LOWVILLE — After 50 years of yearbook photos, senior pictures, weddings and commercial photography Tony and Linda Urbaniak have closed Urbaniak Studio and Color Lab.
The Urbaniaks met in high school, although Mr. Urbaniak studied to be a machinist at BOCES he had worked on the yearbook and decided to instead pursue a career in photography.
Thames & Hudson continues to make photography books more accessible by adding to its Photofile range.
This lineup of books showcases some of the finest photography from some of the best photographers of all time, all in an affordable and pocket-sized format. Each book provides a fantastic overview of the titular photographer’s work, and an insight into their practice via a detailed foreword.
The award-winning photography book series already hosts an impressive list of photographers such as Sebastião Salgado, Helmut Newton, Gordon Parks, Don McCullin and Sophie Calle – and now comes the addition of Mary Ellen Mark.
Mary Ellen Mark was no doubt a divisive figure in the world of photography, but it cannot be understated that she left her mark on the medium.
As expressed in the book’s critical introduction, written by Caroline Bénichou, Mark’s work is often difficult to categorize, falling into the genres of reportage, documentary, and portraiture.
But the one thing consistent in all her work is her ability to capture the human condition, capturing an empathetic bond between subject and viewer.
The 144-page ‘mini monograph’ includes images from Mark’s life’s work, including her celebrated series Ward 81, Falkland Road, Indian Circus and American Odyssey, as well as individual shots from her career not associated with a certain project.
Although the social context surrounding her subjects changes, Mark’s ability to capture each with an intimate and humane approach provides the viewer with greater insight and connection to them. Whether shots from a Hollywood set or an Indian circus, Mark transports you into the scene – and the Photofile book is a brilliant introduction to her work.
Mary Ellen Mark by Caroline Bénichou and published by Thames & Hudson is now available to order in the UK for £12.99. The US and Australian release date is yet to be confirmed.
You may also be interested in our guides to the best books on photography, the best coffee table books, and the best books on portraits.
Radiant Photo – Radiant Photo superior quality finished photos with perfect color rendition, delivered in record time. Your photos — simply RADIANT. The way they are meant to be.
Mylio Photos – Access your photos from anywhere, without the cloud! Easily showcase your photos on-the-go, resolve duplicates, find faces and look for those stunning locations.
B&H – B&H is a world renowned supplier of all the gear photographers, videographers, and cinematographers need and want to create their very best work.
MPB – Grab used but perfectly working cameras and lenses for less, or turn your old gear into cash by trading and selling them on MPB!
The latest iPhones from Apple are set to redefine the boundaries of smartphone photography. Previous models introduced varying camera capabilities, with the larger iPhone offering a superior telephoto zoom. However, the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will both feature a 5x zoom equivalent, providing users with unmatched versatility.
Apple has responded to concerns about the differing camera specifications in previous models, stating that size constraints limited the capabilities of the smaller device. With the new Pro models expected to be slightly larger, Apple now has the opportunity to enhance both devices with the advanced 5x zoom technology.
Reports suggest that Apple will integrate periscope lenses into the new iPhone lineup, with suppliers gearing up to deliver cutting-edge components for the devices. The inclusion of the tetraprism, Apple’s unique periscope lens design, will further solidify the company’s commitment to innovation and superior quality.
While rumors are rife about the upcoming iPhone 17 models, industry experts predict that Apple’s focus on camera uniformity and advanced features will set a new standard in the smartphone market. The decision to equip both the Pro and Pro Max versions with a 5x zoom is a strategic move that resonates with consumer expectations and positions Apple as a leader in smartphone photography technology.
Apple’s New iPhone 17 Models to Revolutionize Smartphone Photography
The anticipation surrounding Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 models is reaching its peak, with new details emerging that promise to revolutionize smartphone photography. While the previous article highlighted the advancements in camera capabilities, there are additional facts that shed light on the innovative features consumers can expect from the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
What are the key enhancements in the iPhone 17 models that set them apart from their predecessors?
One of the key enhancements in the new iPhone 17 models is the introduction of sensor-shift image stabilization technology. This cutting-edge feature, previously seen in professional cameras, aims to minimize blur and improve image quality, especially in low-light conditions. This addition is poised to elevate the photography experience for users who rely on their smartphones to capture important moments.
What challenges or controversies are associated with the introduction of advanced camera technology in smartphones?
One of the challenges that smartphone manufacturers face when integrating advanced camera technology is striking a balance between enhanced features and maintaining a sleek design. As the demand for better camera performance grows, manufacturers must navigate the complexities of incorporating advanced lenses and sensors without compromising the overall aesthetics of the device. Controversies may arise if consumers feel that the focus on camera improvements comes at the expense of other essential features or results in a bulky device.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the new 5x zoom equivalent in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max?
The 5x zoom equivalent in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max presents several advantages, including the ability to capture detailed shots from a distance and enhanced versatility for different photography styles. Users can expect sharper images with greater clarity, especially when zooming in on subjects without sacrificing image quality. However, the increased zoom capabilities may also lead to challenges such as potential loss of image sharpness at maximum zoom levels and the need for steady hands or additional accessories to ensure stable shots.
Overall, the upcoming iPhone 17 models are poised to set a new benchmark in smartphone photography, with features that cater to the demands of both casual users and photography enthusiasts. Apple’s commitment to innovation and quality is evident in the incorporation of advanced technologies that promise to deliver exceptional imaging capabilities to users.
For more information on Apple’s latest developments in smartphone photography technology, visit Apple’s official website.
[embedded content]
Some vibrant, funky fish are adding river-based personality to downtown Monticello in the form of mosaic artwork.
Earlier this month, MontiArts held the first workshop of the year in its Downtown Mosaic Art Project, and the results are now on display for all to see, with colorful sea creatures swimming in the center median on West Broadway Street, near MontiArts’ headquarters.
I’m a relatively late adopter of iPhone photography. I have a camera with lenses and processing skills as a professional photographer over 25 years. Why would I use a smartphone? Here’s why. I’m finding more and more that the capabilities working their way into these devices make it harder to not add it to my toolbox.
While out with my students under the Milky Way-laden sky in Sedona, Arizona, it was time to try out the relatively new phone. As part of a Platypod Pro project showing how the new Platypod Grip works I upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro. I created some images for that project and started to realize the capabilities of these capture devices.
The challenge was to see how this kit worked in making a Milky Way image. I have to say, pretty amazing! You need to make the camera be perfectly steady. Then, when invoking the “Night Mode” you can extend the time which the shutter is open, which, of course, opens new possibilities of subject capture.
With the camera steady and Night Mode selected, the settings for these captures was 10 sec at ISO 5000 with an aperture of f/1.8. I was pretty taken aback with the quality of the image appearing magically on the scene. Make sure you do some research as you play with this technique. You’ll want to make sure the flash is turned off and you are capturing in the RAW format. This will give you a bit more latitude for post processing to bring out the best of the image. I found I needed to open the shadows a little along with massaging the highlights.
Obviously, the smartphone is a big part of this story. But the smartphone needs to be supported. Larry Tiefenbrunn from Platypod designed the Grip phone support. There are a number of phone holders on the market but Larry made this one specifically for photographers. It holds even the largest phone, a single twist of a lever enables easy positioning. It also folds down to a small form when not in use. I added a Platypod eXtreme base and a couple Platypod Handles. This is a support package that is light and packs into a very small form. And, I can’t not mention the iPhone 15 Pro. I often use this same support set up using a ball head for my camera. This is when I want a secondary camera support or don’t wish to haul a tripod at all.
Would I replace my OM 1 camera with a phone? Oh, heck no! BUT, the quote “The best camera is the one you have with you” has been attributed to several photographers. It’s not far off the mark. My phone is in a holster by my side almost all the time. This means I now have a pretty capable camera with me. And, I’m learning to use and trust it. Makes grabbing those serendipitous images that might have escaped me in the past much more likely.
Interested in learning more about night sky photography? I do workshops in the beautiful red rock country of Sedona, Arizona. You can learn more here.
Yours in Creative Photography,
Bob
Photographer Parham Pourahmad was at a Santa Clara County park this winter, when he noticed a pair of kestrels engaged in some, let’s say, interesting behavior.
“They were perched in a parking lot, eating insects and gravel to help them digest prey. I didn’t get great shots that time, so I returned later and found them again,” the 14-year-old Los Gatos teen says. “They were repeating the same behaviors, except for something new.”
What Parham eventually captured was an artfully composed shot of two birds mating. This June, that shot won him the prestigious Youth Winner prize in the National Audubon Society’s 2024 photo awards.
“Such a classic beauty of a photo, with great warm light and saturated rich colors,” Sabine Meyer, photography director with the National Audubon Society, judged of the picture.
Despite being half the age of most wildlife photographers, Parham has covered a lot of ground in the Bay Area — documenting birds of prey, bobcats, coyotes and the thieving red foxes whose antics stealing food from distracted golfers are infamous at San Jose’s Los Lagos Golf Course.
His Instagram feed — @wildphotop — is full of praise from serious photographers, and he has impressed local and state conservationists with his artistry. And Parham seems to have a future in the business: His Audubon prize grants him a trip to the society’s Hog Island camp for teens in Maine next year, where he hopes to photograph puffins.
But on this particular day, Parham is eager to discuss his current project: photographing the fearsome raptors of San Jose’s Ed R. Levin County Park, where he has shadowed white-tailed kites and Cooper’s hawks for the last three years.
“Even though they are both hawk species,” he says, “the white-tailed kite hunts by hovering over fields and then diving when it finds prey, usually mice or voles.”
Parham is fascinated by the Cooper’s hawks, in particular, calling them “really ruthless killers. … Cooper’s hawks hunt in forests, using sneak attacks on their prey,” he says. They’re dedicated and highly maneuverable hunters that can squish down at extremely high speeds to dive through the gaps in a picket fence. And they’ve developed a unique talent that might trigger emotion among bird lovers.
“They specialize in urban and suburban areas on bird feeders,” says Andrea Jones, senior director of conservation for Audubon California. “These Cooper’s hawks will sit in someone’s yard, where they know there are songbirds coming in. It’s easy pickings for them to take the songbirds.”
In Levin park, Parham has photographed the hawks vocalizing, posturing handsomely and in one grisly instance — captured with dramatic, Caravaggio-like shadows — ripping apart a hapless ground squirrel.
“The mom Cooper’s hawk flew back to the nest with prey, and after a bit of searching, I found the baby she had given it to,” he says. “Over the next hour, I stuck with the juvenile hawk as it flew around the oak forest with its prey.”
“A ground squirrel would be on the large end of their menu as they primarily feed on other birds,” says Matthew Dodder, executive director of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. “But this is a handsome photo — it has beautiful lighting and is very heroic. I love gory pictures like this, too. Seeing it actually behave like this is really quite something.”
“He has a unique ability to really bring animals to life, even when it’s looking at hard things like raptors killing other animals for food,” says Jones.
“He’s daylighting the things you can see if you go to an urban park in the San Francisco Bay Area. Especially as a young person, he’s exposing a lot of people to the beauty and wonder of birds, and the more people see birds and their behaviors, the more they’re going to care about them and help in their conservation.”
Parham is also following a nesting pair of white-tailed kites, a species that in the United States only lives on the Pacific Coast and in southern Texas, and whose feeding and mating rituals fascinate him.
Returning from the hunt with prey, the male kite hovers, Parham says, “waiting for the female (or offspring) to come get the prey. The result is a spectacular mid-air food transfer that is the goal of all the photographers to capture.”
This year was the first that Parham was unable to capture photos of kite babies. “I heard about what happened from a local photographer,” he said. “A barn owl found the nest and killed all of the young ones. Ed Levin (park) has a giant barn-owl population, so it’s definitely plausible.”
“It’s a bloody place out there,” says Dodder.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don’t Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the ‘Report’ link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We’d love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
See the winners in all categories
July 6, 2024 – NEW YORK – By National Audubon Society – The National Audubon Society has announced the winners of the 2024 Audubon Photography Awards. Now in its fifteenth year, the contest features stunning work from professionals, amateurs, and young people that highlights the beauty of birds and the joy of capturing that through photographs and videos. Judges awarded nine prizes, including the new Birds in Landscapes Prize for the top image depicting the relationship between birds and their surroundings. Winning entries and honorable mentions were chosen from more than 2,300 entrants from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and 9 Canadian provinces and 1 territory.
For the first time, the competition awarded the Birds in Landscapes Prize, which was introduced to draw attention to how birds connect with their broader surroundings. Whether the setting is wild, urban, or suburban, or the relationship is symbiotic or reflects a specific challenge birds face, the prize encourages photographers to take a step back and look at the whole environment, then let the photograph tell the story. Previously featured prizes, such as the Plants for Birds Prize, Fisher Prize, Female Bird Prize, and Video Prize, were also awarded in this year’s contest.
Audubon’s climate science report Survival by Degrees reveals that two-thirds of North American birds are threatened by extinction from climate change, including species featured in this year’s Audubon Photography Awards like the Blackburnian Warbler, California Quail, and Sedge Wren. Learn more about how climate change will impact birds in your communities by entering your zip code into Audubon’s Birds and Climate Visualizer.
Award winners and honorable mentions will be featured in the Summer 2024 issue of Audubon magazine, and select photos and videos will also be featured in digital galleries promoted on Audubon’s website and social channels throughout the year.
See the winners in all categories
Source: National Audubon Society
Bourbonnais, IL – Ready, set, snap! The Bourbonnais Park District is excited to announce the Snapshot Camp for young photographers aged 3-5. This hands-on camp, running from August 6th to August 8th, invites your child to discover the joy of photography at the Exploration Station. Budding shutterbugs will meet from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, Tuesday through Thursday, for a session fee of $65.
In a world where every phone is a camera, Snapshot Camp teaches the little ones the value of capturing moments through a lens. They’ll learn the basics of photography, understanding how to compose a picture, and the fun of creating visual stories. Kids will have the chance to use a variety of cameras and can bring their own or have one provided!
This camp isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s about seeing the world from different perspectives, embracing creativity, and expressing oneself through images. Along with technical skills, children will engage in activities that foster observation and artistic expression.
Parents will be delighted to see their children’s confidence grow as they bring home pictures and memories they’ve captured themselves. This is a drop-off program, giving kids a sense of independence in a supportive, educational setting.
Don’t miss the chance to enroll your child in the Snapshot Camp, where they can click, create, and capture their world one photo at a time. For more details and registration information, please visit the Bourbonnais Park District’s website. Say cheese to a summer of discovery and creativity!
