Island Darkroom presents CEARNS, an exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Isle of Lewis photographer Deljeem Rai. This event marks Deljeem Rai’s first solo exhibition and his debut showcase on his home island.

Deljeem Rai, a Nepali photographer, is currently balancing his studies at the Glasgow School of Art with his home on the Isle of Lewis. His work has garnered significant recognition, including the British Journal of Photography Portrait of Britain Award in 2023 and 2024, and a finalist position in the Scottish Portrait Awards in 2023. His images have been exhibited across Scotland in notable galleries such as the Scottish Art Club in Edinburgh, Kirkcudbright Gallery in Dumfries and Galloway, and The Glasgow Art Club.

Through sensitive portraiture and environmental photography, he explores themes of identity, belonging, and community. Deljeem uses the medium of photography to delve deeper into his experience of living with a dual identity of Nepali and Scottish and reconnecting with his childhood in Nepal, a part of his identity he became disconnected from after arriving in the UK as a teenager. His experience of cross-cultural migration is evidenced in his work which unpacks what it means to belong.

This project grew from a desire to explore Deljeem’s connection to and identity within the Cearns, a small housing estate in Stornoway. Growing up in Nepal gave him a strong national identity and sense of self, a sense that suffered after migrating to Scotland where a desire to fit into his adopted nation necessitated he disconnect from that identity. However, while living in the Cearns, Deljeem found a new sense of belonging within a community. There, he and his family became part of a community that had a strong sense of connection with each other and who supported and welcomed them. Portraying the Cearns through portraits of the people who live there and environmental photography, he hopes to create pride for those who live there, seeing themselves and their homes represented in a way that reflects their strong community values.

Island Darkroom is a photography gallery with its roots embedded in traditional process. Established in 2018 by award-winning photographer Mhairi Law, Island Darkroom draws exciting and varied work to the island from across the UK through a rolling program of exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. As well as exhibiting and sharing the work of contemporary artists, Mhairi keeps traditional skills at the fore by holding regular workshops in analog processes at the darkroom.

Based in the village of Achmore in the heart of the Isle of Lewis, Island Darkroom looks out over the undulating, loch-pitted peat moor to the Harris and Uig hills. The choice to build this creative space here came out of a love of the beautiful landscape that surrounds it, and a desire to create a rural, contemporary hub of creativity.

CEARNS runs in Island Darkroom until July 26, 2024. While many of our readers might not make it to a small island in the Scottish Highlands to view the exhibition this summer, stories from remote places are no less significant than those shown in mainstream galleries, and worthy of sharing with wider audiences. Seek out independent photography galleries when traveling to find new perspectives to connect with.

All images in this article are by Deljeem Rai, shot on medium format, 2022, ongoing.

Mayadet Cruz, a friend of Taylor Casey, hugs a friend while operating a bubble machine during a news conference outside City Hall in the Loop on Casey’s 42nd birthday, where friends and family of Casey gathered to call on state, city officials and the FBI to help find Casey, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Casey was reported missing during a yoga retreat in the Bahamas on June 19. “She’s just a beautiful and amazing person who deserves to be found. Her community loves her and we want her back home,” Cruz said.

I have heard the expression many times…

…”He or she has an EYE for photography”  – that applies 100% to my friend Carley Ramsdell. She has been holding a camera since she was 16  – waiting for that perfect moment to take a picture. That’s what someone with natural talent and instincts does. Here is what makes her so special, she cares about people – I first came across what kind of person she is back in July of 2022. A 4th of July weekend – like so many others, Carley was out and about with her friends enjoying the Missouri River – unlike everyone else, she collected trash. That’s right. They took matters into their own hands and loaded over 15 full bags of garbage people threw out along the river. Check out the story HERE – it’s when I became a Carley fan.

 “I love watching people have a good time…”

Think about it, when you are looking through a camera lens, you are FOCUSED on your subject or subjects – an average person like me is just snapping away – A talented photographer waits for the perfect moment, to capture emotion. Carley has done weddings, family gatherings, graduations, and even politicians, and now she does Boudoir shoots. She originally photographed nature and the outdoors before moving to human subjects. In a professional photographer’s mind are shapes – lines – imagination – and creativity – You’ll see her brilliant work taken from her Canon EOS Rebel T7.    This I know, you can’t be as professional as she is without doing your homework – going on Google and researching other photographers – and opening up Pinterest the app for inspiration.

“To have my own studio one day in the future…

…to share my passion with others – that’s what I want to do” I highly recommend you contact Carley for any kind of event –                           https://www.facebook.com/Carleyramsdellphotography    – Here is what you will get – someone who absolutely loves what she does – takes pride in her talents – someone that will be easy to talk to and who will charm you and genuinely care about the people and event she is taking pictures at.

 NOW take a look at a labor of love – her pictures are all special – I am proud to be her friend – You will love her!     https://www.facebook.com/Carleyramsdellphotography

Renowned filmmaker and photojournalist Catherine Bauknight’s photography exhibit, “All One World Turn of the Century: 20th-21st,” had a spectacular opening night on Friday, July 5, 2024, at The Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery in Burbank, CA, marking one of the summer’s premier art events. With over 200 attendees, members of the art world, media, as well as many friends and family who flew in from various parts of the U.S. and Norway, the event was a resounding success.

The exhibit’s theme and goal is to promote a peaceful movement to connect humanity globally and reduce the fear of differences through photojournalistic coverage of culture, events, and influential figures across five continents from the latter 20th to the 21st centuries. Catherine’s photographs are not just aesthetically pleasing but are deeply thought-provoking, telling powerful stories that resonate with a global audience.

Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/1ee7c0e404904090b960c7713b329b16.jpg

VIP Attendees and Highlights: The opening night brought together a gathering of notable VIPs, distinguished guests, and media including:

Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz
Burbank Vice Mayor Nikki Perez
Larry Namer, Founder of E! Entertainment
Nick Ut, Special Guest – Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer (known for his iconic photograph that contributed to ending the Vietnam War)
Camille Nighthorse, Actress and AZ Hualapai Tribe Member
Kamaka Brown, Comedian, Actor, and Writer, owner of Sandwich Island Network
Rodney Allen Rippy, Actor and former child star
Patrika Darbo, Emmy-winning Actress (Days of Our Lives), and her friend Donna White
Visual Arts Guild Members including Ann Lau, who were also Gold Sponsors of this event
Joey Zhou, LABA Founder, Journalist, and International Celebrity TV Host
Jaime Monroy, Comedian and Entertainment Correspondent (Owner of Multi-Media Content Studio)
David Laurell, former Burbank Mayor and current Burbank Leader Journalist
Peter Foldy, Writer, Director, Filmmaker
Bella Trost, Fitness Champion, Actress, and Producer
Dawna Shuman, President of Lighthouse Public Relations
Richard Greene, International Speaker and Political Consultant
Damain Dovarganes, AP Staff Photographer
Special Appearance by Robot RT-ZK with his creator Walter Martinez Marconi

Special Thanks: Virginia Causton-Keene, Director of The Betsy Lueke Art Center, and her dedicated staff, who did an outstanding job supporting the event throughout the evening. Jackie Lewis Media and her team orchestrated an exciting event, with media photographers and video interviewers filling the Red Carpet. Their seamless management ensured a smoothly run event, providing attendees with an exceptional and memorable experience.

Ambiance and Special Features: The opening night embraced the spirit of Aloha with a Hawaiian theme. A special appearance by Robot RT-ZK, built by roboticist Walter Martinez Marconi, delighted guests as Robot RT-ZK interacted with them with verbal robotic sounds and posed for photos. Live Hawaiian music set the tone for the evening, featuring a performance by Auntie Geri Brigoli-Kahia traditional Hawaiian singer and band. One of the hottest DJ Teams in Southern California, The Jack of Grooves(@thejackofgrooves) with owner DJ Louis Palos and acclaimed DJ Raul Mora DJed live and continued the Hawaiian music theme, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

The evening commenced with Mayor Nick Schultz presenting a certificate from the City of Burbank to Catherine Bauknight statement reading, “Your incredible work shows the beauty of different cultures and captures meaningful moments in everyday lives around the world”, followed by actor and Hawaiian cultural connector Kamaka Brown emceeing the program. Catherine shared riveting stories of her experiences and the risks she’s taken to capture compelling images, highlighting her commitment to giving a voice to those who cannot speak freely. Native American, Camille Nighthorse and other Hawaiian speakers discussed the significance of Hawaii and its Indigenous peoples,emphasizing Catherine’s unique ability to connect with and document their stories authentically.

Friends and colleagues shared their admiration and anecdotes about their adventures with Catherine, emphasizing the excitement and unpredictability that she brings when they are with her, and how she enriches their lives.

Exhibit Theme and Impact:

“This evocative collection captures pivotal moments and influential figures that have shaped the transition from the 20th to the 21st century, such as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Sting, Muhammad Ali, U.S. Presidents, and more. Bauknight’s work has consistently elevated social change and fostered communication across diverse cultures through exhibits like ‘Renaissance of the Catawba Indians’ and ‘Hawaii: A Voice for Sovereignty.’

“Her photography serves as a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and shared humanity,” remarked LABA Founder and International Journalist Joey Zhou, who holds Bauknight’s work in high esteem. He was particularly moved by her photo of iconic Singer Smokey Robinson, which he purchased as it captured the essence of Robinson and resonated as one of Zhou’s favorite interviews among his many high-profile interviews. All purchased photos will remain on display for audiences to enjoy through July 25, 2024.

Venue and Exhibit Details:

The exhibit will be open for viewing from July 5 through July 25, 2024, at The Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center, located at 1100 W. Clark Avenue, Burbank, CA 91506. Admission is free. On-site parking is free with additional parking on the street if needed.

Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Catherine Bauknight expressed, “My goal with photography has always been to show the world that we should not come from fear of differences but connect globally for a higher conscience. This is why Hawaiians, Native Americans, Anglo, and other cultures will be present to represent a movement to connect cultures and knowledge for a peaceful future together. All One World… at the turn of the century. This is an international educational experience connecting people through photography.”

Her work often placed her in challenging and dangerous situations, including being detained in foreign countries like Peru, Saudi Arabia, and China. Through her lens, Bauknight captures the essence of humanity’s struggle for democracy and freedom. Her philosophy underscores the importance of understanding our shared history to create a unified and peaceful future.

Her work can be viewed at http://www.catherinebauknight.com and trailer for documentary film http://www.hawaiiavoiceforsovereignty.com

The exhibit promises to be a captivating and educational experience… celebrating the power of photography to bridge cultural divides and inspire a global community.

Media Contact
Company Name: Jackie Lewis Media
Contact Person: Jackie Lewis
Email:Send Email [https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=world-in-focus-catherine-bauknights-photography-exhibit-premieres-with-high-praise]Phone: 818 720 4221
City: Los Angeles
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: http://www.iconnectyou.today

This release was published on openPR.

When turning their lenses toward wildlife, nature photographers often thrill to majestic bison, otherworldly whales and the varied behaviors of birds.

But perhaps not as many look to the smaller, six-legged creatures that crawl, swim and fly—sometimes under cover of darkness—even though their numbers are legion and they inhabit nearly all parts of the globe.

To put a spotlight on insects, the Royal Entomological Society, a United Kingdom-based charity dedicated to insect science, holds a photography contest each year. In connection with its annual Insect Week outreach event, the group recently announced the winners of its most-recent competition.

“It’s wonderful to know that so many individuals have engaged with insects in this way, capturing some incredible moments for their world and showcasing the beauty and diversity of insects,” contest judge Ashleigh Whiffin, entomology curator at the National Museum of Scotland, says in a statement.

Amateur photographers from all over the world are invited to enter the contest, calling attention to the wonders of our planet’s insects at a time when roughly 40 percent of them may be threatened with extinction.

The Royal Entomological Society shared online galleries of all the commended photos in this year’s competition, from both adult and youth photographers. Here’s a selection of ten stunning images recognized by the judges.

Sleeping cuckoos by Luke Chambers

Gripping onto grasses with their jaws—yet still fast asleep—two black-thighed cellophane-cuckoo bees are the peaceful subjects of the winning image for this year’s contest.

Named for the birds that lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, cuckoo bees also parasitize the nests of other bees. They do not collect pollen or nectar, since they lack some of the specialized body parts for it, such as pollen-carrying hairs. This gives cuckoo bees a shinier and less fuzzy appearance.

Coming across these tranquil creatures was “one of my best encounters to date,” says photographer Luke Chambers in a statement. “Finding any sleeping invertebrate is always brilliant, but two so close together, well that’s like winning the photography lottery.”

Caddisfly larvae in a jelly egg sac by Tim Jonas

Adult caddisflies are moth-like, known for flocking toward light bulbs at night. But for most of their lives, the insects live in water, providing an important food source for fish.

In this image, which took second place in the contest, larval caddisflies have just hatched within a gelatinous egg sac, positioned on a leaf hanging over water. When they are ready, the insects will drop into the water where they live as larvae. In the pupal phase of their lives, they will build aquatic cocoons and undergo metamorphosis, then take to the air as adults.

“Having photographed a caddisfly laying her eggs at this location the previous year, I was keen to document the next stage showing eggs and larvae inside the gelatinous mass,” photographer Tim Jonas says in a statement. “I captured images of several egg masses near water, returning a few days later to find they had hatched.”

Nature’s jewels by Nikita Richardson

Cotton harlequin bugs, which sport vibrant colors in a captivating pattern, are each less than one inch long. But together, they often form large clusters as an anti-predator adaptation.

“When one bug emits a bad smell as a deterrent for predators, it will trigger the others to do so as well,” says Nikita Richardson, who captured this photo in Australia, in a statement. The bugs pictured here are males, while females tend to be mostly orange.

Robber fly by Steven Mahy

Also known as “assassin flies,” robber flies are notorious for their lethal predatory habits. From its perch on a plant or rock, the fly will watch for an insect passing by, then swoop down and snatch it out of the air. Robber flies use venomous saliva to quickly immobilize and kill their unfortunate prey.

But to photographer Steven Mahy, finding this robber fly was a stroke of luck. “I was looking for butterflies an hour or so before sunset, in an area where I had seen plenty in the daytime,” he says in a statement. “Could not find a single butterfly but then noticed this robber fly.”

Picasso bug by Robin Backhouse

The Picasso bug looks like an artist has painted on its back—atop its base green hue, one of these creatures has 11 ring-shaped spots in various colors, which are meant to serve as a warning to predators. Residents of tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, the insects give off an unpleasant odor when threatened, revealing their relation to stink bugs.

Robin Backhouse photographed this individual in Kenya. “They don’t sit still for long, so I had to be patient to get the face-on composition,” Backhouse says in a statement.

Brown argus roosting at sunrise by Richard Sheldrake

At dawn, a brown argus butterfly awakens, backlit by the rising sun. Often, groups of these butterflies—which, despite their brown color, belong to a subfamily known as the “blues”—roost communally on blades of grass overnight. These congregations can present a golden opportunity for photographers.

“I start very early, before dawn and search for the butterflies as they start to climb higher up grass stems to get the early sun warmth,” Richard Sheldrake says in a statement. “On this day, I found this beauty on a long grass stem on the top of a bank, so I could get right down low to catch the sun in the background.”

Look into my eyes by Pete Burford

Being cold-blooded, damselflies and other insects cannot generate their own body heat. At night, when temperatures drop, this can render the creatures unable to move. Damselflies, long-bodied creatures akin to dragonflies, can sometimes be covered by dew at night as they lie still.

Photographer Pete Burford was outside at 2 a.m., looking for resting damselflies in the United Kingdom. “I lucked out near a fishing pond and found a couple of them still on the reeds covered in dew,” Burford says in a statement. “I was able to get quite a few interesting poses of them whilst I was there.”

Evening prayer by Leela Channer

Praying mantises might look peaceful, but they are pretty fearsome hunters, capable of taking down prey three times their size. As such, mantises are sometimes considered beneficial to gardens, since they eat damaging insects. Here, one sits at the edge of a plowed field in France.

“[I] lay on the ground to photograph it silhouetted against the sky just before the sun dipped behind the hills,” photographer Leela Channer says in a statement.

Jumping bristletail by Tim Jonas

The odd-looking jumping bristletails are among the most primitive insects known today—their lineage appeared with the arachnids during the mid-Devonian period, and it predates dinosaurs by roughly 200 million years. Though the creatures may look a bit like silverfish, they have a distinctive hump on their backs—and they can leap several inches into the air.

When walking at Brockadale Nature Reserve in England, Tim Jonas often finds jumping bristletails hidden under stones. They’re “one of my favorite subjects to photograph,” Jonas says in a statement.

Les fleurs du mal by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Nestled among some pink cyclamen, a flower in the primrose family, a praying mantis is seen through a gap in the petals—in sharp focus, even as the plants blur.

“I love the way she peeks through the cyclamens,” says Panagiotis Dalagiorgos in a statement. “I think it adds some mystery and danger to the beautiful flower scenery.”

Feel like doing a photography challenge? Here’s one that you can tackle over the weekend to put your photography skills to the test and refill your creative juices! For the 28th week of their 52-week Photo Challenge, the folks of SlickPic want us to craft ingenious Double Exposures.

In this challenge, the task is to use double exposure to combine two different images in a single frame. With this creative technique, you can experiment with blending elements from the two images to create surreal and dramatic images. So, part of the challenge is to skillfully and creatively fuse shapes, textures, and subjects and even different photography genres to make your photos extra interesting and artistic.

You can go the old school route using film cameras, or use your favorite image editing software to create double exposure composites. If your digital camera has a double exposure feature, this is the perfect opportunity to explore it if you haven’t yet.

To help inspire you with some tips and ideas, we suggest checking out our resources on double/multiple exposures, as well as useful guides from Adobe and ProGrade Digital. In case you’re just joining, we also encourage you to check out the full info on the 52-week Challenge.

Photography challenge details

• Submissions will be accepted until the end of the day on July 14, 2024. So, if you’re in the mood to flex your creative muscles, there’s still plenty of time to make something nice!
• Submit 3 images by clicking this link
• Please submit images in JPEG format. Uploading photos that are at least 2500 on the long side is recommended for the highest quality.

Once you submit your photos, you can review them here: https://52weekchallenge.slickpic.com

As always, you can ask your friends to join the challenge as well by clicking on the Share button for the album and inviting them to join in. Of course, you can also encourage them to Like and Comment on your submissions!

Submit your Double Exposure photos now!

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY)

Welcome to Summer Artist in Residence

Marjorie Kaniehtonkie Skidders

Artist Talk: Saturday, July 20th at 2PM

Curator Talk: Saturday, August 3rd at 2 PM

Throughout her residency, Skidders’s artwork will be on display in the Frederic Remington Art Museum’s Hirschey Family Gallery.

“As an Indigenous photographer, I am always searching for beautiful moments occurring in everyday life. I view every photo shoot as an opportunity to capture those moments and share my Kanienkeha life with the world.”

Kaniehtonkie will discuss her work in an artist’s talk on Saturday July 20 at 2:00 pm. The talk is free with admission and open to the public, with a reception to follow.

This year, Marjorie will work directly with the Akwesasne Boys & Girls club to bring students to the Museum for photography composition classes. These classes will encourage Mohawk youth to tell their stories and express their identity, experience, perspectives, and culture through photography. One will be a beginner class for youth children, and the other will be for pre-teen to teen classes for students with some experience with photography. The students will also have a chance to explore Remington’s work with Educator and Museum Experience Manager, Julie Pratt.

As part of her collaboration with the Remington Museum, Kaniehtonkie will curate an exhibition of select Remington works, which will open on Saturday, August 3rd with a public curator talk at 2:00 pm in the Museum’s Addie P. Newell Gallery. A reception will follow.

Marjorie Kaniehtonkie Skidders is an award-winning photographer. Among other awards, she earned first and second place at the prestigious Adirondack Mohawk and Abenaki Art Markets in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, she had a one-woman show at the Native North American Traveling College, in 2022, she won second place in the juried Ganondagan Museum’s Hodinöhsö:ni′ Art Show in photography, and in 2024 had a one-woman show at the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery at St. Lawrence University. As proud Ista of four children and twelve grandchildren, she is currently the editor of Indian Time newspaper.

Kaniehtonkie also served as juror for the Museum’s Annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibit, which opened in May and which will remain on view through September 7. As juror to the annual Members’ Juried Art Exhibit, the resident artist provides fresh insight into and analysis of the work of the Museum’s community of artists, a number of whom are long-time participants in these exhibits. As with previous resident artists, Marjorie Kaniehtonkie Skidders is a skilled artist working in a field (photography) relevant to the Museum and its audiences. She has spent a career in education and is poised to offer instruction to under-served youth and interpretation at the highest level. An Akwesasne Mohawk woman, Skidders’s curation of a new exhibit of work by Frederic Remington will offer a fresh perspective on the artist and his work.

Marjorie Kaniehtonkie Skidders, a member of the Bear Clan of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation Territory, has a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s in education that turned into a 25-year career in education as a teacher, director, Indigenous content curriculum writer, and school principal. After retiring in 2007, she returned to her roots as an artist focusing on writing and photography. Her work has been acquired by the New York State Museum; Adirondack Experience, the Museum at Blue Mountain Lake; and St. Lawrence University.

Copyright 2024 WWNY. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Book-style foldables aren’t exactly in abundance on this side of the world, where Samsung rules the roost through a combination of brand recognition and slick software. It’s a different story in China, where the best smartphones simply must have the best hardware. It’s enough to make a phone fan jealous – which is why I’m stoked Vivo has brought the X Fold3 Pro to an international audience.

This featherweight folder has a trio of high resolution cameras, a flagship chipset, and two sizeable AMOLED screens. Add in a monstrously big battery, and there’s little else out there with such a comprehensive spec sheet. It’s not exactly getting a wide release, with India and Indonesia the main markets so far – and at ₹159,999 (roughly $1900/£1500), it’s not exactly cheap.

But that still neatly undercuts the Galaxy Z Fold6, a phone that gives me a strong impression Samsung has taken its foot off the gas on the hardware front. Has Vivo stepped in to fill the gap for those that want the best bang per buck?

Design & build: thinner winner

At a ridiculously light 236g, the Vivo X Fold3 Pro is barely any heavier than a traditional flagship phone – and almost as thin when closed. That’s mighty impressive given its palm-stretching proportions. Each half is a barely-there 5.2mm thick, which is only really beaten by the Honor Magic V2. Vivo’s carbon fibre hinge has that phone licked for range of angles it be used in before either snapping open or shut, which it does in a very satisfying manner. The phone folds fully open, too – something the Google Pixel Fold can’t manage.

The giant circular camera bump on the rear panel has a lot in common with the Vivo X100 Pro, including the Zeiss branding and how it protrudes from the glass. Vivo has dialled the cursive branding right back here, which can only be a good thing, and the frosted finish does a great job at hiding fingerprints. The whole thing is IPX8 rated, which is up there with the best foldables for water resistance but a step behind the Galaxy Z Fold6 for dust ingress.

An alert slider at the side feels pinched directly from OnePlus; it’s nice to have, but I’ve barely used it as I keep forgetting it’s there. That’s also the case for the IR blaster at the top of the phone. The one thing I did miss was eSim support, which will be a downer for frequent travellers. It can at least swallow two nano SIMs.

This is the first foldable I’ve used two two under-display fingerprint sensors. The one on the cover screen was the more reliable of the pair, with the one beneath the inner screen needing a second attempt more often. As a left-handed phone user, though, I massively prefer this setup to the side-mounted scanners used by most other foldables.

Screen & sound: picture perfect

Size isn’t everything – but it’s a large part of what makes the Vivo X Fold3 Pro’s pair of screens so impactful. At 6.53in and with a 21:9 aspect ratio, the outer display is a real monolith, while the 8.03in inner panel dwarfs just about every other book-style foldable. The 4:3 aspect ratio also means black bars don’t eat up nearly as much screen space when streaming TV shows as they do on the square OnePlus Open. The inner screen has a punch-hole webcam rather than a camouflaged under-display sensor, but Vivo sensible stuck it right in the corner. It effectively vanishes from view when watching letterboxed video content.

Both displays have high resolution AMOLED panels with impactful colours and infinite contrast. Photos and videos look properly impactful in the standard display mode, while staying on the right side of realistic. There’s a Professional mode in the Settings menu that’s more subdued, and I appreciate the inclusion of a colour wheel that gives fine-grain control over colour temperature.

LTPO tech lets the adaptive refresh rate dip as low as 1Hz for maximum power saving when showing static images, or up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and motion. Vivo claims an eye-searing 4500 nit peak brightness – though only for a tiny portion of the screen when showing HDR video. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are both on board, and both pack a punch. More importantly, both screens easy shine bright enough to read clearly in all conditions. I could leave my sunglasses on when outside on especially sunny days and still see everything clearly.

Top marks to Vivo for making the inner screen’s crease barely detectable, and also for the way the non-removable screen protector keeps light reflections at bay. It’s not on the same level as the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Gorilla Armor glass, but it’s a major step up from the Galaxy Z Fold6.

Putting the stereo speakers in the upper half of the phone was a smart move; you don’t obscure them when unfolding to use the larger inner screen. They’re on par with every other foldable I’ve tried, with a decent amount of volume and clarity.

Cameras: new benchmark

The X100 Pro’s epic 1in main camera sensor may not feature here, but Vivo otherwise pulled out all the stops on the photography front. The X Fold3 Pro has a 50MP lead snapper with wide f/1.7 aperture lens, optical image stabilisation and laser-assisted phase-detect autofocus; a 50MP ultrawide (also with autofocus); and a 64MP periscope telephoto good for a stabilised 3x optical zoom. Zeiss optics and some of the most nuanced image processing of any phone brand then tip it over the edge.

This is a simply brilliant cameraphone, in just about all lighting conditions. It’s easily the best foldable. Pictures are stuffed full of detail, with convincing colours, effective HDR and plenty of contrast. All three lenses are well matched on exposure and colour balance, with very little in the way of visible noise or overly aggressive sharpening.

Portraits and close-ups taken with the telephoto show convincing depth blur. They don’t come undone in darker environments either. I definitely picked up some unwanted extra processing on faces and skin, which the X100 Pro was also guilty of; even with facial retouch turned off, there’s a smoothness here that isn’t entirely true to life. It can’t match the best flagship phones for outright clarity, either – but it gets very close. For a foldable, that’s damn impressive.

Software experience: not so fully-featured

The global X Fold3 Pro variant runs Vivo’s FuntouchOS skin, which sits on top of Android 14. The firm has committed to three years of new Android versions and four years of security patches. That’s not a bad showing, but still half of what you’ll get with a Samsung or Google foldable in your pocket.

My review unit had a bunch of India-specific apps preinstalled, along with a bunch of Vivo’s own. Not all can be uninstalled, and the firm’s bespoke app store is a bit too keen to take over update responsibilities from the Google Play Store, but at least notifications can be silenced fairly quickly. The notes and voice recorder apps are worth keeping around: they piggyback off Google’s Gemini AI algorithms to summarise long strings of text and transcribe audio files. The photo gallery has a magic eraser to delete unwanted distractions, but there’s none of the generative editing smarts you’ll find from Samsung’s latest foldable.

Multitasking on the inner screen uses a combination of the stock Android app toolbar and a bespoke floating menu. Dragging out an app opens it in split view – but only ever with a portrait split. You’ve got to tap the dividing line every time you want a landscape view, which is frustrating. Samsung does a better job here, and the OnePlus Open has both phones beat.

Vivo has added an always-on clock when the phone is propped up like a tent, and opening it up like a laptop turns the bottom half into a touchpad – but there’s so much more the firm could’ve done with the form factor. I couldn’t find any way to use the outer screen with the rear cameras for framing selfies. You don’t get any stylus support here, and no Samsung Dex-style big screen mode either. You’re also limited to two apps in split view, with a third in a floating window. The Galaxy Z Fold6 is still the folding world’s productivity powerhouse.

Performance & battery life: serious stamina

Like any top-tier 2024 phone, the Vivo X Fold3 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. My review unit had a generous 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but the base model gets 12GB and 256GB respectively.

Either way, it’ll have more than enough oomph to run Android 14 perfectly smoothly. Synthetic benchmarks see it score higher than some traditional flagship phones, and it opens up an especially wide gap to the OnePlus Open (which uses a previous-gen processor). I saw no slowdowns, zero stuttering, nor sluggishness of any kind at any point during my testing. I’m expecting the Galaxy Z Fold6 to be faster still, on account of its custom-tuned silicon, but in day-to-day use I doubt you’ll notice any difference.

Squeezing such a potent processor into a slim chassis was always going to mean the phone gets toasty when under sustained load. A vapor chamber cooling system keeps temperatures largely in check, though, so gaming never dissolved into a slideshow. I was able to play demanding 3D titles like Zenless Zone Zero at high settings on either screen.

Arguably more impressive is this phone’s outstanding battery life. I spent an entire day on mobile data, streaming YouTube videos on the inner display, taking photos and running a hotspot for my work laptop, and still wasn’t in the red before bedtime. The giant 5700mAh capacity is more than you’ll get from any flagship phone right now, foldable or otherwise. Two days is doable if you stick to Wi-Fi and avoid gaming.

Charging speeds are practically unmatched, too. The X Fold3 Pro can manage 100W over USB-C and 50W from a powerful enough Qi wireless pad; on the former I managed a complete refuel using the bundled power brick in just under 45 minutes, or half the time you’d need to fully juice a Galaxy Z Fold6.

Vivo X Fold3 Pro verdict

This is hands down my favourite foldable of 2024 so far. The Vivo X Fold3 Pro is as slim and light as a traditional flagship, with equally impactful performance and even better battery life. Charging speeds leave rivals for dust, and its cameras are second to none in the foldable world. Both screens are a treat for the eyes.

Vivo isn’t a class leader on the software front, though, lacking the productivity-boosting features found in the best foldables. The firm’s long-term update commitment is average at best, too. Then there’s the fact most Stuff readers are going to have to import it, which carries its own risks and doesn’t include any warranty.

Buying one will take commitment, then – but those that see it through will end up with a fantastic phone.

Vivo X Fold3 Pro technical specifications