Canon USA has launched its new podcast, Canon Unscripted, and it’s off to a strong start in the company of renowned portrait photographer Peter Hurley – who shares some fascinating insight on his early career, including his struggles with the technical side of photography.

Filmed for YouTube, Hurley and technical specialist for Canon, Mason Higa, can be seen sitting almost uncomfortably close, in leather armchairs against a blank background, with a splash of color from the red circular rugs on the floor.   

Hurley is a Canon Explorer of Light, a program created in 1995 by Canon to celebrate the work of outstanding photographers. After stints as a professional sailor training for the Olympic Games, he turned his hand to modeling. Following a fairly successful career, modeling for brands like Abercrombie and Fitch, Hurley decided to get behind the camera himself. 

After nearly two decades, he is now considered one of the greatest portrait photographers in the industry. The pair discussed everything from how to get a subject to relax, to a fascinating moment when Hurley reveals that an assistant taught him how to light shoots properly.  

“I think light is one of the hardest things for me,” he says. “Light just didn’t click for me overnight, it took a long long time to really understand it.”

Above: Watch the full podcast

Hurley recalls working on the TV show The Apprentice and having an assistant light the shoot for an ad campaign.

“It just looked awesome and I was like, this is perfect – I just pressed the button but he did everything. So after I was like, look, I can’t go on like this – can you come over and teach me some stuff. So he came over and we went through all these lighting scenarios, and then he left – and then I tried to recreate them and I failed miserably.”

Hurley goes on to describe how he was “too cheap” to fly this assistant on his next big assignment in California.

“I spent the whole morning trying to light this, and it was a simple white site – I could do this in my sleep now – but I couldn’t figure it out then.

“I think that just photographers out there, they get lost on the technical aspects, and it just has to sink in differently for everybody. Everybody’s brain is different, so mine was all trial and error.”

So there you go – if you’re someone who struggles with flashguns and studio lighting, don’t worry! If Peter Hurley can become Peter Hurley after such a difficult start, there’s hope for everyone.

Love Canon? We’ve put together a guide to the best Canon cameras on the market. We’ve also got a guide to the best Canon lenses, and the best cameras for portrait photography. 

A real-life photo of a Flamingo has won an AI Photography competition, taking home not just one prize, but two.

With the tech industry’s infatuation with everything AI, the existence of AI photography contests should come as no surprise. The advancements of programs like Midjourne, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion have regularly tricked onlookers that AI generative images are the real thing.

Now, things have turned on their head. Instead of an AI image being mistaken for the real thing, a real-life photo has done the opposite – and won an AI photography contest.

Photographer Miles Astray entered his photo of a Flamingo into the 2024 1829 Awards, a series of competitions centered around photography. The photo, entitled ‘F L A M I N G O N E’ features the stunning wading bird, in all its pink glory, looking as stunning as it is unworldly.

1839 Awards

The photo ended up winning not just one award, but two, including the Bronze award in the judge’s category and the Peoples Vote Award. However, despite how otherworldly the photo looks, it wasn’t AI generated at all, and in fact a genuine photo of a flamingo hiding its head from view.

As originally reported by Android Authority, Miles Ashtray captured the photo not using Stable Diffusion, but with his Nikon D750 camera. With the DSLR camera in tow, Ashtray used a 50mm lens to take the photo at a beach in Aruba back in 2022. The photo was then entered into the AI category, where the photographer also prompted fans on social media to vote for it within the People’s Choice Award.

Talking to Android Authority, Ashtray wears his explanation of entering the photo into an AI competition on his sleeve. The photographer explicitly submitted his work to take a jab at the “ethical implications” of AI.

Mile Ashtray explains, “There’s nothing more fantastic and creative than Mother Nature herself. I don’t demonize the new technology and see its potential, but currently, I see its limitations and dangers even more clearly.”

The result of Miles Ashtray’s clever deception didn’t go unnoticed. As expected, the 1839 Awards have since disqualified the entry, which was part of a wider AI category entered by a myriad of other photographers.

“His submission did not meet the requirements for the AI-generated image category. We understand that was the point, but we don’t want to prevent other artists from their shot at winning in the AI category”, a representative for the 1829 Awards stated to the website Petapixel.

As it stands, F L A M I N G O N E is now gone from the 1839 Award AI category. However, you can still view the photo on Miles Ashtray’s Instagram account.

Honor Bridges Gap with High-End Honor 200 Pro Model

Honor is pushing boundaries with its latest smartphone model, the Honor 200 Pro, marking its first foray into the European market. Designed to compete against not only its predecessor, the Honor 90, but also against prominent rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S24, the Honor 200 Pro boasts features that challenge other models in the upper echelons of smartphone technology.

Superior Portrait Photography with Honor 200 Pro

Setting the Honor 200 Pro apart in photography, Honor has collaborated with the esteemed Paris-based Studio Harcourt to integrate a trio of distinctive portrait mode effects. This collaboration pays homage to cinematic photography with modes like the Harcourt Classic, which provides a timeless black-and-white aesthetic while incorporating modern depth effects and stylized lens flares. Additionally, the device offers colour variants, including the retro-inspired Harportfolio Colour and the more contemporary Harportfolio Vibrant. While these creative modes elevate rear camera portraiture, the front camera doesn’t support the Harcourt effects.

High-Quality Display Defines the Honor 200 Pro

For those prioritizing display quality, the Honor 200 Pro stands out with a vivid 6.78-inch OLED screen which presents high resolutions, smooth 120Hz refresh rates, and remarkable peak brightness levels. These features ensure enhanced visibility and superior HDR content engagement.

Comparing Performance: Honor 200 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S24

In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S24, which captures attention with its 8K video capabilities, the Honor 200 Pro opts for a robust 4K at 60fps video shooting proficiency. A noteworthy difference surfaces in processing power, with the Honor 200 Pro being equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset—offering competitive performance, albeit slightly trailing the Samsung Galaxy S24’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Exynos 2400 processors, depending on the region. Despite the disparities in raw power, the Honor model delivers an impressively responsive experience that rivals that of higher-end models.

Providing Context and Background Information

Honor, originally a sub-brand of Huawei, became an independent company in November 2020, following the U.S. trade restrictions on Huawei. This shift enabled Honor to circumvent the limitations that affected Huawei’s access to technology from U.S. companies, including Google services. Thus, the Honor 200 Pro’s entry into the European market can be seen as part of the brand’s re-establishment and expansion efforts post-independence.

Evaluating Camera Capabilities Beyond Portraiture

While the article emphasizes portrait photography, it’s imperative to mention that the Honor 200 Pro likely possesses a multi-lens camera array. The camera system may also include features such as ultra-wide lenses, macro photography, AI enhancements, and night photography modes that are typical of high-end smartphones. These additional camera features contribute to the device’s aptitude for versatile photography experiences.

Understanding the Implications of Processor Performance

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset mentioned is indicative of leading-edge technology, but it’s essential to clarify that it represents a variation of Qualcomm’s flagship 8 series chipsets that may be tuned for a balance between power efficiency and performance. This means the Honor 200 Pro might not only be at a disadvantage in terms of raw performance compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 but also could have advantages in terms of better heat management or longer battery life.

Identifying Key Challenges and Controversies

A challenge facing Honor is building a customer base in the highly competitive European market, where brand loyalty and ecosystem lock-in are significant factors. Additionally, Honor’s association with Huawei may cause some consumers and governments to be cautious due to past controversies surrounding security concerns linked to Huawei.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages of the Honor 200 Pro include:

– Innovative collaboration: Partnership with Studio Harcourt for unique portrait modes.
– High-quality display: Large OLED screen with high refresh rate and peak brightness.
– Competitive performance: Sufficient power from Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset for a smooth user experience.

The disadvantages could be:

– Limited front camera features: The lack of Harcourt effects on the front camera.
– Processing power: Slightly less raw computing power than some competitors, which may affect performance in demanding applications or future-proofing.
– Market perception: Possible challenges due to past association with Huawei.

Further Reading and Additional Information

For those interested in learning more about the company’s product range and philosophy, additional insights could be found through Honor’s official website at Honor Official. To compare the Honor 200 Pro with its competitors, visiting the official Samsung website for details on their current flagship models would be useful at Samsung Official. However, always ensure to verify the URL before accessing these websites.

Nature Photography Day is June 15. To celebrate, FIU News sat down with just a few of the Panthers who love wildlife so much that they’re using photography to share the wonders of the natural world with everyone.

In this piece, we feature Postdoctoral Researcher Brandon A. Güell, whose photography sheds light into his research and provides a window for him to unravel and document discoveries about wildlife such as gliding treefrogs. Tune into FIU News this week to read the entire series, spotlighting various Panther photographers and the stories behind some of their favorite photos. Nature Photography Day is designated by the North American Nature Photography Association and is meant to promote an appreciation of nature photography and the role photography plays in helping people learn about wildlife. 

Can research be strengthened — or in some cases powered — by photography? For Brandon A. Güell, the answer is yes.

A postdoctoral researcher at the FIU Institute of Environment, Güell first began using photography as a tool to document his research. He used photography to study the behavioral and reproductive ecology of gliding treefrogs on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.

Last year, one of his photos of the gliding treefrogs’ massive mating events earned him the student award in the 2023 Caputring Ecology Photography Competition, run by the British Ecological Society. 

“The Osa Peninsula is really an amazing place,” he says. “I worked at a pond in the middle of the jungle. What makes this frog really interesting is that they breed explosively, which means they come all at once in the thousands and lay eggs on these leaves over the pond. A lot of my photography has revolved around this massive breeding event. There’s just so much going on, even besides the frogs.”

Güell explains that caiman regularly lurk the waters underneath the trees, waiting for frogs to fall from the leaves and land right into their mouths (Güell himself waded in those same waters to take photos, by the way). Cat-eyed snakes have learned to prey on gliding treefrog eggs. There’s also the question of the embryo development itself — what happens when the Osa Peninsula experiences a dry spell? How does that affect the eggs? He has used photography to document, explore and learn more about all of these aspects. 

But he didn’t stop with gliding treefrogs.

New Delhi, June 13: The evolution of smartphone cameras has been nothing short of extraordinary. Once limited to basic photos, they now serve as powerful tools for visual storytelling, significant integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

AI-powered smartphone cameras have become active partners in creating them. Sophisticated algorithms, trained on massive image datasets, analyse data from the sensor in real-time, intelligently optimising various aspects of image processing. This results in exceptional photos and videos that blur the line between casual snapshots and professional-grade photography.

The realme GT 6 redefines smartphone photography with its groundbreaking camera system. This isn’t just due to the exceptional Sony LYT-808 sensor, which captures stunning detail even in low-light conditions. The true magic lies in the powerful combination of this sensor and the flagship Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset.

With Geek Power Tuning, the 8s Gen 3 optimises performance for exceptional photo processing, allowing the GT 6 to rival professional-grade cameras in certain situations. This marks realme’s most impressive offering yet, delivering unmatched value and surpassing traditional flagships.

The heart of this imaging revolution is the 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 main camera sensor. This substantial sensor boasts a large 1/1.4-inch size and a wide f/1.69 aperture, significantly enhancing light intake for brighter, clearer images. Furthermore, it supports 4K Dolby Vision video recording, allowing effortlessly capturing the beauty of the world with exceptional detail and dynamic range.

Complementing the main sensor is a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with an equivalent focal length of 47mm. This versatile lens excels in both portrait and landscape photography, delivering outstanding image quality across various shooting scenarios. The combination of these high-resolution sensors ensures exceptional clarity and minimal noise, even in low-light conditions.

realme doesn’t stop there. To further enhance image stabilisation and reduce blur, particularly during handheld shooting or low-light situations, the GT 6 incorporates Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) technology. This ensures that even the finest details are captured with remarkable precision.

Adding to its versatility, the GT 6 boasts an additional 50-megapixel telephoto lens. This lens maintains exceptional clarity for both close-up and distant shots, empowering photographers to capture a wide range of subjects with stunning detail. From capturing intricate macro shots to framing breathtaking landscapes, the GT 6’s camera system offers the flexibility to excel in diverse photographic situations.

The realme GT 6 integrates an exclusive HyperTone Image Engine. This innovative feature processes images in the RAW domain, leveraging sophisticated algorithms to deliver more realistic and natural tonal renditions.

The camera system includes specialised modes like Texture Portrait, Star Mode, and Street Mode, catering to diverse photography needs and allowing users to capture a wide range of scenes with professional quality. The AI capabilities of the GT 6 further elevate its performance.

The GT 6 boasts impressive AI features that enhance both photo editing and low-light photography. The AI Smart Removal mode lets you easily erase unwanted objects or people from your photos for a cleaner look.

The AI Smart Loop anticipates your actions, making the camera app more intuitive to use. Most importantly, the AI imaging technology excels in low-light conditions, producing clear and impressive videos even in darkness. This sets a new standard for smartphone photography in challenging lighting situations.

Beyond AI, the GT 6 features realme’s exclusive HyperTone Image Engine. This innovative technology processes images in their raw format, using advanced algorithms to deliver incredibly natural and realistic colours. The camera system also includes specialised modes like Texture Portrait, Star Mode, and Street Mode.

These cater to various photography needs, allowing you to capture professional-quality images in a wide range of scenarios, the realme GT 6 surpasses expectations with its AI-powered camera system and HyperTone Image Engine. Capture clear low-light videos, erase unwanted objects, and achieve natural-looking colors for professional-quality photos in any situation.

With its AI-powered camera combining a powerful sensor, versatile lenses, and innovative software, it captures pro-quality photos and videos in any light. This flagship killer proves realme’s commitment to the cutting edge of mobile photography.

Photographer Miles Estray has been disqualified from the 1839 Awards photo contest after his real-life photo took third place and won the People’s Choice Award in the category of images with artificial intelligence. This was reported by PetaPixel.

The photographer submitted a very real, albeit surreal, photo of a flamingo in the AI category at the Color Photography contest. The work is called Flamingone.

“After seeing recent instances of AI-generated imagery beating actual photos in competitions, I started thinking about turning the story and its implications around by submitting a real photo into an AI competition,” says the photographer.

The Color Photography Awards are judged by people who work for The New York Times, Getty Images, Phaidon Press, Christie’s and Maddox Gallery. Obviously, none of them could say that Estrei’s photo was real.

The organizers of the competition said that while they appreciated Astray’s “powerful message,” his work was disqualified in favor of other participants.

“Our contest categories are specifically defined to ensure fairness and clarity for all participants,” says a company representative. “We understand that was the point, but we don’t want to prevent other artists from their shot at winning in the AI category.”

The organizers also note that this event can give more confidence to other photographers who are concerned about the problems of generative AI.

Astray’s victory proves that despite the tremendous development of technology, human talent still matters.