Inside the unassuming warehouse in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx is lot of busy buzzing from Lerone Wilson carving beeswax into beautiful sculptures.
NYC artist’s secret ingredients for 3D sculptures is beeswax
Photographer Vlada Liberova injured on front
Vlada Liberova, a famous Ukrainian documentary photographer and presenter of Ukrinform’s Kramatorsk Station project, has been injured on the front.
The relevant Instagram story was posted by Vlada’s husband, Kostiantyn Liberov, who is also a well-known Ukrainian documentary photographer and co-presenter of the Kramatorsk Station project, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
The video shows Vlada Liberova, commenting on her injury. Kostiantyn Liberov mentioned that all of them “had a second birthday” on that day.
A reminder that Kostiantyn Liberov and Vlada Liberova are the documentary photographers known as Libkos. They have been recording events in Ukraine since the early days of the Russian invasion. They worked across the Kyiv region, during the Kharkiv and Kherson operations, in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The presenters often go to the front line and convey the truth about the war through photography.
From December 12, in cooperation with the Center for Countering Disinformation, Ukrinform launched the new project, Kramatorsk Station. Kostiantyn Liberov and Vlada Liberova became its presenters.
Five things to do around Boston, Dec. 25-31
Watch 1980s blockbusters at the Brattle, explore the Discovery Museum’s interactive exhibits, search for ice sculptures along the waterfront, and more.
Photographer Travels Europe to Document Starling Murmurations
After spending several years photographing starling murmurations in his native Denmark, photographer Søren Solkær has spread his wings and traveled across Europe to document the phenomenon. The migration routes of these passerines brought Solkær from Ireland and England to the Netherlands and Italy, where he photographed their incredible formations in the sky.
The result is Starling, a follow-up to his well-received book Black Sun. The book includes 138 images, including a new series of work that takes Solkær’s passion for these birds to a new level. Using light and electron microscopes, he was able to photograph their feathers. This added layer of visual information only serves to assist Solkær in unraveling the magic and mystery of their flight patterns.
Starling is set for release on December 26 and is available for purchase on the artist’s website. The publication comes on the heels of another important moment for the photographer. On December 9, his exhibition Søren Solkær:Black Sun opens at Seattle’s National Nordic Museum. It is his first major exhibition in the United States will feature over 50 photographs and pieces of video art. As part of the programming, the public will also have the opportunity to hear Solkær speak about his work at an event on December 10.
Both the book and exhibition are an incredible opportunity to study his images in-depth. While many photographers enjoy documenting these avian formations, Solkær does so with the eyes of a fine art photographer. He has a knack for picking up on uncanny shapes and really exploring the sinuous curves of the flock.
Danish photographer Søren Solkær is known for his evocative photos of starling murmurations.
He has been following their formations across Europe, from the United Kingdom to Italy.
His first exhibition in the United States is opening at Seattle’s National Nordic Museum on December 9.
He also has a new book, Starling, that is currently available for pre-sale.
The book contains 138 images, including new work focusing on the microscopic details of the starling’s feathers.
By photographing these birds in many different ways, Solkær shares his passion for the starling’s behavior with the world.
Søren Solkær: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Søren Solkær.
Related Articles:
Swarms of Plastic Bags Resemble Swooping Bird Formations
Amazing Photo Captures Thousands of Birds on Snowy Treetops
Winners of the Minimalist Photography Awards Show the Power of Simplicity
Photographer Travels Across Europe To Capture Stunning Starling Murmurations
Snow and Ice Seizes Barren Landscapes in an Entrancing Timelapse Filmed Across Five Winters
Like the seasons themselves, Jamie Scott’s elegantly shot films spotlighting spring and fall are much more vibrant and full of vitality than his newly released “Winter.” Five years in the making, the latter timelapse documents the icy seizure of plants, leaves, and terrain across New York State and Montréal. Glimmering, white snow quickly overwhelms the frigid, barren scenes, causing pine branches to droop and frost to form on every possible surface from cobwebs to waterfalls.
As entrancing as previous seasons, “Winter” zooms from wide, aerial shots to macro frames highlighting the unique patterns of individual snowflakes. Scott explains that this film was the hardest to create, in part, because of the changing climate. He says:
Twenty years ago when I moved to New York, there were several large snowstorms every year, and snow was practically guaranteed. In the last five years, there has been much less snow, and it’s become less predictable and often only for a few hours, at best. To plan for these shoots, I would look at the long-range forecasts, but it was very unreliable. Originally, I wanted to shoot the whole piece in New York City and focus on Central Park like my previous films, but I had to keep going farther and farther north. As a result, the majority of the film was shot in upstate New York and Montréal.
To ensure he could capitalize on weather events when they did happen, Scott fashioned two weatherproof boxes that housed his equipment for weeks on end. “At times, I was shooting with up to six cameras and four sliders,” he says. “I also lost two drones in the process.”
Watch the full timelapse, which is set to music by Jim Perkins, above, and find more of Scott’s work on Vimeo.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Snow and Ice Seizes Barren Landscapes in an Entrancing Timelapse Filmed Across Five Winters appeared first on Colossal.
How to Increase Your Landscape Print Sales With Panoramic Photographs
Photographers, are you looking for ways to increase your print sales? I have a few super simple but often overlooked concepts that are not only easy but successful. Jump in and let’s explore how you can make panoramic prints profitable.
Let’s discuss your market. Who buys your prints now and who do you want to buy them? Whether you sell through a gallery, your own website, an Etsy shop, or other art-focused platforms, you will find that buyers look for and purchase art for a reason. For landscape photographers buyers are often situational such as customers who have been to a location and want to commemorate that, clients or interior designers who want to decorate a space, or professional entities like a doctor’s office or hospital that display artwork. Unraveling what appeals to them all can help you create art that you can sell to each market, therefore covering all bases and increasing your profits. This is where panoramic prints shine.
Selling to the Average Client
In conversations with non-photographers the overwhelming consensus is that panoramic photographs look unique, show more of the scenery, and make a big statement as a wall print. As the photographer, I understand the root of this. When most travelers visit a location they use their cell phones to capture memories and the beautiful views. Nowadays cell phones take great photographs. However, while the images are good many users just photograph in standard mode, a snapshot if you will. Although most cell phone camera apps do have a panoramic mode, not many people are aware of it or use it. Therefore when presented with a panoramic image it appears that much more special. In the cell phone day and age when almost everyone has a camera in their pocket you are creating and offering something different beyond the average snapshot.
Capture the Hearts of Your Potential Clients
It is also about the experience. When viewing a scene as a human we look around taking in the view at a vista, beach, forest, really anywhere. A panoramic, being wide, replicates the human experience of how we see a location. To prospective print buyers, this wide all-encompassing photograph visually brings them into the scene. For buyers who have been to a location, it brings them back to standing there taking in the views. They often purchase a print of somewhere they have been for nostalgia and to be able to gaze upon a fond place and memory. This is often called an emotional purchase due to the heartstrings calling your customer to the photograph. Many times you aren’t just selling a print but a story, a place, a special moment. The print becomes a more valuable piece due to its significance.
The Wow Factor
For buyers viewing a scene for the first time, the panoramic experience simply due to the format draws the eye from side to side. In a way, it takes longer to look at and process visually therefore drawing more attention to the details of the scenery. These types of prints are powerful pieces. When utilized for a stunning location this wow factor combined with a format that draws attention makes art that people enjoy as a big statement print.
Selling by Decor
For clients of any type, the format of a panoramic print can “fit” in many types of spaces. You can in your marketing or sales conversations reference how perfectly they fit above a fireplace, couch, counter, table, etc. A panoramic print can fill a space like an empty hallway or reception area. This greatly appeals to clients like interior designers or businesses.
Where to Start
The first step is building a set of marketable panoramic images. If you don’t already have any panoramic prints in your portfolio it is easy to start. There are probably a million tutorials online but here is how I make them. In the field, I create panos in these typical scenarios:
- The location lends itself to the format due to being a wide scene with beauty all around
- I can’t back up enough to fit the scene in one or just a few frames, so I need to create a big pano to fulfill the desired composition
- I see an amazing composition but I want it to be super high definition so I create a pano just to have high detail and quality
While panoramic images are often only thought of for landscape vistas they work well for city street scenes, skylines, town squares, tall buildings, bridges, farm scenes, forests, and even small macro scenes or abstract textures. I have even seen portrait photographers create hero-style images with family portraits or a single person standing in a big scene. Whatever your genre is, it is likely that you can create some amazing wide, highly detailed images that are print-worthy.
What Gear Do You Need to Create Panoramic Photos?
As far as gear goes you can create panos with the most minimal setups. As you may expect the bare minimum is a camera and a wide-angle lens. A sharp lens with clarity and detail is key. For my recent autumn color photoshoots I created beautiful panoramic photos using a loaner from our sponsor, the Tamron 17-50mm f/4 lens for Sony E mount. I find this focal length to be perfect for me. The 17mm side is super wide and I can fill the frame. Then I can go into 50mm if I need a tighter look. I really like compositions that feel vast lately, so I end up at 17mm most of the time. With such a sharp and wide lens I can create exactly the kind of compositions that are my muse and make breathtaking prints.
Most importantly for panoramic images, the Tamron 17-50mm f/4 has an internal zoom and internal focus design. This means that the lens doesn’t extend its length as you zoom or focus, instead, it stays stationary. Your external lens filters and relative settings can remain stable as you navigate the puzzle pieces required to create panoramic compositions.
Another special feature of the Tamron 17-50mm f/4 lens for Sony E mount is that it has a minimum focusing distance of 7.5″ on the wide end. With these specs, I can combine focus stacking with my panoramics when the foreground elements are right up to the edge of my frame. The results are photographs that immerse the viewer in the scene as if they could step out into nature. I am enjoying playing around with the possibilities a lens like this opens up for me, a photographer who loves layered compositions.
I am working on a full review of the newly released Tamron 17-50mm f/4 to share more details. It is a great light, sharp and affordable lens. I love any gear that is so solid and effortless to use that I can just focus on creating.
Next, while you can create raw handheld panoramic images, ideally you will want a few accessories to help you out: a circular polarizing filter, tripod, and cable release. The filter will improve the light and colors of your images. If you haven’t tried a CP filter before I have a previous article to help you learn all about them. For tripods the choices are vast. Your tripod needs to fully and solidly support your gear so that your photos are stable and not affected by capture blur when you move or press the shutter. To help keep your photos sharp, combining the tripod with a cable release or at least using the self-timer function will keep your photos clear and crisp. With this basic set up you are ready to start creating panoramic images.
The Pieces of a Pano Puzzle
While there are panoramic tripod heads and formulas for creating panoramic images, I prefer a simpler approach. This is because post-processing software nowadays is so very forgiving. So, in the spirit of keeping it simple, when at a location that I can imagine as a pano, I just take a series of images from one side to the other. I keep my tripod stationary and swivel the camera on the ball head. I use the horizon or something noticeable as a reference point to keep things from going crooked. If I start at the left I swivel enough that 1/3 of the image overlaps in each frame. You are creating a puzzle collage. It is not like taping a piece of paper edge to edge, instead, you want that 1/3 overlap so that your software can stitch the pieces together. To create an easy pano in Lightroom or Photoshop this overlapping is key as the software will be doing all of the hard work. Your final set should be a row of photographs each overlapping the other by at least 1/3. Sometimes I get fancy and do multiple rows for really big scenes. How long your row is and how many frames are is up to you. I let the scene dictate this for me but usually, I end up with at least 4-6 frames in a row.
Start Local
A good beginner exercise for starting with panoramic prints is to make a series of them at places near you. Whatever your area is known for: a quaint downtown, city skyline, beautiful vista, or historic landmark. You don’t have to go somewhere exotic. Prints of local scenery by local artists are highly desirable! Places like gift shops, cafes, visitor centers, libraries, doctors’ offices, banks, city halls, and other government buildings, and of course your local art galleries are all places that often celebrate local art.
One note worth mentioning is that some places that you want to photograph may have restrictions or copyright on their architecture so you’ll want to double-check that for landmarks to be sure. Just a quick search online can save you a headache later on. It’s uncommon but depending on where in the world you are, doesn’t hurt to double-check.
The Package Deal
My recommendation for panoramic prints is to offer three sizes and two display types. Then to increase your sales create packages with them as print sets. The smallest size print can be your silver package, medium is gold, largest is platinum. Then have paper prints matted and framed as your standard display type. You can offer a premium option such as acrylic face mounts (or canvas or metal, pick only one though) as an upgrade option to any package. Keeping a simple format like this will reduce buyer hesitation due to too many options. The easier the decision, the more likely that they will make it in your favor.
For high-end print sales offering a certificate of authenticity helps elevate the buyer experience. This can be a simple postcard or parchment paper with the story of the photo or a behind-the-scenes memory of you creating it, along with your signature, and a number assigned to that specific image. In the art world, this would be known as an artist proof which you can take a step further. You can choose to have an open edition where you can print as much as you want or a limited edition where there are a finite number of prints that will be made. In a limited edition run you choose the amount and label the print so, such as 1/500 to mean that it is number one in a line of only 500 prints to be made. With exclusive limited edition prints, price higher accordingly.
From the Digital Darkroom to the Wall
As to the printing itself, if you cannot produce the prints in-house, there are so many great options of places to print online. Many of them also have a “pro” login version of their services. This will often give you a huge discount and more customization options. I like to print on lustre paper, so not high gloss that shows reflections, but not matte that will look flat.
With framed prints, I like a white mat and a black low profile frame to keep the focus on the photo rather than the image. In some cases however I have sourced vintage frames, upcycled them, or even made my own frames from scratch for an extra talking point. A great example of this is using reclaimed wood from local torn-down barns as the frame for a huge wide panoramic photograph of a sprawling farm scene. Even if you aren’t able to make them yourself, searching flea markets or thrift stores for vintage frames can help add a high-end and unique touch to your prints.
A very useful pro service option is called white label shipping and it’s often the same price or only slightly more expensive. You can use this option to have your prints sent directly to the client without an invoice or price inside. It will be a bland package, often without even the printing house’s name on it. As a little tip, you can ship a white-label order to yourself for the finishing touches. Check and sign the print if you want to do so, include a custom card or receipt, and then ship it to the client in that nice white-label packaging. For prints that you want to sell locally the white label shipping box and interior wrapping are a great way to store and safely deliver prints to your local clients. Either way you can also brand the plain white label boxes yourself with printed labels of your logo, custom stickers, or even a custom stamp or other embellishment that fits your branding and vision.
Selling Like a Pro
Once you have a mini portfolio of panoramic photographs you can start to market them. If you aren’t already marketing to designers and businesses but want to, this can be your push to start. Look up a list of local interior design firms and send them a friendly introduction email. You can share how you are a local photographer, you’ve just completed your brand new series of panoramic prints, explain how great the panoramic format fits client walls as described earlier, and offer them a volume discount. If you start a working relationship with designers and they get a perk they are more likely to use you, and by offering locally created art they also appeal to their clients. It is a win-win. A few might say no, or not reply, but try others. It all starts with one yes.
Another way to get your prints marketed is to offer a newsletter on your website. Then make a social media blast to all of your accounts sharing your sign-up page, or post a reminder that it exists. With the next newsletter that you put out announce your latest print set, and explain a little about how, or why you created it. Then link back to the purchase page for the set on your site or wherever it can be purchased. A special coupon just for newsletter recipients can help. Some artists prefer to never discount their work and others like to create these exclusive moments where discounts incentive purchase. Whichever you decide, you can still use the newsletter as a way to advertise and connect with your audience.
Inventory Woes
Now back to working with interior designers, local businesses as well as online platforms. These types of clients will also help you with one of the great downfalls of print sales whether they are panoramic or standard – having to stock inventory. If you sell by setting up a tent at art festivals, hanging your work in a gallery, or attempting consignment you have to foot the bill of creating all of these prints up front hoping that they sell, and then storing the leftovers afterward. One option is to create a few “floor” samples and then have a catalog book to order from. Either way, the upfront costs are there for your floor samples. By working directly with clients instead you are creating your art on spec just for them. You can still choose to have a few samples to show off if you would like but it’s nothing like having to stock whole galleries.
Another note for art on spec is to have a simple buyer/seller contract and require at least a percentage up front to begin work. Make sure that the percentage covers your material costs in the off chance that the buyer flakes out on you. Then require payment due upon (or before especially when shipping) receipt of goods. Whether shipping or hand-delivering your work have the buyer sign for the package. Then give them a receipt and if you like include a handwritten thank you card. Good practices like this give a professional experience and help you should any issues arise later on.
May Your Prints Be as Big as Your Dreams
Hopefully, this article gave you some inspiration into ways that you can level up your print sales. Whether it be through the panoramic format or just the oomph to reach out to new clients, try new sales formats, and get your art on more walls; Sharing tips and tricks together can help us all learn and grow as photographers. From gear like the awesome new Tamron 17-50mm f/4 lens for Sony E mount or ideas like using limited edition prints in custom frames, there are so many ways to create a better experience both for you creating and your customers in enjoying your beautiful art. Do you have any tips or tricks that you would like to share about selling prints? Post your favorites in the comment section below.
Bold Graphics + Vibrant Color Bring Joy via Caregiver Blankets
If there’s one thing Hogai can’t stand, it’s monochromatic interiors. The brand operates on the premise that the more color, the better – a color advocate, if you will. Inspired by Memphis Style, the new Caregiver Blankets Collection is its latest way to add creative character to living spaces. Featuring four distinct, double-sided designs – Green Point, Red Dot, Pink Boobies, and Black Donut – Hogai hopes that they act as a catalyst, bringing even more joy to your space.
“We believe in the power of color and the life it brings to everyday surroundings,” said Patrycja Bruź-Soniewicka, Hogai’s founder and creative director. “With this collection, we invite contemporary consumers to embrace bold design choices and infuse their spaces with a burst of color.”
Black Donut
High-quality cotton yarns and acrylic fibers give the blankets their softness and durability, ready to warm and comfort you when you need it most. The meticulous design and manufacturing of the Caregiver Blankets Collection, both done in Poland, further carries Hogai’s commitment to elevating the every day through functionality and aesthetics.
Black Donut
Green Point
Green Point
Green Point
Green Point
Pink Boobies
Pink Boobies
Pink Boobies
Red Dot
Red Dot
Red Dot
To learn more about the Caregiver Blanket Collection, visit hogai.store.
Photos: Shanghai Disneyland’s Tree Lighting and “Ice” Sculptures
Shanghai Disneyland likes to celebrate the season in style, with ice-like sculptures throughout the park and their tree lighting ceremony creating a beautiful night-time experience. Characters from Zootopia, Frozen, and more are replicated in ice sculpture-like statues around the park as part of Shanghai Disneyland’s yearly holiday decorations, glowing beautifully at night. The nightly tree […]
Light sculptures, insurance hikes, bike lanes and more in busy council work session
Two illuminated sculptures, part of “Enlighten Peekskill”, took center stage at Monday’s Common Council committee of the whole meeting. “Wind Farm” by
The Maserati MC20 Notte Edition Is One Nocturnal Beast
Vantablack, the “world’s darkest material,” absorbs up to 99.965% of visible light. Staring at anything varnished with the unique coating seems like gazing into an endless abyss without start nor end. While not nearly as optically dark, the limited edition Maserati MC20 Notte Edition super sports car embodies a similar mesmerizing shaded presence designed to camouflage itself as an automotive predator of the night.
Limited to just 50 cars for the entire world, the restyled Maserati MC20 Notte Edition is a racing world inspired silhouette further enhanced by a gradient of black paint, transitioning from a glossy black shade to a black matte ‘nero essenza’ paint from the top down. Aggressively sinister, the resulting bodywork is something akin to a vehicle one might imagine belonging to the stable of Bruce Wayne.
Furthermore, to impart the Notte Edition with its unique signature appearance, Maserati reference driver and former GT1 world champion Andrea Bertolini has embellished the MC20 with several “Midas touch” details, with the vehicle’s Trident insignia, side logos, and the Maserati signature all adorned with luxurious matte white gold.
The nocturnal aesthetic continues inside, with the MC20 Notte featuring 6-way power sport seats in Alcantara black/grey enlivened with a few touches of yellow stitching. The seats are adorned with the brand’s Trident across each headrest, and the MC20’s racing DNA is further communicated by carbon fiber inserts accessorizing the car’s Alcantara sport steering wheel.
The nocturnal beast rides upon 20” matte black birdcage wheels with matte white golden accents and all-black brake calipers. Inside, a “UNA DI 50” badge clearly communicates the exclusive nature of the vehicle.
An exclusive metal plate celebrating the MC20 Notte Edition along with a distinctive ‘UNA DI 50’ (one of 50) signature is applied between the two headrests to make sure occupants know you’re one of the 50 drivers in the world fortunate enough to snag one of these F1-derived 621 hp V6 Nettuno engine-powered super cars. No pricing yet, but expect to pay more than the $215,000 price tag associated with the standard MC20 for this sinister styled variant.
