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How often do we click photographs in our daily lives? With the advent of social media & smartphone technology, photography is not just limited to professionals. In fact, smartphones have empowered less experienced yet passionate photographers to capture fleeting moments that could be relived and cherished forever. World Photography Day celebrates the spirit and passion of millions of photographers around the world who believe in making every moment of life precious.

Since the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem offers state-of-the-art camera features, we asked members of our community to send us their favorite clicks under the themes of nature, wildlife, travel diaries, family moments, seasons, India’s diverse culture, and nightography. The results are nothing short of magical!

Some of the best captured masterpieces are featured below, each narrating a breath-taking tale of the inspiration behind the developed passion for photography.

Vaibhav Rao – @khichta_firta

Shot on a Samsung Galaxy M Series device, this picture flawlessly embraced the spirit of Indian Independence Day. The Indian tricolor stunningly spread over Mumbai’s iconic VT station is surely a sight to behold!

Talking about his inspiration behind the shot, Vaibhav explained, “I was feeling truly patriotic last week and everything around me felt like it is colored in saffron, white and green. I chose this particular shot since it had just rained, and the wet streets were almost glowing. The passerby served as the perfect addition to my shot. The entire aura of that evening really inspired me. I have been extremely passionate about capturing rare shots and my Galaxy M Series Device is a perfect partner”.

Siddharth Abhishek – @Sidhabhi

Open skies filled with birds and lush, green mountains oozing charm – Munnar’s every corner is simply stunning! Touted as god’s own country Kerala’s jewel, this shot captures the true essence of the hill station- nature at its best.

Speaking about the inspiration behind this shot, Siddharth said, “Whatever can be said or written about the beauty of Munnar is less! This place is truly blessed by God and a true treasure trove of beauty and peace. Maybe that’s why Kerala is called God’s own country. As an advocate of good photography and Galaxy devices, I can say without a shadow of doubt that this picture takes me back in time. The beauty of Munnar inspired me and my Galaxy device empowered me to take this shot”.

Anjani Kumar – @anjanikumarkode

Shot on Galaxy S Series, this click will instantly make you feel at peace. Focused on a single giant rock, embraced by an unending blue ocean on one side and the city on the other, this picture perfectly captures different shades of nature.

Talking about his love for photography and Samsung devices, Anjanikumar said, “Samsung #Galaxy S Series was the first smartphone that I’ve tried mobile photography with. The phone enabled me to express my passion. Samsung Galaxy has stayed my phone of choice ever since. I’m currently using the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The smartphone has helped me keep up with my photography aspirations with their exceptional quality. For me, the phone has become a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity. Photos remember little things long after we have forgotten everything. That is precisely what I love about photography. I thank Samsung for enabling me to pursue my passion with ease.”

Haroon Rafi – @CrazyBoy28

Don’t confuse this click with a painting! It’s actually shot on a Galaxy device. The photographer aptly describes it as “behold the sunrise as it paints the sky and whispers its golden secrets onto the tranquil canvas of the lake’s reflection.” And we couldn’t agree more. Pink, grey, purple, blue, yellow- the sky truly imitates a canvas through this picture. Add to that the surrounding green trees, and it’s picture-perfect!

Talking about the shot, Haroon said, “Photography is more than just clicking a button on a camera; it’s about capturing the essence of a moment, freezing emotions in time, and telling stories without uttering a single word. It’s a medium through which I can express my creativity, connect with people on a profound level, and share my perspective with the world. Through the lens of my camera, I’ve witnessed the beauty in the mundane, the elegance in simplicity, and the magic in everyday life. I believe every moment, every scene, every interaction has the potential to spark our creative souls.”

 Ramdas S Pai – @Ramdasphotography

Captured on a Galaxy S Series device, this picture is adding some international flavor to our picks. Capturing a golden sunrise over the mountain peaks of Switzerland, this picture looks nothing short of a painter’s masterpiece.

Talking about the inspiration behind this picture and photography, Ramdas said, “I’ve always been passionate about photography, ever since I was a child. When I got my first smartphone, I was amazed at the quality of the photos I could take with it. I realized that I could use my phone to take photos anywhere, anytime, without having to lug around a bulky camera. I started taking my phone with me everywhere I went, and I would always be on the lookout for interesting things to photograph. All you need is a smartphone and a creative eye. All we need is a passion for photography and a willingness to experiment. I’m excited to see what the future holds for smartphone photography. I’m committed to using my phone to create beautiful and meaningful images, and I hope to inspire others to do the same.”

These pictures inspire us and goes on to show how photography can create magic. Here’s to capturing beauty and creating visual masterpieces. Wishing a Happy World Photography Day to all artists.

The 2023 ‘Follow The Light’ surf photography grant program is back and looking for the next generation of surf photographers

Going back to A.R. Gurrey’s 1914 The Surf Riders of Hawaii, the art of surf photography has inspired and been a guiding light in the development and evolution of wave-riding for more than 100 years.

With legends of the lens such as John Severson, Ron Stoner, Art Brewer, Tom Servais, Jeff Divine and Larry Moore all calling this area home, San Clemente and Dana Point have unquestionably played a super-sized role in this evolution.

With Surfer and Surfing magazines headquartered here, the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s were a high-water mark for the form. As the photo editor of Surfing, Moore, more commonly known as “Flame” (a nickname he acquired because of his red hair) turned the emerald-green tubes at Salt Creek into his own personal photo studio.

But more than that, he was instrumental in creating surf photography as a viable occupation, and perhaps most importantly, scouting young, new talent both in front of and behind the lens.

After a hard-fought battle with brain cancer, Flame departed the physical plane in October 2005.

Determined to keep his spirit alive, a group of friends and family formed the Follow The Light Foundation to ensure his legacy of passionately supporting up-and-coming surf photographers continued.

Follow The Light dedicated itself to honoring this next generation through an annual grant program, including an awards presentation ceremony. Bringing together our community of surf media, industry professionals, athletes and friends, honorees include some of today’s most important and talented photographers, including modern luminaries such as Chris Burkard, Todd Glaser, Ray Collins and Morgan Maassen.

The 2023 Follow The Light Surf Photography grant program is here, and the submission window is open through Thursday, Aug. 31. This is an incredible opportunity for aspiring young surf photographers between the ages of 16 and 25 to introduce their work to the world and have a shot at a $5,000 grant, as well as real working opportunities.

“Being involved in Follow The Light has been an amazing experience all the way around,” said 2022 winner Kalani Cummins. “The grant helped me get on my feet a little more, and winning opened up some great opportunities, but more than that, it’s amazing to be part of this next generation of surf photographers and get the chance to meet them all and be part of something bigger.”

Recognizing that the arena in which surf photographers work today has changed dramatically since Flame was at the helm of Surfing, the Follow The Light organizing committee has focused its energies on helping up-and-coming lensmen and women get their start in the business and develop the tools and relationships necessary to take their careers to the next level.

“It’s never been easy to make it as a surf photographer, but it’s harder than ever,” explained Summer Chew Meek, who chairs the Follow The Light committee.

“With changing media landscapes and business models, what this next generation faces is really challenging, but it’s so important to support and foster their talents. Photography is how the sport, culture and community of surfing has thrived over the last century,” he continued.

In their prime, Surfer and Surfing magazines battled for cover shots, A-list talent and ace photographers. But that was then, and this is now.

If the art of surf photography is to survive for generations to come, it’s going to take amazing programs like Follow The Light and the support of surf media and business to keep the flame lit.

For more information and to enter, go to usbrc.org/follow-the-light.

Traditional photography studios are still expanding and opening more stores, despite the debuts of artificial intelligence algorithms that are claimed to “generate” portrait photos online within seconds.

The opinion that “generative AI will replace offline photography studios ” is groundless, at least in the near future, Shanghai Daily learned at a recent industry exhibition.

Photo & Imaging (P&I) Shanghai 2023 attracted photography studios, camera and accessory vendors, and service providers including AI algorithm developers. The three-day event, held last week in Shanghai, had over 80,000 visitors.

Zhu Shenshen / SHINE

Naive Blue, which operates more than 100 boutique photography studios to create the “most beautiful ID photos,” did not seem overly worried at the show about its generative AI rivals. These include Miaoya, an Alibaba-owned app which allows users to generate a digital and optimized portrait photo by uploading 20 of their own pictures for a cost of only 9.9 yuan (US$1.36).

“You can clearly see the ‘AI style’ of those digital clones,” a staff member of Naive Blue who declined to be identified told Shanghai Daily. “Obviously, we serve different customer groups.”

Customers of Naive Blue, whose shops are often located in popular shopping centers, are willing to pay at least several hundred yuan, or even thousands of yuan, at the studios. The cost includes clothes, make-up and fine-tuning by experienced photographers and editors, much more than AI offers, the staff member stressed.

Customers are normally young women having photos taken for “meaningful moments and memories,” such as university graduation, birthdays, or a first professional portrait for their LinkedIn profile and resumes. In August, Naive Blue opened its first store on Chongming island in Shanghai.

Ti Gong

EasyFast, a sub-brand of Naive Blue with over 600 outlets nationwide, was actively seeking more franchise partners at the show. With the slogan, “Make photographers richer,” it received many inquiries and applications at the P&I show.

Comparatively, EasyFast is a community photography kiosk brand, which offers ID and visa photo services at affordable prices, starting from 50 yuan.

It has developed an AI photo optimization system for people to start their own business as soon as possible. This offers seven days of training for all franchise partners, primarily in camera operation and simple make-up services. People without photography editing experiences can rely on the AI optimization system, Shanghai Daily learned at the EasyFast booth.

Zhu Shenshen / SHINE

Portrait photographers and studios are believed to face potential threats from AI algorithm programs like Miaoya, which made its debut in July and soon became a popular service.

Some people even believe that Miaoya could replace the services developed by Himo Photo Studio and Naive Blue, leading to a debate of “It’s a photo of you, but does it capture your true essence?” that was reported by Shanghai Daily previously.

Compared with studio photos, those produced by Miaoya are not parallel in the level of high-resolution, diversification, and there is no chances that studio staffers can provide clothing and makeup, along with a tips session if needed to help people relax in front of the lens.

Earlier this week, officials from Miaoya said that does not intend to replace offline photo studios, but to enrich the service methods to meet demand from those who are unable to access or afford photography studios.

Imaginechina

Also facing the trending generative AI wave, Meitu, China’s most popular portrait and selfie optimization app, had its own response.

During the P&I show in Shanghai , Meitu showcased its latest AI processing and finetuning tool Yunxiu Pro for the commercial photography market. It provides high-quality image processing services and shortens the photo preview time to promote the digitalization of the industry

In on-site demos in Meitu’s booth, users could optimize the look of their skin and face with one-click adaptations within seconds. Comparatively, it often takes at least five to 10 minutes to process each photo even by experienced experts in the studios.

Zhu Shenshen / SHINE

Currently, Yunxiu helps studios to greatly cut costs and time when finetuning photos, and is used by 30,000 commercial photography organizations, covering career photos and photography services for tourists, children and pets. Annually, more than 500 million pictures are processed by Meitu Yunxiu, the company said.

The cost of each photo processing is less than 0.3 yuan using Meitu Yunxiu. Comparatively, each option, such as a change of background color, costs customers 30 to 50 yuan additionally, which boost profit margins for studios, Shanghai Daily learned.

It is an industry with great potential as China added 350,000 new commercial photography studios in 2022, with a rapid growing market value expected to reach 700 billion yuan by 2026, experts said at the P&I show.

I used to think that human beings were the only species capable of masterful comedy, but the 2023 Comedy Pet Photography Awards are giving me paws.

Each year, wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks and his team host a series of comedy competitions with a slightly different approach from Last Comic Standing-style stand-up tournaments that are typical in most major comedy scenes — the contestants in Joynson-Hicks’ contests are exclusively feathered, furred or scaled. Humans need not apply.

Joynson-Hicks first launched the Annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards in 2015, and, after the success of the National-Lampoon-Meets-National-Geographic event, he and his collaborators branched out into more domestic works typical of the 2000s LOLcat era type photography.

The Comedy Pet Photography Awards mission statement reads, “Through the Comedy Pets, we want to promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues and celebrate the incredible and valuable contribution that pets can and do have on our lives.” Today, that paws-itive awareness comes from the champions who excelled in each category as determined by both the judges and the public. Next year, the reward should be a streaming special.

As Beatlemania spread across the globe during the early 1960s, the Beatles found themselves in a whirlwind of flashing cameras and suddenly their faces were everywhere. Until now, however, we have relatively little idea of what the experience was like from their perspective. For the first time, Paul McCartney is showing the public over 250 photographs that he took between November 1963 to February 1964 in a show that has inaugurated the temporary exhibition galleries at the newly renovated National Portrait Gallery.

Most of the photographs are either of McCartney himself or his bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, and were taken at a time when the Beatles shot to fame in the United States. In one series, they are shown rehearsing for a pivotal TV appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964 that was watched by an audience of 73 million. That same month, frenzied fans are caught on camera chasing the group’s car down West 58th Street in New York and McCartney also recorded a series of personal mementos from a beach holiday in Miami.

“Looking at these photos now, decades after they were taken, I find there’s a sort of innocence about them,” said McCartney in a press statement. “Everything was new to us at this point. But I like to think I wouldn’t take them any differently today. They now bring back so many stories, a flood of special memories, which is one of the many reasons I love them all, and know that they will always fire my imagination.”

Many of the photographs were recently printed for the first time, having been left as negatives in McCartney’s personal archive and only rediscovered by the musician in 2020. Presented alongside McCartney’s own reflections, they offer a fresh behind-the-scenes lens on the famous story of how four young men from Liverpool became global superstars and redefined the meaning of celebrity for the modern era.

“Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm” runs through October 1 before traveling across the pond to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, where it will run from December 5, 2023, to April 7, 2024. A book of photographs paired with McCartney’s recollections from the period has also been published by Penguin Press in the U.K. and W.W. Norton in the U.S.

Check out images from the exhibition below.

Paul McCartney, George looking young, handsome and relaxed. Living the life. Miami Beach, February 1964 (1964). Photo: © 1964 Paul McCartney.

A visitor looks at photographs taken by Paul McCartney in Miami. Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Paul McCartney, John and George, Paris. 1964 Photo: © 1964 Paul McCartney.

A visitor looks at photographs taken by Paul McCartney while rehearsing for The Ed Sullivan Show. Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Paul McCartney, Self-portraits in a mirror, Paris, 1964 (1964). Photo: © 1964 Paul McCartney.

“Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm” at the National Portrait Gallery. Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Paul McCartney, Photographers, Central Park, New York, February 1964 (1964). Photo: © 1964 Paul McCartney.

A visitor to the National Portrait Gallery looks at photographs taken by Paul McCartney in Paris, 1963-64. Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Paul McCartney, The crowds chasing us in A Hard Day’s Night were based on moments like this. Taken out of the back of our car on West Fifty-Eight, crossing the Avenue of the Americas. New York, February 1964 (1964). Photo: © 1964 Paul McCartney.

“Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm” at the National Portrait Gallery. Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

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… the squirrel in the photo above seems to be checking the neighborhood out for possible predators in the area before exposing himself to the unknown and he is ready to bolt in an instant if something were to go wrong. Below we have an Osprey at Lake Pleasant, perched on a tree in the water and he has a beautiful looking catch … he is hoping we will leave so he can settle in for a late morning snack.

Squirrels are food for a great number of predators and typically have a life spam of just over a year in the wild, but they do have a potential life span of about ten years …fifteen or more in captivity. Rabbits are about the same and the reason for the short lifespan of both is that so many creatures like to dine on (not with) them.

Humans fare a little better, but regardless of what continent or nation state, all nations seem to end up with leaders in charge who like to make war on other nations and peoples … and it has always been so … always the young fight the battles and the elders who promote these conflicts benefit … each bullet fired means another has to be manufactured to take its place. I like the natural world, other than survival, no causes!

It was a good day here and a lot of research on the value of various gemstones … been out of the day to day for a longtime and it is good to catch up. More tomorrow and work on the September presentation at Pepperdine University is well underway.

Into the weekend for me and the plan is to be back Monday morning … keep breathing, smile and be kind … spend some time with creatures this weekend and taste the sweetness of the wild.

Cheers,

Ted

Though I know I shall sometime no more open
my eyes to the night or the day,

I am one who looks at the stars when unchained from
the workbench at nightfall.

They are a sign that I am not ephemeral, nor you, nor
you, whoever you are.

The dawn comes and the dark and the sign sparkling
in the brooding night forever and forever.

At Nightfall by Max Ehrmann

###

The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com

In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.

Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses.  By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.

More about Ted Grussing …