African wild dogs are endangered animals that love a fresh kill. Pixabay, public domain
KEY POINTS
The Uganda Wildlife Authority shared photos of the African painted dogs spotted Monday
The creatures went extinct in Uganda in the 1980s
Their population “fluctuates but is in a likely irreversible decline,” authorities said
African wild dogs have been spotted for the first time in decades at a national park in Uganda.
The dogs (Lycaon pictus), also called African painted dogs, reportedly went extinct in Uganda way back in the 1980s. The species is said to be one of the most endangered mammals in the world. By 2020, it was believed that the African painted dog population was just about 6,600 adults.
On Monday, the creatures were once again spotted in Uganda decades after they went extinct in the country. In a tweet, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) shared photos of African painted dogs at Kidepo Valley National Park.
“One of our resident rangers captured these images hastily before the pair skipped out of view,” the UWA said, calling it “exciting news.”
EXCITING NEWS: African Painted Dogs (commonly Wild Dogs) which went extinct in Uganda in the 1980’s were sighted this morning around the Narus River in Kidepo Valley National Park. One of our resident rangers captured these images hastily before the pair skipped out of view.
— Uganda Wildlife Authority (@ugwildlife) June 26, 2023
Though the images appear grainy as the creatures seem to be rushing away, one can still see the signature patchy fur in colors brown, white, black, reddish and yellow. Even from afar, their big, rounded ears are also quite visible.
“(O)ur teams in the field will head out to track them, to collect some data vital for conservation. Hopefully we can get you some better images too,” the UWA said in a follow-up tweet.
The return of the creatures does sound like good news. However, the species‘ population is still in decline. The UWA, citing the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said the population “fluctuates but is in a likely irreversible decline.”
Although African painted dogs may not be as popular as other creatures in need of protection like elephants or rhinos, they also have some very interesting characteristics. For instance, their furs are pretty unique as no two of them have the exact same pattern. They are quite social, living in packs ranging from seven to 40, sometimes even 100.
The packs take care of each other and lack aggression toward members of the pack. Both males and females are involved in taking care of the pups.
But these fascinating creatures are also facing various threats like habitat loss, diseases, conflict with people and human activities that decrease the habitats of their prey. In fact, humans are even considered to be among its predators.
So even though the sighting does stoke promise for African painted dogs, the hope is that it would also raise awareness about their plight and the need to take action.
“The threats are many. Loss of quality habitat and poaching represent the biggest problems,” said Peter Blinston, the executive director for Painted Dog Conservation, an organization with the mission to “create an environment where painted dogs can thrive.” “Unless we take action to address these threats, painted dogs will become extinct in our lifetime.”
Magical Milky Way and star-studded skies have made it to the shortlist of this year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year Shortlist. Organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich with support from Liberty Special Markets and the BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the night photography competition gained more than 4,000 entries from 64 countries around the world.
Open to both amateur and professional photographers, The Astronomy Photographer of the Year award seeks out passionate, patient photographers who take awe-inspiring photos of the sky at night. Now in its 15th year, it continues to grow in popularity. It has nine categories: Skyscapes, aurorae, people and space, our sun, our moon, planets, comets and asteroids, stars and nebulae, and galaxies. There is also an award for the young astronomy photographer of the year.
The judging panel will select a further two winners for the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer, which recognizes someone who is new to the genre, and the Annie Maunder Prize for image innovation, which will be awarded to a photographer who processed an image with pre-existing open-source data.
• Check out the best cameras for astrophotography so you can start photographing the night sky too!
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023
An overall winner will also be selected from the shortlist to receive a £10,000 (around $12,800 or AU$19,000) cash prize, and the young photographer of the year will take home £1,500 ($1,895 or $AU2,860) in cash, plus a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ MD telescope donated by Celestron. Runners-up from each category will receive £500, the highly commended photographer will receive £250 while the special category winners will each be awarded £750.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023
The shortlisted images are truly out of this world, featuring a vibrant red and blue colored the tarantula nebulae by Steeve Body, a glowing emerald sky in Iceland from the aurora borealis by Lorenzo Ranieri Tenti, and a long exposure shot of majestic star trails capturing the movement of the earth. Perhaps one of the most impressive shots of them all comes from the Letian Wang who pieced together nine high-res video frames to create an image that shows the transit of the China Space Station across the sun.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 14 2023 and all winning photos, plus a selection of shortlisted images, will be exhibited at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London for an admission fee of £10.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023
Why not also check out the best telescopes for astrophotography and capture distant plants and nebulae?
“One Life: Frederick Douglass,” a new exhibition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, explores the life and legacy of one of the 19th century’s most influential global writers, speakers, and intellectuals. The exhibition, which is rooted in Douglass’ love of photography, showcases more than 35 objects and will be on view until April 21, 2024.
Frederick Douglass by an unidentified artist. Wood engraving on paper c. 1883 (Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution)
“One Life: Frederick Douglass” is guest-curated by John Stauffer, Ph.D., Sumner R. and Marshall S. Kates Professor of English and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, and consulting curator Ann Shumard, National Portrait Gallery’s senior curator of photographs.
At age 14, Stauffer was given a copy of Douglass’ narrative, which he said was hard to read, but very powerful.
“That led me to my interest in abolitionism and activism in the civil war,” said Stauffer, who has authored several books about Douglass. “I was the first to really write about Douglass’ love of photography and words. He was essential to my dissertation and my first book, “Black Hearts of Men.”
Stauffer continued by explaining that Douglass believed photography was crucial to the fight for democracy. He strategically set out to correct the suffering Blacks experienced from slavery and any efforts geared toward tearing down the races.
Douglass incorporated descriptions of Blacks struggling in America in his writings, meetings with other abolitionists and public speaking.
“One Life: Frederick Douglass,” documents Douglass’ work for justice.
Douglass was the most photographed man during the 19th century. Even with that recognition, he was thinking about how he wanted to be seen.
“He knew a lot of photographers. He had his set of favorite photographers,” Stauffer said. “He engaged Black, white, and women photographers he felt would present him in a specific way.”
Consulting curator Shumard began working on the Douglass exhibition in January 2021. The process involved reviewing a list of pieces that would properly show the extent of Douglass’ mission with photography.
“The ‘One Life’ exhibitions really take a visual approach to charting the trajectory of a featured individual’s biography,” said Shumard. “Stauffer approached the layout as though representing chapters in a biography.”
There are seven subtitles that identify each chapter of the exhibition, beginning with enslavement and escape, then ending with the afterlife.
The afterlife section contains portraits of the Black leaders Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois and Langston Hughes, all of whom carried on Douglass’ legacy.
The National Portrait Gallery is located at 8th and G streets NW, Washington, D.C. To learn more about “One Life: Frederick Douglass,” and other exhibitions, connect with the museum at npg.si.edu and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is facing a cliffhanger vote next month that will test its global climate and environmental credentials, after its parliament was again deadlocked on pushing a nature restoration bill onwards on Tuesday.
The legislature’s environment committee emerged deadlocked at 44-44 on the plan to beef up the restoration of nature in the 27-nation bloc that was damaged during decades of industrial expansion. It means the full parliament will be asked to reject it.
“The fight is not over. We will do our utmost to rally forces throughout the hemicycle behind an ambitious law to the benefit of people and the planet,” said socialist S&D legislator Mohammed Chahim.
Tony Estanguet won gold medals for canoeing in the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games. Now, the trim 45-year-old is the face and chief organizer of the 2024 Paris Games.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is insisting that right-wing populism won’t gain the upper hand in his country, days after a far-right party won control of a county administration for the first time since the Nazi era.
The U.K. government’s climate advisers have slammed officials for their slow pace in meeting their net zero target and backtracking on fossil fuel commitments.
Maltese lawmakers have unanimously approved legislation to ease the the strictest abortion laws in the European Union.
The parliament’s biggest group, the Christian Democrat EPP, has turned against the plan, arguing it is bad for embattled farmers and puts food security at risk at a time when the war in Ukraine has shown that strategic autonomy on foodstuffs can be essential.
The bill is a key part of the EU’s vaunted European Green Deal that seeks to set the globe’s best climate and biodiversity targets and make the bloc the point of reference on all climate issues. The plans proposed by the EU’s executive commission set binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species, with the aim by 2030 to cover at least 20% of the region’s land and sea areas.
The EU’s executive commission wants the nature restoration law to be a key part of the system since it is necessary for the overall deal to have the maximum input. Others also say that if the EU fails on the nature restoration law, it will be indicative of an overall fatigue when it comes to climate issues.
The Green Deal includes a wide range of measures, from reducing energy consumption to sharply cutting transportation emissions and reforming the EU’s trading system for greenhouse gases.
Last week, the EU governments already backed the plan but if the parliament rejects it at its June 101-13 plenary session, the bill would have to be fully reworked, and in essence, diluted at a time when scientists and international institutions like the United Nations call for extra efforts, not fewer.
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Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
While I am an adherent to the “right tool for the job” principle, I am also open to a single device that can replace two other devices. So far, my experience has been mixed: while the iPhone and Android smartphones made dedicated music players like the iPod superfluous, their small displays make them less than ideal for reading or watching videos (at least to my eyes). You win some, you lose some.
But with folding smartphones, the promise is that this one device will be so good for reading and watching videos that it will eliminate the need for a standalone tablet while making phone-centric tasks like email, maps, social media, workplace collaboration, and so on even more immersive and enjoyable. If it works, it’s the best of both worlds. If it doesn’t, well. We’ve been there before.
Folding smartphones have run into some obvious headwinds, of course. They’re very expensive, often twice as expensive as a typical flagship smartphone. The folding display technology has had reliability and durability issues. Developers have been slow to adapt their Android apps to the unique benefits of this form factor. And folding phones, while elegant and fun while open, are thick and heavy when closed, and they don’t close flat. Compromises are everywhere.
And given Google’s unfortunately spotty record with hardware quality, it’s reasonable to question how this company could possibly succeed where its more experienced competitors—mostly Samsung—have so far been hit or miss. It’s certainly been at the top of my mind, and never more so than when my $1900 credit card purchase was completed on Monday as Google shipped its first folding smartphone, the Pixel Fold, to my home.
And … wow.
Put simply, I think I may be looking at the future of smartphones here. Not so much in Google’s v1 outing, which is far too expensive to ever be mainstream, but rather in the way that the online giant pulled an Apple, observed what has worked and not worked in previous folding smartphone designs, waited until it could do better, and then finally pulled the trigger.
In real-world terms, this means that the Pixel Fold is thin—about half an inch or so—for a folding phone while closed, making it feel less chunky and awkward than Samsung’s offerings, and easily pocketable. It also closes flat, with no air gap, and because it features the instant classic Pixel camera bar across its back, you can use it normally, if slightly angled, on a table when closed. (When open, you get some wobble.) And the outside display, while small at just 5.8 inches, mostly fills up the exterior of the device, and is not oddly tall and thin like Samsung’s, helping it look and feel more natural as a smartphone.
When unfolded, the Pixel Fold is unbelievably thin, much thinner than any of my smartphones. Its internal folding display is expansive and a welcome sight to my middle-aged eyes. It’s like a 7.6-inch mini-tablet with a blessedly square (6:5) aspect ratio that I wish Google has used for the Pixel Tablet as well. But that’s the magic here, a big part of why it feels like the future: this is a smartphone that is small and thin enough to fit fine in my front pocket, but it also opens up like a flower into an even thinner device with a much bigger display that is ideal for consuming content. It’s not just two things in one, it’s two useful things in one.
What everyone is probably most interested in is the folding bit. That is, how well does the hinge work and how much rumpling can one see on the screen’s crease? Here, I have mostly good news with the caveat that I just got the thing: the hinge is fantastic and something the Surface team would brag about incessantly, and the folding display is, well, a folding display. You can see the crease clearly when the device is off, but it’s not obnoxious and it does seem to disappear when fully open, depending on the app. Or, apps: when you use two apps side-by-side, the crease disappears as well.
As a Pixel fan, I like how Google has also blended the best of its smartphone platform with this new form factor. Obviously, Pixel Fold benefits from the same work on large-screen Android compatibility as with Pixel Tablet. But unlike with the tablet, the cameras here really matter—they’re not quite as good as the setup you get with Pixel 7 Pro, but close—and you can take selfies with the main cameras thanks to the external display. And can take astrophotography shots without needing a tripod because the device can be angled to the stars and kept steady with that rock-solid hinge. Nice.
The basics are, well, basic. You get the same clean Android image as on other Pixels with the same AI benefits, and the same basic UI found on the Pixel Tablet (when the Fold is open). And I really like its industrial design. But you also get the same acceptable but uninspiring performance, I’d imagine, and I’d be shocked if the battery life was any good given how much trouble my Pixel 7 Pro has getting through a day. (The Pixel 7 Pro has a bigger battery than the dual-screen Pixel Fold, too.) I will find out.
The question before us, then, is whether a Pixel Fold is an acceptable replacement for a Pixel 7 Pro and a Pixel Tablet (or maybe an iPad Mini, if you’re looking for a tablet a little closer in size). Wherever you fall in this debate, the issues I see are price and battery. A Pixel 7 Pro ($900) and Pixel Tablet ($500) are together less expensive ($1400) by hundreds of dollars, and each has its own battery. But then again, you can’t stick a Pixel Tablet in your pocket, can you?
I’ll spend some more time with Pixel Fold and report back soon.
After six long years since my last video release, it is with great pride and joy that I present to you a project that marks a significant milestone in my life. This endeavor has been a labor of love, and I firmly believe that the time and dedication I have poured into it will enchant and deeply move you, immersing you in the breathtaking beauty and vibrant energy of Slovakia’s nature.
As you embark on this visual journey, exploring the photographs and watching the accompanying video (which can be found at the bottom of this article), I sincerely hope that you have a truly remarkable experience. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has accompanied and supported me during this transformative phase of my life. A special and heartfelt thanks goes to my travel companion, Andrej Škultéty, whose presence and collaboration have been instrumental in capturing many of these extraordinary shots.
Nearly 50 trips, embarked upon while juggling the demands of our everyday lives, have consumed six years of our time. The process of crafting this video has entailed countless hours of work, perhaps even reaching into the hundreds. It involved sifting through a staggering 3TB of data and carefully curating tens of thousands of photos, all meticulously merged to create the final visual masterpiece.
You can find Filip Majerčík on the Web :
#1 Dumbier, Low Tatras
#2 Sulovske Skaly
#3 Rare White Chamois
#4 Misty Morning From Above
#5 The Cottage At Zelené Pleso And Milky Way
#6 Male Hincovo Pleso
#7 Sulovske Skaly
#8 Sulovske Skaly
#9 Ohniste, Low Tatras
#10 Perseids Above Pleso Nad Skokom
#11 High Tatras From Low Tatras
#12 A Herd Of Chamois On The Ridge Of The Low Tatras
#13 Andrejcova, Low Tatras
#14 Velke Hincovo Pleso, High Tatras
#15 Misty Morning From Above
#16 The Cottage At Zelené Pleso
#17 Milky Way From Kralova Studna, Velka Fatra
#18 Milky Way Above Pleso Nad Skokom
#19 Chill After Exhausting Hiking
#20 Lajstroch, Low Tatras
#21 Velky Rozsutec, Mala Fatra
#22 Million Stars Hotel Under The Milky Way
#23 Velke Hincovo Pleso, High Tatras
#24 Velke Hincovo Pleso At Night, High Tatras
#25 Time For Selfie
#26 Over 30 Kilograms On The Back
#27 Sleeping In Cave Because Of Unexpected Rain Outside
Astrophotographer Uğur İkizler has managed to capture one of the most breathtaking and somewhat terrifying images of lightning I’ve ever seen. A time-lapse created by the photographer showcases over 100 different lightning bolts, all of which were captured during a thunderstorm in Turkey.
The storm broke over the town of Mudanya. When it did, İkizler grabbed a camera and began capturing the bolts as they hit. Altogether the time-lapse was captured over the course of 50 minutes. It isn’t unusual for this many lightning bolts to hit during a storm, either. In fact, roughly 1.4 billion bolts of lightning strike the ground every year, roughly 3 million a day. That’s around 44 bolts per second, according to the U.K Met Office.
With so many bolts hitting per second every day, it isn’t hard to see how İkizler was able to capture so many in such a short amount of time, especially if the storm was fierce. Of course, the image perfectly shows off the zig-zaggy nature of lightning bolts that have become so popular in modern artistic endeavors, something scientists believe may be caused by certain patterns of conductive oxygen.
Of course, the real reason behind those patterns is still unclear, though that oxygen may help account for it in some way. No matter the cause behind it, seeing 100 lightning bolts striking through the air in a time-lapse that takes less than 10 seconds is absolutely mind-blowing. It’s a great reminder of just how vast and intriguing our world is and how much we still have to learn about it.
In the past, we’ve also seen close-up footage of thunderstorms. Astrophotography Andrew McCarthy captured a breathtaking video of a thunderstorm last year, giving us a closer look at the clouds and lighting bolts that make up these tremendous storms.
The Cherry Springs Star Party has become an increasingly popular destination for stargazers along the east coast, for good reason. Now that the word is out about the pristine skies of Cherry Springs, the event sells out quicker every year.
It is held at a state park between Coudersport and Galeton in Potter County, Pennsylvania during the new moon in June.
It takes place on the overnight observing field at Cherry Springs State Park, which sits at 2,300 ft. elevation. The field offers great views of the core of the Milky Way and a 360-degree view of the night sky.
Cherry Springs State Park is an International Dark Sky Park and one of the darkest locations on the east coast. Its dark skies are protected by the undeveloped forest around the park and the shielded lights from the nearby communities.
Since this is the closest Dark Sky Park to us, we try to attend this star party every year. It takes us roughly 4 hours to get there and it’s well worth the drive for the Bortle 2 skies.
Arriving at Cherry Springs Star Party
Registration for Cherry Springs typically opens in March and has sold out quickly the last few years. At the time of writing this post, registration is just over $55 USD per person. That includes camping on the overnight observing field for the duration of the star party, access to power for your gear, and a great lineup of scheduled talks and activities.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with your digital tickets. It’s a good idea to print those out and bring them with you to the star party for checking in at the front gate upon arrival.
The star party typically runs from Thursday – Sunday. If you decide to show up early (or stay later), you will be required to pay the state park fees for the extra days that you decide to stay.
When you arrive, you get a package with a schedule of events, star party rules, and a ticket for the raffle.
Camping at the Cherry Springs Star Party (2022)
Where to Stay for the Cherry Springs Star Party
As mentioned in other star party posts, it’s always easier to camp on-site at the star party. This is one of the locations that we can drive to and therefore, we love camping on the field with our camper, Voyager 1.
There are three areas available for stargazing, though only one is associated with the star party.
Overnight Astronomy Observation Field: this is where the star party is held. Your registration includes access to this field for excellent overnight viewing. White light is prohibited in this area and only dim, red lights can be used.
Night Sky Public Viewing Area: this operates like a drop-in/short-term stargazing experience and is located across the road from the overnight observation field. Lighting restrictions are not enforced here, though, for your own observing experience, you may want to have a red filter or cover for your flashlight to preserve your night vision.
Rustic Campground: also across the road from the observing field, there is a campground for overnight stargazing for casual stargazers. Because there are no lighting restrictions, this area is not recommended for serious stargazers.
Please note, there are no showers on site. If you are camping, and need access to showers, there are some available at Lyman Run State Park (6 miles away) for a small fee.
Cherry Springs State Park Map
In addition to the options above, some people opt to set up their equipment on the star party observing field and stay off site at a nearby hotel. If you choose this option, be sure to park your vehicle across the road in the public parking area before dark. The gates close at dusk and there will be no in or out on the observing field.
Meals and Food Options
If you are camping, consider that open flames are not permitted on the field. This will impact what you pack for food. If you have a cooler with food, there are nearby options to buy ice (like the Cherry Springs Country Store). Be mindful of bears in the area and be sure to store your food and cooler in your vehicle.
There is also a food vendor on site. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to their late-night hours until 2 a.m. for coffee and light snacks. Like the rest of the star party, the food vendor tent will be decorated with red lights.
The town of Coudersport is also a 21-minute drive and has additional food options. There are other (smaller) options available in the immediate vicinity of the park.
Events at Cherry Springs Star Party
There are two days (Friday/Saturday) packed with activities at the star party, including:
Speakers: there are multiple speakers throughout Friday/Saturday. You can check the schedule for times, topics and speaker bios.
Gear Swap: bring your old gear to swap or sell at the event. Check the schedule for when this event takes place.
Raffle: there is a door prize raffle with tons of prizes. Be sure to get your ticket when you register and check the schedule for the deadline for submitting your ticket(s). Like most raffles, you must be present to win.
In addition to the onsite activities, there are other nearby attractions, such as other state parks and an Ice Mine.
What to Bring
In addition to your gear, you are going to want to make sure you are prepared for the cool weather.
As mentioned, Cherry Springs State Park is located on a mountain, which means the weather is generally cooler and can get very damp. Even though the event is held in June, you will want to make sure you bring plenty of warm clothes, including warm footwear and a heavy jacket.
It also helps to have things like blankets, lawn chairs, binoculars, and tarps or telescope covers for your equipment.
Unspoiled Dark Skies
The dark, Bortle Scale class 2 skies of Cherry Springs are incredible. This site is dark enough for Venus to cast a shadow, and zodiacal light is visible on a good night.
On a particularly incredible night at Cherry Springs (during the Black Forest Star Party in the fall), I was able to see the Triangulum Galaxy with my naked eye.
The timing of the Cherry Springs Star Party in June means that it is the perfect time to watch the Milky Way core rising above the southeastern horizon.
Milky Way photography and nightscape photography are popular choices at this event. It is also a great location to take a timelapse of the night sky with a sea of red lights below.
The Milky Way from the Cherry Springs Star Party.
One of the most enjoyable experiences at Cherry Springs is simply lying down in a zero-gravity chair and looking up.
You do not need a telescope to enjoy the skies at Cherry Springs, your naked eye will reveal countless stars and even bright nebulae when your eyes have adapted to the darkness.
Deep-Sky Astrophotography
While at the Cherry Springs Star Party, we like to take advantage of the dark skies and shoot unfiltered, often going after something in the core of the Milky Way.
It is wise to take advantage of the dark, new moon skies of the Cherry Springs Star Party, and capture a deep-sky object that is not possible to shoot from home.
This means that narrowband imaging is not a practical choice, as this type of astrophotography can be done successfully in areas with heavy light pollution.
Instead, focus on more challenging broadband targets such as dark nebulae, or reflection nebulae that require dark skies and plenty of exposure time to capture.
We have shot a variety of targets from this location, including:
Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex taken by Ashley at Cherry Springs (2022).
When taking pictures from this park, I usually take exposures of about 2 minutes long depending on the target I am shooting.
With quality dark skies like this, an integration of 1-hour will provide a healthy signal-to-noise ratio, with an incredibly clean image.
A typical deep-sky project from this location includes 2-3 hours of total exposure time, using exposures between 90-120 seconds each.
The Blue Horsehead Nebula taken by Trevor at Cherry Springs (2022).
Rules at Cherry Springs
Like most star parties, there are rules for ensuring that everyone enjoys their star party experience. Below are the rules for the Cherry Springs Star Party.
No Driving after sunset: the front gate to the observing field will close at dusk and reopen at dawn. Always follow the posted speed limit when driving in the park.
No campfires: no open flames allowed on the overnight observing field.
No white light: Dim red lights only after sunset, no white light allowed after dark. This includes interior and exterior lighting for cars, tents and RVs, and electronics.
Electric pedestals on the field are for powering astronomical equipment, computers and small appliances only.
Cherry Spring Star Party Impressions
The folks at the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg throw a great star party. It is always really well organized, with plenty of communication and signage leading up to and at the event. Staff are around throughout the duration of the star party and are always very welcoming.
It is also a prime location for capturing the core of the Milky Way with great views of many of the summer constellations and deep-sky objects.
After coming for many years, this has become one of our favorite star parties. We love that we can enjoy the full star party experience camping on the field in our camper and get the chance to meet many new (and often repeat) astrophotographers and visual astronomers. It’s a great place to ‘geek out’ and talk shop about astronomy.
Many of us could use this reminder to not get caught up in the pursuit of perfection in photography. Of course, this is easier said than done in the world of social media engagement, influencers, and online presence. However, Alex Kilbee of The Photographic Eye, gives us a handful of reasons why this is such an important endeavor for today’s photographers.
In the video above, Kilbee shares his insights from the time he went to photography school. Later on, he realized that there was one lesson that was missing from the curriculum. Perfection in photography, he said, is subjective, and therefore a fleeting, unrealistic, and unreliable muse. As life-long learners of the craft, we are always looking into what teachers, influencers and social media trends dictate as perfect. As a result, we tend to fall into the traps of validation-seeking, self-doubt and comparing ourselves to others.
So, instead of chasing perfection, he suggests photographing what resonates with us. After all, our photography journey is unique to us. Also, we should celebrate the incremental improvements, understanding that they are all part of our photography as an ongoing process.
What are your thoughts on perfection in photography? Do you agree with Kilbee’s insights and realizations? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or in a group discussion if you’re already part of the Photofocus Community!
Phase One has announced its most compact camera to date, introducing the medium format Phase One XC travel camera. Designed specifically with travel photographers in mind, the XC promises exceptional image quality while being portable enough to accompany photographers on any journey.
The Phase One XC’s major selling point is its convenience, achieving a blend of size, simplicity and performance that makes it possible to get medium format images anywhere, without the size and weight of a traditional kit.
The camera’s portability does not compromise its power. Built around Phase One’s IQ4 150MP digital sensor, the XC is coupled with a fully integrated Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 23mm f/5.6 lens, offering a super wide angle of view that can capture vast landscapes and other scenes in stunning detail.
Phase One highlights that the XC emphasises simplicity, allowing photographers to focus more on their process and less on adjusting camera settings. The company says the XC’s ultra-wide-angle lens ‘nurtures inspiration, providing an expansive perspective to capture the world’s beauty.’
As well as 150-megapixel resolution, the Phase One XC Camera to deliver high dynamic range and richness of colour, even in challenging of lighting conditions.
Phase One XC Price & Release Date
As one might expect with Phase One cameras, the XC comes at a steep price. The Phase One XC price tag is $62,490; however, it does come with a 5-year limited warranty, which includes unlimited lens actuations for the warranty period.
The Phase One XC is available now in limited quantities through Phase One Partners worldwide.
Camping at the Cherry Springs Star Party (2022)
Cherry Springs State Park Map
