The 2017 Monitor Buyers Guide for Photographers: Top Recommendations

Even with all the notes and advice, it's typically a tough job to find a quality monitor in any price range. This is why I've decided to hand you my top recommendations as of November 2017. After sifting through literally hundreds of monitors, I've distilled five classes of monitors, among which are Fstoppers top recommendations in either class.

As a photographer, try to think of a monitor as a translator. What you're doing in post-processing gets translated to what you see. The quality of the translations determines how accurate the feedback loop between doing and seeing is. You certainly wouldn't want to get anything lost in translation. As such, it's important to invest in a quality monitor.

Calibration and Workflow

There's a lot more to accurate color and luminosity representation than just throwing money at Amazon or B&H. In the previous article, I've laid out some of the foundations that go into post-processing. These recommendations come from my experience as a professional fine-art photographer, where I need a uniform display of color palettes among varying media.

We've also discussed what to look for in today's monitor market and we've covered that TN-TFT panels are more responsive and geared towards gamers rather than image-editing enthusiasts. I want to stress again that it's important to accurately calibrate your monitor if you're expecting the very best results from either of the following top monitor recommendations.

At less than $ 200, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal than this 23" IPS monitor from ViewSonic. It's been around for a couple of years and its price/feature list ratio hasn't been surpassed as of this writing. While the monitor doesn't cover AdobeRGB, it does feature 8-bit color depth, which is quite rare in this price class. This is photo-editing on a shoestring budget.

Brand: ViewSonic

Name: VX2370Smh-LED

Monitor Type: 23" IPS Panel, LED Backlight, Matte finish

Resolution: 1920x1080

Brightness: 250 cd/m2

Gamut: 100% sRGB, no AdobeRGB

Color bit-depth: 8 bit

Price: $149

Date: From 2013

Mid-Range Photo-Editing Monitor < $300: BenQ GW2765HT

There are hundreds of IPS-panels when we enter the mid-range market. But if we're looking at absolute specs and compare reviews on the web amongst the best-tested monitor in this difficult price range, there isn't anything that comes close to this popular 27" monitor from Benq. Be aware that the monitor does need a bit of a warm-up period as it uses CCFL backlighting.

Brand: BenQ

Name: GW2765HT

Monitor Type: 27" IPS Panel, CCFL Backlight, Matte finish

Resolution: 2560x1440

Brightness: 350 cd/m2

Gamut: 100% sRGB, 79.1% Adobe RGB

Color bit-depth: 8-bit + FRC

Price: $ 219

Date: From 2014

High-End Photo-Editing Monitor < $600 BenQ SW2700PT

Once we enter the high-end market in photography monitors, the playing field thins out but it gets more difficult to find the best among the ones that remain. However, if we take a glance at the feature list, we find that this is one of the few monitors in this price class that features a 10-bit display and a 14-bit 3D LUT. There has yet to appear a negative review of the SW2700 on the web because when this monitor is properly calibrated, it's one of the best that money can buy.

Brand: BenQ

Name: SW2700PT

Monitor Type: 27" AHVA (IPS)‎ Panel, LED Backlight, Matte finish

Resolution: 2560x1440

Brightness: 350 cd/m2

Gamut: 100% sRGB, AdobeRGB 99.3%, Rec.709‎

Color bit-depth: 10-bit color depth +14 bit LUT

Price: $ 595

Date: From 2016

Enthusiast Photo-Editing Monitor < $1500 NEC PA272W

Moving into the higher echelons of image editing monitors, a couple of brands remain. Eizo, Dell, and NEC are the long-time players in this area. While Dell monitors in this price range suffer from mixed reviews, Eizo and NEC have in common that their tests live up to the expectations as a result of their rich feature list. I've singled out the 27" PA272 because of its lower price point and excellent test results from multiple sources. If you have $1300 to spend, look no further.

Brand: NEC

Name: PA272W

Monitor Type: 27" AH-IPS‎ Panel, GB-R LED Backlight, Matte finish

Resolution: 2560x1440

Brightness: 340 cd/m2

Gamut: 100% sRGB, 99% AdobeRGB, Rec.709‎

Color bit-depth: 10-bit color depth +14 bit LUT

Price: $ 1,299

Date: From 2016

Top of the Line Photo-Editing Monitor > $1500 NEC PA322UHD

Working professionals in the image and video editing business are paid for accurate and uniform color representation. As such, they require the best of the best. Why have I chosen another NEC monitor? Honestly, I don't care much for brands at all, I'm looking at features first, go on to comparing prices and browse the web for impartial test results. At $ 2800, you get an UHD (3840x2160) monitor that displays 99,2 % of the AdobeRGB gamut, but it's almost 5" larger than the monitor in the high-end recommendation. If you're spending more, you might as well get a very tangible upgrade for the increased price.

Brand: NEC

Name: PA322UHD

Monitor Type: 31,5" IGZO-IPS‎ Panel, LED Backlight, Matte finish

Resolution: 3840x2160

Brightness: 350 cd/m2

Gamut: 100% sRGB, 99,2% AdobeRGB, 88.9% DCI P3, 72,1% Rec.2020‎

Color bit-depth: 10-bit color depth +14 bit LUT

Link:

Price: $ 2,799

Date: From 2016

The Future Playing Field

Is it worth waiting for a better monitor to come out? Well, I can say that it's highly unlikely that there will be a good OLED contender in any of the price ranges we've discussed. LCD-displays are tried and tested and have a very long lifespan. That can't be said about OLED technology yet. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a better monitor in any price class if you're in the market right now. Take the budget and midrange monitors for example – These ViewSonic and BenQ babies have been among the best money can buy for four and three years, respectively. They may well be superseded by better technology for the same amount, but it may take a while. And would you really wait another couple of months to process your photos?

Hopefully, I've made your choice a bit easier. If you have better recommendations than either of these, do let me know in the comments. If you have the data to back it up, I'd be happy to put it up here.

Source: The 2017 Monitor Buyers Guide for Photographers: Top Recommendations

Celebrating the Work of Black Women Photographers

One-hundred black women photographers contributed to the debut issue of Mfon: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora, an annual journal launched today, which will publish photographs by women of African descent. The photographers range from age 13 to 91 and live all over the world — from Madagascar to Arkansas, Mali to Chicago — and their subjects include the AfroPunk Festival in Brooklyn, life in Lagos, Nigeria, and a funeral for Egyptian soldiers. New York-based co-editors Laylah Amatullah Barrayn and Adama Delphine Fawundu, a documentary photographer and visual artist, respectively, selected images exploring a wide range of th emes relating to the African Diaspora, including beauty standards and black hair, resistance movements, and spirituality. The photos appear alongside interviews and essays by writers such as New York Times writer Whitney Richardson and author Catherine McKinley.

Barrayn told the lifestyle website Roads & Kingdoms about their goal: "To show that women are underrepresented in the field of photography. Women of color: underrepresented. Women of African descent: underrepresented. Let's highlight the work that these women are doing all over the world. They're doing it across genres: photojournalism, fine arts, commercial photography … They're working out there." Barrayn and Fawundu thought of the idea f or the journal in 2006, but couldn't secure funding at the time. A decade later, the friends launched a GoFundMe campaign and secured a grant from the Brooklyn Arts Council to make Mfon a reality. "I am African American, and Delphine's family is from Sierra Leone," Barrayn told the Cut. "Our friendship is a cool reflection of African Diasporic people connecting and reconnecting." Click ahead to preview the debut issue, available on Mfon's website.

MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora $40, MFON Journal

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Source: Celebrating the Work of Black Women Photographers

4 Professional Adventure Photographers Share Their Photo Kits

The backcountry hates technology. It wants to dent it, crush it, freeze it, burn it and drown it. But damn does it look good on camera. Visual storytelling in the wilds isn't easy — ambitious photographers have to add extra weight to already-heavy bags, put thousand-dollar gear investments at the mercy of unforgiving environments and spend long hours waiting in harsh conditions to get the perfect shot. An adventure photographer can't afford not to have a trustworthy kit that's both versatile and highly specialized, and as it is with all outdoor equipment, there is no one solution for every situation. In place of that, here are four photo kits that stand up to the trials of adventure — tried, tested and put to use by the best names in the game.

Jimmy Chin "I carry a variety of gear depending on what type of shoot I am doing. It's always about trying to find a balance between weight, versatility, the difficulty of shooting location, the difficulty of activity, and whether I am shooting video, stills or both. Most recently, I was working on my current feature documentary project where I was directing and filming but had also been asked to shoot the feature print story simultaneously. I generally try to avoid this type of scenario because I feel like I have to make a lot of compromises and end up not doing any of it particularly well. But in this case, I didn' t have a choice. The shoot required a wide range of coverage including vérité film scenes, photojournalistic coverage of day-to-day life, and filming and shooting stills of high-angle big wall climbing. I think it is a good example to look at since I needed a quiver I could shoot video and shoot stills within multiple environments. Here is the basic kit I traveled to location with. This equipment would get paired down depending on what I was shooting for the day." — Jimmy Chin CamerasEOS-1DX Mark II by Canon $5,699EOS 5D Mark IV (back up camera) by Canon $3,299

Lenses24-105mm f/4 by Canon $1,09916-35mm f/4 by Canon $99970-200mm f/4 by Canon $1,09935mm f/1.4 by Canon $1,64950mm f/1.2 by Canon $1,29924-70mm f/2.8 by Canon $1,699

Krystle Wright "As an adventure photographer, my kit is ever-evolving thanks to the numerous environments I choose to shoot in. I call the road worldwide home; however, I return to Australia fairly often for the chance to reset my bags for upcoming adventures. I typically favor wider lenses as my work often involves a lot of space in the image. It's not a case of creating a pretty picture with a small figurine in a grand landscape that is often seen on social media. It's the desire to tell a story of that person or athlete in their environment as I wait for the right subtle moment for things to fa ll into place. I try my best to strip down my gear since it has to be carried on my back, but I also prefer simplicity and focus on the important things such as being creative. My dream set up is just the Canon 5DS R and the 35mm f/1.4. At times, this has been the only thing in my bag, but when I am working for clients I need to carry a few more options to make sure the job is done." — Krystle Wright CamerasEOS 1DX Mark II by Canon $5,699EOS 5DS by Canon $3,699

Lenses70-200mm f/2.8 II USM by Canon $1,89924-70mm f/2.8 II USM by Canon $1,69985mm f/1.2 II USM by Canon $1,84935mm f/1.4 II USM by Canon $1,64924mm f/1.4 II USM by Canon $1,54924mm Cine Lens by Canon $4,22014mm f/2.8 II USM by Canon $2,099

Accessories2x Extender III by Canon $429Speedlite 600EX II-RT by Canon $479ST E3 Remote by Canon $285

Underwater AccessoriesElite 5D3 Canon Water Housing by AquaTech $1,595LP-1 Dome by AquaTech $395LP-3 Dome by AquaTech $495P-30Ex 30mm Extension Ring by AquaTech $195Pistol Grip by AquaTech $395Sport Shield Small Rain Cover by AquaTech $130

BagsTilopa by F-stop $319Kashmir UL by F-stop $189Florentin by F-stop $119

Jeff Johnson

"I shoot most of my work-oriented stuff on Canon and a lot of my personal stuff on Leica. For me, simpler is better. That's why I always bring up Leica — the Leica cameras are made to be so simple in the way they work. When I get a new Leica I can be shooting that thing within ten minutes whereas with some cameras — I went through a few different companies — some of them I'm having to call friends and ask what menu they use for this and that; I'm not even shooting the camera for like a day because I'm trying to figure out how to work it. With a Leica I just put in the battery, turn it on and I'm shooting. With photography, you look at some of the best photos taken in the world, and some of the best photos from the '60s, '50s, and even '40s, and they're using old cameras with one lens and getting beautiful things. It kind of comes down to the photographer more than your equipment in a way. You can get really good stuff with real simple equipment. I'm con stantly trying to simplify my deal a little bit and have less options. But I do have a ton of camera equipment and a ton of options. Sometimes I just like to limit that a little bit." — Jeff Johnson

CamerasM10 by Leica $6,895

Lenses50mm f/2 Summicron-M by Leica $7,79535mm f/1.4 Summilux-M by Leica $4,99524mm f/2.8 Elmarit M by Leica Discontinued16-18-21mm f/4.0 Tri Elmar-M by Leica $5,395

AccessoriesLeash Camera Strap by Peak Design $35Cuff Wrist Strap by Peak Design $30Everyday Backpack by Peak Design $290

Angela Percival

"I spend a lot of time shooting in some pretty nasty, wet and cold mountain conditions, so I really need my gear to hold its own in the outdoors. I take care of it but I don't have time to baby it. The Canon 1DX Mark II and the Canon 5D Mark IV are both rugged, reliable, weatherproof bodies and will take what I throw at them.

I'm often without power for multiple days on end so I also value the battery life of the Canons. I recently did a basecamp backcountry ski shoot in Northern British Columbia in -40 Celsius and even though the batteries spent a lot of time in my jacket between shots I was so impressed with how well they coped in the cold.

Weight is a big factor and often is a daily balance given that I carry all of my own gear on my back while chasing athletes around the mountains. I always prioritize the quality and speed of the 1DX when shooting action like skiing, trail running or mountain biking, even if it means I have to suffer a little more on the uphill with a heavier pack.

When efficiency in the mountains is an absolute priority, as it is with alpine climbing or long multi-day missions, I go for the lighter kit like Canon 5D Mark IV. My standard lens kit when I am out in the field is 24-70, 70-200 and a wide option like the 16-35 or the 15mm Zeiss. I sub in prime lenses when I can carry the extra weight, or when I know I am going to have early 3 AM starts in the dark and need a few more stops to work with I usually throw in the 24mm 1.4.

Backpacks are key piece of gear for me, not only does my pack have to carry my camera equipment it also has to fit my personal gear for the activity like climbing gear or avalanche equipment and be still able to carry my skis, ice axe, crampons etc on the outside. For multi-day missions, I use a custom-made backpack that Arc'teryx made specifically for me." — Angela Percival

CamerasEOS 1DX Mark II by Canon $5,699EOS 5D Mark IV by Canon $3,299a7RII by Sony $2,398

Lenses24mm f/1.4 by Canon $1,54924-70mm f/2.8 by Canon $1,69950mm f/1.2 by Canon $1,29970-200mm f/2.8 by Canon $1,899100mm f/2.8 by Canon $74915mm f/2.8 by Zeiss $2,950

AccessoriesMountaineer Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Center Ball Head by Gitzo $1,250Leash Camera Strap by Peak Design $40Venture 30 Recharger by Goal Zero $100Nomad 14 Solar Panel by Goal Zero $150

BagsLotus by F-stop $239Kashmir UL by F-stop $189

Source: 4 Professional Adventure Photographers Share Their Photo Kits

Iranian Photographers Win Awards At Brooklyn Festival

Several Iranian photographers won awards at the Brooklyn International Photography Festival in New York, the organizers announced on Saturday.

The event, organized by the Art Bureau NYC and the Lumière's Beam Photo Agency and the Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP).

Seyyed Yaser Fattahi won the International Association of Art Photographers (IAAP) Gold Medal for his single photo "Hormoz Island Girl" in the Child Section of the festival, while Sudabeh Vatanparast received the CLUB Silver Medal for her photo "Alone" in this section.

Seyyed Yaser Fattahi – 'Hormoz Island girl'

Sudabe Vatanparast – 'Alone'

Fattahi also received the Master of Light Photographic Association (MOL) Gold Medal for "Shadows" in the Street Section (the featured photo at the top of this article).

In this section, photographers Negar Aqa-ali Tari, Mojtaba Safari and Dariush Qanbarnasab also received honorable mentions.

In the Music Section of the competition, "Thrill" by Mehdi Ruhi won the Photographic Society of America (PSA) Bronze Medal and "Conflict 1" by Seyyed Ehsan Mortazavi received an honorable mention.

Mehdi Rouhi – 'Thrill'

Seyed Ehsan Mortazavi – 'Conflict 1'

The festival also awarded "Now" by Mojtaba Nobakht with PSA Silver Medal in the Open Section and Abdolmoeid Marufi and Mojtaba Safari won honorable mentions in this category.

Iman Yadmellat also received the PSA Honorable Mention for his photo "Chicks" in the Nature Section.

The award-winning photos will be showcased in an exhibition at the Jalopy Music Theater in New York from December 15th to the 25th.

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The Iranian is an online magazine for those who care deeply about all things Iranian: identity, culture, music, history, politics, literature, and one another. Stories like this are made possible by readers like you. Please donate or subscribe to help fund independent journalism for the Iranian Diaspora.
Source: Iranian Photographers Win Awards At Brooklyn Festival

For an Assignment About Camping at Walmart, the Photographers Had to Camp Out, Too

There's an app that tells you which Walmarts allow overnight parking. At first we were looking for areas that had a lot of Walmarts, but then we switched tactics and tried sparse areas where travelers stopping for the night might be more concentrated. I'm not sure if it was a flaw in our logic or just the time of year, but we didn't find as many people as we had hoped.

Photo A couple of shopping carts in the corner of the lot in Walterboro, S.C. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times Photo A feral cat on the edge of the same lot. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times

Did you run into any trouble on the trip?

MB: There was a whole lot of downtime as we got into the wee hours of the night in Savannah, Ga., just hoping for someone to pull into the parking lot. We tried to figure out creative ways to shoot the same scenes. I came up with the idea of setting up two LEDs on a stand, getting the light dialed in and then moving them around to shoot lit portraits of the R.V.s themselves. I decided I would try to get each one in a single frame so that I wouldn't have to keep popping off flashes while people were trying to sleep. I fired off one test shot and it caught the attention of the security guard.

Right after that, I noticed a young man emerging from a car. (I had had my ey e on the car for hours, knowing someone was in there, but I hadn't felt comfortable approaching without knowing if they were sleeping or what.) I went over and asked him if I could shoot a portrait of him sitting in his car. He said yes. Just as I was about to start, the security guard came up and said that we weren't allowed to shoot there. I argued a bit, but she insisted. I didn't want to lose the opportunity, though, since it was the only one I had that night. So I shot the portrait anyway.

A little while later the police showed up. We waited for what seemed like an hour (it was about 4 a.m. at this point) and they gave us a citation saying that we were permanently banned from this Walmart in Savannah. The officers were unclear on the legality of not allowing us to shoot there, but said that the Walmart security team had the right to tell us to leave. Fortunately, there was another Wa lmart the next exit down.

Did you develop any food rituals? I used to put instant breakfast powder in my McDonald's coffee in the morning on the road. I hear you spent a fair amount of time at Waffle House.

George Etheredge: We did have a lot of Waffle House: two eggs sunny side up, hash browns and toast. And orange juice. And peanut butter and jellies that we made in our laps while driving down the road.

MB: The PB&J-with-banana sandwiches were pretty clutch. I packed lots of cold coffee drinks and muffins for my breakfasts, too.

Photo George posing for a portrait in front of a rural storefront in Hickory, N.C. Credit Mike Belleme for The New York Times Photo Mike sitting down for dinner at a Waffle House in Walterboro, S.C. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times

Did the trip get either of you ruminating on travel and adventure and the siren call of the open road?

GE: It was kind of exciting to just be in a van together with our cameras — exploring, winging it, seeing what you find. Not really knowing what to expect is a freeing feeling. Kind of nice. I'd do it again if I had the chance.

MB: I feel that a bit in retrospect, but at the time it was a hustle mentality. George and I both really wanted to do a good job on this, and started to really feel the pressure when we were having trouble finding people. In the end, because we had the luxury of several days, it all came together, but those first couple of nights we were in full stress mode. By the last night I'd say we were just having fun and enjoying ourselves because we were starting to feel better about what we had.

We've talked about doing it again this spring, maybe up north. It's funny because I'd never really related to the idea of being an R.V. owner before, but this trip got me thinking that it could be a really fun way to see the country, especially when I'm older.

Photo Seagulls on St. Simons Island, Ga.. Credit Mike Belleme for The New York Times Photo A Walmart employee in Hickory, N.C., with shopping carts in the parking lot. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times Continue reading the main story
Source: For an Assignment About Camping at Walmart, the Photographers Had to Camp Out, Too

UrbanClap brought us the best Wedding Photographers in Mumbai

Hey! You might want to try out Smartmockups app, an easy to use tool to design good photo and mockups without using Photoshop complex interface.*** Black Friday Week with 35% OFF! Lifetime!

It was us getting married and it was not less than a dream come true for both of us. Mohini was really very happy as finally she was going to experience the best day of her life. We both were all prepared for everything and she asked me to do the arrangements all according to our perspective as she knew well that her parents would not agree to her fairy tale dreams regarding our marriage. Both of us agreed to the thing that it would be better to hire a wedding planner so that we can enjoy the pre-wedding ceremonies without any stress.

Well, we found the wedding planner quite easily through the reference of one of my friends in Mumbai. Although all his work was superb, still Mohini was quite disappointed with the Wedding photographer's portfolio which they showcased to us. Mohini wanted to have a professional pre-wedding shoot along with extraordinary pictures of the most precious moments of her life. She wanted to have the best pictures of her in almost every ceremony which was arranged before, during or after the wedding. I too wanted my Mohini to look beautiful in each of her pictures, so I decided to help her get the best wedding photographers in Mumbai.

Mohini and I were genuinely troubled, although I had a lot of friends who were photographers, but still she didn't want to take a single chance on her wedding photographs as that will be the memories she wants to preserve all her life. I too agreed to this little passionate chic and started hunting for the best wedding photographers in Mumbai.  As most of us do, I Googled the same, but the results were disappointing and we were seriously not impressed with any of the images they showcased on their websites. I even tried surfing on different ad portals to find anyone who can get a smile of satisfaction on my Mohini's face but that too went in vain and I was seriously very pissed off.

At evening, when I was already very tired; I received a call from her and she was chirping on phone with her extra cute voice telling me to check the YouTube link she just sent me. Well the link was of some romantic song which she wanted me to play for her on Sangeet, but before that an advertisement flashed on the screen and that was the saviour for me and my Mohini. The advertisement was of an app named UrbanClap which assured to give the best while bringing the service providers right to our door. I suddenly had an energy rush in my body and I sat to search the same application on the Google PlayStore of my Android device. Soon I found the same and clicked on the download button to get it downloaded.

Within no time, the application was installed on my phone. Mean while, I went to have a cup of coffee to decrease the office headache I was having. I then called Mohini to ask her if she knew anything about UrbanClap. She said that she never heard of any such app and sounded a bit confused. I asked her not to worry anymore as she was soon going to get the professional Wedding Photographers in Mumbai whom she was craving for such a long time. She believed and just after few chit chats hung up. I opened the app to find the professional and got to know that I needed to get registered on the app in order to avail the services, which wasn't a big deal for me. After entering few of the basic details they required, I clicked on the register button and soon after that I started getting welcome messages from the UrbanClap team.

I was too relieved now, about finding the best wedding photographers in Mumbai. I just entered what I was looking for in the search space and filtered the location. After clicking on the search button, a huge list of the professional wedding photographers flashed on the screen. Now the challenge was to get the best among all the professionals who were listed on UrbanClap app. Mohini was quite passionate about purchasing stuffs online, so I called her to know that what she does to find the best among all the products. At first she giggled, then told me to compare the ratings and reviews of the product I was going to purchase.

How to find the best from UrbanClap?

Finding the professional wedding photographers from Mumbai was not a tough task. I started comparing the ratings of each professional and landed up short listing the professionals. After short listing the professionals on the basis of the ratings they received from their previous clients, I started reading the reviews they received very carefully. This again led to further sorting of the professionals and finally after a lot of brain storming I started sending personal messages asking them to quote their prices.

Soon I started receiving the mails with their price quotes. I was quite surprised as I also received the portfolios from them which I further mailed to Mohini and asked her to check the portfolios. As I supposed, she fell for the one I loved the most and asked me to hire the same. But I wanted to look to their portfolio in hard copy, so I called them and asked them if they can come down to my place for a meeting. They happily agreed to the same and next day they were there at my place for the meeting. I actually cleared all the doubts I had in my mind regarding the shoots and also bargained the prices. After a lot of discussion, I happily hired them for doing the wedding photo shoot of our wedding.

Why you must be going for UrbanClap?

UrbanClap is the platform which is genuinely bridging the gap between the needful service seekers and the professional service providers. You can find any service provider according to your needs. UrbanClap is very easy to use and has an amazing user interface which is totally user friendly and will not let you feel finding the right professional for you is tiring.

As promised by the wedding photographers in Mumbai, whom I hired, every single photograph of ours was just perfect and Mohini looked almost like a fairy in all her pictures. They were punctual, dedicated and experienced in their profession. Mohini almost screamed in happiness, on every single picture of ours and I was getting continuous hugs from her. The whole team of Panache Studios from Bandra was just amazing at their work and I would, even Mohini would surely recommend them to each and every person who is going to get married sooner or later. I forgot to mention that Panache has a user rating of 5 stars from their previous clients and they indeed deserve the same. Even I will also rate them with 5 stars rating. I am really very thankful to the whole team of UrbanClap for such a great initiative.

Source: UrbanClap brought us the best Wedding Photographers in Mumbai

10 snappy Black Friday deals for photographers

If you love taking pictures, Black Friday is a great time to upgrade your kit. The Popular Science Shop has everything you need, from smartphone lenses to camera drones at up to 75 percent off MSRP. Better still, you can save an extra 20 percent with coupon code BFRIDAY20.

This clip-on smartphone lens system offers three different looks: wide-angle for landscapes, macro for details, and fisheye for weirdness. It also has a detachable light and a built-in selfie mirror. Normally $59, RevolCam is now just $34.99.

YoCam weighs less than two ounces, but this action cam takes mighty videos. The waterproof design lets you capture your outdoor adventures in HD, and even livestream to friends. The camera is now 50 percent off at $99.99.

From distant wildlife to sports action, this beast lets you get closer to the action. It works with pretty much any smartphone, clipping on and off in seconds. It's usually $49.99, but you can grab it now for just $12.99.

The cutting-edge SKEYE Nano 2 FPV Drone usually retails for $99, but you can grab the world's smallest drone now for just $64, a discount of 35 percent off before you even apply the coupon code. Record incredible real-time video with the HD, Wi-Fi controlled camera whether it's day or night. Since the drone is super flexible you'll always enjoy completely stable video.

When space is tight, this endoscopic camera gives you a high-definition view. It's perfect for DIY inspections, but you can also use it for recording wildlife. Normally $49.99, this tiny camera has dropped to $29.99.

Whether you want to capture your road trip or just get some video insurance, the Dash Cam has you covered. It can even film after dark and react to sudden braking. It's worth $59.99, but you can snag one now for just $24.

This impressive action cam is a great alternative to GoPro, with full HD recording and loads of settings. You can also take it beneath the waves, and capture stunning timelapses. Order now for $39.99 and save a huge $60 on the MSRP.

For smartphone snappers, this kit offers total creative freedom. You get a 180-degree fish eye lens, a wide-angle lens, and a macro lens, plus a soft carry pouch. Worth $29.99, the kit is now just $11.99.

If you're serious about aerial video, the Strike Spy Drone should be on your wishlist. The built-in camera takes amazing HD footage thanks to shutter stabilization technology. This impressive quadcopter is now just $59.99 (was $169.99).

You can make flowers and insects your subjects with Blips macro lenses. The kits allow you to magnify tiny objects, with a clever attachment that adds virtually zero bulk to your smartphone. It's worth $33.90, but you can grab the macro kit now for $24.99.

Source: 10 snappy Black Friday deals for photographers

The Right to a Fair Internet for Photographers Is About to Be Gone

On December 14th the Federal Communications Commission will almost certainly be voting in favor of doing away with Net Neutrality. If you're not familiar with Net Neutrality, check out this article we wrote earlier this year on the topic. It is the idea of a free and open internet. As it stands right now, users are able to access the internet freely, with no speed or data caps regardless of the websites they visit. If the plan the FCC is proposing passes (and it probably will in a 3 vs. 2 vote), the internet as we know it may well be on its way out.

For photographers who own a professional photography business (and for any small business for that matter), this is bad news. It means that in the future, small businesses may be forced to pay ISPs (Internet Service Providers) so that potential clients are able to access our websites or portfolios as efficiently as the websites of our competitors who may have more money to give to ISPs to favor their websites. ISPs will be allowed to create "fast lanes" for those with the deepest pockets. And as any professional knows, website speed matters to consumers and consumers are notorious for having extremely short attention spans.

Beyond website speeds, videographers and photographers who advertise using videos may suffer as well. ISPs could potentially choose to throttle websites like YouTube or Vimeo based on what companies own which websites and who might be willing to pay more for better access. It's all a mess.

This has been an ongoing talk since regulations were put in place in 2015 to protect consumers by having a neutral internet. What is different now is the FCC has a chairman who has been staunchly opposed to Net Neutrality. He argues that the regulations put in place in 2015 were flawed and by abolishing Net Neutrality, the internet will be a free marketplace for businesses and that all consumers and companies will have different options to choose from based on their needs. He also promises that ISPs will have to be transparent with whom they choose to throttle or give preference to with "fast lanes". In essence, this is the only rule for ISPs in the new FCC proposal. They can throttle whoever they want so long as they're transparent about it. Perhaps if consumers had more options to choose from in regards to what ISPs to use to access the internet, this may be a viable plan, but as it is right now, with so few ISPs to choose from, and that stand with much more money and powe r than smaller companies, Net Neutrality is certainly doomed.

If you stand for Net Neutrality, please visit battleforthenet.com, enter your phone number and call your congressperson. Urge them to do the right thing and oppose the FCC's new proposal.

Lead image by pixabay.com via Pexels

Source: The Right to a Fair Internet for Photographers Is About to Be Gone

These are the once-homeless photographers who won a spot in the MYTORONTO calendar

The Star interviewed the four women and nine men whose photographs were chosen to fill the pages of the MYTORONTO calendar and grace the cover.

Disposable cameras had been given to 100 people and those 13 photographs were chosen from more than 2,400, after two rigorous rounds of judging and debate.

Both the contestants and the images they produced were colourful, complicated, joyful, thoughtful and almost wildly diverse. The common thread binding the photographers was that during one time in their lives they had been without a place to call home.

During the actual contest most participants were in permanent housing, or well on their way. Each of their winning images has a story and all of them have a message they hope the people who view their photos can take away.

Source: These are the once-homeless photographers who won a spot in the MYTORONTO calendar

Photographers' works document LGBT identities

Photographers Jess T. Dugan and Lorenzo Triburgo, along with Vanessa Fabbre, assistant professor at the Brown School and affiliate faculty in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, joined Center on Halsted Director of Transgender Relations and Community Engagement Vanessa Sheridan, who moderated, for a panel titled "Vulnerability and the LGBT Community" on Nov. 15.

The presentation was part of Museum of Contemporary Photography's exhibition "Disruptive Perspectives," which, according to its publicity, is an "exhibition that explores gender, sexuality, and identity" that utilizes "photography to articulate an expansive range of identities that cannot be sufficiently characterized using simplistic binaries."

St. Louis-based Dugan and Fabbre, who are a couple, undertook a photographic project documenting the lives of 88 transgender adults over the age of 50. Dugan photographed the subjects, while Fabbre interviewed them.

The couple consistently strove to "present subjects who were marginalized but also bring attention to their resiliency and strength," Dugan said.

Fabbre pointed out that she and Dugan endeavored for portraits that did not focus on individual vulnerabilities, but rather noted economic, social, environmental and and political challenges they faced instead.

"You'd see how the world creates this vulnerability for them," she said.

New York City-based Triburgo discussed his photographic project Policing Gender, which addresses mass incarceration by combining audio testimonials from LGBT prisoners with abstract images of landscapes and fabrics, effectively challenging viewers' expectations about absence and presence. Triburgo corresponded with the prisoners for some time prior to their recording.

"That, for about a year, was my art practice," Triburgo said.

"Disruptive Perspectives," including work by Dugan and Triburgo, shows at Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan Ave., through Friday, Dec. 22. www.mocp.org/ .

Source: Photographers' works document LGBT identities

$200 off Fstoppers' Wedding Photography Tutorial and $30 off Photography 101

Fstoppers is starting our Black Friday sale early with some of the biggest discounts we've ever offered, and they're lasting all week. Check out today's spotlight of $200 off "How to Become a Professional Commercial Wedding Photographer" and $30 off "Photography 101: How to Use Your Digital Camera and Edit Photos in Photoshop." See the discount details below. 

If you've been hoping to start your wedding photography business or want to take it to another level, Lee Morris and Patrick Hall have created a full tutorial on everything weddings. Learn how to shoot engagements, cover every aspect of the wedding day, and tackle the business skills you'll need to succeed in the market. You can save $100 off the regular price by using code BF200 at checkout. 

If you're not quite ready to tackle photography professionally, Fstoppers wants to get you there with our "Photography 101" course. This tutorial teaches all the ins and outs of your camera, how to control its settings, and the foundational elements of lighting your subject. Whether you simply want to improve your hobby or speed up the journey to shooting at a professional level, these lessons will help give you the groundwork you need to get there. Save $30 on this tutorial by using code BF30 with your purchase. 

These deals will only last through Cyber Monday, so be sure to act now. You can also check out the full selection of Black Friday deals in our store.

Source: $200 off Fstoppers' Wedding Photography Tutorial and $30 off Photography 101

Calling All Equine Photographers: Horses In Need Photo Project Seeking Applicants

Each year, the Equine Photographers Network hosts a contest for Horses in Need, which is open to all professional and amateur photographers, reports Horse Channel.

Those wishing to participate simply need to choose a horse, an individual or an organization that embodies the theme "horses in need." Possible topics include adoptable Mustangs, horse rescue organizations, ex-racehorses awaiting new careers, equine sanctuaries and more.

The goal of the photography project is to highlight  equine rescues and similar programs, and the individuals and organizations that are working to help the horses.Finished projects will showcase four to eight images in a story format, with text where necessary. Photographers are encouraged to find local stories.

The deadline to submit images is January 15, 2018.

Click here for more information.

New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry.Copyright © 2017 Paulick Report.

Source: Calling All Equine Photographers: Horses In Need Photo Project Seeking Applicants

Three Bridgewater Photographers Named Winners in County Contest

SOMERVILLE, NJ - The works of three photographers from Bridgewater were selected as winners in the Third Annual "Show Us Somerset County Through Your Camera Lens" contest, sponsored by the Board of Somerset County Chosen Freeholders, in cooperation with the Somerset County Business Partnership.

"We want to thank everyone who entered this year's contest," said Freeholder Director Peter S. Palmer.  "The Freeholder Board enjoys seeing the beauty of Somerset County through the eyes of residents and employees, and we are honored to post these amazing photos on our website."

The overall winning entry for the 2017 "Show us Somerset County Through Your Camera Lens" Photo Contest was submitted by Jessica Batley of Manville.

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Winning entries submitted by professional and amateur photographers were selected in five categories: Architecture & Urban Design, Arts & Culture, Community, Natural Environment and Transportation.

Architecture and Urban Design

Professional - First place was awarded to Corrine Evans Prochazka of Franklin

Amateur Classification - First place was awarded to Therese Hatch of Bridgewater for her photo of Division Street in Somerville. Ruth Ann Seyffart of South Bound Brook placed second for her photo of the former Pillar of Fire temple on the rotary in Bound Brook.

Arts & Culture

Professional: Gary Wiesner of Hillsborough placed first for his image of a carnival ride and Ann Wazeter of Bernardsville placed second for her "Misty Morning at Wallace House."

Amateur:  David Hatch of Bridgewater placed first and Banu Dogan of Hillsborough was awarded second place in this category.

Community

Professional: Ann Wazeter of Bernardsville was awarded first place for her entry.

Amateur:  Therese Hatch placed first and Lucia Mostello of Somerville was awarded second place.

Natural Environment

Professional: The first and second place were awarded to Stephanie Napholtz of Gillette.

Amateur: First place was awarded to Julia Heilberg of Warren and second place was awarded to Jiey Zhou of Somerville.

Transportation

Professional: The first place winner was Stephanie Napholtz.

Amateur: Thom Horvath of Bridgewater placed first and Lucia Mostello was awarded second place.

Winning entries will be posted on the Somerset County's home page at www.co.somerset.nj.us and athttp://bit.ly/PhotoContestWinners17. Photos also may appear in the Somerset County Business Partnership's 2018-2019 Somerset County Destination Guide.

Source: Three Bridgewater Photographers Named Winners in County Contest

Are Black Female Photographers Being Ignored? | COLE Magazine Shines A Spotlight On Hidden Talent And Industry Issues

It's no secret that women have been at the forefront of discussion in our industry as of late and are sparking a much needed change by bringing awareness to social injustices. There are large strides being made in the right direction and it is the hope of many to close the gender gap where there is underrepresentation in the various genres.

[REWIND: GRAZIA MAGAZINE'S PHOTOSHOP BLUNDER | THE BURDEN OF CREATIVITY AND CLUTIVATING CULTURAL AWARENESS]

Fashion in particular is largely comprised of male photographers and there have been numerous articles over the past few months outlining the fact. Dana Cole, Editor-in-Chief at COLE Magazine, took her research a bit further and found that black female fashion and beauty photographers flew even lower under the radar.

It posed an interesting question: do fewer black female fashion photographers truly exist or are they in fact grossly underrepresented at large? This question is similar to the uproar that was created when Nikon named their 32 men to their fellowship in the Middle East, Asia and Australia because surely there are strong female photographers in that demographic. It was also apparent that a community and network was lacking for these women.

With this in mind, COLE Magazine released a list of 19 black female fashion and beauty photographers with incredible portfolios out into the world with the hope of shining a floodlight on the immense that is out there.

Having personally experienced resistance in the industry simply for being a woman and watching this lingering question manifest into a mission, it became apparent that adding other parameters into the mix might make this journey that much more difficult. With piqued curiosity, I had a few questions for COLE Magazine's Editor in Chief.

Have you had any experiences or issues as a photographer where your skin color and /or gender has played a part?

I have personally had known issues where my race played a part in me not getting specific jobs. It sucked but I was also happy I found out who those people were before actually working for them.

Were you surprised by any hurdles or discoveries when compiling this list?

Well, it took me about 3-4 months of searching for a good amount of Black Women who are fashion and beauty photographers, and I am sure I have still missed a few. I was very happy with each new photographer I found.

Do you think the fashion industry and the current cultural blocks we are seeing highlighted play any role on why there appear to be fewer black female fashion photographers?

In a way yes, however, there is a shift happening. Look at the new Editor in Chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful; he is the first black editor of a major fashion magazine. He is paving a way for all of us. Putting more black models in the spotlight that haven't been given much attention is providing a spotloght to more POC. It all ties in together. Hopefully this shift continues to where there is a more diverse playing field.

What is your biggest goal for this list?

I want to show the photographic community and the world that we exist. Black women are here and we can shoot fashion and beauty with the best of them. I want to show other black women and girls that they too can do these genres and do them well . Aim high!

After checking out the featured women's Instagram accounts ranging from 1k to over 44k followers, it is frightening that these images hadn't shown up in various web searches or Instagram feeds.

[Rewind: THE UGLY SIDE OF FASHION & THE ROAD FORWARD | SEXUAL HARASSMENT, BODY SHAMING & NON-PAYMENT]

The work in their portfolios is on par with, and in some cases better than, many of the brand ambassadors getting the global attention in today's market. The argument could be made that those with the smaller social following are the reason that the work is not being recognized. What about those with an Instagram following of over 10k?

It is alarming that the names of these women have not been brought up in conversation throughout the industry because they definitely have the force of social influence behind them and the work to back it up. Be sure to check out the fashion and beauty portfolios on this list and you will embark on some inspiring work; it definitely speaks for itself.

Here are some of our favorites.

This list hopes to serve as a database for anyone looking for new talent as well as building a community to be a part of. Please feel free to reach out to Dana if you have any recommendations or would like to be added.

Source: Are Black Female Photographers Being Ignored? | COLE Magazine Shines A Spotlight On Hidden Talent And Industry Issues

The Best Wedding Photography in Sydney - Lightheartwedding.com.au

Petersham, New South Wales -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/16/2017 -- Natural looking pictures and videos for their wedding - Light Heart Films & Photography. It is an entity based in Sydney and their services include photography, wedding movies and videography that cover all the major occasions of a wedding. They claim to create beautiful memories of the special day with the help of their professional photographers.

Weddings are special occasions which require memories that can be held and cherished for a long time. This can be accomplished with the help of videos and pictures. However, not every bride and/or groom is accustomed to be clicked and shot on camera. It is important to find someone who is patient and understands the importance of the occasion. Light Heart Wedding is one such entity that claims to have expert photographers and videographers who are able to capture all the moments beautifully.

When it comes to a Sydney wedding photographer, it is important to choose s omeone who is reliable. The said website provides a number of packages which are relevant to such occasions and each of these are distinctive. Depending on the customers' requirements, they are able to provide customized solutions for best wedding movies. Theirs is a convenient and secure online portal that is ideal for pictures and videography and their portfolio is quite versatile too.

The website says, "We understand that weddings are special and are full of warmth and love. If you wish for these feelings to be captured in the perfect manner, our pictures and videos are able to achieve the same. We have a number of professional photographers who are able to bring the best out of any venues and decors. All of them are trained and can provide a customized results as well. Our Sydney Wedding Photography has gained a lot of interest among people."

To obtain more information about the services, visit http://lightheartwedding.com.au/.

The website claims that there are many blogs that can be perused by interested people to know more about wedding photography. The reviews of customers along with several portfolios have been included in the platform in order to help users in knowing more about their services. Their pricing structure has been described as being competitive by most users.

About http://lightheartwedding.com.au/Light Heart Films & Photography, http://lightheartwedding.com.au/ based at Sydney, Australia is a professional studio that offers Sydney wedding photography and wedding videography services.

Media Contact:Address: 79 New Canterbury Road Petersham NSW 2049Phone Number: 02 9568 4385URL: http://lightheartwedding.com.au/

Source: The Best Wedding Photography in Sydney - Lightheartwedding.com.au

From Wedding Photography, How We Started a Documentary Filmmaking Brand

What we do in our free time is often connected to our innate passion. Such one random act of passion led us to launch a social documentary filmmaking brand. A lot of us, especially wedding photographers, have this bandwidth of free time where we are not shooting any weddings. In this off-season, do the things we do sum up to make a difference? This post is about how we chose to make short social documentary films and how transforming the experience was on the whole.

The Art of Questioning

After being in wedding photography for seven years, the biggest earning for us is the team that I built over the time. With all the collective skills acquired, "What good can we give back to this society?" was the question we always asked ourselves constantly. This act of questioning is very important for all of us in the journey that we take. In our own ways we do contribute to making this world better and interesting, but what more can we do? As a team, this question was always there and we stayed with an open mind to embrace the chances we got. That's where it all started.  

The Act of an Opportunity Knocking at the Door  

Like I said, during the off-season when we were not shooting any weddings, we were looking to do something interesting. It was then we got this random email about a short documentary film contest for a social change. The challenging part of it was that we would be mailed a topic on the contest day and we were supposed to craft a short three-minute documentary within the next 100 hours. We were excited and took up the challenge. Our topic was the "random act of kindness."  We went ahead and made a film. There were 500,000 entries for the contest. Eventually, our film went on to win a national level award in the contest. Watch that three-minute film below.

The Transforming Experience

So this film was about a camera mechanic who had the habit of feeding parrots on his terrace. Fewer than 10 parrots kept frequenting. What started as a hobby soon turned out to be his passion. For 17 years in a row, he kept feeding parrots, every day morning and evening. Then, something phenomenal happened. Today, around 3,000 to 4,000 parrots visit his terrace and it is quite a feat of kindness that his action exhibits. When we shot this film, more than storytellers, as fellow human beings our approach towards life changed. A small part of us stood changed at the end of the 100-hour-challenge. Also, the person on whom we shot the film went on to win national-level laurels and cash awards. This was a real change happening.

Passion Partnered with Purpose

We wanted to make more of these films and bring the extraordinary unsung heroes around us to the limelight. Thus, Big Short Films was born, a social short filmmaking brand aimed to document and spread positivity. What started as a random act of passion soon turned out to be our obsession. We went on to make 17 short social documentary  films in one year and are still going strong. We don't have a corporate back up for these films and there are no monetary motives we hold, but yes, the fulfilling feel that we get when we see the change that each of these films makes is profound. That keeps us going. Each of these films we make is around 180 seconds and there is a reason why we keep it short. We'll talk about it in a separate post how they have the power to transform lives tangibly.

Looking back at how the dots connected, one can summarize the journey to these points below.

Make the best use of the free time in hand. Yes, this might sound trivial but trust me, in the long run, it is always these little things we do, the extra mile we stretch and the efforts we put in unconditionally that adds up to something bigger than the parts of it.  

Find what you are passionate about or what your team is passionate about, align your activities around it. It is always finding that one thing and everything else will fall in place. To us it was visual storytelling, and we fell in love with short social documentary filmmaking.  

Stay with an open mind to try out new things when an opportunity beckons. There are always silent chances that come and go in our lives but we might be too busy to notice them or might take it lightly. There is a world of possibility hidden in every chance that knocks the door and it is in our hands to rise to the occasion and make the most of it. In our case, it was that short film competition that changed everything else and here we are steering a documentary filmmaking brand with dedication.   

Capitalize on the results of passion and see how you can tie an angle of purpose to it. Once you get hold of something passionate apart from your work, invest time and mind in it and see what best you can pull out of it. This will serve as a necessary distraction on which you can focus on when you are not working your usual routine. In a way, this helps you to stay inspired big time and perform well in the personal and professional aspects of your life.  

Thanks to my amazing team who shared the vision of making films for a better cause. It worked for us. It might work for you too depending on the area that you are interested in. Especially wedding photographers who have the luxury of staying put for a season of the year, such interesting pet projects can shoot up to something bigger down the line. You can watch the short films we have made in our Big Short Films YouTube channel. They are all quick three-minute films. Give it a watch and let us know what you think. Comment your thoughts on how we can make this project bigger, so we can spread more positivity. 
Source: From Wedding Photography, How We Started a Documentary Filmmaking Brand

Here's why wedding photography can absolutely be transcendent art

Photo by Twisted Aisle Weddings

I've been editing real weddings for going on seven years and one thing is always a given: I am continually surprised and delighted by the photography. It almost never feels stale or boring. That said, we've talked to a lot of photographers who love to stretch their artistic muscles and push boundaries in their art. There's skill in finding those shots that have the Golden Ratio or that channel the Fibonacci Sequence. The photo that transcends into art due to a interesting composition, magical color combinations, or, let's face it, mad skills in Photoshop.

We reached out to our stellar vendor community to see what kinds of wedding photography as art we could showcase. They did NOT disappoint. Obviously documenting the wedding day with amazing moments is key, but once in a while, you'll see a photo that just makes you want to look twice.

Here are a few of our favorite artistic wedding photos…

Photo by Lovesick Photo by Dustin Cantrell Photo by Parenthesis Photography| Hair: Melissa Scrofani | Makeup: J. Kinford Beauty Group | Models: Clay Westman and Helen Laser Photo by JamieY Photography Photo by Carole Cohen Photography Photo by Sarah Barthlow Photography Photo by J onas Seaman Photo by Wild About You Photography Photo by Twisted Aisle Weddings Photo by Devon Rowland Photography Photo by Jonas Seaman Photo by Wild About You Photography Photo by Jess Leigh Artist Photo by Matt Stallone Photography | Venue: FEAST at Round Hill Photo by Pink Light Images Photo by Lume Photography Photo by Ryan Learoyd, Shutter Go Click Photography Photo by Colin Coleman Photography

Take a peek at our Offbeat Vendor Guide for even more inspiration!

This post features Offbeat Vendors! Check out their vendor listing to see how they cater to Offbeat Brides:

Source: Here's why wedding photography can absolutely be transcendent art