Large format photography is unlike nothing else you have seen before, allowing you to create humongous negatives full of incredible levels of detail and creative renderings not possible with 35mm or even medium format. However, large format photography requires an entirely different approach and set of techniques, which can make it a bit intimidating. Don’t fear, though, as this fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to get started. 

Coming to you from Kyle McDougall, this helpful video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of getting started with large format photography. The main draw of large format photography is simply the size of the negative. A 4×5 negative, the smallest of the format, is almost 15 times larger than a 35mm frame, allowing you to capture truly jaw-dropping levels of detail. Beyond that, large format cameras offer capabilities that aren’t possible with full frame or medium format unless one resorts to using expensive specialist lenses. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks, most notable being the price, with each 4×5 negative costing around $5. However, if you are willing to put in the effort time, effort, and monetary investment, you will be rewarded with images unlike any other. Check out the video above for the full rundown from McDougall.

Sony just changed photography forever by releasing the Sony a9 III, the world’s first global shutter camera. 

Global Shutter—A First for Mirrorless

Sony has delivered the world’s first full-frame global shutter mirrorless camera with the a9 III. The use of a global shutter provides a leap in performance over the rolling shutter technology used for decades. A global shutter provides a near instantaneous and simultaneous readout of all 24.6MP, eliminating skew and other artifacts that plagued rolling shutters. It also far surpasses mechanical shutter technology is every way, making the physical shutter unnecessary in the a9 III.Global shutters help ensure consistent and uniform exposure across the entire frame in all lighting conditions. Flash sync is possible at any shutter speed-even the maximum of 1/80,000 second. The simultaneous readout also prevents banding from certain light sources, such as fluorescent lighting. In a gym, outside, or with mixed artificial lighting the a9 III will handle it with ease.

Pre-Capture & Speed Boost—Never Miss a Moment

Along with the key technology delivered by the sensor, the a9 III offers features new features to unlock the camera’s full potential.

• Pre-Capture: The a9 III can be configured to begin recording images to the buffer when the shutter button is half-pressed. Users can set this between 0.05-1.0 second. Upon pressing the shutter these images will be saved to the memory card.
• Speed Boost: Not every shoot calls for the a9 III’s impressive max speed of 120 fps. With Speed Boost and the C5 button, which is conveniently placed near the grip on the front of the camera, users can instantly switch their camera from their usual continuous shooting frame rate to a faster one to make sure their next shot is just right. Photographers will be able to select various frame rates up to 120 fps.

Pro-Quality 4K Video

While video benefits greatly from the use of global shutter technology-rolling shutter and banding artifacts are completely eliminated-the a9 III boasts plenty of other video improvements over its predecessor worth talking about.

• The a9 III captures and downsamples the full 6K image area to produce high-quality UHD 4K video up to 60 fps. It can also record 4K up to 120 fps with no crop.
• Record 10-bit 4:2:2 internally using All-I encoding for maximum quality.
• Output 16-bit raw via the full-size HDMI port to a compatible external recorder.
• S-Log3, S-Cinetone, and other Picture Profiles are available for optimizing the image for your workflow and production environment.

Refined Body Design

With a new generation of Alpha-series cameras comes some slight tweaks and modifications designed to make the operation of the system more ergonomic. The a9 III features a handful of updates:

• Addition of C5 custom button to front of camera body.
• Continuous shooting mode dial can now be disabled and shooting speed can be adjusted in the menu.
• Enhanced grip and the shutter button has been slightly moved to provide a more ergonomic experience.
• Dual CFexpress Type A/SD card slots provide versatility, allowing users to use existing media or pick up the faster CFexpress options to take full advantage of the a9 III’s increased speed.
• USB-C port now offers faster USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s.

• 3.2″ 2.1m-dot 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen LCD-first seen on the a7R V. This screen has a wide color gamut covering the DCI-P3 space.
• 9.44m-dot 0.90x OLED electronic viewfinder with maximum refresh rate of 240 fps. The a9 III benefits from maximum quality viewing at up to 120 fps.
• Ethernet port for advanced networking and data transfer workflows.
• The optional VG-C5EM Vertical Grip is designed to match the updated ergonomics of the a9 III, including the new C5 button.

Future Firmware Updates

The Sony a9 III is going to get better with time and there are some details on what to expect in future firmware updates:

• The ability to shooting continuously at up to 120 fps when using the maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 second.
• Workflow enhancements for IPTC metadata and FTP functions.
• Addition of C2PA technology from the Content Authenticity Initiative.

Pre-Orders will go up soon on B&H

Skylum, the makers of Luminar Neo photo editing software, announced an expansion for its Luminar Adventures project by adding six new destinations over the next year.

Luminar Adventures was started in 2019 by Skyulm in an effort to deliver an exciting and educational travel experience for explorers and photographers of all levels to enjoy. According to the company, the goal is to provide an extraordinary journey where attendees will uncover the world’s wonders through their lens, find camaraderie among a creative community, and hone their craft with advice from the team of experts that include photographers and educators Albert Dros, Isabella Tabacchi, and Lurie Belegurschi (with more to be added down the line).

The new destinations and dates added to the Luminar Adventures Tour will include the following:

The adventures include accommodations for the duration of the adventure (number of nights vary based on the destination), meals and beverages, welcome kits from the Luminar team (and partners), transportation to and from the tour locations, educational lectures and training from the instructors attached to each destination, as well as some additional bonus activities (like reception dinners, private charter boats, bus rides, hikes, and more) which are dependent on the specific destination.

“We are thrilled to ignite the spirit of adventure, connect with passionate photo enthusiasts, and explore new destinations together, crafting a unique photographic experience. Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received from our past expeditions to Iceland, we’ve expanded our list of destinations to include space for more adventure-seekers and explore more corners of our Planet together. Luminar Adventures is more than just a tour — it’s a shared journey that brings together a community with the same passions and values, cultivating lasting memories along the way,” Ivan Kutanin, the CEO of Skylum, says.

The cost of the trips vary based on the location and range from $3,500 to $18,500. Those interested in attending any of the upcoming adventures can find destination specific information and book their trips on the official Luminar Adventures website.

Image credits: Skylum

The Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine will open a new exhibit of photographs by Graciela Iturbide on Saturday, Nov. 18.

The exhibit is on loan from The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University and will include 58 black and white photographs.

Iturbide, born in Mexico in 1942, is considered one of the world’s finest contemporary photographers. Her work, which fuses her interest in traditional culture with a contemporary vision that reveals the symbolic power of images, has gained her enormous recognition in Mexico and all over the world.

She has been honored with significant awards, including the prestigious Hasselblad Foundation Award.

Eyes to Fly With: Portraits, Self-Portraits, and Other Photographs by Graciela Iturbide was the ninth book in The Wittliff’s Southwestern & Mexican Photography Series.

The exhibit closes Feb. 10, 2024, and is included in the $10 general admission fee for ages 13 and older. Admission is free for current SRSU students, faculty and staff with valid identification.

For more information, email Director Mary Bones and [email protected].

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The inaugural RIBA Photo Festival 2023 launches in London this week, exploring the relationship between photography and the built environment. Capturing architecture through the photographic lens has been an art as old as the medium itself, yet this is possibly the world’s only festival dedicated entirely to this genre, says Valeria Carullo, RIBA’s The Robert Elwall Photographs Collection curator, who organises the event. 

RIBA Photo Festival 2023: what’s on offer

There’s something for everyone during the festival’s four days of celebration at the RIBA headquarters at Portland Place. The programme was curated to speak to a specialised, existing audience of architectural photography and architecture enthusiasts, but also to the wider public with an interest in the arts. 

Offerings range from photographic displays, to evening lectures from international speakers, workshops and tutorials led by seasoned professionals in the field. There will also be curator tours of the ‘Wide-Angle View’ exhibition currently on show at the RIBA HQ, one of our top pics of London architecture exhibitions this month. 

‘Wide-Angle View’ was also curated by Carullo, who said at the opening: ‘This exhibition, with the raw power of its photographs, brings us back to a time of challenges, disparities, disillusionment, but also a time of questioning, protesting, campaigning – in many ways, much like our here and now. It is a timely reminder of the importance of citizens’ participation in the decisions that affect their communities and the role architects can play in creating a fairer society.’

The debate and exhibits also aim to discuss photography’s role in the digital age and how this affects its depicting and exploring of architecture and the built environment.

architecture.com