#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

#inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

In today’s social media world, amateur photography has become an enjoyable pastime for many – and now that there’s a total solar eclipse on the way, a lot of people have been asking about how to safely go about taking photos of the phenomenon.

To help these eager celestial shutterbugs, Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum plans to host a presentation by longtime meteorologist and astrophotographer Gary Woodall next Monday, in which he’ll talk about how he plans to photograph the eclipse – for which Greenville will be within the path of totality from around 12:24 p.m. to 3:04 p.m. on April 8, with the actual eclipse occurring for about four minutes and 10 seconds starting at 1:42 p.m.

Woodall worked for the National Weather Service for more than 30 years, where he started as a storm spotter, then spent much of the rest of his career training storm spotters.

His career took him from Midland to Fort Worth to Phoenix and then to Memphis. Then, upon retiring, he moved to McKinney to be closer to his wife Melissa’s family in Greenville.

In retirement, Woodall has been indulging in one of his other interests, astronomy and using his telescope for astrophotography.

“Mostly, I’ve been doing it just in my backyard, but in town, there’s a lot of light pollution from street lights and city glow, but I’ve still got some good shots,” Woodall said at a previous presentation at the Audie Murphy Museum in 2022. “Someday, I hope to go out with my telescope to West Texas, like to the Davis Mountains, where the McDonald Observatory is and I’d have clearer, darker skies to work with.

“As a meteorologist, I was already looking up, but with astronomy, I’m now getting to look a little higher,” Woodall added.

His presentation on eclipse photography will begin at noon on April 2. The museum is located at 600 Interstate Highway 30 Frontage Road in Greenville. Admission will be free for museum members. Otherwise, the price will be $8 for adults; $6 for senior citizens, veterans and college students; and $3 for students 6 to 18 years old.

#inform-video-player-3 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

Black & White Minimalism Magazine has announced the winners of its 2024 Black and White Minimalist Photography Prize, with the top photographer earning themselves a nice $1,000 award.

Despite the narrowly focused theme of black-and-white minimalist photography, the contest still received 1,300 submissions, which the organizers say demonstrate “the enduring appeal of minimalism in black-and-white photography.”

The competition was judged by professional photographers Alexandra Manuel and Tim Nevell, as well as the magazine’s chief editor, Milad Safabakhsh.

Yvonne C. Krystovsky won the 2024 Grand Prize for her image, “In Great-Grandpa’s hands.”

Daniel Zaleski’s “Minimalist Concrete Staircase” nabbed the runner position, and Alexandre Caetano’s “On top of Serra da Capelada” rounded out the top three.

Alongside the awarded winners, the judges all selected nearly 90 honorable mentions. These won’t all be featured below, but they are available in a gallery at Minimalism Magazine‘s website.

PetaPixel has selected a dozen of its favorite finalist images to feature below while also trying to ensure that a diverse range of photographic styles are represented. The judges must have had their hands full picking the top three, as even picking 12 photos to share proved very challenging.

For enthusiastic fans of incredible black and white photography, PetaPixel recently covered the winners of the reFocus Awards’ 2023 Black and White Photo Contest and the stunning winners of the Black and white Photo Awards. For those who want to improve their monochromatic imagery and maybe win future contests, PetaPixel‘s “Black and White Photography: The Beginner’s Guide” is full of great advice.

Image credits: Black & White Minimalism Magazine. Individual photographers are credited in the photo captions.

The National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme of the United Kingdom has a new tool to monitor the declining hedgehog population: artificial intelligence.

Images taken from trail cameras in urban parks, private gardens, woodlands, and farmland will first get sorted by AI, hopefully removing blank images or those capturing people. Human volunteers will then go through the animal images for further identification, according to Durham University, a partner on the project. It’s a first for tracking hedgehog populations, but one conservation group in the U.K. holds high hopes for it.

“Sadly, our much-loved hedgehogs are threatened, having undergone considerable population declines in recent decades. To reverse this trend, we need to remove the threats they face and put in place practical conservation measures. But before we can do this effectively we need to understand where and why hedgehogs are struggling,” a release from The British Hedgehog Preservation Society explains.

The hedgehog population in the U.K. has declined between 30 and 75 percent since 2000, the University noted in its release, explaining the need for this new AI-backed effort.

“Volunteer partner organizations are coordinating surveys in their local area, in parks, gardens and more rural areas, forming regional hubs to recruit volunteers who will put out cameras, and then collect them after 30 days,” The British Hedgehog Preservation Society release states. “The cameras will capture images of hedgehogs and other animals, which we will analyze to understand how we can better help hedgehogs.”

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society encouraged those who are interested and eligible to get involved as well through the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. The program is reportedly still looking for volunteers.

“It’s fantastic for our platform to be part of this important collaboration,” Russell Hill, professor at Durham University’s Department of Anthropology and Director at MammalWeb, says in a news release. “We’re looking forward to working with new ‘trappers’ and ‘spotters’ to generate the critical data needed to understand the status of hedgehogs in the UK and to develop strategies for their conservation.”

This is just the latest in increasing conservation projects using AI to help track, monitor, and help struggling species. Last year, PetaPixel highlighted the efforts of scientists using AI-powered camera traps to protect endangered animals.

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

Acclaimed photographer Ami Vitale is extending a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one female photographer. Organized by the non-profit Vital Impacts, which Vitale founded, the contest is giving one lucky winner a chance to travel to Antarctica on a 22-day Polar Latitudes expedition. Locations visited on the trip will include the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, South Georgia, and Antarctica.

The exceptional opportunity includes the 22-day trip (valued at $28,000), one roundtrip economy ticket to the departure point, airport transfer, shipboard food, and accommodations. Throughout the trip, the winner will be exposed to incredible photographic opportunities and learn about how Vital Impacts uses art to affect change.

“The decision to offer a trip to Antarctica to a female photographer stemmed from a deep-seated belief in the power of representation and inclusivity within the photography community,” Vitale tells My Modern Met. “Recognizing the field’s historically male-dominated nature, I felt compelled to provide a platform specifically tailored to empower and showcase the remarkable talents of women photographers.

“This initiative is about more than just capturing stunning images—it’s about sparking meaningful dialogue, fostering connections, and igniting a collective call to action for the preservation of our planet.  My goal is to equip participants with the essential storytelling tools needed to advocate for environmental conservation. In a world facing unprecedented challenges, it’s crucial to harness the unique perspectives and voices of women in photography to amplify the urgency of our planet’s plight.”

The trip departs on November 1, 2024, and the contest is open to anyone female identifying with a demonstratable interest and history in visual storytelling. The winner must also be at least 18 years old by October 31, 2024. Entrants who can show a specific leaning toward environmental stories will be given preference. For the full list of requirements, expenses—like insurance—and details, please see the contest page on Vital Impacts’ website.

If you are interested in entering the contest, don’t wait. Entries are being accepted until March 28, 2024. If you’d like to skip the contest and secure your spot with a 10% off early bird special, visit Polar Latitudes and use the code travelwithami.

“When women see others like them succeeding in photography, it inspires confidence and ambition, encouraging them to pursue their own creative aspirations without reservation,” shares Vitale when asked why she felt it was important to support women in the industry.

“We need diverse perspectives to enrich the art of photography. Women bring unique insights and experiences to their work, and by amplifying these voices, we ensure that a wider range of narratives is represented in visual media.

“Ultimately, supporting female photographers is not just about gender equality—it’s about recognizing and celebrating their immense talent, creativity, and contributions to the world. It’s about creating a more equitable and inclusive industry where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

Renowned photographer Ami Vitale is offering one female identifying photographer the trip of a lifetime.

Her non-profit Vital Impacts is offering an opportunity to travel to Antarctica on a 22-day expedition.

The trip, valued at $28,000, is open to anyone over 18 who is interested in visual storytelling.

“Women bring unique insights and experiences to their work, and by amplifying these voices, we ensure that a wider range of narratives is represented in visual media.”

Anyone interested has until March 28, 2024, to enter the contest on Vital Impacts.

Vital Impacts: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Vital Impacts.

Related Articles:

Wildlife Photographers Unite in New Book To Highlight Beauty of Endangered Animals

100 of the World’s Top Photographers Use Their Art to Help the Environment [Interview]

New Film Follows Endangered Rhinos and Explores How Technology Can Bring the Species Back

Photographer Shares How a Community in Kenya Came Together to Help Orphaned Elephants [Interview]