In partnership with Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot’s partnership with Magnum Photos invites a team of world-class photographers – Steve McCurry, Alex Webb, Trent Parke, Olivia Arthur, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Cristina de Middel, Nanna Heitmann and Newsha Tavakolian – to take on a unique commission: to make memorable images and convey emotions inspired by the sun.

The resulting exhibition, ‘Emotions of the Sun’, is now embarking on a world tour, rising first in Milan at Garden Senato, in a space created specially by French designer Constance Guisset. The Milan show is complemented by a sun-themed tasting menu, with award-winning chefs and rising gastronomic talents presenting dishes that celebrate the emotional appeal of summer aromas, flavours and textures.

The menu includes sunny, epicurean delights by Jean Imbert of Paris’ Plaza Athénée; Mory Sacko of MoSuke Paris; Valentina Rizzo of Farmacia dei Sani in Ruffano, Lecce; and Karime López, the first Mexican woman chef to obtain a Michelin star, of Gucci Osteria in Florence. Signature dishes are served in pairing with Maison Veuve Clicquot’s most iconic cuvées.

Inspired by its founder Madame Clicquot’s free spirit, Maison Veuve Clicquot has long been known for its iconic, signature yellow – the colour of the sun – symbolising hope, optimism and the promise of infinite possibilities. Now, the champagne maison’s partnership with Magnum Photos (the agency founded in 1947 by photographers Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson) is a photographic celebration of all things bright and yellow, the sun interpreted as a universal joy.

Inspiration for the project came from photographic composition, technique and process, and the notion of a synergistic collaboration between artist and sunlight. The sun is seen as the photographer’s essential ally, its golden glow sublimating landscapes, enhancing human subjects, animating movement, and throwing light on still life. ‘The colours we perceive in the natural world are influenced by a combination of sunlight, the objects themselves, and atmospheric conditions,’ says Steve McCurry. ‘The changing light at sunrise or sunset makes Mount Fuji even more magical.’

All the photographers were given creative carte blanche to express the sun theme, their individual interpretations captured in the 40 new photographs that make up the exhibition. Each image is a unique illustration of the sun as an emotional powerhouse, the ultimate force of life, the great clock in the sky.

Cristina de Middel’s luminous, fantastical images convey a sense of pure joy and lightness of being, while Olivia Arthur’s tender, highly personal photographs recall the serenity of childhood summers. For Newsha Tavakolian, the sun is a soothing, nourishing presence. Her pictures tell a story of hope and female empowerment, while Lindokuhle Sobekwa celebrates everyday miracles: a sunset, flowers opening their petals, the glitter of sunlight.

Nanna Heitmann’s theatrical series represents the osmosis of the elements and honours the sun as the source of all life, the force that connects us all. McCurry’s majestic studies of Mount Fuji capture moments of pure rapture and contemplation: a hymn to elemental grandeur.

Alex Webb’s celebratory imagery and vivid colours are made possible solely by the generous presence of the sun: in a play of light and shadows, etiolated silhouettes parade before us like so many multi-layered lives. Trent Parke’s majestic portrayals of the setting sun read like symbolic images of a new departure, a turn of the wheel of life, and the presence of eternity in all things.

‘Maison Veuve Clicquot is delighted to work with eight internationally renowned Magnum photographers, the lifeblood of that most renowned photographic institution,’ says Jean-Marc Gallot, president of Maison Veuve Clicquot. ‘The exhibition confirms Veuve Clicquot’s deep-rooted commitment to culture and transmits our message of optimism to the world at large.’

The inaugural exhibition of Veuve Clicquot’s ‘Emotions of the Sun’ opens during Milan Design Week 2024, from 15 April (private view, by invitation only) to 21 April, Garden Senato Milano, Via Senato 14, 20121 Milan

Kelly Rae Morgan of Tioga is displaying her prints on behalf of the Grand Canyon Photography Club during April at Arise Café, 1 Central Ave., Wellsboro.

Morgan has lived in Tioga County all of her life. She has always been interested in photography, mainly taking photos of her children as they were growing up.

Morgan credits the local photography club for helping her grow in her skills. As a member of the photo club for over two years she said, “I have learned a lot about different styles of photography as well as navigating through camera settings, lighting, composition and photo processing. My favorite part of being in the club is the inspiration and support of other club members.”

She continued, “In my April display at Arise Café, I have included one project that I worked on for a long time which is a seasonal set of my favorite tree, capturing the transition from winter to spring to summer and fall. I have also included in my display a few floral shots. I am fascinated with macro photography. I love to bring to life all the fine details, shapes and vibrant colors of flowers that cannot be seen at first glance. My display also has a couple of shots of whitetail deer, another favorite subject of mine.”

Members of the photo club take turns displaying their works at three locations in Wellsboro: Arise Café, the Deane Center Gallery and the Warehouse Theater.

The Grand Canyon Photography Club was established in 2001 by Art and Christine Heiny. Meetings are still held on the second Tuesday of every month at the Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center in Wellsboro.

Meetings typically run from 7 to 9 p.m. Individuals may attend two meetings before they are asked to join.

Each month a program is given on some aspect of photography. Member images on a predetermined topic are critiqued each month also.

If you have an interest in photography, join the club at monthly meetings and field trips.

Once upon a time, amidst the hustle of technological advancements, the legends of Apple’s fortress envisioned a device that would revolutionize self-expression through photography. In September 2023, the prophecy unfolded as the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro were introduced, hailing another era of the company’s pioneering design and machine learning-fueled innovation that promised to elevate user experience to celestial heights.

Apple’s quest to hone personalized technology was vividly illustrated in an advertising gem: “Smart Portrait Mode”. This feature, akin to the magic from an artist’s brush, allowed users to refine focus and depth-of-field effects with a mere swipe, transforming static snapshots into dynamic portraits, irrespective of whether they were captured in portrait mode.

Envisioned in the ad was a whimsical battle of a band, each member vying to be the centerpiece of their album cover using the iPhone 15’s enchanting feature. Apple spun a story of possibility, where anyone or anything in a photo could become the hero, transforming ordinary images into masterpieces with artistically blurred backgrounds.

Apple’s innovation did not stop there—a new realm of creativity was born from their “aftercapture” focus adjustment, showcasing the company’s relentless pursuit to improve user experiences with clever technology. All iPhone 15 models were blessed with this feature, as detailed in their whimsical ad.

This feature aimed to democratize professional-like photography, marrying ease and sophistication for everyday users craving to etch an artistic touch onto their visual stories. The integration of Smart Portrait Mode into iOS 17 marked Apple’s stride in making advanced photographic tools accessible to a broader audience, with the ad doubling as a practical demonstration of its innovative use.

In anticipation of the questions swirling in the digital cosmos, here are the delivered insights into the Smart Portrait Mode of the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro:

1. Smart Portrait Mode is a feature empowered by machine learning algorithms, allowing post-capture image edits. Users can adjust the focus and depth-of-field even on photos not initially captured in portrait mode.
2. It enhances user experience by enabling selections and conversions of standard photos into portraits with artfully blurred backgrounds, thereby enriching creative control.
3. It’s not limited to only vertical shots—Smart Portrait Mode is a universal trait for all images taken with the iPhone 15.
4. Indeed, the entire iPhone 15 range boasts Smart Portrait Mode, showcasing its omnipresence across Apple’s new devices.
5. While the design of the iPhone 15 series is a nod to its predecessors, it’s the notable improvements in function that herald its evolution.
6. The inclusion of Smart Portrait Mode in iOS 17 embodies Apple’s commitment to improving photography tools for users at all levels.

For further enlightenment, consider perusing:

– Apple – The official domain of Apple Inc., where innovation beckons.
– Unraveling iOS 17 – Discover the new features of iOS 17, including Smart Portrait Mode, and how it elevates the artistry in your hands (Please note, the URL provided is a representation of Apple’s domain).

Remember, the URLs mentioned are mere placeholders meant to guide you towards related pathways of discovery, solely reflecting the principal domain requested.

Embedded for your viewing pleasure and practical insight is Apple’s captivating advertisement:

Marcin Frąckiewicz is a renowned author and blogger, specializing in satellite communication and artificial intelligence. His insightful articles delve into the intricacies of these fields, offering readers a deep understanding of complex technological concepts. His work is known for its clarity and thoroughness.

Mikko Takkunen teaches us that small equipment doesn’t mean small output, as his new photography book Hong Kong was shot entirely on digital compact cameras. 

I recently sat down with Mikko to discuss the book, and after providing some fascinating insights into his process and approach we got on to the topic of gear. Having seen firsthand the stunning images in Hong Kong, when I asked which equipment he used I was expecting him to mention one of the best mirrorless or even a medium-format camera. To my surprise, it was quite the opposite. 

The following is an excerpt from the interview:

To learn that the majority of the book was shot with not only a compact camera, but a compact camera with a sensor smaller than APS-C certainly took me by surprise – but it also made complete sense. 

Much like the great street photographers, Takkunen photographs the world as an observer, which means what he looks for in a camera is a small blueprint enabling him to have it on him easily at all times, and a large versatile zoom to capture details. He found that with the Sony RX100 VII, which is a lesson in the importance of finding what works for you and your practice.

The tradeoff for the size and high zoom function is usually a lower image quality, which may still be the case, but the image quality produced is still outstanding and was printed in great detail in a professionally published book by Kehrer – what more do you need?

The Sony RX100 VII is a tiny compact camera that boasts several high-quality features, and in my opinion perhaps doesn’t get the recognition it deserves because of the smaller Type-1 (1-inch) sensor and higher f-stop. The RX100 VII’s 24-200mm zoom lens has a super fast AF with real-time tracking and eye AF, plus enhanced image stabilization and 4K video.

As photographers, we can often obsess over the latest and greatest gear, and for the majority, the final output is posted to social media where it dies as quickly as it’s uploaded. So it begs the question unless you’re printing on a large scale, why do we need a constantly increasing megapixel count? I am certainly guilty of putting off projects because I do not have the ‘right’ equipment, but I am now inspired to get started on those long put-off shoots and to use my iPhone more!

If you haven’t done so already, I recommend checking out the full interview with Mikko Takkunen where we discuss his beautiful new book Hong Kong. 

See our guides for more information on the best camera for street photography, the best compact camera, and the best camera phone.