Bhagat, founder and creative director, Raabta.
Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of a wedding is photography, which is getting bigger and better by the day. A multi-billion-dollar market that is growing exponentially, wedding photography has evolved tremendously over the years. From dramatic locations and dreamy photo sets to stunning imagery and visual storytelling, the trends in wedding photography are eclectic and exciting. Here is a look at some of the latest trends in this special genre of photography.
Creative, candid and collaborative
Gone are the days when wedding photography was a strictly formal affair and it was all about awkward posing and forced smiling before the camera.“Earlier, there was no real connection between a photographer and the couple, but now, couples and the photographer are a team and all decisions with respect to the approach and style of pictures are taken mutually.
It is all about capturing real, candid moments that tell the unique story of the wedding day,” says Himanshu Patel, founder, Epic Stories. Couples are totally involved in the creative process and the photography team spends hours listening to each couple’s story to understand the best way to capture the essence of their wedding.“Some couples even opt for a customised song dedicated to them, and this just adds a whole new dimension to storytelling with wedding photography,” adds Bhagat.
With the help of new technology and changing preferences, wedding photography has become more creative and dynamic. Photographers today are more focussed on capturing nuances, subtle expressions and feelings shared between the couple. While it could be casual interactions or intricate details, it is all about embracing the authentic, and even the imperfect, to capture the true spirit of the occasion.“Couples love how this gives them an output that is up close and personal. The beauty of these frames is that it is full of raw emotions, with an overlapping foon people,” quips Bhagat. As a result, conventional wedding albums have now transformed into beautiful fairy-tales that encapsulate the narrative of the couples’ journeys.
Latest trends for the Midas touch
Apart from candid images, drone shots have become a rage in recent times. With elaborate décor themes spanning from royal, traditional, tropical, vintage and even boho chic, drone shots are used to capture these details beautifully. Most weddings are all about rituals and elaborate ceremonies, and drone shots lend more gravitas to such pictures.
“Cinematic style photography is the trend these days with a foon candid videography. We work with the couple from months in advance to craft the complete narrative right from pre-wedding shoots, save-the-date creatives and even short, quick teasers with about 10-20 edited wedding pictures or a short film that is released on the same day for the couple to share on social media,” says Palani A, founder, S.A. Digital Studio, Bengaluru. He adds that editing is as challenging as the actual shooting and that the desaturated editing style is gaining popularity. This technique creates images that are artistically minimalistic with softer tones and an earthy, natural feel.
There are a number of couples adopting the vintage and nostalgic aesthetic in terms of black and white images and even hazy images that have an ethereal quality. Most photographers are using a slower shutter-speed to capture these soulful images.“We are also returning to using film to give photos a classic, old-fashioned feel. These dreamy pictures add an extra touch of magic and is akin to viewing the photo through a soft, gentle filter,” adds Patel. Such pictures often feel like they are carrying a memory right in the photo.“Controlled blurriness adds cinematic emotion and movement, focusing on moments and gestures,” says Jayant Chhabra, founder, Cupcake Productions.
Further, first look images are a huge trend as they capture one of the purest moments of weddings and seize that feeling forever through a perfect photograph. It also captures the emotional reactions of parents when they see their children for the first time in their wedding attire. Capturing bridal room chronicles with elaborate shots of the trousseau, jewellery and the whole journey of her getting ready is in vogue as is capturing your pets with you on your special day.
Tantalising techniques
Other trends include groomsmen shoots, veil shots and the use of GIFs. While bridal veil images exude an enigmatic and timeless appeal, pictures of the groom with his groomsmen having fun allows their personalities to shine through. After all, why should brides have all the fun? “GIFs are likely to be quite popular in the coming days. Imagine capturing a small moment from the wedding and turning it into a moving picture. It is like freezing a happy dance or a cute smile and making it come alive. These GIFs are like mini stories that show the feeling of the moment in a fun way in a jiffy,” says Patel.
Double-exposure photographs, underwater portraits and backlit silhouettes are the other techniques adopted by photographers to incorporate a unique and distinctive vibe. Artistic compositions with the strategic use of reflective surfaces like mirrors helps create exotic, unusual images and so does the use of smoke bombs which creates the perfect ambience for moments like the couple’s first dance. Post wedding shoots are also extremely popular.
Like all things, change is the only constant in the field of wedding photography too. Photographers spend a lot of time researching new styles and technology to stay relevant.“Keeping up with the trends in wedding photography requires a proactive, adaptive and continulearning approach. Attending meets by photography clubs and other workshops and conferences can help you gain valuable insights. Further, it is imperative to update your camera equipment, lighting gears, lenses and editing software,” concludes Chhabra.
MADISON (WKOW) — Madison police are encouraging people who own expensive electronics to take stock of them after a burglar tried to sell some of his haul.
Madison Police Department spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said a man told police in late July someone broke into his hotel room and stole his high-end photography equipment and an iPad.
The man gave officers his equipment’s serial numbers. The man also called local camera shops and gave them the serial numbers.
A few days after the theft, the suspect, identified as Daryl Patterson, 44, tried to sell the equipment to the Camera Company in Madison.
Staff recognized the serial numbers and called the police, but Patterson left before they arrived. The interaction was caught on video.
A few days after that, Patterson sold the equipment to a Milwaukee pawn shop. Again, the interaction was caught on video.
Fryer said Madison detectives tracked Patterson down to a home in Madison, where they found more property belonging to the victim. The victim was reunited with his belongings.
Patterson was arrested for burglary, resisting and possessing methamphetamine.
Fryer said people who own expensive electronics should write down their equipment’s serial numbers, as it’s the best way to make sure they’re returned.
