Photographers will eventually NEED a RAID System

When a hard drive fails, it can wreak havoc on your work day. Let me share with you how, in 2010, I built a reliable, cost-effective storage solution that grew over the years as I grew—saving me time and money.

Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)

RAID sounds scary, but it's just a way of configuring several hard drives together to act like one super hard drive. There are several different "levels" of RAID—each offering its own unique benefits. The good news: products such as Western Digital My Book, Synology and, of course, Drobo, handles this complicated setup for us.

Since I'm a Drobo user, I can only speak on how I set my Drobo up. I chose single disk redundancy—meaning one drive can fail and I don't lose my data. I could have chosen dual disk redundancy, giving me extra protection in case two hard drives failed at the exact same time. This options comes at a cost—requiring more disk space and a little slower performance.

Started small, then grew into my Drobo

I had a dedicated 1.5TB hard drive just for my photo library, mirrored to another 1.5TB drive as my backup. My operating system, along with my programs and miscellaneous files, were on a separate 1.5TB hard drive. Unfortunately, this hard drive wasn't backed up and I paid the price when it failed. To keep my photo library within the 1.5TB range, I would either delete or move irrelevant images to an external hard drive. This was NOT the ideal solution. To this day, I'm still looking for images I archived on different external drives. Finally, all this changed when I received my first 4-bay Drobo FS in 2010.

Making RAID a part of my system

Drobo took care of configuring my RAID system. I installed two new 2TB drives and Drobo made them appear as one hard drive. Even though I installed two 2TB drives, the unit only showed 2TB, not 4TB available. RAID made the second hard drive redundant—if one failed, the other would take over. Since I had two bays free, I repurposed my old 1.5TB drives and added them to my Drobo. I still kept my operating system and program files on a separate internal hard drive.

Compressed backup drive to save space

My new Drobo showed I had 4.53TB available. The problem: my largest hard drive was only 2TB. I decided to take an inexpensive path and compress my backup drive. The pros—I didn't need to purchase another Drobo plus, if a hard drived failed in my Drobo, I could easily replace it. The downside—I needed to use software to view my backup files.

I grew into a second Drobo

As my photography business grew, my hard drives were getting full. I replaced the old 1.5TB drives with 2TB drives. This solved my storage problem, but not my backup problem. I invested in a second Drobo 4-bay FS unit and repurposed my old drives and added drives to match my main Drobo. Now I didn't have to compress my backup drives. I have a one-to-one mirrored copy of my files. If my main Drobo unit failed, I could rely on an identical copy of my files.

Hard drives will fail

I'm finding hard drives usually last as long as the warranty. I've had some drives for as long as 5 years and others for only 2 years. Once the hard drive fails, I replace it with a larger drive. This keeps my Drobo growing with my needs. Currently I upgraded my Drobos units a few years back and have all 3TB drives with the except of the new 4TB drive I just installed—inspiring me to write this article.

How is my storage solution working?

In the middle of a project, my Drobo unit alerted me I had a hard drive fail. I kept working until I took a break at 8 p.m. to head to Best Buy. I purchased a new drive, came home, replaced the failed drive with the new drive, then continued working on my project. No downtime, no data lost. My storage solution is right on track.

Suggestions for your storage solution

If you're a photographer with less than 2TB of images, purchase two 3TB external drives. Toshiba Canvio 3TB Portable Hard Drives run about $99 each. Refer to "Building a Bulletproof Backup System" on how to set them up.

If you're a photographer with more than 2TB but less than 6TB, it's time you to invest in a Drobo or a RAID enclosure. I would suggest a Drobo 5N. The N stands for network. Use the network Drobo as your main hard drive and a 6TB as your backup. Drobo 5N is a little slower than a Drobo 5D, but you will be able to access it from anywhere in the world. Don't worry about security, Drobo has that covered. When you grow into a second Drobo, choose the 5D version. You will be able to repurpose the 6TB hard drive.

If you are a full-time working photographer and your income depends on delivering your images on time to your clients, budget in 2 Drobos or 2 RAID unitis. If you choose Drobo, get a Drobo 5D as your working drive and Drobo 5N as your backup drive.

Vanelli Robert Vanelli (Vanelli to his friends) is a working photographer, educator and author living in Florida. After a successful career as a three-time, Triple Crown Karate champion, Vanelli turned his attention to teaching the visual arts. As an experienced educator, Vanelli has created several photography and digital workflow programs including Click for Kids.

Currently he is teaching workshops, writing for Photofocus and creating tutorials for various plug-in companies and for the Vanelli and Friends series.

You can find out more about Vanelli at www.VanelliandFriends.com

Latest posts by Vanelli (see all)
Source: Photographers will eventually NEED a RAID System

Ford on Trump travel ban: 'We do not support this policy'

Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company and Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford laugh while having their picture taken by photographers at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.(Photo: Eric Seals)

Ford CEO Mark Fields and Chairman Bill Ford strongly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban in a joint statement on Monday, breaking with other major automakers who have largely remained silent so far.

"Respect for all people is a core value of Ford Motor Company, and we are proud of the rich diversity of our company here at home and around the world," Fields and Bill Ford said in the joint statement Monday morning. "That is why we do not support this policy or any other that goes against our values as a company."

The travel ban applies to seven predominately Muslim nations and also has impacted people with green cards who were previously approved to travel freely.

While a number of technology companies -- including Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Lyft -- have issued statements or taken other action over the weekend in opposition to the travel ban, Ford is the first major automaker to take a clear position.

Fields expounded on the company's viewpoint during a CNN interview Monday afternoon.

"Well, when you go back to the history of our country, first of all, we are all immigrants into the country, and secondly, as a company, we have grown from over the last 114 years into a major automaker," Fields said. "And it's been because of the great people who have worked in our company over the years and they have been from all races, creeds, nationalities and I think that's what makes us great as a country and what makes us great as a company."

Related:

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Microsoft, Uber, Apple, Google: How the tech world responded to Trump's immigration ban

The criticism could further complicate the on-again, off-again relationship between Ford and Trump.

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly bashed Ford for its Mexico investments, but in recent weeks the company has won his praise for its decision to cancel a Mexico plant and expand certain Michigan operations.

The auto industry has much to lose by getting on Trump's bad side. The sector is particularly vulnerable to Trump's threatened border tax and would be harmed by a U.S. trade war with China, but it's also hoping for loosened federal fuel economy standards.

Fields met multiple times with Trump in the initial days of his presidency, and Executive Chairman Bill Ford has repeatedly discussed his company's manufacturing strategy with him in recent months.

Ford said it took the position even though it does not know of any employees directly impacted by the new policy.

"We will continue working to ensure the well-being of our employees by promoting the values of respect and inclusion in the workplace," Fields and Ford said.

The UAW, a union that was deeply entwined in the civil rights struggles during the 1960s, also forcefully criticized the policy on Monday.

"We are a nation of immigrants and our union would not exist if immigrants and non-immigrants alike hadn't fought in solidarity for the rights we cherish today," UAW President Dennis Williams said in a statement. "We must protect national security while remaining true to the very values that have made us a great nation. The UAW opposes discrimination of any kind and denounces any policy that judges people based on their religion or nation of origin."

Ford's statement stand in contrast to the relative silence from other automakers.

General Motors sent an email to its employees on Sunday about the travel and immigration policy.

"Some of our colleagues operate here with a GM-sponsored work visa and a few are from the countries affected by the Executive Order," John Quattrone, GM's senior vice president of global human resources said in the memo. "Please know that, per our normal business practices, if any GM employee traveling back to the U.S. with a visa encounters difficulties, GM will provide the employee and his/her family with support."

The memo went on to reiterate the automaker's commitment to cultivating a culture that embraces diversity and religious beliefs without specifically criticizing the administration's policy.

CEO Mary Barra recently agreed to join Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum of American CEOs advising the president on economic issues. Barra also was among three auto executives who met with Trump last week to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S. manufacturing jobs and U.S. automotive regulatory policy.

Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president and global product development chief, declined to comment directly on the travel ban on Monday after a press conference in Detroit to announce a joint investment into development fuel cells.

"I got to tell you , I am very, very proud of General Motors," Reuss said. "We are a global company and I think we have probably a really good representation of people from completely different backgrounds cultures race gender, so I am very proud of that," Reuss said. "We are a global company."

Reuss said he is unaware of any employees directly impacted by the policy.

Jeffrey Smith, Honda's vice president of communications for Honda North America, said the Japanese automaker is evaluating the policy and has no comment at this time.

Nissan, an an email, said: "At this time, we are not aware of any impacted employees."

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne also was among the auto executives who met with Trump last week. Fiat Chrysler, in an email to the Free Press, also declined to comment on the policy.

Meanwhile, the fourth American automaker, electric-vehicle maker Tesla Motors, denounced the Trump immigration policy on Saturday. CEO Elon Musk has pledged to pursue a consensus among fellow Strategic and Policy Forum members on needed changes to the plan to propose to the president.

Contact Brent Snavely: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrentSnavely. Free Press Reporter Eric Lawrence contributed to this story.

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Source: Ford on Trump travel ban: 'We do not support this policy'

Terrific Lady Day II a.k.a. Annual Proof That There Are Women at SHOT Show | SHOT 2017

In what is now officially an annual tradition (See http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/01/19/terrific-lady-day-the-promo-girls-of-shot/), James spent the last day of SHOT bouncing around the booths to snap photos of all 18 of the women who go to this 95.6%-male-attended convention. They are employees, promo models, enthusiasts, instructors, and even owners and vendors. Did you see any of them at the show?

A special thanks to all of the photo subjects for playing along – these girls work hard in a very…disruptive…environment for a work week, and they deserve a lot of respect for putting up with the dudes at SHOT (especially the photographers).

Enjoy. And mind your manners in the comments.

(Photo by TFBTV Cameraman, Brett Colpitts.)

(Photo by TFBTV guest photographer, J.P. Smith.)

Source: Terrific Lady Day II a.k.a. Annual Proof That There Are Women at SHOT Show | SHOT 2017

Fstoppers Reviews The Peak Design Field Pouch

Here at Fstoppers, we will get you information on the newest announcements, the most exciting technological developments, the most jaw-dropping photo shoots. But you're not just on this site for that. You also come here for a host of perspectives on anything that has to do anything with the art of photography and things related. You come here for news, gear, pictures, and stories about how photos are made. And you come here for the little things. We do care about the little things. Here's a review of a little thing, The Peak Design Field Pouch.

Peak Design Designs

Peak Design has built a reputation for making smartly designed camera bags that you might mistake for something else than a camera bag. We've reviewed some of their products, most recently the Everyday Tote, and before that the Everyday Backpack, and Everyday Sling. As with their other products, Peak Design has demonstrably given the Field Pouch a lot of thought.

In Use

Peak Design advertises the Field Pouch mainly as an accessory bag, a "wing bag" to supplement another bag you have. You can add a strap (though one does not come supplied) and wear it over your shoulders, or you can stick it into a larger backpack, messenger, or suitcase.

My main use case for the Field Pouch is as a small system bag for a Fuji X100s. It easily fits the camera, a lens hood, a charger with mains cable and three extra batteries, as well as several SD cards and a USB cable. There is still some room left for perhaps earphones, a phone charger, maybe some change and a small wallet. If you stuck a travel toothbrush into the pouch you could feasibly use this as a very, very minimalist overnight bag. Just make sure to wash your socks and underwear in the sink. Sorry, that last part may not actually be pertinent.

Used as a camera bag, I had no trouble fitting a film Leica with attached 50mm lens into the pouch, along with a few fresh films. I even managed to cram in a small Nikon F80 SLR with a 50, though that left little room for anything else. For small mirrorless systems, the kind you'd use for personal work or street and travel photography (or anything you damn well please, actually), the Field Pouch may be all you need.

In its designated role as an accessory bag, the Field Pouch shines. It has one large (well, largeish, it's such a small bag that it's called a pouch after all) middle compartment, one zippered internal front pocket divided into two small compartments, as well as two rows of two each stretch mesh pockets. Cables, bits, bobs, memory cards, batteries, lens caps, pens, filters, small rolls of gaffer tape: give me your tired, your poor, your huddled accessory kit yearning to be neatly stashed away.

The Field Pouch features two nylon belt loops at its back so you can wear it on your belt and pretend the 1990s never ended (and don't we all want to do that sometimes? No? Who are you people?). Attach a Capture Clip and you have your camera always at the ready while still largely out of your way while walking around. Especially street and wedding photographers using small cameras should be able to get a lot of use out of this combination.

I occasionally also use the pouch as a shoulder bag. It comes with two hooks for Peak Design's proprietary strap attachment system, and since I own a Kalahari Kaama leather strap to use on old film cameras that's kitted out with Peak Design's quick connectors it's no problem quickly going from pouch to sling bag and back.

What I Liked

The Peak Design Field Pouch is small and versatile. It's very well made and not unattractive, albeit in an outdoorsy kind of way. Compatibility with the company's straps and Capture Clip is welcome, though you can use the bag without these additions and never miss anything depending on your use case. Its shell – Peak Design states it's a "waxed 500D Kodra shell with DWR coating" on their website – is water resistant and the pouch has the same rubberized bottom that Peak Design's larger bags sport.

The Field Pouch is somewhat padded without seeming unwieldy. No, it will likely not protect your mirrorless camera from a drop of a cliff, but for everyday situations I wouldn't worry at all about whether my gear is protected in it. The pouch can also be varied in size. Its lid folds down and safely clings to two high quality velcro straps across the front. In its largest configuration, the Field Pouch can easily hold an A5-sized notebook (like a larger Moleskine or Leuchtturm 1917), an iPad Mini, or a Kindle; or indeed, all three at the same time. It will also shrink down to become essentially half that height if needed. Peak Design gives the pouch a lifetime warranty, and I have a feeling they won't lose too much money on this. The bag is sturdy and appears quite reliable.

What I Didn't Like

At $39.95, the Field Pouch is a bit steep for a small bag without even a strap. (Peak Design sells a bundle with one of its system Slide Straps for $80.00). For the same price, you can get similarly sized strap-already-supplied bags from a maker like Crumpler, while an Op/Tech Accessory Bag or a strapless Domke Belt Pouch will cost you under $30.

The zippered pocket has one zipper running along the length of the bag but is subdivided into two small compartments. This means that keys, change, or SD cards won't collide with each other or get lost. It also unfortunately means you can't use that pocket for something larger that should be kept safe, like a small wallet or your passport. Sure, that is a bit of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, but overall I think one undivided zippered pocket would have been better here. The pouch also only comes in charcoal grey and heritage tan colorways. This is clearly a matter of taste, but I like the ash gray color of my Everyday Tote significantly better.

Conclusion

The Field Pouch is a bit of a sleeper. At first, it seems to be the thing that Peak Design wants to upsell you when you buy one of their other bags. I bought it as an accessory when I ordered my Everyday Tote. During the past few months, however, the tote has seen occasional use, while the Field Pouch is in my hands constantly. It can be a small camera bag, an accessory pouch, a tourist's about-town bag, with room for electronics as well as a travel guide, a clutch, even a tiny book bag. It will hold your batteries and odds and ends and make your life with and without a camera that much more organized. I can see myself using camera bags from other makers easily, but Peak Design has the market cornered on, well, Field Pouches. It's its own thing, but that thing is very useful.

The Peak Design Field Pouch is $39.95. Buy it here in charcoal or heritage tan (light brown). If you want to wear it as a small sling bag, you'll also need a strap like Peak Design's SL-2 Slide Strap, or a set of Anchor Links and a strap of your own.

Source: Fstoppers Reviews The Peak Design Field Pouch

Your Official Instagram Hashtag Guide for Photographers: A List Of The Best Hashtags [Instagram Tips: Part 2]

In Part 1 of my Instagram Tips series, three sure-fire tips were shared to grow the right following, the right way on Instagram. One of the methods was to use the correct hashtags for your audience. This week we're diving a little deeper into what specific hashtags will work best for you based on specific genre. Get your notes out and lets go!

Why Do Hashtags Matter?

They may not mean everything, but they do mean something. It's a piece of the puzzle to growing your audience on Instagram. Look at it as if you're advertising your work to the Instagram world. No one will know you exist unless you put your work out there at some capacity.

Hashtags Increase the Likelihood of Being Featured

In the Instagram world, there are a plethora of "Instagram Feature Pages," especially in the photography community. For example at Fstoppers, we have our very own feature page. Feature pages essentially act as a modern day magazine where quality content is congregated to one Instagram page for those to enjoy. The benefits of your work being featured on multiple of these pages are very beneficial. Your username is most likely tagged where other users can click and explore your work, which can exponentially translate into more followers. 

What Makes A Good Hashtag?

The sum of posts posted under a specific hashtag does not mean that hashtag is the right hashtag for you. There are a number of factors: sum of posts, the quality of the content, and the engagement of a community. I find the more niche a hashtag is the better. Why? Because people searching these pages genuinely care about the content that is catered to them. They aren't spam bots buzzing through #vsco or #instamood which hold no value to anyone. 

A good rule of thumb is to not post hashtags that contain over five million posts or so. That way your image will not be bogged down within seconds to a "black hole" of no return on that hashtag feed, because many users are posting that same hashtag at the same time as you. As a user, you want your image to be on the top of the hashtag feed as long as possible to those who are genuine enough to engage with you!

The Hashtag Guide

So here you have it! A complete list of hashtags handpicked for you to utilize when posting on Instagram, whatever your genre may be! You may find yourself mixing-and-matching some of these categories that best fit you. Remember, you're only allowed to use a maximum of 30 hashtags per post. With that being said, pull out your Notes app and get ready to copy and paste these hashtags!

Genre (# of Hashtags Provided)

General Photography (32)

#agameoftones #ig_masterpiece #ig_exquisite #ig_shotz #global_hotshotz #superhubs #main_vision #master_shots #exclusive_shots #hubs_united #jaw_dropping_shotz #worldshotz #theworldshotz #pixel_ig #photographyislifee #photographyislife #photographysouls #photographyeveryday #photographylover #worldbestgram #iglobal_photographers #ig_great_pics #ig_myshot #shotwithlove #justgoshoot #xposuremag #icatching #collectivelycreate #wanderlust #heatercentral #highsnobiety #shotzdelight 

Portrait (30)

#portraits #portrait #portraits_ig #pixel_ig #portraiture #expofilm3k #portrait_perfection #portraitstyles_gf #snowisblack #portraits_universe #featurepalette #bleachmyfilm #portraitmood #featurepalette  #rsa_portraits #makeportraits #profile_vision #top_portraits #igersstpete #life_portraits #postthepeople #quietthechaos #2instagood #way2ill #justgoshoot #artofvisuals #l0tsabraids #ftwotw #igPodium_portraits #ftmedd

Landscape (32)

#landscapephotography #landscapelover #landscape_captures #landscapes #landscape_photography #pixel_ig #landscape_hunter #landscape_lovers #landscapecaptures #landscapestyles_gf #landscape_specialist #landscapeporn #getlost #landscapephotomag #ig_landscape #trapping_tones #ig_masterpiece #ig_podium #splendid_earth #gramslayers #agameoftones #optoutside #discoverearth #exploretheglobe #nakedplanet #places_wow 

#earthfocus #ourplanetdaily #earthofficial #natgeo #nationalgeographic #awesome_earthpix

Animal/Wildlife/Nature (27)

#animal_captures #animals_in_world #splendid_animals #animals_captures #animal_fanatics #animalelite #animal_sultans #animal_sultans #wildlifephotography #wildlifephotography #birdphotography #wildlifephoto #wildlifelovers #earthfocus #wildlifeplanet #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeaddicts #natgeowild #natgeo #natgeohub #natgeowildlife #natgeopl #natgeowild_hd #natgeoru #natgeopix #wildlifeperfection

Astro (20)

#astrophotography #universetoday #milkyway #astrophoto #astrography #nightsky #nightscaper #starphotography #starscape #longexpo_additction ;#udog_sky #landscape_captures #awesomeearth #milkywaychasers #natgeospace #starrynight #longexposure #astro_photography_ #ic_longexpo #fs_longexpo

Automotive (13)

#carphotography #automotivephotography #carporn #carsofinstagram #carlovers #caroftheday #carswithoutlimits #cargram #carinstagram #carlifestyle #sportscars #madwhips #cargasm 

Black & White (30)

#bwstylesgf #bnw_captures #bnw_universe #insta_bw #bwmasters #igfotogram_bw #excellent_bnw #igblacknwhite #blackandwhite_perfection #bnw_demand #bnwmood #bnw_planet #bnw_society #bnw_magazine #bnw_globe #bnw_of_our_world #top_bnw #bw_lovers #bw_photooftheday #bw_crew #bwstyleoftheday #noir_vision #bnw_diamond #flair_bw #rsa_bnw #bnw_life #bnw_guru #love_bnw #jj_blackwhite #bwsquare

Boudoir/Glamour (24)

#boudoirphotography #boudoirphotographer #boudoirshoot #boudoirinspiration #boudoirphotos #beautyandboudoir #boudoir #implied #impliedmagazine #uncoverme #uncoveredmagazine #nakidmag #forguysmag #fusemagazineonline #sensual_ladies #sensualdays #great_captures_sensual #igf_sensual2 #sensual_guru #ig_sensual_art #glamourshots #modelsofinstagram #glamourshot #glamourmodel

Drone (24)

#dronephotography #droneoftheday #dronestagram #dronesdaily #dronefly #dronegear #drone #mavic #dji #quadcopter #djiphantom3 #uas #dronelife #dronebois #aerialphotography #phantom3 #phantom2 #phantom4 #droneporn #djiglobal #djiphantom #fromwhereidrone #natgeoworld #natgeotravel

Fashion (20)

#fashionphotographer #fashionshoot #fashioneditorial #fashionmagazine #fashionmodel #fashionph #vogue #fashiongram #fashiondiaries #topmodel #modeloftheday #modelfashion #modelsworld #testshoot #testshoots #newface #facesobsessed 

The Best Travel Destinations For Photographers In 2017, Captured By The Fstoppers Community

Forbes recently released their picks for the top photography travel destinations in the world; meanwhile, this month Fstoppers began filming our latest tutorial, Photographing The World With Elia Locardi 3. Considering the tremendous amount of incredible images shared among the Fstoppers community from across the globe, it only seems fitting to take a look at some of 2017's top travel destinations for photographers as captured by you, the Fstoppers community.

2016's list was chosen based on the location's quality of natural light. This year's list was selected based on a variety of criteria but primarily focused on locations where wilderness, culture, color, and history merged together.

Norway

Image credit Stefano Chiarelli

If glaciers, mountains, and the deepest fjords on the planet intrigue you, you're either a Viking or you're one of the many photographers dreaming of filling your viewfinders with Norway's incredible scenery.

The Lofoten Islands in Norway's far north Arctic Circle are known for some of the best northern lights in the world. During summer months, the sun barely sets, leaving photographers with a nearly endless sunset.

Highlights:

Glaciers

Stunning Mountains

Fjords (Google it)

Aurora Borealis

Long-Lasting Sunsets

Dubai

Image credit Elia Locardi

Situated along the Persian Gulf coast, more than 2.2 million humans call Dubai home. Regarded as one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world, Dubai is also home to one of the world's fastest growing economies.

Highlights:

Architecture

Cultural Diversity

Desert Landscapes

World-Class Resorts

Hawaii

Image credit Jason Matias

Interested in traveling outside of the continental United States, but want the familiarity you've become accustomed to while living in the U.S.? Hawaii may be the destination for you in 2017.

Hawaii's eight main islands, Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and the Island of Hawaiʻi all offer a variety of photographic sole food. Those who have been will tell you that you'll be back. Considering the amazing geographic features associated with each individual island, it's highly likely that you'll be unable to see them all in one visit.

Highlights

Convenience

Tropical Rainforests

Cliffs

Waterfalls

Volcanoes

Beaches and Great Surf

Vermont

Video credit Mark Bowers

History buffs will have plenty to photograph throughout the state of Vermont, as few states have such a rich history.

Quick fact: In ratio of cows to people, Vermont has the greatest number of dairy cows in the country. What does that mean for photographers? Aside from not having to worry about running out of milk (photogs love milk), you'll be able to add some utterly fantastic livestock images to your portfolio if you so choose.

Highlights

Beautiful Landscapes

Rich Art Scene

Culture

History

Great Barrier Reef

If underwater photography is your thing, or you'd like it to be, you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere more photogenic than The Great Barrier Reef.

Located off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia, the Great Barrie Reef is the largest living thing on Earth. The reef is also to countless species of colorful fish, mollusks, and starfish, along with other marine life like turtles, dolphins, and sharks.

Highlights

One of the Seven Wonders Of The World

Marine Life

Underwater Photography

600+ Species of Coral

Islands

Croatia

Image credit Luka Jazic

Croatia encompasses more than a thousand Mediterranean islands along the Adriatic Sea across from Italy. Its medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and diverse museums make Croatia a destination for photographers interested in experiencing interesting architecture and stunning natural beauty.

Highlights

Natural Beauty

Medieval Architecture

Rich In History

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Southeast China

Image credit Helminadia Ranford

Quick fact: The movie Avatar was inspired by the karst forests of Zhangjiajie.

Highlights

Rice Fields

Beautiful Landscapes

Often Overlooked

Culture

Karst Forests

Borneo

Image credit Andrew Nguyen

The third largest island in the world is ironically one of the most remote place in the world. It's here that you'll find the most diverse rainforests on the planet.

Highlights

Rainforest

Remote

Wildlife

National Parks

Southern Brazil

Image credit Michael DeStefano

The former home of the Summer Olympics is also home to a number of once in a lifetime photographic opportunities.

Highlights

Culture

Colorful Architecture

Tropical Landscapes

Nature and Wildlife

Iceland

Image credit Ken Koskela

This majestic country is home to vivid and surreal landscapes that any landscape, adventure, or travel photographer would give an arm and a leg to photograph. Roughly a six hour flight from NYC, Iceland may not be as far out of reach as it may seem.

Highlights

Aurora borealis

Stunning Landscapes

luminous-blue icebergs

Ice Caves

Wildlife

Waterfalls

Have any of these beautiful destinations made it onto your 2017 travel itinerary? 

[via Forbes]

Source: The Best Travel Destinations For Photographers In 2017, Captured By The Fstoppers Community

Interesting Photo of the Day: Didn’t Make the Cut for National Geographic

For the animals living in the colder parts of the Southern Hemisphere, it's always exciting when photographers show up to take their picture. In this case, National Geographic's feature on penguins must have been very selective in choosing only the brightest, most active individuals:

"When you don't make the cut for National Geographic auditions." (Via Imgur. Click image to see full size.)

This reminds me of the penguin Mumble from the movie Happy Feet, except these penguins aren't singing for their National Geographic audition. This photo shoot is based solely on photogenic appearance! I'm now halfway expecting Pixar to pick up movie rights for a film based on the sad lives of animals that don't get chosen for these National Geographic features. At least that story will have a happy ending for these penguins!

Source: Interesting Photo of the Day: Didn't Make the Cut for National Geographic

On the Ground :: A Street Photographer’s Take on Inauguration Day 2017

Uncertainty has settled over our nation since November 9, 2016, when it was announced that Donald Trump would become the 45th president of the United States of America. This fact has been met with stunning amounts of protest—as well as praise and hope from a different demographic—and has left the country largely divided.

To document this historic inauguration, we asked 23-year-old photographer Luis Ernesto Santana to capture the duality of emotions present in Washington D.C. this past weekend. As a New York native into graffiti and exploration, Luis seeks to preserve authenticity with his camera—something he never leaves home without. From workers sweeping up shattered glass to a cart selling MAGA hats, Luis spent his time crossing partisan lines; he documented journalists swarming around a trash fire, engulfed himself in the red, white, and blue of Trump supporters, and archived moments of anger and unification. Here's a street photographer's perspective on inauguration day, from 6 am 'til night.

"I've never been to a protest that escalated so quickly before… The fluctuation of energy and numbers of people who came together spoke volumes. Still so surreal that this all occurred within Washington, D.C.; truly liberating to see the thousands of people united yet relentlessly outraged to the point of no return."

Anti-Flag.

Photographers and videographers from various media outlets swarm around a burning trash can.

Across the yellow tape: Trump Supporters.

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Follow Luis Santana on Instagram @illmaticnyc.

A little more about the photographer in his words:"Photography has led me to document friends who inspired me and one who eventually passed away, curating galleries of other photographers that I look up to. It has allowed me to explore the diversity with camera bodies and lenses, experimenting the differences with digital work to film, and visually preserving the authenticity of New York and its people. Photography for me is an endless experience, from travel to connecting, a visual literacy to redefine an instance. I know this all sounds cliche, but this is something for almost a decade I've been fervent about—over time it's habitual that I never leave my house without a camera."

Source: On the Ground :: A Street Photographer's Take on Inauguration Day 2017