Leaked Google Pixel 8 ad shows off its creepy new AI photography feature

By in Photography

Leaked Google Pixel 8 ad shows off its creepy new AI photography feature

One thing that Google arguably does better than any other phone maker is AI, and this is used to great effect by the company’s cameras. In the past, we’ve seen how AI can remove unwanted people and objects from scenes with Magic Eraser, but with the Google Pixel 8 the company looks to have a new – and slightly creepy – AI trick up its sleeve.

Leaker @MysteryLupin (via The Verge) has shared a new video advert for the Pixel 8 line, which starts by showing how easy it is to switch to Pixel, but then moves on to photography features, with the most eye-catching being Best Take.

This feature – which has been mentioned in a previous leak but only now shown in action – snaps multiple photos and combines them to create the best possible composite image.

Now, composite images aren’t a new idea – you can use them to create HDR shots for example. But here it’s not combining different exposures, it’s swapping out facial expressions, poses, and other aspects to make something of a Frankenstein’s monster, albeit one that might look a lot better than any of the individual photos.

Most of the other things in this clip are existing features, though we do catch another glimpse of the now extensively leaked and teased Pixel 8 Pro.

And this isn’t the only recent Pixel 8 leak, as leaker @Za_Raczke has also taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to show off a selection of what appears to be official Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro cases.

In the case of the Pixel 8 these will apparently be available in Rose, Mint, Charcoal, and Hazel colors, while the Pixel 8 Pro’s cases are said to come in Bay, Charcoal, Mint, and Porcelain shades.

These are different to the shades we’re expecting from the phones themselves, with the Pixel 8 previously rumored to come in Haze, Jade, Licorice, and Peony shades, while the Pixel 8 Pro will reportedly come in Sky, Porcelain, and Licorice colors.

We’ll know all the official colors and everything else about the Pixel 8 line soon, because these phones are set to land on October 4. TechRadar will cover the launch in full, so head back then for all the announcements; in the meantime do check out our Pixel 8 event hub, and how to watch the Pixel 8 launch live. 

You might also like

This Denton County based photographer enjoys focusing ‘on the joy of the moment’

By in Photography

This Denton County based photographer enjoys focusing ‘on the joy of the moment’
image

Macy Muzljakovich is a photographer based in Denton County and is making the leap into being a full-time photographer next year. Muzljakovich didn’t pick up a camera until she was 15 and won a scholarship to a summer art program where her love of photography started to bloom. In her free time, Muzljakovich enjoys reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and crosswords, walking her two dogs, or going paddle boarding with friends.

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

Featured Local Savings

What Makes A Great Client?

By in Photography

What Makes A Great Client?

Business Commentary Opinion

If you’ve been in this photography game for any amount of time, you most likely have some clients that you love, and perhaps a few who you’d be happy to never meet again. 

Having high-quality clients is the bedrock of a fruitful career. Without clients, photography is just your hobby.  And without good clients, photography will feel more like a means to an end rather than a passionate pursuit that just so happens to be your profession. 

As each of us progresses through our career, we not only strive to continuously improve our craft, but equally as important is that we also endeavor to work for better and better clients. So that got me thinking, what makes a good client?  How does the quality of our clients evolve throughout our careers? 

For me personally, there are plenty of traits I desire in a client, but these can be broadly grouped into three different categories:  Quality, Respect, and Money. 

Quality

First and foremost, a good client designs good projects. A quality design gets us excited to do our job.  The thought of spending time within a well-designed building is one of the greatest joys of our profession. The anticipation of an upcoming shoot is made so much more enjoyable when we know it has the potential to end up in our portfolio. 

Where the project is located also has a lot of bearing on quality for me. Capturing a project in the heart of a major metropolis or one nestled into a breathtaking landscape is an important factor. 

In addition to the design and the site, I also place a lot of importance on how the client’s vision was executed.  A poorly detailed building is not only no fun to shoot, but it can become a headache to edit as well. The best clients are the ones who have a proven track record of not only conceiving of inspiring designs, but also delivering well-executed built results. 

Finally, how a building is ultimately operated also makes up a big part of the quality puzzle. Your architect or interior designer client can design a gorgeous project, but it’s up to their client to manage it in a professional way that respects the original design intent. There’s nothing more disappointing than a beautiful building that’s been neglected by its owner. The best clients have great clients themselves. 

Respect

Relationships should always be based on mutual respect and the one between the client and photographer is no different. Clients who are engaged in the process, but not overbearing, are a pleasure to work with (and unfortunately not always easy to come by). Nobody likes being micromanaged, especially when you feel like your creative input is being stifled. Being engaged but not oppressive is a delicate balance that not all clients are able to achieve — but the good ones do. 

Great clients are passionate about the buildings or spaces they designed but also understand that your creative vision has the potential to bring the imagery to new, perhaps unforeseen heights. It is in these types of well-balanced client-photographer relationships where the presence of each party collectively brings additional value to the photo shoot. We want clients who see us as collaborators and not simply vendors or service providers. When that’s the case, respect, value, and contribution begin to reciprocate. When each side can recognize what the other party brings to the table, beautiful things happen.

Clients who can communicate their vision and expectations clearly are generally a joy to work with. Whether or not you receive a proper photography brief has proven to be a fairly reliable litmus test for me on whether or not a particular shoot is going to be a worthwhile pursuit. A good early indicator of an engaged client is whether or not they took the time to put together a brief that clearly explains the design and which aspects of it are important to them. Two red flags to look out for are ones that don’t provide much in the way of a brief or, at the opposite end of the spectrum, provide one that is so prescriptive that it doesn’t leave much room for you to bring your own creative vision into the project. We’ve all probably received the dreaded request – “We just need photos taken at exactly the same location as our renderings.“

Finally, a great client respects that the photos are your intellectual property and treats them as such. This means that they understand and respect that you own the copyright to the images that you create. It means that they do not distribute your images to third parties. It also means that they always provide credit to you whenever they publish your work, be it in digital or print media.    

Money

Lastly and perhaps most obviously, clients who compensate their photographers fairly for the skill, talent, time, and effort they bring to the table are the people you want to build your business around. There’s nothing more soul-crushing than undervaluing yourself and taking on a job with a fee that is misaligned and below the value you can provide. A healthy fee does so much more than just keep your business in the black. Before you even pick up your camera, it demonstrates that your client has a level of trust in your abilities. This enables you to head into the shoot with confidence, not needing to worry about whether your client believes you’re up to the task at hand. Additionally, knowing that you’re getting paid at a rate you’re happy with is a motivating force. We are all incentivized to do our best work when we’re motivated.   

Tread carefully with a client who asks for a discount right out of the gate. This is very often a warning sign.  Negotiation is a normal part of doing business, but a client whose first move is to try to get you to devalue yourself is someone to potentially be wary of. The same can be said about a client who pushes back against you requiring a retainer before the shoot or one who needs to be chased down to pay their invoices long after all the work has been done. 

Okay, so we’ve established what I believe makes a great client, but it’s unrealistic to expect to have a roster of those types of clients when you’re just starting out.  Let’s now take a look at how the quality of our clients should evolve over a successful career in photography. 

The successful career track

Career Beginner

When you begin your career, your two biggest weapons are passion and hopefully a bit of natural talent. Your goal is to get your foot in the door, and you don’t have the luxury of being super discerning when it comes to who you get to work for. You need to prioritize gaining on-the-job experience over being picky about the project you’re shooting. 

Because of this, don’t expect to be able to find clients that fulfill all of the Quality/Respect/Money criteria we just laid out above. You may land a shoot with a respectful client, but the quality of the project is mediocre, and the fee will be commensurate with your lack of experience. And that’s okay, everyone starts somewhere. 

Things you may hear during this phase of your career:

“Thanks for sending us your portfolio, can I ask if any of these were commissioned?”

“We like your work, but we’re content with our current photographer.”

“Since you haven’t shot this type of project before, would you be willing to shoot it on spec?”

“Can we get a first-time friendly discount?  By the way, we have a lot of potential future projects in the pipeline.”

Mid-Career Professional

As your career progresses, so too should the quality of the clients you work with. After several years, you’ll have built up the experience, portfolio, and confidence necessary to begin approaching better and better clients. The circles in the Quality/Respect/Money begin to converge and that’s a beautiful thing. Congratulations, the benefits of all the hard work you’ve put in are not beginning to snowball. 

Things you may hear during this phase of your career:

“You were recommended to us by XXX. We have an upcoming need for a professional photographer, are you interested in quoting for the job?”

“Hi there, we recently saw some of your work published online and we really like your style. Can you send us your rate sheet?”

“Thanks for sending us your portfolio. It looks great and it’s nice to see some projects in there that are similar in type and size to the work we do. Can you come into our office next week to discuss a potential collaboration?”

Seasoned Veteran

Eventually, you’ll reach a point in your career where the circles converge further and the percentage of your client base that is considered ‘great’ will increase. By now, you’ve been able to weed out those less-than-desirable clients. At this point, your door may be the one being knocked on and not the other way around. Your reputation precedes itself and clients are now seeking you out based on the breadth of your experience in the industry. You’re filtering out job inquiries that don’t align with what you want to shoot. The quality of your work has reached an elite level, and the fees clients are willing to pay you reflect that. You’ve made it.

Things you may hear during this phase of your career:

“This is our most significant project to date, and we are hoping that your creative eye can help us maximize the likelihood of publication.”

“Awards season is upon us, and we think we have a couple projects that are worthy of recognition.  You have a track record of helping architects getting the acknowledgement they deserve. Are you interested in working with us to help achieve those goals?”

“Sure, we understand you’re busy. Let’s push back our shoot until next month when you’re available.”

Do you agree on what makes a great client? What other traits would you like to see in an ideal client?

How far along are you in your career and is there anything holding you back from getting great clients?

Let us know in the comments below!

Aardman, Cabot Circus and Upfest to unveil new mural

By in Art World News

Aardman, Cabot Circus and Upfest to unveil new mural

Aardman has partnered with Cabot Circus and Europe’s largest street art festival, Upfest to create a new iconic mural in Quakers Lane, celebrating the creativity of Bristol and featuring many of Aardman’s most enduring characters.

n

The 11.5m high mural by local artist Dave Bain, interprets beloved characters from Aardman’s animated worlds including Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Morph and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and is based on an original artwork conceived by designer and illustrator Lorna Harrington, an emerging creative talent within Aardman. These characters are cleverly interspersed with famous Bristol landmarks including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, and the hot air balloons that grace Bristol’s skies.

n

Dave Bain’s idiosyncratic illustrations are colourful, distinctive, wildly expressive and feature stylised characters. This brightly coloured artwork interprets Lorna’s original illustration of the famous Aardman characters, known the world over, but originally created in Bristol.

n

Artist Dave Bain explains: “This mural is a brilliant example of what can be achieved by working together as a creative community. Lorna provided a great initial illustration for this piece, and it was inspiring to see the process of how Aardman’s animations are created in the process. The team embraced my interpretation of their characters, and how I wanted to capture the iconic characteristics of joy and energy which are present in each of them. Cabot Circus is a fantastic location for this piece to be enjoyed by Bristolians and city visitors alike and I hope to see people heading down to see the vision come to life.”

n

The colourful artwork is the latest way the destination is engaging new audiences and presents the perfect photo stop for families on a leisurely half-term day out. Customers feeling creative will also be able to book art-inspired workshops at Prior in Quakers Friars or grab a cheese toasty in true Wallace and Gromit style from a pop-up mobile cheese shop by Bristol favourites The Cheese Connection, from Saturday 21 October.

n

Lucy Wendover, Marketing Director at Aardman, comments: “We are so happy to reveal this exciting collaboration, designed to bring a little bit of Aardman joy into the heart of the city centre and celebrating Bristol’s rich artistic community. The finished mural design created and interpreted so brilliantly by Dave Bain will have lots of our own characters woven into a distinctly Bristol landscape and we can’t wait to see it emerge.”

n

Sarah Tinsley, Director of Marketing & Placemaking at Hammerson adds: “Collaborating with local artists and creatives is just one of the innovative ways we are evolving our assets, including Cabot Circus, from places where people come only to shop to ‘destinations’, offering a real mix of entertainment, leisure and social experiences. Bristol is renowned for its daring and colourful street art, so it made sense for us to work with Aardman and Upfest to create a mural which celebrates this creativity and engages customers in a fun and exciting way.”

“,”basicStyles”:false},{“type”:”contentCardCarousel”,”theme”:”accent”,”title”:”Related news”,”pagingUrl”:”/umbraco/api/ContentCardList/Page?parentId=7477&componentGuid=254a590d-06ed-406b-9da4-83f962af3f4e”,”contentCardPage”:{“totalItems”:42,”currentPage”:1,”pageSize”:18,”cards”:[{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/october/aardman-cabot-circus-and-upfest-to-unveil-new-mural/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/ohhbx45r/aardman-mural-dave-bain-sq.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Aardman Mural Dave Bain SQ”,”title”:”Aardman, Cabot Circus and Upfest to unveil new mural”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/september/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-teaser-trailer-and-key-art-released/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/d0rdemkf/crdotn_tweedy_globe-web.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”CRDOTN TWEEDY GLOBE Web”,”title”:”Watch the teaser for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/august/gromit-unleashed-trail-announcement-2025/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/se5kwv34/gu_sq.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”GU SQ”,”title”:”New Gromit Unleashed trail announced for 2025″,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/august/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget-to-receive-world-premiere-at-london-film-festival/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/zgujatiw/crdotn_ps_03_family_photo_v1-web.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”CRDOTN PS 03 FAMILY PHOTO V1 Web”,”title”:”Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget to premiere at London Film Festival”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/august/behind-the-craft-morph-thingy-ma-bobstacle-course/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/ltxe2fb2/morph-game-promo-web-sq.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Morph Game Promo Web SQ”,”title”:”Behind the Craft: Morph Thingy-Ma-Bobstacle Course”,”tags”:[{“id”:2405,”label”:”Interactive”},{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/july/aardman-and-sky-expand-partnership/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/sdhnvswi/vsc2-promo-sq.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”VSC2 Promo SQ”,”title”:”Aardman expands partnership with Sky”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”},{“id”:2405,”label”:”Interactive”},{“id”:2406,”label”:”Distribution”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/may/lloyd-of-the-flies-at-rhs-gardens-this-summer/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/watbss1l/lloyd_primary_image_web.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Lloyd Primary Image WEB”,”title”:”Lloyd of the Flies goes on a Grand Bug & Pest Hotel Hunt at RHS Gardens”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/may/shaun-the-sheep-becomes-countryside-code-champion/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/he5hyyv2/jg_countrysidecodes_redo_square_v007.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”JG Countrysidecodes REDO SQUARE V007″,”title”:”Shaun the Sheep becomes Countryside Code champion”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/may/the-art-of-aardman-exhibition-opens-at-paff/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/0omip5wv/paff-_aardman_social-quadrata.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”PAFF! AARDMAN SOCIAL QUADRATA”,”title”:”The Art of Aardman exhibition opens at PAFF!”,”tags”:[{“id”:1205,”label”:”Attractions”},{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/march/aardman-esa-shaun-the-sheep-artemis-i-lunar-mission-success/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/dwini3qr/shaun-and-pete-45.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Shaun And Pete 45″,”title”:”Aardman and ESA celebrate Shaun the Sheep’s Artemis I Lunar Mission”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2023/january/the-wrong-trousers-30th-anniversary/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/kqrhtvif/twt_square_website.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”TWT SQUARE Website”,”title”:”Celebrating 30 years of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/november/aardman-partners-with-national-forest/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/ldkkj2z0/national_forest.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”National Forest”,”title”:”Aardman and The National Forest announce partnership”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”},{“id”:1204,”label”:”Licensing”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/november/shaun-the-sheep-royal-albert-hall-christmas-ad/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/5lacyxlq/fleece-navidad-royal-albert-hall-timmy.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Fleece Navidad Royal Albert Hall Timmy”,”title”:” Shaun the Sheep and friends stage a Royal Albert Hall Christmas”,”tags”:[{“id”:2404,”label”:”Commercials”},{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/september/aardman-classics-stamp-collection/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/udxbkjpa/713353_rm_aardman_ig_social_1080_v1_1.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”713353 RM AARDMAN IG SOCIAL 1080 V1 1″,”title”:”Royal Mail reveals Aardman Classics Stamp Collection”,”tags”:[{“id”:1204,”label”:”Licensing”},{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/september/lloyd-of-the-flies-launches-on-citv/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/atolfunn/lloyd-of-the-flies-square.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Lloyd Of The Flies Square”,”title”:”Lloyd of the Flies launches on CITV”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”},{“id”:2406,”label”:”Distribution”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/august/shaun-the-sheep-esa-artemis-i/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/qycnxcrk/shaun-esa-artemis-i-square-1.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Shaun Esa Artemis I Square (1)”,”title”:”ESA names Shaun the Sheep first ‘astronaut’ to fly on Artemis I lunar mission”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/june/aardman-releases-lloyd-of-the-flies-teaser/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/nubjvul3/lotf-titles-ts01300_comp-marketingstill_square.jpg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Lotf Titles Ts01300 Comp Marketingstill Square”,”title”:”Aardman Releases Lloyd of The Flies Teaser and Voice Cast Addition”,”tags”:[{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”}],”summary”:””},{“type”:”contentCard”,”linkUrl”:”/latest-news/2022/june/aardman-whizz-kidz-launch-morph-accessible-art-trail/”,”imageSrc”:”/media/2z5nr0sg/morph-whizz-kidz.jpeg?mode=crop&width=420&height=420″,”imageAlt”:”Morph Whizz Kidz”,”title”:”Aardman and Whizz-Kidz launch Morph accessible art trail”,”tags”:[{“id”:1204,”label”:”Licensing”},{“id”:1613,”label”:”Characters”},{“id”:1205,”label”:”Attractions”}],”summary”:””}]}}]},”statusCode”:200,”isSuccessStatusCode”:true,”version”:”0.0.0″}

Art House 7’s Fall 2 Session Classes Begin October 30! (Community Post)

By in Printmaking

Art House 7’s Fall 2 Session Classes Begin October 30! (Community Post)
Explore your creative side this fall at Art House 7 with our Fall 2 Session of art classes beginning October 30th. Whether you’re a budding artist or looking to unleash your artistic potential with something new, there’s a class for everyone! Short and Drop-In Classes: Dive into creativity with our short-term offerings, including a 3-week
«< 159 160 161 162 163 >»