#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }
#inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }
Award-winning photographer, Mary Ann Gilfillan is the Art Guild’s featured artist for March and will be honored during the Fun and Wine First Friday reception Friday, March 1, from 5-7 p.m. at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Dr.
The public is welcome to attend this free event. Come enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, enjoy some live music, feast your eyes on beautiful works of art and meet Mary Ann and other artists who will also have their artwork on display during the month of March.
I had a chance to meet Mary Ann over a cup of peppermint mocha (me) and hot chocolate (Mary Ann). She shared that she wants to change the way people see things – to stop and enjoy the beauty around them. Her stories included an obsession with getting a perfect picture of a barn, which she got, and the time she was lying on the ground in downtown Crossville to get the perfect shot of a tulip and drew the attention of a local policeman. This is the life of a photographer who sees life in “captures.”
If you enjoy beautiful photographs of eagles, barns, flowers, and sunsets then you should plan on visiting the small gallery at the Plateau Creative Arts Center in Fairfield Glade to enjoy Mary Ann’s creative photography.
Mary Ann has been capturing the beauty of Tennessee since moving to Fairfield Glade in 2018. She is one of a handful of Tennesseans to be honored to be part of the 2023 class of Periscope: Rural Artist Development (Periscope RAD), an online training and mentorship program uniquely designed to be a transformative experience empowering rural artists with the entrepreneurial skills to help them thrive.
Her photos can also be found locally at Dogwood Exchange LLC and Pretty Clothes Shoppe in Crossville and The Tomato Head in Knoxville, as well as on her website, alteredlifephotography.com.
Mary Ann’s artwork will be on display at the Plateau Creative Arts Center from March 1 through April 4. The Arts Center is open the month of March during winter hours from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Hours will resume to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in April. All artwork in the gallery and in the Endless Possibilities Shop is available for purchase.
The Plateau Creative Arts Center/Art Guild at Fairfield Glade is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and an equal opportunity provider.
Visit plateauarts.org for more information.
#inform-video-player-3 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }
What features will cameras have ten years from now that cameras do not have now? I asked Gemini AI. Here are the answers.
I don’t know that AI — our new buzzword for what is largely machine learning — has a crystal ball. But Google’s Gemini is pretty good at scraping the internet for information and ideas. I asked what we might see in 10 years.
Actually, what I did was ask it several times. Then I combined some of the more interesting answers into this article. Gemini divided its answers into similar categories each time it answered. I kept its categories and answers verbatim, all as headers. Then I added additional explanations or thoughts below the headers.
Quantum dots are already used in TVs. They’re very small, light-sensitive dots that can be tuned to specific colors to capture them better—and without the need for a color filter. The promise is that they capture a wider range of colors. For us night photographers, this is music to our ears. They would potentially absorb more light, which would improve low-light performance while reducing noise. Bring them on!
Metalenses, as some call them, use techniques borrowed from the semi-conductor industry to make ultra-thin lenses. They’re made of a silicon-on-glass substrate. What’s the benefit? Decreased aberrations, meaning they would produce sharper, clearer images. They can also be completely flat, making it possible to be even thinner. Additionally, they can be designed to filter specific wavelengths or create complex optical effects.
Could these eventually be used to photograph magnetic field sensing, radiation detection, or sound? Could they aid in fool-proof facial detection technology? Determine whether a stone in a ring is diamond or glass? Offer insightful information to health professionals?
This sounds intriguing, although if you thought your Z-Mount lenses were expensive, just wait!
Would these work hand-in-hand with metalenses? Regardless, the possibility for scientific research such as detecting diseases, studying geological formations, looking for lost cities in the jungle, or determining crop health seems fantastic. Of course, as you might readily imagine, this would also have many military applications, such as target tracking, land mine detection, ballistic missile detection, and more.
If the other crystal ball predictions seemed futuristic, this really pushes it into the realm of “Star Trek.” Bio-inspired sensors would mimic the way our eyes work, adapting to different lighting or changes in the scene. They would also be able to capture details in both bright and dark areas simultaneously. Would these ever be used for photography?
They may have some uses in robotics or driverless cars. While I’m not super-excited about driverless cars at the moment, the application for autonomous scenarios is certainly intriguing. And they could be used to warn drivers as well.
In April 2021, I wrote an April Fools Day article about Sony AI, a groundbreaking artificial intelligence camera that used a positronic neural network to offer suggestions such as posing people in a flattering manner. This camera was also equipped with Anti-Cliche AI, which would automatically drain the battery if the user photographed people on a couch in a field, sitting on train tracks, pointing flashlights at the Milky Way, or taking selfie photos of feet at the beach.
If Gemini AI is correct, you can begin referring to me as “Photostradamus.”
See above!
Luminar Neo and iPhone’s Memory Mixes, introduced with iOS 15, somewhat approach this already.
This almost seems like a certainty.
This also seems like a certainty. With TikTok driving so much of what people do, I don’t see how this could not happen. Unless, of course, 10 years from now, everyone is so sick of social media that we’ve reverted to telling stories around the campfire. It would feel revolutionary. It would be similar to how, after listening to tons of pop music, someone singing while playing an acoustic guitar seems fresh.
I can’t wait to issue my camera a command to bring me a sandwich or walk over and attach itself to my tripod.
Modular cameras already exist. Also, various Kickstarter campaigns and manufacturers have flirted with this idea for a while. I’m not sure if we will see major camera manufacturers getting on board with this any time soon. On the other hand, if in ten years we have metalenses, bio-inspired sensors, and quantum dot sensors working alongside “vintage” CMOS sensors, maybe they could surprise us!
Google, Meta, and others have been developing and flirting with wearable cameras for years. Remember Google Glasses?
If a professional camera can be folded up to fit in a pocket, that’s intriguing. We might even be able to get some strange shooting angles with this! However, wearable cameras, particularly ones that can be integrated into clothing or accessories, seem ready for abuse.
If this ever occurs, I hope the connection is more reliable than Bluetooth. If we thought that bio-inspired sensors were approaching the stuff of “Star Trek,” this plants two feet firmly in that universe.
No buttons. No touchscreens. You control the camera by focusing your mind on specific actions such as taking a picture, zooming, or adjusting settings.
This currently needs some more steps to become reality. Current brain-computer interfaces are large and bulky.
Gemini closed with a mention of something that I have fantasized about for years: holographic photography. These cameras would record complex data about a scene and generate 3D models of objects or scenes, which could be viewed from various angles. This might be a possibility for virtual reality applications if Apple and Meta eventually have their way.
This, of course, veers into holodeck territory, which exists in, once again, “Star Trek.” I had always thought that if holodecks of that sort existed, no one would ever come out of there.
Regardless, beyond the creative or odd aspects, there could be a lot of potential in the fields of science, education, and health care.
What predicted technologies would you love to see implemented in cameras of the future? What do you foresee in cameras of the future? In what ways are you excited or concerned about future camera technologies? Leave your comments below!
This week, yet another online retailer has used AI fashion models instead of using real ones to show off their products on many body types. Has this kind of shift in visuals caused an entire generation to think, “Hmm… screw that photography lark”? And honestly, who would blame them?
When even a major brand is not even going to bother paying anyone to get the content they need – just type it into an AI machine and, hey presto, marketing materials are ready – are we seeing this as a big hurdle in the eyes of someone looking to start a career in commercial photography?
Traditionally as a photographer, everything content-wise was printed and bought in shops in the high street. Finding work was harder, too; we didn’t have an online gallery or a LinkedIn page to send anyone via email. We worked very hard to get anything out of the photography industry, no matter which genre we worked in.
Fast-forward and there are more marketing opportunities available than ever before. Marketing has certainly become more sophisticated, and thus so has finding work, but it’s also easier to apply. LinkedIn, Indeed, Mandy – there are so many places to sit in your shorts at home and apply for jobs, if working for “the man” is your thing.
So where is Gen Z? I have certainly seen Millennials turn up in the photography trade. Some have been very successful, riding the wave of Instagram and TikTok as they have blown up. Gen Z has a fantastic array of tools and places to market and look for work, but still – nobody seems to be showing up. Why?
I do wonder if this is a question of finances, or maybe an industry that is way less “sticky” than before. Photography as a career choice might be even more dulled by the amount of people doing it (or at least claiming to be) and of course, there’s the AI elephant in the room.
The cost of marketing has increased, and traditional advertising has been a much lower bar to jump over, but the level of effort required to get eyes on your work takes some serious heavy lifting. Does that mean Gen Z sees this as too much hard work? The juice not worth the squeeze, if you will? It seems to me that the level of difficulty is the same, but we had and have different challenges. Maybe the juice was worth the squeeze back then, but now…
If you are a member of the Gen Z gang and trying to get into the photography business, what’s the biggest hurdle you’re struggling with? From an old Gen Xer, you seem to have so many opportunities open.
If you still want to give the commercial world a go, take a look at the best professional cameras and the best cameras for product photography.
Imagine viewing the rolling hills and historic streets of Ireland through the lens of someone seeing it for the first time, not just as a visitor, but as a refuge from turmoil. This is the premise of the ‘Ireland through the eyes of Ukrainians’ photography competition, a poignant event that took place in Cavan Town’s Johnston Library. The competition, announced by Seamus Enright, coincided with the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2024. It attracted over 140 entries from Ukrainians across Ireland, showcasing the resilience and fresh perspectives of a displaced community finding solace and beauty in their new surroundings.
The contest revealed the depth of emotion and the keen eye for beauty among the Ukrainian refugees. Winners like Maksym Bondarenko, Oleksandra Rudik, Olena Savchenko, and Anna Skorobagatko captured not just landscapes but moments of peace, resilience, and hope amidst the ongoing conflict back home. Their photographs serve as a bridge between cultures, highlighting the shared human experience and the universal language of art. The exhibition underscored the significant integration and contributions of Ukrainians to Irish society, a testament to the strength and adaptability of the human spirit. Read more about the photography competition.
The event was more than a competition; it was a demonstration of solidarity between Irish and Ukrainian communities. Officials and community leaders praised the resilience and contributions of the Ukrainian community, expressing hope for their future in Ireland. The gathering also featured a prayer vigil, performances, and an art exhibition, creating a space for communal healing and support. This multifaceted approach not only celebrated the artistic achievements of the participants but also acknowledged the ongoing struggles of the Ukrainian people. The event served as a powerful reminder of the impact of war and the importance of community support during times of crisis.
The ‘Ireland through the eyes of Ukrainians’ photography competition is a poignant reminder of the power of art to heal, unite, and communicate across cultural divides. It highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty that can emerge from adversity. As the Ukrainian community continues to integrate into Irish society, their unique perspectives enrich the cultural tapestry of their new home. Events like this not only foster understanding and empathy but also pave the way for a future where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. In a world often divided by borders and conflict, the shared experience of art and the universal pursuit of beauty stand as beacons of hope and unity.
