The alleged victim, Ben McDonald, told AFP the man was Swift’s dad, Scott Swift.

Sydney:

Australian police said they were investigating a 71-year-old man for the alleged assault of a photographer in Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday. The accuser identified the man as Taylor Swift’s father. 

“Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf about 2:30 am (1530 GMT Monday), before leaving the location,” police spokeswoman Alicia McCumstie told AFP. 

“The younger man reported the incident and inquiries are now under way by officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command.” 

The alleged victim, Ben McDonald, told AFP the man was Swift’s dad, Scott Swift. 

McDonald said he had been photographing the US pop icon on a “super yacht” in Sydney Harbour after the last of her four gigs in the city. 

McDonald alleges Swift’s security put an umbrella in his face to prevent him from taking photographs of Taylor Swift, who was walking down the jetty to a waiting vehicle. 

After Swift departed, McDonald claimed a man confronted him and “he punched me in the chops”. 

“I didn’t know who he was, but I looked at photos and saw him holding hands with Taylor, and it was her dad.” 

“It was a shock. That’s never happened to me in 26 years,” he said. 

Australian police do not usually publicly identify people accused or alleging crimes. 

Taylor Swift is currently in the midst of her worldwide blockbuster Eras Tour. 

She heads to Singapore this week for the next leg of what is expected to be the highest-grossing musical tour of all time at over $1 billion, according to Pollstar. 
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Platon, international award-winning photographer, is known for his portrait photography of world leaders and humanitarian efforts through his nonprofit, The People’s Portfolio. He will host the Maverick Speakers Series at 7:30 p.m. March 5 at Texas Hall.

Mark LaVelle, assistant vice president for university events, said the series started as a gift to the UTA community. They have a variety of speakers from different careers share their thoughts and ideas.

“The idea is to sort of bring in a stimulating conversation that hopefully is of interest and entertaining at the same time,” LaVelle said.

The presentation, “Powerful Portraits,” will feature Platon sharing his photographs and showcasing stories of those who live on either side of privilege in order to break down barriers and highlight our shared humanity, according to UTA’s website.

Tickets for the event are free to staff and students and $5 for outside attendees. They are available on the UTATickets website.

“He’s not just a photographer, he’s very much an advocate for human rights,” LaVelle said. “When he photographs people, it’s not about just getting a good photograph. It’s about looking at the humanity within the person and behind the person.”

Platon is known for his photography of world leaders, including six former American presidents. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, British Vogue and The Sunday Times Magazine. He has also produced over 20 covers for TIME magazine, according to UTA’s website.

In 2013, Platon founded The People’s Portfolio, a foundation seeking to create visual languages that break barriers, expand dignity, fight discrimination and enlist the public to support human rights worldwide.

UTA student leaders, staff and surveys recommend speakers for the series to LaVelle’s team. He said the group then presents to a committee that decides who they want to reach out to.

“Education goes on every day for the rest of your life,” LaVelle said. “So it’s a way of presenting educational opportunities to people at every stage of their life.”

@wall035203

news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Dame Dash is being sued for nearly $400 million by a photographer who alleges the Roc-a-Fella Records cofounder took her photos and photo equipment and didn’t pay her.

Dame Sued for Nearly $400 Million by Photographer

Dame Dash has found himself in another court matter. On Feb. 22, photographer Monique Bunn filed a new suit against Dame, insisting she is owed $384,750,000 in damages after Dame allegedly stole and damaged her photos and photo equipment, according to court documents obtained by XXL on Monday (Feb. 26). Bunn initially sued Dame in 2019, alleging conversion, sexual assault and defamation of character, after he allegedly invited her to his home to review pictures she’d taken of him over the years. She claims he kicked her out of his home on the second day of the visit and Dame refused to let her retrieve her belongings, including photographs and photo equipment. He allegedly only returned the damaged items in 2021. Some of the 256,000 photos were damaged and others were missing.

In 2023, a jury sided with Bunn on liability for the defamation claim and awarded her $30,000. However, Dame was cleared of battery and theft.

“The evidence at trial – which was uncontroverted – established that each photo was worth $1,500, which should have resulted in a verdict for at least $384,750,000,” the court document reads. “It is well known that professional photographers earn much of their income through licensing their portfolio of photographs, and Defendants’ actions destroyed Ms. Bunn’s economic prospects. The jury ignored the valuation evidence and awarded zero to Ms. Bunn.”

“It is impossible to conceive how a jury could conclude that a professional
photographer’s portfolio of thousands of photos, as well as photography equipment,
could be worth zero,” the filing continues. “Especially when the Plaintiff and the Defendants both testify that the damages are in the millions. A new trial is warranted under these
circumstances.”

The next hearing for the case is scheduled for March 22.

Read More: Dame Dash Says Kanye West Has Everyone Dressing Like a Crackhead

Dame Dash Forced to Sell Roc-a-Fella Shares

The news of the reopened lawsuit comes on the heels of news that Dame is being forced by a judge to sell his shares in Roc-a-Fella Records to pay off a judgment in another case.

Read More: Dame Dash Fires Back at Fat Joe for Saying Dame Should Make Another Jay-Z

I’ve been a pro photographer for a few years, and while I was going pro, I tried just about every form of photography you can think of, except for one… until now.

While on a recent trip to New York, I decided this would be the best time to try my hand at street photography. Now, as if doing so wasn’t already enough of a test, I decided to do it on film, so there’s much less margin for error. With one camera, one lens, and an open eye, I set to it. I didn’t really have a particular goal in mind, other than to keep my eyes open and watch for the moment that was about to happen.

I think as photographers, we can often look down on other genres that are shot by other photographers. I’m even guilty of thinking street photography was easy before. This experience surely humbled me. With the whole roll of film, I only got a handful of photos that I would call keepers, and even then, most of them aren’t anything to write home about.

I do think my favorite shot of the bunch is one that I didn’t even notice until I got my scans back, which is of the side panel of a car parked on the street. It was a little older, so I thought I’d do the natural thing as a photographer shooting on film, but precisely when I took the photo, a man walked by, perfectly framed in the window. Now sure, he is not tack sharp, and it could be better. That said, for a happy accident of a photo, I love it.

But for every keeper shot, there are three or more shots that are either boring, timed wrong, have the wrong subject, or are technically a mess. I was shooting from the hip for a number of these. Manually focusing, I attempted to gauge the distance as I saw the moment approach, set the focus distance, and then lift the camera. I found this did help as if I were to bring the camera up, then focus, the moment itself could have already passed. Which is another thing this experiment taught me: these moments are so fleeting, happening all the time, and that sometimes you have to wait for the moment, and sometimes you can see it about to happen in front of you. The key thing is being ready for it when that moment does appear.

This style is a large departure from my usual work, as I typically shoot where things are set up, and rather than capturing an authentic moment, I create it, and then photograph it in a way that feels authentic. But what it has done is given me a perspective that I otherwise lacked as a photographer. I naturally keep my eyes open for what makes a good shot, but now I feel it has only amplified that, especially in the way of creating moments to feel authentic. There is no better clinic for doing so than capturing the authentic moments themselves.

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t going to transform me into a street photographer. Could it lend to a more documentary approach to my work? Perhaps. But I am by no means a street photographer. It was actually so uncomfortable for me at the beginning that I almost didn’t go through with it, but I am a firm believer in challenging yourself creatively, and that’s exactly what happened here. I took a genre that was very foreign to me and dove into it without expectation, just trying to create something cool. Something that maybe, just maybe, I could be proud of. It’s also funny because I know what it looks like to be proud of a commercial, portrait, or fashion image I create, but I have much less of a sense of what being proud of a street photo I’ve taken is. But beyond growing my eye and approach to photography, it has also given me a much greater appreciation for the medium of street photography. Not to say that I didn’t respect the genre before, far from it in fact. But rather that you don’t really feel what others are challenged with until you step into that role. I’ll be the first to say, street photography isn’t easy. It’s not easy to also be waiting for moments and not like the shots you get. With street photography, I found you have to almost passively pay attention to everything and be ready to act at a moment’s notice. You take in everything, all the time, watching for something of interest.

There is no right way to shoot, but there’s definitely a wrong way. And for many of these shots, I definitely found out what the latter was. The benefit of this, however, is you grow each time. If I were to actually dive into street photography, and perhaps if you’re considering it, I would keep doing outings like this and keep trying to improve each time, pay attention to different things, experiment, and see what works. Much like any other genre, your eye will refine with time, and the process will begin to streamline. You end up getting into the zone, as it were.

By the end of it, I’m happy with the experience. I’m definitely not giving up my usual work anytime soon, but I may do experiments like this more often. It is also a great way to experience a city and really take it all in. You feel more in tune with the environment, at least in my experience. Perhaps let this be a lesson to challenge yourself in different ways, get outside your comfort zone, and shoot beyond your usual scope to refresh your eye. Give yourself a new subject, and maybe it’ll inspire you in ways you haven’t thought of before. I think next time I’m feeling uninspired, shooting street, perhaps wildlife, or something different entirely might be what I need to break out of that funk.

At the end of the experience, I even found myself trying to shoot a little of this subject matter back in my home city of Toronto. This is due, in part, to the fact that I had part of a roll of film in one camera that I wanted to polish off and thus decided to take to the streets to do so, ending with about just one photo I was happy with. But one is always better than zero.

WASHINGTON — The Gibbs Library presents Wanderings – Photographs by Rachel Oakes, which will be on exhibit through March and April.                              

Oakes provides the following bio:

“A nature loving mother of three, I was born and raised in Maine. I am a self taught artist and maker, working primarily in watercolor, but often branching out into various other mediums, including ink, stone, clay, fiber arts, and photography. 
 
“I began taking photos as references for paintings, and found a love for photography as its own art form. I do not have a professional setup by any stretch — My photos are just a means of journaling and capturing moments of beauty and magic in everyday life, raising children and exploring our little piece of the planet, here in Maine.”

The Gibbs Library is located at 40 Old Union Road, in Washington Village, and is open on Monday 4-7 PM; Tuesday 9-Noon and 4-7 PM; Wednesday  3-6 PM; Thursday and Saturday 9 AM-Noon.  

www.gibbslibrary.org

Imagine a world where your beloved four-legged friend is immortalized as the star of their very own vintage travel poster, thanks to the creative genius of one man and his innovative use of artificial intelligence. This is the reality Jim Henderson, a former art director turned photographer, has brought to life in a project that blends his passion for photography, his love for dogs, and his fascination with AI into a unique form of art that has captivated the hearts of dog lovers everywhere.

From Art Director to AI Artist

Jim Henderson’s journey into the realm of AI-assisted photography began at the ripe age of 55, following a successful career as an art director. His transition into photography was driven by a desire to explore new creative avenues, but it was his love for vintage travel posters and his own dogs that inspired him to embark on a project that would soon capture the attention of pet owners across the globe. By leveraging AI technology, Henderson started creating personalized, retro-style travel posters featuring dogs in all their glory, based on detailed profiles provided by their owners. This innovative approach allowed him to capture the essence and personality of each dog without relying on traditional photographs as references.

Challenges and Triumphs in a New Artistic Landscape

While the integration of AI into creative processes has been met with skepticism by some in the photography community, Henderson views it as a powerful tool that can enhance an artist’s work when used creatively. The process of generating these unique posters involves an initial AI-generated image, which Henderson then meticulously refines in Photoshop to ensure each poster accurately reflects the dog’s character. Despite the challenges AI presents to traditional photography, Henderson’s work demonstrates how it can be harnessed to create something truly special and personal. This project, which he considers a hobby rather than a primary source of income, has not only brought joy to dog owners seeking to commemorate their furry friends but has also sparked conversations about the evolving role of AI in art and photography.

The Joy of Capturing Canine Personalities

The response to Henderson’s AI-generated dog posters has been overwhelmingly positive, with dog owners eager to see their pets immortalized in a unique and artistic manner. For many, these posters serve as a cherished keepsake, especially for those commemorating pets that have passed away. Henderson’s ability to capture the individual personalities of the dogs in his posters is a testament to his skill as both a photographer and an artist. As the popularity of his project grows, it stands as a reminder of the joy and comfort our canine companions bring into our lives, and the innovative ways in which technology can be used to celebrate that bond.

Jim Henderson’s fusion of photography, AI, and his love for dogs has resulted in a heartwarming project that resonates with pet owners everywhere. By embracing the challenges and possibilities that AI presents to the artistic world, he has carved out a niche that not only showcases his talents but also brings happiness to those looking to celebrate their pets in a unique and enduring way.

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There are many who say artificial intelligence is about to destroy photography as we know it — but one photographer is using it to earn a little cash on the side.

Before Jim Henderson took up photography at the age of 55 years old, he was an art director and he used his past creative endeavors for a bit of inspiration.

“I’ve always liked these kind of retro travel posters that I’ve seen over the years,” Henderson tells PetaPixel. “So I thought I would make a couple of travel-like posters using my two dogs and posted them to social media.”

People love their dogs. So, perhaps unsurprisingly, people started enquiring if Henderson could make the retro AI posters for their own pooches.

“I just started doing it on the side,” he explains. “It’s not my job. I’m still a photographer. It’s more of a hobby than anything but I enjoy doing them and people really like getting a nice piece of art of their dog.”

He says that right now it is not paying all the bills — far from it. But they are proving popular and he finds the process fun.

“People seem to get a lot of joy out of these. A fair amount of ones I do are for people whose dogs passed away and they like having something that’s not just a photo but something that looks a little bit more heroic,” he says.

Methodology

It is possible to use a photograph as a prompt for AI image generators — but that’s not what Henderson does. Instead, he gets people who want a poster to fill out a profile sheet about their dog so he can understand their personality more to better inform the poster.

He does get reference photos sent over that were taken by the owners but they are used to inform his text prompt — rarely does he use them as a prompt.

“The AI is getting better and you can put an image of the dog into a prompt but it hasn’t worked out all that well and I’ve ended up using mostly just word prompts,” he says. “I’m not trying to duplicate a photo.”

The 69-year-old insists he’s “not very tech savvy” but he uses Midjourney which operates off of Discord.

“It’s really not that bad. There are a lot of people offering tips and advice out there. There is an art to a prompt. I don’t just type in a prompt and get the poster — it doesn’t work like that,” he says.

“I type in a prompt and it gives me something back and then I have to start refining it. Sometimes you just have to keep running and running and running — and rerunning.”

Henderson says when he’s creating a custom piece for someone it has to look like their dog.

“You can just plop in a picture of a golden retriever because body shapes are different and some are stocky, some are lean,” he says.

In fact, most of the time he has to take the AI image into Photoshop to perfect the picture and that’s why he thinks anyone doing this will get better results if they are a creative person and have an eye.

AI: Friend or Foe?

Henderson says that he will be winding his photo business down one day but adds that if he was 25 or 30 years old he would be concerned about AI.

“There’s definitely stuff that photographers shoot now that they won’t be shooting in five or 10 years time,” he says.

But Henderson doesn’t have as much disdain for AI as many other photographers do.

“The reality is: it’s here and you need to figure out how to work with it. It can definitely help a photographer in certain ways. You just have to figure out how to utilize it to the best of your abilities.”

More of Henderson’s work can be found on his website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Image credits: Jim Henderson.