Category Archives: Photography

Many of us could use this reminder to not get caught up in the pursuit of perfection in photography. Of course, this is easier said than done in the world of social media engagement, influencers, and online presence. However, Alex Kilbee of The Photographic Eye, gives us a handful of reasons why this is such an important endeavor for today’s photographers.

In the video above, Kilbee shares his insights from the time he went to photography school. Later on, he realized that there was one lesson that was missing from the curriculum. Perfection in photography, he said, is subjective, and therefore a fleeting, unrealistic, and unreliable muse. As life-long learners of the craft, we are always looking into what teachers, influencers and social media trends dictate as perfect. As a result, we tend to fall into the traps of validation-seeking, self-doubt and comparing ourselves to others.

So, instead of chasing perfection, he suggests photographing what resonates with us. After all, our photography journey is unique to us. Also, we should celebrate the incremental improvements, understanding that they are all part of our photography as an ongoing process.

What are your thoughts on perfection in photography? Do you agree with Kilbee’s insights and realizations? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or in a group discussion if you’re already part of the Photofocus Community!

Phase One has announced its most compact camera to date, introducing the medium format Phase One XC travel camera. Designed specifically with travel photographers in mind, the XC promises exceptional image quality while being portable enough to accompany photographers on any journey.

The Phase One XC’s major selling point is its convenience, achieving a blend of size, simplicity and performance that makes it possible to get medium format images anywhere, without the size and weight of a traditional kit.

The camera’s portability does not compromise its power. Built around Phase One’s IQ4 150MP digital sensor, the XC is coupled with a fully integrated Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 23mm f/5.6 lens, offering a super wide angle of view that can capture vast landscapes and other scenes in stunning detail.

Phase One highlights that the XC emphasises simplicity, allowing photographers to focus more on their process and less on adjusting camera settings. The company says the XC’s ultra-wide-angle lens ‘nurtures inspiration, providing an expansive perspective to capture the world’s beauty.’

As well as 150-megapixel resolution, the Phase One XC Camera to deliver high dynamic range and richness of colour, even in challenging of lighting conditions.

Phase One XC Price & Release Date

As one might expect with Phase One cameras, the XC comes at a steep price. The Phase One XC price tag is $62,490; however, it does come with a 5-year limited warranty, which includes unlimited lens actuations for the warranty period.

The Phase One XC is available now in limited quantities through Phase One Partners worldwide.

In my opinion, a photograph should generally convey a story or prompt the viewer’s interpretation. My photos strive to contain elements of interest and surprise, contrasts and similarities, and idiosyncrasies amidst colors, textures, and patterns of life. Street photography, to me, goes beyond simply capturing pictures of people and scenes on the street. It involves capturing the essence of the moment, the emotions, the stories, and the culture, which serve as testimonials of time for the future. Street photographers must appreciate the culture, history, and social issues that surround the places and people they photograph.

As a perpetual learner in the field of street photography, I frequently revisit the works of Henri Cartier-Bresson, whose artistry continues to inspire me. I am also deeply influenced by the captivating photographs of Vivian Maier, Fan Ho, and Maciej Dakowicz. Within the Indian context, the enduring works of Raghubir Singh and Raghu Rai serve as perennial sources of inspiration. Currently, I actively follow the works of Vineet Vohra and Prashant Godbole, who inspire me with their contemporary approaches.

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About Goutam Maiti

I am a senior professional in an Indian Edutech Business based in Kolkata, and alongside my career, I have dedicated the past 9 years to practicing visual storytelling as a documentary and street photographer. My focus lies in capturing the lives of people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, aiming to portray their intimate moments and the vibrant essence of street life.

While I initially explored subjects like wildlife and landscapes, it was through street photography that I found true fulfillment. The fleeting and unique moments, the interplay of success and failure, all deeply resonated with me, leading me to realize that this was the path I had been searching for. Through my photography, I am able to express my personal perception of the world and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

I am grateful to have had my work recognized and published by esteemed platforms and publications. These include Nat Geo Daily Dozen, IPA Magazine, Lensculture, Chiiz Magazine, as well as several international street photography platforms such as Street Photography Gallery, Street Photography in the World, Progressive Street, Street Core Photography, and Street in B&W, among others. These accolades serve as motivation for me to continue my photographic journey, capturing moments that tell compelling stories and evoke emotions in those who view them.

You can find Goutam Maiti on the Web :

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

The theme for the fifth round of the Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year (CJPOTY) competition was ‘Water’, and once again, we were impressed by the interpretation of the brief and the wide variety of images submitted. We are delighted to announce that the following images will be added to our shortlist to be judged by our illustrious panel of judges at the end of the year.

One of these ten shortlisted images has also been selected as the round winner, with the photographer being awarded a voucher from MPB worth £500 – scroll down to find out who.

CJPOTY May 2023 ‘Water’ shortlisted images

Sara Jazbar

Sara has two very different images shortlisted in this round. We love how this image captures above and below the water line as the swimmer approaches the lane’s end. It conveys that feeling of being in a pool perfectly. It’s great to know that she captured the image using the GoPro Hero10 that she bought from MPB with the voucher she won in a previous round!

Sara’s second shortlisted image is one of those shots that many photographers aspire to capture, the moment a kingfisher emerges from the water after a dive. On this occasion, the bird’s beak is empty, reminding us that not every dive for food is successful. Sara’s exposure and focus are perfect, and we can see every detail in the feathers as well as the splash, while the background is blurred beautifully.

Jules Renahan

Jules tells us that this is one of the many stunning waterfalls in UNESCO world heritage site, Plitvice Lakes, Croatia. She photographed it at the perfect time of year and day using her Nikon Z6 and Nikkor 24 -200mm f/4-6.3 lens. We love that the leaves on the trees are turning red while the sun is low in the sky and brings out their colour.

Jules’ composition works very well, there’s a sense of peeping down through the trees to the beautifully blurred water.

Helen Trust

Jokulsarlon Glacier, South Iceland, is a popular location, but Helen has captured it particularly well with her Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The ice in the foreground is shaped a little like a boat and appears to be pushing through the sea, while the foam of the receding wave creates attractive patterns on the black sand.

Janina Wilde

Janina tells us that this is a multiple-image composition of the fountain at RHS Wisley. The background is soft because of the extremely cold, frosty conditions and the fact that Janina used a Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens (on a Canon EOS 80D). We love the muted tones and painterly effect.

Cliff Spooner

Cliff has two images shortlisted in this round. In this image, he’s captured the sea’s power, with the foolhardy people at the centre of the frame adding a sense of scale.

Cliff’s careful composition of the lines and contrasting colours at the corner of a swimming pool caught our eyes. His image has an Art Deco look to it. It’s, in essence, a very simple image, but the lines are perfectly straight, and the balance between the blue and the yellow is well-judged.

Angela Harrod

We saw several images of reflections in this round, but Angela’s was our favourite. The colourful boats contrast nicely with the blue water, and the long masks emphasize the ripples in the water.

Christine Holt

We spent quite a bit of time looking at this image, even debating whether it was created using AI, and if it’s more of a wildlife image than a water image. But as Christine points out, if you take a look at the waterline around the whale, you’ll notice some nozzles. Yes, it’s a fountain rather than a live whale. Nevertheless, the timing of this shot is excellent as the inclusion of the ‘plane adds to the sense of drama and scale.

Carmen Drake

There’s a lovely symmetry to Carmen’s shot of the River Thames, and her long exposure has delivered super-smooth water with almost mirror-like reflections. Carmen’s timing is also very good as there’s still detail and colour visible in the buildings while the sky and water pack a punch.

CJPOTY May 2023 winner: Christine Holt

Congratulations, Christine, a voucher worth £500 from MPB is heading your way!

Christine’s image joins the other 9 images selected this month and goes onto our shortlist for our panel of VIP judges at the end of the year for the overall prize.

CJPOTY June: Wildlife

There are just a few days left to enter the sixth round of the 2023/24 Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year (CJPOTY) competition, the theme is ‘Wildlife’. We’re looking forward to seeing images from your wildlife encounters, whether that’s with tiny insects in your back garden or majestic elephants from a safari. The photographs can be taken anywhere and at any time.

This round of our monthly competition is open for submissions until 23:59 BST (00:59 CET and 15:59 PST) on 30th June 2023.

To submit your entry, follow the link to cjpoty or click on the CJPOTY button at the top of any of our website pages. You can submit up to three entries for £2.00 plus payment processing costs (£0.26). Images should be Jpegs at least 1920 pixels along their longest side but no larger than 2MB.

Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year prizes

At the end of the month, the Camera Jabber team will pick one winning image and nine runners-up from the June entries. The photographer of the winning image will receive a voucher from MPB.com to the value of £500 which can be spent on anything from a huge range of kit from the World’s biggest platform for used photographic gear.

All 10 of the selected images will go into our shortlist for the year.

We’ll do this each month in 2023 so that by the end of the year, there will be 120 shortlisted images. These will then go before our fantastic panel of judges who will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-placed images.

The photographer of the first-placed image overall, as decided by the panel of judges , will receive a voucher to the value of £1000 from MPB.com as well as a trophy and the title ‘Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year 2023‘. The photographers who come second and third will receive vouchers worth £500 and £250, respectively.

About MPB

Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB is the world’s largest platform for used photography and videography kit. MPB has transformed the way people buy, sell and trade equipment, making photography more accessible, affordable and sustainable.

Headquartered in the creative communities of Brighton, Brooklyn and Berlin, the MPB team includes trained camera experts and seasoned photographers and videographers who bring their passion to work every day to deliver outstanding service. Every piece of kit is inspected carefully by product specialists and comes with a six-month warranty to give customers peace of mind that buying used doesn’t mean sacrificing reliability.

NDMA’s patronized Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction will hold painting, short film and photography competitions.

According to the details, themes for all categories are; Pakistan Resilience in National Disasters and Climate Change Impact, Human Induced Disasters, Disaster Risk Reduction and Technology and Better Preparedness Through Innovation.

Students of enrolled in any educational institutions can participate. Minimum age for participants is 18 years.

Top three participants in all categories will be given cash prizes worth 100,000, 75000 and 50,000. Last date for project submission is 8th of next month.

It is pertinent to mention that first-ever Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR-23) will be held from 12-14 of July in Islamabad.

A new study reveals Cardiff has seen an uptick in photography services, bakeries, and garden centres which have all been identified as the city’s fastest growing businesses between 2017 and 2022.

In particular, the number of businesses specialising in photography grew by 419%, showing that people are increasingly looking for gear that goes beyond what our smartphones are capable of. Also making their mark on the city’s economy, the number of businesses specialising in physical wellbeing has increased by 294% increase, propelling the popularity of fitness through alternative means such as yoga or dance as people look to maintain a healthier quality of life, especially in a post-pandemic world.

Tyl by NatWest, the payments partner supporting UK SMEs and micro businesses, commissioned the Evolving Enterprise Index, showing the fastest growing (Table One) and fastest emerging (Table Two) industries across the UK’s largest cities[1], including Cardiff.

In partnership with Data City, Tyl by NatWest analysed data from Companies House, showing the number of businesses newly opened in Cardiff’s most economically significant industries between 2017 and 2022.

Table One: Cardiff’s fastest-growing enterprises

Last year, research from Tyl by NatWest revealed that hair salons are some of the most sought-after shop on a ‘perfect high street’, with Cardiff seeing a 240% increase in new hair and beauty salons founded since 2017.

Mike Elliff, CEO of Tyl by NatWest comments:

“This research is a testament to the very best of British business and shows that Cardiff’s SMEs are responding to local demands. Entrepreneurs have had to weather an unprecedented global pandemic, a shifting political landscape and a rapidly transforming hybrid world. Our Evolving Enterprise Index shows that the UK is a thriving climate for new entrepreneurs who have cemented themselves as the epitome of resilience given the challenges of recent years. Whether SMEs are looking to start, scale or grow their business, we are proud of the role Tyl can play in helping them do so. Our index offers valuable insights for SMEs to better understand the unique business blend of their local communities, and which markets they can take advantage of.”

Tyl’s research also spotlights which sectors in Cardiff have gained completely newfound momentum between 2017 and 2022. The emergence of 87 brand new clothing stalls and markets shows entrepreneurs are eager to tackle a competitive fashion industry and make their own statement. Additionally, the founding of 46 new games and toy shops suggests physical outlets with hands-on moments still inspire a sense of wonder among children and nostalgia for parents alike.

Table Two: Cardiff’s fastest emerging enterprises

According to small business expert, Teresa Heath-Wareing:

“The key to a thriving SME economy is in a wide variety of sectors that will appeal to a diverse range of consumers. It’s reassuring to see the positive outlook for small businesses who take the time to understand their local landscape and business climate.”

She adds, “Small businesses are fighting an uphill price battle against larger organisations. To succeed in such a competitive environment SMEs must embrace the ways they add value to their customers that go beyond the bottom line.”

Tyl’s top tips for SMEs to improve their products and services:

Get to know your customers better

 Tailor your product and service offerings to fit the wants and needs of your customers using data. AI tools such as chatbots and predictive analytics can help you make informed business decisions to help grow your customer base. Investing in business analytics is a useful way for SMEs to have an accurate handle on sales, payments, and inventory, often keeping track of everything in one place and at the same time. Features like the Tyl Portal help by providing visibility over transactions, invoices, and settlement history, and can help you find out when the busiest times are in your business. These insights are vital when it comes to refining your business model and gaining an understanding of issues such as staff numbers and what products are flying off the shelves, ultimately helping you maximise your profits.

Embed your business’ purpose in the community

With the role of business increasingly recognised in the fight against the climate crisis and social mobility, showing that you at least consider these factors in your business model is rapidly becoming a minimum expectation for many consumers and investors. However, the real growth and strengthening of customer relationships comes when you go that one step further, showing how your business’ commitment in these areas specifically improves life for the local community.

Diversify your payment methods

Bricks and mortar shops are an important brand building piece for retailers, but consumers want flexibility and choice in how and when they pay. With more ways of taking payments than ever before, like Tap to Pay and Buy Now Pay Later, it’s never been easier to give your customers a payment method that suits their spending habits and gives them more transparency over their finances. Adopt new ways to pay like payment links and QR codes to give your customers the most convenient shopping experience.

Download the full Evolving Enterprise Index report here.

Illuminate ATL is a nonprofit organization with a mission to increase accessibility to photography education for underserved communities in the metro Atlanta area. They believe Atlanta’s arts community should reflect its varied and distinct populations and seek to make diverse representation a reality.

Sara Keith is the Director and owner of the Atlanta School of Photography and president and co-founder of Illuminate ATL. “City Lights” producer Summer Evans spoke with Keith via Zoom about the organization.

“There’s absolutely a need for photography education in these underserved areas because you have two barriers that we were seeing…the barrier of purchasing or obtaining cameras and equipment. Photography is not a cheap hobby or creative field. Historically, one of the reasons it’s been kept from a lot of people being able to experience it is because of that threshold. But, it was also the education part of it. We could give them the cameras, but they wouldn’t know what to do with it,” said Keith.

“So we said, ‘Ok, we need to fill these two niches that we were hearing from our program partners.’ And we were already so passionate about education, and we had already done a couple of programs, just one-offs with like the Boys and Girls Club and Cool Girls. We decided to develop it into an official non-profit organization, so we launched in 2018.”