Hi Idiots.

Most of the members of the show are pretty big fans of the outdoors. From Tree Lover Hot Wings to Hippie Kelly, we spend quite a bit of time embracing Mother Nature. Considering June 15th is Nature Photography Day (yes it is a real thing), I thought it would be interesting to see what spectacles the gang has managed to photograph.

As silly as it sounds, Nature Photography Day has quite the history behind it, dating back to 79 A.D when the first documented natural event (handwritten, obviously) was from Pliny the Younger, a Roman who witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Since then, documentation of nature was mostly written until the 1800s when Charles Darwin was able to use the newly developed camera to document his study of evolution. Nature Photography Day was created in 2006.

Okay, I hear everyone yelling “NERDDD!”. I’m done, okay!? Moving along. Let’s look at some pretty pictures the gang has taken.

Kelly

This is an absolutely stunning photo Kelly took of a glacier while she was hiking in Iceland. When I asked for a photo, she basically said “Hold my drink” and dropped this insane photo.

Maitlynn

Maitlynn did make me chuckle a bit when I asked for her photos because she revealed to me she used to have a photographer era back in the day. Here are four stunning pics she submitted.

Free Beer

I’m making an assumption here that the first photo is from Free Beer’s cabin. Even if it isn’t, this sunset is gorgeous. The mountain in the second picture would make a great hike.

Hot Wings

For those of you who haven’t been to Michigan, one of the stereotypical things Michiganders do when on the weekend is “go up North”. People think that we’re always full of ourselves when we talk about how incredible it is in the Upper Peninsula. Well…BEHOLD. Look how clear the water is in the Great Lakes. Unreal.

Tommy

You’ll notice a theme here. I like space. Recently, the Aurora Borealis was visible in southern Michigan and it was a life-changing moment for me. To have something this incredible with these colors naturally occur is mindblowing to me. The last one was from a few years ago in Wisconsin.

If you’ve got some cool photos to share, post them in the comments over on Facebook.

Honor is on a roll. Fresh off the back of its recent collaborations with Porsche Design – including the unique Magic V2 RSR we recently reviewed – the brand has announced its new 200 Series, a duo of photography-focused smartphones developed in collaboration with the legendary Parisian photography studio Studio Harcourt. Claiming in its latest press release to be “the fastest growing smartphone brand in Europe”, Honor latest release is a double-drop that features the new 200 and 200 Pro devices – a confident move in today’s busy smartphone market and one, perhaps, that is testament to its ambitions.

Photography is at the heart of the Honor 200 Series and both the 200 and 200 Pro feature a shared line up of four onboard cameras; each device comes equipped with a 50 megapixel main camera, 50 megapixel telephoto camera, 12 megapixel ultra-wide camera, and 50 megapixel front-facing selfie camera. The telephoto, ultra-wide and selfie cameras are identical across the two devices, with the telephoto featuring Sony’s IMX856 sensor and the ultra-wide capable of capturing a 112° field of view. Whilst the IMX856 is quite dated now (having been released in 2018), it was once a flagship sensor from the Japanese photography giant and still holds up today thanks to its all-pixel autofocus, impressive double-exposure HDR functionality, and its ability to capture 4K video at 30 frames per second. The differences between the two phones are found in their main cameras; though they share the same 50 megapixel resolution, the main camera on the 200 uses the more recent Sony IMX906 sensor, while the main camera on the 200 Pro is held up by the same H9000 sensor found in the Honor’s flagship Magic6 Pro smartphone. The H9000 is a 1/1.3” sensor with a four-cell (Quad Bayer) filter array capable of rendering colors beautifully in both day and night scenes, and together with to the camera’s lens – stabilized and featuring a f/1.9 aperture, slightly bigger than the 200’s f/1.95 aperture – the main camera on the 200 Pro sounds very promising.

Hardware aside, Honor has worked with Studio Harcourt to co-engineer an AI-powered algorithm they say will improve portraits taken by users. The Paris-based studio, founded by French photographer Cosette Harcourt in 1933, lent the tech brand its near century-long knowledge of light and picture making, with the two teams working together to analyze “thousands of images” as well as “over 1,000 lighting scenarios and millions of datasets” in search of “the perfect balance of light and shadow in”, according to the press release.

Both phones are powered by Snapdragon processors, but it’s the Pro 200 that features one of the chipmaker’s latest – the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. This chipset similar in specs to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – Snapdragon’s current flagship mobile processor – that’s found in market-leading devices like the Samsung S24 and Sony’s latest Xperia 1 VI. It features an eight-core processor that, together with the onboard 12 GB of RAM, should make light work of demanding apps and games, adding to the Pro 200’s overall credentials as quite a versatile device. Supporting this is the Adreno 735, a highly capable GPU that will help to render graphics smoothly and seamlessly.

The Pro 200 features a 6.78-inch AMOLED, quad-curved display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4,000 nits; the 200 model features a very similar display, albeit slightly smaller at 6.7-inches. Honor’s proprietary “Eye Comfort Display” technology is found on both phones, a feature the brand has implemented to reduce eye fatigue in its users. It does this by adapting the screen brightness and warmth to a user’s environment, reducing blue light, as well using AI to detect a user’s circadian cycles and adjusting the screen accordingly. Both devices have also received Tüv Rheinland‘s ‘Flicker Free Certification’.

Holding everything in place on both models is Honor’s MagicOS 8.0, an operating system based on Android 14, but designed from scratch by the brand. Both devices feature an impressive 5,200mAh battery and are capable of 100W fast charging. They have Bluetooth 5.3 onboard for fast, seamless connectivity to peripherals like headphones and gaming controllers, as well as featuring dual SIM slots.

Both the Honor 200 and 200 Pro are available now in the UK via the brand’s website. Honor 200 comes in ‘Moonlight White’, ‘Emerald Green’ and ‘Black’, and is priced starting at £499.99 GBP depending on specs; Honor 200 Pro comes in ‘Ocean Cyan’, ‘Moonlight White’ and ‘Black’, priced at £699.99 GBP. Both models are launching in Europe soon.

Paris Hosts Launch of HONOR’s New Smartphone Line
In the iconic setting of Paris-Longchamp, the tech brand HONOR announced the pre-launch of their HONOR 200 smartphone series, marking a first for the Pro model in this numbered series to be made available in Europe. Eagerly anticipated by tech enthusiasts, the new lineup will arrive in Poland by early summer 2024.

Portrait Photography Reimagined
The HONOR 200 series sets a new benchmark in portrait photography, boasting the HONOR AI portrait mechanism. This feature transforms any user into a portrait pro, delivering studio-quality snapshots directly from the smartphone. Emphasizing light and shadow recognition, this technological feat underlines HONOR’s commitment to melding artificial intelligence with user-centric innovation.

Star of the Show: HONOR 200 Pro
The HONOR 200 Pro dazzles with a 1.5K, quadruple-curved display, offering exceptional visibility even under bright conditions thanks to the HDR peak brightness of 4000 nits. With certifications from TÜV Rheinland and a 3840 Hz PWM modulation frequency, the visual experience is seamless. Under the hood lies the powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, complemented by a proprietary MagicOS 8.0 system enhanced with AI-powered features.

A notable highlight is the Super Dynamic H9000 main portrait camera, supported by an AI-enhanced 50Mpx sensor from Sony, capable of capturing the most challenging light and shadow dynamics. Accompanying this are telephoto lenses that enrich the photographic experience further.

Power and Performance
the HONOR 200 Pro is a powerhouse with a 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. The device’s stamina is ensured by a silicon-carbon battery with a robust capacity of 5200 mAh, supporting 100W fast charging and 66W wireless charging – a full charge requires merely 41 minutes.

Mid-Range Marvel: HONOR 200
The mainstream HONOR 200 is equally photo-focused, armed with a 50Mpx main camera featuring Sony’s IMX906 sensor and optical image stabilization. Its Screen is a 6.7-inch OLED with a Full HD+ resolution complemented by a 120 Hz refresh rate. This model draws power from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor and a battery equal in strength to its Pro sibling.

Entry-Level Excellence: HONOR 200 Lite
For the budget-conscious, the HONOR 200 Lite does not skimp on photographic prowess. It hosts a triple camera assembly headlined by a 108Mpx main lens, a 6.7-inch AMOLED Eye-comfort display, and a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor.

As these innovative models make their way to European markets, prospective buyers can look forward to purchasing the HONOR 200 series in a variety of colors, with prices starting at 329 euros for the Lite model and climbing to 799 euros for the premium Pro variant.

Important Questions and Answers:

What are the other competitors in the smartphone market focusing on portrait photography?
Competitors like Apple, Samsung, and Google have also been focusing on improving portrait photography through advanced computational photography techniques in their flagship devices such as iPhone’s Portrait mode, Samsung’s Live Focus, and Google’s Portrait mode.

How does the HONOR AI portrait mechanism compare to other AI photography technologies?
While the article does not provide a direct comparison, HONOR’s AI portrait mechanism would be compared based on its capability to process images, the quality of the bokeh effect, color accuracy, and how well it handles complex lighting scenarios against similar features from competitors.

Key Challenges and Controversies:

One key challenge is market differentiation, as the smartphone market is highly saturated, especially with numerous brands focusing on AI and photography. HONOR must convince consumers that its AI portrait mechanism and hardware stand out against established brands.

There is also a growing concern among consumers and regulatory bodies regarding data privacy related to AI features. Ensuring that these AI features do not compromise user privacy and security is crucial.

Advantages:

– The HONOR 200 Pro’s 1.5K, quadruple-curved display with HDR and 3840 Hz PWM modulation frequency may offer superior visual experience.
– The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor should provide high-end performance.
– The Pro model’s impressive camera capabilities, such as the Super Dynamic H9000 camera and the AI-enhanced 50Mpx sensor, could yield high-quality photographs.
– Fast charging times (41 minutes for a full charge) are very convenient for users on the go.
– A large battery capacity (5200 mAh) ensures long usage times between charges.

Disadvantages:

– High-end features like those found in the Pro version can make the device quite expensive, possibly limiting its accessibility.
– The devices may not be immediately available globally, starting in Europe, which restricts the potential market.
– Given the premium pricing of the Pro model, it competes directly with other established flagship smartphones that already have a loyal customer base.

For more information about HONOR and their range of products, you can visit the official HONOR website with the following link: HONOR Official Site. Remember to check this link only for general company information as product launches and availability might differ by region.

A heartbreaking photograph highlights the exploitation of a captive orangutan as it waits for a photo shoot with tourists after a show at a Bangkok zoo. 

The image, titled “See No Evil,” was taken by photographer Aaron Gekoski and is the winner of the 2024 Environmental Photography Award competition, which is run by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. 

Orangutans at Safari World Bangkok take part in daily shows, where they dance in bikinis, ride bicycles and fight one another, Gekoski said in a statement emailed to Live Science. “After the shows, they stoically wait for tourists to take photos with them,” he said. 

Gekoski said his winning image highlights abuses within the wildlife tourism industry. “Young orangutans are captured in the wild and their mothers are killed,” he said. “They are trained using cruel methods, including physical violence and starvation. When they become too old, they are locked up in cages for the rest of their lives.”

Related: Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for 1st time ever

There are three orangutan species living today: Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus), Sumatran (Pongo abelii) and Tapanuli (Pongo tapanuliensis). All are critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. They face multiple threats, including deforestation, poaching and the illegal pet trade. Which species is in Gekoski’s image is unknown.

Gekoski’s image was chosen from more than 11,000 entries from 2,600 photographers.

“It captures one of the world’s most intelligent animal species in a graphic composition that is emotionally charged to the point of obsession,” Alex Mustard, chairman of the jury, said in the statement. “This photograph will live long in the minds of all who see it.”.

In addition to being chosen as the overall winner, Gekoski’s image won the Humanity versus Nature category of the competition. The runner-up was Alvaro Herrero López-Beltrán‘s photograph of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) whose tail was deformed as a result of getting entangled in fishing gear off the coast of Mexico.

Daniel Valverde Fernández’s image of a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) caught in a blizzard in Canada in 2022 won the Polar Wonders category, while an image of an argonaut (Argonauta hians) attached to a jellyfish taken by Magnus Lundgren won the Ocean Worlds category. 

Memories of a Lost Valley: 5,000 Photographs Discovered in an Attic

15
49.0138
8.38624
both
0
bullet
0
4000
1
0
horizontal
https://www.messynessychic.com
300

4000

A few years after his trip to London, Enrico Rassu regards his shots (all Instax) and dwells on one in particular. NO BALL GAMES sign in the parking lot of a popular complex sounds to him like a statement, a motto or, as he calls it, “a philosophy of life.” An imposition that tells children “don’t play ball here” calls for a challenge, a rebellion against all those often unnecessary obligations that limit freedom of expression. Enrico Rassu thus begins a series dedicated to all those people – but also situations – that build their own rules out of social impositions, titling it No Ball Games. From the music scene, especially rap – they include, for example, Paola Zukar, Nerissima Serpe, Guè, Marracash, Noyz Narcos -, to friends and strangers, all immortalized in an instantaneous way and today enclosed within a book that Rassu will present during the event – or cultural reunion, as he calls it – on June 18 made in collaboration with Instax/Fujifilm, at Art Studio Finestreria in Milan, in the Navigli area. In the exhibition there will be not only his photographs, Enrico in fact “passes the ball” to other creatives to explore together with them, and the whole audience, the meaning of No ball games. Looking forward to Tuesday, we met with him to find out more about this project and to understand where it originated, what it is today and where it is going.

Where did the NO BALL GAMES project come from?

E.R.: No ball games is a sign I saw in 2021 London. It’s those typical signs that stand in housing estates forbidding kids to play ball games. When I looked back at my photo archive years later, I noticed that I had a photo series of kids I had taken one night in London. One in particular had a bandana and a probably stolen bicycle, I photographed him in front of a garage where this sign was hanging.

What does NO BALL GAMES mean to you?

E.R.: No ball games to me means looking at that sign and saying, “What’s wrong with playing ball games? Why shouldn’t I? What am I doing wrong? Why can’t I have fun, have a group? And so metaphorically, No ball games is “why should I grow up if I can stay young forever?”

What is NO BALL GAMES today?

E.R.: Today No ball games is not just an exhibition, it’s a party, it’s a book, and I think it’s really a way of life, a philosophy. It is the courage to be yourself.

Who are the main characters in your series?

E.R.: All the main characters in the project are people who in their lives decided to be free and create their own way. In the book you can find so many different people, famous, not famous, musicians, writers, ex-girlfriends, friends who in their own way expressed themselves as they wanted to. Let’s say that inside the book and inside the project there are all people and situations that have been part of my life and that I consider No ball games.

The exhibition you organized at La Finestreria is not a solo show but you chose to involve other creative people. From here we can see your need, or rather, your intent to create a community. How important is this to you?

E.R.: I think photography is a great medium, that it is never the ultimate goal, but it is a medium to know and discover others. I know my photographs, I already know everything I have done, but I don’t know what can happen around photographs that I put on display. So in that sense, photographs are like a landscape that is a backdrop for a new meaning that can be created together.

I think this new sense can only be created with others, through their ideas and expressions, because it is like starting a new journey. I don’t want to confirm a past journey, I want to build a new one. I don’t want to repeat something I’ve already done, and consequently this room – which is now No ball games – is for me (and for others) a chance to create something new.

We already understood how important the concept of artistic community was to you when we discovered your Via Malaga project – which we talked about here – which by the way is where you live, so it all comes very clear to us.

How is this exhibition-event constituted? Who did you invite?

E.R.: For the exhibition we have at our disposal a three-story gallery on the Navigli called Art Studio Finestreria. From June 18 to June 20 we have organized a real cultural gathering where — in addition to my photos — there will be video screenings, an installation, a DJ set and a small art residency. I gathered all the people who could express their idea of No ball games, first of all three directors Ivano Atzori, Olmo Parenti and Simone Peluso, who made three short video art films around this concept. Then there will be an installation by the Throw Up collective that will make an installation dedicated to graffiti outside the exhibition; a DJ set organized by One Shot that will bring music throughout the exhibition. There will also be an art residency on the -1 floor – run by Lvnar‘s art direction – where for three days there will be musicians and sound engineers who will allow anyone to participate and leave their energy, then their art, a thought, a verse. So many dynamics will be created around this mixtape, which is completely open to anyone.

The music scene is very present in your shots as well as in this project. Why is that? Where does this close connection to music come from?

E.R.: My creativity was born with music. I grew up in Sardinia – in Sassari – and when I was 15 years old I approached the people who are my friends today. I knew they had garages where they were there day and night producing, expressing themselves. I started hanging out with them and helping them on their journey.

Music has always been a background, the sound track of my art. As much as I may be in love with audiovisuals and photography, I realize that it is something still in time, not animated. With an image I stop that person forever but that person is not with us, whereas – in contrast – music brings an energy of people to a specific place. That is why for me it is crucial to combine photography and music, to connect these two worlds to create a community.

Courtesy Enrico Rassu

Considered among the greatest documentary photographers in the world, Graciela Iturbide captured a unique perspective on Mexican society and culture.

Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines is the new exhibition scheduled for display from June 14 – September 22, 2024, at The Photographers’ Gallery, London. It will showcase Iturbide’s enchanting black-and-white images, exploring themes of Mexican culture, identity, and belonging.

Throughout her career, Iturbide has captured the everyday lives of the indigenous people of her homeland of Mexico, all with dignity and grace. She would often live closely with her subjects, often for months at a time, experiencing life from their point of view. This gave her access and a relatability capturing authentic moments that could only be witnessed from within.

Iturbide says, “I lived with them in their homes, so they would see me, always with my camera, and know that I am a photographer. In this way, we were able to become partners.”

To Iturbide, creating images was a collaboration between herself and. the subject, which shines through in her photographs, often elevating the subjects in the frame. Whether photographing the Seri people of the Sonoran desert or the Mexican-American cholo gangs of Los Angeles and Tijuana, Ituribide captured life and people with the same humanist approach.

The work on display in Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines includes her iconic project Juchitán de las Mujeres (1979-1989), which focused on the matriarchal society of the Zapotec people of Tehuantepec, south-eastern Mexico. After immersing herself in their lives for a decade, her photographs provide an insight into the social life, economy, and religious rituals, while showing the strength of the Juchitán women.

Iturbide’s recent work is now more devoid of people and instead focuses on the textures, materials, nature, light, and the relationship between them all. The transition saw Iturbide more attracted to capturing empty landscapes, but in each aspect, drawn to the light and shadow lines made by the natural world.

Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines will be on display at The Photographers’ Gallery from June 14 to September 22, 2024.

I will certainly be making my way to the gallery, especially as being displayed at the same time is Ernest Cole: House of Bondage, and it will make for an exceptional photography-based day out.

You may also be interested in our guides to the best film cameras, the best cameras for black and white photography, and the best beginner cameras.