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A photographer who captured the moment Prince Louis covered his ears during a flypast for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Aaron Chown, of the PA news agency, is among three people nominated for Royal Photographer of the Year at the annual UK Picture Editors Guild Awards.

Fellow PA photographer Jane Barlow, who took one of the last public pictures of the late Queen, has been shortlisted for Arts and Entertainment Photographer of the Year.

The photograph of the late monarch smiling beside a fireplace at Balmoral before meeting then-prime minister Liz Truss on September 6, just two days before the Queen died, is recognisable to millions.

PA’s Danny Lawson is shortlisted for Business Photographer of the Year and Regional Photographer of the Year, while agency colleague Mike Egerton is in the running for Sports Photographer of the Year.

Others on the shortlist include PA photographers James Manning and Jordan Pettitt, who are both shortlisted for Young Photographer of the Year.

Photographers from The Times, the Daily Telegraph, Getty Images, the Yorkshire Post, Reuters, AFP, and freelances Jeff Moore, Ryan Jenkinson and Samir Hussein are also among those nominated.

Pictures by Mr Chown, Mr Pettitt, Ms Barlow and PA photographic colleagues Victoria Jones and Jonathan Brady are among 20 nominated for Photo of the Year, which will be decided by a public vote.

Those who register to vote before September 3 will get the chance to win a two-night stay in a London hotel.

A spokesman for the UK Picture Editors Guild Awards said: “Photographers working on behalf of the press risk their lives in war zones and bring us the news as it breaks.

Their work fills the pages of the newspapers daily and so often their work goes unrecognised.”

The awards ceremony will be held at the Honourable Artillery Company grounds in the City of London on October 16, and people can vote at imago.ws/IMAGOPhotographoftheyear.

As reported by WFLA, longtime Florida wedding photographer Michael Zoumberos spent nearly a year in jail for civil contempt because he refused to cooperate with federal investigators concerning a major DEA scandal that included Zoumberos’ brother, former DEA agent George Zoumberos.

Before discussing what Michael Zoumberos experienced, it is essential to discuss what led to the professional photographer with 20 years of experience being involved with federal law enforcement in the first place.

Disgraced DEA Agent José Irizarry Leaves Wake of Destruction and Stories on his Path to Prison

In December 2021, Miami-based DEA special agent, José Irizarry, was sentenced to 12 years for operating a money laundering and fraud scheme. Irizarry, who was 46 at the time, pleaded guilty to all crimes in his 19-count indictment, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, honest services wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Per Irizarry’s plea, his crimes began in 2010. Irizarry used his position as a special agent in the DEA to move about $9 million in funds used for undercover DEA money laundering schemes to enrich himself and co-conspirators. Irizarry also used his position to receive bribes and kickbacks worth at least $1 million.

Unsurprisingly, the United States Department of Justice wanted to bring additional people to justice. After all, Irizarry did not act alone.

Irizarry’s Former Partner, George Zoumberos, Implicated During Investigation

During the probe into José Irizarry, law enforcement looked at one of Irizarry’s former partners, George Zoumberos, the brother of photographer Michael Zoumberos.

“The probe is focused in part on George Zoumberos, one of Irizarry’s former partners who traveled overseas extensively for money laundering investigations. Irizarry told AP that Zoumberos enjoyed unfettered access to so-called commission funds and improperly tapped that money for personal purchases and unwarranted trips, using names of people that didn’t exist in DEA reports justifying the excesses,” wrote the Associated Press late last year.

Irizarry says numerous DEA colleagues joined him in his exploits, including on extravagant trips worldwide.

“The way Irizarry tells it, dozens of other federal agents, prosecutors, informants and in some cases cartel smugglers themselves were all in on the three-continent joyride known as ‘Team America’ that chose cities for money laundering pick-ups mostly for party purposes or to coincide with Real Madrid soccer or Rafael Nadal tennis matches. That included stops along the way in VIP rooms of Caribbean strip joints, Amsterdam’s red-light district and aboard a Colombian yacht that launched with plenty of booze and more than a dozen prostitutes,” explains AP.

Irizarry said that the United States’ war on drugs is unwinnable and that agents know they are “not making a difference.”

While his claims may have been part of a play to get a reduced jail sentence or just further smear the DEA’s image, U.S. Justice Department took Irizarry’s confessions and claims very seriously and has spent considerable effort trying to corroborate or disprove Irizarry’s many assertions.

George Zoumberos, who was arrested and briefly detained in connection with allegations of sexual assault in Madrid in 2018, lost his gun, badge, and security clearance in 2019 for invoking his Fifth Amendment rights to not self-incriminate.

Federal Investigators Subpoena Photographer Michael Zoumberos and he Pleads the Fifth

Authorities remained interested in George Zoumberos and subpoenaed his brother, photographer Michael Zoumberos.

Michael, who allegedly traveled at times with DEA agents, was offered immunity in exchange for cooperation with the investigation. However, he refused to testify, leading to his imprisonment in the Pinellas County Jail outside Tampa beginning in March 2022.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, but I’m not going to talk about my brother,” Michael Zoumberos told AP during a jailhouse interview last year. “I’m basically being held as a political prisoner of the FBI. They want to coerce me into cooperating.”

Zoumberos was held for “civil contempt,” as ruled by a Tampa-area federal judge.

Despite the DOJ offering him immunity, Zoumberos’ attorney advised that he plead the fifth because Zoumberos could inadvertently commit perjury while on the stand. The investigation concerned events that dated back about six years, so his attorney was concerned that Zoumberos could misremember or misspeak.

It is worth noting that the DOJ defines perjury as a declarant “willfully” making a false statement, that the declarant believed that what they were saying was untrue, and that the statement was related to a material fact. Misremembering a detail is not, in and of itself, perjury.

Civil Contempt as a Judicial Weapon

In any case, Michael Zoumberos kept his silence, and federal judges used their legal authority against him to pressure his cooperation. Federal judges can keep individuals in jail for up to 18 months on civil contempt charges to compel a person’s testimony.

“Zoumberos said the ordeal left him questioning the judicial system, even if the judge had the power to lock him up,” reports WFLA in a second article.

“They’re treating me like a criminal. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Zoumberos says. “I’m in a room without an attorney, without a judge. It’s scary.”

Federal investigators decided to release Michael Zoumberos in March, but Zoumberos only realized that he could leave when his jail-issued debit card did not work when he tried to make a phone call from inside prison. When Zoumberos asked a correctional officer why his card was not working, he was told it was because he was free. “Zoumberos’ nightmare ended as oddly as it started,” writes WFLA.

While happy to be released, he has found it hard to escape his experience. One fellow inmate was convinced Zoumberos was an undercover cop and threatened to “bash” his “skull in.” While held without bail, Zoumberos could not see his wife and business partner, Rebecca Zoumberos.

Michael Zoumberos is Free but Jail has Left a Mark

“I don’t know what’s reality and what’s not,” Zoumberos remarks. “I never could fathom that you could be put in jail for a year. In maximum security and a psych ward without having a criminal charge.”

Michael Zoumberos’ brother, George, was never charged and is no longer a DEA agent.

A quick look at the Zoumberos’ wedding photography website, Limelight Photography, shows that the couple and their staff have had a busy summer.

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

For me, photography should be equal parts technical and fun. Many of today’s digital cameras are technically miles ahead of anything that was available during the golden era of film photography but many of these cameras are simply not fun. The LomoApparat from Lomography is a simple, 35mm box camera that is both eye-catching and promises to make photography fun again. Does it deliver?

LomoApparat Features via Lomography.com

• Film Format: 35 mm
• Focal Length: 21 mm
• Available Apertures: f10
• Shutter Speed: 1/100 (N), Bulb (B)
• Flash: Built In Flash
• Available ISO Settings: No ISO Adjustment
• Multiple Exposure: Yes
• Tripod Mount: Yes
• Cable Release: No
• Battery: 1 × AA

Ergonomics & Design

As previously mentioned, the LomoApparat is a box camera – a plastic rectangle that houses a roll of 35mm film and a few controls (if we can call them that). The rear houses a lever to open/close the film back, a multiple exposure switch, and one winder to advance the film. At the top of the camera, you’ll find another winder to rewind the film, a shutter button, and at the front an on/off switch that allows you to shoot normally (1/100 second) or in bulb mode as well as a small button to turn the Flash on and off (it’s on by default). The camera also has a ¼-inch thread for mounting to a tripod which is neat for a simple camera – though a shutter release connection would’ve been a huge bonus when using it on a tripod.

During our testing, we had the opportunity to shoot with the Neubau Edition, an orange and teal colorway with an Italian leather finish to keep things grippy. Combined with the included metal wrist strap, it helps keep everything in place no matter where you’re at. Honestly, it’s the styling of the camera that I found most appealing – it’s simple yes, but still has an eye-catching design that conveys “fun”.

Using the LomoApparat

The beauty of carrying around a camera with a wide-angle field of view and small aperture is that you won’t need to worry about focus (light on the other hand…) as just about everything in the frame will be in focus. That’s the general appeal of the LomoApparat – you carry it with you, point and shoot. At 21mm it’s able to cram a ton into a frame or allow you to get the crew together for an arms-length self-portrait.

Final Thoughts

Lately, I’ve been able to test several cameras – from a Sigma fp L to Canon’s vlogging camera, the PowerShot V10 and while all of these cameras have their cool features or even “better” resolution than what I can achieve with the LomoApparat, none of them come close in sparking joy in me as a photographer. No, I will not be using the LomoApparat for client work or even using the output for my articles – but that’s fine. Sometimes photography is not about output but a vibe – and the LomoApparat is a camera that truly gets it.

This shot represented a sign of hope post the pandemic: Avinash Gowariker

Amitabh Bachchan

This picture is special because it was one of the first few shoots that I did post the lockdown. Mr Bachchan himself had just recovered from COVID-19. Amidst all of this, we did a shoot. After the shoot, I requested him to pose for my #PostPackUpShot. He obliged with this million-dollar expression. But just before I posted the image, he called me, and said he was wondering whether it was appropriate to post such a happy photo when there was so much sadness and gloom everywhere. I disagreed. I said a photo like this, and that too, of him, will only bring joy and hope to everyone that things are getting better. He took a pause, and in his inimitable way said, ‘Ok then, I leave it to you’.
This picture of Sanjay dutt launched my career: Dabboo Ratnani

Sanjay Dutt

This image of Sanju was shot on my first ever assignment in 1993, which was for the film, Aatish: Feel The Fire (1994). I was an assistant, and I had a fanboy moment when I met Sanju here for the first time. The picture is special as it also marked my entry into the film industry. We shot this on a fishing trip in Mauritius, for which Sanju woke us up at 5 am. I had a brand-new camera with me, and I was really scared to take it along, but Sanju ensured I got my camera along and said, ‘You will get the best shots of your life’. It turned out to be a launch pad for me once the hoardings of Aatish came up and this picture was published in magazines.
After my shoot with Messi, I was so overwhelmed that I wept: Rohan Shrestha

Lionel Messi

This shoot was beyond my wildest dreams. While clicking the pictures, my hands were trembling at the beginning. Messi was just a nonchalant guy – no airs, no tantrums, just professional. I have never used a tripod for a shoot, but for this one, I had to use it. He doesn’t speak English, so there was a translator, Jordi, who was helping us communicate. I happened to tell him that I am a massive Messi and Barcelona fan, and he insisted that I get a picture with Messi, but I was too shy to ask. After the shoot wrapped up, I went up to Messi and shook his hand and he walked away. Like a completely filmy moment, he came back and hugged me. That was my moment. After the shoot, I sat on the lawn and wept as I was overwhelmed.
This pic shot In 2 minutes turned out to be the best image: Rahul Jhangiani

Tara Sutaria

Tara and I shot this picture in a studio, unplanned. It was a rainy day, and the sun came out briefly, so I told her let’s shoot some interesting images. The sun came out for literally five minutes, and we manipulated the shadows by using a couple of branches and leaves to create that sort of outdoor texture. We shot this in about two minutes, yet it turned out to be the best image clicked that day.

Street photography often gets a lot of photographers nervous. They’re nervous because they immediately shift their mind to the worst. What if someone is angry and attacks you? What if you accidentally take a photo of a child? Indeed, our minds hyperinflate the worst parts of it. So if you’re nervous about street photography, then consider this tried and true method that we’ve used for many years.

“Like all street photography, I believe that the main purpose here is intent. If your intent is to take creepy photos of people for your own sick fetishes, then your intent is harmful. If you’re photographing a scene because you’re trying to satiate your artistic hunger, then that’s different. The way that you do it is all about what’s best for you. If you shoot from the hip though, you’re more likely to be called a pervert in public. If you shoot with the camera to your eye, you’re likely to just be yelled at by someone.”

From our article: On Shooting from the hip in street photography

Shooting From the Hip

The trick here if you’re nervous about street photography is to shoot photos from the hip. The trick is to never start out necessarily by putting the camera’s viewfinder or screen to your eye. This slows you down if you’re using a modern camera. But if you’re using a modern camera with a manual focus lens and you’re zone focusing, the whole act of shooting a frame is much faster.

So to start with, have the camera wrapped around your chest and extend the strap down to your hip. Then shoot the scenes in front of you from the hip. Yes, we know that you’re not looking through the viewfinder or the LCD screen. And that comes with the next exercise.

“I think that when I started out shooting on the street I tended to be a little self-conscious and definitely inexperienced. Going out to shoot was a bit of therapy for me at the time (and still somewhat is) and I wanted it to be a pleasant and relaxing activity but those self-conscious thoughts would get in the way from time to time. Through going out more and more often and changing my thoughts, my experiences became even more positive.”

Rinzi Ruiz in our article on how famous street photographers got over their fears.

Equipping Yourself

Ideally, when you’re doing street photography, we think that you should shoot with a prime lens and you should know your focal length. Shooting street photography with a 35mm lens? Well, at any point, you should be so familiar with your lens that you know how it’s going to see the world from any angle. Some of us see the world in 35mm. But if you don’t then reach for a 28mm, 50mm, or something else. Some folks prefer an 85mm lens just to be extra safe.

But here’s the point: if you know how your camera and lens will interpret the world with 35mm lenses, then you’ll be confident enough simply just pointing your camera at a scene and pressing the shutter.

Tips on Doing Street Photography From the Hip

Here are some essential tips on shooting street photography from the hip:

• Sometimes you need to get closer than you think.
• Zone focus your lens. Set it to manual focus, stop the lens down, raise your ISO up or set it to auto, set your camera to a fast shutter speed, and then just walk up to a subject and photograph it.
• Shoot a few frames and then stop shooting and take a look at what you’ve shot. Consider the photo you again against what you wish you’d captured. Then make adjustments accordingly.
• Zone focusing is far better than autofocusing most of the time.
• The more narrow your aperture, the easier of a time you’ll have getting the shot.

Stoke Fruit Farm, located on Hayling Island off England’s southern coast, has taken to social media to make an unconventional appeal to visitors: please abstain from posing naked for photos in their sunflower fields.

The owners of the farm, siblings Sam Wilson and Nette Petley, noticed an increasing trend of individuals shedding their clothes to capture photos among the sunflowers. In a recent Facebook post, the farm administration emphasized, “We are a family area, and please keep your clothes on in the sunflowers! We are having an increase of reports of naked photography taking place, and this must not happen during our public sessions, please!”

Covering an extensive 350-acre expanse, Stoke Fruit Farm, established by the siblings’ grandfather, cultivates a variety of crops, including wheat, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sweetcorn, hay, and sunflowers.

Sam Wilson shared with CNN that there had been approximately six incidents of nude photography since the sunflower field was opened to visitors at the close of the previous month. In response to this behaviour, the farm decided to place signs around the premises to address the issue, especially after a few children were exposed to the incidents.

“We are a really free and happy farm, but we just can’t have nudity in public view,” Wilson emphasised. His sister, Nette Petley, added, “While it’s a really happy and fun place that gives you an empowering feeling, it’s important to consider the people around and show respect.”

The sunflowers were initially planted by Wilson and his then-fiancée near the church where they got married six years ago. Although the flowers didn’t bloom in time for their wedding, the couple decided to set up an honesty box for visitors to pick the flowers while they were away on their honeymoon.

The farm’s unexpected popularity led to the sunflower attraction expanding over time, now inviting paying visitors to explore an expansive area of around 50 acres, adorned with two million sunflowers, according to Wilson.

TOWNSEND, Tenn. (WVLT) – For a lot of us visiting the Smokies, we simply want to see the wildlife and take home a picture of that moment. But for Barry Spruce, a photographer who has taken photos of bears, deer, birds and all that’s in the Smokies for 17 years, the perfect picture comes with patience.

In his gallery in Townsend you can see his work and how he’s captured the moments of the animals, like one of the first pieces you’ll see of three bears hanging out in a tree.

“This is in Cades Cove,” he said to WVLT News as he pointed to the photograph. “This mom actually had four cubs, but one was higher in the tree and pretty much blocked by some of the leaf foliage. So I concentrated on the three.”

After retirement, Spruce took on a hobby he’d loved since childhood: photography.

He said bears are the most popular animals in the Great Smoky Mountains to take photographs of.

“They all have a certain range and then getting the idea of what they like to do when they like to do it. And then once you know the age of the bear, you tend to fall into knowing what they’re going to do year in and year out,” he said.

Because you’ll stay a good distance away from the animals, he suggests a long range lenses. There are great places all over the Smokies to see wildlife, but that picture perfect moment could take hours, if not days, to capture.

“Cades Cove gives you just about everything. Roaring Fork has some really good seasons. But cades cove has a little bit of everything because we do have fields and woods and berries and different things,” said Spruce

He said it takes time to learn the bears’ habits, like where and when they’ll feed and when they might just play around in the meadow.

“The best thing I can say once you find a bear is to stay your distance, but let it be natural. So when you let something be natural, that’s when you get the best photography,” he added.

Click here to see more of his work.

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