There may not have been studies on the subject but there may be a correlation between procrastination and loving art.
That’s a roundabout way of noting that if you’re behind on your holiday shopping (for others or yourself) there’s a great opportunity coming your way this week.
Although his work blurs the boundary between art and science, Imran Sultan’s photos are always in sharp focus. And that’s not an easy feat, considering that the subject matter can be thousands of light-years away.
Sultan’s photos of our galaxy’s distant, beautiful features recently garnered two awards in the 2023 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition’s astronomy category. His photo of the Western Veil Nebula received first place, and his photo of the Flower Moon received recognition as the sole runner-up.
An astrophotographer, Sultan is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow in galaxy formation at Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where he is advised by Claude-André Faucher-Giguère, an associate professor of physics and astronomy. Both Sultan and Faucher-Giguère are members of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics. Sultan began photographing the night sky in summer 2020 — after receiving his first telescope. Since then, his works have gained popularity on social media and among his colleagues.
“I love sharing the wonders of our universe with others through my astrophotography,” Sultan said. “Whether it’s an interesting look at the moon surrounded by clouds, or long-exposure shots of a nebula thousands of light years away that’s too faint for us to see, photographing the night sky lets me capture and share the breathtaking sights that are right over us.”
The competition, which returned for the first time since 2019, “celebrates the power of photography to convey scientific phenomena happening all around us.” Judges selected winners — from nearly 600 submissions — for each category: astronomy, behavior, Earth science and climate, ecology and environment, and microimaging. Each category winner receives a £500 ($615 USD) prize.
Sultan’s winning image shows the colorful Western Veil Nebula, a stunning remnant left behind from the explosion of a massive star 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. Located 2,100 light-years away, the nebula resides within the constellation Cygnus (the Swan).
“My picture shows a part of the nebula known as the Western Veil, imaged over two nights from the city skies of the Chicago suburbs,” Sultan said. “I was able to overcome the extreme light pollution, a growing problem that is detrimental to stargazing and makes deep sky astrophotography nearly impossible, by using a special filter which only allows certain wavelengths of light to pass through.”
See more of Sultan’s work on Flickr.
Fine art photographer and Lander University professor Jon O. Holloway is sharing a variety of images and showcasing them in his Maxwell Avenue properties, Sundance Gallery and Jon Holloway Photography.
Holloway’s latest photography exhibit, titled “55” and celebrating a lap around the sun, is on view Dec. 14 through 21 at the two spaces. Opening day, the exhibit is on view 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A public reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 15. On Dec. 16-21, the exhibit is on view 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HDR photography may seem complex, but it is a surprisingly simple tool that can open new photographic doors. Most people have encountered HDR photography without thinking about it since smartphones automatically produce HDR images.
HDR photography allows you to capture all values within a scene, showing more detail than you would otherwise get. Whether documenting interior spaces for real estate images or creating dramatic landscape art, HDR photography can help you get the most out of your camera and photographs. This guide will walk you through how and when to use this technique and the tools you will need along the way.
Before diving into how and when to use HDR in your photographs, it’s essential to understand what HDR means and why it matters. HDR stands for high dynamic range. Breaking it down further, dynamic range refers to the difference between the darkest dark and lightest light within a scene. Cameras are limited in how much dynamic range they can capture — and it is much less than our eyes can see. HDR photography is a technique used to capture the full value range within high-contrast scenes, providing all highlight and shadow information in a single image.
As an example of dynamic range in photography, picture a scene with the sun shining on a snowy mountainside with dark rocks jutting out of the snow in shaded areas. This scene has a large dynamic range between the shadows and highlights. You typically have to choose whether to expose the snow or the rocks and end up with either blown-out highlights or solid black dark areas. This results in no texture or detail in one of those areas, which is undesirable. However, with HDR photography, you can capture that vast dynamic range in a single photo.
There are a few ways to accomplish HDR photography, which will be covered later. But all methods rely on merging multiple images that are exposed for different parts of a scene. Some methods are automatic, so you don’t even realize your camera is taking numerous photos. Your smartphone is an example of this. Other methods require manual work on your part.
HDR techniques expand the dynamic range beyond what a camera can capture in a single frame. They allow you to capture and even enhance detail across the entire luminance range. As a result, HDR photography is a handy tool for any high-contrast scene, though it can also be a stylistic choice.
HDR photography is most frequently used in three genres: Landscape, architectural, and interior photography (such as real estate). All three often include high-contrast scenarios, limiting what you can capture in a single image. When photographing landscapes, it is common to deal with bright skies and dark foregrounds, especially during sunrise and sunset. Likewise, exterior architectural shots will likely involve dark buildings with sunny skies. Capturing all the desired detail in one shot is challenging in the best conditions and sometimes outright impossible, but HDR opens up more possibilities of what you can document.
Interior photography can be even more dramatic than landscapes or exterior architectural work regarding dynamic range. Darker interior spaces with bright windows offer challenging exposure situations. Without HDR photography, windows will be blinding white voids, which is especially problematic if you are attempting to showcase a view. Another possibility is well-exposed windows but excessively dark interiors, which won’t show off the space.
You’ll notice that the three genres mentioned all feature minimal movement of subjects in the frame. The images you take to create an HDR image will be merged, so anything that moves over the course of those images will appear multiple times in the final HDR shot or cause ghosting. Because of this, HDR is not great for portraiture, wildlife, street photography, or other similar genres.
Although HDR photography may sound complex, it doesn’t require much in terms of equipment. The only requirement is a sturdy tripod. As mentioned above, movement throughout creating an HDR image is problematic, which also holds in regard to camera movement. Because of this, you’ll want to keep your camera on a tripod when creating HDR photographs.
Although not a requirement, a wireless remote (or app that functions as such) may also come in handy. Touching the camera to release the shutter, even with a tripod, can result in slight camera movements. This is especially true if you are using long shutter speeds.
The basics of HDR photography are straightforward to learn. To create an HDR image, you’ll need to take multiple pictures of the same scene with different exposure settings, a technique called exposure bracketing. This process results in some overexposed, properly exposed, and underexposed images. You can create HDR images from as little as three brackets or as many as nine or more. Which number is best depends on the scene and the HDR style you are going for, though three to five is the most common.
There are two ways to bracket for HDR photography: Manually or using Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) settings. To manually bracket, you will need to adjust the exposure using ISO or shutter speed for as many shots as you require. You won’t want to bracket with aperture, as this will change the depth of field in each bracket and will not result in a sharp final result. Alternatively, you can use the exposure compensation setting (many cameras offer a dial) to change your exposure. Typically, bracketing involves consistent stops between each frame, though this isn’t necessarily a requirement. You could underexpose by one stop and overexpose by two if the situation calls for it.
While manual bracketing works perfectly fine, most cameras will offer automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) settings to make the process faster and easier. You can even set most cameras to take all the bracketed shots with one press of the shutter instead of taking each bracket one by one. This is ideal because, as mentioned, any movement in the frame or of the camera can cause issues when merging your brackets. So, the faster you take your bracketed images, the better.
A camera’s AEB mode requires you to choose a number of bracketed images along with the exposure value (EV) between each shot. The EV number indicates how many stops will be between each frame. Each camera manufacturer offers different settings, though most will provide bracketing options of three, five, or nine frames. EV options typically include 0.3, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 stops. Certain EV settings may limit the number of brackets you can take. For example, on the Sony a7 III, at 3.0 EV, you can bracket a max of five images, while at 1.0 EV and lower, you can bracket up to nine frames.
As with the number of brackets, there aren’t any hard and fast rules for how many stops to bracket. Different situations call for different settings, and the final look you are after will also dictate which is best. That said, one full stop is typically the best bet.
Beyond AEB modes, there are a few other important considerations for camera settings. As mentioned earlier, you will want your aperture to remain consistent throughout the bracketed sequence to avoid any changes in depth of field. Because of this, it is most common to bracket with the camera set to Aperture Priority mode. This will result in the camera changing the shutter speed while maintaining a constant aperture. If you want your ISO to remain consistent, turn off auto ISO and choose the best value for the scene.
Just as you don’t want any changes to the depth of field, you also won’t want any focus shifts throughout a bracketed sequence. So, to avoid this, set your focus before starting your brackets and then switch it to manual focus.
Many cameras offer built-in HDR settings, allowing you to create an HDR image right in the camera. The camera will do all the work for you, including the bracketing and file-merging process. You’ll end up with a fully processed HDR file immediately.
Each camera manufacturer will offer different options and settings for this. For example, Sony’s HDR mode requires .JPG as the file format. Then, you can select between 1.0 and 6.0 EV or Auto EV. Nikon allows you to save the RAW files of the individual shots used to create the HDR image and provides an additional option to adjust how much the boundaries between images are smoothed. Canon offers a special setting built for moving subjects. Be sure to refer to your particular camera’s manual or menus to see your options for in-camera HDR photography.
The most common way to create HDR images is by using software to merge bracketed shots on a computer. To create an HDR image using software, you’ll load a bracketed set into your chosen software. The program will then merge them together into one file, pulling in relevant details from all values. Most HDR software will provide a range of settings to fine-tune the HDR look; you don’t necessarily need to create a dramatic, highly textured HDR image.
There are many programs available to tackle the merging process. Photomatix is one of the more popular options, as it is extremely powerful, fast, and full of valuable features. It offers lots of controls for fine-tuning the look of your HDR images, along with presets to get you started. Plus, it allows for automated batch processing, ideal for an entire shoot of HDR images, such as real estate work.
Luminar Neo is another excellent option, and you’ll also get access to Luminar Neo’s advanced editing tools once you have your HDR image. Or, for a free option, Luminance HDR is surprisingly powerful and versatile despite the fact that it’s free. You can also merge bracketed images to create an HDR photo in Adobe Photoshop.
Although HDR often gets a bad rap, it can be a handy tool. It can allow for even more creativity in your images, but it also serves practical purposes. The key to HDR photography is dialing in bracketing settings for each situation and developing your desired look using HDR software. Perfecting this method may take time, but it is an invaluable skill for landscape, architectural, and interior photographers.
Image credits: Header image by Jeremy Gray. All other photos by Abby Ferguson.
The event is a fundraiser for Portland Track
“Mikaël Kingsbury, Olympic Freestyle skier” by Finn O’Hara. Professional Winner, Sports.
The 20th anniversary of the International Photography Awards (IPA) brings together a stunning collection of images from professional and amateur photographers around the world. Tens of thousands of images underwent a rigorous evaluation by an international panel of judges before winners were selected in diverse categories like People, Nature, Advertising, and Fine Art. While all the photographers created incredible imagery, two were singled out from the 22 category winners for special awards.
Thomas Broening was named IPA Photographer of the Year for his groundbreaking series of self-funded billboards that were displayed across California. This series of 24 images, titled The End of the Dream, sheds light on three incredibly important issues plaguing the state—drought, fire, and housing. By placing his striking visuals in a space typically reserved by advertisers, Broening makes an important statement.
Amateur photographer Carlo Marrazza was singled out for his strong work and was named IPA 2023 Discovery of the Year. Marrazza’s imagery sheds light on the truly unique story of the Bakkarwals of Jammu and Kashmir, a resilient community of goat and sheep herders, who embark on their annual migratory journey from the hills of the Jammu region, traversing the majestic Himalayas to reach the lush valleys of Kashmir. This year’s journey was fraught with hardship, as heavy snowfall led to a loss of livestock. Marrazza’s ability to capture the spirit and resilience of the community, even in the face of adversity, is remarkable.
In fact, all of the category winners show a deep love for storytelling. This passion, combined with their technical abilities, are just part of what make IPA special.
“As I was viewing the submissions, I was acutely aware and thrilled by the love and passion that people all over the world have for the photograph as a medium for story-telling,” commented Quentin Nardi, photo editor of the Smithsonian Magazine and IPA jury member. “The work that used light and shadow, composition, technical skills, and complex color exploration to make a more sophisticated image—one that would hold my eye and call to me to linger longer—is the image that got my vote.”
“The End of the Dream” by Thomas Broening. Professional Winner, Advertising.
“Pets Meets Vintage” by Horst Kistner. Professional Winner, Special.
“Narrow Escape” by Tony Law. Professional Winner, Sports.
“Songkran” by Thamarong Wanarithikul. Non-Professional Winner, Event.
“Must resist” by Or Adar. Non-Professional Winner, Editorial / Press.
“Old Father Thames” by Julia Fullerton-Batten. Professional Winner, Fine Art.
“Ice Fantasy” by Barbara and Maciej Noskowski. Professional Winner, Nature.
“power station (storm)” Steffen Reichardt. Non-Professional Winner, Architecture.
“Bakkarwals of Jammu and Kashmir 1” by Carlo Marrazza. Non-Professional Winner, People.
“Anemone Purity” by Claudia Gaupp. Non-Professional, Nature.
“Ukraine’s War” by Wolfgang Schwan. Professional Winner, Editorial / Press
“NYC Women’s March 2017” by Nabil West. Professional Winner, Event.
“Polychromo” by Bevil Templeton-Smith. Non-Professional Winner, Fine Art.
“Spaghetti Stylist” by Yuliy Vasilev. Non-Professional Winner, Advertising.
“Ships on Land” by Professional Gang Wang. Winner, Architecture.
“Our War” by Edgar Martins. Professional Winner, Analog / Film.
“Ukraine: A War Crime” by FotoEvidence. Professional Winner, Book.
“Freedom to Fly” by Allison Hunter. Professional Winner, People.
“Where does the tree end and the rest of the world begin?” by Daniela Balestrin. Non-Professional Winner, Analog / Film.
“.raw” by Daniil Kobizskiy. Non-Professional Winner, Special.
“The Promise [of safe, clean and unlimited energy]” by Jan Schölzel. Non-Professional Winner, Book.
A “Trans Art Market” was held in Philadelphia over the weekend. As the name suggests, it was an art display for people who are members of the LGBT community. Promotional material for the event advertised it as an “art market highlighting trans, non-binary, and gender expansive artists and makers in Philly.” It was the second year the event took place.
To most people, an exhibition by artists chosen solely because of their sexual deviance and identity would seem odd. After all, why would one’s sexual urges be the basis for an art show? However, the strangest part of this event was arguably the strict COVID-19 protocols required to be admitted. This year, the Philadelphia Trans Art Market mandated that all guests wear masks, show vaccine cards, or be forced to take a COVID-19 test at the market that the organizers provided.
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None of this is standard in the city, especially in 2023. No city-mandated restrictions or requirements for masks, vaccines, or COVID-19 tests exist. This was not “trusting the science” or “following the science” in any way. It was “making up science” to alleviate the obsessive compulsion of the unbridled paranoia of the event’s organizers. There is no legitimate rhyme or reason for this other than the unreasonable fears of the event’s organizers and anyone who decided to attend.
To put this in perspective, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the fictional character Rocky Balboa ran the steps as part of his training and a much larger venue with a significantly higher number of guests daily, requires no proof of vaccination and masks are optional. Furthermore, the so-called safety protocols of the Trans Art Market run counter to the suggestions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as current data show COVID-19 is no longer considered a significant threat in the city. These are just unnecessary and over-the-top restrictions.
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The coronavirus pandemic was a generational tragedy, but there was a lot of controversy surrounding many of the implemented safety protocols. Proponents claimed to be “trusting and following” the science, but data later showed that was not entirely true. In many instances, Democrats and others on the Left in power simply made up restrictions not because it was scientifically proven but because it soothed their own anxieties. The fact that a place would still be taking such drastic measures is indicative of the kind of mental health concerns and fanaticism that consume many people on the Left.
Prince William police: “Unlawful Filming on School Grounds – On December 4, the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Hylton High School located at 14051 Spriggs Road in Woodbridge concluded an investigation into an inappropriate picture taken on school grounds. The investigation revealed on November 20 at approximately 1:30 p.m., a male student, identified as the accused, took an inappropriate photo of another juvenile male student while in a school restroom.”
“The accused later posted the photo to a social media app where another student saw the photo and notified a teacher. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as a 15-year-old male juvenile, was arrested. Arrested on December 4: [Juvenile] A 15-year-old male juvenile of Woodbridge. Charged with unlawful filming. Court Date: Pending | Status: Held at the Juvenile Detention Center.”
