Local News Photographer, Pilot Killed In Helicopter Crash

By in Photography

Local News Photographer, Pilot Killed In Helicopter Crash

A Philadelphia local news photographer and pilot were killed in a helicopter crash Tuesday (December 19) night, 6 ABC Action News reports.

The rotorcraft went down in Washington Township, New Jersey, at around 8:00 p.m. when the two crew members were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore. The news station said it wouldn’t release the names of the two individuals until their family members were notified, however, noted that “they have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the Action News team for years.”

Local authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. A debris field was located by New Jersey State Park Police nearby Mullica River Road shortly after midnight.

A representative for the Federal Aviation Administration was present at the scene overnight and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were expected to arrive at some point on Wednesday (December 20). The helicopter was last reported to be airborne over Wharton State Forest before crashing into a wooded area.

A helicopter from another Philadelphia local news station captured footage of the wreckage. Three unpaved roads — Quaker Bridge Road, Mullica Road and Middle Road — were closed amid the ongoing investigation into the crash.

The helicopter was a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR leased from U.S. Helicopters Inc., according to 6 ABC Action News.

2023 in smartphones: it was the little things

By in Photography

2023 in smartphones: it was the little things

/

Foldables truly arrived, Google made us question the definition of photography, and Apple softened its stance on ‘buy your mom an iPhone.’

p>span:first-child]:text-gray-13 [&_.duet–article-byline-and]:text-gray-13″>

By Allison Johnson, a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview.

Vector photo collage of a new phones from 2023.

a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>The Verge / Photos by Allison Johnson and Amelia Holowaty Krales

Smartphones — the gadgets I spend most of my waking hours thinking about, testing, and tinkering with — are generally considered a mature product category. This means that, in any of the previous, oh, five years, you’d struggle to find a big defining moment for the industry. Likewise, there was no “iPhone” moment in 2023, and I’ll bet you 20 bucks we won’t see one in 2024, either.

But that’s not to say that it wasn’t an interesting year for mobile tech; far from it. We didn’t have a singular, spectacular innovation: just a bunch of smaller ones that, altogether, could make a big difference in the long run. 

Life got a little easier for partnerships and group chats that include Android and iPhone-owning members, for example. We have new photo editing tools at our disposal that muddy the lines between a photograph and a memory. And with just a few more square millimeters of screen real estate, foldable phones became a lot more useful. Those individual innovations might not seem to make a big splash in the 2023 consumer tech yearbook, but they’re more consequential than they might seem.

Here is my take on these three trends of 2023.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>A more peaceful coexistence for green and blue bubbles

When I say that life got easier for Android / iPhone households, I could mean that in a broad sense, but specifically I mean my house. My husband and the vast majority of our friends own iPhones, but most of the year, I use an Android phone. This means that I’m usually responsible for ruining a group chat with my green bubbles, reducing the quality of the photos and videos we share with each other to a low-res mess. This creates a situation where I have to ask people to send photos directly to my husband, or share them on Google Photos, or simply print them out at a Walgreens and mail them to my house c/o Tim Cook. It’s a disaster.

So imagine the utter thrill when we discovered that the photos our friends sent from our Thanksgiving gathering weren’t reduced to pixelated garbage in the group chat — at least for the iPhone owners. That’s because iOS 17 quietly introduced a change that allows people on iOS to keep using iMessage features with each other even if someone else is using an Android device. That doesn’t fix the situation for an Android user just yet, but at least my husband can download the high-res images and add them to our shared album without having to side-channel our friends.

There’s more good news: Apple said that in 2024, it would start supporting RCS — the updated messaging protocol that Android uses as a replacement for the ancient SMS and MMS standards. We have a ton of questions about how this will actually work, but at the very least it seems that Android users will finally get high-quality photo and video sharing in group chats with iPhone owners. Not perfect parity, but it seems that’s the best we’re going to get in the near term: efforts to skirt around the high walls of iMessage’s garden have resulted in major security risks and swift takedowns from Apple.

If you live outside the US, this will sound thoroughly uninteresting, and to be fair, it kind of is. But the majority of phones sold in the US are iPhones and most everyone uses iMessage because we’re all apparently allergic to WhatsApp. Losing access to iMessage is a major deterrent for anyone on an iPhone who might entertain switching, so a little more parity in the group chat experience is very promising for a future where Android and iPhone owners coexist more peacefully — heck, we can even share chargers now.

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Foldables truly arrived

The difference between a 1.9-inch screen and a 3.4-inch screen doesn’t sound like much, but on the outer panel of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 it actually makes a big difference. The Flip 5’s cover screen got a little bigger and a lot handier this year; with the Flip 4’s smaller screen, you couldn’t do much more than check notifications and press pause on your music player. It’s a different story on the Flip 5 and the Motorola Razr Plus, which technically beat Samsung to the whole big-outer-screen-flip-phone thing by a couple of months. These phones let youactually type out a response to a text, add an event to your calendar, and check the composition on a selfie with an image that’s bigger than a postage stamp.

And I know this sounds counterintuitive, but having more screen on the front of the phone means you can make fewer trips to your phone’s main screen and actually look at your device less. It’s a small victory for your attention span if you’re the kind of person who’s always getting stuck scrolling through apps when all you meant to do was respond to a text.

OnePlus Open next to Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5.

OnePlus Open next to Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5.

a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>Competition! What a concept!
a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

The other important development in the foldable phone market this year was that Samsung finally got some company in the US. It was basically the only game in town for a few years running, but that changed this year when Motorola released the revamped Razr Plus. As for book-style foldables, the Google Pixel Fold and the OnePlus Open introduced some sorely needed competition. Samsung still offers the most complete software experience, which is important on a folding phone, but Google and OnePlus aren’t far behind. It all bodes very well for foldables in 2024. 

a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>The Pixel 8 and the ‘What is a photo’-pocalypse

Without a doubt, the popularization of generative AI is one of the biggest tech stories of 2023, but it has only just started to materialize on smartphones. Apple’s annual iPhone launch came and went with hardly a mention of AI, but Google was more than happy to bring the tech to the forefront when it launched the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

Among other things, they introduce some new photo and video editing tools in Google Photos that lean on generative AI. There’s Best Take, which allows you to swap in different expressions on faces in your photo when you take a burst of images. Audio Magic Eraser lets you amplify or minimize different sounds in your videos so you can remove unwanted background noise. Both of these tools work surprisingly well, but the most powerful — and complicated — is Magic Editor.

Magic Editor is a supercharged version of Magic Eraser that allows you to do more than just remove unwanted parts of your photo — though it’s really good at that. You can also select objects in the frame and move them somewhere else, tweak the lighting, and replace the sky. I’ve used it on a bunch of family photos to remove bystanders from the background and tweak composition. 

It’s not always good; if you try to do too much, you’ll end up with some weird stuff in your photos. I tried removing some boxes of Pampers from the background of a photo of my kid and it replaced them with an alien-looking houseplant. But for certain tasks, it’s just creepily good. So good that it really makes you question how authentic you think photography should be. Should your family photos be true-to-the-moment documents of the past? Or are you comfortable making a few aesthetic tweaks for a more pleasant final product — even if it’s a picture of a moment that never technically happened? 

This is really only a moral dilemma for Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners at the moment, but when generative AI arrives in a big way on our phones next year, it’s something we’re all going to have to come to terms with.

Digitizing film or prints is something every photographer should consider (and these are the five options to get the job done)

By in Photography

Digitizing film or prints is something every photographer should consider (and these are the five options to get the job done)

As much as we love our digital world, we can’t help but feel nostalgia for the days of prints. However, the lifespan of your prints depends on the type of material used, with the external environment often accelerating the ageing process. 

Work with optimal dpi

High-resolution scanning is necessary to create accurate copies of your original prints. Most prints do not have a great depth of field, therefore working with 300dpi is sufficient to achieve sharp results. Scanning with a higher dpi tends to capture more detail and the results can then be resized to suit the needs of your specific project.

Digitizing photos has many benefits – not only does it save the existence of your photos, but also opens up new perspectives and ways of handling your images. Converted to digital form, post-processing becomes possible. The quality can be optimized, with yellowed or faded colors corrected – new software can even repair physical damage to the originals!

Digitization makes it possible to include old photos in your digital work, with one of the biggest gains being the ability to duplicate your material. Now, your old images can easily be shared on social platforms and made accessible to a wider audience.

Kodak Slide ‘n’ Scan

This Kodak unit has a built-in camera and viewing screen to ease your digitizing project (Image credit: Kodak)

Equipped with a 14MP sensor, the Kodak Slide ‘n’ Scan film scanner is compatible with 50mm mounted slides (135, 110, 126), color and black and white negative film (135, 110, 126). Continuous loading and user-friendly features make the scanning fast and easy. Check results on the LCD screen and save scans to an SD card or transfer them directly to your computer. With the built-in editing functions, you can optimize the scans by adjusting RGB levels and brightness. See other recommendations for the best film scanner.

PictoScanner

This lightbox-like set-up is an affordable scanning option (Image credit: PictoScanner)

Use a phone or camera to digitise 35mm film. The cardboard box is easy to set up and a built-in LED backlight shows you when the negatives are ready for scanning. Place the phone, open the PictoScanner app and capture the film – the file is saved to your photo library. To create high-res scans, set up your camera on a tripod over the negative. Use a remote shutter release to avoid blurred results.

Epson scanner

A flatbed scanner is a traditional solution for scanning prints – but this Epson can also do transparencies (Image credit: Epson)

With a scanner like the Epson Perfection V600 scanner, you can not only scan prints, 35mm color and mono negatives or 35mm slide positives, but also 120/220 medium format film. In addition to the maximum scan resolution of 12,800dpi, automatic modes, such as multi-framing ensure high-quality scans. Thanks to digital ICE for print and film, scratches, dust or tears are automatically removed. After scanning, photos can then be enhanced with the included ArcSoft PhotoStudio software. See alternative options for the best scanners for documents & photos

Google PhotoScan

Google’s smart app turns your phone into a photo scanner (Image credit: Google)

Using a smartphone camera, this app achieves glare-free scans of glossy prints.
The ‘automatically remove and reduce’ features make it possible to capture the photo from an ideal angle. The app gives instructions and guides you through the process. A total of four different scans are created, focusing on four individual points. From this data, one final image is automatically generated.

Online service

Digitize Photo

With Each Moment’s Memory Box service you can send a mix of memory cards, tapes, cine films and photos to be digitized (Image credit: Each Moment)

If you’d prefer someone else to do the work, you can have your material digitized by professional online services, such as UK-based Each Moment; in the US, runs a similar by-post scanning solution. 

These services not only convert photographic material to a digital form but also tapes, cine film and audio media. Before your material is digitized, intensive preparation including dust removal ensures the best quality results. Your media is sent via a tracked collection and, once converted into digital files, the original media will then be securely returned to you.

Pilot, news photographer killed in news helicopter crash

By in Photography

Pilot, news photographer killed in news helicopter crash

BURLINGTON COUNTY, N.J. — A pilot and photographer who worked at the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia have been killed after the station’s helicopter crashed in New Jersey Tuesday night.

>> Read more trending news

The team’s names have not been released, WPVI reported.

“For now, we are not releasing the names of the crew members who died because family members are still being notified about the crash,” the station wrote on its website.

“They have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the Action News team for years.”

The team was returning to Philadelphia after covering an assignment at the Jersey Shore. It crashed in Washington Township, New Jersey around 8 p.m. Tuesday, less than 20 miles from Philadelphia.

The Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR helicopter had left Northeast Airport and circled Wharton State Forest before crashing, according to flight data compiled by WCAU.

New Jersey State Police found the helicopter wreckage in the woods, KYW reported.

The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the crash. There is no indication on why the helicopter crashed.

Latest trending news:

Pennsylvania news helicopter crashes; pilot, photographer on board killed

By in Photography

Pennsylvania news helicopter crashes; pilot, photographer on board killed

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A Pennsylvania television station’s helicopter crashed in a forest Tuesday night, killing the pilot and photographer on board.

According to NBC10 in Philadelphia, Chopper 6, the news chopper of 6ABC (WPVI-TV) crashed near Quaker Bridge Road in New Jersey at around 8 p.m.

The station said the chopper was coming back from an assignment at the Jersey Shore, the Associated Press reports.

According to online flight data, the chopper – a Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR – had left Northeast Airport and circled the state forest prior to crashing, NBC10 reports.

The AP said it’s unclear what caused the crash at this time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS

©2023 Cox Media Group

Photographer Killed After TV News Helicopter Crashes in New Jersey

By in Photography

Photographer Killed After TV News Helicopter Crashes in New Jersey
[embedded content]

A photographer and pilot were killed after a local TV news helicopter crashed in New Jersey on Tuesday night.

The pilot and news photographer were on board ABC Action News‘ Chopper 6 when it crashed in a wooded area in Wharton State Forest near Hammonton, New Jersey just after 20:00 on Tuesday.

They were the only people aboard the 7-seat aircraft and were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore.

New Jersey state police found the wreckage deep in the forest, which spans 122,880 acres, just after midnight off Mulica River road. The site was reportedly very difficult to access due to its location in the woods.

According to ABC Action News, the television station is not releasing the names of the crew members who died as their family members are still being notified about the crash.

However, the local TV News outlet says the pair have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the ABC Action News team for years.

Cause of Crash is Unknown

It’s still unclear what caused the crash. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and are investigating the cause of the crash.

ABC Action News uses the helicopter for many different beats, covering weather, traffic, and news stories.

“Chopper 6 and those who fly in it play an integral role in our news-gathering operation, accessing areas that are difficult to reach by ground, giving us everything from weather and beauty shots, traffic backups, and important information about news of the day,” ABC Action News writes.

The helicopter was a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR the WPVI leased through North Carolina-based US Helicopters Inc. It was last seen airborne flying over the state forest at 20:03 according to FlightAware.

Colleagues and fellow reporters paid tribute to the photographer and pilot after it emerged they had died in the crash.

“Two people who helped bring you the news every day lost their lives while on the job last night,” ABC Action News news anchor Matt O’Donnell writes on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“All of us at 6abc want to express our deepest condolences to their family and friends.”

Action News Helicopter Crashes in New Jersey, Killing Two

By in Photography

Action News Helicopter Crashes in New Jersey, Killing Two
image

December 20, 2023 7:07 AM EST

*:not(.inline-image)]:px-4 [&>*:not(.inline-image)]:lg:pl-[6.5rem] [&>*:not(.inline-image)]:lg:pr-14 [&>.inline-image]:sm:px-4 [&>.inline-image]:lg:pl-[6.5rem] [&>.inline-image]:lg:pr-14″ readability=”55.630383711825″>

Action News’ helicopter Chopper 6 crashed into a wooded area of Burlington County, New Jersey, shortly after 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday night, killing the pilot and an on-board photographer from the Action News team.

The exact cause of the crash remains unknown and the names of the victims have not yet been released as families wait to be notified. The ABC station said of the crash victims: “They have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the Action News team for years.”

The crash site is approximately 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia and is difficult to access due to heavy foliage. The pilot and photographer are believed to have been returning from an assignment on the Jersey Shore.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be investigating the cause of the crash.

Fatalities due to helicopter crashes are rare. Per the FAA, over the past five years, there have been 0.76 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours in the U.S. Nevertheless, the risk of dying in a helicopter flight or non-commercial plane is still much higher than the risk of dying in a crash on a commercial flight, which averaged 0.00 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours in 2021. In 2022, meanwhile, studies showed that private planes are 200 times more deadly.

Astera NYX Bulbs Help With Sculptural Solution

By in Sculpture

Astera NYX Bulbs Help With Sculptural Solution
Forty Astera NYX Bulbs were central to a stunning kinetic light sculpture that was created for London-based creative agency Audience’s design for a recent Deloitte Shared Services Conference (SSC) | Forty Astera NYX Bulbs were central to a stunning kinetic light sculpture that was created for London-based creative agency Audience’s design.

News helicopter crashes in New Jersey, killing pilot and photographer

By in Photography

News helicopter crashes in New Jersey, killing pilot and photographer

A Philadelphia television station says a news helicopter has crashed in New Jersey, killing both the pilot and photographer on board.

WPVI-TV says a pilot and photographer from its news team were in the helicopter when it went down about 8 p.m. Tuesday in Burlington County’s Washington Township.

The helicopter was returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore when it crashed in the woods.

The station says New Jersey State Police troopers were able to locate the crash site, which is difficult to access.

The station says it’s unclear what caused the crash.

Scripps Only Content 2023

«< 63 64 65 66 67 >»