Award-winning fine art photographer Brad Walls collaborated with the English National Ballet for a unique photography project showcasing professional ballet dancers from the air.

Walls headed to the newly designed English National Ballet studio in Canning Town in London and worked with six ballet dancers from the English National Ballets Corp de Ballet, including Bree Foad, Lulu Toner, Daisy Wales, Anna-Babette Winkler, Paige Bestington, and Eireen Evrard.

With his project, Walls aimed to “disrupt traditional ballet photography” and shift the perspective from focusing on individual dancers to photographing the entire corp.

“Most ballet photography focuses on a singular dancer in a dramatic pose. To me, the beauty of ballet is rather the opposite, it’s delicacy and teamwork,” Walls says.

To photograph multiple dancers simultaneously, Walls utilized a drone for his photoshoots. He created a series of 14 images, all shot from five to 10 meters (roughly 16 to 33 feet) above the floor.

Walls meticulously planned each of his shots on his iPad. “I dedicated weeks to researching ballet poses on Pinterest and figuring out how to integrate them into my compositions,” Walls explains.

Everyday items inspire some of the compositions. For example, the image ‘Hanging Teacups’ was conceptualized just the day before the photoshoot.

“I stayed in an Airbnb in London that had coffee mugs displayed on wall hooks. The way they were hanging reminded me of the fourth position in ballet,” Walls says.

Symmetry plays a key role throughout Walls’ work, and that remains true in his English National Ballet series.

Symmetry and geometry are on full display in his new image ‘Hibiscus’.

“Geometry provides a hint at consistency in an ever-inconsistent world. Innately, humans are drawn to it. Me, maybe more so,” explains Walls.

“Ballet is not usually viewed from above. I remember the drone humming over our heads and thinking, ‘Oh my, what is this angle going to look like?” says dancer Anna-Babette Winkler of the photoshoot.

Walls has also employed aerial perspectives with the New York City Ballet in an in-progress photo series. Next year, Walls will feature his English National Ballet series alongside his work with the New York City Ballet and the Australian Ballet in a coffee table book.

PetaPixel has featured Brad Walls’ photography on numerous occasions, so make sure to check out his other works such as a his squash court series, synchronized swimming photos, minimalist photos of swimming pools, and unique Olympic sports images — all captured from the aerial perspective.

Image credits: Brad Walls

A photographer revealed how she ingeniously scanned 35mm film negatives with her smartphone.

Photographer and video producer Ksenia Bakalo shared a viral clip of her method on TikTok last month.

@wowframe Scanning 35mm film in Lightroom #MadeWithLightroom #lightroom #adobepartner ♬ оригінальний звук – WF

The video amassed over 27 million views on the social media platform — with thousands of TikTok users expressing their eagerness to try the method.

The Method

Before the film can be scanned with a smartphone, Bakalo first develops the film via traditional methods — in a darkroom. After the film becomes a negative, Bakalo tells PetaPixel that the process is “easy.”

In the TikTok video, Bakalo shows how she takes a photo of the negative of the film on a lightbox to begin the process.

The photographer, who is based in Odesa, Ukraine, then opens the Adobe Lightroom app on her smartphone and by using the curve feature in Adobe Lightroom to scan the negative she gets the film photo on her phone.

“To convert the negative of a photo into a positive, all you need is the curves feature in Adobe Lightroom,” Bakalo says.

“To make the colors in the photo correct, you need to drag the lower left end of the curve to the upper left corner and the upper right end to the lower right corner. If you do everything right, the photo will become colored.”

‘I Need to Try This’

Bakalo’s video received over two million likes on TikTok — with one viewer declaring “Oh my god I need to do this.”

Other photographers on TikTok suggested other innovative ways to scan films — including using the app Filmbox to colorize film as well as using an “invert filter.”

Bakalo says she came up with the idea to scan 35mm film with her smartphone after discovering an old collection of family photos taken on a film camera that had never been developed.

“I came up with the idea after I found a lot of old film photos at home from my childhood and really wanted to see what was on them,” Bakalo explains.

“I didn’t expect the video to go so viral. I just wanted to be useful.”

More of Bakalo’s work can be found on TikTok and Instagram.

Image credits: All photos by Ksenia Bakalo

… the Great Blue Heron seen above, asked me to give a five star review to the Rainbow Trout Farm, up canyon from Sedona on SR89A … note the beautiful rainbow trout he has speared and is preparing to have for dinner once he has made it to shore. All of the trout at the farm are raised from eggs obtained from the state and they are hatched, raised and kept in fresh spring water from the property. Although adjacent to Oak Creek, they are never in water from the creek, just pure spring water.

The photo of the Black Hawk below was taken as he switched perches at the north end of the pond … I left a little after sunset and he was still waiting to come in for his dinner … probably a little spooked by my presence in the area.

A very fun day today, breakfast and latte’s with a friend this morning and finishing up work on the presentation I am giving in a couple of weeks in Monterey, California … looking forward to the trip and spending time with family … also another shoot at Filoli Gardens in Woodside California … check it out!

Another amazing day underway and time for a pause for rest before continuing with the day … still breathing and still smiling … we are blessed!

Cheers,

Ted

A bird flies through the sky, and I fly with it. I am in
each pearl of moisture sparkling in the sun. I lie lazy
on the clouds. And I acknowledge my kinship with
each winged thing.

I see all as one, and nothing repels me, as this new
day climbs noiselessly out of the valley of night.

Peace lies over the world and over the world of my soul.

excerpt from On A May Morning 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 …

Oppo has just launched the Oppo Imagine IF Photography Awards with one of the biggest prizes for mobile photography competitions. Not only will the winners take home a cash prize of CNY160,000 ($18,000) but they will also receive expert training and get to take part in an international photo exhibition. 

The Chinese tech manufacturer is responsible for the flagship Oppo Find N2 (opens in new tab), a foldable flip phone with a 50MP camera and the Oppo Find X5 Pro (opens in new tab) which combines two 50MP Hasselblad cameras. Oppo’s Moto is “inspiration ahead” and by launching a photography competition aimed purely at camera phone (opens in new tab) photographers, the company is empowering those who don’t have access to more expensive mirrorless cameras (opens in new tab).

• Check out the best budget camera phones (opens in new tab) that still enable you to take stunning photos without breaking the bank

In a first-of-its-kind competition, the theme is based around “Beyond the Image, Beyond Imagination and invites photographers from all over the world to enter images into eight categories; the distant view, landscape, light and shadow, the taste of memories, portrait, chapters of life, colors and night scenery. Offering such a diverse range of categories enables photographers specializing in a wide range of genres to enter. 

As well as awarding the Gold Award to the overall winner with a cash prize equivalent to $18,000/£14,483, Oppo is also offering four silver awards with a cash prize of CNY 60,000 (roughly $8,724/£7,019) and ten bronze awards with a cash prize of CNY 20,000 (roughly $2,908/£2,339) as well as training opportunities and inclusions in exhibitions. For each category, there will also be four honorable mentions as well as a partner channel award and a monthly activity award. All the above winners will also receive an Oppo Find X6.

The judging panel comprises a range of world-renowned photographers including Pete Lau, the senior vice president of Oppo, Tina Signesdottir Hult, a Norwegian art photographer and Hasselblad Master and Alec Soth, a Magnum photographer known for his large-format American projects. 

Entry closes at 24:00 GMT on July 25 2023 and can be made through the (opens in new tab). All photos must be taken on an Oppo phone (opens in new tab),  photographers are able to submit up to 40 images and it’s free to enter. 

For more information on entry requirements, head to the (opens in new tab). 

Check out the best selfie sticks (opens in new tab) perfect for using with your smartphone to take selfies and group shots

A not-for-profit from Bengaluru is inviting entries for a pan-India conservation photography contest called ‘Eye for wild’.

Applicants can submit photographs on the themes ‘Wildlife of India’ or ‘Human-animal conflicts’ until May 23. These photographs can be taken either exclusively for the contest or should not be more than 10 years old.

There is no age bar but you have to pay a fee of Rs 350 to register. “The money will be used to buy safety equipment for the forest frontline staff. They comprise local and tribal people. They risk their lives to prevent human-animal conflicts. They are the lifesavers of the forest,” Pavan Joshi, founder of Adavi Alert Foundation, which is hosting the contest, explains.

Illustrating the role of photography in wildlife conservation, he talks about Srikanth Mannepuri’s famous drone shot titled ‘Just one day’s catch’, which captures unsustainable fishing
in coastal Andhra Pradesh. “I believe the photograph prompted authorities to act,” Joshi says.

This is the first edition of ‘Eye for wild’ and with subsequent editions, Joshi wants to build a database of fauna to aid conservation efforts.

Winners will get cash prizes, certificates and goodies.

For details and registration, visit adavialert.photocontests.in

There are a lot of beautiful places for photography, but typically we envision locations teaming with life, greenery, and complexities. Well, deserts are stunning locations in their own right, and this video shows how it can be the case.

I have been lucky enough to have traveled with my camera to many places to shoot, from glaciers in Iceland to rainforests in Costa Rica. There isn’t one kind of biome I gravitate toward more than another — I love the mountains and I love the beach — but there is one landscape I have yet to visit: a desert.

In this video, North Borders heads to Stockton sand dunes in New South Wales, Australia, to do some automotive photography with both a camera and his drone. One aspect of shooting with a drone that I have particularly enjoyed is the perspective you can’t easily replicate in any other way, especially during golden hour when the light paints shadows. Although desert sands can seem rather plain, when light hits the dunes from an angle, it creates interesting patterns, not to mention the contrast of colors between a deep blue sky and orange sands.

Have you ever done any photography in a desert? Share your experience in the comments.

Berlin-based photographer Boris Eldagsen rejected the recognition from Sony World Photography Awards, saying that artificial intelligence (AI) images and photography should not compete with each other in similar contests.

In a statement published on his website, Erdagsen said that he applied to the competition “as a cheeky monkey” to find out if such events are prepared to handle AI-generated content.

The photographer also urged for debate on the role of AI in photography.

“We, the photo world, need an open discussion. A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what not,” wrote Eldagsen.

What does the AI-generated photo show?

Organizers of the award announced Eldagsen’s work, titled “Pseudomnesia: The Electrician”, as the winner of its creative category last month.

The sepia-colored image shows two women of different generations, one standing behind the other.

“How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn’t feel right, does it?,” said Eldagsen.

The artist pointed out that photography shouldn’t be confused with AI-generated content. “They are different entities. AI is not photography.”

How did the award organizers respond?

In an initial response, the awarding body accused Eldagsen of “deliberate attempts at misleading” them.

“As he has now decided to decline his award we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition,” the organization said according to a statement provided to DW.

“While elements of AI practices are relevant in artistic contexts of image-making, the Awards always have been and will continue to be a platform for championing the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium,” the statement added.

They also said they were “looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion” with the artist. 

Eldagsen wrote that it was “nonsense” to suggest that the organizers were willing to start a conversation with him.

According to the artist, the awarding body refused to answer questions from him and from journalists.

“They had so many options to use this for good. They used none of them,” said Eldagsen.

Later on Tuesday, the organizers removed the accusation of being misled in an edited statement sent to news agency AFP.

The AI image debate

Recently, AI has been making headlines with its ability to generate various content, from detailed travel itineraries to academic essays and code in various programming languages.

AI-generated images have recently flooded the internet, sparking a conversation around AI and disinformation. 

Last month, artificially created images showing the arrest of former US President Donald Trump caused controversy online.

With new language models like DALL-E 2, users are able to create detailed and realistic images from text input in a matter of seconds. 

DW has written a handy checklist on how to spot AI-generated images.

vh/jcg (AFP, dpa)

While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.

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SUV crashes through Arkansas photography studio for infants

Updated: 12:57 PM CDT Apr 18, 2023

Digital Media Manager

A driver crashed through the wall of a photography studio for newborns in Lowell Tuesday morning.The Ford Escape went into the Footsteps Photography studio just before 8 a.m. Amanda Webb, who owns the studio, said that if the crash had come just a couple of hours later, there would have been babies posing against the very wall the driver destroyed.Chris Johnson was parked across the street when he heard what sounded like an explosion.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.When he saw the SUV through the hole in the wall of the studio, he ran inside.”Tires had popped but they were still spinning,” Johnson said. “I just started beating on the windows to see if I could get anybody to holler out but nobody did.”Johnson tried to pry the door open but wasn’t able to.A fire broke out and filled the room with smoke, forcing him to leave after about three minutes.>> Download the 40/29 News AppEmergency workers came on the scene and pried the doors open.Johnson saw firefighters carry out a toddler, who appeared conscious. He also saw a man leave the car, who appeared shaken up.40/29 News has reached out to Lowell police for more information about the crash.Top Headlines Fayetteville police say officer arrived just seconds after woman was stabbed to death USPS offices no longer stay open late on tax deadline day Northwest Arkansas tax centers give advice for last-minute taxes McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office claims audio recordings were altered

Jeff Burk, “Rock Fall, IL”

A portal serves as a door, an entrance that connects one space to another. The Kansas City Society for Contemporary Photography exhibit “Portals and Reflections” offers viewers a visual gateway between worlds. Twenty-five local fine art photographers produced 50 images displayed at Kindness Gallery. Aptly, these works are entry points into constructed realities as well as a transitory waystation to dwell in the past and present.

Step through the doorway of the unassuming brick building next to Blackhole Bakery along the busy corridor of Troost Avenue. Once physically standing inside the spartan gallery, viewers are able to mentally journey to disparate places. TR Barnard’s two star-swept works printed on metal, “Van Goghst” and “As the World Turns,” portray the night sky as a “portal into the universe that surrounds us, protecting us and keeping us grounded.”

“Rock Fall, IL” by Jeff Burk studies a door frame unattached to walls and located in a cleared paved lot occupied by weeds. Leafy trees, a house, and a car in the near distance appear to represent another plane of existence. The juxtaposition of an object with seemingly abandoned purpose and the suburban backdrop invites the viewer to step beyond the image and imagine a story to address questions of what, why, where, and how.

Paige Burrows spent the summer of 2022 exploring the world through windows. Burrows photographed what she saw in windows and through them as well as the frame itself. “Alpine Tunnel” depicts alpine trees on a hill poised to thrust into cottony clouds. Crossbars in a window frame create a focal point to anchor the viewer’s gaze. Burrows “plays with reflection and abstracts” in her photos as a “pathway to a mysterious edgy vibe” as found in “Pikes Peak.”

Shirley Harryman’s “Uncertain-Reflections” ventures to Caddo Lake, home to the world’s largest cypress swamp. Two black-and-white images capture towering cypress trees in silhouette. Their reflection on the watery surface reveals a haunting yet peaceful scene, a portal to an otherworldly realm.

“RIP Brancusi” by Jackson Daugherty parlays a distorted reflection into an examination of corporate architecture in Dallas, Texas, prompting thought about the permanence of hierarchy and status. What meets the eye externally distracts and obscures what behavior occurs within the building’s structure.

Jacquelyn Carioscia’s “Fenestella” challenges viewers to study an arrangement of circular shapes and consider vantage points in order to extract meaning with scant context. Converging lines in Gary Hodson’s “Underground Passage” propel the viewer toward a vanishing point. Bold colorful graffiti escorts the eyes along the way. As a portal to the Cold War era, “Stairway to Past Armageddon” by Nate Hofer shows a dark concrete stairway leading underground to a former nuclear missile storage bunker in Gardner, Kansas.

The exhibit provides not only a portal across space and time, but also a series of looking glasses to examine, explore, and reflect on what we encounter.

“Kansas City Society of Contemporary Photography: Portals and Reflections,” continues through April 29 at Kindness Gallery, 5529 Troost. Hours are 11 to 4 p.m., Saturdays. For more information, kcscp.org.