Category Archives: Photography

The Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena is a top-flight full-frame lens designed for Z-series mirrorless cameras such as the Nikon Z8 and Z7 II. Its 135mm focal length and maximum aperture of f/1.8 make it especially well-suited to portrait, fashion and nature photography.

Nikon has included ‘Plena’ in the lens name to convey that it is a ‘complete’ lens without defects or flaws. The Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena is Nikon’s second lens to have a name, the Noct (Nikon Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct) being the first.

According to Nikon, the width of the Z mount has extended the possibilities for lens design, and the Plena takes full advantage of this for top-quality results. The new lens is said to deliver the best rendering power of any Nikon S-Line lens to date, along with the best vignette control of any S-Line lens at f/1.8. This is achieved by a prestige optical construction comprising 16 elements in 14 groups with Nikon’s SR glass, an aspherical lens element and an 11-blade iris with a round aperture. Nikon’s Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat are also used to counter glare and lens flare. It all adds up to a lens that is said to minimise diffraction and counter sagittal coma and spherical aberrations.

Nikon also claims there is no need to stop down the Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena, and even when the aperture is wide open, point light sources are sharp, round, and clear, while backlit bokeh is devoid of sagittal coma and flare.

Naturally, the Plena features a fast, precise autofocus system, making it a great pairing with cameras such as the Nikon Z9 or Z8. There’s also a minimum focus distance of 0.82 mm.

The Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena has customisable controls, including a dedicated control ring, and it weighs just under 1Kg.

As it’s an S-Line lens, the Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena’s barrel is made from tough yet lightweight metal. It features two L-fn buttons arranged for horizontal and vertical shooting, and a large knurled ring for manual focusing. In addition, all the joints and buttons are weather-sealed, and there’s a rubber gasket around the mount. The filer mount is 82 mm, the same as S-Line f/1.2 lenses.

Nikon Nikkor Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena price and availability

The Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena’s price is £2699 / €3,099. It will go on sale in mid-October 2023.

A RED-faced cod enjoying some dental hygiene work from a shrimp is one of the prize winners in a prestigious photography competition.

The Dentist, captured in waters off a southern Japanese island by Takayuki Toriumi, came first in this year’s International Photography Awards.

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Toriumu said: “A few years ago, I came across a cod enjoying the shrimp’s cleaning service on a southern Japanese island.

“I captured this delightful scene as if he were being examined by shrimp doctor.”

A shot of a polar bear enjoying a nap in a remote part of Canada earned Martin Gregus second prize.

Other favourites were two leopards pouncing on their dinner and a shot of a cowboy ducking to avoid a bull.

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SmallRig has unveiled an impressive lineup of USB-C Rechargeable Camera Batteries designed so that you can charge them with a single USB Type-C cable without the need for a charger. This means that there’s no longer a need to pack additional chargers, instead, you can simply plug your depleted battery into any USB Type-C port and the battery will start to charge. Not only is this way of charging for a standard camera battery a revelation, but they’re also extremely cost-effective. SmallRig has just announced the following five battery solutions.

NP-F970: Compatible with multiple camera and video devices, including ATOMOS Ninja V (Only $79.99)

SmallRig’s NP-F970 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery is a compact powerhouse. With a massive 10,500mAh nominal capacity, it’s built to last through extended shoots. The standout feature is the inclusion of a USB-C input/output port and a USB-A output port, essentially turning it into a portable power bank for your other devices. Charging is easy with 20W USB Power Delivery (PD), ensuring a full charge in just 6 hours. The LED battery indicators keep you informed about the battery’s status. This battery is visually distinctive and comes with quality battery cells, guaranteeing stable voltage and current output.

NP-F970:(Only $79.99)

https://geni.us/4267NF970

NP-FW50: Sony Cameras (Only $39.99)

SmallRig’s NP-FW50 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery is designed for those on the move. With a 1030mAh nominal capacity, it may be small in size, but it delivers big when it comes to convenience. The USB-C charging port supports a variety of charging sources, including power banks, power strips, car chargers, and dedicated chargers. At 5V/1A, it charges rapidly, reaching full capacity in just 2.25 hours. This battery boasts a visually distinctive design, is fully decoded to avoid any pop-up warnings, and, like all SmallRig batteries, features a safe and reliable circuit for stable voltage and current output.

Sony Alpha 7 II / Alpha 6100 / Alpha 6400 / Alpha 7S II / ZV-E10 / 5000 / 6500 / 6000 / 7 / 5100 / 6300 / 7S / 7R / 7R II / DSC-RX10M2 / RX10M3 / RX10 / RX10M4 / ILCE-QX1

NP-FW50:(Only $$39.99)

https://geni.us/4330NPFW50

NP-F550: Compatible with multiple camera and video devices, including ATOMOS Ninja V (Only $44.99)

SmallRig’s NP-F550 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery packs a punch. With a 3500mAh nominal capacity, it’s ready for extended shooting sessions. The USB-C charging port ensures versatile and fast charging options, and at 5V/2.3A, it can be fully charged in just 3 hours. Like its counterparts, it features a visually distinctive design and high-quality battery cells for stable voltage and current output.

NP-F550:(Only $44.99)

https://geni.us/4331NPF550

EN-EL15c: Nikon (Only $44.99)

SmallRig’s EN-EL15c USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery caters to Nikon users. With a 2400mAh nominal capacity, it provides reliable power. The USB-C charging port supports various charging methods and delivers a full charge in just 2.5 hours at 5V/2A. This battery, like all SmallRig batteries, is visually distinctive, fully decoded, and equipped with a safe and reliable circuit for consistent voltage and current output.

Nikon Z8 / Z711 / Z7 / Z6|/ Z6 / Z5 / D850 / D810 / D810A / D780 / D750 / D610 / D500 / D7500 / D7200

EN-EL15c:(Only $44.99)

https://geni.us/4332ENEL15c

EN-EL25: Nikon (Only $49.99)

SmallRig’s EN-EL25 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery is ideal for Nikon Z series users. Despite its compact size, it boasts a 1250mAh nominal capacity. The USB-C charging port ensures efficient charging at 5V/1.6A, allowing it to reach full capacity in just 1.75 hours. As with all SmallRig batteries, it’s visually distinctive, fully decoded, and designed with a dependable circuit for steady voltage and current output.

Nikon Z 30 / Z 50 / Z fc

EN-EL25:(Only $49.99)

https://geni.us/4333ENEL25

Compatibility Across the Board

These batteries are designed to be versatile and are compatible with a wide range of camera models, LED lights, monitors, motorized sliders, and more. Whether you’re shooting with a Sony, Nikon, or other compatible camera, SmallRig has you covered.

SmallRig: Leading the Charge in Camera Accessories

SmallRig’s commitment to providing photographers and videographers continues with these innovative USB-C Rechargeable Camera Batteries. These batteries offer not only an economical alternative to manufacturer-specific batteries but also convenience, reliability, and promise performance, we’re running tests on these batteries at present and will have the full review on them soon.

Availability

SmallRig’s USB-C Rechargeable Camera Batteries are available now. Visit SmallRig’s official website and authorized retailers to explore these game-changing accessories.

Here are the stunning winning photos of the Monovisions Black & White Photography Awards 2023. Monovisions is dedicated to uncovering the world’s finest monochrome photographers and providing them with the recognition and rewards they deserve.

The competition features two distinct categories: “Black and White Photo of the Year and Black and White Series of the Year.” The total cash prize is totaling $5,000. The series winner for 2023 is Alexandra Black for her photo “Datura’s Secrets” and the singles winner is Michael Dorohovich for his photo “Tetyana Litus – is a Potter, Ceramist “.

The Monovisions Awards for 2024 is now open for photographers. You can check their website for more information.

You can find more info Monovisions Awards:

#1 Photo Of The Year 2023 Award: Tetyana Litus – is a Potter, Ceramist By Michael Dorohovich

TETYANA LITUS – is a potter, ceramist, blogs on social networks about the specifics of work, life on a prosthesis. The girl who overcame oncology lost her leg, but did not lose herself. Specially does not hide the absence of a limb and a prosthesis, believing that people in our society should treat people with disabilities tolerantly, not considering them deprived. He leads an active lifestyle, rides a bicycle, swims. And has a motto for life: Nothing is impossible.

#2 Abstract Photo Of The Year: Drift By Krzysztof Papuga

#3 Architectural Photo Of The Year: Inspiration – Focus – Interpretation By Beat Gauderon

#4 Conceptual Photo Of The Year: Serenity By Seth Mayer

#5 Fine Art Photo Of The Year: Homage to Brancusi By Felicia Simion

#6 Landscape Photo Of The Year: Separation By Mark Pelder

#7 Nature & Wildlife Photo Of The Year: The Circle of Life By Rahul Sachdev

#8 Photojournalism Photo Of The Year: The right to know By Roberta Vagliani

#9 Portrait Photo Of The Year: Genclik By Ozgur Secmen

#10 Street Photo Of The Year: Amazed By Cenk Bayirli

#11 Travel Photo Of The Year: A usual day in Zanzibar By Yanitsa Genova

As Roland Barthes says, photography kills time. Exactly these moments of preserving the image, a cross-section of what is happening in everyday life, I tried to convey in my photographs. To freeze that feeling of constantly flowing happiness and carefreeness. Black and white remain the purest possible way to influence, to find the absence in the presence. The black and white vision helps the selection of the photos not to be in dissonance with the general visual and semantic logic.

#12 Series Of The year 2023 Award: Datura’s Secrets By Alexandra Black

#13 Abstract Series Of The Year: Paths of Enlightenment By Yaser Sulaiman

#14 Landscape Series Of The Year: Cypress Swamps By Jim Guerard

#15 Nature And Wildlife Series Of The Year: Under the Great African Sky By James Lewin

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Presenting the exquisite award-winning photographs from the Audubon Photography Awards 2023. Celebrating its 14th year, this prestigious competition shines a spotlight on the talents of professionals, amateurs, and young photographers who capture the captivating world of birds. The 2023 winners, chosen from a pool of 2,200 entrants spanning all 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces, have been unveiled.

In a triumphant victory, wildlife photographer Liron Gertsman emerged as the grand prize winner. Hailing from Canada, Gertsman, a biology graduate who leads photography tours across his homeland, secured this honor with his poignant portrayal of two rock pigeons. At just 23 years old, Gertsman has already established himself as a rising star in the field. Following his Professional category win in the 2022 competition, he ascended to claim the $5,000 cash prize.

Amateur photographer Karen Blackwood distinguished herself with her mesmerizing photograph of a chinstrap penguin. Her image, capturing the penguin’s daring plunge from an iceberg into the crisp waters of Cierva Cove in Antarctica, earned her top honors in the Amateur category.

Kieran Barlow, winner of the Youth category, found inspiration close to home for his award-winning photograph. The 18-year-old photographer, hailing from Massachusetts, captured the delightful scene of a sandpiper frolicking along the water’s edge on the New Jersey coastline.

Scroll down and inspire yourself, Check their website for more information.

You can find more info Audubon Photography Awards:

#1 Grand Prize Winner: Rock Pigeon By Liron Gertsman

“Two pigeons face left in profile, each with one orange eye in view against a black background. One bird is preening the other, its bill buried in gray, green, and purple iridescent feathers.”

#2 Professional Award Winner: Atlantic Puffin By Shane Kalyn

“An Atlantic Puffin sits on the edge of a craggy cliffside, its head turned to the left, its white breast in sharp contrast to the gray background. Lime green algae and small purple wildflowers drape the cliff, breaking up the otherwise dark image.”

#3 Female Bird Prize: Baltimore Oriole By Sandra M. Rothenberg

“A bright yellow female Baltimore Oriole with thin light strands of grass held in her bill perches at the end of a branch and faces to the right in the frame. The strands billow around her, slightly out of focus, in front of a blurred green background.”

#4 Amateur Award Winner: Chinstrap Penguin By Karen Blackwood

“A Chinstrap Penguin, wings outstretched, dives from an iceberg. Head down, its bill is nearly touching the water’s surface. In the background, a white and blue iceberg is capped with fresh white snow. Deeply etched lines on the iceberg’s sides appear like hashtags behind the black bird.”

#5 Plants for Birds Award Winner: Verdin By Linda Scher

“A gray Verdin with a yellow head and a small rust-colored patch on its wing stands in profile on a broken cacti branch that’s white, brown, and green. The bird carries a pale green caterpillar in its bill.”

#6 Youth Award Winner: Dunlin By Kieran Barlow

“A sandpiper in profile appears to have jumped from the rocks to avoid an incoming wave. The bird’s wings are behind its body, its feet just above the rock in front of a background of water droplets from the surf.”

#7 Fisher Prize: Brown Pelican By Sunil Gopalan

“A Brown Pelican at the top of the frame sits in the water, its wings pulled behind its body. In the dark water below is the crescent silhouette of a shark, its snout nearly touching the pelican.”

#8 Youth Honorable Mention: Green-winged Teals By James Fatemi

“A male Green-winged Teal sits on top of a female in the water, his bill appearing to push the female’s head down. His brown and green head stands out against an otherwise gray background with blurred snowflakes around the frame.”

#9 Professional Honorable Mention: Northern Hawk Owl By Liron Gertsman

“A Northern Hawk Owl looks directly into the camera as it perches at the tip of a frost-covered tree. Dark pine cones on the bare branches stand out against a white background, mirroring the pattern of the owl’s dark breast feathers.”

#10 Plants for Birds Honorable Mention: Tree Swallow By Vicki Santello

“Thousands of Tree Swallows sit on two cypress snags in a swamp, looking like leaves. One tree is larger in the foreground and the other is smaller in the background. More birds fly around the trees, their dark forms in contrast to the purple and blue sky.”

#11 Amateur Honorable Mention: Reddish Egret By Nathan Arnold

“A Reddish Egret stands in shallow water against a blurred yellow background, its body facing left and its wings open behind it. A small fish and water droplets are suspended in the air in front of the bird’s open bill.”

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Magpie Portraits, a family-run photography business, has opened a new studio called BlossomPop in West Bridgford, Nottingham.

The studio, spanning 1,096 sq ft, will focus on family, maternity, baby and newborn portraits, and is jointly owned by Simon and Wendy Mackney along with photographer Charlotte Eley.

HSBC UK provided a five-figure funding package to help BlossomPop studio.

This money was used for outfitting the studio, including partition walls, furniture, cameras, lighting, computers, screens, props, and backdrops.

It also supported the development of a website and marketing strategy to boost bookings.

While their original site, Mackney Photography in Derby, continues to operate, the Nottingham location is part of their growth plan, with plans for more sites in the future.

Matthew Cooper, regional manager for Business Banking Direct at HSBC UK said: “Mackney Photography has been with us since its first site in 2011, and since then we’ve seen the company go from strength to strength. Looking ahead, we’ll be continuing our support as this ambitious business continues to grow with new sites across the East Midlands region.”

 

 

DJI has just announced the DJI Mini 4 Pro, the latest in its line of ultra-compact drones that promises to enhance the quality of video and imagery that can be captured with this small drone. While the last iteration of this drone saw a huge leap forward in image quality, this new release focuses on some of the more advanced flight features, which include groundbreaking omni-directional obstacle sensing technology and the inclusion of the flagship DJI O4 video transmission system. These new features, coupled with the already excellent video quality, means that the new DJI Mini 4 Pro looks set to become a very interesting proposition for both enthusiasts and Pro

Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI, expressed his excitement: “The Mini 4 Pro is a harmonious blend of professional-grade capabilities within a lightweight and highly portable design, offering unparalleled freedom and versatility. This drone emerges as the ultimate all-in-one solution, purpose-built to elevate your creative toolbox.”

Ultra lightweight 

Weighing in at less than 249 grams, the Mini 4 Pro is engineered for portability. Its lightweight design not only makes it easy to carry but also ensures compliance with drone regulations in most countries and regions, such as the UK. This grants users the freedom to take flight with minimal restrictions.

Ultra-high quality Imaging

The Mini 4 Pro boasts cutting-edge imaging capabilities with its 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, advanced Image-Processing Platform, and dual native ISO fusion—a hallmark of cinema-grade technology. With features like an f/1.7 aperture, 48MP image resolution, 4K/60fps HDR video, and Slo-Mo shooting at 4K/100fps, it captures moments in breathtaking detail. Even in challenging low-light conditions, the 2.4μm pixels and enhanced noise reduction algorithm in Night Shots video mode deliver clear, cleaner footage.

Furthermore, the Mini 4 Pro offers True Vertical Shooting, optimized for social media and smartphone playback. A 60° large-angle tilt for fluid camera motion unlocks cinematic potential. Digital video zoom extends your storytelling abilities, allowing you to magnify photos up to 2x and videos up to 4x.

Captivating Output

Despite this being a sub 250g drone, small and compact it still features professional level features such as the 10-bit D-Log M recording, offering access to more than a billion colours. High Dynamic Range (HLG) ensures that natural colours and brightness remain true-to-life without requiring adjustments or format conversions. The Mini 4 Pro feaures 48MP RAW and SmartPhoto technology—a fusion of HDR imaging and scene recognition, resulting in captivating images.

Fly with Confidence

Safety takes centre stage with the Mini 4 Pro’s omni-directional obstacle sensing capabilities. Multiple wide-angle and downward vision sensors detect obstructions from all directions. Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) with automatic braking and obstacle bypass enhance in-flight security.

The new drone boasts up to 34 minutes of flight time giving you plenty of time for creative freedom. The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus can push this to an impressive 45 minutes. DJI’s flagship O4 video transmission ensures ultra-responsive control and smooth 1080p/60fps FHD video transmission at distances of up to 20 km. Enhance your efficiency with Waypoint Flight’s automatic route function and minimize operation fatigue during long-distance flights with Cruise Control. The Mini 4 Pro’s Advanced Return-to-Home system automatically navigates a safe flight route back, facilitated by the AR RTH feature for added control during return flights.

Elevate Your Creativity

The Mini 4 Pro not only offers intuitive methods for capturing shots, such as Spotlight, Point of Interest, and ActiveTrack 360°, which enables users to bypass obstacles for smoother tracking, thanks to omnidirectional obstacle sensing, but also enhances creative possibilities with innovative features:

MasterShots Delivering dynamic camera movement templates tailored for portrait, close-up, and long-range shots.

QuickShots Providing Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang, and Asteroid modes for stylish results.

Hyperlapse Offering Free, Waypoint, Circle, and Course Lock modes with unlimited shooting time, supporting compositing while shooting.

Panorama Supporting shooting 180°, Wide Angle, Vertical, and Sphere panoramic photos for magnificent landscapes.

QuickTransfer Effortlessly transfer photos and videos to your smartphone without linking the remote controller, making your creations instantly shareable.

Edit with LightCut

LightCut streamlines video editing through wireless connection and AI technology, enabling one-tap creation of captivating videos by merging ActiveTrack, MasterShots, and QuickShots footage. The app automates sound effect matching and template application for efficient, high-quality production. It also preserves smartphone storage by eliminating the need to download footage. Real-time sound effects enhance aerial creations, transitioning from “silent” to “vibrant.” A variety of aerial shot templates, from nature to cityscapes and tilt-shift effects, allow for effortless video creation by importing aerial footage.

Outstanding Accessories for Enhanced Performance

DJI Mini 4 Pro Wide-Angle Vision Capture vast landscapes with the super-wide 100° FOV of the wide-angle lens.DJI Mini 4 Pro ND Filters Set (ND16/64/256) Adapt to challenging lighting scenarios with precision using ND16/64/256 filters, ensuring readiness for the perfect shot.

Pricing and Availability

The Mini 4 Pro is available for order from store.dji.com and authorized retail partners, with shipping commencing today, in the following configurations:

DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC-N2): £689 / €799 – Includes one drone, a DJI RC-N2 Remote Controller, cables, battery, propellers, accessories.

DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC 2): £869 / €999 – Includes one drone, a DJI RC 2 Remote Controller, battery, propellers, accessories.

DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2): £979 / €1,129 – Includes one drone, a DJI RC 2 Remote

for more information, on the DJI Mini 4 Pro check out dji.com

American artist Eric Roinestad crafts exquisite ceramic vessels, luminaires, and sculptures, seamlessly fusing classical and contemporary elements with a minimalist touch.

Eric Roinestad is a renowned ceramic artist celebrated for his unique ability to harmonize diverse artistic influences and historical allusions. He meticulously shapes wheel-thrown ceramic sculptures and lighting fixtures, creating an eloquent visual interplay between the natural and the modern, the present and the past.

Infused with the essence of California’s folk modernism and infused with the artist’s Scandinavian heritage, Eric Roinestad’s ceramic creations marry handcrafted and traditionally wheel-thrown techniques. This fusion results in pieces that exude an indescribable handcrafted charm, embodying a continuously evolving sense of artistic identity.

Scroll down and inspire yourself. Please check her Instagram link for more amazing work.

You can find Eric Roinestad on the web:

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Ceramic sculptures are three-dimensional art forms created primarily from clay, a natural material that, when fired at high temperatures, becomes hardened and durable. Artists use various techniques to shape and manipulate the clay into a wide range of forms, designs, and sizes.

In contemporary art, ceramic sculptures continue to be a vibrant and evolving medium, attracting artists who appreciate the unique combination of tradition, craftsmanship, and artistic expression that ceramics offer.

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