Following a very successful inaugural festival in 2022, the Skellig Coast Dark Sky festival will take place again this weekend. With a fresh new line-up of events, there are events to suit every level of stargazer.
ne of the festival’s highlights this year will be the number of astrophotography events including an astrophotography exhibition trail across the Iveragh peninsula co-ordinated by the Astrophotography Club Ireland.
Other events over the weekend will include multiple opportunities for guided stargazing across the Friday and Saturday nights, talks on astronomy-related folklore and history from Seán Mac an tSithigh and Paul Callenan, archaeology and rock art events, and child-friendly activities.
Exhibition photos have been curated by the Astrophotography Club Ireland and will be available to view at locations such as Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, The Blind Piper Caherdaniel, Goldens of Kells, and at Skellig Six 18 Distillery and Visitor Experience who have sponsored the festival.
Festival coordinator Aoibheann Lambe said of this year’s evenets are now and exciting.
“We are delighted to have such a focus on astrophotography at the festival this year; its an area of photography that is currently very popular.”
This years festival is being co-organised by the LIVE project and the Comhchoiste Ghaeltacht Uíbh Ráthaigh. The LIVE project has been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through its Ireland Wales Cooperation Programme.
With the flash of a camera, Maureen Feeley and Dave Caramello of Evoke Tintype can open a portal to another time.
Their subjects’ eyes gleam like quicksilver, their faces rendered in varying shades of black and white. If not for the 21st century details — a nose ring here, a modern haircut there — it might even be difficult to tell whether these photos were taken in 2023, or 150 years prior.
In their Revere studio, armed with a 1940s’ Deardorff camera, Feeley and Caramello are able to capture the magic of tintype, an antiquated form of photography dating back to the Civil War era. The method uses UV-sensitive collodion to create photographs on thin pieces of metal, resulting in a black-and-white image with stunning detail.
“They almost look three-dimensional when you see them, and the way people are photographed, their eyes are almost alive in the photo,” Caramello told Boston.com in a recent interview.
The couple came across tintype by pure coincidence after delving into photography during the early days of the pandemic. Feeley stumbled upon a tintype image while parsing through YouTube videos to learn about composition and technique.
“And that was it for me,” she recalled. “I was blown away, and I just knew I wanted to learn how to do it, and luckily Dave came along with me and we learned together.”
They launched Evoke last April, offering portrait sittings and still-life photos.
How Evoke Tintype’s process works
“For the most part, we follow everything exactly the way it was done in the 19th century, except for the fact that we’re using strobe lighting in our studio,” Caramello explained. “Back in the 1800s, they used natural light, so they were long exposures where people would have to sit for 20, 30 seconds at a time — sometimes as long as a minute.”
“That’s why nobody was smiling,” Feeley laughed.
Between exposing, developing, and varnishing the plate, it takes about 15 minutes to make one tintype, Caramello said.
Given how slow the process can be, “I think the sitter gets a little more relaxed, and they let their guard down a little bit,” Feeley said. “So people aren’t, I think, as nervous when they’re getting their picture taken because it’s just so slow, you just have to kind of relax.”
She said children are some of her favorite subjects to photograph.
“I just feel like their personality comes through, because you can’t really make them pose a certain way,” Feeley explained, recalling one small child who refused to smile for the camera, instead folding his arms defiantly.
“His photo kind of looks like the spirit of Tony Soprano,” Caramello cracked.
Unlike other photographs, tintypes show a reversed image — in other words, how you would see yourself in the mirror.
“So people look more familiar to themselves, and so many people have said, ‘This is the best picture I’ve seen of myself,’” Feeley said.
Tintype photographs are also near-grainless, Caramello said.
“So when you see a tintype image, it’s probably the clearest image that you’ve ever seen in a photograph in general, never mind a photograph of yourself,” he said. “There isn’t a digital camera made today — or an analog camera, for that matter — that can capture images with such sharpness and detail as tintypes.”
Making a memory
Evoke advertises as an add-on experience for Airbnb guests staying in Boston, which has allowed Feeley and Caramello to meet travelers from all over the world. They said they also get a lot of couples looking for a unique date night activity.
“When you come to the studio, you can actually join us in the dark room,” Caramello said. “You can see the plate being made; you can see the plate being developed.”
Evoke has gained momentum in the months since its launch, helped along by word-of-mouth advertising. The business has also participated in the Boston Open Market in Copley Square and led workshops and demonstrations at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and Hunt’s Photo.
“One of the things that I find that’s kind of unique is how many young people are interested in the process,” Caramello said. “I figured we would get older folks kind of longing for the past, but there’s so many young folks that have probably never even seen an analog camera, let alone experienced using one.”
A musician before he got into sales and marketing, Caramello said he enjoys being back in an artistic field.
Feeley, meanwhile, said her favorite part of the process is knowing “we’re making a memory that’s going to last forever for the person.”
“These pictures they’ll have hopefully for generations to be passed down in their family,” she said. “And that’s really special.”
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The post Blast from the past: Evoke Tintype in Revere keeps Civil War-era photography technique alive appeared first on Boston.com.
Google is preparing a new feature for the Pixel 8 Pro that would combine multiple cameras to take even better Night Sight photos.
About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in the case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.
With the release of the Pixel 7 Pro, Google unveiled an upgrade to the way that telephoto shots are handled. If you zoom in, but not far enough to switch to the telephoto lens, Google Camera will take your intended shot with both the main and telephoto cameras.
Using that additional data, the Pixel 7 Pro can enhance the center portion of the photo with details that wouldn’t normally be visible.
Multi-camera Super Res Zoom on Pixel 7 Pro | Image: Google
Over the weekend, an update for the Google Camera app, version 8.8, began rolling out via the Play Store. In the app’s code, our team has found that Google has included some of the first details for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. We’re still collecting the full details of what’s new for Google’s next flagships, but along the way, we spotted a new feature that’s set to be exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro.
From what we can piece together, the “Multi-camera Super Res Zoom” feature above seems to be referred to in the code as “Hawk” and “FusionZoom.” In a change specific to the Pixel 8 Pro, Google is expanding when this special Hawk variety of Super Res Zoom can be used, enabling it for Night Sight shots.
In practice, the underlying technique should be nearly unchanged, with both camera sensors taking the same shot over an extended period of time. Once the two photos are taken, Google Camera should seamlessly merge them into a single Night Sight (or perhaps astrophotography) shot with even greater detail than you would have had before.
Considering Google has improved Night Sight in some way every year since it debuted on the Pixel 3, it’s no surprise to see the company investing in low-light photos once again. All the same, it should be intriguing to see how Google’s machine learning handles merging long-exposure photos compared to ones shot in well-lit areas.
Thanks to JEB Decompiler, from which some APK Insight teardowns benefit.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Camera and photography website Digital Photography Review, also known as DPReview, will be shutting down after 25 years, amid multiple rounds of layoffs announced by parent company Amazon in recent months.
Established in November 1998, the website, which provides in-depth reviews of cameras, related accessories, and various forums for photography enthusiasts, had more than 750,000 followers across its social media accounts as of Wednesday.
The website will remain active until April 10, said DPReview’s general manager Scott Everett on Tuesday in a statement on its website.
After April 10, the site will be locked, with no further updates made. It will still be available in read-only mode for a limited period afterwards.
Users of the site can request a download of all the photos and text they have uploaded to the site, which will be available until April 6.
Describing it as a “difficult decision”, Mr Everett attributed the closure to the “annual operating plan review that our parent company shared earlier this year”. He included a link to Amazon’s Jan 5 announcement by its chief executive officer Andy Jassy, who said then that more “role reductions” were expected in early 2023.
DPReview’s editorial team is still working on reviews and looking forward to delivering some of its best-ever content, said Mr Everett.
“Everyone on our staff was a reader and fan of DPReview before working here, and we’re grateful for the communities that formed around the site,” he said.
“Thank you for your support over the years, and we hope you’ll join us in the coming weeks as we celebrate this journey.”
Commenters on its various posts announcing its closure paid tribute to the content and resources DPReview provided, expressing dismay at the development.
“Really sorry to hear it. Your reviews and charts are the gold standard for photography,” said a commenter, adding that DPReview helped him make “countless informed purchases”.
Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Alamy
A controversy is raging within the small but fiercely passionate world of ichthyology (the study of fishes). Depending on who you talk to, either a rare deep-sea shark washed up on the shores of Greece’s Anafi Island in 2020, and marked the first-ever recording of a goblin shark sighting in the Mediterranean Sea; or, some scientists faked the whole discovery using a plastic toy and duped the whole world with some trickery that’s not much more advanced than a simple social media prank.
The fight stems from a paper published in the journal Mediterranean Marine Science last May, which detailed a goblin shark specimen that a citizen scientist stumbled upon while walking along the Greek beach. The paper, authored by three marine biologists from three different universities (two in Greece and one in Scotland), included a photo taken by a citizen scientist depicting an unusually small, gray-blue and remarkably well-preserved goblin shark. It was an incredible finding—the kind scientists pray might fall into their lap during the course of their careers.
And for some, it was too good to be true. The photo rang alarm bells for some marine scientists almost immediately after it was published.
Why These Ocean Pics Are Both Stunning and Terrifying
“It looks like a very common toy,” Vicky Vásquez, a shark expert at the Pacific Shark Research Center in Monterey, California, told The Daily Beast. In the ensuing kerfuffle, Twitter sleuths pointed out that the shark in the image bore an uncanny resemblance to a goblin shark model manufactured by Italian toymakers DeAgostini, right down to the seam on the side of the mouth.
Marine biologists across the globe have been pushed into picking sides—some who are highly skeptical the goblin fish specimen is the real deal, and some who still maintain that the specimen could be genuine. The authors stand by their work, going as far as to write an extra defense of the paper, published last week, that pushes back aggressively on the idea they published a toy model in a peer-reviewed journal and passed it off as scientific evidence. (The authors did not respond to The Daily Beast’s requests for an interview.)
It is hard to believe a single study—and really, a single photograph—has elicited so much sniping in the last year between scientists, a community that’s often portrayed as level-headed, sometimes to the point of dullness. But the stakes of the new fight are high, in part because of the nature of the goblin shark itself, and in part because the age of disinformation has spurred researchers into a more combative state to scrub away false information as fast as possible, before it has a chance to take hold.
Rare as Gold
Goblin sharks, the common name for Mitsukurina owstoni, are a reclusive and somewhat mysterious species. They make their home in the deep ocean, as far down as 1,300 meters (4,300 feet), where light is scarce and the pressure is strong enough to snap human bones. There, they mostly feed on fish, squids and crustaceans, which they snatch up with their razor-sharp retractable jaws.
Fewer than fifty goblin sharks have been scientifically documented, though they occasionally turn up as bycatch in commercial fishing nets. Their range includes the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. But scientists really have no idea where they breed or how long they live.
The new study reports that the goblin shark photo was taken on August 25, 2020, “found by a citizen on Klisidi beach of Anafi Island,” credited to Giannis Papadakis. The paper does not specify who Papadakis is, or whether he is the one who first found the specimen on the beach. (As mentioned, the authors did not respond to questions from The Daily Beast.)
A photo of the goblin shark in question, published in Mediterranean Marine Science in May 2022.
Giannis Papadakis
Nevertheless, finding a genuine juvenile goblin shark in the Mediterranean would signal a significant range extension for these benthic behemoths and could even provide tantalizing clues as to where they breed. That is, if the find is real.
Jürgen Pollerspöck has doubts.
An independent shark researcher based in Germany, Pollerspöck has seen a plethora of deceased sharks over the course of his career. He came across the paper on the Anafi Island goblin shark last July, and added the article to an online shark, ray and chimera research database he helps curate. He more or less forgot about it until a couple of months later, when he finally had time to sit down and read it.
Something about the discovery struck Pollerspöck as… fishy. “After reading the article in detail, I had doubts about the record,” he told The Daily Beast in an email.
Head of a goblin shark on display at a muesum in Australia.
Dianne Bray / Museum Victoria
Pollerspöck, along with three other shark experts, decided to write into the journal detailing their concerns. Mediterranean Marine Science published their comments last week.
In those comments, the researchers point out that the shark-in-question only appeared to have four gill slits, even though goblin sharks have five. Its jaw was fully protruded in hunting position, rather than relaxed, despite lacking visible teeth. And its nose had a weird downward droop unlike most goblin sharks’ characteristically stiff, straight snout.
But the biggest red flag they found was that the picture lacked any measurement scale. The authors only vaguely listed the specimen as “not exceed[ing] 80 cm (2.5 feet) in total length,” which would make it the smallest goblin shark on record. Goblin sharks regularly grow to lengths of 2.5 meters (8.5 feet).
“Fishing in the Mediterranean has a long tradition,” Pollerspöck said. “It would be a surprise if such a large animal had remained undiscovered until today.”
The original authors didn’t relent in the face of Pollerspöck and his co-author’s comments—instead, they doubled down, writing a rebuttal (also published in the same journal) that defended the findings. The authors provided new clarifications meant to address some of the issues, including a more precise measurement of 17-20 cm (just over half a foot) long, and an assertion that the specimen was unusually small because it was embryonic. They chalked the weird nose and teeth up to individual variation, and blamed the extended jaw on stress before death. The gill slits, they insisted, were all there if you zoomed in.
“The fact that they had a rebuttal is what really, really got me hooked,” said Vásquez. “I thought it was just gonna get very quickly retracted.” In most cases of academic fraud or mistaken identity, the journal pulls the questionable paper soon after well-qualified experts raise concerns. This is what happened in a famous case of fish fraud from the late 1990s, when someone tried to pass a poorly photoshopped picture of a coelacanth off as a new species. In this case, however, Mediterranean Marine Science has let the paper stand. (The journal did not respond to requests for comment.)
Others were also critical of the rebuttal, especially that it was an embryonic specimen. “I don’t think that argument holds a lot of water,” Chip Cotton, a marine biologist at SUNY Cobleskill in New York who specializes in deepwater sharks, told The Daily Beast. He explained that it’s rare for an embryonic shark to wash up on beaches intact; they’re much more likely to get eaten by hungry marine scavengers, especially in the deep sea. Cotton suspects that such a tender morsel would almost certainly be gobbled up before it came anywhere near the shoreline. “The odds are just astronomical,” he told the Daily Beast.
When Cotton first saw the photo, he suspected it might be a cat shark with a fake snout photoshopped onto its face. However, he’s since come around to thinking that the specimen is probably a toy spruced up with some color editing. Likewise, Vásquez believes that the specimen in the photo is way too rigid to be a real deep-shark, whose skulls stay hard but whose bodies and fins tend to become flabby and flaccid on land.
Inside the Controversial Claim Rocking the Weather World
Playing Defense
Not everyone is convinced the shark is plastic. “When I first looked at it, I thought it was odd. But the more I look at it, the more I think it’s an actual specimen,” Glenn Parsons, a marine biologist at the University of Mississippi who helped describe the first documented goblin shark in the Gulf of Mexico two decades ago, told The Daily Beast. He cites the fine white edging on the shark’s fins, which is characteristic of late-term embryos in many shark species.
However, if the shark is a model, those white tips could be the result of plastic degradation and sun bleaching, according to reporting by Gizmodo. Still, it’s hard to tell from a single mid-quality photo. “You really can’t prove it unless you have it in your hands,” Parsons told the Daily Beast.
Perhaps the biggest worry among scientists isn’t really the fact that the photograph itself might be fake, but the consequences downstream. Phony range extension data might seem harmless, but it can have sweeping consequences. “It can certainly throw off the science,” biogeographer Alexa Fredston of the University of California, Santa Cruz told the Daily Beast. This can influence everything from government funding to ecological models to how (or whether) conservation policy gets enacted.
Fredston also worries that the dust-up could scare researchers off of crowd-sourced data. Thousands of species have been successfully documented or rediscovered thanks to the efforts of citizen scientists, while peer-reviewed mix-ups involving such data remain rare, she said. “I really hope it doesn’t prevent people from engaging with citizen science.”
But even if the shark is fake, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a case of intentional fraud. Vásquez and Cotton believe it’s possible that the authors simply got overexcited about what would have honestly been a pretty cool discovery, and didn’t do their due diligence in following up. Or, they said, it could be that, as early-career scientists, they felt enormous pressure to publish something in an academic journal, like a great white that has to keep moving to survive. Pollerspöck himself assumes good intentions—if sloppy science—on the part of the original paper’s authors until proven otherwise.
Read more at The Daily Beast.
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Digital Photography Review, a popular online resource for photographers, is shutting down after 25 years of service.
The website’s closure is part of the restructuring plans announced this year by Amazon, which acquired DPReview in 2007.
“The site will remain active until April 10, and the editorial team is still working on reviews and looking forward to delivering some of our best-ever content,” DPReview said in a message posted on its website on Tuesday.
“This difficult decision is part of the annual operating plan review that our parent company shared earlier this year,” it confirmed.
DPReview added that “everyone on our staff was a reader and fan of DPReview before working here, and we’re grateful for the communities that formed around the site.”
Within hours of DPReview announcing its closure on Tuesday, another site dedicated to photography, PetaPixel, revealed it was offering a home to Jordan Drake and Chris Niccolls, whose YouTube channel, DPReview TV, shares camera and lens reviews, along with photography tips and other related content.
The pair will be the faces of a new PetaPixel YouTube channel launching in May and offering similar content as DPReview TV while exploring a number of new photography-related themes.
It’s not the first time Drake and Niccolls have shifted sites, as five years ago they moved from The Camera Store to DPReview.
“The show is going on,” Niccolls said in a video posted on Tuesday. “Everything that you know and love about [DPReview TV] , you’re still going to know it, you’re still going to love it, we’re still going to be doing our technical gear reviews out in the field, which means out in freezing cold Calgary, Canada. That’s not going to change.”
So vast is DPReview’s database of reviews and other content that it’s likely you’ve landed on the site whenever you’ve researched a camera or lens, or sought out news related to the industry. It’s not clear if the site will remain online so that its valuable resources remain accessible to photography fans, but it will certainly feel like a waste if the site simply disappears from view next month.
Victoria Newhouse wasn’t planning to write a book about parks.
The Manhattan-based architectural historian and author of Parks of the 21st Century: Reinvented Landscapes, Reclaimed Territories (Rizzoli),came to it by chance when she was asked by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to write a monograph on their eponymous Cultural Center and park in Athens, designed by Renzo Piano. “One part of it was a desert garden,” she says. “I’m not a landscape architect, I’ve never given much thought to it, but I was fascinated when I learned what a boon is taking place in parks around the world. Nature played such an important role over the pandemic,” Newhouse continues. “And parks were a godsend.”
Humans need nature now more than ever. In fact, the desire to spend time in nature is one of the biggest drivers of wellness tourism this year. “Nature became this massive value, it’s a complicated reaction to the pandemic,” says Beth McGroarty, VP Research, Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a leading global research and educational organ for the wellness industry. “The hunger for nature and the elegiac love of nature is fueling wellness travel and shifting it,” she continues.
Parks are an easy way for locals and wellness travelers to embrace the meditative aspect of immersion in a beautiful green landscape. City parks provide a serene oasis for tranquil pursuits such as tai chi and yoga, picnicking, walking and hiking trails, swimming in lakes and pools. Travelers can also learn a lot about a destination by visiting its parks. Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park is packed with families on weekends, a reflection of Mexico’s family centric culture. Couples at the Luxembourg Gardens, in the heart of Paris, illustrate why it is known as the City of Love. What unites every culture–and seems to also inspire wellness travelers these days–is our hunger for nature, even if it’s a patch of greenery in the center of the city.
Thomas C. Wales Park, Seattle, WA
Stuart Isett/www.isett.com
Newhouse and her co-author, Alex Pisha, a senior landscape architect at Sawyer | Berson Architecture & Landscape Architecture, LLP, started by researching parks online. They were looking for new parks around the globe that were not only beautiful, but built with the intention of making a contribution to the natural environment–for example, helping with water management and purification or the handling of floods. Two examples that ended up in the book are Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park, each set along the East River in New York City.
“Both accommodate tidal flooding, which you can’t prevent,” she says. “You can welcome in the water, but you need to make sure there’s a way for it to recede.” Landscaping–selecting the right plants–can really help. For example, “the East River is partly saline, so you need salt-tolerant plants,” she says. Parks that rely on repurposing or building on top of existing infrastructure were also something Newhouse and Pisha sought out. A perfect example is the High Line, built on a series of elevated railway tracks in lower Manhattan. According to Newhouse, “Most parks, like the High Line, have retained elements of their industrial past.”
Hinge Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.
When Newhouse and Pisha found parks that met their criteria, they went for a visit, and the book, with its beautiful photography and detailed descriptions, reflects that first-hand experience. Highlights include The Culture of Water Ecology Park, in Chang Chun, China; Shanghai’s Riverside Park, Pudong, a necklace of parks along river fronts in Shanghai; and Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon Park in Zurich, a vertical park with climbing vines, birds and thickets of flowers. The biggest challenge, they learned, is not building, but maintaining parks. “Maintenance is so important, and that’s a big problem everywhere,” she says. “Parks are suffering, they need millions of dollars in maintenance. We need to think about what it will cost not only to build it but also to maintain it.”
Nonetheless, according to Newhouse, who sat on the jury of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize for three years, “We are living in a heyday of park building, comparable to the 19th century.” The 19th-century was a boon time for large parks, which featured mini-forests, lakes and walking trails, with some of the greatest created by Frederick Law Olmsted who designed Central and Prospect parks in New York City, and Washington and Jackson parks in Chicago.
As urbanization grew, and green spaces shrank, parks were needed more than ever. The first national park was Yellowstone, established in 1872 with the goal of conserving its wildlife and nature so that it could be enjoyed by generations. Environmentalist John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, was instrumental in the creation of Yosemite National Park, which was designated by an Act of Congress in 1890. The National Park Service was established in 1916.
Fast forward over 100 years, and the need for green and natural outdoor spaces has grown exponentially. Wellness travel experiences outdoors have become increasingly elaborate and nature-immersive: touring with research guides and conservationists at Tswalu, South Africa’s largest private wildlife reserve, in the stunning southern Kalahari; luxury glamping at secluded retreats near Texas’ Big Bend National Park, outside Marfa, TX; wildlife conservation drives through the breathtaking Grand Teton National Park and a private flight over Yellowstone, with a park drive to witness repatriated gray wolves, with the Four Seasons Jackson Hole.
Also a must on the list: visits to spectacular urban parks, with Parks of the 21st Century: Reinvented Landscapes, Reclaimed Territories as your guide.
Photographers and birdwatchers alike are set to enjoy enhanced stability and convenience with the introduction of two new 26mm leg-diameter travel tripods designed for spotting scopes and photography. The VEO 3T 265HAP (aluminium) and the VEO 3T 265HCP (carbon) tripods are equipped with an Arca-compatible 2-way pan head, ensuring maximum stability and ease of use for both amateur and professional photographers.
Featuring an Arca-compatible base, these new tripods enable excellent compatibility with a wide range of baseplates and L-Bracket that feature the Arca design.
The control over the camera position can easily be adjusted by means of the two locking knobs, one for tilt and one for panning. The permanently attached pan handle eliminates the risk of losing it while on the go and conveniently folds into the legs when packed away to avoid obstruction.
Measuring just 44cm when folded, the tripods are compact and lightweight, with the aluminium model weighing as little as 1640g. This makes them perfect for packing in a suitcase or even hand luggage for photographers constantly on the move. Despite their compact size, the tripods can extend to a maximum height of 1.6 meters, or 1.2 meters, with the central column down.
The 26mm legs can support up to 6kg, making them ideal for even the tallest birdwatcher or photographer using a heavy spotting scope.
The tripods also feature a retractable hook at the base of the central column, allowing users to attach additional weight for added stability. This design feature especially benefits those capturing images in challenging outdoor conditions.
Photographers looking to create videos with their cameras can also benefit from these new tripods. The easy-to-use panhandle and smooth motion make capturing professional-quality video footage a breeze. For increased versatility, one of the tripod legs can be converted into a monopod, while a low-angle adapter and attachable spiked feet are also included.
The 2-way pan head is designed for both landscape and portrait shots, thanks to the Arca-compatible QS-65 quick-release plate with four sides. To capture portrait shots, users simply need to push the head forward to a position where the camera points toward the ground, then attach the camera pointing left or right.
Those seeking a lighter and smaller alternative can consider the VEO 3T 235AP (aluminium) or the VEO 3T 235CP (carbon) models, which feature a 23mm leg. With maximum heights of 154cm (60″) and 163cm (64″) for the aluminium and carbon models, respectively, these tripods offer a more compact option while maintaining the same robust support.
The VEO 3T 235AP and VEO 3T 235CP models weigh 1650g (3.6 lbs) and 1500g (3.3 lbs), respectively, making them a lighter choice for photographers prioritizing portability.
The aluminium and carbon models have an RRP of £219.99 and £279.99, respectively, while the taller VEO 3T 265HAP and VEO 3T 265HCP models are priced at £249.99 and £319.99.
For more information, check out vanguardworld.co.uk
America’s Next Top Model was a beloved reality competition show in the 2000s and 2010s. In the 2020s, the Tyra Banks-fronted show came under renewed scrutiny as viewers rediscovered some of the problematic photo shoots that were done on the show.
One of the most infamous photo shoots in Top Model history took place during its fourth season in 2005. The models were tasked with creating their own “Got Milk?” ads and posing with children. But the shoot had a twist: the contestants would each be transformed by the hair and makeup team into different races.
The result was some of the white models posing as Black women, Black models as Asian women, and Black models as white women. Naturally, in the decades since then, fans have come to realize the problematic nature of changing races for a photo shoot and putting white models in blackface.
Cycle 7’s model stereotypes shoot
Cycle 7 of America’s Next Top Model kicked off with a photo shoot centered around model stereotypes. Among those were the model who throws their phone at their assistant, inspired by Naomi Campbell, and a model who won’t get out of bed for less than $10,000, inspired by Linda Evangelista’s famous quote saying she does the same.
Among the stereotypes, however, were those of an anorexic model and a bulimic model, each portrayed by twins Amanda and Michelle. Contestant Megg, meanwhile, played a drug-addicted model. The glamorization of these images hasn’t sat right with fans since then.
Cycle 8’s murder shoot
The following season, the contestants participated in a photo shoot where they each had to portray a woman who was brutally murdered. Among the methods of “killing” were being shot, strangled, and gutted. It seemingly made light of violent deaths that women often face, frequently at the hands of partners.
Cycle 13’s ‘hapa’ shoot
Cycle 13 of America’s Next Top Model featured a lineup of petit models standing at 5’7″ and shorter. When the final six were in Hawai’i, they were tasked with portraying various “hapa” women, a term used to describe people who are Native Hawaiian mixed with other races. Among those portrayed were Black and Japanese women who were part Native Hawaiian. Similarly to cycle 4’s race-changing shoot, it hasn’t exactly aged well.
‘All Stars’ Michael Jackson shoot
Cycle 17 of Top Model was a massive moment for the series, as fan-favorite contestants from previous seasons came back for the ultimate chance at redemption. In one episode, the models paid homage to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, throughout his various eras in his life and career, from The Jackson 5 to his days as a solo superstar. When portraying his younger years, some of the models’ skin was darkened, harkening back to the blackface resemblance of previous race-switching shoots.
What Tyra Banks has said about the problematic photo shoots
In the spring of 2020, as people around the world were locked down at home at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people began watching or rewatching old seasons of America’s Next Top Model. Upon discovery of these outdated photo shoots, fans on Twitter blasted host and creator Tyra Banks for endorsing such creative decisions.
The Dancing With the Stars host took to Twitter to address the backlash. “Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you,” she said. “Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs.”
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If you’re considering buying a new camera, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that you get the best camera for your needs. In this article, we’ll explore five essential things you should know before purchasing a new camera.
Determine Your Photography Needs
Determining your photography needs is an important step before buying a new camera. This involves assessing what type of photography you plan to do, as well as your level of experience and desired outcome.
If you’re an amateur photographer, you may just be looking for a camera that takes high-quality photos of family and friends, or captures memories while on vacation. In this case, a point-and-shoot camera or a mid-range camera with basic features could be suitable.
On the other hand, if you’re a professional photographer, you may require a high-end camera with advanced features to capture photos for clients or for your portfolio. You may also need different lenses and other accessories to get the desired effect in your photos.
It’s also essential to consider what types of photography you plan to do. For example, if you’re interested in landscape photography, you may want a camera with a wide-angle lens and good low-light performance. If you plan to shoot portraits, you may need a camera with a fast autofocus system and the ability to capture shallow depth-of-field.
Research Camera Types
Researching camera types is a critical step before purchasing a new camera. There are several types of cameras available in the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
One type of camera is the point-and-shoot camera, which is small and easy to use. Point-and-shoot cameras are designed for casual photographers who want a camera that can be easily carried around and used in everyday situations. They typically have fixed lenses and limited manual controls, but are convenient and affordable.
Another type of camera is the mirrorless camera, which is similar in size to point-and-shoot cameras but offers more advanced features. Mirrorless cameras use electronic viewfinders instead of traditional optical viewfinders, which can make them easier to use in low light conditions. They also typically have interchangeable lenses and manual controls, making them popular among enthusiasts and professionals.
The third type of camera is the DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera, which is the traditional choice for professional photographers. DSLRs have a mirror and prism system that reflects light from the lens into an optical viewfinder, allowing for a clear and accurate preview of the image. They offer advanced manual controls and interchangeable lenses, and are capable of capturing high-quality images in a variety of situations.
Each camera type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to consider your photography needs and preferences before choosing a camera. If you prioritize portability and convenience, a point-and-shoot or mirrorless camera may be the best choice. If you require more advanced features and manual control, a mirrorless or DSLR camera may be a better fit. By researching camera types, you can select the camera that best suits your needs and helps you achieve your photography goals.
Consider Camera Features
When considering camera features, it’s important to think about what kind of photography you plan to do and what you want to achieve with your camera. Here are some features to consider when choosing a camera:
Megapixels: Megapixels determine the resolution of your camera’s images. Higher megapixel counts can produce sharper and more detailed images, but they also require more storage space.
Sensor size: The size of the camera’s sensor can affect image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. Larger sensors generally perform better in low light and produce better image quality overall.
ISO range: ISO measures the camera’s sensitivity to light. Cameras with a wider ISO range can perform better in low-light conditions without requiring a flash.
Autofocus system: The autofocus system determines how quickly and accurately your camera can focus on your subject. More advanced autofocus systems can track moving subjects and focus more accurately in low light.
Image stabilization: Image stabilization can help reduce blur caused by camera shake, particularly when shooting at slow shutter speeds or with longer focal lengths.
Video capabilities: If you plan to shoot video, consider a camera with good video capabilities, such as 4K resolution or slow-motion capabilities.
Connectivity: Some cameras come with built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities, which can allow for easy sharing and transferring of photos.
By considering these features, you can choose a camera that meets your specific photography needs and goals. Remember to also consider your budget, as more advanced features may come with a higher price tag.
Set a Budget
Setting a budget is an important step when buying a new camera. Cameras can range in price from a few hundred dollars for basic models to several thousand dollars for high-end cameras with advanced features.
It’s important to consider how much you are willing to spend on a camera before you start shopping. Setting a budget will help you narrow down your options and avoid overspending.
When setting your budget, consider your photography needs and goals. If you’re a beginner or only plan to use your camera for casual photography, you may not need to spend as much as a professional photographer who requires more advanced features.
It’s also important to consider additional costs, such as lenses, memory cards, and camera bags. These accessories can add up quickly, so be sure to factor them into your budget.
Once you’ve set your budget, do some research to find cameras within your price range that meet your needs. You may be able to find deals on older models or refurbished cameras that can help you save money without sacrificing quality.
Remember, a higher price tag doesn’t always guarantee better quality. By setting a budget and doing your research, you can find a camera that meets your needs and fits within your budget.
Protect Your Investment
Once you’ve purchased a camera, it’s important to protect it. Camera insurance protects your camera and photography equipment from a variety of perils, including theft, accidental damage, and loss. Some camera manufacturers offer insurance plans, but there are also third-party insurance providers that offer comprehensive coverage at a reasonable price. Be sure to read the policy carefully to understand what is covered and any limitations or exclusions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, purchasing a new camera can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, it’s important to do your research and determine your photography needs before making a purchase. Consider camera types and features, set a budget, and don’t forget to protect your investment with camera insurance. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to capturing stunning photographs with your new camera.
