The Beautiful Reason These Two Photographers Want To Take Photos of Your Butt

Even on the best days — when your highlighter is on point, your hair is shining, or you have on the perfect outfit — it can be easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others and feeling bad about your body. Photographers Emilie Mercier and Frédérique Marseille, who hail from Montreal, Canada, understand that struggle. It's why they created the photo series 1001 Fesses (or "1001 Butts," in English), which features — you guessed it — photos of people's butts. "Since November 2014, we have been collecting the beauty of the female form in an attempt to address a widespread obsession: hating our backsides," they write on the project's website. "We are trying to create a visual poem by taking pictures of all kind of women…and bums!"

Instead of casting for the project, Mercier and Marseille share the timing and location of their upcoming photoshoots on Facebook, and the first respondents to express interest become the participants.

You May Also Like

WellnessPeople Think Paris Jackson Got Her Electric Blue Eyes From This Rare Condition

WellnessJanet Mock Reveals Advice She Would've Given Herself as A 17-Year-Old Trans Girl

"These pictures are always taken in daylight with a Mamya 645 film camera and we never show faces or identify images," the photographers write. "By photographing anonymous bodies, we try to picture the beauty in every shape, the beauty in female identity."

The pair share photos both on their website and their Instagram account, and their collection continues to grow. There's also a part of their website where they share user-submitted butt photos, so if you can't make it to one of their shoots, you can still engage with their project. Take a look (if you're not at work, that is) — Mercier and Marseille's work is a refreshing reminder that all bodies are deserving of celebration.

Related:

Rapper and Singer Lizzo Talks Bodysuits and Body Image:

Follow Rosemary on Instagram and Twitter.

Source: The Beautiful Reason These Two Photographers Want To Take Photos of Your Butt

Photographers provide inspiration for new exhibit

A painting from Sarah Windsor's exhibit A Study of Nature. By Sarah Windsor

— image credit:

An art exhibit that was a big hit at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre last year is being expanded for its second edition.

Five Times Five features 25 local artists interpreting the works of five local photographers. The show opens at the art gallery on Wilson Street this Friday, Sept.1, at 6 p.m.

The exhibition style was launched last year, when 16 artists were asked to interpret the work of four different photographers.

This year, photographers Mas Matsushita, Ronan Rendel, Agathe Bernard, Natalie Harris and Jason Keerak have contributed images to the show that will be turned into a mix of art work by local artists in mediums such as paint, glass, fibre, wax, glass and metal.

"The result is an eclectic exhibition, with artists showcasing their individual talents and styles," states the exhibit description. "The photographs displayed are equally varied, with imagery ranging from realism to abstraction."

Three other exhibits will be presented alongside Five Time Five.

In one of the side galleries, Sarah Windsor presents A Study of Nature. "The forms in nature fascinate Sarah Windsor and she has been studying them deeply through various mediums from sketching, to digital design and watercolour to wood burning. Together with her pattern practice and typical abstract style, Windsor has been on a fun exploration resulting in new creative discoveries within her work."

The Revelstoke Pottery Guild will present their work in an exhibit called Mother Earth, Father Fire. "This exhibition reflects the varied skills and interests of its members."

Finally, Trish Hartwick of Love Making, will showcase her playful exhibit called Wild Hearts.

The four exhibits are on display at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre from Sept. 1–22. The opening is on Friday, Sept. 1, from 6–9 p.m.

Source: Photographers provide inspiration for new exhibit

AI Makes Drones Smart, Easy for Photographers

A certified drone pilot and artificial intelligence expert explain how technology innovations are making drones smarter, more capable and easier to fly.

Difficult-to-fly, remote control consumer drones from just a few years ago are being superseded by smart, autonomous aerial robots. Powered by cutting edge computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, these new drones can see, think and react to their owner automatically, and experts say this is making drones easier and safer for almost anyone to fly.

Drone innovation is skyrocketing as more sophisticated technologies are making drones smarter and increasingly capable, according to Kara Murphy, a photographer turned drone fanatic and a certified Part 107 pilot licensed to fly small unmanned aircraft (UAS) for commercial uses.

"As someone who started at the very beginning, drone technology has come a long way in a short period of time," Murphy said.

Murphy, a contributing writer for Drone360 Magazine and a consultant for companies like DroneDeploy, is involved with the annual Flying Robot International Film Festival. She said drones are evolving to give people more control over flying as well as opening new photographic experiences.

A few years ago, battery life was only about six minutes at most. Today, drone batteries can last up to 30 minutes. She's seeing more drones, like the new DJI Spark, that come equipped with built-in AI for facial recognition and object detection to avoid crashes. The technology allows drones to follow their owner like a welcome aerial paparazzi, avoid objects because they're context aware and react to simple hand gestures.

"It's easier to pilot and keep track of drones today," said Murphy. "They've become almost idiot-proof."

Smart Flying Drones

Spark, the first mini drone released this year by DJI, uses an array of cameras and sensors feeding into AI and deep learning algorithms running on a Movidius Myriad 2 vision processing unit (VPU).

This onboard vision system detects and avoids objects, generates 3D maps, establishes contextual awareness, and even recognizes a pilot's face and reacts to hand gestures. The vision sensors fitted inside the underbelly of the drone detect and identify what's below to assist with a safe landing, even on a pilot's outstretched hand.

"I can signal it to take a selfie from the air, then wave it away or gesture for it to come back home," said Murphy, describing some of the Spark's AI-powered automation features.

"The fact that I don't need a remote to control this drone is mind-blowing. It just shows how far drones have come in a matter of years."

Murphy said collision or object avoidance, powered by computer vision and intelligent algorithms, is becoming more common in new drones, and it can be a drone lifesaver.

"It is supremely helpful, because sometimes you are flying in narrow spaces, and you're not sure if you have enough room, so having these sensors is really key to avoid damaging collisions," she said.

These capabilities make it easier to fly because pilots don't have to stay glued to a remote control and screen, she said. It allows them to become aware of their surroundings and focus on capturing that perfect shot.

The compact Spark is built with technologies that were previously only available in larger, more expensive drones. In particular, it has chips and software designed specifically for bringing on-device AI to so-called "edge devices," which includes almost anything that computes and connects to the internet.

Seeing Clearly

The Spark's Movidius Myriad 2 VPU enables the drone to think, learn, and act quickly and simultaneously, according to Cormac Brick, director of embedded machine intelligence at Movidius, an Intel company.

While central processing units (CPUs) — the brains used in computers or computing devices — can perform a wide variety of workloads, Brick said the VPU is tailored for one very specific vision workload, so it has fast performance using low power.

Cormac Brick points out how built-in AI makes mini drones ideal for getting the best shot.

"The VPU allows the drone to use both traditional geometric vision algorithms and deep learning algorithms so it can be spatially and contextually aware," he said.

"It enables the device to recognize where it is, where you are, where your hand is, and plot a course to safely hover and then soft land into the palm of your hand."

As soon as a Spark lifts off from a person's hand, the cameras immediately look for recognizable features in the environment to build a digital map. All the while, the drone recognizes the user's face, always keeping that person in frame.

Future of Intelligent Drones

Brick said the Spark indicates how AI is changing the drone market, and he sees the technology getting better all the time.

His team's just-released Movidius Myriad X is the first VPU with a dedicated neural compute engine, which will allow device makers much more compute performance than what's currently available. That means drones will become smarter, fly more safely and allow people to capture more footage fully autonomously.

"In the future, you'll be able to take a drone out of your pocket, throw it up in the air and let it fly around your backyard for the afternoon while you're having a barbecue," Brick said.

"An hour later, it could send your phone a 45-second video clip or the 10 best shots so you can share on social media."

Building AI into drones is helping make them easier and safer to fly, but Brick said the technology has the potential to unlock all kinds of new automated camera and navigation capabilities.

Murphy believes that drone popularity will increase as drones become more autonomous and simpler to use in capturing life's moments.

"This trend will continue as drones get easier and more fun for people to use," Murphy said.

Editor's note: Myriad 2 AI technology used in the DJI Spark was recently made available to product developers, researchers and makers in a new plug-and-play form. The Movidius Neural Compute Stick, the first USB-based deep learning inference kit and self-contained AI accelerator, brings dedicated deep neural network processing capabilities to a wide range of edge devices.

Source: AI Makes Drones Smart, Easy for Photographers

Drones over Delhi cause pilots problems as air travel is disrupted for over two hours last week as police blame wedding photographers

An unmanned flying object that disrupted flights at the Delhi Airport last week

Most drones are those used by wedding photographers for aerial shots

When asked all photographers knew that flying drones is banned in the area 

Yet most of them agreed to use a drone for extra money - Rs 35,000 (£420)

See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome 

By Shashank Shekhar

Published: 16:18 EDT, 28 August 2017 | Updated: 16:18 EDT, 28 August 2017

e-mail

View comments

Despite deploying over 20 teams to track an unmanned flying object that disrupted flights at the Delhi Airport for two hours last week, the Delhi police couldn't find its operators.

Security experts claim that it is 'herculean task' to nab the drone operator near airport due to fast moving traffic and several wedding venues where drones are 'illegally' used to film aerial shots.

However, it is believed that most drones sighted by the pilots during landing and take-off are the ones used by wedding photographers.

An unmanned flying object that disrupted flights at the Delhi Airport last week

These drones are hired to capture a bird-eye view of weddings that take place near the airport. Airport officials claim that every month, nearly 6-7 cases of pilots getting distracted by different objects are reported.

The restriction of flying drones has hit the photographers as many resorts that are hotspot wedding destinations are based in the vicinity of the airport and flights are at a very low height there.

The agency banned the use of drones for commercial purposes in October 2014. It came out with a draft policy for operations of drones in April 2016, which brought some cheer for the industry.

Mail Today found that despite a ban on aerial photography through drone in the airport area, wedding photographers are willing to take risk for extra money.

Most drones are those used by wedding photographers for aerial shots

This reporter called wedding photographers in Delhi and NCR and asked for a cinematographer for a wedding at a posh venue near IGI airport.

Almost all photographers claimed that flying drone is restr icted in such venues, and yet most of them agreed to use the drone for extra money and a few other conditions.

'Flying drones is banned in the farmhouses located near IGI Airport. We can do it for you but it will cost more than the regular fee,' said a Rohini-based wedding photographer.

His service came with a rider that could only film aerial shots for a maximum of 40 minutes during the evening time. 'I will have to dismantle it after every 10 minutes so that does not get tracked. We will charge Rs 35,000 (£420) for one function,' added the photographer.

Some photographers cited surprise police raid, giving examples of how this month police seized a drone which was being using in one wedding. Some agreed to take the bird eye-view with the drone on the condition that they won't take it above 40 feet. Some also requested not to disclose the use of drone to anyone.

'There are mechanisms that can check unidentified flying objects. But tracking it on the ground is a problem as it has the capacity to fly at a high speed and can be easily taken from one place to another due to its high range, while the tracking team will take time to reach. In most cases in the past, investigation hit a dead end,' said a senior security officer on condition of anonymity.

Delhi Police have strictly asked all the venues near the airport to restrict the usage of any items that can create hurdles in air operations.

'We have given instructions to all venues to tell their customers in advance that flying drones is illegal. Our police teams patrol the venue and even inspect them during the wedding season,' a senior Delhi police official said.

 

Source: Drones over Delhi cause pilots problems as air travel is disrupted for over two hours last week as police blame wedding photographers

Calling all photographers

File image (Image courtesy Village of Fox Crossing)

FOX CROSSING (WLUK) -- If you love photography, the village of Fox Crossing wants to see your work.

The village is offering a photo search and if your picture is chosen it'll be used in the 2018 issue of "The Bridge" calendar/newsletter.

Your photo has to be of something in Fox Crossing and you'll have until Sept. 30 to submit them.

You can email your photos to parkrec@foxcrossingwi.gov.

Source: Calling all photographers

Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery exhibit to feature photographers Gus Bennett Jr. and Michael Alford

HAMMOND — Southeastern Louisiana University will host an exhibit featuring the work of Louisiana photographers Gus Bennett Jr. and Michael Alford in the university's Contemporary Art Gallery.

The exhibition will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 29, with the opening reception scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 30. The reception and exhibition are free.

Bennett, a fine arts photographer based in New Orleans, has documented the lives of the cities' minority populations for more than 25 years. 

The exhibition also features Alford's long-term project, "A Different Kind of Truth."

For more information on this exhibit and others, contact the Contemporary Art Gallery at (985) 549-5080.

Source: Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery exhibit to feature photographers Gus Bennett Jr. and Michael Alford

One of Washington DC's most prominent photographers just retired — and his Instagram is amazing

U.S President Donald Trump, second right, and First Lady Melania Trump bid adieu after viewing France's Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue as the guests of President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron, left, Friday July 14, 2017 in Paris.Stephen Crawley (Associated Press)

After nearly three decades spent capturing lawmakers, politicians, and ordinary people, Stephen Crowley announced earlier this month that he was retiring from his post as Washington photographer at The New York Times.

Throughout his career, Crowley became known for taking photos of some of the most powerful people in Washington — as well as capturing moments that would later come to define history. 

In his later years, he started posting photos of his work on Instagram and gained a loyal following on the platform.

See some of Crowley's most breathtaking images below:

View As: One Page Slides
Source: One of Washington DC's most prominent photographers just retired — and his Instagram is amazing

Think Tank's new Spectral shoulder bags are inconspicuous for on-the-go photographers

Think Tank Photo has just debuted a new set of Spectral shoulder bags: the Spectral 8, Spectral 10, and Spectral 15. All three camera bags are designed to give photographers an inconspicuous way to carry around their camera gear, helping protect their equipment from both unsavory environmental conditions and thieves.

The bags feature a Fidlock magnetic clasp that allows users to access their camera gear with one hand and automatically locks when the flap is closed. The Spectral bags also feature an extra zippered closure that Think Tank says 'can be tucked away when actively shooting.'

All three bags are made with 420D velocity nylon, heavy-duty nylon tarpaulin, YKK RC Fuse zippers, 350G 3D air mesh, antique plated metal hardware, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

All three bags contain a tablet compartment—the Spectral 8 can accommodate a tablet measuring up to 8", while the other two can handle tablets ranging up to 10"—and a dedicated smartphone pocket. There are also straps and attachment points for a tripod, a pass-through slot for a luggage handle, internal pockets for small items like card wallets and batteries, plus a seam-sealed rain cover for protecting the bag's contents.

In addition, the Spectral 15 model has a compartment for a laptop measuring up to 15-inches.

The Spectral 8, the smallest of the three bags, has enough room to accommodate a single standard-sized DSLR body plus a detached 24–70mm F2.8 lens, one attached short zoom or wide lens, plus a couple small lenses or one additional larger lens. The Spectral 10 is similar, although it boasts room for up to three extra lenses plus a detached 70-200mm lens and an attached 24-70mm lens. The largest of the bunch, meanwhile, can accommodate the same, but with up to four additional lenses, plus a tablet and a laptop at the same time.

All three bags are available from Think Tank now for $100, $120 and $140 for the Spectral 8, Spectral 10 and Spectral 10, respectively.

Source: Think Tank's new Spectral shoulder bags are inconspicuous for on-the-go photographers

Jejune Magazine is looking for Editorial Contributors, Photographers, Stylists, MUAs, Writers And Artists!

Jejune Magazine is a fashion and art magazine that gives a much needed political and social voice to the population. We cover humanitarian issues, eco fashion, and current events in the world, giving a platform for discussion through powerful imagery, fashion, art, and written words. We are looking to unite across the cultures, diverse backgrounds, styles, and beliefs, for a better world to live in.

Jejune Magazine is a new magazine, but we have already featured Laith Ashely, Renee Peters (Model 4 Green Living), Kim Simplis Barrow (the first lady of Belize), Dr. Holley-Bockelmann (Female Astronomer), soon Summer Rayne Oaks (First Eco Model), and a number of socially aware artists and designers.

Jejune is seeking contributors! We are looking for individuals in fashion and the arts who are interested in adding a voice to their art!

Do you know a good cause that you want to share? Have a political or social issue you want to address in an artful way via fashion or your medium of choice? Please let us know!

Please send an email to jejunemagazine@gmail.com with a sample of your work and concept!

Be on the POSITIVE side of history, and help us move to a happier and more united Earth.

Source: Jejune Magazine is looking for Editorial Contributors, Photographers, Stylists, MUAs, Writers And Artists!

Chinese photographers confront Cultural Revolution in Berlin

An exhibition in Berlin's Museum for Photography opens new perspectives on 50 years of Chinese images, focusing on the "10 years of chaos" from 1966-76. How do contemporary photographers deal with this inherited imagery?

"Working on History" is the title chosen by the curators of an exhibition on contemporary Chinese photography that is currently on display at the Berlin Museum for Photography. The show deals with the history of that "red era" - the so-called "10 years of chaos" during the Cultural Revolution. Sixteen artists grappled with the revolution's photography and images.

"Their work reflects the very special forms of expression from that time - critical, ironic or humorous," Wang Huangsheng, one of the curators, said about the selection of the included works. "These artists are all very different. Some are very serious, others display humor. Wang Qingsong, for example, is very ironic. Others grapple with the type of thinking that was prevalent during that time."

Read more: How China is still impacted by its Cultural Revolution

Read more: China's Cultural Revolution and Germany

Wang Huangsheng is the director of the Art Museum at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. He has a very personal connection to the exhibition's topic in addition to the artistic and art history aspects.

"The Cultural Revolution was an epoch of great misery, for my family too. The exhibition reflects these problems; it confronts them." Wang Huangsheng also pointed out that though the exhibition fits within the political and historic context of China's past 50 years, its primary purpose is not one of political discourse.

Mao Zedong in a bathrobe in 1966 after swimming across the Yangzte River; the poem he wrote about his swim is printed beneath the photo

Ludger Derenthal, the head of the photography collection at the Berlin Art Library, shares this view, stating that the historic perspective leads to a better understanding of contemporary Chinese photography.

Public staging, private photos

One artist who contributed significantly to this historic perspective is the photo artist Cai Dongdong. He collected some half a million photographs taken from 1949 to 1979, and a good portion of them originated during the Cultural Revolution. People throughout China helped him put the material together, and some of the images can be seen in Berlin. They show people in private moments. Yet the individuals' poses mimic political staging typical at the time.

Images, printed news photos and news bulletin boards all played an enormous role during the Cultural Revolution in achieving the revolutionary goals. Press photos were sent out to all corners of China, where they served as models for giant posters and even paintings. Their aesthetic continues to influence the general perception of the Cultural Revolution to this day.

Weng Naiqaing, the former photography department head at the People of China magazine, determined which images would serve well to mobilize the masses. Propagandistic staging made Communist party Chairman Mao Zedong the central icon.

Read more: Mao's legacy in Xi Jinping's China

Images transformed

The images of that era established the reference frame for today's photographers and artists and their work. They place historic group photos, private photography and press records into today's context, or, like Feng Mengbon, tell private stories in a new way.

Cai Dongdong confronts photographic inheritance from critical standpoints, such as in his "Shooting Practice." Wang Qingsong uses ironic reinterpretation, while Song Yongping reflects both soberly and with unending sorrow on the transience of life. Song depicts his parents in a triptych portrait that shows them before, during and after the Culture Revolution as part of a series.

In "450 Cultural Revolutions," Mo Yi compiled and partially painted over hundreds of images from the revolution

Other artists document the legacy of the Cultural Revolution in its contradicting paradox of painful memory and faded excitement. Cao Kai's video work points out that the summer of 1969 didn't excite just the youth masses in China.

Cultural Revolution still taboo

All the contemporary images in the Berlin exhibition have already been displayed in China, even if there are no plans as of yet to show them in this current compilation.

The process of working through the Cultural Revolution is taking place in China without a doubt, but it is limited to academic and artists circles. The topic remains taboo in broader society.

Three artists were present at the exhibition's opening: Cai Dongdong, Wang Qingsong and Zhang Kechun. None of the three have ever been able to speak with their parents about the 10 years from 1966 to 1976. For the older generation, the memories were too painful.

The exhibition "Working in History: Contemporary Chinese Photography and the Cultural Revolution" runs through January 7 at the Museum for Photography in Berlin. 

Source: Chinese photographers confront Cultural Revolution in Berlin

Photographers attempt to capture eclipse

Photographers attempt to capture eclipse

Lauren Bale, WWLTV 5:30 PM. CDT August 21, 2017

A little after 1 p.m. Monday, downtown New Orleans came to a stand still. Everyone seemed to stop and look up in Lafayette Park. Family, friends and strangers came together if only for a moment.

"I hope this event unites people instead of divides people," Jose Carias said.

Though the eclipse was fleeting, people wanted to capture it forever.

"I'm not gonna get a chance to see one again probably," Carias said.

Photographer Zach Smith came out just for the photo opportunities.

"Being able to photograph a solar eclipse is truly something special," Smith said.

Those trying to save the moment on their cell phones had more difficulty.

"It works a little bit," Kaitlyn Lowe said. "Now that it's more covered I got a tiny picture of the moon over the sun but now I'm just getting blurs."

When it worked though, the result was spectacular.

"When you photograph something like that it brings us in touch with the fact that we're apart of this huge system and that connects us as humans," Smith said.

For 30 minutes people sat side by side sharing glasses and sharing a moment that for many, won't come again. When it was over, these new friends packed up their bags and parted ways. Forever connected by a shared experience.

"We're all viewing this at the same time," Smith said. "It was pretty wonderful."

© 2017 WWL-TV

Source: Photographers attempt to capture eclipse

Instagram Now Has Threaded Comments | For Photographers This Means Commenting Is Autotelic

This week everyone's favorite social platform and favorite to hate on added a new feature that we've longed for: threaded comments. Anyone who has ever been tagged on an image on Instagram knows that having any semblance of a conversation on the platform can be challenging and difficult to keep track of. This new update should remedy that to some extent.

"Comment threads help you keep track of conversations and make it easy to respond to a specific thread. This update will make your feed an even better place to share interests, get inspired and connect with others.

Now, when you hit reply underneath any comment, your response will automatically be grouped right underneath it in a thread. – Instagram"

AFFINITY PHOTO FOR IPAD RECEIVES BIG UPDATE & ANNOUNCES LOWER PRICE POINT

It seems to simple, doesn't it? So basic that it should've been there from the start, but how often is common sense common practice? What we as users of the platform should also take from this is that IG is placing direct and high value on interaction and engagement; it wants to be both the subject of conversation and where that conversation takes place.

Just as we've seen Facebook do over the past year or so, commentary on a post greatly extends the reach of that post. Of course we don't know precisely how the algorithm works, but anyone who keeps track knows that back-and-forth commentary will boost reach tremendously, and in the algorithmic feed of IG that matters. This should spell in big bold letters that photographers need to be engaging with their viewership, and that's something they typically don't.

What most photographer pages look like is a curated collection of posts made into a gallery for showcasing, and while that's great, the algorithmic feed sort of prods us into doing more. It wants us to post stories for which the reward is more reach and likewise for comments. But really, commenting is autotelic.

The fact is, that if you're not engaging with the audience on your platform should they comment, you're letting golden opportunities go by. Not only will your reach expand but likely your user base. So, if you've been looking to find a way to rise above the plateau that is your IG follower count right now, this news is backhandedly telling you how. Comment, and often.

Source: Instagram Now Has Threaded Comments | For Photographers This Means Commenting Is Autotelic

State Fair seeking blue-ribbon photographers

Published Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, 5:42 pm

Front Page » Events » State Fair seeking blue-ribbon photographers

Join AFP's 112,000+ followers on Facebook, Twitter and YouTubeSubscribe to sports and news podcasts on iTunesNews, press releases, letters to the editor: augustafreepress2@gmail.comAdvertising inquiries: freepress@ntelos.netPhone: 540-949-6574

If you are a talented shutterbug, now's your chance to shine in the photography division of the State Fair of Virginia's arts and crafts competition. The entry deadline is Sept. 8.

"But when you come down to it, probably our best entries are still from those who are serious about photography as hobby," she added.

More than 420 people entered the photography competition in 2016, said Stuart Sanders, SFVA special events and educational competition manager. All entries must be from amateur photographers, and there are classes for black and white, color and digitally-manipulated photos. This year's subject categories are human interest, scenic and architecture, plants and animals.

There are strict guidelines to follow to ensure your entry isn't disqualified.

"All entries must be 5-by-7 prints and matted in white or off-white," Sanders said. "That's to set a level playing field and allow the maximum number of entries to be displayed. The picture must have been taken after Sept. 23, 2016. And this year youth entries will be free. We're charging $1 per photo for adult entries."

To read the photography entry guidelines, visit statefairva.org/p/getinvolved/ 303 and click the link for the adult or youth arts and crafts competition guide. All entry forms must be received by Sept. 8, and the final entries must be delivered either Sept. 22 between noon and 5 p.m. or Sept. 23 between 9 a.m. and noon.

"I have some really good, tough judges on photography. So they know what to look for. If you place first, second or third at the State Fair, or best-in-show, you're good!" English exclaimed.

Sanders said photography judges "are certified in some way; either they're a professional in the industry or an experienced art teacher or a certified judge. And we're always recruiting for new judges."

Source: State Fair seeking blue-ribbon photographers

Three Editing Mistakes New Photographers Often Make

I find it interesting how often I see new photographers make the exact same editing mistakes I made when I started out. Every photographer who has at least a few years of experience can look back at some of their first sessions and find a number of things that they continually did wrong. I recently took a look at some sessions from my first year of photography, as well as asking a few other photographers to do the same, and continually found the same common issues.

We've all been there. We get excited about photography and then we realize that we have to learn to edit as well. At first it seems so overwhelming, and then as we start to learn new things, it becomes fun to know all of the options you have to improve your photos. Every time we learn something new, it seems like we want to implement it on every photo we edit. We then go through a process of learning that less is often more in the editing world and we finally begin to execute the skills we learned in a better way. This is all part of the learning process. But still, I wish I would have known more in that beginning stage that would have kept me from making the same mistakes continually.

Get Your Colors Rights

One of the first things that I notice that can really separate photography quality are the colors, specifically the skin tones in portraits of people. Being able to fix your white balance is such a helpful tool, but at the same time it takes a while to really develop an eye for this. When you are starting, if you are editing people, you should pay special attention to the skin tone of your subject, even at the risk of the rest of the photo not looking how you want. I often see people try to get their background colors to look good first, but when you are changing the white balance of the entire photo you can really sacrifice the skin tones. If skin has a green tint, the person will often be left looking ill, and it almost never looks good in photography. Similarly, an unintentional blue tint will often cause your subject to look dull. Leaning toward a warmer skin tone is better in most situations. If you are trying to get your background to look green or blue then that's great, but never at the expense of leaving your subject's skin looking off. Learn to get your subject right first when you are starting out and stay focused on that. As you develop your editing knowledge you will eventually learn to get everything else looking great as well.

The Vignette

I asked a handful of other photographers that I know about the most common mistakes they see in new photographers editing, and almost exclusively they responded with too much vignette being the most consistent mistake. I don't mind a little vignette. There is definitely a place for it. Like most things in photography though, keeping it minimal is key. The purpose of a vignette is to cause your eyes to go directly to the center of the photo. If the vignette is used so heavily that the vignette itself become a main part of the photo, then it is overdone. The new photographer will very often go well beyond that.

Too Much of Everything

Like vignetting, when you are new to editing, you have a tendency to overdue everything. Giving your photos too much vibrance, saturation, clarity, and contrast are all common mistakes. At the same time, specific edits like teeth whitening, making the eyes stand out, and skin smoothing are all often really overdone as well. There will be a time to make some of these adjustments more extreme, but when you are beginning, do your best to keep everything you are doing to a minimum, knowing that you are prone to overdoing it. Another thing to think about is that your eyes will adjust to what they are seeing. If you stare at an over-edited photo long enough, it will begin to look normal. On some of my first sessions, I would spend a ton of time on a photo and be proud of it, only to look at it the next day and realize it was essentially ruined. I often revert back to the original photo while editing now to make sure that what I am doing is adding to the photo and not taking away from it . In Lightroom you can simply hit the backslash key (\) to quickly see the original. Slight adjustments that look natural are key until you have a solid grasp of why you would need to do more.

Know You Will Improve

Learning to edit is an overwhelming task. When you are just beginning, you already probably feel incompetent with your photography skills, but don't try and compensate for it with an abundance of editing. The best thing you can do is try and have a long-term goal for your photography. Understand that you are not there yet, but being patient with yourself as you learn and improve will keep you from feeling a need to try and make your photography amazing through editing. Being patient as your artistic eye and your style develop is essential as well. Setting a simple goal for yourself to keep things simple while you are still learning your style will save you from a lot of mistakes and bad habits you will most likely need to unlearn later. After I realized that I had been making some of these mistakes, I literally had to make a rule for myself to adjust a photo about half as much as I wanted to do. If you are still in your first few years of photography, look back at your last handfu l of sessions and see if you are guilty of any of these common mistakes. If so, make a note to yourself, adjust, and always keep improving.

Source: Three Editing Mistakes New Photographers Often Make

Photographers risk it all for the perfect shot

August 15, 2017, 11:00 AM| Tony Dokoupil went inside the world of "Rooftoppers" as they climbed to dazzling heights for spectacular shots in this week's "CBSN: On Assignment." Dokoupil details the ups and downs of the lifestyle for "CBSN: After the Assignment."

Source: Photographers risk it all for the perfect shot

How to shoot the solar eclipse: a list of resources for photographers

If you live in North America or are a citizen of planet Earth, you've probably heard chatter about the upcoming solar eclipse starting the morning of August 21st. It's a rare opportunity for a lot of folks across the United States to see and/or photograph a partial or total eclipse of the sun, and it's all happening just under a week from now.

We've already published our guide to photographing the eclipse (and a plea to consider not photographing it), but the Internet has no shortage of great information on the subject, some of which goes very in-depth. In an effort to provide you with the totality of eclipse photography resources, we've rounded up some of our other favorite articles and guides below. Good luck, and remember to protect those eyes and sensors!

Canon eclipse guide - 16 articles on shooting the eclipse

Canon's guide to photographing the solar eclipse is very impressive and thorough. It features more than 15 articles on the subject. There's also a nifty 'Solar eclipse pocket field guide' PDF you can download and print. The guide is slightly geared to Canon shooters, but we feel the information is useful to all photographers, regardless of brand of choice.

Read Canon's eclipse guide

B & H eclipse guide- An easy-to-read complete guide

B & H also posted a really thorough guide on everything you should consider to safely and successfully shoot the eclipse. And unlike the Canon guide, these tips are all in one (long) article.

Read B & H's eclipse guide

National Geographic - The creative side of photographing the eclipse

National Geographic's guide to shooting the eclipse is less technical nuts-and-bolts and more about planning, composition and creativity. Nat Geo pinged pro shooters Stan Honda and Babak Tafreshi to share their advice on getting the shot.

Read Nat Geo's eclipse article

Wired - Tips for shooting an eclipse with a smartphone

Smartphones, with their tiny sensors and wide-angle lenses might not seem like the obvious choice for photographing the eclipse, but Wired has some tips for making the most of the camera you likely always have on you. In short, they recommend purchasing an accessory telephoto lens to attach to your phone (there are several decent brands that make them), and stabilizing the rig with a small tripod.

Read Wired's eclipse article

Nikon - Exposure advice

Nikon put together some useful information on the various types of eclipses, and what kinds of exposures you might use over the course of a total solar eclipse. If you're a Nikon shooter, the post addresses camera settings for various Nikon lines.

Read Nikon's eclipse article

Nikon also put together a couple of videos on eclipse gear preparation and shooting advice, for those who prefer to watch instead of read. Watch them here.

Astropix.com - Catching the light

This eclipse guide was recommended in our forums by a reader. Written by astrophotographer Jerry Lodriguss, it is one of the most complete and detailed guides to eclipse photography we've come across on the Internet. If you are serious about nailing the shot, this is your guide. However, for the more casual/enthusiast photographers, this guide goes a tad above and beyond.

Read the Astropix.com guide

Popular Mechanics - How to photograph a total solar eclipse

Unlike the Astropix.com guide above, Popular Mechanics guide is more enthusiast-geared, but still covers all the core eclipse shooting information. There's also a nine-minute video that largely covers the same material found in the article. And the author also briefly addresses post-production, something most other guides gloss over.

Read Pop Mech's guide

Feel free to share your town eclipse resources in the comments below.

Source: How to shoot the solar eclipse: a list of resources for photographers

Drone Wedding Photography: Your Complete Guide in 2017

If you're looking for something a little different for your wedding photography, we recommend hiring a drone photographer! Drone wedding photography is quite trendy at the moment, and for good reason. When you capture your wedding photos with a drone, you're sure to have stunning photos that you will remember for decades to come.

To make sure you get the best combination of photos for your wedding album, we recommend hiring both an aerial photographer and a traditional wedding photographer. This will ensure that your wedding photos span the ground and air, making for the perfect wedding memories.

Drone Photography for Weddings

Photos taken by drones have become increasingly popular for modern weddings, and we can see why! Hiring a pro to take your wedding photos with a drone is a great way to show off your beautiful wedding venue and include all of your guests in the same shot. It's also perfect for taking drone shots of you and your spouse in a unique way. Can you imagine having a print like the photo above in your home for years to come? That sounds pretty nice to us!

If you're looking for a wedding video, consider mixing in drone shots with traditional video clips. The resulting video will be a beautiful combination of media that can serve as a lasting memory of your wedding day.

With the popularity of drone photography comes a few drawbacks, though. For one, many traditional wedding photographers do not offer drone photography. Due to this, you will need to make more room in your budget for both aerial and wedding photography if you want the best of both worlds.

Drone photography can also bring safety concerns. There have been reports of drone colliding (or almost colliding) with commercial aircraft, which is not an ideal situation. For this reason, there are six main guidelines your aerial photographer will need to abide by. We'll cover drone safety later in this article, so be sure to keep reading.

Even with these drawbacks, though, drone wedding photography is a great way to remember your special day in the future. If you're interested in learning more about drone wedding photography, keep reading!

Drone Safety

Whether you're hiring a professional to photograph your wedding with a drone or flying one on your own, there are certain safety rules that you need to follow. In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority has set up a subsidiary organisation called Dronesafe. On their website, you can find the regulations a drone flyer must follow, as well as tips for general drone safety. Whether you're a drone pilot or not, these tips are very useful given how popular drones are.

Dronesafe's six main rules for drone safety are:

Always keep your drone in sight

Stay below 400ft (120m) to comply with the drone code

Every time you fly your drone you must comply with the manufacturer's instructions

Keep the right distance from people and property

You are responsible for each flight

Stay well away from aircraft, airports, and airfields

Your aerial photographer is likely already aware of Dronesafe, but if they're not, you can point them towards it. Dronesafe also offers a mobile app that helps drone pilots fly safely in the United Kingdom. Drone Assist was developed by NATS (National Air Traffic Services) and allows users to access an interactive map of surrounding airspace. The map includes commercial air traffic and ground hazards to help you avoid dangerous situations with your drone.

Image Credit

How to Hire a Drone Photographer Look at Their Portfolio

The first thing you should look at before hiring a photographer on Bidvine is the pro's portfolio. They'll have photos on their Bidvine profile that you can peruse to get a feel for their skill level and photography style. If you want to see more, check out their social media or website. Any experienced photographer will have an arsenal of photos that you can view before making a final decision.

That isn't to say that amateur photographers should be excluded from your consideration, though. Everyone needs a start, after all! If you receive a bid from a photographer that's just starting out, ask for references from past clients if they have them, or take a look at their social media. Even if they've never shot a wedding before, it's likely that they'll have examples of their photography skills on Instagram.

Read Client Reviews

Once you've had a look at a photographer's work, be sure to check out their reviews from past clients. If a photographer you like doesn't have reviews on their Bidvine profile, ask them about their past client experiences. They will likely be eager to send you rave reviews from their previous jobs. If they're not or their reviews are less than ideal, it's time to move on.

Approved Aerial Photographers

Before you hire an aerial photographer, check to be sure they have been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Luckily, they have compiled all of the approved commercial drone operators in the UK into one handy list. You can head over to their website to download the list. Then, just search for your photographer on the list. For safety reasons, you should only hire a drone operator if they have been approved by the CAA.

Once you've reviewed a pro's portfolio, references, and checked that they're legitimate, you can make a final decision. It's likely that your final choice will come down to cost. But if you really connect with a photographer that is offering you a price that's a bit higher than another bid you receive, don't let them slip away! You don't want to miss out on beautiful photos because of a couple pounds difference in price.

Image Credit

Aerial Photography Prices

The cost of hiring an aerial photographer will vary based on the volume of finished content you require, as well as the length of time you need the photographer for. Your photographers will also take into account the location and urgency of your wedding before giving you a final bid.

Before you hire an aerial photographer, ask them to meet for a consultation. Then, they'll be able to walk you through the process and share their portfolio with you. Most photographers offer a consultation free of charge, as it helps them sell their services to you before you make a final decision.

On Bidvine, the average cost that aerial photographers charge is £557. Like we said, this price will vary based on a number of factors. Since drone wedding photography is such an emerging art, it's important to go into your consultation with an open mind and listen to the photographer's suggestions.

When you're budgeting for wedding drone photography, you will also need to consider the potential cost of licensing the space you're being photographed in. Some private properties require pre-approval and licensing fees for photography, so be sure to sort this out before your wedding day. It's better to invest a bit in order to prevent being hit with large fines or worse.

How Much Is a Wedding Photographer?

Like aerial photography, the cost of wedding photography is influenced by a number of factors. The price you pay can range from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds. Some of the factors that go into the cost include your photographer's experience, the location and timing of your wedding, and the level of finish you want from your wedding prints. For instance, a wedding during the high season in central London will have a much higher wedding photography price than an off-season wedding in a different location.

On Bidvine, the average cost of wedding photography in the United Kingdom is £663. This cost varies slightly by country, and the average cost of hiring a wedding photographer in England is £671. In Scotland, the average wedding photography cost is £621, and the average cost in Wales is £707.

Best Aerial Wedding Photos

Image Credit

Accidental Wedding Photo

This beautiful photo wasn't actually intentional, which makes it even better. A photographer in Hong Kong was bringing his drone back after a flight when he turned the camera down and captured this scene. The couple was laying on a grass rooftop in the middle of the city, enjoying their wedding day. Hopefully, the photographer was able to get in touch with the couple to share this great photo!

Image Credit

Party Shot

This is actually a shot from a YouTube video, but we think it serves as a perfect example of the content a drone operator can capture. When your aerial photographer captures photos and video clips of your wedding, you're more likely to capture candid shots of people. Otherwise, your photos might look too posed. Having drone footage of your wedding reception will help build your wedding video and memories!

Image Credit

Capture the Ceremony

While the reception is important, the key part of your wedding is the ceremony. This drone photo features a ceremony facing a beautiful lake, which looks like a beautiful outdoor venue! If your drone operator is skilled enough, they could even bring the drone down the aisle and towards the wedding arch, which will make for some beautiful footage.

Image Credit

Make a Heart

One of the most popular group shots for wedding drone photography can be seen above. In the photo, all the wedding guests are standing in a heart shape around the couple. If your wedding venue has the space to take a photo like this, we recommend giving it a try! As long as your wedding coordinator or photographer is able to wrangle your guests into the right formation, you'll have a photo for the ages.

Image Credit

Balloon Release

As long as you can pull this off in an environmentally-friendly manner, releasing balloons is a great way to get a fun and unique wedding photo. You could also release paper lanterns that will burn before they cause harm to the environment. This would be perfect for photos later in the evening when you can see the light from the lanterns.

Now that you're ready to introduce drone wedding photography into your budget, it's time to get started! You can get custom bids for aerial and wedding photography on Bidvine by answering a few quick questions. Submit a free request for aerial photography by clicking the button below:

By SarahContent Writer at Bidvine

Featured Image Credit

Source: Drone Wedding Photography: Your Complete Guide in 2017

YouTube Videos and Interviews on Photographers

Thank you to Mubeen Mughal  from the FORUM for compiling this great resource of documentaries on Photographers on YouTube. Join the ERIC KIM FORUM to learn more about photography, receive photo critiques, and discover new resources for learning about art and photography.

I wanted to share some of the play-lists that I have on You-Tube which have documentaries and Interviews of Photographers, Photo-Journalists, and Cinematographers:

Street Photography:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p3KFAlSNrQ&list=PLslCL7nZcGM4d3JdCDkJX3ffKABDOI9vi

Photography and Photographers 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK3qwMFajB8&list=PLslCL7nZcGM5auIu9Cvn7NLc-S-IHFXUA

Photography & Photographers 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biqsg0vM5gk&list=PLslCL7nZcGM73hrVx0rquoQVbro45BKir

Photography, Photographers, Cinematographers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbchmWS5jIU&list=PLslCL7nZcGM435du1ciDkc6i2w_YwBT17

Eugene Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK9Pl9p8X8U&list=PLslCL7nZcGM7rPsx6dmJz5zX6XgWbCAui

Delhi Photo Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F0gWJdUE7w&list=PLslCL7nZcGM5bgiNIF4FUlYNBuBdK_9Ls

Raghu Rai: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5gwJXEVHow&list=PLslCL7nZcGM49ZLR9nC61A3FYBjvpe3dp

Artists:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLslCL7nZcGM6KUDSMuXdx7oAfXeNuT0Jy

Sebastiao Salgado: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLslCL7nZcGM6pY8LeclwGUaeNLbQJ3MVD

Source: YouTube Videos and Interviews on Photographers

Artists and photographers invited to enter Warrington’s annual contemporary arts competition

Artists and photographers invited to enter Warrington's annual contemporary arts competition

Artists and photographers are being invited to enter this year's Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival Open exhibition competitions.

Members of the public living or working within a 50-mile radius of the town can now submit up to three works online before the deadline of Sunday 27 August, with the chance to win a cash prize and a solo exhibition in 2018.

Now in its seventh year, the month-long festival provides an opportunity for people to experience contemporary art, and the 2017 programme promises to be packed full of engaging events including the flagship Art and Photography Open competitions.

Both Open exhibitions will run throughout the festival from Friday 29 September to Saturday 28 October at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery and The Gallery at Bank Quay House; the first prize in both categories is £250 plus a solo exhibition in 2018, while second prize is £100.

Derek Dick, cultural manager for Culture Warrington, the charity which organises WCAF, encouraged amateur and aspiring artists to enter alongside more experienced professionals.

He said: "One of our aims at Culture Warrington is to provide opportunities and support for emerging artists in the region and entering WCAF's Open competitions can be a great springboard to future success.

"By entering the Art or Photography Open artists can see their work displayed in professional exhibition galleries alongside their peers and it's an opportunity for us to showcase the wealth of artistic talent in and around Warrington.

"It's very exciting and encouraging to see the work submitted each year as the entries are always of a high standard.

"This year's Opens are part of a larger programme of activities and events which will take place over the next twelve months; with support from Arts Council England we will be creating even more opportunities with a series of commissions and town centre events."

The winner of last year's Art Open was Bex Ilsley with Your Cities Will Shine Forever, a wall-mounted installation and virtual reality app viewed through a headset. The piece was aself-portrait which also explored the predicament of living between the physical and virtual.

Bex is now enjoying her first solo exhibition, entitled Emotional Processing, at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, her followers include Miley Cyrus and The Flaming Lips, and her works are held in private collections around the world.

Speaking after her win, Bex said: "This type of opportunity is vital for artists at the beginning of their careers and I am beyond grateful because funding and awards are the only way I have to continue practicing at this stage."

Steve Deer, winner of last year's Photography Open, currently has a collection on display in The Gallery at Bank Quay house.

The fine art photographer, who shoots powerful landscapes with a graphic narrative, was delighted to have won after coming second the previous year.

David Foster, winner of the 2012 Open, said: "Winning literally changed my life – from being a dabbling amateur artist experimenting in a new style of contemporary art to now being a full-time professional artist with sales worldwide, corporate clients and a waiting list for commissions.

"I would encourage any budding artist to enter; the prize of being able to hold your own exhibition is immense and could be life-changing for you too."

2013 winner Carol Miller added: "Winning the Open planted a seed of belief which has sustained my practice and given me self-assurance in my work; I've carried that with me ever since.

"By entering you are demonstrating you have the belief that you're good enough to stand and be judged beside your peers, and you never know what that can lead to."

Visit www.warringtonartsfestival.co.uk for more information or to submit an entry before the deadline on Sunday 27 August. Entry forms are also available from Warrington Museum & Art Gallery.

Source: Artists and photographers invited to enter Warrington's annual contemporary arts competition

5 Trinbagonian photographers you should follow on Instagram

We use Instagram to capture our personal moments as well as peep through the looking glass of the lives of others right here at home and around the world. With over 700 million users, Instagram has become an amazing platform to visually capture what's going on in the world around us.

There are a number of local photographers who (seemingly) effortlessly capture Trinidad and Tobago in various aspects in their own way. While there too many too talented photographers to count, here are at least five local photographers you should follow on Instagram. 

Introvertly Bubbly

Introvertly Bubbly's simple yet crisp photos capture many of her garden projects, local landscapes and her apparent love of coffee. Her photos not only evoke feelings of nostalgia but also make you want to start gardening yourself. 

Josh Brizan

Josh's photos can be described as nothing short of haunting. Having spent time between Trinidad and New York, his work is an interesting juxtaposition of the concrete jungle of NYC and the tranquility of the Trinbagonian terrain.

Tarique Eastman

As an adventure and lifestyle photographer, Tarique's visually stunning photos capture the beautiful landscape of Trinidad and Tobago. One look through his profile is enough to make you invest in a tent and start spending more time outdoors. Want to keep a keepsake of his work? Check out his wallpapers featuring his stunning images on his website.

Shaista Deen

Although Trini, Shaista is also based in the U.K., so her rich photos capture the people and landscapes of both regions. Recently featured in Vogue, Shaista's stills will leave you with a sense of yearning for something you didn't even know you needed.

Kyle Walcott

This fashion, lifestyle and wedding photographer's signature has been to not just capture the moment, but the raw emotion of his subjects at just. the. right. moment. From fashion shoots, to weddings to Calypso Rose in concert, Kyle's photos make you wish you were there.

Which local photographer do you follow?

Source: 5 Trinbagonian photographers you should follow on Instagram

Why you should consider adding a drone to your photography toolkit

Adding a drone to my photography toolkit has been one of the best decisions I've made in my creative career, allowing me to take pictures and videos that I would not have been able to take otherwise. After three years of flying drones for both recreation and commercial projects, I've come to the realization that adding a drone to a photography kit may be essential for remaining relevant.

In this article, I'll give you some examples of how drones have given me the ability to create new and unique perspectives, allowed me to tell more complete stories than I was able to in the past, and how I've been able to offer new products and services that keep me relevant in today's competitive market. This year, in fact, I've delivered a wide range of aerial media projects, including aerial flights for five weddings, two automotive commercials, and a 360 degree aerial panorama. My first drone was the DJI Phantom 3 Pro, and I currently fly with the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, and the newly released DJI Spark.

A big factor in the growth of my wedding photography business has been the ability to differentiate my work through the use of unique compositions that only a drone can provide. Here's one example of an image I took at a wedding last summer.

For this wedding, the couple had specifically requested that I capture a sweeping image of the wedding party as they left the ceremony. I set my drone up for the shot, then sent it up in the sky for the composition that you see below. I captured the moment from a unique perspective, and gave the couple an unforgettable image that they will enjoy for a lifetime. It's pretty cool that it was all made possible by my trusty drone, a tool that has opened up new and exciting opportunities for my photography.

Drones have also opened up new categories of products that I can offer to my commercial clients. For example, I was recently contacted by a real estate firm looking to showcase a large parcel of land for development. They wanted something really unique to show the mayor of the city, high level banking executives, and other brokers that were coming to watch the presentation.

By using a drone I was able to create the video below, which made it possible to envision the project and how it fit into the surrounding area. Adding a few motion graphics made it even easier for viewers to understand what they were looking at in any particular clip. Quite simply, I could not have created this asset for my client by shooting at ground level.

Additionally, I had recently been researching the use of drones to create 360-degree aerial panoramas, which are basically VR images that can be viewed while wearing a VR headset, such as a Samsung GearVR or Google Cardboard. I decided to make one of these as well in order to provide my client with a more interactive view of the proposed project.

To create the VR image below, I shot 27 Raw images covering a 360-degree sphere using my Phantom 4 Pro, then stitched them together to create a single VR image. My client was able to see all the pertinent information about the surrounding environment, the amenities, and the specifics of the property itself, all in virtual reality from a bird's eye view.

After three years of flying drones, I still get excited about the creative images I can capture by taking my camera into the sky. I always look forward to scouting locations, and really enjoy creating unique compositions that tell a bigger picture than anything I can capture from the ground. Take the picture below of Vancouver, BC, for example.

I decided to go out on a cold and chilly day to visit Granville Island in Vancouver. There was so much to capture when I arrived that I was somewhat overwhelmed. The city was nestled by a gorgeous mountain range, skyscrapers hugging the coastline, and boats made their way under the bridge.

Trying to incorporate all those elements into a single image from the ground would not have been an easy task, but sending the Phantom up 300 feet allowed me to do just that; I captured a sweeping panorama that showcased all those elements in one scene. My drone was the perfect tool to fill in the big picture of what was happening on the ground. For me, this is a prime example of big picture storytelling with a drone.

Whether you fly your drone for fun or for business, the benefits you gain from adding a drone to your ensemble of photo gear can be creatively and professionally rewarding. I've shared just a couple examples of how I've been able to create unique perspectives for my wedding couples, offer cutting edge new products to my commercial clients, and am able to tell a bigger, and more complete story through the use of my drone, but the possibilities are endless.

As a photographer, one big issue that I still encounter every day is the general public's mixed feelings towards drones. It seems that drones are still viewed as toys, or rather, dangerous flying objects that aren't for serious photographers. If you really set aside those misconceptions, and look beyond the motors and remote controllers, you begin to see your drone as just another tool in your bag. A tool that opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your photography.

"As a photographer, one big issue that I still encounter every day is the general public's mixed feelings towards drones."

Drones can be beneficial to a wide range of photographers, including commercial, wedding, automotive, sports, racing, and beyond. Media is evolving every day, and adding a drone to your kit can keep you competitive, creative, and relevant in today's evolving media landscape. I've made the decision to treat my drone as I would any other part of my photography toolkit, and it's paid off in many ways, including financial gain, professional advancement, and expanded artistic growth.

Consider adding a drone to your photography kit as well. Doing so has the potential to open your eyes to new horizons, take your art to new heights, and open your business to new opportunities.

Source: Why you should consider adding a drone to your photography toolkit

The Best Budget Lenses For Pentax Photographers

Pentax users, it's your turn! If you have a Pentax kit or you are thinking about picking one up – maybe for that K-1 DSLR – then you are likely wondering about the best budget options for Pentax right now. Due to the brands dwindling popularity lens reviews and thoughts can be hard to come by, so today we are throwing you a bone with our picks for the best budget glass available for Pentax cameras.

We have a giant master list of what we feel the best budget lenses are for every system, and you can find that here, but in this post we wanted to highlight our picks for the best budget lenses for the Pentax system.

Pentax Lenses

One of the tough things with the Sony system, especially on the full frame side of things is that native budget options have been slim pickins'. that said, there are still some great budget E mount options that you all should be considering. (As well we will include some great Sony A mount lenses that can be adapted and will work well)

Pentax 50mm F1.4

Most Pentax users will know from reading and research around the interwebs that Pentax's strength lies with their prime lenses. For portrait shooters using their APS-C sized DSLRs (not that Pentax makes a full frame at the time of writing this posting) this will be your ideal focal length because of how flat the lens will render the image when combined with the sensor. The faster aperture of the Pentax 50mm F1.4will mean that if you have an older DSLR that you won't always have to raise the ISOs to nuclear meltdown levels.

If I were to recommend one lens to get, this would be it.

(Check Pricing)

Pentax 35mm F2.4

The Pentax 35mm F2.4is a lens that will give users an approximate 50mm field of view. As the ultimate street photography lens for APS-C DSLRs at this price point, you'll perhaps want to set your camera to aperture priority and leave it wide open at F/2.4 in order to capture all you'll need for your street scenes. Perhaps this is what gives it loads of value at this price.

(Check Pricing)

Pentax 40mm F2.8

Pentax's line of Limited lenses are coveted by all Pentaxians. Having an affordable option in this small package will make you the cool kid on the block amongst your Pentaxian kin. The Pentax DA 40mm f2.8pancake will be a must-have option for photographers that like to remain discrete or those that always want to keep their cameras on them. Without a larger prime or a bulky zoom lens, you won't have any excuse to have your camera on you at all.

(Check Pricing)

Third Party Lenses

Tokina 11-16mm F2.8

One of the biggest complaints about this list used to be its lack of zoom lenses. If you're looking for one, then consider the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 offering. It's perfect for APS-C users who want wide angle photos–which means your landscapes will look that much more epic.

(Buy One)

Rokinon 14mm F2.8

If we had to choose a single wide angle prime to stick with it would be Rokinon's own 14mm f2.8. With a wide field of view at 14mm and an f2.8 aperture, there is no reason not to spring for this lens. Sure, it's manual focus only, but if you're using a lens like this then you're usually focusing out to infinity anyway.

(Read our Review | Buy One)

Tokina 12-28mm F4

Of any of the wide angle zoom lenses we've tested, this one had to be the most fun. Mount it on a camera, put the camera on a tripod and get to the nearest coastline to shoot the sun as it's about to go down. The colors, sharpness, and price of this lens are all very pleasing.

(Read our Review | Buy One)

Rokinon 85mm F1.4

If you want an f1.4 lens designed for portraits, this is the most affordable one to get. Wide open, the lens is a bit soft. But once you stop it down a bit, it begins to sing with sharpness. Like other Rokinon lenses, it is manual focus only. But man, that bokeh is glorious.

(Read our Review | Buy One)

Sigma 30mm F1.4

APS-C camera users who want a fast 50mm field of view (approximately) will be super surprised by Sigma's new 30mm f1.4 offering. What's even cooler is that you can use it on a full frame camera–but don't expect the image quality to be just like that of an APS-C camera's due to how this lens was designed.

(Read our Review | Buy One)

Looking for more?

These are just our picks for the top budget lenses for the Pentax system in general, if you are looking for good lens options with a specific photographic specialty in mind we highly recommend checking out some of our other lens recommendation posts like: Review: Pentax K-1, Review: Pentax 15-30mm f2.8 ED SDM WR (Pentax F).

If you are looking for more budget recommendations for another system make sure and check out our full listing, here.

Source: The Best Budget Lenses For Pentax Photographers