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Let there be light! The top 25 aurora photographs of 2023

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Photography

Published: 08:44 EST, 7 December 2023 | Updated: 08:44 EST, 7 December 2023

The Northern and Southern Lights put on quite a show this year – and some of the world’s most talented photographers were on hand to capture them in all their dazzling glory.

As we reveal.

Here we present the best aurora pictures taken around the world in 2023, as carefully chosen by the travel and photography blog Capture the Atlas. The images feature in the blog’s Northern Lights Photographer of the Year collection, which it presents each year to ‘inspire and share the beauty of this natural phenomenon’.

This year’s impressive selection was captured by 25 photographers from across the globe, with images snapped by 13 different nationalities.

Dan Zafra, editor of Capture the Atlas, curates these photos throughout the year. He looks not only for images taken by some of the most renowned photographers, but also for new talent, and for new locations where incredible aurora images are rare.

Capture the Atlas said: ‘We are seeing Northern Lights displays at lower latitudes and aurora images in unique places where they haven’t been photographed before. In this edition, we have aurora images [taken] in Wales, Germany, Italy’s Dolomites, mainland Australia, and even Death Valley National Park.’ And here they are in all their natural glory, scroll down to see the full collection…

Alex Wides captured this captivating display on Norway’s Senja Island, just as the sun was setting. He said: ‘You anticipate witnessing incredible sights, but this trip surpassed all my expectations. Arriving at Senja Island, we encountered the most powerful Northern Lights of the year, painting the sky in vibrant shades of green, purple, and red’

This magical place in the forests of Finnish Lapland provided the perfect backdrop for Frøydis Dalheim's image. 'Even though it was freezing cold, at almost -30 Celsius, I enjoyed being embraced by the peace and harmony of this beautiful night,' Frøydis remarked

There was a strong and rare magnetic storm taking place as this photo was captured in Italy's Dolomites. 'I was in the right place at the right time,' said photographer William Preite

Lukas Moesch waited several hours in Tromso, Norway, for this impressive shot. 'After waiting for a few hours, I began to witness a very faint glow. What happened after that was mind-blowing as the sky turned green, purple and red,' he said

Iceland's sky played host to arcs of neon green during Marc Marco Ripoll's second night in the country. 'Timid auroras emerged on the horizon behind the popular Mt.Kirkjufell,' he shared

Elena Ermolina snapped this incredible scene while on the Kola Peninsula, Russia. The photographer mused: 'The sky was painted green by the Northern Lights and their ethereal dance. The camera revealed even more colours than my eyes could see'

Luis Cajete witnessed this breathtaking Northern Lights display over the stunning Haifoss waterfall in Iceland. He described the moment as a 'dream come true'

Richard Zheng snapped this eye-catching shot on New Zealand's Dunedin Peninsula

'After a challenging hike with 30kg of equipment, I was delighted when the aurora made an appearance,' said photographer Paul Wilson. 'Large and Small Magellanic clouds can also be seen - these are galaxies visible only from the Southern Hemisphere'

Nickolas Warner shot the above image in Alaska, approximately 70 miles north of the Arctic Circle. In the middle of the image is Sukakpak Mountain, which Nickolas describes as 'one of the most beautiful peaks in the Brooks Mountain Range'

This image is a rarity, as it shows the Northern Lights in South Wales forming a spectacular backdrop to Paxton's Tower, a 200-year-old hilltop folly in the picturesque Carmarthenshire countryside. The photographer, Mathew Browne, said: 'For a brief yet magical moment, the sky came alive with impressive pink pillars, visible to the naked eye'

On March 23, 2023, Earth experienced the strongest geomagnetic storm in six years - and Virgil Reglioni was out in Otertinden, Norway, executing this unique shot

This dazzling photo was taken in the Lofoten archipelago in Norway by Filip Hrebenda

Stefano Pellegrini spent a week in Iceland chasing the Northern Lights. Opting for total freedom of movement to track clear skies each night, he lived in a car, planning the itinerary day by day instead of booking hotels in advance, but the strategy paid off. 'I captured the aurora on four out of seven nights and this photo is from the first night, he said

Kristine Rose took this incredible image in Nova Scotia, Canada. She described it as the best show she'd ever seen there

Way to glow: Justin Miller took this heavenly snap in his home state of Michigan

'I never expected to capture an incredible aurora like this just a 15-minute drive from my door,' said photographer Kat Lawman of this image. She lives in Wales, and added: 'Huge green and pink light pillars shot out of the sky - completely mesmerising!'

'This is the moment we live for,' said Vincent Beudez of the above image, which he took in northern Norway. He added: '[It was] the most colourful Northern Lights I’ve ever witnessed'

Photographer Kenneth LeRose took this image at the lowest altitude in the U.S - Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park. It sits 282ft (86m) below sea level. Kenneth said: 'I couldn’t believe my eyes. This was my favorite shot taken from [a] memorable night'

Josh Beames shot this mesmerising image at Bakers Oven in Australia just after he noticed that the sun had emitted a massive solar flare, which looked to be heading in Earth’s direction. He kept an eye on the charts and was excited to see that it would be a direct hit, granting a great opportunity to capture the elusive Southern Lights

This stunning shot by Jason Perry was taken in Tasmania, with Jason revealing that 'the celestial show commenced right after dark, coinciding with the emergence of the Milky Way core'

Laura Oppelt took this stunning shot in Wadden Sea National Parks, Germany, and found it hard to believe that she witnessed such a strong aurora show so far south from the Polar circle. She said: 'At a certain point, everything in the sky seemed to explode, and I couldn’t help but scream out loudly on the beach in pure excitement and disbelief'

Photographer Jordan McInally took this hypnotic image at Moke Lake, New Zealand, having arrived there, he revealed, just as light beams started to dance across the horizon and the sunlight was fading. He added: 'I spent around five hours up here and had this whole ridge to myself, shooting over 300 frames of all manner of beams and colours as the show was constantly changing'

This awe-inspiring image was snapped in an ice cave in Alaska by photographer MaryBeth Kiczenski, who revealed why the picture is extra-special: 'This ice cave collapsed over the summer. Knowing its days were numbered, I prioritised a visit in March of this year. Consequently, this image holds extra significance for me, serving as a reminder not to take things for granted'

This spectacular 'double arc' panorama was captured by photographer Giulio Cobianchi in the Lofoten Islands, Norway. Revealing the conditions that need to align to create such a dazzling image of both the Northern Lights and the Milky Way, he said: 'The aurora needs to be visible only to the north, it has to be a moonless night, and clear skies are essential. This ephemeral moment may last only seconds or minutes'

Pantone Color of the Year 2024: PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Design

As another year comes to a close, those of us in the design world know it means one thing – the big announcement from Pantone! The global color authority just announced the Pantone Color of the Year 2024 and it’s… PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, a warm and welcoming, velvety shade that hovers between pink and orange. With so many living through times of turmoil, the need for care, empathy, and community grows stronger, as does Pantone’s hope for more peaceful times.

A warm and cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness with others and the feeling of sanctuary this creates, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz presents a fresh approach to a new softness.

“A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute. “Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth.”

The announcement of the heartfelt hue marks the 25th anniversary of Pantone’s Color of the Year initiative. Since the introduction of PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean Blue as the Color of the Year in 1999, the institute has continued to certify their authority throughout global culture when it comes to the significance of color. (See previous Pantone Color of the Year selections.)

“With this year’s Pantone Color of the Year 2024, we see an increased focus on community and people across the world reframing how they want to live and evaluating what is important – that being the comfort of being close to those we love. The color is one whose warm and welcoming embrace conveys a message of compassion and whose cozy sensibility brings people together and enriches the soul,” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “In the spirit of PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we reflect back on the last 25 years of the Pantone Color of the Year program grateful to provide an avenue where designers and color enthusiasts all over the world can engage in a conversation about color, be inspired by color and showcase their creativity within their communities. We look forward to continuing this for many more years to come.”

abstract image of shades of peach and white

Image credit: The Development

surreal image of a field of wispy plants in tones of peach

Image credit: The Development

Image credit: The Development

Image credit: The Development

In lieu of the Pantone Color of the Year 2024 announcement, Pantone has launched a collection of Pantone Lifestyle goods in Peach Fuzz here.

Pantone is also working with a number of brands on collaborations celebrating the Pantone Color of the Year 2024: PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, including Cariuma, Motorola, Ruggable, Shades by Shan, and Spoonflower.

Cariuma

Motorola

Ruggable

Shades by Shan

Spoonflower

Head to Design Milk’s Instagram to tell us what you think of the Pantone Color of the Year 2024 pick!

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Dazed Club Spotlight: November 2023

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Photography

Backstage photoshoots, film stills and magical realism – check out the latest projects from this month’s selected Dazed Clubbers

7December 2023

Dazed Club Spotlight is our monthly series showcasing up-and-coming talent from the Dazed creative community. If you’d like to be featured, join the Club here.

“Since childhood, I adored nature as the most pure form of art; the art that surrounds you. The only thing I liked as a child was climbing into a hut on a tree and writing stories about my friends in a thick leather notebook. Perhaps if I had not fallen in love with a photographer 15 years later, my path would have led me to writing or accounting. But, thanks to the chance, now my pen is a camera. I think that to this day, behind every photograph of mine, there is a naive spontaneity, kindness, and desire to give life to the characters.

“At the moment I am focused on working with musicians. I love music so much because it creates an entire world inside you through invisible forces. Also, after many years of working in fashion, I found another favourite genre: backstage photography, which allows you to be subtle and wait for the opportunity when you only have a moment to take a photo. Of course, I really like working with film photography and being able to do some great pre-production work. This gives me another opportunity – not to change photos so much during the post-production stage.

“The first image is one of my favourite photos, because it shows the lead singer of Foals, whose music I grew up listening to. For me, to meet one of my favourite bands was quite a moment. Big thanks to Tanu Muino, who was the director who invited me as a photographer on this project. I really like to use wide-angle lenses and shoot over a person’s shoulder, thereby creating the impression that you are peeking and as if you are invading the moment.”

“My creative process is deeply rooted in magical realism and fantasy literature, cinema and my own vivid dreams. These sources of inspiration constantly intertwine, allowing me to envision and produce my photographic work. I gravitate towards blues and violets; these shades capture the moods and emotions I aim to convey. I believe they evoke a sense of depth and resonate with both the celestial and the other-worldly, aligning with my artistic inclinations.

“Fabrics play an integral role in my work as they enhance the depth and mood of my images. The interplay between light and shadow is equally pivotal, sculpting the scene and creating nuances that add to my images. Photography, to me, is not just about capturing a moment; it’s about narrating a story, sparking curiosity, and evoking emotion. Every image is a piece of me, a blend of artistry and personal narrative. This journey of creating and sharing has been a source of immense peace, bridging the gap between my internal world and the world around me.

“My approach is meticulous and deliberate, with each image being a realisation of a vision that has been intentionally brought to life. Every decision is influenced by my desire to communicate the essence of the dreams and narratives that inspire me. Through my work, I aspire to transport viewers, allowing them to connect with the world I create, and perhaps, find elements that resonate with their own imaginations.”

“My work focuses a lot on gender expression, technology and the way we can express our identities through our environment. My recent photo story called Wild things is a play on the book Where the Wild Things Are, with styling references from the 1979 film The Warriors. The movie itself is a great example of how certain tribes and gangs perform to others, and shows how dress and clothing can make us feel like we’re part of something.

“Play is a really important part of dress for me, and it helps me understand my own self-expression, especially gender expression and identity. These spaces can be found in the everyday for me, but also in the queer underground, where club kids, performers and artists invent their own way of dressing to flow and move through these spaces.

“I also like the connections found in those rooms and how me and my friends collectively dress and present ourselves, creating these personas and alter-egos that bring out so much confidence and certainty in ourselves. Seeing queer spaces from the past is also a huge inspiration, and I recently went to the Nan Goldin exhibition This Will Not End Well at Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, where instead of photos placed on walls, her work was shown on different slideshows inside curtained rooms within the space. I’ve always been a huge Nan Goldin fan because she always photographed worlds that her and her friend’s created. In her photos, the subjects are always the stars of the show. I always want to try and replicate those spaces that past photographers have documented, and merge these themes with my own experience in the spaces I’ve created for myself.”

Dazed Club member Gracie Brackstone organised an exhibition of work and launch of her new book at Manchester’s Hidden Nightclub. The event was focused on emerging northern talents of all calibres, from DJs to designers, to performers and photographers. Gracie curated the event and pinned fabrics together for the show and curated the looks. The night featured performances from @daguwrlz – a new queer performance group in the North who are also friends and Collaborators of Gracie’s.

“The collective, @artiscomingcollective, was formed a year ago, after an initial exhibition which highlighted northern talent and addressed how the cost of living crisis is affecting marginalised groups. The event raised £350 for a local food bank and £200 in February for trans youth. We have also managed to raise over £1000 for one of our member’s top surgery.

“We have worked for venues such as Antwerp Mansion, VF Dalston, The Love Factory and The Tate Liverpool, for their Spirit of Eurovision show back in May. This event has been the first one since then, as myself and XXS, my old housemate, were made homeless and this put a stop to events for the time being. This book launch and exhibition commented on this as we turned Hidden into our old house, ‘The Doll House’. The space became like a squat, featuring clothes, fabrics, airbeds and protest signs, which have become significant in our lives over the past year.

“We always look into addressing the wealth gap in the fashion industry, being resourceful and sustainable, anarchy, trans and queer rights. It is special because it is a community – the models are all friends, along with any DJ’s, assistants and helpers of any kind. We were so grateful for Hidden Night Club, a renowned queer art space in Manchester, which really supported us and provided a free space for us to showcase our work. We are hoping to get more into fashion shows in the next year and to grow further as a collective and community.”

Giant reindeer sculptures rear ends at war memorial blasted ‘offensive’ by local

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Sculpture

Two giant reindeer sculptures showing their rear ends to passers-by at a war memorial have been blasted ‘offensive’ by locals.

Strong sales at Art Basel Miami Beach despite ‘subdued’ start

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Art World News

A bronze and wood sculpture by Danh Võ which sold for €240,000 at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair © Xavier Hufkens

An oil painting of a swirl of tiger sripes and animal faces — ‘Birds See What the Tiger Can’t’ by Thornton Dial (1991)

“I really had no idea how it was going to go,” said the gallerist Xavier Hufkens of this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach fair, echoing the uncertainty of many at this last big art event of the year. Global political tensions have dented art-market confidence for weeks, while the economic downturn has weighed on it throughout what Hufkens describes as a “very strange year”. As such, he felt “relieved” at Wednesday’s opening of the fair — the largest of its kind in the Americas, with 277 exhibitors — describing business as “really good”. Sales included a 2023 painting by Tracey Emin for £1.2mn and an edition of a new bronze and wood sculpture by Danh Võ, which went early on to an American collector for €240,000.

The crowd was “more subdued” this year, noted art adviser Morgan Long, but this, she added, is not such a bad thing: “People used to be in town for parties, now they are here to buy art.” Organised into more distinct zones this year, there was praise from many for the revised floor plan. “I would never normally talk about a new layout, but the fair feels airier and much easier to navigate,” Hufkens said.

The highest reported sale price by far was $20mn for Philip Guston’s “Painter at Night” (1979) through Hauser & Wirth, though most other transactions were made between $50,000 and $500,000. These included Thornton Dial’s “Birds See What the Tiger Can’t” (1991, David Lewis gallery, $275,000) and 2022 canvases by Lonnie Holley for up to $130,000 (Edel Assanti). The much-discussed first Black Painting work by Frank Stella, “Delta” (1958), offered by his family and with an asking price of $45mn at Yares Art, remained unsold after the first day.

An Old Master oil painting of Mary Magdalene with her eyes closed in contemplation — ‘Penitent Magdalene’ by Artemisia Gentileschi (c1626) © Courtesy Robilant+Voena

Female Old Masters are out in force this winter. In New York, Robilant+Voena has opened a show dedicated to “pioneering women from the Renaissance to the 20th century”, including a work recently attributed to Artemisia Gentileschi, the posterchild for this field in recent years. Her work here, “Penitent Magdalene” (c1625-30), was bought for $129,150 in 2021 from a Florida auction house, catalogued as “After Artemisia Gentileschi”. Subsequent research has confirmed the painting as an autograph Gentileschi and it is offered here for more than $5mn, a level that the artist can now command. Other artists from this period among the 21 on show are Fede Galizia and the lesser-known Orsola Maddalena Caccia, who — like Gentileschi — were trained by their artist fathers.

Virginia Brilliant, the gallery’s director of Old Masters and the show’s curator, says that “all I have heard from museums and collectors since 2019 is that they are really, really keen [to acquire] under-represented artists. The challenge is that good-quality material, backed by scholarship, is hard to find.” A former museum curator, Brilliant is conscious that many institutions “have an annual acquisition budget of about $250,000” and confirms that some of the works, including allegories by Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807), fit that bill.

Female artists held their own at Sotheby’s Old Masters auction in London on Wednesday, where a 1615 still life by the Antwerp painter Clara Peeters sold for £550,000 (£698,500 with fees, est £500,000-£700,000). Next month, the auction house will offer 12 works by French artist Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842), from the collection of the art historian Joseph Baillio (total estimate $2.4mn-$3.5mn).

A Pop Art work portraying strands of spaghetti — ‘Spaghetti’ by James Rosenquist (1970)

The estate of American artist James Rosenquist, who died in 2017, will offer about 50 of his prints at Phillips in New York on February 15. The works have a combined estimate of $265,000-$410,000 but “are not being sold as a moneymaking situation”, says Cary Leibowitz, worldwide co-head of Phillips’s editions department. Rather, he says, the estate “felt it was an opportunity to capture a new generation of collectors”. There are, he says, “25-year-olds who don’t know Rosenquist’s name, while he is one of the most important artists of the 1960s”, alongside the likes of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

As with many of his contemporaries, printmaking was core to Rosenquist’s practice and he continued with the medium beyond the 1960s, later working with Ken Tyler of Tyler Graphics to make challenging, often enormous works. The Phillips prints encompass earlier Pop works, with everyday images such as tinned spaghetti strands and the GE logo, and his later, more surreal series, including Welcome to the Water Planet (from 1987). The latter, Leibowitz says, should resonate with a younger audience: “Rosenquist was thinking about the relationship of man and nature, and the precariousness of our planet.”

A framed painting within a frame depicting a man looking down at his young son — ‘Papi’ by Paula Parole (2023)

“We want to de-dust auctions and make them sexy again!” is the manifesto of the Filthy Fox Auction Club, which runs its second sale of work by art students and recent graduates this weekend. It was co-founded by multidisciplinary artist Paula Parole, recently graduated herself, and design manager/fashion model Alexandra Hochgürtel after the pair noticed that “the auction process is underrated by students, who think it is just for the most prestigious collectors to buy secondary-market art,” Parole says. “We want to use it as an exciting tool to support our community.”

Working with an initial £1,000 from a University of the Arts London award, the pair now charges a 20 per cent buyer’s premium to cover costs. These include the hire of a gallery in east London to show the work, host some “surprise performances” and conduct the live sale, also streamed on Instagram.

Last year’s auction of 32 works went down well, with the majority sold, so this year the offering has expanded to 44 works by 14 artists, chosen by Hochgürtel and Parole from art schools including Central Saint Martins, Goldsmiths, Slade and the Royal College of Art. Parole’s work is in the mix this year (from £200), while bidding will start at the lowest possible level for a work by Goldsmiths student Michelle Lee Johnson. The website explains: “To experiment with putting the decision of value on to the audience/viewer, Michelle has decided to start the auction with the minimum bid of £0.”

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Photographing and documenting cherished family Christmas traditions

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Photography

The holiday season is a time filled with warmth, joy, and the magic of cherished traditions. As families come together to celebrate Christmas, there’s a unique opportunity to capture these special moments through photography. One timeless tradition that holds a special place in many households is the act of leaving cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Let’s explore the art of documenting this heartwarming tradition and offer tips on how to create lasting memories through your lens.

Setting the scene

Start by setting the stage for your photo session. Decorate the table with festive tablecloths, arrange Christmas-themed plates and cups, and place a tray of delicious cookies front and center. Consider adding a few holiday decorations like ornaments, twinkling lights, and perhaps even a handwritten note to Santa from the children.

Capture the baking

If your family, especially with children love to bake, capture the fun right from the start. Capture the process of making and baking the cookies too. Or get together with a few friends and make batches of holiday cookies, while sharing some holiday cheer.

Candid moments

Capture the candid moments that unfold as your family engages in the cookie-setting ritual. Document the excitement and anticipation on the faces of the children as they carefully arrange the cookies and pour a glass of milk for Santa. These unposed, authentic moments will become treasured memories that you can look back on for years to come.

Close-ups and details

Zoom in on the little details that make this tradition so special. Capture the kids’ small hands as they arrange the cookies, the crumbs left behind, and the handwritten note expressing gratitude to Santa. These close-ups add a personal touch to your documentation, preserving the essence of the moment.

Play with lighting

Experiment with lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. If possible, use natural light streaming in from a nearby window to enhance the cozy, festive ambience. Soft, diffused lighting can add a touch of magic to your photographs, accentuating the joy of the occasion.

Include everyone

Make sure to include all family members in the documentation process. Whether it’s grandparents, parents, or siblings, everyone contributes to the magic of Christmas. Capture the interactions and shared smiles as each person plays a role in setting up the cookies for Santa.

Once you’ve curated a collection of beautiful images, consider printing them to create a physical album or holiday card. Share these tangible memories with friends and family, or use them to adorn your home during the festive season.

Photographing and documenting family Christmas traditions, such as leaving cookies for Santa, is a wonderful way to create lasting memories. By paying attention to the details, capturing candid moments, and embracing the magic of the season, you can preserve the warmth and joy of these special traditions for generations to come. So, grab your camera, immerse yourself in the holiday spirit, and start capturing the magic of Christmas in your home.

So what’s your favorite Christmas Tradition? And what do you leave out for Old Saint Nick? Many regions and countries have different traditions. Share what’s yours in photos!

Women of Belfast: Troubles sculpture sells in Shrewsbury for £37k

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Sculpture

The piece sells to a collector in Wales at an auction in Shropshire, exceeding its estimated sale price.

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports Review

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Photography

Introduction

The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports is a fast telephoto zoom lens for Sony, Leica, Panasonic and Sigma 35mm full-frame sensor mirrorless cameras.

It can also be used with APS-C sensor cameras with an effective increase in focal length to 105-300mm.

The optical formula is comprised of 20 elements in 15 groups, including 6 “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) and 2 Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing, plus 3 aspherical lenses to limit distortion and spherical aberrations.

This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 65cm / 25.6″ with a maximum magnification ratio of 0.19x at the 70mm focal length.

It features a rounded 11-blade diaphragm which creates a very attractive blur to out-of-focus areas of the image and an internal focusing and zooming mechanism means the lens barrel never moves.

This lens uses dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) motors for fast, quiet and precise auto-focusing and full-time manual focus override is also possible by rotating the focus ring while using autofocus.

It offers up to 7.5 stops of built-in optical image stabilisation at 70mm and 5.5 stops at 200mm and is equipped with two OS modes.

The Super Multi-Layer coating helps to ensure that flare and ghosting are well-controlled even in backlit conditions and the lens mount has a dust and splash resistant structure with special sealing at the mount connection, manual focus ring, zoom ring, and cover connection.

A traditional aperture ring runs from f/2.8 to f/22 in third-stop increments with an Auto setting also available for camera-based aperture selection.

This lens also has a zoom lock switch, a focus limiter and three customisable AFL buttons. There is also a removable rotating tripod collar/socket with a replaceable Arca-type compatible foot.

For L-Mount users, two dedicated teleconverters can be used with this lens – a 1.4x (TC-1411) and a 2x (TC-2011). The TC-1411 increases the lens’s reach up to 280mm and the TC-2011 up to 400mm.

The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports lens is available in Sony E-Mount and L-Mount versions and is priced at £1499 / $1499 in the UK and USA, respectively.

This lens was first announced in November 2023. It is designed and made in Japan.

Ease of Use

The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports is an impressively compact and lightweight zoom lens, measuring 20cms / 8.1in. in length and weighing in at 1335g / 47.1oz.

This includes the removable tripod collar/socket, yet it still manages to maintain a constant aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range.

This makes it the one of the most compact 70-200mm zooms in its class, when assessed as an AF compatible, F2.8 constant aperture zoom lenses for 35mm full-frame sensor cameras

It is shorter and much lighter than the comparable 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports DSLR version that we tested back in 2019.

This is a lens that you can easily hand-hold for a long time, with no real need for it to be mounted on a tripod or monopod.

As demonstrated by the product images, it’s a great match even for a relatively small camera like the Sony A7C II that we tested it with, where it feels well balanced.

While you can use it on a smaller APS-C body, it won’t balance very well at all (and the focal length will also change).

Build quality is excellent given the affordable price tag. The lens has a plastic shell with a mixture of metallic magnesium parts and a compound material, TSC (Thermally Stable Composite), used inside.

It also incorporates a brass bayonet mount that’s supposed to be more durable than a normal metal mount. The optical elements are made of high-grade glass.

The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports feels solid enough in your hand, despite its mostly polycarbonate construction.

The zoom ring is generously wide and it has a tactile ridged, rubberised grip band with a smooth action.

Thanks to its inner zoom design, the lens does not extend at all when fully zoomed out to 200mm, maintaining a constant length.

The focusing ring is on the narrower side and is located towards the center of the lens mount. There’s no distance scale and no depth of field scale on this lens.

There are no hard stops at either ends of the range, either, making it harder to set focus at infinity. Pol ariser users should be pleased that the 77mm filter thread doesn’t rotate on focus.

In terms of features, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports offers everything that you need from a professional telephoto zoom lens.

This very usefully includes built-in Vibration Reduction, activated by the OS switch on the lens barrel, which offers up to 7.5 stops of compensation. The OS system has two modes – mode 1 is suitable for general photography, and mode 2 is best for panning shots of moving subjects.

The 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports lens features a traditional aperture ring for the first ever time on a Sigma zoom.

It has 1/3EV stops ranging from f/2.8 to f/22 and an Auto setting if you prefer to set the aperture via the camera body.

There’s also a Lock switch which either locks the aperture ring to Auto or to the aperture values, and a Click switch that lets you de-click it for silent operation during movie recording.

An AF/MF switch on the side of the lens makes it easy to switch between the two focusing systems.

In use, we found the focusing system to be quiet, fast and reliable with the lens mounted on a Sony A7C II camera. It’s also a very quiet performer, thanks to the newly developed built-in dual High-response Linear Actuator motors, making it well-suited to video recording, especially as it has also been designed to suppress focus breathing.

Focusing is usefully internal and manual focusing is possible when set via the Focus switch on the lens barrel. Full-time manual focus override is also available by using the Direct Manual Focus (DMF) function on Sony cameras and then rotating the focus ring.

There is a focus limiter switch which has three settings, Full, 3m-infinity and closest focus distance-3m, which helps speed up the auto-focusing if you know how far your subject is from the lens. You can also use the Sigma USB dock to customise these ranges to your own needs.

There are three dedicated Auto Focus Lock (AFL) buttons located between the zoom and focus rings that can be optionally re-configured to assign various functions to the lens barrel and there is also a Custom Mode switch with two available modes.

The lens has a dust and splash-proof construction with a water and oil repellent front coating that should help it to withstand most inclement conditions.

The tripod collar has a locking knob that allows the lens and camera to rotate freely to position them horizontally or vertically. The magnesium tripod socket (TS-151) has a 1/4″ screw hole and is Arca Swiss compatible.

The lens is supplied with plastic lens caps, a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic circular cover-type lens hood (LH860-01) with a locking mechanism, and a good quality padded case. The filter size is 77mm.

Note that this lens is not compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters and Sigma don’t provide their own TCs for the E-mount system.

Sigma’s very useful USB dock isn’t available either for the Sony system, and this lens isn’t compatible with the very fastest burst shooting rates that cameras like the Alpha 1 or A9 III offer.

Focal Range

At the 70mm focal length the angle of view is 34.3 degrees.

70mm

At the 200mm focal length the angle of view is 12.3 degrees.

200mm

Chromatic Aberrations

Chromatic aberrations, typically seen as purple or blue fringes along contrasty edges, are well controlled with this lens.

70mm

200mm

Vignetting

With the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports wide open at f/2.8, you can see some noticeable light fall-off in the corners. Stopping down helps, although to completely get rid of this phenomenon, you will need to use an f-stop of at least f/5.6 or smaller.

70mm

200mm

Distortion

There’s quite a lot of barrel and pin-cushion distortion evident in both the JPEG and RAW files which you’ll need to correct in post-processing until a suitable lens profile is released for your editing software.

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

Sunstars and Flare

The Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports produces quite nice sunstars when stopped-down to f/22, as shown below, although it it a little prone to flare when shooting directly into the sun.

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

Macro

The close-focus point is 65cm / 25.6″ from the film/sensor plane at the 70mm focal length and 100cm / 39.37″ at 200mm. It has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5.2 / 0.19x at the 200mm focal length.

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

Bokeh

Bokeh is a word used for the out-of-focus areas of a photograph, and is usually described in qualitative terms, such as smooth / creamy / harsh etc.

One of the reason to buy such a fast lens as the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports is to be able to isolate the subject from the background.

Sigma have also used an iris diaphragm with 11 rounded blades for a very pleasing rendering of the out-of-focus highlights.

Below you’ll find some examples, but you are also encouraged to check out our sample images.

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

70mm

200mm

Sharpness

In order to show you how sharp the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports lens is, we are providing 100% crops on the following pages.

Photographer Prince Gyasi shares Vision and Inspiration Behind the 2024 Pirelli Calendar

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Photography

Photographer Prince Gyasi drew upon his childhood sense of wonder growing up in Ghana to create the 2024 Pirelli calendar.

Photographed in Ghana and the U.K., the collection features prominent figures such as Idris Elba, Angela Bassett, Naomi Campbell, and others.

While promoting the project in New York, Gyasi discussed the influences that shaped this year’s theme, “Timeless.”

“I grew up in Ghana, born and raised there. So, if I’m telling any story, I’ll be narrating it from a Ghanaian perspective. However, I had access to a variety of influences, such as movies, music, and elements from different ethnicities, generations, and countries,” Gyasi explained.

For the project, Gyasi tapped into his inner child, emphasizing the need to be childlike to generate imaginative ideas and access memories.

Using colour as a motif, he selected individuals who had inspired him throughout his life, including poet Amanda Gorman, writer Margot Lee Shetterly, and filmmaker and recording artist Jeymes Samuel.

As the director of the award-winning film “The Harder They Fall,” Samuel found himself on the “other side” of the creative process.

“Usually, I’m the person telling the story, working with a vast array of talent, directing, and guiding everyone. So, it was truly liberating to surrender oneself to the vision, to someone else’s story,” Samuel expressed.

Shetterly, the author of “Hidden Figures,” described her time in front of the camera as a thought-provoking learning experience.

The Pirelli Calendar, first published in 1964, has since gained renown for its high-art aesthetic and captivating shots of the world’s foremost stars.

AI enters the realm of fashion photography | Fashion Innovation News New Zealand

Dec 7, 2023 By Admin in Photography

New Zealand’s fashion industry is on an innovative journey, as demonstrated by Stanley St’s AI-powered photo shoot featured in the country’s fashion magazine, Fashion Quarterly. Through collaboration with Stanley St’s AI division, generative artificial intelligence was employed to merge individual model images with flat-lay garment and accessory images.

This AI fashion shoot showcases a wide spectrum of styles, spanning from refined evening wear to street fashion, providing a portrayal of New Zealand’s diverse fashion landscape. These captivating ensembles are prominently featured in the latest edition of Fashion Quarterly and across various digital and print platforms. This multi-channel approach heralds the union between fashion and technology.

Acknowledging the challenges encountered while employing AI in a fashion shoot, Sarah Murray, owner and editor-in-chief of Fashion Quarterly, likened the process to a “fashion shoot in reverse.” The team’s primary goal was to authentically display the clothing creations of New Zealand’s designers.

Stanley St firmly believes that this marks only the inception of a new era in fashion photography. Their AI-centric approach offers opportunities for creatives and clients to explore innovative expressions.

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Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS Sports Review

Introduction