Salma Hayek shared a stunning new photo, taken by her daughter, Valentina. The photo shows her enjoying a day on the beach, and being captured as she walks the shore, amidst a stunning landscape.

The photo shows Hayek wearing some black sunglasses and a matching bikini, enjoying a dip in the ocean. It’s captured with Hayek facing away from the ocean, with some rocks and the sunset in the background. “It always helps to have a photographer in the family,” Hayek captioned the post, adding the camera emoji and the name Valentina Pinault.

Hayek often discusses her daughter and is accompanied by her at various prestigious events, like the Oscars. The two share a close bond and similar tastes, with Valentina even wearing her mother’s dresses.

In an interview with Vogue, Hayek and Valentina shed a light on their relationship, including their arguments regarding clothing. “In this house we fight over clothes because she takes everything from my closet. Then I don’t find anything,” said Hayek.

Valentina had the perfect answer: she just really loves her mother’s clothes. “The truth is that when it comes to clothes, I love hers, but in general I always wear what I like.”

©GettyImages

Valentina’s photography skills

The interview also showed that Valentina has been interested in photography for some time now. While discussing some of the items that are always in her bag, Valentina showed her vintage camera. “I take photos of my friends with disposable cameras,” she said. Hayek was quick to praise her daughter’s skills and perspective. “I like her photos a lot,” she said. “She always has an interesting point of view. She loves photography and loves everything to be vintage.”

World-popular smartphone brands, such as Nothing, Samsung, OnePlus, and Honor often come with some of the most technologically advanced smartphones to cater to all tech enthusiasts. Fortunately, if your budget does not allow you to splurge, the category of the best phones under Rs. 30,000 from these brands can be a saviour to you in a lot of ways. Phones in this price bracket give you great options with a blend of excellent performance, features, and style without breaking the bank.
Contrary to popular belief, these mid-range phones do not compromise on their specs, instead, showcase technological advancements. With unbeatable camera quality, powerful processors, gorgeous designs, and innovative features, the category of best phones under Rs. 30,000 is reshaping expectations for mid-range smartphones, making premium experiences more accessible.
To help you in streamlining your search, we’ve done the legwork for you and listed the top picks for the best smartphones under Rs. 30,000. Your smartphone is a constant companion, so ensuring you get the best value for your money is indeed our utmost priority.

Best Phones Under 30000

Nothing Phone (2a) 5G

Here is one of the most tech-savvy and highly rated phones under Rs. 30,000 – the Nothing Phone (2a) 5G. Featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, the phone makes it easy to play games or watch online series. A hit among tech enthusiasts, the smartphone is equipped with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor that is designed to offer beastly performance.
Features of Nothing Phone (2a) 5G:

User Feedback: People who have purchased the Nothing Phone (2a) 5G phone consider it a great fast-performing smartphone. The only downside is that the Nothing Phone (2a) 5G has IP54 water resistance which makes it risky for those who want a phone for rough and tough usage.

iQOO Z7 Pro 5G

The iQOO Z7 Pro 5G hits the sweet spot between eye-catching design, slim profile and powerful processor, ideally fitting the bill of an all-rounder phone. The mobile phone comes with an IP52 rating that makes it resistant to occasional water drops or moderate encounters with water. In terms of internal software, the phone has a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 5G chipset, which adopts the flagship-level TSMC 2nd generation 4 nm process technology to offer superior energy efficiency and a better battery life. The octa-core processor assures of the highest clock speed of 2.8 GHz which enables it to effortlessly handle multitasking.
Features of iQOO Z7 Pro 5G:

User Feedback: At a price point of less than Rs. 30,000, the iQOO Z7 Pro 5G is a great pick. It delivers smooth performance and has a classy matte finish. The only negative (not a deal breaker though) is the bloatware on the device.

Vivo V20 Pro

The Vivo V20 Pro is an elegant looking smartphone with a matte finish, which gives it an interesting look and the body does not catch fingerprints. In terms of display, the phone features a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 60Hz. Its Snapdragon 765G chipset is great to handle the daily tasks and manages to carry out most of the tasks without any hitch.
Features of the Vivo V20 Pro:

User Feedback: Appearance, performance and quality of the Vivo V20 Pro is praised by all buyers. But people were not very pleased with the battery life and its charging features.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

A perfect choice for those who like extravagance and luxury, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G has some of the best features offered by any Samsung smartphone so far. It includes the top-of-the-line Triple Rear Camera Setup with 12MP Wide Rear Camera + 8MP Tele Camera + 12MP Ultra Wide. Of course, being a Note series device, it also has to have an enormous screen plus all the latest hardware.
Features of Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G:

User Feedback: Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE’s is sure to offer the right balance of solid specs, 5G connectivity and budget-friendly price.

OnePlus Nord 3 5G

The brand OnePlus is hailed for being able to offer a smartphone for all needs and budgets and this OnePlus Nord 3 5G has made it to the list of the best phones under 30000 because of its exceptional features. This flagship-level camera, along with the 8MP ultrawide lens and 2MP macro lens, captures stunning photos and video, making it a good choice for those looking for outstanding rear camera performance.
Features of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G:

User Feedback: As per average reviews of the people who purchased this phone, the OnePlus Nord 3 ticks all the boxes to be a great phone. It has a worth-mentioning display, a flagship-grade performance unit and a capable set of cameras.

realme 11 Pro 5G

The highlight of the realme 11 Pro 5G is its premium vegan leather design that feels very classy to be held and to flaunt. The phone is available in three exciting colours, including Sunrise Beige, Astral Black and Oasis Green and three storage variants too. Thanks to its 256GB storage, you can have a big-time memory space for all your photos, videos, apps, and memories.
Features of the realme 11 Pro 5G :

User Feedback: If you are somebody who wants an exceptionally stylish phone that stands out among its competitors, then the realme 11 Pro 5G is your way to go! The phone offers incredible photos with its 100MP primary camera and OIS that compensates for the shakes.

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G

To begin with, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ comes with a glass back and a 120Hz AMOLED display. In terms of camera, the phone has a 200MPmegapixel primary along with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. On the front, there is a 16MP camera. The HyperCharge charger with 120W fast charging support for the 5000mAh battery is the highlight of the phone.
Features of the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G:

User Feedback: People who closely monitor the tech market say the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is a massive upgrade from its predecessor. It scores high points for its superior build quality, fab camera performance, excellent display and very fast charging.

Oppo F25 Pro 5G

Launched in February 2024, the Oppo F25 Pro 5G is a great choice for those who do not wish to spend more than Rs. 30,000. Making it superb for the gamers is its borderless AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. In terms of the optics, it has ultra-clear triple camera system including a 64MP OV64B 1/2” sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, an 8MP 112-degree ultra-wide camera backed by the Sony IMX355 sensor and a 2MP macro camera with an OV02B10 sensor that can capture intricate details from as close as 4 cm away.
Features of the Oppo F25 Pro 5G:

User Feedback: The Oppo F25 Pro 5G has a good balance of performance, attractive design, a decent camera, and long battery life. Buyers praise the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset that is capable of handling your daily tasks and even some demanding games.

HONOR 90

For those who do not wish to spend more than Rs. 30,000, the Honor 90 is a good phone that looks great and performs well. The screen of this phone is a stunner and the battery life lasts through the day. This smartphone packs a vivid 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a full HD+ resolution (2664 x 1200) and a whopping 1600 nits peak brightness. It has promising cameras that manage to produce bright, detailed and vibrant shots.
Features of the HONOR 90:

User Feedback: The Honor 90 is a compelling phone that delivers surprisingly powerful performance and features a stunning screen. Another worth-mentioning feature is its camera set up that can do good work with good light and a steady hand.

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G

The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE has a classy Jazz Blue body that lets you flaunt your personal style. It has a dazzling halo ring design encircling the primary camera that adds an element of charm. The smartphone features an excellent anti-glare frosted glass matte finish that minimizes fingerprint marks, keeping your phone looking brand new for the longest time.
Features of the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G:

User Feedback: Customers say that the 90Hz AMOLED screen with minimal bezels is something unique and appealing. The performance is good as well, the UI is smooth and offers lag-free gaming as well.
DISCLAIMER: At TOI, we keep you informed about the newest trends and products. The products listed have been well studied and researched, and are also in line with customer ratings. TOI is part of an affiliate partnership, meaning we may receive a portion of the revenue from your purchases. The product prices mentioned in the article are subject to change, as per retailers’ deals

Earth Day is coming to Maple Ridge and the committee behind it wants to show off the creativity of locals as part of the celebration.

Each year, the Earth Day events in Memorial Peace Park include both poetry and photo contests, with prizes being given out to a handful of lucky winners.

In both of these contests, the works must be centred around the theme of the upcoming Earth Day, which this year is “roots”.

“Roots highlights the past and underlying supports in our community and our lives that are not always visible. Who we are today and what we see around us are the branches and ‘leaves’ from seeds previously planted and nurtured. Our community has grown from many different people and ideas and initiatives and actions we may never be fully aware of,” explained the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, which is one of the organizers of the event.

Anyone wanting to enter the poetry contest can do so by submitting a roots-themed poem, flash fiction, or video.

Entries will be divided into three different categories of kids (10 or younger), youth (11 to 16), and adults (17 and older), with the top three works in each category given an award.

While each person is limited to only entering two works into the poetry contest, anyone in B.C. can submit their work.

Poetry contest submissions must be emailed to earthdaycreative2021@gmail.com by midnight on March 31.

READ ALSO: Environment Minister tours Maple Ridge

The photographers out there can submit their best pictures relating to the roots theme for a chance to win one of the top three prizes in either the child, youth, or adult category. Plus, there will be an overall winner announced as well who will get an extra special prize.

All photo entries must be in JPG format and include the photographer’s name and age.

Photographs can be submitted to r.davies@shaw.ca by midnight on March 31.

Once the submission deadline has passed, all of the photos will be posted on the Celebrate Earth Day Facebook page and the public will be able to vote from April 1 to 12 on which ones they like the most, with the pictures that have the highest number of likes being declared the winners.

READ ALSO: Green Team wants fee-for-service partnership with the City of Maple Ridge

The winners of both the poetry and photography contests will be announced at the Celebrate Earth Day event in Maple Ridge, which will take place at Memorial Peace Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.

Yang Seung-Woo has built a name for himself in the world of photography with his fearless captures of gritty life on the streets of places like Shinjuku’s Kabukichō. In 2017 his collection Shinjuku Lost Child made him the first foreign photographer to win the prestigious Domon Ken award. A talk with Yang about what drives him in his work and his life.

While Daniel Arsham has crafted himself into a household name for his mythical multidisciplinary works – specifically his eroded architectural “relics” – many are unfamiliar with the artist’s photography; maybe it’s because he’s kept it rather lowkey, only just now unveiling the inaugural display of his vast range of photography pieces. Phases marks Arsham’s first-ever photography exhibit, now on display at New York City’s Fotografiska.

Phases also celebrates Arsham’s 20 years of practicing photography, compiling an extensive array of shots of different styles, tones and compositions; most shots appear in black-and-white, though a few stand out in more distinct blue and gray hues. Arsham wrote each photo’s title directly on the wall next to it.

Many shots of Los Angeles line the walls, with others of New York City (“Impressions Taken at The Met on a Tuesday Afternoon” and “Curiosity Photographed at the Natural History Museum a Decade Ago”) and Upstate New York (“Forever a Barn in Upstate NY on a February Morning”) in large frames on the ground.

Arsham’s notable self-portrait seen in the gallery above – entitled “A Self-Portrait Taken on my Leica M in the Bathroom Mirror of my London Hotel Room” – is the centerfold of the exhibit’s final room.

Elsewhere, photos of A$AP Rocky and Virgil Abloh stand out. Rocky’s seen photographed in Arsham’s New York City studio whereas Virgil is at work at his studio in Milan.

A few of Arsham’s sculptures are scattered about Phases, including “The Hour Glass” – a metal glass crystal sculpture – as well as the lifesize “Hollow Figure.”

Daniel Arsham’s Phases is open now at Fotografiska and will remain open until June 14, 2024.

The story of Fractal Filters begins with Nikk Wong, a portrait and wedding photographer from the USA who became obsessed with prism photography and after experimenting with cutting glass in a local glass studio and playing with pieces from a fallen glass chandelier which gave him the inspiration to set up his Kickstarter.

Back in 2014, Nikk launched a successful Kickstarter campaign with over 1,000 backers pledging $55,293 to get his idea off the ground. Nearly a decade later and Nikk has turned his dream into a full-time career with the Fractal Filters Classic Kit his flagship product that has seen a few subtle improvements over the years and is now his definitive collection of prisms, as well as working on new products such as the Fractal Filters Fibonacci which Nikk says is launching soon.

In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Fractal Filters Classic Kit, which consists of three premium glass filters, the Penrose, Pascal, and Julia, as well as a soft case with a carry strap and a basic user guide to help you get started.

Nikk said the genesis of his prism photography business started when he “found that filter manufacturers had neglected the amazing reflective properties of glass… creatively I was limited”. While triangular prisms can be picked up relatively cheaply online such as sites like eBay and Amazon, Nikk’s filters are much more versatile and have a premium build quality. They can be great for adding a unique look to both stills photography and video, so in this review, we’ll look at how they perform and if they’re worth the asking price over your standard cheap and cheerful $10 prism.

Fractals filters Creative 3 pack: Design & Handling

In the box you’ll find the Penrose, Pascal and Julia Fractal Filters as well as a padded carry case with a shoulder strap. One notable omission is that there’s no microfiber cloth included, which would be handy for wiping off dirt or greasy fingerprints from the filters, though this isn’t the end of the world as most photographers already own one or two of these. Even still, a dedicated pocket for a cloth in the carry case would have been a nice addition.

The set also comes with some camera setting suggestions to get you started: shoot with a 50mm prime lens set to f/2 with single-point AF with shutter release focus priority and remove your lens hood so that the filter can get as close to the front element as possible. This in turn will also make it easier to defocus the filter with a wide aperture and shallow depth of field.

While this is a set of filters, they aren’t your conventional screw-in type, as they require the flexibility to be moved from side to side, or to be tilted at angle to get the prismal reflection appearing exactly where you need in your frame. Rather than screw into the front filter thread of your lens, you’ll hold them by the three large loops on the each filter’s handle.

The trio of filters offer some great versatility and creative options. The ‘Julia’ has a sort of segmented appearance, with a clear circular sweet spot in the centre which you can place your subject inside of for a repeating kaleidoscopic effect around them.

The ‘Penrose’ has a checkerboard pattern on it which breaks the surrounding image up into a diffused and glitchy pattern. It also has a small section of the glass cut away from it – leaving you a clean zone for you to position your subject so that it is sharp and unaffected by the filter.

Lastly, the Pascal is the heaviest of the three at 255g and 30mm thick trapezoid design. It’s undoubtedly a little more unwieldy to use and can be more difficult to get good results with, though once mastered it will allow you to shoot fantastic subject-isolating images and create impossible images, such as reflecting a tree from behind your head into the frame, or light sources that are normally outside of your camera’s field of view.

One of Nikk’s early inventions on Kickstarter which accompanied his filters was an articulating arm that connected to camera hotshot and held the filters in place in front of the lens, handy for freeing up your hands or keeping the filter in the same spot when recording video. Nikk says this product has since been discontinued, so there’s currently no way to fix the filters in place in front of the lens, unlike a product such as the LensBaby Omni. Though he did go onto say that new products will be launching soon that will have a 1/4 20″ mount that you can attach the handle to solve this problem so we’ll watch out for those in the future.

Fractals filters Creative 3-Pack: Performance

All three of the Fractals Filters are made from quality glass specifically made with photography in mind, and unlike the cheap triangular prisms you can find online for about ten bucks, Fractals Filters filters have lead oxide in the glass for better optical resolution which Nikk claims will give the filters a light transmission of between 95-100% for minimal light loss. They also boast a refractive index of 1.6x which help make images and videos shot with the filters look more vivid.

The filters have a diameter of 100mm, which may sound large it ensures that the filters will work with even the largest of lenses in your collection and makes it more cost effective than buying different filters at different sizes to cater for different optics. 

All three filters come with a built-in solid metal handle with a chrome finish for three of your fingers to grip onto. This does make it slightly awkward if you want to hold the filter in your right hand, as you can’t fire your camera left handed – unless you set up on a tripod.

We were impressed with the image quality of all three filters, especially the Julia and Pascal which require you to shoot through the glass filters and these were tack-sharp which just goes to show the high quality of the glass used. We also saw minimal fringing, which is a negative effect we’ve found from using the cheaper prisms online too.

One downside we found is that to get the best results it helps to use a lens with quite a large front element so that you can hold the filter closer to the lens to squeeze in more of the effects and also holding it closer helps diffuse it with a shallow depth of field. On lenses with a smaller front element, such as the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM which has a front element diameter of just 43mm, you’ll need to hold the filters further away from the lens to see the effects, and this makes it harder to blur the filter with a shallow depth of field.

Fractals filters Creative 3-Pack: Final Verdict

Glass prisms can be found online for a fraction of the price of the Fractals Filters offering, and these remain a great starting point for anyone looking to experiment with abstract prism effects in their portraits and photography.

However, if you find yourself needing extra options and wanting to take your prism portraiture to the next level then the Classic 3-Pack from Fractal Filters is a fantastic upgrade.

All three filters are incredibly well engineered and feel great to use and open up the door to some amazing abstract results that are sure to turn heads. At $119 it works out at just under $40 per filter, though you do also get the soft carry case. Considering we wouldn’t bat an eyelid spending much more on a new lens to open up more creative possibilities then we think these filters are a steal!

You might also like…

Mastering the intricacies of medium format photography can significantly elevate the quality and impact of one’s work. This great video takes a look at the Fujifilm GFX 100 II, a 100-megapixel medium format digital camera, equipped with an ultra-sharp tilt-shift lens, showcasing not just the technical prowess of this setup but also its artistic potential.

Coming to you from Ben Harvey Photography, this insightful video captures a fresh perspective on medium format photography through a practical expedition to photograph seascapes and architectural features. Harvey and his colleague journey to Eastbourne for a sunrise shoot with the Fujifilm GFX 100 II and its tilt-shift lens. Their exploration is not just about the gear; it’s a demonstration of how such technology can transform an ordinary scene into a breathtaking visual experience, underscoring the importance of understanding technical capabilities in enhancing photographic artistry.

Harvey’s narrative weaves through the challenges and discoveries of shooting with the GFX 100 II, emphasizing the learning curve and adjustment required when transitioning from full frame to medium format photography. The video highlights how aperture, depth of field, and lens choices differ significantly between formats, requiring photographers to rethink their approach to composition and exposure. Moreover, the practical use of the tilt-shift lens for composing without altering the camera’s height offers valuable insights into achieving creative compositions. Harvey’s reflections on the camera’s performance, especially in terms of image detail and raw file quality, underscore tangible benefits of medium format photography for professional work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Harvey.

Northfield, OH — MGM Northfield Park has begun the search for a new track photographer.

The photographer will be responsible for photographing harness racing each night, providing photos for media releases, and developing photos for purchase.

Interested applicants can contact Michael Carter for more information about the position at mcarter@mgmnorthfieldpark.com.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park