Looking at other artists’ work can benefit your photography in many ways. From expanding your perspectives by studying different techniques and styles to simply motivating and encouraging you, there’s a lot to gain.

Coming to you from Adrian Vila of aows, this insightful video explores how to find and collect inspiration from various sources. Vila highlights photo books as one of the best ways to learn from the masters and get inspired. While there’s plenty of inspiring work online that you might not find anywhere else, it’s not just limited to photographers. Interviews, quotes, and other forms of art can also spark your creativity. Vila believes we are in a golden age of photography, with incredible work being put out every day. Despite the noise on social media, if you curate your feed carefully, the algorithm can reward you with interesting finds.

One key point Vila emphasizes is the importance of proper websites over social media profiles. Social media is great for discovery, but a photographer’s website allows them to showcase their work the way they want. Unfortunately, many photographers don’t have updated websites. Nonetheless, finding a well-maintained website can be a goldmine of inspiration, especially if it includes a blog. Vila subscribes to most photography blogs he finds using an RSS reader, highlighting how blogs, YouTube, and podcasts are great sources of inspiration.

Vila shares his method for collecting and storing inspiration. He uses the Apple Notes app, which syncs across devices, making it easy to access anywhere. He creates a note for every inspiring photographer he discovers, including links and other information. He also keeps random notes for miscellaneous inspirations. This system ensures that whenever Vila needs a boost, he can quickly access his curated inspiration.

To collect this inspiration, Vila checks if the photographer has a book worth buying or borrowing. Even if he has the book, he likes to have the work on his phone and tablet for easy access. This way, he can study the images, make notes, and refer to them whenever needed. He emphasizes that he only does this for work that truly inspires him, avoiding the creation of an overwhelming encyclopedia of content.

Vila uses this collected inspiration not just to admire but to analyze. He studies composition, subject matter, angles, and light to see what he can apply to his own work. He asks himself if the techniques or locations could be useful for his photography. Most importantly, this collection serves as a source of inspiration during tough times, like long road trips when he’s feeling uninspired. Being able to open his notes and see incredible work can reignite his creative spark. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Vila.

Who would win between a robot photographer and a human photographer?

It’s Rob vs Robot.

Agri-TechE recently celebrated their 10th anniversary (congratulations! 🥳) and asked me to be the official event photographer.

But I had competition.

Meet Eva the robot.

Now, before I start, I’ve got to say:

Robots are cool. Eva is cool.

Seeing this friendly bot glide around, encouraging attendees to capture happy moments is a unique addition to an event, and certainly grabbed attention.

My respect goes to the competition.

Now, let’s fight.

The robot’s approach was all-guns-blazing.
Mine was stealth.

The robot’s approach was to slide towards the nearest attendee and ask “can I take your photo?”. Ask and wait.

This got some lovely posed photos. I saw attendees stop and grab pictures with members of the Agri-TechE team, where they had been too busy networking to think of a selfie.

However, this backfired on a couple occasions, interrupting the conversations. It scared me at one point, sliding over to me while I joined others eating burgers. Not while I’m eating!

It also got stuck, not able to slide away after it had asked those around it. “Should we push it into the main crowd?” someone asked me.

My approach was to hunt for those having the most engaging discussions and capture the smiles from a distance, not disrupting the flow of their conversation.

I was looking for candid moments of joy and interaction, to represent how the network has engaged and brought farmers, scientists and the wider community together over the last decade.

One downside is being noticed. Some people feel conflicted when they’re deep in discussion knowing a camera is trained on them. They may want to pose a little, which makes the scene less natural.

Who won this round? Write down your scores.

The robot has faster turnaround time

The robot was instant, setup for automatic sharing.

Every photo was automatically branded with the Agri-TechE logo and event name, and could be sent directly to the subject’s email inbox.

Super quick, super convenient.

On the downside, this meant each photo existed as-is, and couldn’t be adjusted further.

I edited my photos after the event, before handing to the Agri-TechE team.

This meant group photos didn’t have discarded cups or bags in the background, so the shot was much cleaner.

On the downside, it meant it took extra time to make the edits before they were available to the Agri-TechE team.

Who won this round? Write down your scores.

I got a bit creative.

The robot is specialised in getting the perfect group selfie in an event setting.

Having its own lighting, and a fixed position, it’s always ready to capture the moment.

Plus, it’s extremely clear to the attendees what it’s trying to achieve.

The benefit of being a videographer for over 10 years is that I think like a videographer.

I adapt quickly to different situations, and test new ideas.

For example, this group photo was a perfect opportunity to use the camera’s burst mode, and turn into a GIF in post-production for sharing online.

Who won this round? Write down your scores.

“The group pic I think is probably my favourite image ever from the Agri-TechE journey. The animation just makes me smile every time I look at it.” – Belinda Clarke, CEO, Agri-TechE

So who won?

It was a fair fight, but there can only be one winner.

I’ll let you decide.

A) Hire me for your next event

B) Hire the robot for your next event

Profoto’s new Fresnel Small aims to elevate the lighting capabilities of professional photographers by providing enhanced control over light shaping.

Designed for portability and ease of use, the Fresnel Small features a compact and lightweight design, making it ideal for carrying out different on-location shoots. Despite its small size, it provides a powerful and adjustable beam, giving photographers precise lighting effects. The lens ensures consistent light distribution from portraits to product photography.

Key Features:

• Compact Design: Easy to transport and set up
• Adjustable Beam: Offers control over light direction and intensity
• Consistent Light Distribution: Ensures even lighting across the subject
  
• Key measurements:
  •  Diameter of Fresnel lens: 200 mm
  •  Width: 54 cm / 21.3 in
  •  Height: 33 cm / 13 in
  •  Depth: 38 cm / 14 in
  •  Weight: 3.2 kg / 7 lb

The Fresnel Small is now available for purchase through Profoto’s official website and authorized dealers worldwide. It is retailed currently at $1495.

Inside the plush air-conditioned banquet hall of a five-star hotel in Delhi, it was as if the mid-June heat wave lashing the city outside was nothing but an illusion. The two tech experts from one of the leading still camera makers in the world, Nikon, were holding forth on the rich specifications and unique features of the camera they were launching.

Superior video camera, video frame rates, shoot videos non-stop, in-built N-Log and N-RAW support for high-quality video production, superior low light performance…the features of the new Z6 III rolled off their tongues as if frames in a fast-moving action video. In fact, there was so much emphasis on the video features that one really started to wonder, is this a still camera at all or a snappy new camcorder?

“It’s mostly video nowadays,” Nikon India Managing Director Sajjan Kumar said, while Gurugram-based Jogi Francis, Nikon India’s Assistant Vice President (service & technical support) explained the shift, “The whole world is shifting to videos. As a camera manufacturer, we understand the importance of video, and our designers are now (more) concentrating on video specs.”

Still, camera makers have had quite a tough 21st century – the arrival of cameras on mobile phones virtually obliterated their mass market for instant and digital cameras. Then as mobile manufacturers piled on camera features onto their teeny weeny devices, the original camera guys tried to survive by focusing on the niche, yet lucrative, market for high-end professional cameras, the likes that wedding to wildlife to fashion and advertising photographers use. Not to forget the ardent photography buff who wouldn’t think twice before blowing up a couple of lakh on additional lenses.

Just when they thought they got the formula right, the explosion of social media in general, and the wildfire-like popularity of Instagram’s short video service, Reels in particular (and TikTok in countries where it has still not been banned), had them scurrying back to the drawing boards. The new target audience – those consumers of social media in general, and the short videos on it.

“In India, the arrival of Reels has really revolutionised video,” pointed out Mumbai’s Riaan George, one of the leading lifestyle content creators in the country, who’s big on Instagram and YouTube. “Everything now, content-wise, is now optimised for Reels – music, dance, trends, ‘what’s the next Reel?’ is what content creators are thinking now,” he added.

While in much of the rest of the world, it is the personal hobbyist and family photo-minded individual who’s the primary customer for these high-end cameras, in India, the wedding photography market (closely followed by wildlife photographers) remain the biggest consumers. And, they are not aiming for still pictures anymore.

Hyderabad’s Vijay Eesam, one of India’s leading wedding photographers, puts it in perspective: “When I started in the late 2000s, wedding and candid photography meant still photography. Then around 2016, the trend began for short video formats. For the last two-three years, it is primarily video, video is what all clients want. I see video is going to be even more important by the day as Instagram Reels get more popular.”

Still, camera biggies are all making the pivot. While Leica has tied up with some leading Chinese mobile phone makers for integration, Canon was recently reported to be developing dual lens for Apple Vision Pro. Nikon itself spent about an equivalent of Rs 700 crore recently to snap up RED.com, a company which makes cameras for Hollywood films, signalling the company’s strongest intent yet to explore new areas of growth beyond still photography.

KANE — Elizabeth Kane can be remembered for many things — her writings on The Church of Latter Day Saints, her admission as one of the first women to Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, her activism for the rights of women, and her work as an amateur photographer.

Her photography is the subject of a book to be released June 22 at the Kane Depot during Reunion Weekend. Kane Historic Preservation Society, in conjunction with Brigham Young University, have co-authored a book titled “Focusing The Lens Of Exploration, A Photographic Journey Through The Life Of A 19th Century Polymath.”

Dick Bly, chairman of the Kane Historic Preservation Society, explained in a prepared release more about the woman sometimes called “The Mother of Kane.”

“Elizabeth was one of the first female photographers in the country, starting in the early 1850s and mentored with noted portrait photographer Langenheim brothers in Philadelphia,” the release stated. “Unlike portrait studios of the day, she took her camera into the wilds of Pennsylvania.”

She and her husband, Thomas Kane, an attorney who later became a famed Civil War general, were exploring the area in the 1850s for the McKean & Elk Land and Improvement Co. She traveled with her camera, capturing landscape scenes and history in and around “the Big Level,” the mountainous area around the Potter County region.

Bly continued, “Many of the photographs shown in the book are from glass negatives and a combination from both the historic society and BYU collections.”

The Kanes had a significant connection to The Church of Latter Day Saints — LDS or Mormons. Thomas Kane was influential in the westward movement of the Mormons, negotiating with the federal government on their behalf and working to obtain statehood for Utah.

Bly said, “Next to the LDS collection at Brigham Young University, the Thomas and Elizabeth Kane collection is their second largest one.”

Elizabeth Kane kept journals through most of her adult life, and some of her journal entries are included in the new book. “These journals are preserved by BYU. This collaborative project with BYU has been in the works for a few years,” Bly explained.

The book contains a forward written by Andrew O’Neill Kane, great-great-grandson of Elizabeth and Thomas Kane.

“He will be signing books at the Depot on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon,” Bly said.

The depot is located in uptown Kane at the intersection of US Route 6 and Route 66.

Sarah Davis, of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings, strives to help fellow vendors make wedding planning a more inclusive and affirming process for queer couples.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — June marks Pride Month across the country, but it also marks the beginning of peak wedding season. In the years since the legalization of gay marriage, many in the wedding industry have worked to make planning more inclusive of couples in the LGBTQ+ community. 

For vendors like Louisville’s Sarah Davis, it’s about simple steps to celebrate love for all. Davis runs queer and woman-owned business Sarah Katherine Davis Photography. She’s been shooting weddings since she was in high school, capturing countless Kentuckiana couples on one of the most special days of their lives. 

“It’s just a great day to be able to document the connection between people. It’s a lot of people who don’t get to see each other very often all in the same place and getting to document those relationships and the dynamics between people,” Davis said. 

In 2014, Davis stepped out from behind the lens to help with a project to fight for marriage equality, and to prepare vendors to take LGBTQ+ weddings once it passed. That turned into Inclusive Kentucky Weddings, which Davis started running in 2020.

The site serves as a director of vendors that are accepting of and affirming to queer couples. It also provides vendors with resources to help them improve how they serve those couples. 

“Vendors not assuming anything about anyone there, and just asking and accommodating everyone is the way to go,” Davis said. 

In downtown La Grange, 17-year industry veteran Lauren Montgomery has watched her own slice of the industry change dramatically. 

“We have seen the industry explode with plus size gowns, imagery of all colors, and grooms and brides and brides and brides, and we absolutely love it,” she said. 

Couture Closet, Montgomery and her business partner’s wedding dress boutique, is a member of Inclusive Kentucky Weddings.

Through the site, Montgomery said she’s been able to connect with other vendors, like women’s suit designers, in case her shop doesn’t have the right fit for a customer. The shop also trains staff to use inclusive language with customers, their partners and guests. 

Montgomery said it’s about making sure every person who shops there can feel confident saying ‘yes’ to the right wedding attire. 

“It says it right on the front of our website, we want to celebrate you no matter your size or age or who you’re marrying or your abilities,” she said. “You are welcomed here and safe here and we just want to celebrate with you.” 

Beyond just actively welcoming queer couples, Davis said there are many, sometimes subtle, ways vendors like photographers, DJ’s and even venues can rethink how inclusive they’re being. 

“In the getting ready rooms, lots of venues have ‘bridal suite’ plastered all over everything and then have a weird cave in the basement that’s like the groom’s area,” Davis said. “It might not be great for straight couples either, because no one wants to be hidden in the basement in the weird room. But also when queer couples are getting ready, if we’re both two brides and we’re both pretty femme, who gets the weird deer head, bourbon barrel, basement room?” 

Davis said language is among the most important factors vendors should consider. She noted the way DJ’s address crowds of guests can be limiting, if they’re using terms like “ladies and gentlemen.” Additionally, many contracts identify couples as “bride and groom.” 

“It’s really easy to just control ‘f’ on a document and find any instance where you use gendered language and replace it,” she said. 

The love captured in Davis’s photos is something she wants for every couple, and she hopes they can find it with inclusive vendors who will make their wedding memorable. 

“They just get to inquire like everyone else does, they just see if they’re available on the date and if they’re a good fit for them,” she said. 

Davis said Inclusive Kentucky Weddings is working to expand the registry, and is particularly looking for inclusive caterers, makeup artists and dessert services. 

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