Whilst the world sleeps: photography recreated in Play-Doh
City of Missoula Proposes Sculpture Walk Project in Silver Park
MISSOULA, Mont. – Missoulians take a lot of pride in bringing new and exciting attractions to their Garden City – and the Parks and Rec Department is introducing a new
Nikon acquires RED digital cinema
In a surprising move, Nikon has acquired 100% of US-based RED Digital Cinema.
RED was founded in 2005 by Jim Jannard, the founder of Oakley eyewear, who sold Oakley for $2.1 billion in 2007.
Jannard’s original goal was to deliver relatively affordable 4K video at a time when 2K was the standard, and cinema was still being shot on film.
In 2007 the company launched the RED One 4K with its own ‘Mysterium 4K’ 12MP Super 35mm film sensor. This sensor, along with a mount that enabled the use of larger lenses, meant the ONE 4K was able to deliver shallow depth of field that cinematographers love.
Since then, RED has gone on to be a well respected, high end cinema camera brand that has created more than 14 sensors that utilise the propriety Redcode RAW (.r3d) file format. RED currently has 220 employees.
![The current RED V-Raptor XL [X] 8K retails for approximately $81,000](https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/http3A2F2Fyaffa-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com2Fyaffadsp2Fimages2FdmImage2FSourceImage2Fscreenshot-2024-03-08-at-12.51.13-am.jpg)
So the big question is – why did Nikon buy RED?
If you look into who is the main manufacturer of camera sensors – Sony wins hands down with more than a 42% market share. And yes, Sony even makes sensors for Nikon – including those in the latest Z8 & Z9 cameras.
So it makes sense for Nikon to acquire RED to gain access to the company’s sensor manufacturing nous. This will (hopefully) see greater profit in the near future in not only Nikon’s stills camera market, but also the cinema camera market.
Nikon’s official press release states that “Nikon’s expertise in product development, exceptional reliability, and know-how in image processing, as well as optical technology and user interface along with RED’s knowledge in cinema cameras, including unique image compression technology and colour science, will enable the development of distinctive products in the professional digital cinema camera market.
Nikon will leverage this acquisition to expand the fast-growing professional digital cinema camera market, building on both companies’ business foundations and networks, promising an exciting future of product development that will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in film and video production.”
You can read the official press release here.
First post-op photo of Princess of Wales withdrawn due to ‘manipulation’
The first official photograph of the Princess of Wales to be released after her abdominal surgery two months ago has been recalled by some of the world’s biggest picture agencies over claims it had been manipulated.
The image, released to mark Mother’s Day in the UK, shows Catherine sitting on a chair surrounded by her three children. It is the first authorised picture of her since Christmas.
After its release, the photo was recalled by photo agencies including Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters, which put out a “kill notice” to halt their distribution of the picture.
“At closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image,” the AP notice said. A spokesperson for AP told the Telegraph: “The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand.”
AFP said: “Mandatory kill. Due to an editorial issue this photo by the Prince of Wales has been withdrawn … and may no longer by used in any manner. Please immediately remove it from all your online services, stop using it in any other fashion and delete it from your servers.”
Reuters said in a statement it had withdrawn the picture following a post-publication review. “We are reviewing the matter,” a spokesperson said.
Reuters picture editors said part of the sleeve of Princess Charlotte’s cardigan did not line up properly, suggesting that the image had been altered. Reuters said it could not immediately establish how, why or by whom the alteration had been made.
A spokesperson for the PA news agency said it had not killed the picture on its service, but was seeking urgent clarification from Kensington Palace about the concerns raised about manipulation.
In a story published later, Associated Press said that according to its “news values and principles”, minor edits to photos including cropping, toning and colour adjustment are “acceptable when necessary for clear and accurate reproduction and should maintain the authentic nature of the photograph”.
It added that “changes in density, contrast, color and saturation levels that substantially alter the original scene are not acceptable. Backgrounds should not be digitally blurred or eliminated by burning down or by aggressive toning. The removal of ‘red eye’ from photographs is not permissible.”
Speculation and conspiracy theories have grown since Catherine has been out of the public eye recovering from the planned abdominal operation in January, when it was said she was expected to be recuperating until around Easter.
The photo was posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts on Sunday morning, along with a message thanking well-wishers for their support.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” the message read. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C.” Kensington Palace said the image was taken in Windsor earlier this week by the Prince of Wales.
Details of the princess’s condition have not been revealed, but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that Catherine wished her personal medical information to remain private.
Kensington Palace has declined to comment.
Leica announces 60MP SL3
Leica has just revealed the full frame 60MP SL3 L-mount camera that will retail for $11,690 AUD.
The mantra of the Leica SL line of cameras is that they are “developed in cooperation with creatives for creatives – with a focus on ease of use, functionality, and versatility.”
The SL3 marks a significant upgrade from the 47MP SL2 of 2019, now incorporating:
• A new hybrid autofocus system.
• DCI 8K video in camera (10-bit H.265)
• 1080p ProRes in camera.
• Better pro-level ergonomics with more button customisation.
• The new Maestro IV processor.
• Improved software user interface.
• Dual card slots.
• Reduced size & lighter weight.
• Improved IP54 weather proofing.
• The ability to shoot up to ISO 100,000.
• New rear flip screen.
• More AI subject recognition.
Interestingly, the flash sync speed has been lowered from 1/250s to 1/200s and the IBIS rating has been reduced from 5.5 stops to 5 stops.
For any of those who are not acquainted with Leica, the question that is usually asked is – why are they so expensive?
For those who have actually had a hands-on experience – it is soon realised that the cameras have a ‘next-level’ type of build quality to them. Married to these bodies are a full set of incredible (and also very expensive) lenses. And somewhere along the line, you are probably also paying for Leica’s rich heritage that is associated with most luxury brands.
The camera is available (on backorder) now at the Leica AU store and you can find out more about the SL3 on the Leica website.
To witness how the Leica SL3 was created from drawing board to completion, it’s worth watching this cool video shot in the Leica Wetzlar plant in Germany.
[embedded content]Agencies issue ‘kill’ notice for ‘manipulated’ photo of Princess Kate
Major news and photography agencies have removed a photograph of the Princess of Wales, released by Kensington Palace, over doubts the image has been “manipulated”.
A photo of Catherine with her children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, was released on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official social media accounts on Sunday evening, AEDT.
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The image was the first official photograph released following the princess’ abdominal surgery in January and was circulated by major news and photography agencies.
However, four of the largest agencies issued a “kill notice” for the image, asking those who were using it to remove it.
AP reported the reason for the image recall was: “It appears that the source [Kensington Palace] has manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
“The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand,” AP stated.
Reuters later reported it had removed the photo for similar reasons to AP.
“Reuters picture editors said part of the sleeve of Kate’s daughter’s cardigan did not line up properly, suggesting that the image had been altered,” it said.
“Reuters could not immediately establish how, why or by whom the alteration had been made.
“Leading picture agencies distributing news photographs prohibit the publication of images that have been overly edited.”
The Reuters Handbook of Journalism states that Photoshop can only be used in limited matters like formatting, cropping, sizing and balancing tone and colour.
“Materially altering a picture in Photoshop or any other image editing software will lead to dismissal,” it says.
AFP and Getty Images also issued their own notices and removed the image from their sites.
The photo is still up on the Princess’ social media accounts.
Clear evidence of manipulation
Dr TJ Thomson, senior lecturer in visual communication and digital media at RMIT, says the image shows clear evidence of manipulation.
“The most obvious example is around Princess Charlotte’s left sleeve cuff. The left side of Princess Kate’s hair and her right hand also appear to be unnaturally blurred,” he says.
Dr Thomson also ran the image through a forensic analysis software called WeVerify.
“That suggests that in addition to the cuff area on Princess Charlotte, the branches in the top-right corner of the image were also manipulated.”
The photo was the first photo of Princess Kate since she had abdominal surgery in January.
At the time the palace confirmed she was undergoing planned abdominal surgery and would spend two weeks in hospital before returning home to convalesce.
It announced she would temporarily withdraw from public duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.
No further detail about her condition was given, though the palace acknowledged, “the Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate”.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” the social media post read.
“Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.”
The photograph was taken earlier this week in Windsor where the family live, her Kensington Palace office said.
Princess Kate photo released by royals removed by agencies over possible ‘manipulation’
Major news and photography agencies have removed a photograph of the Princess of Wales, released by Kensington Palace, after doubts arose the image had been “manipulated”.
A photo of Catherine with her children, Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, was released on Prince William and Princess Kate’s official social media accounts on Sunday evening, AEDT.
Loading Instagram content
The image was the first official photograph released following the princess’ abdominal surgery in January and was circulated by major news and photography agencies.
However, four of the largest agencies issued a “kill notice” on the image, asking those who were using the image to remove it.
AP reported that the reason for the image recall was because “it appears that the source [Kensington Palace] has manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
“The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand,” AP stated.
Reuters, AFP and Getty Images also issued their own notices and removed the image from their sites.
The photo is still up on the Princess’ social media accounts.
First photo after surgery
The photo was the first photo of Princess Kate since she had abdominal surgery in January.
At the time the palace confirmed she was undergoing planned abdominal surgery and would spend two weeks in hospital before returning home to convalesce.
It announced she would temporarily withdraw from public duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.
No further detail about her condition was given, though the palace acknowledged, “the Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate”.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” the social media post read.
“Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.”
The photograph was taken earlier this week in Windsor where the family live, her Kensington Palace office said.
New Photograph of Kate Middleton and Her Children Recalled by Major Picture Agencies
When Kensington Palace released a photograph of Kate Middleton and her three children this morning it was clearly intended to send a positive message about her recovery following weeks out of the spotlight.
However, within 12 hours, mystery surrounded the new image as major picture agencies took the astonishing step of recalling it, with one claiming it appears to have been manipulated.
Picture agencies Associated Press, Associated Foreign Press, Reuters and Getty have all made the image of Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louis unavailable. The agencies have cited an “editorial issue” and “post-publication review” amongst the reasons. Agency Associated Press issued the most detailed description, saying that “at closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image. No replacement will be sent.” All of the agency kill notifications were posted online by ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship.
The astonishing and unprecedented move came after hours of speculation online that the image had been photoshopped. One of the issues most pointed out was that Princess Charlotte’s left sleeve appeared out of line with her hand.
Kensington Palace has not commented on the furor, but the image remains live on their social channels where they released it at 9 a.m. along with a personal message from Kate. The picture is the first time that she has been seen officially since undergoing abdominal surgery on January 16. Last week, a paparazzi picture showed her in a car alongside her mother Carole.
Social media has gone into overdrive in recent weeks when it comes to speculation on Kate as she recovers from major surgery. This evening it was very clear that this latest development has made things worse as people took to X to discuss the recalling of the images.
Journalist Catherine Mayer, who has written a book on Prince Charles, posted, “Extraordinary how everything the royal comms team does to dampen speculation increases it.” And royal reporter Richard Palmer described it as a “real controversy.”
Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.
Students study Indigenous art
Every year, the Annette and Dale Schuh Visiting Artist program brings in an artist to lead a course for art students at UW-Whitewater. This year is particularly notable because it gave students the unique opportunity to be taught traditional Native American art by an Indigenous person.
Melanie Tallmadge Sainz is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation who specializes in creating basketry, quillwork and beadwork in an authentic Native American manner. She was invited to teach an eight week course in which students created pieces for the exhibit “Boundaries Vs. Connections,” which premiered Feb. 22.
The exhibit’s “Conversation with the Artist” took place Feb. 28 for a full audience, including many Indigenous elders.
During this conversation, Sainz repeated the central theme of the exhibit, saying “We must acknowledge the negative before we can appreciate the positive.”
Aliyah Noh, who read UW-W’s land acknowledgement statement before the event, was one of the students with a piece featured in the exhibit. Noh’s piece, entitled “Look Where You Stand, You Cannot Erase Us,” echoes Sainz’s sentiment. The piece is a white boot with red crystals fastened to its sole.
“We’re all standing on so much blood,” explained Noh as they described how their piece represents the past and present genocides of the world.
“I wanted to make sure that while everyone is appreciating all this beautiful art in this exhibition, they don’t forget that so much has happened to dismantle and ruin the Indigenous community, and try to erase them,” Noh continued.
The sides of the shoe are painted with waves, along with the words “from the river…” on one side and “to the sea” on the other side to nod to the current situation in Palestine, Noh said. The quote is a rally slogan that became popular in the 1960s due to a political protest in Palestine of Israel’s control over the region; the quote is typically followed by “Palestine will be free.”
Noh painted the Thunderbird on the toe of the shoe. The Thunderbird is a Native symbol throughout multiple tribes that is considered to be a very powerful and protective being, meant to symbolize the ability for native people to protect each other through all the hardships that they face, explained Noh.
Other elements on the piece were porcupine quills, braided deer hide, and cedar, which were used to represent growth and resilience in order to make the piece not entirely negative. Noh described the process of using these natural materials in a way that honors native traditions.
They explained that Sainz found deceased porcupine and deer to give them a new life by becoming art. She even taught students how to remove the quills from the porcupine.
Noh felt connected to their Indigenous ancestral roots through collecting cedar from their backyard. They gave an offering and thanked the earth in order to gather the plant, a practice they said they haven’t done for quite some time.
“It was a really enriching experience,” said Noh.
“Boundaries Vs. Connections” will run until March 21 in the Crossman Gallery, located in the Center of the Arts. The gallery is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The next exhibit for the Crossman Gallery will be the “Spring 2024 BFA Entry & BFA Junior Review.” The exhibit will open April 1 and close April 4, with a reception from 5-6 p.m. on its opening day.
“I cannot believe she’s still hired”: Vogue’s Annie Leibovitz criticized for photographs featuring Black celebrities days after Coco Gauff shoot
Annie Leibovitz is under fire once again, days after being criticized for the Coco Gauff shoot, after some people brought up other pictures of Black celebrities the photographer had clicked. Some detractors accused the photographer of not knowing how to take pictures of Black women.
The world no. 3 in tennis, Coco Gauff, recently featured on the April cover of Vogue, shot by Leibovitz. While it was a big moment for the athlete, the cover has been heavily criticized on the internet, especially by Black people, for not showing the athlete at her best.
Annie Leibovitz is a renowned American photographer known for her iconic portraits and documentary-style photography. Her distinctive style often incorporates dramatic lighting and bold compositions. Leibovitz has photographed numerous celebrities and public figures, including John Lennon, Queen Elizabeth II, and Barack Obama. But lately, netizens have been noting an alleged pattern in her photographs of Black celebrities.
Annie Leibovitz has been repeatedly criticized for her shoots featuring Black women
In a recent Reddit post, shortly after the Vogue cover was released, several netizens discussed the many other shoots done by the veteran photographer that feature Black people. They included celebrities from all walks of life, actors, athletes, and even an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Among the people being discussed were Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Simone Biles, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Coco Gauff herself.
In a lengthy ongoing discussion, many criticized Annie Leibovitz for having a particular style, only when it comes to shooting Black women, which involves having a “dark and muddy look” and a grayish skin tone.
Some others pointed out how the picturization of all of the shots is an attempt to invoke the “strong black woman stereotype,” often accompanied by “bland and uninspired backdrops.” They claimed that in an allegedly racist attempt to “empower” the Black woman, Leibovitz ends up making all of them look “masculine” and “tired.”
This, in particular, is a stark contrast to Annie Leibovitz’s work featuring non-Black celebrities. Commenters claimed that there is a whimsy, dreamlike atmosphere in many of her shoots involving white celebrities, which has been noted as missing when it comes to Black women.
Many were shocked and critical of the fact that Annie Leibovitz keeps getting multiple opportunities to shoot Black celebrities when she always has similar results. However, some people claimed that it is not just Black women, but that Leibovitz has failed to make anyone look good in most of her latest projects.
This is not the first time the photographer has faced criticism for the same thing. In 2022, after Leiboviz photographed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for Vogue Magazine, many criticized the photographer for allegedly failing to use proper lighting, with many calling it her “worst lit shot.”
She was called out for a 2020 photoshoot featuring gymnast Simone Biles, a photoshoot that some critics called “degrading.”
Annie Leibovitz, who gained fame as the chief photographer for Rolling Stone magazine and later as a contributing photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue, is considered one of the most influential photographers of our time. However, it appears her seeming lack of judgment when it comes to photographing Black women is repeatedly opening her up to criticism.
Edited by Meghna M
