Lions in the African grassland, Kenya’s wildebeest migration, a royal Bengal tiger at dusk, spectacular flights of migratory birds of Odisha and many other images of wildlife shot by photographers across Andhra Pradesh will be on display this weekend. A two-day wildlife photography exhibition is being organised by Vivid Photography at Hawa Mahal in Visakhapatnam on July 29 and 30. A total of 130 images by 13 photographers will be showcased. The exhibition will bring to light the hidden side of forest life as seen through the lenses of a team of experienced photographers.

Depicting some rare candid moments of wild animals in their habitats, the photographs are life-like and have been captured at the wildlife sanctuaries and birding spots in India and across the world.

A tiger at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. 
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“The photography exhibition aims to raise awareness on wildlife conservation, reconnect people with Nature and provide a global perspective. We have been conducting the annual photography exhibition to mark World Photography Day. This year we are hosting it on the theme of wildlife on the occasion of International Tiger Day (July 29),” says K Subrahmayam, founder of Vivid Photography and curator of the exhibition.

Leopard
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The photography exhibition will also showcase works of veteran photographers of Visakhapatnam. K Bhaskar Rao will be exhibiting his shots taken in Kenya’s Masai Mara and Mangalajodi wetlands of Odisha. “One of my rare captures is that of a lioness attacking a wildebeest in Masai Mara. We came across this rare lioness in a hunting mode during our evening safari,” says Bhaskar Rao.

The exhibition will also showcase images of tigers of Tadoba National Park, one of the most popular forests of Maharashtra with high tiger density.

The exhibition will be held at Hawa Mahal on July 29 and 30 from 10am to 7pm.

>>> WHEN YOU PICTURE CUBA, YOU MAY PICTURE THE VINTAGE CARS AND WEATHER-BEATEN BUILDINGS.

BUT TO PHOTOGRAPHER ALEX GARCIA, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE FULL PICTURE.

A CHICAGO NATIVE, GARCIA HAS BEEN TRAVELING TO AND DOCUMENTING CUBA FOR 30 YEARS.

HE HAS BEEN LEADING PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS AND WORKING AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST.

NOW, HIS WORK IS BEING FEATURED IN A SOLO SHOW AT THE RECENTLY-OPENED CHICAGO CENTER FOR PHOTOJOURNALISM.

TONIGHT, NICK BLUMBERG PAID HIM A VISIT.

>> Reporter: ALEX GARCIA FIRST VISITED HIS FAMILY IN CUBA IN 1995.

>> I WAS REALLY COMPELLED TO GO THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE THEM.

IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE CRISIS WHERE PEOPLE WERE BASICALLY JUMPING INTO THE OCEAN.

>> Reporter: THOUSANDS OF CUBANS ON RAFTS AND BOATS WERE FLEEING TO THE UNITED STATES.

DESPITE BEING SPURRED BY THAT CRISIS AND THE FRAUGHT POLITICAL HISTORY BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, GARCIA SAYS HE IS PRETTY NONPARTISAN.

>> I THINK THE ONLY TIME PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT IS IN A POLITICAL CONTEXT.

THE MORE WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE, THE MORE WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS NEIGHBORS.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A GREATER INTERSECTION OF UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION.

>> Reporter: AFTER HIS FIRST TRIP IN 1995, GARCIA RETURN AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT AND EVENTUALLY WORKED AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST WHEN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE OPEN A HAVANA BUREAU.

>> THE PICTURES HAVE MORE THAN NEWS ANGLE.

BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAD MORE BLACK AND WHITE TYPE OF CONTENT.

OVER TIME, IT WAS MORE COLORFUL.

AND IT WAS MORE APPRECIATIVE OF THE CULTURE.

>> Reporter: GARCIA ‘S PICTURES ALLOWED THE HUMANITY OF HIS SUBJECTS TO SHINE, FREE OF PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS.

IT HAS CELEBRATORY MOMENTS AS BIG AS A FIREWORKS SHOW.

IT DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM THE HARSH CONDITIONS, LIKE A MOTHER AND SON WHO WERE LEFT WITH LITTLE MORE THAN EACH OTHER.

>> PHOTOJOURNALISM IS AT ITS BEST WHEN IT TELLS STORIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX ISSUES IN A WAY THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

>> IT REQUIRES A LOT OF GUTS AND TENACITY.

THERE IS VERY LITTLE SUPPORT FOR PHOTOJOURNALISTS TODAY.

>> Reporter: DENISE KIND IS A LONGTIME STREET PHOTOGRAPHER AND EDUCATOR.

SHE OPENED CHICAGO CENTER FOR PHOTOJOURNALISM IN AN UPTOWN STOREFRONT.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BRING THIS BACKGROUND TO THE STREET LEVEL, JUST LIKE THE BODEGA, THE BUTCHER, THE BEAUTICIANS, AND THE COFFEE SHOPS.

>> Reporter: THE ETHICS OF PHOTOJOURNALISM WERE TAUGHT BY KIND AND SHE IS ALSO PLANNING AN AFTERSCHOOL SERIES FOR STUDENTS.

IT IS A WAY TO MAKE THESE IMPORTANT IMAGES LAST.

>> THE OLD SAYING, YOUR PHOTO WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER AND THE NEXT DAY IT IS IN THE KITTY LITTER BOX, RIGHT?

I AM MERELY CONCENTRATING ON LONG-TERM PROJECTS THAT PHOTOJOURNALIST HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.

>> Reporter: ALEX GARCIA’S DECADES OF PHOTOGRAPHS FIT THAT BILL.

HE HAS OPENED A VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY AND HE RUNS WORKSHOPS IN CUBA, TAKING GROUPS ON PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS.

>> WE STAY IN PEOPLE’S HOMES, WE EAT IN RESTAURANTS RUN BY PRIVATE CITIZENS.

IT IS REALLY JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET CLOSE TO THE WARMTH AND THE OPENNESS OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I’M NICK BLUMBERG.

As a photographer and social worker, Ronja Tomke Otto is mindful of social issues – particularly violent crimes that happen in public places. 

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are pervasive issues, affecting one in three women at some point in their lives. To help raise awareness about this topic, Ronja started her project What Remains. 

“In the majority of the photographs, we can approach them objectively,” she explains. “This is a scene we are mostly unfamiliar with and so in the beginning, we have no preconceptions. 

“Some visual details are noticeable but our background knowledge only prevails in familiar scenes. For example, we perceive large trees, waste bins and a small footpath from a neutral perspective. 

“Everything points to a seemingly tranquil, quiet environment – the evening light making the scene look idyllic, for instance. But while the image might describe a peaceful place, it also shows one where a violent sexual assault occurred. 

“This contrasting nature of the project only becomes clear to the viewer when the victim’s story is heard. That is why I decided to include descriptions in the exhibition of the project.

“These monologues reveal the full story of what previously happened at each location, provoking an emotional reaction and altering the viewer’s perception of the image from one of neutrality to disgust, anger or fear. Seen in their wider context, the photos take on a far more sinister meaning.”

Tech details

Camera: Fujifilm GFX 50S

Lens: Fujifilm GF 63mm F2.8 R WR

1st Image: Aperture: f/11, Shutter speed: 1/60s, ISO: 100, merge of 2 photos 

2nd Image: Aperture: f/8, Shutter speed: 1/30s, ISO: 100, merge of 3 photos

Ronja Tomke Otto

Ronja Tomke Otto is a photographer and social worker, who focuses on highlighting social issues. German-born Ronja has had her work published in magazines and her photographs displayed in numerous exhibitions. She is passionate about experimenting with digital and analogue photography.

There can be a lot of negativity in the photography community that can be discouraging or downright disheartening, and that is a shame, because every one of us first picked up a camera because it was something we enjoyed and something that invigorated our imagination. If you find yourself feeling a little let down by photography lately, check out this insightful video essay that discusses many of the positives of photography and how to go about finding them. 

Coming to you from Evan Ranft, this fantastic video essay discusses how to craft a positive experience for yourself as a photographer. I think one of the most important bits of advice Ranft shares is to not compare yourself to others, but rather to measure your progress by how far you have come from your past work. The joy comes in both being in the present along the journey and in your own growth along the way. And on that topic, remember that growth is rarely linear. You will have days in which everything goes fantastically and you feel like you are growing by leaps and bounds and days in which you feel uninspired and nothing is going right. The important takeaway is to continue persevering. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Ranft.

July 28, 2023 Ian Lewitz Leave a Comment

Each year, the Garden & Landscape Expo photography competition exhibits the work of amateur photographers from Wisconsin to nearly 15,000 Expo goers.

Didn’t get a chance to see the gallery in person? No problem! Explore a collection of stunning winners from this year’s competition below and in the online gallery. Featured above is the winner of the 2023 Viewers Choice award, Gray Tree Frog and Zinnia by Angela Karl from Colfax, Wisconsin.

Interested in participating in the 2024 photo competition? With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to get outside and capture an entry for next year’s Expo! Learn more about the 2024 competition and submit your entry.

Magnificent Monarch | Photo by Rachael Sowinski from Two Rivers, Wisconsin. First Place, 2023 Novice Eye.

You Are My Sunshine | Photo by Lauretta Loesch from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Third Place, 2023 Plants and Flowers.

Bleeding Hearts in the Ferns | Photo by Michael Anderson from Madison, Wisconsin. First Place, 2023 Plants and Flowers.

Fluttering Jewel | Photo by Kim Hiller from Watertown, Wisconsin. Second Place, 2023 Macro.

Garden and Landscape Expo garden gardening Photos Photography

Product photography, the art of capturing pictures of commercial products, is collaborating with varied dimensions of digital art like 3D rendering and artificial intelligence (AI) softwares. These include Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stability Diffusion.

The results have been produced by a good mix of ideation and swift AI work. Not only time and money but also infinite creative freedom help create inspirational images. “If time and budget are constraints for a professional shoot, then Midjourney is my hero,” says Rajiv Mathew Cherian, a photographer who leads the video department at Bengaluru-based Basil Global. 

With AI getting better with each prompt, brands like Casablanca Paris, Prada Beauty, and Cadbury are incorporating it into their marketing imagery.

Role of 3D

Product photography is dabbling with 360-degree rotatable images rendered on computer softwares like Blender, and Autodesk 3ds Max. E-commerce companies are using these product shots to provide consumers with an exploded-view and all-around view on digital screens.

Harshit Kapoor, a 3D artist with Amazon, says, “3D rendering offers unlimited creative freedom by allowing you to experiment with product presentation and is inexpensive. Besides, e-commerce firms need consistency across multiple product photos. For example, if we render a room according to a brand’s aesthetic, the bed used can be swapped with a 100 different beds. This helps with uniformity.”

Additionally, Harshit states that 3D rendering is often used when the product needs to be highlighted as it allows consumers to envision their product in virtual spaces using AR and VR equipment.  

However, it is important to realise that every product requires a different presentation technique and too much uniformity can become monotonous and boring. 

New trends

Remember when Adobe Photoshop had basic AI-integrated editing tools that cloned the sky or cleaned up the background? With Generative AI, these features are elevated, where the program generates text, images, or other media through prompts. These can help quicken workflow and help deliver quality work under deadlines.  

When the first camera entered the market in 1888, artists felt threatened by its presence. Eventually, both genres found their sacred space in the industry.

According to freelance product stylist and photographer Snehal Kanodia, “Photographers and artists will need to adapt to the new, different medium. Currently, we can start exploring and creating our recce using AI platforms or make mood boards using Midjourney.” She explained that most photoshoots are planned on a tight timeline, sometimes in a few days, and designers either refer to pictures from Pinterest or similar spaces to explain their concepts to the client. Now, the latest softwares are allowing photographers to create more specific images and better mood boards.

Integration of AI into product photography has stirred a rise in trends. Blended photography, pictures showcasing a photographer’s work with AI edits, is evolving.

According to Amith Nag, a techie at an MNC and a passionate photographer, “Integration of these elements have given rise to the trend, where you upload your photograph and the program generates a video clip of your picture with added AI elements and graphics. Another trend is using AI to create landscapes that can be used as a background for other images.”

Further, in the case of green screens, instead of purchasing images from stock websites and replacing the screen, you can generate specific background images yourself, he adds.

Evolving from experience is considered a human affair. Lately, AI has also learnt to grow from its experience.

Rajiv elucidates, “The progress in each version of the apps is commendable. People’s faces, smiles, ethnicities (which was necessary because brands wanted people of colour and stock websites had limited options), and importantly, the fingers are rendered well now. You can ask for an image of a doctor holding a scalpel and it generates a picture of a doctor’s hand holding a scalpel in great detail.” 

Rajiv also mentioned that the beta version of Photoshop is a game-changer for product photography.  

AI in daily lives

Adding AI into everyday chores can prove to be helpful. Photoshopping flowers into the background of a picture can happen in a single prompt. Rajiv shared that his mother “wanted to paint the Taj Mahal in Van Gogh style”, and Midjourney helped her with inspirational references. 

Still a threat?

Although AI is capable of generating quality content it lacks consistency. The outputs are non-uniform and, in the end, you need a photographer and an art director. According to Rajiv, “When I work on Midjourney, I mention technical details like a Nikon mirrorless camera with a particular Aperture value. These technical details give you more control, which will help generate the perfect image. Consistency is the biggest problem. AI works great for a single advertisement. But it is inconsistent with a full-fledged campaign with multiple shots.” 

Even for 3D rendering, “we work with an art director who has an understanding of photography, to ensure that the concepts still carry value but the image is rendered”, says Harshit. AI may have a flair for seamless execution but conceptualisation, technical skill, and photography are human chores.

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