Donna Ferrato, “Women’s Advocates St. Paul,” 1986, inkjet print, pigment-based, 20″ x 24″/Photo: Donna Ferrato and Block Museum

We’ve all seen, at yard sales and flea markets, dusty shoeboxes of old family photos. Unknown, unidentifiable faces peer at us, people about whose lives we haven’t a clue. For this thought-provoking exhibition at the Block Museum, vernacular snapshots by nameless photographers are rendered artifacts cleverly paired with pieces of art from the Block’s collection. The snapshots are part of the collection as well, from a 223-image gift of Peter J. Cohen, a New York collector of vernacular photography. The show was curated by Madison Brown, a 2023-24 Block interdisciplinary fellow, in consultation with Academic Curator Corinne Granof.

Jiri Anderle, “Soldier and Bride,” 1980, drypoint and mezzotint with attached photograph, 37 5/8 ” x 25 1/4″/Photo: Jiri Anderle and Block Museum

Like a detective, Brown has put the pieces together, creating stories, unraveling the mystery of images by cleverly pairing series of seemingly idyllic family photos with art that hints at deeper undercurrents. For example, an image from photographer Donna Ferrato’s ten-year series “Living with the Enemy” shows a mother and two children who have been forced to live in a women’s shelter to escape domestic violence. Brown has placed three small snapshots of “happy families” in a row beneath this larger image. Ferrato’s photograph is made all the more poignant as the children hold a family photo they brought with them from their home when they left.

In an etching titled “Soldier and Bride,” by Czech artist Jiri Anderle, a bride and groom stand side by side, the groom/soldier marked as if by war, with what appears to be a bullet hole in his forehead, and scratchy, dripping marks across his nude body, as if to imply disfigurement or death. In the lower right corner is a lovely vintage photograph of a soldier groom in uniform with his elegant bride. In LaToya Ruby Frazier’s image, “Zion Holding a Picture of Her Mother Shea Sipping Water from Her Freshwater Spring at Age Thirteen in 1997, Jasper County, Newton, Mississippi,” two dark hands hold a small photograph of a girl bending to drink from a fresh stream. The image tells the story of Frazier’s mother before she moved to Flint Michigan, where the public health crisis of polluted water occurred. A documentary photographer, Frazier captured the impact of the crisis on the residents of Flint. Brown has paired this image with several snapshots of people of various ages seemingly enjoying life.

In Admire Kamudzengerere and Rachel Monosov’s pointed image, “Lake Chivero, Aug.31, 1972,” a grinning family frolics with balloons. The couple who co-created this image is interracial, something that would not have been possible in Zimbabwe in 1972. The image, a reenactment, was made in 2017 as a reminder of that fact. In the lower right corner, a card is adhered with information about the lake listing some of the wildlife that dwells there, and amenities, like waterslides, to be found there. At the very bottom of the card is the statement “Picture Shows Real Happiness of a Family.” Vernacular photography is a mystery, a puzzle waiting to be solved. This exhibition explores the possibilities of snapshots telling the whole story, or not.

“A Little Truth: Fact and Fiction in Family Photography” is on view at Block Museum, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, through July 7.

The second annual invitational Maine Photographers Showcase returns to the Boothbay Region Art Foundation Thursday, March 28. The show will be on exhibit through May 3. An opening reception will be held Saturday, April 6, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Showcase coordinator Bruce Burnham invited the following photographers, most of whom, at one time or another, have had work included in the former Maine Photography Show: Hugh Blackmer (Tenants Harbor), Jeff Bazinet (Saco), Allen Cairns (Farmingdale), William Curran (Harpswell), Isaac Crabtree (Monson), Mike Fillyaw (West Bath), Ben Getchell (Orrington), Martin Grassie (Brunswick), Michael Austin Kane (Nobleboro), Burke Long (Brunswick), Jim Nichelson (Camden), Bill Schumaker (Portland), Charles DuFour (Belfast), Jane Davis (Wayne), Meredith Kennedy (Portland), Darylann Leonard (Waterford), Eva McDermott (Southport), Anne Post-Poole (South Berwick), Kim Stone (Brunswick), Francesca Galluccio Steele (Portland), Zoe Theberge (Brunswick), Sandra Wescott (South Portland).

Michael Austin Kane is a landscape/nature photographer who shoots with one of three Fuji cameras and with a Nikon AE1 film camera. He says he’s drawn to exploring scenes to photograph that have contrasting light and color. “I am especially fond of the morning light that we find along the coast of Maine which is why I choose one of the images in this exhibit…an image I captured at Pemaquid Point one spring morning sunrise. The other image represents my love of the winters in Maine with the strong contrast between the fishing shacks and the newly fallen snow on ice at Great Salt Bay.”

Each artist can include up to five images, that are grouped together, like individual shows. All images are for sale unless otherwise noted. Burnham began hanging the show Monday, March 25. The largest piece is one 40” x 30” and a 40” x 20.”

“This work showcases them as individuals as well as photographers,” said Burnham. “All of the photographers have been invited to bring up to 6 matted, unframed work to sell as bin pieces.”

Burnham plans to announce the photographers for the 3rd annual invitational Maine Photographers Showcase at the April 6 reception. For that show he’s interested in inviting photographers who have not shown in the former Maine Photography Show. Those interested in showing their work should contact Burnham at 350-6405 to be considered.

Boothbay Region Art Foundation is located at 1 Townsend Ave. in downtown Boothbay Harbor. The gallery is open Thursday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit BRAF on Facebook and its website: www.boothbayartists.org.

Nine East Bay photographers are featured in a photography and art exhibit, including two who have previously shown at San Francisco’s de Young Museum. The show, at the De Valle Educational Center in Walnut Creek, runs now through May 23, 2024.

The exhibit is the culmination of an Advanced Photography Workshop led by longtime Acalanes Adult Education photography instructor Bill Helsel. The nine photographers are Jonathan Bitz, Kimberley Enright, Rob Hamner, Jeff Heyman, Rich London, Sunyo Suhaimi, Robin Sullivan, Westeigh, and Rosemary Wheeler. Also on display are paintings and drawings by students in several Acalanes Adult Education art classes.

The Advanced Photography exhibit is a wide-ranging collection of photographic genres and styles: Bitz displays a unique array of black and white and color photos, while Enright presents a series of “rustic” photographs. Hamner explores camera movement in beautifully rendered color images, and London uses a lightbox to create a unique view of everyday objects. Suhaimi explores Niles in vivid, nostalgic color photos. Sullivan tells a uniquely “noir” story in black and white, and Wheeler features photographs of outdoor scenes from a different perspective.

Heyman and Westeigh both had landscapes exhibited as part of The de Young Open, held at the de Young Museum in San Francisco last year. In the Advanced Photography exhibit, Heyman juxtaposes clouds, land, and water, while Grant explores “Echoes of Absence.” Both are a series of black and white photographs.

Running now through Thursday, May 23, the exhibit can be seen at the Del Valle Education Center, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek, Calif., Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

See the photographers and their work here: https://heymanfoto.smugmug.com/Exhibits/Advanced-Photography-Exhibit

By Jessica Green For Mailonline

Published: 07:16 EDT, 26 March 2024 | Updated: 07:17 EDT, 26 March 2024

From stunning city landscapes to misty mountains, these are the sort of photographs you might expect to have been taken with a top-of-the-range camera – but they were actually all taken on smartphones.

Below is a selection of some of the best images and winning entries from the Mobile Photography Awards 2024.

The UK-based competition was launched this year by the British Photography Awards, in partnership with Samsung.

Photographs could be taken on any mobile device, with judges looking at six categories including: Portrait, Pet, Night Scenes, Zoom Photos, Landscapes and Food & Drink.

BPA Awards Director & Photographer, Hugo Donnithorne-Tait, said: ‘As photography continues to develop as a medium, it is clear that the way people take and enjoy photos is changing too. 

‘More and more photographs today are being captured only because people have a top camera in their pocket when they need it. This means so many more of life’s moments are being documented.

‘We are so proud to be able to launch this Mobile Photography Awards. Samsung have a fantastic history of innovation and pioneering new imaging technologies, so who better to co-host this new kind of photography competition? 

‘Being able to award fantastic Galaxy S24 Ultras to the winners of the competition – and host Mobile workshops means we can continue to transform people’s photography and keep developing our craft alongside this amazing new technology.’

In the cloud-kissed realm of Santorini, where the Aegean Sea whispers tales of ancient civilizations, modern technology offers a new perspective on timeless beauty. Photographers and videographers yearn to capture the island’s awe-inspiring vistas from the sky. Yet, before the drones ascend, knowing Santorini’s specific drone regulations is paramount to transforming those dreams into stunning visuals without a run-in with the law.

Firstly, let us confront the forbidden: Santorini’s National Park, its archaeological treasures, military infrastructures, and sensitive ecological areas stand as no-fly sanctuaries, wherein drones dare not venture. Navigate these skies, and one risks more than just a slap on the wrist.

Securing a permit from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (a href=”http://www.hcaa.gr”>website) is your golden ticket to the skies. However, this isn’t a last-minute affair; you must plan your quest for authorization at least 8 days prior to takeoff. Cloaked in legality, drones must dance at a respectful distance—a 150-meter berth from civilians and private property, never soaring above 50 meters. A realm where every aerial shot for personal use only and the drone must remain within the pilot’s line of sight, as if tethered by an invisible string.

Moreover, drones face a twilight ban, becoming grounded as day collapses into the dusky embrace of night. Harsh weather conditions also play the fierce gatekeeper, barring any flight attempts during their reign.

Acquiring the necessary blessings from the GCAA may seem a herculean task, but fear not. Operators must submit the intent of their aerial odyssey, the craft’s make, and its flight path, along with proof of insurance. Local air traffic control might demand their say, alongside nods of approval from police authorities. Only upon appeasing these stakeholders will the drone gods grant you flight clearance for your Santorini saga.

Exploring the no-fly zones of Santorini is like deciphering an ancient map. The realm around the International Airport, populous centers, and military complexes are marked with invisible barriers. Ignore these, and one risks the ire of hefty fines or worse. The Civil Aviation Authority has even decreed an aerial curfew between 7:00 PM and 11:00 AM. Yes, in Santorini, even drones must adhere to bedtime rules.

Navigating the urban skies of Santorini calls for a blend of artistry and meticulous planning. The close quarters of edifices and spectators magnify the risk of calamity. Nighttime operations are shrouded in added complexity, with darkness compounding the potential for aerial misfortune.

In summary, Santorini’s skies are not the wild blue yonder drones might hope for. It is a tapestry of rules and regulations, potential risks, and precautionary tales. To venture into this Labyrinth of the Skies with your mechanical Icarus without getting singed by the sun, arm yourself with knowledge, caution, and respect for rules both human and natural.

Fly right, and the storied views of Santorini will unfold beneath your drone, rewarding you with visuals that echo through the ages. Fly awry, and face the modern-day Minotaur of legal consequences. Your tale of aerial exploits in the Aegean awaits—will it be one of triumph or a cautionary footnote? The choice is yours.

Marcin Frąckiewicz is a renowned author and blogger, specializing in satellite communication and artificial intelligence. His insightful articles delve into the intricacies of these fields, offering readers a deep understanding of complex technological concepts. His work is known for its clarity and thoroughness.

Tamron – Need lightweight, compact mirrorless lenses? Tamron has you covered, with superior optics perfect for any situation. With weather sealing and advanced image stabilization, you’ll open up your creative possibilities.

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!

Trainers, a new AR+ system seems to have been added in the most recent datamine, called ‘Iris’. After the removal of Shared AR in recent months the AR community were feeling rather neglected, but it appears a potential major overhaul may be on the horizon!

It appears that the update relates to the AR Buddy System, and may potentially not only bring back the shared AR experience, but stickers, new animations and more!

💡 Disclaimer – Everything in this article is data mined, and therefore subject to change,  or not even being released at all. Information referenced in this article is made publicly available by a group of data miners called PokéMiners. Our article includes some of our  own commentary from experience. Data mining is, and never will be, something Niantic or the Pokémon Company endorses.

Assets

The first group of assets seem to related to the new ‘Iris’ tutorial, teaching us how to use this new mode.

The final asset is labelled as ‘rotation toy’, and appears to be a new way to interact with your Buddy to rotate their positioning. It can be seen in the ‘rotate’ graphic shown above in the tutorial graphics.

Text

+ template {
+ template_id: "MAIN_MENU_CAMERA_BUTTON_SETTINGS"
+ data {
+ template_id: "MAIN_MENU_CAMERA_BUTTON_SETTINGS"
+ ob_game_master_settings_4 {
+ }
+ }
+ }

It appears that a new camera menu is in the settings. Some trainers have reported seeing a camera button at the bottom of the main menu, as shown in the screenshot below from fellow writer phrixu.

Clicking on the camera button takes you to your Pokémon box, and when you select a Pokémon it opens up into AR mode. It works for both standard, and AR+ mode.

You can use stickers to decorate the pictures you take. Have fun and share your photos with others. You never know what you’ll find!
You can call a Pokémon back into its Pokéball by tapping the recall button. Your Pokémon will then be ready to move to a new location.
Find a flat surface and either tap the footprints or drag the Pokémon from the selection menu to place it.
You can take up to 3 Pokémon out of their Pokéball and take photos together! You may even encounter other Pokémon while there!
Use the group photo mode to take a perfect shot of your Pokémon! Or try playing with your Pokémon to see their different moods.
Tap the rotate button to start using the toy. Moving the toy around your Pokémon is sure to get its attention!
Connect to the Pokéstop Area by scanning the location first to view and interact with the Pokémon there.
Unless removed, your Pokémon will stay here for up to 48hrs until they get tired and return to you. While they’re away, they may greet other trainers and Pokémon!
Decorate and share your photos!
Reposition your Pokémon
Position your Pokémon
Take photos of your Pokémon with others!
Take a group photo
Rotate your Pokémon
Connect to Pokéstop Areas!
Your Pokémon will stay and play!

These texts related to the new ‘Iris’ motion. It appears in this new mode you will be able to take photos of multiple Pokémon at once, play with your Pokémon, use toys to interact with your Pokémon, create stickers, and more!

Conclusion

The new ‘Iris’ mode looks to be a major overhaul of the AR+ Buddy system, something AR photographers have been asking for for years. We know we are a more niche group, but seeing the reactions on twitter, I can firmly say we are hyped!

How can you know if a photo is real?

That’s a question media outlets are facing with renewed scrutiny after two images released by Kensington Palace were found to have been digitally altered — the now-infamous photo of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, surrounded by her smiling children; and a 2022 image of Queen Elizabeth with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The former was killed by many photo agencies just hours after they published it. 

But the Royal Family is far from the only establishment that hands out images to the media. Politicians, businesses, governments, science agencies and the police do it regularly — just to name a few. And the royals are also far from the first to alter an official image.

“The issues around the trustworthiness of photography, photography as a manipulable technology, have existed from the advent of the medium,” Elisabeth Sherman, the senior curator and director of exhibitions and collections at the International Center for Photography in New York, told CBC News’s social team.

The fact that Kensington Palace’s altered photos were picked up by the media — including CBC News — is a good reminder that the idea of handout photos is fraught and should potentially be reconsidered, says Aneurin Bosley, an assistant professor at Carleton University’s school of journalism, who specializes in digital reporting.

The debacle over Catherine’s photo “is really only scratching the surface,” he said.

A search for “handout” in The Associated Press photo database showed 21,519 results on Monday, everything from images of the suspects in Friday’s deadly Moscow bombing provided by Russian authorities, to those of leader Kim Jong-un provided by North Korea.

There were more than 115,000 results on the Reuters database.

Altered photos are a problem for any reporting. But when they are used in “deeper” issues, “when it goes into the politics of war or the politics of running for for election and, disinformation, it’s pretty scary,” said Ken Light, a photojournalist and adjunct journalism professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

WATCH | How easy it is to use AI to alter images: 

Making an AI-generated image takes seconds

10 months ago

Duration 0:50

CBC News put Pope Francis in a puffer jacket in less than a minute using Photoshop’s new artificial-intelligence feature.

Long history

Photo tampering has a long and storied history. Even the iconic 1860 portrait of Abraham Lincoln is a stitched image of his head on another politician’s body.

Other well-known examples include the famous, purported photo of the Loch Ness monster, first published in The Daily Mail in 1934, and later proved to be fake. In 1945, a Soviet army photographer manipulated two images of Russia’s victory over Germany, adding extra smoke in the background of one, and removing a second watch on the arm of a soldier in another. 

There’s the 1970 Kent State University massacre photo — which became a symbol of the turmoil and protests of the time — and which earned photographer John Paul Filo a Pulitzer Prize. But Life magazine altered it by removing a post behind the anguished bystander’s head, according to The New York Times, and that version has been published and republished over the years.

More recently a freelance photographer working for Reuters used Photoshop to add extra smoke and flares to a 2006 photo of the Iraq war. The incident prompted the wire service to tighten its editing procedures.

Light, who has been a freelance photographer for 50 years, has his own experience with tampering. He took a photo of U.S. politician John Kerry at a 1971 peace rally in Long Island, N.Y. When Kerry announced he was running for president in 2004, Light uploaded his photos to an online photo database.

He says a “right wing” graphic designer then downloaded the photo and added a 1972 photo of Jane Fonda, making it appear as if the two were photographed together.

“And, of course, many Republicans and folks on the right, hate Jane Fonda, Hanoi Jane, they called her. And this photo, this phony photo went viral, and people believed it was true,” he said.

The New York Times even picked it up, but ran a followup explaining the photo had been manipulated.

What’s concerning to Light is how easy it is now to manipulate photos.

WATCH | Other times people thought royal pics were edited: 

Royal Family had warnings from previous photo-manipulation instances

15 days ago

Duration 1:20

Ian Lloyd, a long-time photographer of the Royal Family, notes several past occasions where the public identified edited images of the Royal Family and says that those should have been taken as warnings. But Lloyd suggests this instance may have been meant to avoid spurring on paparazzi hunting for a photo of the Princess of Wales that could lead to a repeat of the tragic incident that resulted in the death of Prince William’s mother.

“Junior high school kids can do it. Many others can manipulate photos. And of course, now we have AI, which is even more dangerous than the ability to do these things in Photoshop. We begin to question what’s real. What’s not real? How do we know?”

Transparency matters

CBC News was among the outlets to that initially published the Mother’s Day photo of Catherine — which had arrived amid rampant speculation about her whereabouts and wellbeing. It had been picked up and distributed by three of the wire services to which CBC News subscribes: Reuters, The Associated Press and Getty Images.

CBC News later pulled the image, replacing it with one the Prince and Princess of Wales posted on X, and explained that the other had been manipulated.

“The vast majority of images published by CBC News are taken by our own journalists or provided by news partners [like The Canadian Press and Reuters] who we trust to apply the same rigorous standard of accuracy,” said CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson.

“There are occasions when we publish images provided by a third party that is not a trusted news partner, however we always make clear to the audience why the image was used and where it came from,” he added.

“That said, we refrain from publishing it if we have any indication that the image is not authentic. The source is always clearly indicated.”

It’s important for media organizations to be transparent about how they verify photos, and about the entire reporting process, says Felix Simon, a communication researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford. In an age of disinformation and distrust, we need to show how we establish what’s real, he says.

It’s a way of saying: “This is why you can trust us, and this is why you should trust as an institution or as an institution in the business of producing trustworthy factual information,” he said. 

Bosley, with Carleton University, says the media has always been skeptical of handout photos, but the demand for information about notable people is high, putting added pressure on news agencies to provide it.

That said, the media should always question the motivations behind any photo coming from an institution — any institution, Bosley says.

“Why should we trust anything?”

Police in coastline tourist city Sanya have arrested seven people in a gang targeting tourists. The group allegedly forced underwater photos on victims by removing their oxygen masks underwater.

To unearth further illicit activities, the authorities have called on the public to provide any information related to the criminal activities of the gang.

Known as a beach resort, Sanya attracts numerous tourists and diving enthusiasts every year. However, recently revealed incidents of divers in Sanya, whose oxygen masks had been removed by strangers then only to be asked if they would like a photo taken, may send shivers down the readers’ spines.

In late November 2023, a woman surnamed Zheng and her family of nine visited Sanya for a vacation. Four of her family members participated in a diving activity where they were offered a photography service for 300 yuan per person. Despite the clear refusal from three of them, they found themselves isolated under the water by staff members who then forcibly removed their masks to ask the same question, according to Jimu News.

A few minutes later, another family member of Zheng surfaced, saying “The four of them got separated by the staff member, who removed his mask and asked if he’d like a photo.”

The same thing happened to Zheng’s mother-in-law. They agreed to have a photo taken out of fear.

After lodging a complaint with the hotel owner, who provided the “free diving session,” Zheng and her family were contacted by the diving service staff and refunded the photography fees of 900 yuan.

However, the refund came with a condition: They were not to discuss the incident publicly.

In early November 2023, another tourist, surnamed Lu, and her friends were attracted to a deep-sea swimming project near Yalong Bay. Shortly into their dive, they ascended to the surface and were pressured into agreeing to have photos taken, despite Lu’s repeated refusal. The resulting pictures were so unsatisfactory that they were promptly deleted, Jimu News reported.

Following these events, and without immediate evidence to lodge complaints or report to the police, the victims chose to remain silent, not wishing to mar their vacation experience. However, with the Sanya Police’s recent appeal for information on such criminal activities, victims are now stepping forward to share their experiences, hopeful that their contributions can help clamp down on these illicit operations.

Local insiders reveal that behind the police’s call for information lies the issue of unlicensed operators in the high-risk sports market. These operators lure tourists with low prices and add expensive services once they are in a vulnerable position, exploiting their fear of safety to coerce them into paying for services they initially declined.

Legal expert Fu Jian, director of Zejin Law Firm in Henan Province, advised victims to report such incidents to the local police immediately. While proving coercion without direct evidence can be challenging, maintaining records related to the diving activities, such as contracts and payment receipts, can significantly aid in defending one’s rights, Jimu News reported.