Rugby nature photographers among winners of county-wide competition

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EAGLE-eyed nature photographers from Rugby have been named among the winners of a county-wide competition.

Amanda Graham’s perfectly-timed photo Kestrel on Footpath Sign has won the Wild Images – People and Nature photography competition.

And fellow Rugbeian Simon Wiltshire’s Fox Dew – an atmospheric portrait of a fox in the morning dew – came third.

The competition was launched by Warwickshire photo printing company CEWE in partnership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to celebrate the beauty of wildlife and the environment, with entrants looking to share uplifting images of the great outdoors.

Lindsay Butler, Director of Marketing and Fundraising at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Photography is a great way to connect with nature and show how beautiful our local environment is. Choosing the winning images was no easy task as there were so many eye-catching submissions.

“We hope these photos help people feel closer to nature, motivate them to get out and experience our great outdoors and inspire them to take positive action for wildlife, like becoming a member of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.”

Dale Orton, Head of Photo Culture at CEWE UK, said the company was always keen to partner with organisations to support a shared cause.

He added: “The best wildlife images are captured when we’re doing our best not to encroach upon it. We have a responsibility to create a positive relationship with nature, where we can capture the beauty of it while preserving that beauty in the process – something these images have certainly shown.”

Winner Amanda Graham received a £150 CEWE voucher, with a £100 voucher going to second-placed Coventry man Neil Porter for his image of a butterfly, and a £50 voucher to third-placed Simon Wiltshire.

Entrants to the competition also had the chance to enter their photos into the CEWE Photo Award, the words largest photography competition.

The jury, chaired by world-renowned Swiss fashion and nature photographer Michel Comte, will choose the 1,000 best shots submitted from across the globe for a share of prizes totalling more than £210,000.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/4fpakad6 for more information about the CEWE Photo Award.

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I test cameras for a living — this is the Prime Day camera deal I recommend, but it ends at midnight!

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What could be better than buying one of the best cameras in the world? When you can save hundreds of dollars with an Amazon Prime Day camera deal!

We’ve named the Sony A7R IV as the best camera overall in 2023 and its astronomy variant the best mirrorless camera for astrophotography and the Sony A7R IV is now over $200 off for Prime Day.

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A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography

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Tate Modern launches a major new exhibition celebrating the dynamic landscape of photography across the African continent today. Bringing together 36 artists from different generations and geographies, A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography explores how photography and video has allowed artists to examine legacies of the past while imagining more hopeful futures. Unfolding across three chapters, the exhibition charts the dialogue between photography and contemporary perspectives on cultural heritage, spirituality, urbanisation, and climate change to reveal shared artistic visions that reclaim Africa’s histories and reimagine its place in the world.

Since the invention of photography in the 19th century, Africa has been broadly defined by Western images of its cultures and traditions. During the colonial period, it was used as a tool to construct the representation of African societies through a Eurocentric lens. Challenging these dominant images of the continent, A World in Common features over 150 works that illuminate how photography can imagine alternative visions of Africa’s many histories, cultures and identities. Regal portraits of kings and queens join intimate scenes of family life and stark documentary images of post-industrial ruin. Family photo albums and stylishly composed studio portraits reflect the shared sense of community and belonging that connects Africa and its global diaspora, while scenes of devastated coastlines and otherworldly landscapes consider the growing impact of the climate emergency. Guiding viewers along many landscapes, borders, and time zones, the exhibition showcases how photography allows the past and future to co-exist in powerful and unexpected ways.

During the precolonial period, many African societies were governed as kingdoms where ancient dynasties held an important role in the shaping of spiritual and cultural identity. Interweaving historical narratives with imagined scenes of Africa’s regal past, artists including George Osodi and Kudzanai Chiurai explore histories of anticolonial resistance and political revolt. The power of ritual plays an important role in many African religions and spiritual practices. For artists such as Khadija Saye, Rotimi Fani-Kayode and Maïmouna Guerresi these rites of passage and acts of remembrance offer portals between the living and their ancestors. Shape shifting between the spiritual and physical world, West African masquerade has traditionally been used to embody spirits during performances and ceremonies. In photographic works by Edson Chagas and Zina Saro-Wiwa, it becomes a powerful medium for the activation of cultural memory and collective identity.

The exhibition explores the rise of studio photography across the continent during the 1950s and 60s – a time when many African nations gained independence. Working within their local communities, pioneering photographers such as James Barnor in Ghana and Lazhar Mansouri in Algeria, photographed families and individuals who would gather proudly to have their portraits taken, often for the first time. Further enhancing this rich history of self-expression and representation, artists such as Atong Atem, Sabelo Mlangeni and Ruth Ossai consider the contemporary relevance of family portraiture as a space of kinship and connection.

The legacy of postcolonial utopias continues to inspire artists to confront present-day landscapes at a time when Africa’s place in the world has never been more vital. The stark realities of globalisation and inequality are made visible as artists contemplate the impact of climate change and urbanisation on local communities. The work of François-Xavier Gbré, Andrew Esiebo and Kiluanji Kia Henda documents the expansion and transformation of urban cityscapes while Mário Macilau, Aida Muluneh, and Julianknxx explore themes of migration and climate activism in ways that empower the viewer to imagine hopeful new futures.

Inspired by the ethos of A World in Common, London-based designer and photographer Ronan Mckenzie has created a free public space outside the exhibition for people to gather and relax. Equipped with sofas, desks and soft furnishings, Common Ground invites visitors to take a book from its library or listen to a specially curated playlist by Touching Bass, offering a welcoming place to work, rest and connect with others.

TATE MODERN EXHIBITION A WORLD IN COMMON: CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHY UNTIL 14 JANUARY 2024

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Animals seen in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan-Xinhua

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This photo taken by an infrared camera on Dec. 19, 2022 shows a silver pheasant in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. As one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China in terms of the number of species. (Xinhua)

This photo taken by an infrared camera on April 9, 2023 shows a black bear in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. As one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China in terms of the number of species. (Xinhua)

This photo taken by an infrared camera on March 23, 2022 shows a yellow-throated marten in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. As one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China in terms of the number of species. (Xinhua)

This photo taken by an infrared camera on March 21, 2022 shows an assamese macaque in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. As one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China in terms of the number of species. (Xinhua)

This photo taken by an infrared camera on March 25, 2022 shows a porcupine in Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. As one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the Gaoligong Mountains are home to about 17 percent of higher plants, about 30 percent of mammals and 35 percent of birds in China in terms of the number of species. (Xinhua)

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Astrophotography with Mark Russell – Russell

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Dates


Learn the basics of Astrophotography, take full manual control of your camera, and make beautiful images of our night sky.

Taught by Mark Russell, a New Zealand photographer, who has been taking photos of the Milky Way and the dark sky for over a decade. Mark has worked closely with Aotea (Great Barrier Island) and the island of Nuie, assisting photographically in their successful applications to become Dark Sky Sanctuaries.

Mark makes the class welcoming and guarantees you will leave with the skills to take pictures of our night sky. Breaking down the techniques used, Mark will focus on your camera settings (shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance) along with lens selection, composition and also editing images through to publication.

Theory will be hands on (bring a camera and a tripod if you have one), with spares available for those without. Following the practical theory section, we will step outside and use the techniques just learned to take images of the night sky. The course runs in all weathers, with a backup shooting scenario planned if there is rain.

Haratu- Kororareka Marae is located on the picturesque and historic Russell waterfront.

Cost includes the 3hr workshop and a delicious supper platter with tea and coffee. Numbers are strictly limited and will sell out!



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20 Stunning Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

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Experience the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe that have ignited our imaginations for centuries, leaving a lasting impact on stargazers and astronomers alike. Step into a realm of cosmic enchantment as we present the mesmerizing finalists for the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

Prepare to be captivated by a breathtaking display of celestial visuals, ranging from the dynamic dance of solar flares to the vibrant hues of auroras and the hypnotic allure of nebulas. These extraordinary images have captured the attention of the esteemed contest organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Supported by Liberty Specialty Markets and in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, this prestigious competition attracts the finest astrophotographers from around the world, and the caliber of this year’s finalists stands as a testament to the fierce competition among them.

A staggering 4,000 entries from 64 countries were submitted to the contest, each one vying for recognition in nine different categories and two special prizes. A distinguished panel of expert judges has meticulously narrowed down the selection, leaving us with a collection of outstanding photographs that exemplify the artistry and technical prowess of the astrophotography community. The winners of the competition will be announced in September, and their extraordinary images, alongside a curated selection of exceptional shortlisted photographs, will be showcased at the National Maritime Museum. Join us in anticipation as we await the unveiling of this year’s victors, revealing which of these stunning photographs will emerge triumphant in the contest.

Scroll down and insire yourself. Check their website for more galleries and information.

You can find more info about Astronomy Photographer of the Year:

#1 Arctic Gates by Daniel Viñé Garcia

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

The Northern Lights over the mammoth sundial Arctic Henge, which is inspired by Norse mythology. The henge is located in Raufarhöfn, one of the northernmost towns in Iceland.

Taken with a Sony Alpha 7RIII camera; Sky: 12 mm f/2.8, ISO 2000, 2.5-second exposure; Foreground: f/16, ISO 400, 3 x 4-second exposures

Location: Arctic Henge, Raufarhöfn, Iceland

#2 Comet 2022 E3 Above Snowy Mount Etna by Dario Giannobile

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

This image shows Comet 2022 E3 soaring over Mount Etna, Sicily as volcanic vapours sweep over the crater. The glowing turquoise green of the comet contrasts with the night sky and snowy landscape.

Taken with a Canon EOS 6D camera, Sigma art 150–600 mm lens, Lightach II Fornax, 293 mm f/7.1; Sky: ISO 3200, 27  x 45-second exposures; Landscape: ISO 320, 2 x 180-second exposures

Location:  Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

#3 Crescent Moon in a Magical Sunset by Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

Composite image of three exposures showing the sunset on 1 August 2022 in Rafaela, Argentina. The crescent Moon has 16 per cent of its surface illuminated and the clouds appear an intense red. 

Taken with a Canon EOS 90D camera, 600 mm f/6.3, ISO 800, three exposures between 1/400 and 1/100-seconds

Location: Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

This is a composite of an image of the Moon 78% illuminated and an image of the full Moon. Assembling close-up shots to create a mosaic of the whole Moon is complex as the perspective changes slightly during a lunar orbit.

Taken with a  Celestron 6SE SCT telescope, Advanced GT mount, ZWO ASI120MC camera, 1500mm 6”, Gain 50, Full Moon: multiple 1-millisecond exposures; Waxing Gibbous: multiple 1.6-millisecond exposures

Location: Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside, UK

#5 Sperrgebiet by Vikas Chander

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

This photograph was taken in Bogenfelsin, Namibia. Formally known as Sperrgebiet, this area was once occupied by German colonialist mining for diamonds. The settlements they built are now ghost towns, seen here is a decayed processing plant.

Taken with a Nikon D850 camera, 21 mm f/2.8, ISO 800, 30-second exposure

Location: Bogenfels, Namib Desert, Namibia

#6 C/2021 A1 (Leonard) in Sky of Israel by Alex Savenok

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

C/2021 A1 (Comet Leonard) captured over the Negev desert, Israel. The comet made its closest approach to Earth in 2021–2022 and was highly visible with a clear tail. Comet Leonard was destroyed by an orbit which took it close to the Sun. 

Taken with a Nikon Z7 II camera, 70–300 mm lens, ISO 4000; Sky: 250 mm f/5.6, 22 x 30-second exposures (lights), 30 x darks, 50 x flats (tracked and stacked); Foreground: 240 mm f/5.6

Location: Negev desert, Israel

#7 Dune by Burak Esenbey by Burak Esenbey

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

The Milky Way over the White Desert National Park, Egypt. Venus is clearly seen just above the horizon.

Taken with a Sony ILCE-7S (Astro modified) camera, MoveShootMove mount, 18 mm f/2.8, ISO 1000, 4 x 181-second exposures 

Location: White Desert National Park, Egypt

#8 The Milky Way by Kush Chandaria

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

A photograph of the Milky Way taken in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Due to the lack of light pollution, Chandaria could see the Milky Way clearly with the naked eye. 

Taken with a Sigma Art 40 mm telescope, Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro mount, CanonEOS Ra camera, 40 mm f/1.4, ISO 1600, 10 x 10-second exposures

Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana 

#9 Mare Crisium: From Light to Dark by Andrea Vanoni

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

Mare Crisium is a lunar sea located in the Moon’s Crisium basin, just northeast of Mare Tranquillitatis. This mosaic photograph is made up of two high-resolution images showing a multitude of craters inside the basin.

Taken with a Newton Ares 405mm F4.5 telescope, Baader R-filter, Sky-Watcher EQ8 mount, ZWO ASI178MM camera, 6000 mm f/20, 1/400 exposure

Location: Porto Mantovano, Mantua, Lombardy, Italy

#10 Curtain of Light by Andreas Ettl

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

A photograph of an auroral substorm which suddenly formed, throwing an incredible curtain of light over Olstind mountain. After just two shots, the lights had faded away into the night.

Taken with a Nikon Z7 camera, 17 mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 10-second exposure

Location: Hamnøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway

#11 Dolbadarn Castle, Home of Welsh Princes by Robert Price

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

This photograph was taken at Dolbadarn Castle, a late 12th-century castle located above Llanberis in the heart of Eryri. The core of the Milky Way can be seen rising behind the castle and the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) range of mountains. 

Taken with a Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera, Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini mount, 24 mm f/2.8, ISO 800; Sky: 25 x 120-second exposures; Foreground: 10 x 45-second exposures

Location: Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom

#12 Celestial Equator Above First World War Trench Memorial by Louis Leroux-Gere

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

Star trails above the preserved First World War trenches in Canadian National Vimy Memorial Park, Northern France. Taken over five hours, the camera captured the rotation of the sky revealing the colourful stars. 

Taken with a Canon EOS 6D (Astro modified), Samyang XP 14 mm f/2.4 lens, 14 mm f/3.2, ISO 1000, 577 x 30-second exposures

Location: Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts de France, France

#13 Radio Polaris by João Yordanov Serralheiro

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

Star trails taken over a deactivated radio telescope antenna. The image was achieved with a simple remote shutter locked for continuous images.

Taken with a Sony ILCE-7M2 camera, 28 mm f/2, ISO 200, 124 x 30-second exposures

Location: Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge, United Kingdom

#14 Solar Flare X1 from AR2994 in ‘Motion’ by Miguel Claro

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

Photograph of the Sun taken from a 27-minute timelapse of a solar, flare which took place on 30 April 2022. 

Taken with a Sky-Watcher Esprit ED120 telescope, Daystar Quark Chromosphere filter, Sky-Watcher EQ6 mount, Player One Apollo M-Max Solar camera, 840 mm, 900 frames at 9.1 ms per frame (recorded as video at 109 FPS)

Location:  Dark Sky Alqueva region, Évora 

#15 The Great Solar Flare by Mehmet Ergün

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

The Sun photographed moving towards its maximum cycle. A large 700,000km long solar flare erupts to the left of the image. The current solar cycle, 25, started in 2019 and is increasing in strength. It will peak in a few years’ time, then weaken over the following years before another cycle starts anew.

Taken with a LUNT LS60 B1200 Double Stack telescope, Rainbow RST-135 mount, Player One Astronomy Neptune-M 178M camera, 500 mm f/8.3, Gain 13, 1.5 second exposure 

Location: Traisen, Germany 

#16 Dance of the Moons by Damian Peach

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

Jupiter flanked by two of its many moons, Io and Europa. Europa is the icy white moon casting a shadow onto the ‘surface’ of Jupiter, and Io is the yellowy-orange lava-covered circle on the lower left. The Great Red Spot is clearly seen with the shadow of Europa cutting across its southern edge.

Taken with a Celestron C14 EdgeHD telescope, Losmandy G11 mount, Player One Saturn-M SQR camera, 8,000 mm f/22, 50,000 single frames combined through RGB filters x 0.02-second exposure

Location: Marley Vale, Barbados, United Kingdom

#17 Pandora’s Box by Derek Horlock

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

The Milky Way viewed behind a graffiti of Pandora by Wild Drawing (WD) a Balinese artist on the Greek island of Naxos. In Greek mythology, Pandora opened a jar – or box – releasing all the evils of humanity into the world. The wall is part of an abandoned beach hotel complex where graffiti now covers the walls.

Taken with a Nikon Z 6II camera; Sky: 35 mm f/2.8, ISO 1000, 120-seconds x 6 panned images; Foreground: 24 mm f/6.3, ISO 1000, 60-second exposure

Location: Alyko Beach Naxos, Greece

#18 Jellyfish Nebula by Peter Larkin

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

The Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) is a supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Gemini.  Here, the stars have been removed from the image in order to focus on the delicate nebulous structures.

Taken with a Celestron RASA 8 telescope, Baader highspeed H-alpha, S and O filters, Celestron CGX mount, ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro camera, 400 mm f/2, ISO 100, multiple 60-second exposures, approx. 11 hours total exposure time

Location: Coppet, Vaud, Switzerland 

#19 Colourful Saturn by Damian Peach

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

A photograph of Saturn at opposition, the view captures the ring system and coloured bands and zones in its atmosphere. The Cassini Division, the almost 5,000km-wide gap between the two main ring structures is clearly seen.

Taken with a Celestron C14 EdgeHD telescope, Losmandy G11 mount, Player One Saturn-M SQR camera, 8,000 mm f/22, 50,000 single frames combined through RGB filters x 0.02-second exposure

Location: Marley Vale, Barbados, United Kingdom

#20 Emerald Roots by Lorenzo Ranieri Tenti

Finalists Photos Of The 2023 Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Contest

The Northern Lights above the famous Icelandic mountain, Vestrahorn. The aurora is reflected on the black sand beach and the rising moon makes the sand ripples appear golden. 

Taken with a Sony ILCE-7S camera, 14 mm f/2.8, ISO 6400, 25-second exposure; Foreground: 23 seconds, Aurora: 8 seconds

Location: Vestrahorn, Stokksnes, Iceland

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Selina Partners with Corona Global to Inspire Consumers to Disconnect and Reconnect with Nature

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LONDON

Today, Selina Hospitality PLC (“Selina” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ: SLNA), the fast-growing lifestyle and experiential hospitality company, announced it will partner globally with Corona, an AB InBev global brand, to create unique travel experiences and help LDA+ (over legal drinking age) guests disconnect and reconnect with nature. The collaboration, set to launch later this year in Selina properties around the world, will promote sustainability through activations, cleanups, education, music, art and events.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230713682085/en/

Selina Hospitality PLC (NASDAQ: SLNA), the fast-growing lifestyle and experiential hospitality company, announced it will partner globally with Corona, an AB InBev global brand, to create unique travel experiences and help LDA+ (over legal drinking age) guests disconnect and reconnect with nature. (Photo: Business Wire)

Selina Hospitality PLC (NASDAQ: SLNA), the fast-growing lifestyle and experiential hospitality company, announced it will partner globally with Corona, an AB InBev global brand, to create unique travel experiences and help LDA+ (over legal drinking age) guests disconnect and reconnect with nature. (Photo: Business Wire)

“We are excited to bring our global Corona brand to more people around the world through this partnership,” said Thiago Zanettini, Global Vice President of Commercial Marketing, AB InBev. “Travel is part of Corona DNA so by bringing unique experiences and activations to Selina hotels we will help more people enjoy the outdoors and reconnect with nature.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Corona, to bring our guests even more unforgettable travel experiences,” said Ariel Levinsohn, VP Brand & Creative of Selina. “Corona’s global reputation for quality and authenticity makes this a great collaboration, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

The partnership will only be activated outside of the United States and the rollout will have a phased approach. In the first stage, the collaboration will focus on raising awareness and promoting sustainability practices in hotel environments. The second phase Selina locations will host a range of co-branded events and activations as part of the Corona Sunsets Festival including beach parties, music and cultural events. Guests at Selina properties will also gain access to exclusive experiences and discounts on Corona products, while Corona fans will gain the opportunity to explore Selina’s unique accommodations and community spaces.

For more information, visit the Selina website.

About Selina Hospitality PLC.

Selina (NASDAQ: SLNA) is one of the world’s fast-growing hospitality companies built to address the needs of millennial and Gen Z travelers, blending beautifully designed accommodation with coworking, recreation, wellness, and local experiences. Founded in 2014 and custom-built for today’s nomadic traveler, Selina provides guests with a global infrastructure to seamlessly travel and work abroad. Each Selina property is designed in partnership with local artists, creators, and tastemakers, breathing new life into existing buildings in 24 countries and six continents – from urban cities to remote beaches and jungles. To learn more, visit Selina.com or follow Selina on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev)

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser®, Corona® and Stella Artois®; multi-country brands Beck’s®, Hoegaarden®, Leffe® and Michelob ULTRA®; and local champions such as Aguila®, Antarctica®, Bud Light®, Brahma®, Cass®, Castle®, Castle Lite®, Cristal®, Harbin®, Jupiler®, Modelo Especial®, Quilmes®, Victoria®, Sedrin®, and Skol®. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 167,000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. For 2022, AB InBev’s reported revenue was 57.8 billion USD (excluding JVs and associates).

Selina Media Relations

[email protected]

[email protected]

 

© Business Wire, Inc.

Disclaimer:

This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.

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Mothers who pay photographers hundreds of pounds a day to take their holiday snaps 

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Posing for a professional photographer on an expanse of white sand in St Lucia, Naomi Isted’s clothes are impeccably colour-coordinated with those of her husband and children, their smiles as bright as the Caribbean sunshine.

Bemused onlookers peer over their sunglasses eager to fathom the scene before them. Could they be models showcasing a new range of family beachwear, or perhaps they’re famous?

In fact, neither is true. They’re just an ordinary family from Hertfordshire who’ve taken the extraordinary decision to hire a photographer for their holiday — paying him hundreds of pounds to ensure their picture-perfect, sunkissed memories are caught on film.

‘It avoids the risk of getting rubbish pictures, or photos of only three of us at a time,’ says Naomi, 44, a broadcaster and interior designer married to property developer Haydn, 50, with whom she has children Fleur, 13, and Rocco, eight. ‘In the past, if I wanted photos of me with the children I’d have to pester Haydn to take some under duress. The results were often so poor I wouldn’t want to show them to anyone. Then I found a photographer in the Turks and Caicos in 2017, and haven’t looked back since. My kids smile for the camera when there’s a stranger behind it, and it means we get a gorgeous set of pictures of all four of us taken in as little as half a day.’

Welcome to the indulgent world of vacation photography. You might think the practice would be limited to image-conscious celebrities, but it’s a fast-growing trend with many ordinary people. Forget switching off with a book and leaving your hairdryer at home when the kids break up for the summer holidays. In the era of Instagram perfection, even a family beach holiday demands glossy photos for your grid and expertly filtered smiles for the Christmas card.

Naomi (pictured), 44, is a broadcaster and interior designer married to property developer Haydn, 50, with whom she has children Fleur, 13, and Rocco, eight

Naomi (pictured), 44, is a broadcaster and interior designer married to property developer Haydn, 50, with whom she has children Fleur, 13, and Rocco, eight

And women, in particular, are ready to part with thousands for the privilege. Companies such as Flytographer and Angel are cashing in on the boom, connecting travellers with photographers in their holiday destination.

Nicole Smith founded the former a decade ago. ‘Since then, we’ve had tens of thousands of people use our services to hire a photographer around the world, including solo travellers, couples and more than 20,000 mums,’ she says. ‘It’s so important for mums to get into the photo instead of always being the invisible one documenting the moment.’

For Naomi, hiring a vacation photographer is as much a part of a family holiday as buying a new bikini. In the past six years, they’ve had multiple shoots in St Lucia, Los Angeles, Turks and Caicos and Miami, their long-haul destinations of choice.

Prices start from £300, depending on the photographer and duration. The family’s most recent shoot, during the Easter holidays, was a six-hour stint in St Lucia costing around £100 an hour, for which they were all dressed in white and blue.

‘I always have colours and outfits in mind, and plan them when I’m packing our cases. My husband and kids don’t enjoy the shoots, but they prefer them to the alternative, which is me pestering them for photos throughout the holiday,’ she says, revealing that she sometimes hires a hair and make-up artist to get her camera-ready, too. (You can add on another £50 an hour for that.)

‘My husband would prefer to be lying on the beach with a cocktail, while the children would rather be in the sea. There have been many moments when I’ve told them we’re having a shoot and their reaction is: “Oh, please no, it’s so boring!”‘

Veterans of holiday photography know that getting your oh-so perfect photos means military precision planning to avoid possible pitfalls. Naomi once booked a photographer for the start of a Caribbean holiday, with the family’s skin still pasty from a British winter, save for sunburnt shoulders and noses.

‘Now I book the shoot for the end when we’re tanned, and make sure it ties in with the most photogenic locations or activities. I post them on Instagram, and use them for family Christmas and birthday cards. This summer, we’ll be holidaying in Florida and California, and I’m now looking for photographers.

High-end stylist Oriona Robb (pictured), 46, has spent the past ten summers in various glamorous rented villas on the Algarve with her husband, Colin, 52, an investment banker, and their daughters, aged 21, 15 and ten

High-end stylist Oriona Robb (pictured), 46, has spent the past ten summers in various glamorous rented villas on the Algarve with her husband, Colin, 52, an investment banker, and their daughters, aged 21, 15 and ten

‘People may say it’s an absurd luxury, but I’d argue that you can’t put a price on capturing memories we can then treasure for ever.’

Hannah McClune is another devotee of hiring vacation photographers — even though she’s a professional photographer herself. ‘Before, it was always me taking pictures on holiday, but rarely appearing in them,’ says Hannah, 41.

She lives in Reading with husband, Neil, 44, a finance manager, and their sons, Myles, 12, and Alexander, nine. ‘It would feel like work.

‘So when we flew to the Dominican Republic a couple of years ago, I knew there must be plenty of photographers on the island. I found a great one on the internet and briefed her to take candid shots of us all wearing white on the beach.

‘She and her assistant drove us to a remote beach and snapped away as we played with a football.

‘I took a variety of outfit changes, mostly colour-coordinated T-shirts, shorts and swimwear in bright shades to reflect the tropical vibe. The boys did get fed up, but we gave them snacks while the photographer took shots of me and my husband in the sea — the first photos on our own since our wedding day in 2009.’

The half day’s photoshoot cost around £700. Another in India two years ago was £300. ‘We holidayed in Kerala and the photographer turned up with three assistants,’ Hannah recalls. ‘We were up at 7am to go to a tea plantation. But it wasn’t quite as successful as the Dominican one, because the photographer staged a lot of the photos.

‘We only had one outfit change into swimwear there as we were travelling in a taxi, so there wasn’t really anywhere to change.

‘The kids sometimes complain, but it’s all over and done with in a matter of hours. My advice is to have a shoot towards the end of a long-haul holiday so the kids aren’t jetlagged. The best way to find a photographer is on Instagram and look for one with a photographic style similar to what you want.

Photographer Juliet Lemon, 41, specialises in wedding, corporate and wildlife photography, but since 2013, well-off families have also been hiring her to travel with them to document their holidays. Charging upwards of £2,000 a day, Juliet recently spent eight days in Finland with one family, snapping their adventures in the Arctic Circle. She’s also been to Palma, South America and on multiple safaris.

She says: ‘The clients who flew me to Finland wanted to be fully immersed in the holiday, not fretting about taking photos,’ explains Juliet. ‘Having me there meant they could enjoy those magical moments husky sledging, feeding reindeer, ice fishing or watching the Northern Lights, while I discreetly snapped away.

Joyce, 59, is single and lives in Reading. Joyce was so blown away that she planned her Cappadocia trip entirely around a photoshoot

Joyce, 59, is single and lives in Reading. Joyce was so blown away that she planned her Cappadocia trip entirely around a photoshoot

‘I accompanied one family on a multi-generational holiday to Africa, photographing them in the desert and whale watching at sea. Since the trip the grandfather has died, meaning the photos I took are now even more precious to his family.

‘Of course, there have been more challenging clients, too. One memorable woman hired me to travel with her, but often cancelled our day’s shoot at a moment’s notice if she wasn’t feeling in the mood.’

As Juliet points out, there’s a big difference between snapping away on an iPhone and having an experienced photographer, who understands lighting techniques and has everything from underwater equipment to drones and long lenses.

She wouldn’t need to convince hair and make-up artist Joyce Connor of the benefits. Last year, Joyce hired photographers for solo bucket-list trips to Cairo and Cappadocia in Turkey, and boasts envy-inducing pictures as a result. ‘I’m the world’s worst selfie-taker and asking a stranger to take a picture is a gamble,’ says Joyce, 59, who’s single and lives in Reading.

‘One man took photos of himself with my phone as he’d flipped the camera by mistake. In Cairo, a photographer charged me just £40 for a three-hour shoot. He doubled as a terrific tour guide.’

Joyce was so blown away that she planned her Cappadocia trip entirely around a photoshoot.

‘I wanted the shoot against the backdrop of Cappadocia’s famous hot-air balloon rides at sunrise in tribute to my sister who died last year from cancer, but loved them. I booked my flights around the photographer’s availability.

‘He even hired a fabulous, floor-length purple gown with a flowing skirt for me, which makes the photos even more sensational.’

Joyce was collected at 4am for a three-hour shoot costing £160, including dress hire, three drone videos and 40 edited images.

‘The assistant held the hem of the dress up, then let go as the photographer pressed the shutter, so that it billowed out in the pictures. I show them to everyone, they’re so incredible.

‘I’m already researching photographers for a holiday in Bali and Singapore in August with my daughter and grandkids to celebrate my 60th birthday.’

Hannah McClune is another devotee of hiring vacation photographers — even though she's a professional photographer herself

Hannah McClune is another devotee of hiring vacation photographers — even though she’s a professional photographer herself

High-end stylist Oriona Robb, 46, has spent the past ten summers in various glamorous rented villas on the Algarve with her husband, Colin, 52, an investment banker, and their daughters, aged 21, 15 and ten.

Oriona, from North London, says: ‘I’ve been hiring local photographers for years to take the pressure off myself.’

‘I always style the shoots and prefer us to wear white outfits because it compliments a sun-kissed and glowing complexion. White also brings a simple, fresh and elegant aesthetic to the photos. I’ve bought a beautiful white dress for this summer, which cost £400 from Ivana Ma London.

‘There are always a few rows when it’s time for a photoshoot, though. Someone will be in a bad mood, or too hot and bothered. Whenever we gather for a shoot, the temperature seems to be scorching, so we end up sweating and arguing.

‘My husband is the only relaxed one on the shoots and just goes with the flow. When we see the pictures afterwards everyone is happy. I have a wall on the landing with all the black and white framed photos, and it’s super emotional seeing how we are evolving as a family from one summer to the next.’

Oriona pays around £150 per hour for a half day’s shoot and sometimes has a photographer a couple of times during the summer. ‘I always have a few taken on my own, too, styled in the pool, or a particularly photogenic part of the villa.

‘It’s pure convenience and indulgence, but the memories are worth every single penny. It wouldn’t be a summer holiday without a vacation photographer now.’

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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: Supporting Conservation Through Photography

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(MENAFN- 3BL Media Inc) originally published on wildlifehc.org

We’ve all heard the phrase“a picture is worth a thousand words.” Science has even backed up the powerful impact of imagery, with research showing that people tend to remember ideas presented in pictures better than in words.

Professionals who work in sustainability often find themselves needing to make the case for conservation. Whether that’s championing an effort like composting waste scraps from the campus cafeteria, securing funds to plant a pollinator garden on-site or informing community members about a local threatened species, convincing the stakeholders involved in these decisions requires using all the tools available – and that’s where conservation photography comes in.

Like all forms of photography, conservation photography tells a story, often about the beauty and majesty of nature as well as the factors that threaten species’ or ecosystems’ survival. When it comes to getting buy-in from key decisionmakers, educating students or just inspiring the general public, conservation photography is a powerful way to demonstrate the far-reaching impact of conservation work. This blog will explore how corporate conservation professionals (or anyone!) can use photography to support their conservation goals.

Bring wildlife close to home

Photography literally provides a close-up look at species or environments that people might not encounter otherwise. It can be easy to focus only on the animals or plants we see every day, which means it can also be easy to forget about those that exist half a world away. Conservation photography is a helpful reminder of the sheer diversity of life on earth. It also provides perspective, serving as a reminder that even the ecosystems and species found at one’s own workplace or in the backyard are just as valuable as those in exotic locales.

Tell a story

Like all artforms, conservation photography is storytelling at its core. Neuroscience confirms that stories impact the brain’s neurons , making them fire similarly to the person telling the story and creating a bond between the storyteller and the audience. This even leads to the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical that helps people recall the story later. Using still images or video to illustrate the needs and experiences of a particular species reaches audiences on a visual, intellectual and emotional level.

Wildlife filmmaker and WHC Board member chris morgan is no stranger to the power of storytelling. Through his documentary projects like beartrek and path of the bear , Morgan’s own story and the stories of biologists and conservationists coincides with the bear species he is documenting. BEARTREK, for example, charts Morgan’s seven-year journey across three continents to understand the conservation efforts protecting species like the spectacled bear , polar bear and sun bear . By weaving human stories into the stories of rare species, conservation photographers and filmmakers build a strong bond with their audience.

Contribute to scientific research

Conservation photography provides visual data, especially when it comes to rare species. In addition to observing what a specific plant or animal looks like, photographers are incidentally also identifying its abundance, location, condition and behavior, which are all important data for understanding a population. Contributing to citizen or community science efforts allows anyone to be part of the study of a particular ecosystem or species. Amateur and professional photographers alike can submit photos and other data to initiatives like nestwatch , inaturalist and other community science programs in order to contribute to the widespread understanding of a species.

Demonstrate a change over time

Nature is fluid, constantly evolving and adapting. Conservation photography illustrates both the harmful and beneficial changes that have occurred in an environment over time. Taking a photo of the same location at different times throughout the year – also called photo point monitoring – can show the effects of industrialization or habitat degradation; however, these repeat photographs can also showcase the positive effects of conservation efforts, from grassland restoration to the return of a species that had previously lost its habitat.

Get employees involved

One way to encourage conservation photography as well as employee engagement is through contests. Employee photography contests showcase the on-site biodiversity to a company’s entire employee base, explained Ann George, Senior Scientist at WHC member mining company Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), which has held an employee contest for over 10 years.“When people think of a mining company, they don’t think of wildlife,” George said, so a photography contest is a great way to educate employees and the broader community about how a company is managing and preserving biodiversity.

FCX develops a specific set of criteria for entries, including the exclusion of any invasive or ornamental species. The company’s biodiversity task force reviews the entries, of which they receive 400-500 each year, and the top choices are submitted to WHC’s annual calendar, printed and hung in the corporate office and showcased on computer lock screens across the company.

WHC member CEMEX also holds a photography contest for employees.“CEMEX’s ‘Nature Positive’ photo contest has helped us to connect with our employees around their positive experiences with nature on our sites, while demonstrating the important role that industry can play in halting and reversing biodiversity loss,” explained Jerae Carlson, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Communications & Public Affairs at CEMEX USA. Not only does the contest raise awareness about on-site wildlife, but it also creates connections between coworkers.“Employees are often eager to share their positive experiences with nature and to see nature through the lens of their colleagues.”

For companies thinking about starting a photography contest, Carlson and George provided some tips.“Make it easy for everyone to participate,” said Carlson. CEMEX developed several submission options for employees, including a specific email address as well as a QR code that allowed employees without a company email to submit photos from their phones. Promoting the contest is also key: George recommended publicizing the contest thoroughly to employees and marketing it as an opportunity to hone photography skills while learning more about the company’s biodiversity projects.

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to have a positive impact on conservation with your photos. Armed with a smartphone, a keen sense of observation and a little bit of patience, anyone can capture moments in nature that support greater conservation goals.

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Bellagio Garden celebrates nature in summer 2023 show — PHOTOS

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Enjoy the beauty and splendor of Mother Nature this summer at the Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

Visitors to the Strip can stay cool while visiting the “Majesty: The Grandeur of Nature” display through Sept. 9.

Inspired by the “Building Bridges” sculpture in Venice, Italy, the display features a 28-foot sculpture of the hands of Mother Nature presenting a bouquet made of 20,000 preserved roses. Other highlights include an 18-foot ethereal goddess, a 23-foot mythological-like figure, 11, 541 potted plants and flowers, 15,000 succulents, 11 butterflies and two hummingbirds.

Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is free and open 24 hours.

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