Interview: The Fine Art Sports Photography of Lorenz Holder

Red Bull Photography recently joined our community with a verified brand profile of their own. This partnership isn't just about amazing photography — it's also about amazing stories. Behind every shot on Red Bull Photography is a talented photographer, a wild story, and a few lessons learned. We'll be telling those stories every week here on 500px ISO and the Red Bull Photography website.

It was a happy accident that gave 18-year-old photographer Lorenz Holder the chance to pick up a camera and start shooting sports photography. After a shoulder injury put his semi-professional snowboarding plans on hold, he started to shoot photos of his friends so he could continue to get out on the slopes with them. "When my shoulder was better, they all said, 'Actually you were better with the camera than you ever were on the board,'" he laughs, "And to be honest, I kind of agree with them. So from then on, I've never gotten away from the camera."

Lorenz learned the skills of his trade shooting film, with a camera that his mother bought for his birthday. Does he, like many other film photographers, think this is a better way to grasp the basics than going straight into digital photography? "I'm not sure it matters, really. I think you shoot in a slower, more considered way on film, but when you get a whole set of slides back, and they are all underexposed, then that's a bummer," he answers.

"I've gone back to film recently as I'm shooting some stuff on large format. That is such a different experience—loading every sheet of film individually in the dark, and thinking about everything. Then, when you are out in the field, you find yourself waiting for that time when everything comes together to make the shot. It's funny, I think that process has made me slow down a bit. I find myself working in the same slow way with my DSLR."

The DSLR in question is a Canon EOS 5D Mark III, which Lorenz uses with a selection of zooms and Carl Zeiss primes. "I think my favorite lens is the 70-200m f/2.8. On the EOS 5D Mark III this is a classic combination—a real workhorse." he says.

"I also take flash with me lots of the time—two Elinchrom units and two Broncolor units, so I'm never short of light. I don't think you can tell if you are going to need flash before you get to a location, and see what the ambient conditions look like. I guess the big advantage of flash is that you can light up the stuff you think is interesting and beautiful, and leave the rest in the dark. But I do think you can do a lot of harm with flash too, destroying otherwise beautiful natural light."

Lorenz says he's inspired by the work of other photographers, but not necessarily those working in sports and action. "I actually like a lot of landscape and architectural photographers," he says. "Someone once asked my what the perfect action picture looks like to me. In my eyes, it's when the picture could rightfully look good hanging on a wall without the athlete in it. The fact you've got some sports in there too, that's a bonus."

"I guess you could call it fine art sports photography. If the athlete is too large, then you can't see the landscape around them. But if they are too small, it's not good for them. You have to tread the right line. But these are often very beautiful surroundings. It'd be a crime to shoot in them without showing them off."

A significant moment in Lorenz's career came in 2013 when he won the prestigious Red Bull Illume photography contest with his iconic picture of a snowboarder next to a satellite dish. "That was really big for me—a great start to my career. I got a load more jobs afterwards, particularly from Red Bull of course!" he says. "It's hard to win a competition like that. You look at all those pictures, and there is not a bad one amongst them. You can't separate them according to whether they are good or bad; it's down to personal preference, so I was very lucky."

And is he going to enter again this year? "Yes, in fact I just got my entries during the last few days. I wasn't going to enter at first. I was thinking I hadn't got anything good enough, but I went away and shot three projects in four weeks, and now I'm very happy with what I have."

Excellent! We can't wait to see what he's entered.

In the meantime, you too can enter this year's Red Bull Illume Contest. In fact, in honor of the 500px Red Bull Photography Global Photo Walk in September 17, 500px has included a new category to Illume—the Mobile Photo Contest. Enter now for a chance to win a return trip for 2 to Chicago for the Red Bull Illume Winner Awards Ceremony on September 28th 2016.

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Source: Interview: The Fine Art Sports Photography of Lorenz Holder

PHOTO: Mobile Police Stray Bullet Kills Father Of Five In Lagos

Drivers of mass transit buses yesterday boycotted Okoko / CMS route to protest the alleged killing of their colleague Sunday evening by a Mobile policeman.

The deceased, identified simply as Fatai was said to have been hit by a stray bullet from a Mobile policeman , at Doyin bus-stop in Orile area of Lagos.

The policeman with an undisclosed identity, who was said to be escorting a jeep, reportedly fired some shots into the air apparently to disperse vehicles which blocked the road, only for a bullet to hit the mass transit bus driver.

One of the protesting drivers , Ishola Manni, who spoke with this reporter, said: Our friend and colleague, Fatai , popularly called Oshe was killed by a Mobile policeman on Sunday. He died leaving behind a wife and five children. Who will take care of them?, he asked.

An eye witness, Ebere Madu explained that: " I was attending to some customers when we heard some gun shots. Everyone ran away, thinking it was a robbery operation, but by the time the whole place was calm, we were told that a man who was hit by a stray bullet fired by a Mobile policeman was lying in the pool of his blood.

When the Policeman realised what happened, he disappeared from the scene, leaving the vehicle he was escorting .

Boys in the area swung into action and arrested an occupier of the jeep whom they handed over to policemen at Orile division. The corpse was taken to the police station, from where it was taken to another location".

Source: PHOTO: Mobile Police Stray Bullet Kills Father Of Five In Lagos

Sabiduría. – Dubai Picture

Palabras sabias en el Festival City.

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Image published by Román Emin on 2013-12-07 10:58:01 and used under Creative Commons license.

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Source: Sabiduría. – Dubai Picture

Snakes on a cell tower: T-Mobile photo full of nope nope nope

Creepy

There are some things you just hope to never see while you're working. A writhing bundle of snakes is one of those things (unless you're a herpetologist). A T-Mobile field engineer climbed up a cell tower and made a discovery that will give some people nightmares: a mass of snakes all coiled around each other and the tower equipment.

Followers to come up with some movie titles based on the photo. T-Mobile's suggestion is "Snakes on an Array." Twitter users did not disappoint. Potential film titles included "Tower Medusa," "High Power Coils," "Snakenado," "Towering Inserpento" and "Slithering Heights."

While a lot of snakes tend to dwell at ground level, some snakes will climb trees (and other tall objects) to catch prey or avoid predators.

T-Mobile confirmed the image is real, but didn't share any further details other than that is was taken at a height of 125 feet (38 meters) up on the tower. The field engineer appeared to be a reasonable distance away from the snakes when the photo was taken, if that makes you feel any better.

Source: Snakes on a cell tower: T-Mobile photo full of nope nope nope

Mobile Photography / Art – Saturday Poetry – ‘Blue Tattoo’

This weeks Saturday Poetry, matched with mobile photography/art is entitled 'Blue Tattoo' by John Richard Reed. I have matched @booksandshit – Michel Pretterklieber's image 'Smokings 001/666' with this poem. You can view and follow him here on Instagram.

To view the others we have published in this section, go here. To ensure your image receives our attention, please upload it to Instagram with this hashtag – #theappwhisper

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Source: Mobile Photography / Art – Saturday Poetry – 'Blue Tattoo'

Social media creates boost in cellphone photography

Gareth Pon Picture: Gareth Pon/ Instagram

ALMOST everywhere you go, there is someone taking a selfie and posting it on social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.

As most people today have cellphones, it's easy to snap away wherever you are.

Instagram communities such as igerssouthafrica and coloursofyousa are honing that trend by pursuing the potential of mobile photography and using unique and creative ways of sharing images with meet-ups, called Instameet.

An Instameet is described as a gathering where photography and Instagram enthusiasts meet and capture certain parts of the city.

Top 2014-15 Instagramer, creator and administrator of igerssouthafrica, Gareth Pon, said it was the country's first internationally recognised Instagram community. Founded by Pon in 2013, igerssouthafrica is now part of a wider network of communities known as @igers.

Currently based in Chicago, Pon said his idea of starting a South African community began towards the end of 2012 but only became official in 2013.

"I selected community managers in each major city in the country and over one weekend, we launched the community by hosting Instameets in each city.

"My original intention for starting the communities was to help South Africans rediscover the beauty in their cities again," Pon said.

He said anyone, especially those who wanted to see more of their cities and were interested in photography, could be part of the igerssouthafrica community.

Closer to home, coloursofyou is one of the many communities on Instagram where aspiring photographers share images, whether it be amateurs or cellphone photographers.

Coloursofyou founder Gerard Addison said the group had been running for three years.

"It's a nice space where artists can create, meet and collaborate while sharing ideas, all the while bringing communities together to interact," Addison said.

Initially, coloursofyou featured "hidden beauties in the city" but through popularity and growth of the community, they have now partnered with Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism.

"We go to destinations such as historic or iconic spots that we can explore and capture.

"Most of the guys are self-trained and include anyone and we are open to the public and anyone who wants to join us on one of our Instameets," Addison said.

Pon said that Instagram communities such as igerssouthafrica "grow a lot quicker than traditional clubs" because they are "so organic and there are new communities with meet-ups happening all the time".

As someone who was given the title of top Instagrammer for two years in a row, Pon said if Instagram users wanted to get more followers, the biggest part was getting involved.

"Maintain an appealing Instagram account with high quality images. But interacting and engaging with your community is a very big factor," Pon said.

To view Gareth Pon's images, go to http://instagram.com/garethpon

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Source: Social media creates boost in cellphone photography

PHOTO: Welcome

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PHOTO: Welcome

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Jamaica's permanent representative to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith, presents her credentials to the ISA's Secretary-General Nii Allotey Odunton, during a call at the ISA Secretariat, Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on August 23. Ambassador Sealy Monteith is the acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

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Source: PHOTO: Welcome

Useful photo printing apps for Android phones

Once in a while, users may want to print out some of the photos saved on their Android phones. Instead of copying the pictures into Micro SD cards and using cables to transfer them to a computer, http://www.pcworld.com indicates that one can print the photos directly from Android phone without using computer.  This is done with a Wi-Fi-enabled printer.

Here are some of the photo printing apps:

HP iPrint Photo

Lets you crop and edit photos before you print

Supports over 200 HP inkjet printers

Quick and easy to set up

 The straightforward tools built into the app allow you to grab any photo on your phone and perform minor edits before you print. iPrint Photo supports over 200 HP printers. The app is available for Windows Mobile but not Windows 7 phone.

Polaroid PoGo

No Wi-Fi needed

Allows you to add custom borders and frames to images

Questionable colour quality on test prints

Polaroid's PoGo is the only Bluetooth printing app. You can choose whether to use a picture in your gallery or to take and frame one using your camera. The app provides a variety of frames.

Brother iPrint & Scan

Scans images directly to your phone

Setup takes a long time

Printing from a PC might be quicker

 Similar to Canon's app, iPrint & Scan searches your wireless network for compatible Brother printers.

Consult your user manual to make sure that your printer's wireless settings are configured properly, if not, you have to configure it to a wireless network.

Canon Easy-PhotoPrint

Searches for compatible printers on your wireless network

Lets you pick multiple pictures for batch printing

Great for printing a lot of pictures at once

Canon's   Easy-PhotoPrint app for Android gives the user ability to wirelessly print any photo on phone or SD Card. You can choose up to 39 different photos to print at once, as well as the type of paper to use and the number of copies to print.

Note: the app does not work with Canon's entire line of wireless printers.

CyPria

Lots of printing options

Integrates with other Android applications

Has other uses beside printing pictures from a phone

CyPria is a third-party printing application for wireless Epson printers.

It comes in both a free edition and a paid version that sells for a little more than $5 on the Android market.

The free app lets you create and print notes and CD labels, as well as index cards and photos; the paid version can print Web pages from your phone's mobile browser, in addition to photos.

Picwing Print & Mail Photos

Prints and mails photos

Monthly and pay-as-you-go plans available

Instead of printing and mailing out digital photos yourself, Picwing Print & Mail Photos will perform that task for you. You tell it which photos to process and who the recipients are, and Picwing will print and mail the images twice a month for a small fee. The service is based on subscription.

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Source: Useful photo printing apps for Android phones

Mobile mapping market: facts, figures and analytical insights from 2016 to 2022 set to grow according to forecasts

The demand for spatial data has seen explosive growth in the recent past which has led to the evolution of mobile mapping system. These system have become more accurate and provide higher density data with reduction in both time as well as cost of data collection.

Online digital maps, geo-reference videos and images are examples of mapping products that depend on accurate geospatial data collected from the mobile mapping systems. The time coordinated navigation sensors are integrated with digital imaging sensors so as to enable direct and accurate mapping of landscapes or objects.

These navigation sensors determine position along with platform orientation, whereas remote sensors determine the points external to the platform at remote position and are predominantly called as imaging sensors. However, some additional sensors such as laser range finders in mobile mapping systems may also be used as remote sensors.

Use For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report: http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/8869

The major mobile mapping applications include precise assessment of the conditions of road or highway for emergency response by local and federal governments. The internet mapping applications include aerial photography and satellite images for developing online maps as well as street level views.

Mobile mapping system used in military and defense applications checks the changes in landscapes or any assets or troops movements. This system is also used in corporate asset as well as infrastructure management applications.

The other applications of mobile mapping technology are in oil and gas sector and mining sector. In oil and gas industry, mobile mapping is used for the navigation of major pipelines, transmission lines as well as energy facilities and plants.

In mining, mobile mapping is used for automated measurements of mobile mining equipment such as excavators.

The recent developments in GNSS, INS, as well as in digital camera technology are driving the growth of mobile mapping applications globally. The mobile mapping market is also witnessing traction with the entry of large number of commercial operated organizations in the market which led to the rapid advancement of various mapping technologies.

The extensive use of internet and growing wireless communication networks aid this growth by allowing rapid, accurate and efficient transfer as well as processing of data. Unlike traditional techniques which were difficult to use in inaccessible areas, vehicular mobile mapping is much safe as well as user-friendly.

The growing stress on accurate as well as time-saving methods of data generation coupled with the importance of inventory and asset management has also increased the adoption of mobile mapping technology globally. Camera orientation issues and high dependency on weather are the major factors restraining the growth of mobile mapping market.

Customization and manual extraction capability in mobile mapping systems is anticipated to positively impact the growth of global mobile mapping market during the coming years. In August 2015, Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.

launched a compact mobile mapping solution consisting of a roof camera mounted on vehicles which is used for data collection for asset management, surveying, and topographic mapping.

Request Sample Report@ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/8869

The major participants in the global mobile mapping market include Google Corporation, TomTom International BV., Leica Geosystems AG, Trimble Navigation Limited, Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., NovAtel Inc., Javad GNSS Inc., Teledyne Optech, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Immersive Media Company.

Key points covered in the report

1) Report segments the market on the basis of types, application, products, technology, etc (as applicable)

2) The report covers geographic segmentation

North America

Europe

Asia

RoW

3) The report provides the market size and forecast for the different segments and geographies for the period of 2010 to 2020

4) The report provides company profiles of some of the leading companies operating in the market

5) The report also provides porters five forces analysis of the market.-

...

Source: Mobile mapping market: facts, figures and analytical insights from 2016 to 2022 set to grow according to forecasts

Xiamen-based Mobile App Seeks Hong Kong IPO

Hong Kong's public markets are seen as a safer bet for some Chinese companies to raise money, as tech firms like Shanda Games and China Mobile Games and Entertainment Group have chosen to drop Nasdaq over the past year.

Now a Chinese mobile app is planning to use Hong Kong as a launch pad to both enrich back its investors and gain more cash for global expansion. Meitu Inc., a photo retouch app developer backed by Qiming Venture Partners and IDG Capital Partners, is planning to raise US$500 million to US$1 billion via an initial public offering in Hong Kong, according to a securities filing.

The IPO, expected in the fourth quarter of 2016, values the company at US$5 billion and will pave the way for Meitu's venture backers to exit. It will also be a big win for tech start-ups in Xiamen, where Meitu is based, as the southern Chinese city competes with Beijing, Shenzhen and Hangzhou to attract innovative tech companies.

Founded in 2008 by Chinese entrepreneur Cai Wensheng, Meitu's mobile apps allow users to edit photos for posting on social media platforms. The company claims to have 724 million users worldwide.

The company previously received US$10 million series C financing from Qiming Venture Partners in 2014, and completed two venture financing from Sina Weibo, IDG Capital Partners and others before that.

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group and U.S. hedge fund Tiger Global Management are also the company's investors.

Earlier this year, Meitu completed a private funding round led by Hong Kong-based investment management firm Keywise capital Management at a valuation of US$3.8 billion, according to media reports.

Source: Xiamen-based Mobile App Seeks Hong Kong IPO

Kanye West asks for photo with Conor McGregor’s dad Tony following victory in Vegas last night

In the fight's aftermath, the rapper was unable to grab the Notorious for a picture so instead posed with a beaming Tony McGregor backstage at the T-Mobile Arena in Sin City. The image was shared by American journalist Ariel Helwani.

"Highlight of the night: the legend Tony McGregor, Conor's dad, taking a picture backstage with Kanye West," he tweeted.

Kim K's hubby wasn't the only high profile celeb to flock to Vegas to see McGregor take on Diaz last night, as One Direction star Niall Horan was also spotted in the audience.

Following the fight, Horan shared an image of the fighters on his Instagram account and wrote: "It was an absolute honour to be there tonight to watch two absolute warriors go toe to toe in battle. So much respect for both of them. Congratulations Conor you've made our small country proud again and Nate what a fighter and gladiator."

Chef Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson were also in town to catch the fight, and were pictured in the audience in the T Arena last night. However, they weren't as lucky as Kanye and didn't manage to nab a photo with Conor's old man backstage.

Source: Kanye West asks for photo with Conor McGregor's dad Tony following victory in Vegas last night

Mobile services partially restored in Kashmir, curfew continues for 43rd day

 Mobile phone services were partially restored in Kashmir Valley on Saturday even as life remained suspended for the 43rd day due to curfew and shutdown.

Common people, reeling under an intense communication blockade, were able to make calls to their near and dear ones after authorities lifted the restrictions on the operation of post-paid mobile services.

The services were suspended on August 13, ahead of the Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations.

The incoming call services of pre-paid mobiles, which form the bulk of customers in the Valley, were also restored. However, it was not clear when pre-paid customers be also be able to make calls.

Internet access for mobile phones is still suspended in the Valley. The authorities have only allowed BSNL post-paid mobile and landline services to function unhindered while blocking the rest, on and off, after violence erupted across Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

Officials say that mobile and internet services trigger the spread of rumors and escalate protests. But activists insist that lack of communication services actually triggers the rumour mongering.

So far, 66 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and thousands injured in clashes between security forces and protesters during the unrest.

Residents claim that for the past four days, the police and CRPF have rigorously enforced a stringent curfew to foil the 72-hour march to the UN office called by separatists on August 16 to protest the spate of killings in Kashmir.

The last four days saw an intense security crackdown on the movement of people even during the nights which was not the practice since the unrest began last month. The crackdown ensured that the march did not materialise.

The separatists have been continuously issuing protest calendars and they extended the latest protest programme to August 25.

Separatists have also asked people to write to all MLAs, MLCs and ministers of "pro-Indian" political parties and demand their resignation from the government and party positions.

Source: Mobile services partially restored in Kashmir, curfew continues for 43rd day

S60 Mini 32 LED Powerful 5600K Cell Mobile Phone Photo Video Light for Camera Gopro/ iPhone 5/ Samsung/ Accessories Smart Phone

About the product 1. S60 original integrated fill light is a new generation of product used for mobile phone photographing and life illumination! 2. S60 is a mini, ultra-thin newly designed LED fill light, with the inside made of specific integrated voltage stabilizing circuit and efficient large-chip lamp beads under LED constant current driver, with a large-capacity lithium polymer battery internally installed. When used, it never flashes. Not only featured by high luminance, low power, low heat, long service life and elegant appearance, but it is convenient to carry. The fill light is used to fill light, to make imaging clearer. As a device for power and light supplement, the fill light can ensure to photograph clearly and brightly in dusky environments, and serves as a secondary light source for outdoor photographing, used to highlight skin hues, so that you will fully enjoy the charming pleasure and effect of photographing. 3. In particular, the latest nanotechnology, nano mi cro-suction technology imported from Germany, is applied to S60, so it can be used on various fixed places. It can be absorbed on any smooth surfaces, such as smooth glass, clinker, tile, marble and wooden table top, suitable for any type of mobile phone for light supplement. Let a??lighta?? be with you at each corner of the life! Features 1. Along with the continuous improvement and development of science and technology, the photographed function of mobile phone has been upgraded constantly, thus bringing more conveniences and amusements to people life. But in some specific environment, the insufficient light often makes photographing unsatisfactory, and the built-in flash lamp of a cell phone merely has limited effect! The rise of S60 just makes up for this point! 2. The unique, simple appearance design makes it small and exquisite, and easy to take; 3. The professional LED light source, with a consistent stability, does no harm to eyes; 4. The built-in battery, featured by low po wer, low heat, high luminance and ultra-strong energy-saving and environmentally-friendly ability, can be used continuously for a long time; 5. Connected to a camera through a tripod head. 6. When using it, please open its rear cover and tear down its protective film. Adsorb it on a smooth digital appliance, such as mobile phone, through nano micro-suction paste, and press it lightly for 3 seconds to fix it. Then, it can be used for light supplement. 7. External adapter. 3h will be taken to fully charge it through an external USB cable charger or PC USB interface. When the battery is fully charged, the indicator light will be turned from red into yellow. Specification General Model S60 Material ABS Number of Lamp 32 Size 47mm x 60mm x 12mm Weight 35g Power Power Source Li-polymer 800mAh Operation Current 1A Working Voltage DC 5.0V Package Include Package Contents 1 x Manual 1 x Mini Stand 1 x LED Video Light 1 x USB Cable

USD 109.00/pieceUSD 79.00/pieceUSD 39.99/pieceUSD 179.00/pieceUSD 33.98/pieceUSD 35.69/piece

Source: S60 Mini 32 LED Powerful 5600K Cell Mobile Phone Photo Video Light for Camera Gopro/ iPhone 5/ Samsung/ Accessories Smart Phone

Huawei P9 and the Magic of Monochrome

When Huawei announced the P9, most attention was focused (pun intended, totally – make that "autofocused" if you wish) on the dual lens camera set up at the back, which give the phone a very distinct look (check our first impressions to find out more). Made in collaboration ("co-engineered" is the term used) with famous camera manufacturer Leica, the camera promises to "reinvent mobile photography," no less.

Does it do so? Well, the answer to that will be revealed in the coming days, as the camera and indeed the phone is inspected threadbare, but about a week into using the device, there is one thing we can safely assert: the P9 has made us fall in love with black and white photography again. Or monochrome photography, as the company calls it.

What IS monochrome?

Before we go any further, let's just examine the terms "monochrome" and "black and white." No, they do not mean the same thing. Classically speaking, a monochrome image is as its name indicates an image with different intensity of just one color – it could be black, white, green, red, any color. A black and white image is a sort of monochrome image too as it contains different levels of white on a black background or different levels of black on a white background. A common saying is that all black and white pictures are monochrome, but all monochrome pictures are not black and white.

Now, the P9 comes with dual 12.0-megapixel lenses, one of which is color (Red Green Blue or RGB) and one which is monochrome. In normal circumstances, the phone takes shots from both lenses and combines the color of the RGB lens with the detail of the monochrome lens, to give you the best possible shot. The lenses also combine for better depth of field shots, blurring out the backdrop and bringing objects into sharp focus. And well, the results are often impressive, thanks to some software magic from Leica.

No colors required

But then taking impressive shots is not really the preserve of a single phone any more. The P9 goes up against the likes of the magnificent Samsung Galaxy S7, the LG G5, Huawei's own Nexus 6P, the Lumia 950, and the OnePlus 3, besides the wonderfully consistent iPhone trio (6s/ 6s Plus/ SE). Having a good camera now is almost a hygiene factor in most high-end smartphones, and while the P9 is up there with the best, it is not alone in being a great camera on a phone.

Where it however DOES stand apart is in possessing that monochrome lens. Leica has a formidable reputation in monochrome photography (it has the super niche Monochrom series of cameras) and well, switching to Monochrome mode on the P9, suddenly put the camera in a different zone. Without going into too much tech, it is a well-known fact that monochrome sensors capture more light (almost three times more light) than RGB ones. And this results in some stunning low light photography, as the sensor simply is able to capture better images with lesser noise when in monochrome mode.

This fact was driven home to me on the eve of Independence Day in Delhi. Important buildings in the centre of the capital are specially illuminated at night. Capturing them of course becomes a bit of a challenge through a smartphone as the glare from the lights and the "noise" factor creep in to ruin most shots. A friend of ours even refused to take pictures of the beautifully-lit buildings because he had not got his DSLR along. Well, the P9 took some stunning shots of these buildings, capturing the light patterns quite brilliantly, with almost zero noise and glare. We have seen nothing quite like it from a smartphone cameras.

Dark and lovely

It is indoors and in dark conditions and in shots of architectural marvels that the P9's monochrome lens really rises to the occasion. Shots taken in bright sunlight do not look quite as exceptional, but bring in the elements of shade, shimmering curtains, dimly lit corridors, cloudy skies, and you will see images that are magical, a trifile dark at times, perhaps, but surprisingly rich in detail with lights very well handled. No, this is not our sentimental streak speaking – it has been a while since we have used a phone's camera so often in a mode that is not "auto." The results are striking, clear and well, quite unlike anything the competition can serve up even in full color mode.

Yes, there will be some who will say "why not simply take a snap through a black and white filter or put a photo through a black and white filter after taking it?" Our answer to them is: the difference between shooting directly in monochrome and making a color picture black and white via a filter is the difference between eating a bar of chocolate and picking bits of chocolate out of a cookie – you get a much better experience from the former in either case as it is tailored to deliver something and not coaxed or forced into it. The detail and shades you get from Monochrome mode out of the box on the P9 are much better than any app filter, unless one spends ages tweaking saturation levels and shades, in which case, hey, any camera will do!

No, it is not perfect – snaps of people do not look quite as good, food can sometimes look a little dull and, well, monochromous (pun intended – it sounds better than "monotonous" anyway) and twilight conditions are not well captured, but if you are looking for some great low light photography of monuments and cityscapes, you will find yourself opting for the Monochrome mode again and again on the P9. Simply because while other phones have great cameras, not one of them at the time of writing can deliver such class without color.

It is a colorful world indeed. But sometimes, to paraphrase Michael Jackon, it does matter if you are in black and white. Especially if you are using a Huawei P9 to capture it.

Source: Huawei P9 and the Magic of Monochrome

Predicting Visual Trends

As the director of visual trends at Getty Images, how do you and your colleagues at Getty Images predict the imagery that brands will need in the year ahead? My team of "visual anthropologists" not only examines emerging visual patterns in media, but we also use a unique lens formed by the data collected from our customers' searches and image consumption patterns. We look at the billions of keyword searches and what is selling on gettyimages.com to determine interest in specific subjects and visual styles.

One example is the "glitch" aesthetic we identified in 2013. We noticed that our customers were gravitating to more imperfect images, embracing aberrations like blur, pixilation, sun flares and visual noise. This was in no small part to the rise of mobile photography, but it began to permeate other types of photography. It caused us to widen our editing standards to accept pictures and clips that we might have previously rejected for reasons of technical imperfection. We also began intentionally creating images with glitches and "mistakes" across all topics, from lifestyle pictures to portraiture to business imagery. It remains a hugely popular technique to this day.

What are some memorable visual trends that have emerged in recent years? In 2013, we started to see searches for "female business executives" really take off. Keyword searches such as "female empowerment" rose by 722 percent in twelve months. We had also begun to see our top-selling images of women during the previous seven years move away from clichéd depictions of women in ancillary, passive positions to women being represented as active participants in positions of leadership.

This spawned the Lean In Collection and our work with Sheryl Sandberg's nonprofit LeanIn.Org, which celebrated its two year anniversary earlier this year and has been hugely successful. The collection—dedicated to the powerful depiction of women, girls and the people who support them—has more than tripled since launch to now include more than 8,000 images. More than 6,000 images have been licensed in over 65 countries, from Kuwait to Korea to Angola to Australia.

Later in 2013, we als o identified a trend called Female Rising, which predicted today's ubiquitous female empowerment imagery and campaigns.

Genderblend, a trend identified in 2014, was really an evolution of this new representation of women. It posited that the idea of gender being thought of as a fluid spectrum, rather than an either/or binary, would be more widely embraced. We saw this play out in many ways: breaking stereotypes of what it means to be a man or a woman; the ways we socialize our children regarding how they dress, play and behave; the celebration of androgyny and blurring across gender lines; and the rising visibility of the transgender community.

Our data supported this. Along with the changes in how women were being represented, we noticed in our data that images of men as caretakers were also gaining popularity. Keyword searches for "dad changing diaper" were up by seven times from 2012-2015 and "gender equality" was up by five times. The keyword "transgender " also rose by 312 percent in 2015. This began to play out on the world stage in brands, pop culture and fashion.

What images are Getty Images' clients asking for today? The beauty of the Genderblend and Female Rising trends is that customers still ask for imagery that depicts a more nuanced view of gender. Visually, these trends are still gaining momentum, and we expect them to last for years to come.

The recent exponential growth in technology has also had a huge effect on how we see ourselves. This year, Getty Images identified a new trend called Extended Human, which shows how tech is making us more human, not less so. We're becoming more self-aware, interconnected and engaged with the world around us. Where sci-fi often speaks to our anxiety with cautionary tales about the rampant growth of technology, the Extended Human trend is the antidote. It optimistically celebrates these new developments, seeing them as new opportunities to care, love and connect with ourselves and each other.

We predicted many other trends that are very popular today, such as Messthetics, Silence vs. Noise, Super Sensory and Wonderlust.

Our customers want visually arresting and visceral images to help them stand out in a sea of visual clutter.

How has female imagery evolved to reflect feminism today? Ten years ago, when you typed in the word "woman," the images that came up on the site would be very sexual. These women were very perfect looking and often in positions of passivity. In 2007, our top-selling image was of a naked woman half covered in sheets, glassy eyed and passive, lying around like an object with not very much to do.

Skip ahead to 2012, and our top-selling image is of a woman on a train. She is going places. She has dynamism and forward momentum in her life and feels like the protagonist of her own story. And she gets to wear clothes!

Flash forward to today, and one of our top-selling images is of a female athle te—a diver in a powerful pose showing strength and action. She is the epitome of precision, skill, power and grace.

We're creating more images of women of every background, age and body type. That said, we're far more interested in showing what the woman does in an image, as opposed to just focusing on how she looks.

How does digital drive how patterns emerge in the wider visual landscape? A lot has changed with the rise of mobile, the proliferation of imagery and the audience's booming visual literacy. Images that stimulate the senses are much more in demand. These changes also allow for the exchange of bits of our actual lives and interests to be seen by hundreds, if not thousands, of people. We're pulling back the curtain of our lives and more frequently sharing what we actually look like and care about. This has made imagery far more inclusive than ever before.

Many brands today show people of all backgrounds, bodies, ages, genders and sexual orientat ions—and they must. People want to see themselves reflected in commercial imagery, and digital has forced the hand of brands to embrace everyone and keep up with how diverse the visual landscape looks on social.

Are photographers and stock image providers responsible for how their content portrays people? A number of factors influence how content portrays people in the stock photography industry. It depends not just on the photographer, but also on customer requirements, advertising trends and visual trends. Getty Images is in the delightfully peculiar role of creating images for customers without knowing exactly how those images will be used, so we have to be as innovative and inclusive as possible.

Getty Images has millions of customers in virtually every country in the world who use our images to tell every kind of story, so it is crucial that our content is as forward looking and far reaching as possible. It also means we have tremendous influence on global visual culture, and we take that responsibility seriously. We are committed to celebrating diversity and putting forth positive, empowering images of people that reflect this richly varied world we are building together.

How has your job affected how you view images? There is always more to an image than meets the eye. Every picture—from an image on a bank brochure to a movie poster to hero imagery in a global campaign—is selected for a reason, and I always think about what those reasons are. This has made it impossible for me to switch off the analytical side of my brain when I look at visuals. I always ask myself things like: Why is Hillary wearing white to make her nomination speech? Why are fathers so frequently shown barefoot in advertising now? Why are emoji so effective, even when they're often used ironically? This job has increased my awareness and appreciation of the deeper intentions behind images.

What excites you about the photography industry at the moment? I see today's visual content industry as how the music industry was 20 years ago. I remember when services like Napster came out—suddenly it was the Wild West. People downloaded music for free, without thinking too much about who made those songs and how their livelihoods would be affected. Thanks to platforms like iTunes, people became more conscious of the fact that makers need to be supported and celebrated.

A similar shift is now happening in the imagery industry. People are realizing that these images don't appear out of thin air. A lot of research and craft goes into them, and they exist because they are effective and have emotional resonance. The days of people thinking they can just snag an image off of Google to use it in a campaign or commercial project are dwindling. This excites me because it means that we can build even deeper relationships with our artists, attract new talent and create even more fantastic visuals together.

What advice do you have fo r people just entering the field of photography? Curious photographers who use their images to explore the parts of life they find compelling and meaningful make the most powerful pictures. What do you care about? What do you want to see more of in the world? What do you want to learn? Ask those questions with your camera, and you'll be astonished by the results.

Source: Predicting Visual Trends

26 Smartphone Photos That Can Change the Way You See Beauty

Four months ago, I published a controversial story about my breakup. It wasn't a breakup with anyone, but the end of a love-hate relationship with my DSLR. Some were cynical about my decision. They said I was overconfident. That I couldn't cling to a crude phone forever. That I'll miss the sound of the shutter. That true pride and happiness is only in the company of a powerful and hi-tech DSLR.

I doubt it. Dumping my DSLR never made me guilty. Don't mind the bashers. I'm just glad it's over. <ROFL>

If, in two years of blogging, I've made others swoon on my travel photos–and I did that when smartphone cameras were just starting to get the upgrades–what's stopping me now that brands are hot in the fight for the best camera phone? 

More and more people are paying attention and testing the waters of mobile photography. Little by little, we're redefining the concept of "beauty". We're changing old mindsets, some of which have been passed around by those who dangle a real camera.

1. Beautiful doesn't mean high-res

For large prints, a smartphone photo is a sure loser. Of course, 12 MP is not of billboard quality. But, at this resolution, my smartphone can already give me decent photo worthy of a 12×18 photo frame. Definitely, smartphone photos look great for social media and blogging, besides the fact that I can bring my phone anywhere without worrying about multiple lenses and bulk.

IN PHOTOS: 1. Taken at the fashion shoot by PHONEography CEBU (Huawei Mate S, edited in Snapseed) 2) Photo taken by Lourenzo Bubuli during the same fashion shoot  3. A fashion shoot at Fortune Island (Huawei Mate S) 4. Children at playtime , taken in Bukidnon (Huawei Mate S) 5. A morning dip in Taal Lake (smartphone)

2. Beauty is (still) a camera vs. photographer debate

One thing I'm sure of, beauty is not in the eyes of the beer holder. It's in the eyes behind the camera—a matter of creativity, technique, and composition. But quality surely makes a big difference. If you ask a skilled photographer to shoot with a regular phone and let another skilled photographer use a high-end phone like Huawei's P9 and P9 Plus, there is a real difference, not due to skill but due to the tool. With a dual camera co-designed with Leica, the P9 sports a superior lense that shoots high-quality image in RGB and monochrome. A Leica lense plus a Sony sensor, a 12-megapixel cam with an f/2.2 aperture—you can say that beautiful is in the camera, too.

IN PHOTOS: 1. Abatan River in Maribojoc Bohol (Huawei Mate S, Instagram crema filter) 2. Punong in Silay City, Negros Occidental (Huawei Mate S) 3. A sunset in Calaguas, Camarines Norte (smartphone) 4. Cape Engano in Palaui Island (smartphone) 5. A road through the ricefields in Oas, Albay (smartphone) 6. A lighthouse in Liloan, Cebu (smartphone)

3. Beauty is not always Photoshopped

That one you know if you take a lot of selfie. Or you shoot at a fashion show. Who says you can't bring a smartphone for a fashion shoot? With the right angle, lighting, and concept, a mobile photographer can achieve a great photo, enough to land on a magazine's front page. Even without Photoshop, of course. Mobile apps like Snapseed, Picsart, VSCO, and Lightroom are powerful and simple enough to enhance the quality of a smartphone photo. And with a smartphone like Huawei's P9, you can shoot with parts of the photo artistically blurred out (bokeh) and use your photo straight from the cam. #noedit #nofilter

IN PHOTOS: 1. Silky water effect on Cambugahay Falls in Siquijor (Huawei Mate S, no edit) 2. Salagdoong Beach in Siquijor (Huawei Mate S, edited in Picsart) 3. Buntun Bridge in Cagayan (smartphone)

4. Beautiful doesn't mean technical & difficult

The good thing with mobile photography is that it pushes technology to the limits and make photography accessible to everyone. No more buying expensive equipment and a dozen lenses, and no more going through the pains of mastering a DSLR. Even the challenges in aperture and shutter speed due to small camera sensors are now slowly being won. Now, a smartphone can already produce effects that used to be possible only with the big guys' DSLR. Huawei Mate S and P9, for instance, already have powerful light trails, light painting, and silky water effects yet to be beaten by other smartphones. Now, anyone with these phones can just point and shoot, explore, and enjoy an otherwise technical and difficult task. THAT is beautiful.

IN PHOTOS: All photos taken with Huawei Mate S 1. Light trails of cars (Minimal edit in Picsart) 2. Long exposure using the professional mode 3. Silky water effect of a waterfall in Siquijor 4. Thirty-minute long exposure using the star track function (Edited in Lightroom) 5. Fireflies at the Abatan River during a night kayaking (light trail function)

5. Beauty is more than what the eyes see

The smartphone as a purely messaging device is way way a thing of the past. Technology has made it "smarter", multifunctional, and more powerful in capturing life's best moments. Better cameras that can perfectly capture that food that sent your tastebuds crazy; or that childhood memory that connects you to your past; that divine feeling as you trek along the giant mountains; or that moment you stopped by the shore and let go of your heartbreaks. There's slow motion and time lapse, too. What other tool can be so handy to document all these moments except a powerful smartphone camera.

IN PHOTOS: 1. A colorful dish at the Negros Museum Cafe (Huawei Mate S) 2. Halo-halo in buko, a sweet Filipino dessert from Halo-Halo de Iloko (smartphone) 3. A 4×4 car with the mountains of Pinatubo in the background (smartphone) 4. The frothy waves slapping a small rock by the shore, taken at Bantayan Island (smartphone)

6. Beauty doesn't always come in colors

And when the world is angry, noisy, complicated, go back to basics and shoot in monochrome. With Huawei P9's dual camera, you can now take photos in black and white and see things differently. Make a memory timeless. Make it pure and elegant. Bring out emotions, space, and focus. Bring out beauty.

IN PHOTOS: All photos taken with Huawei Mate S 1. Two versions of the Loboc River, black and white edit, and real color 2. A fallen leaf, black and white version, and real color 3. Black and white edit of Lake Apo in Bukidnon 

As a legendary boxer has said, "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it." 

Mobile photography is breaking that big word. It's promising. These are exciting times. The revolution in smartphone photography will continue and those will take the challenge will take the lead. 

So, get a smartphone. As I have learned, it will love you just as much as a real camera does. And you will love it, too.

Source: 26 Smartphone Photos That Can Change the Way You See Beauty