An amateur photography contest is being hosted by the Cache Creek Conservancy to celebrate the beauty of nature at the Woodland-based Cache Creek Nature Preserve.

The contest is an opportunity for people to visit and explore the 130-acre preserve and to elevate public awareness about the Cache Creek Conservancy and its offerings.

The contest period concludes on Earth Day, April 22. This allows plenty of time for people to visit and take photographs at the Preserve during an active and vibrant time between the end of Winter and beginning of Spring.

Wildlife, foliage, and sunsets are always popular photo images, not including Cache Creek itself and the wildlife which call it home.

Photographs can be of natural settings or include people and families enjoying what the Preserve has to offer.

There will be a limit of one photograph per participant in one of three contest categories. Categories are: Adults, ages 18 and older; Youth, ages 17 and under; and Professional. All images must have been taken by the photographer and not photoshopped.

Winners in each category will have their work displayed on the Cache Creek Conservancy website as well as used on its Facebook Page. The photographs will also be displayed throughout Woodland at various photo galleries.

Photographs may also be used in print and marketing materials for the Conservancy with the photographers receiving prominent credit.

The contest is for digital photos only, with images sized not greater than 50 megabytes.

All participants must complete an entry form giving permission for the Conservancy to use their photographs (whether they are the winner or not) in future materials. Entry forms can be found at the Conservancy’s website: cccweb.link/photocontest2024.

A selection committee comprised of Conservancy Board members and one volunteer will judge the photos, and a winner from each category will be selected. If there is a tie, an additional person will be brought in to judge and make the final decision.

Many of the NBA’s moments are captured in pictures, thanks to the work of very talented photographers who cover the teams during games, press conferences or other team-related appearances.

In fact, fans who watch games, whether live or on their TV, have seen that photographers are often sitting courtside or at the baseline, ready to capture the moments when a player does something spectacular.

Some basketball fans who have an interest in or talent for taking photos might be wondering what it takes to become one of the people to sit courtside or follow a team around and snap their pictures.

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70% Win

(110-25-1)

70% Win

(110-25-1)

70% Win

(110-25-1)

As with any job, there are some things you need to know before you can become a photographer for the NBA. Here are some vital pieces of information for anyone aspiring to take pictures of their favorite teams or players.

Also Read: “MJ should personally apologize”: NBA Twitter slams ‘Last Dance’ documentary after Jerry Krause gets booed in front of widow.

What does a cameraman do?

There are two different jobs for cameramen in the league. Aside from photographers, teams also has videographers who are responsible for covering the events of a game to be broadcast to those watching at home and for recording the footage played later in highlight reels or other purposes.

A photographer, meanwhile, takes still photos that go on posters, merchandise or even posts on social media. However, photographers don’t just take pictures of players during games.

They are also responsible for taking pictures of other elements related to the team, like places in the arena, fans, coaching staff or behind-the-scenes photos when players shoot promo videos, among other things.

Also Read: NBA Referee Salary 2023: How much will the referees earn for upcoming 2023/24 season?

What education is needed to become an NBA photographer?

The educational requirements to become a photographer in the league are quite vague. To increase the odds of being hired, a person can take several certification classes or workshops that award a certificate on completion.

There are also several online programs or universities that offer an Associate Degree in Photography, which one can take to increase one’s chances of being hired.

For those who want to go the extra mile, they can go for a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism or fine arts.

Average NBA photographer salary

Another thing that an aspiring professional sports photographer might be wondering is the amount of money that one makes by doing this job.

For those who are wondering how much a photographer makes, their national average salary is $40,000 annually. However, it can differ per team or organization.

For example, the average annual salary for a photographer with the Phoenix Suns is $67,418, while a photographer with the Golden State Warriors makes $90,113 yearly.

The salary varies per region, so one who wants to take this job also needs to be mindful of income tax in various states.

Also Read: Do NBA referees get fined? Consequences for wrong decisions explored

Blooming flowers, migrating starlings and even rockets against the backdrop of sunset: Roy, who was killed with his wife Smadar on October 7, told southern Israel’s entire story through photographs – a hope for tranquil life under constant rocket fire

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of participating in a creative photo weekend and showing a very green photographer some basics of lighting. While she was a darling and seemed to grasp every concept I explained, there were still quite a few misunderstandings that I had to clear up. In this article, I will explain the basic properties of light every photographer must know.

There is a lot of bad information out there, everything from poorly informed lighting tutorials to marketing lies of various companies. I don’t want to list the brands that equate soft light with diffused light, but you know who you are, and it’s shameful. Often, photographers mix up the properties of light as a result of all this bad information. There are four basic qualities of light you can get: soft, hard, diffused, and specular. Moreover, you can’t have soft and hard light, as well as diffused and specular. Those are opposites on one scale. Seeing photographers use diffusion paper to make the light softer is also quite upsetting. No matter how much diffusion you put on a hard light, you will not make it softer. The understanding of distance, falloff, and gradient is missing in a lot of cases. Not to worry though, the properties are very simple to understand indeed if you practice and know what makes the light soft, hard, diffused, or specular. Let’s go one by one.

Soft Versus Hard light

A softbox can be a hard light source. But a hard reflector can be a soft light source. How is this possible? Well, the softness or hardness of your light is not controlled by the modifier you use per se; it is controlled by how large the modifier is in relation to your subject. Let’s dissect this further.

A softbox is generally a soft light source. It is in the name of the modifier, after all. However, the devil is in the details because while it may be called a softbox, it will only give soft light if it is placed relatively close to the subject. As such, you can create hard light even from a huge softbox, assuming it’s placed at a distance where its relative size will be that of a bare head. Mind you, you’d need a pretty huge distance to do that exactly. A simpler example would be if you look at the shadows that your softbox makes when it is close to the subject, as opposed to when it is far away. The reason we need large and small softboxes is exactly that. In order to make the light slightly harder or slightly softer, in finite studio spaces. If you don’t change the distance to the subject and swap out a 3’ octa for a 5’ octa, the light will get softer. At the same time, it is worth pointing out that the light spread won’t change a bit. However, this is best saved for another article.

Soft light will be characterized by wide shadow edges and generally low contrast. Hard light will have sharp shadow edges and possibly more contrast.

The hardest light you can get is from the smallest light source possible. Such a source can be a hard reflector or better so, a hard-box. A snoot will give off a harder light as well. Contrary to popular belief, it does not have a dramatic effect on the light spread.  

Specular Versus Diffused light

This one is a little harder to explain as it is more nuanced. In short, if the material the subject sees is white, the light is diffused; if it is silver, the light is specular.

Specular lighting will be less even. If you want to get a lighting pattern out of your hard reflector, make sure to use it without a diffuser. At the same time, if you diffuse a hard reflector, you will get a much more even lighting pattern, which will remain hard.

If we want to dive deeper, we need to understand the concept of specular and diffuse reflection.

Specular reflection is produced by specular materials, such as metal, or some other smooth surfaces. Specular reflection will be mirror-like. Importantly, mirror reflections are not classified as specular; they are optical reflections. Back to my point, because specular reflections are mirror-like and hence direct reflections, the light produced will travel in one direction. This light will be perfect for bringing out details in your subject.

Diffuse reflection is the opposite of specular. Diffuse reflections are produced by rough, dull surfaces. A diffuser will be a perfect example of that. Although it lets light through, it acts as the ultimate rough surface. Colored white to maximize light transmission, a diffuser bounces and kicks the light around to make it omnidirectional. As the concentrated light beam loses direction, it will become even and won’t travel in such a straight line. As such, diffused light is characterized by less contrast, as well as a wider spread. To keep the light diffused but also narrow, a grid can be used. Crucially, if you want to have diffused gridded light, you need to place the diffusion behind the grid. If you place the diffusion in front of the grid, the effect will be negated.

Combining These 

Having discussed soft/hard and diffused/specular, let’s see how to make combinations of these lighting qualities. Before going further, it is worth mentioning that these are on a sliding scale.

Soft Diffused

The easiest one to begin with. Simply pick a large modifier with a white surface, or a silver interior, and throw a diffuser on it.

Soft Specular

The hardest of the four combinations. It is only possible to make such light with large silver modifiers that accept indirectly mounted lights. Such would be the Profoto giants, true parabolic modifiers, or silver umbrellas. The ultimate soft specular light comes from a Giant 300.

Hard Diffused

Simply take a relatively small light source such as a hard reflector and put some diffusion paper over it. Works great as a key light as it brings out enough detail while also being very even.

Hard Specular

Grab a shiny silver reflector and you’re done!

Closing Thoughts

This is it. Now you know the four basic lighting types and can use this knowledge to create images with intention rather than by using lighting setups from YouTube. With this knowledge, you can be in charge of how much detail your image shows and how you light various surfaces. Don’t forget, everything that you are lighting is just a surface in one way or another. Nothing less, nothing more.

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Mighty Hope Photography, 7am – Good Day Sacramento

Minneapolis Institute of Art showcases Native Photography in new exhibit – CBS MinnesotaClick here for more.”>Click here for more.”>

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Game Changer for Mobile Photography

Mark your calendars for the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17, as Samsung is set to unveil the highly anticipated Galaxy S24 Ultra. Rumors and leaked details suggest that this latest model will feature groundbreaking camera improvements that could revolutionize mobile photography. The key focus lies in a shift from a 10x telephoto camera to a higher-resolution 5x version, promising exceptional zoom quality at various ranges and optical quality zoom at 2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x magnification. This innovative approach to mobile camera tech is set to redefine what users can capture on their smartphones.

The Power of High-Resolution Sensors and Advanced Image Processing

Despite the switch to a 5x optical zoom, the Galaxy S24 Ultra assures that there will be no compromise on image quality. Thanks to a higher resolution sensor and improved image processing techniques, users can expect crystal clear images at all zoom levels. The device also plans to activate multi-frame processing at every zoom level, reducing noise and enhancing detail. This, coupled with the introduction of new AI-powered super-resolution algorithms, signifies Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of mobile photography.

Unprecedented Camera Upgrades

Leaked information hints at significant camera upgrades for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. These may include a 200MP main sensor, an 800MP sensor, and improved zoom capabilities. These upgrades aim to deliver higher resolution and better low-light performance, making the Galaxy S24 Ultra a powerhouse in the realm of smartphone cameras. The new camera setup is also expected to feature advanced video recording capabilities with improved stabilization and high frame rates, opening up a new world of possibilities for videography enthusiasts.

Smart Technology for Smarter Photography

The Galaxy S24 Ultra aims to integrate smart technology with enhanced camera features. The upcoming model is expected to include new AI-powered camera features under the name ‘Eureka,’ including Nightography Zoom and Generative Edit functions. The Generative AI, tagged as ‘Galaxy AI,’ will require a Samsung account and internet connection for cloud-based processing. Samsung’s AI enhancements promise to deliver a unique user experience by combining advanced technology with intuitive design.

More Than Just a Camera

Beyond the camera, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is set to offer a series of other upgrades. It will reportedly support Super Fast Charging 2.0 and deliver a brighter display for an improved user experience. The device is also expected to offer cutting-edge features such as real-time translation of calls and a new feature that allows users to circle objects in an image to search for them. With a promise of seven years of update support, Samsung is clearly looking to offer a long-term, quality experience to its users.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with its impressive camera upgrades and advanced features, is poised to make a significant impact on the mobile industry. These enhancements promise to deliver a superior photography experience and establish new standards for other smartphone manufacturers. As the Galaxy Unpacked event draws near, tech enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly looking forward to the official unveiling of the S24 Ultra.