A series of previously unseen photographs of Björk taken by Spike Jonze were released yesterday. Curated by Humberto Leon and on view as part of a special exhibition at Arroz & Fun in Los Angeles, The Day I Met Björk is an exclusive photo-series that is available to download via WeTransfer that documents the fruitful partnership between the Icelandic singer and the American filmmaker. ⁠
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The images were taken at the famed Chateau Marmont back in the 1990s, prior to Jonze directing Björk’s “It’s Oh So Quiet” music video. Within the images, Björk lends an intriguing and sometimes uncanny effect to otherwise ordinary and mundane scenes — from jumping on a hotel room bed, hunching over a bathtub to swimming in the pool. “It’s very easy to shoot photos of someone when they’re compelling, when they’re imaginative, when they lack any self consciousness and when they’re as singular and original as her. Really, I almost can’t even take credit for any photos being good,” noted Jonze on the series.

As a longtime friend and collaborator to Jonze, Leon entertained the idea of having a cafe art exhibition at Arroz & Fun and Jonze was quick to recommend the forgotten series of Björk. “So, this ‘Surprise Exhibition’ is an ode to someone I love so much,” noted Leon. “Dedicating my first show to someone that showed me what the world could be only
seemed fitting. Today, help me celebrate this love with The Day I Met Björk.”

For those unable to witness the exhibition in person, the photo-series is available to download free as a zine at WeTransfer.

Arroz & Fun
1822 North Broadway,
Los Angeles CA 90031 ⁠

This weekend, the University of New Orleans’ St. Claude Gallery will open an exhibition in honor of beloved New Orleans writer and photographer Christy Lorio, who was in the process of earning her second master’s degree from the university before she passed away from cancer in November 2022.

Lorio, who was 42 when she died at home, had been living with stage-IV colorectal cancer for four years — an experience she wrote and spoke about candidly and often with a sense of humor.

“Choose Joy,” which opens with a reception at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, is a posthumous thesis exhibition of Lorio’s photography. The reception runs until 9 p.m. and will include Lorio’s husband, Thomas Fewer, reading from her chapbook, “Cold Comfort.”

The exhibition will be on display through March 3. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and admission is free and open to the public. Find more information at unostclaudegallery.org.

Lorio had earned her bachelor’s and then a MFA in creative writing from UNO before starting her MFA in fine arts for photography in fall 2020.

“Christy was a remarkable person, full of love and enthusiasm for life and art,” a spokesperson for the gallery said in a statement. “She was an excellent graduate student and grad assistant for the photography students in the fine arts department at UNO.”

“She excelled at anything she put her mind to, and her pursuit of photography and becoming an artist was no different,” they continued. “The New Orleans art community, and the photography community at large, lost a talented individual.”

A scholarship fund also has been set up in Lorio’s name to support UNO graduate students in the final parts of completing their degrees.

Lorio had contributed to Gambit as well as Antigravity, Uptown Messenger and other publications. Shortly before she passed, she published “Cold Comfort.” The chapbook of essays and photography is about her experiences with late-stage cancer and finding joy where she could.

“When your life exists in the dark spots, you need to interject brightness into your life as much as possible,” she wrote. Find the book at bellepointpress.com.

Capturing the ethereal beauty of waterfalls remains a timeless pursuit for photographers, offering a blend of technical challenge and artistic expression. This helpful video dives into this subject, sharing insights based on extensive experience with waterfall photography, underlining its significance not just for its aesthetic appeal but for the technical acumen it demands.

Coming to you from Jason Friend Photography, this instructive video takes us through the meticulous process of photographing The Cauldron Falls in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Friend begins with a personal anecdote about his first ever published photo, a waterfall in New Zealand, setting the stage for a discussion on the allure and technique of capturing such natural phenomena. He emphasizes the importance of scouting for the perfect angle handheld before committing to a tripod setup, advocating for the tripod’s role in achieving the desired milky water effect. This approach underscores the blend of spontaneity and precision in landscape photography, illustrating how previsualization and technical readiness can coalesce to capture stunning natural scenes.

Furthermore, Friend introduces a simple yet effective tip: using a polarizing filter to enhance waterfall images. He demonstrates the filter’s dual benefits—slowing down water to achieve a silky texture and reducing reflections to control highlights—offering a practical solution to common challenges faced when photographing water in motion. The video details the adjustment of camera settings, such as ISO, aperture, and shutter speed, in conjunction with the polarizing filter to optimize exposure and composition, providing a clear, actionable strategy to elevate their imagery. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Friend. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, “Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!” 

Amy Quinn Hill

A specialized senior portrait experience that blends expert styling, high-quality prints, and unforgettable locations.

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA, February 16, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Amy Quinn Hill Photography is excited to announce its new Senior Portrait Experience designed for graduating high school and college students. This service offers personalized photo sessions to commemorate this significant milestone in a student’s life with style.

Amy Quinn Hill is a senior portrait photographer in Charleston recognized for her ability to capture each student’s unique personality and spirit. Her photographs are known for their emotional depth and the stories they tell, set against the backdrop of Charleston’s scenic beauty.

The service includes a collaboration with a professional stylist, ensuring each senior’s session reflects their personality. Unlike standard portrait sessions that may only offer digital images, Amy Quinn Hill Photography places a strong emphasis on printed photographs because she believes photos come to life in print. Every senior session comes with a print credit, encouraging clients to create tangible reminders of these important moments.

Amy prioritizes quality in her print offerings, working with top-tier labs to provide various products, including photo albums, framed prints, and metal and acrylic options. This commitment ensures clients have durable, beautifully crafted memories to display and cherish.

The selection of locations for the photo sessions, such as Isle of Palms Beach and Historic Charleston, adds a distinctive charm. These settings are not just backgrounds but integral parts of each portrait’s narrative, chosen to reflect the preferences and style of the senior.

Amy’s role as the contributing photographer for Daniel Island Neighbors Magazine, where she captures the cover photo each month, showcases her recognized talent and connection to the local community. In reflecting on her approach, Amy shares, “My goal is to not only capture the milestone of senior year but to do so in a way that honors each student’s individuality. It’s about creating something that feels personal, tells their story, and that will be treasured for years.”

About Amy Quinn Hill Photography
Amy Quinn Hill Photography offers lifestyle and documentary photography services including personal branding, family, milestones, and senior portraits in Charleston. Serving the surrounding areas, Amy focuses on creating timeless, heartfelt photography. Whether for family vacations, special occasions, or senior portraits, her work is dedicated to capturing these moments with authenticity and care.

For more information about the Senior Portrait Experience or to book a session, please visit amyquinnhillphotography.com/.

Amy Quinn Hill
Amy Quinn Hill Photography
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A total solar eclipse is about to visit North America — and with the right knowledge, it’s possible to produce spectacular images and videos of it with just a smartphone.

On April 8, 2024, six states in northwest Mexico, 15 U.S. states and six provinces in Canada will be visited by a total solar eclipse. To experience totality — darkness in the day and a totally eclipsed sun — you must be within the 115-mile wide path of totality. Inside the path, you’ll see (using solar filters or solar eclipse glasses) the partial phases of the eclipse on either side of totality, lasting up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds. Totality (and only totality) can be viewed by the naked eye and imaged using cameras and smartphones without solar filters. Outside of the path of totality, you’ll see only the partial phases.

Why smartphones are ideal for the total solar eclipse

Gone are the days when people tried to use point-and-shoot cameras — these days, it’s either a smartphone or a DSLR/mirrorless camera. ‘Smartphones are going to be the way most people capture this eclipse and that’s fine—they will work very well,’ said Alan Dyer, solar eclipse photographer and author of How to photograph the solar eclipse, in an interview with Space.com. ‘Even if you just hold it up and shoot on auto exposure, you’ll probably get a good shot.’

You’ll never match professional close-up images of the sun’s corona, which use professional cameras and telescopes, but you can get some excellent photos with just a smartphone. Here are some top tips to maximize your chances, but if you’re looking to photograph the solar eclipse with a dedicated camera, be sure to also read our ‘how to photograph a solar eclipse‘ for more generic advice or find the best solar viewing kit for you with our buying guide.

1. Switch off the flash before totality

If you’re inside the path of totality, there’s one thing you must do to your smartphone — disable the flash before totality. Using flash won’t help your photography and, worse, it will detract from the experience of totality for everyone around you. If you don’t do this, expect groans and moans in your direction.  

2. Don’t zoom in on the eclipse

This next bit of advice doesn’t apply to those with smartphone that have a separate telephoto lens that optically zooms in on far-away subjects. But for the many smartphones that don’t have this, take heed.

Don’t make the one classic mistake that most people make when using a smartphone to take an image of an eclipse. As the eclipsed sun appears, the temptation is to pinch the screen to zoom in as far as you can. It’s so tempting, particularly if your smartphone has a so-called ‘superzoom,’ but it rarely heralds good results. After all, as you zoom in, you lose resolution, and all you are doing is reducing the quality of your image, which will become noticeably grainy and dirty.  

3. Go super wide-angle or portrait

The most impactful wide-angle images of an eclipsed sun occur close to the horizon. That’s not going to be possible during this eclipse because totality takes place from a maximum of 68 degrees above the southeast horizon when it’s first seen in Mexico, dropping to about 24 degrees above the southwest horizon as it’s last seen in Canada. So, you might consider using portrait mode to fit in some foreground, though super wide-angle ought to work for many.  

4. Lock focus during totality

A superb image can be had during totality using just a smartphone — but only if you set it up properly. ‘Use a smartphone on auto exposure, and it will probably work, but whether it’s in focus depends on what’s in the foreground,’ said Dyer. ‘It may hunt for focus.’ 

The answer is to use the focus lock on your smartphone. Exactly how you do that will depend on what smartphone you have and what app you use. For example, on an iPhone’s native camera app, you touch what you want to focus on by pressing on the object on your smartphone’s screen for a second or so. This will lock the focus so you can concentrate only on composition. With plunging light levels just before totality, exactly when and how you do that is key. Once just a slither of the sun is visible in your eclipse glasses and it begins to get suitably dark around you, focus your camera on something in the middle distance — perhaps a tree, building or the bridge on a cruise ship. You can then move the brightness shutter up and down to control the shutter speed — you’ll probably want to take it down a notch.  

5. Use burst mode during totality

With the last few beads around the moon, you’re ready to catch one of the highlights of the eclipse — the diamond ring. It’s the final bead of sunlight before it goes completely dark, and the sun’s mighty corona appears. This happens in a split second, and you’ll have no hope of catching it manually, so consider using burst mode to capture the magical moment.  

6. Shoot totality in RAW

Totality is dark. If you experienced totality during the last total solar eclipse in North America — on August 21, 2017 —  you’ll recall the twilight and 360-degree sunset effects on the horizon. This time around, the moon will be closer, the path of totality wider, and totality likely significantly darker. That means you need to think like an astrophotographer (check out our astrophotography for beginners guide) and shoot in RAW image format. RAW images retain the original sensor data and skip the built-in processing your smartphone automatically applies to JPEGs. 

The way to shoot in RAW is to download a third-party app such as Halide, Yamera or Camera+ 2 and toggle on the RAW mode. Some phones, like the Google Pixel range, will let you shoot RAW without needing any third-party apps.

Shoot as usual; after the eclipse, you can edit and touch up the image in one of the desktop best photo editing apps for astrophotography, or smartphone apps like Darkroom, , or VSCO. The finished result will have much more dynamic range, color and detail than any JPEG your smartphone’s built-in camera app produces. 

However, since RAW images take up more space, it’s wise to make sure you have plenty of room on your smartphone, perhaps clearing out unwanted photos and apps before eclipse day. Need more space? Back them up on one of the best external hard drives.

7. Don’t shoot a handheld video

Taking images with a smartphone is possible, but try shooting a video for something different. This will come as an instinct for many people watching the eclipse, but most will do it wrong. ‘A lot of people will take a movie,’ said Dyer. ‘But they’ll be waving it about and bouncing around, and all they’ll get is a movie that will make anyone watching it feel sick.’  

8. Shoot video using a tripod

If you do want to film a video, change tack and think about it as a video of you watching the eclipse. A movie of you and your friends and family in silhouette enjoying totality and glimpsing the eclipsed sun will be a treasured souvenir of some of the most magical moments of your entire life.

To do this properly, lean your smartphone against something or, better still, get a small tripod and a universal smartphone holder. Position it properly and compose the movie a few minutes before totality. ‘Put it in wide-angle mode, start the movie going a couple of minutes before totality and just let it run,’ said Dyer. ‘As a bonus, you’ll capture audio — the cheering and you shouting ‘oh my God!’ — a big part of the experience and a great souvenir you can use to relive the eclipse years later.’  

Upcoming total solar eclipses

Our solar eclipse guide details at length when and where the next solar eclipses will be, but below is a summary to whet your appetite.

8 April 2024
The path of totality for runs across North America, from northwest Mexico, through Texas and the midwest U.S. and will end over Atlantic Canada, touching 15 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces. Austin, Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Montreal are just some of the cities that will experience totality.

12 August 2026
Europe is next treated to a total eclipse in 2026, which will be visible from Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Weather permitting, several large cities will see totality, including Reykjavik, Bilbao, Zaragoza, and Palma. Most of western Europe will experience a partial eclipse.

2 August 2027
The path of totality for this 2027 eclipse travels across North Africa and the Middle East before terminating over the Indian Ocean. Egypt will see the longest period of totality, a huge 6 minutes 22 seconds, near the city of Luxor — the second-longest solar eclipse of the century. Given the climate, time of day, and exceptional length of totality, this is likely to be the most favorable viewing position for any solar eclipse in this decade.

22 July 2028
The final total solar eclipse of the decade will happen in 2028, when Australia and New Zealand will witness an eclipse with a maximum totality of over five minutes. This eclipse will be notable for passing over Sydney. 

In the digital age, the art of capturing moments through a lens has transcended traditional boundaries, evolved by the rapid currents of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. As we delve into the intricacies of how social media has revolutionized photography education and monetization, a fascinating narrative unfolds. The journey from shutter speed to screen swipe reveals a complex tapestry of creativity, commerce, and community that has reshaped the essence of photography in 2024.

The Instagram Effect on Photography

At the heart of this transformation is Instagram, a platform that has become a pivotal arena for photographers. The key to success on this visual stage lies in building a robust following, a task that demands consistency, quality, and a keen eye for curating images that speak volumes. The mantra is clear: to thrive, one must not only capture but also captivate. Instagram has emerged as a formidable marketing tool, enabling photographers to showcase their work to a global audience, thereby opening up avenues for monetization previously unimagined. The allure of viral posts and the potential for financial gain, however, has steered the conversation away from the core of photography as an art form, towards a focus on gear reviews and income generation.

Branding and Content Pillars in Social Media

Another dimension to this evolving landscape is the emphasis on personal branding and the establishment of content pillars on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Understanding one’s ‘why’, identifying the target audience, and articulating key themes are paramount in resonating with viewers. This process involves distilling one’s essence into a ‘secret sauce’ that blends professional achievements with personal anecdotes, offering a holistic view of the creator behind the lens. This strategic approach to content creation serves not just to educate or entertain, but to forge a connection that transcends the superficial, inviting viewers into a world where every frame tells a story.

Leveraging Social Media for Monetization

The path to monetization through social media for photographers in 2024 is multifaceted. It encompasses building a strong online presence, defining a niche, and crafting a professional portfolio that speaks to both skill and vision. Networking with clients, harnessing the power of social media advertising, and directly selling products to an engaged audience are key strategies. Yet, amidst these tactics, the importance of nurturing a strong brand and engaging with the audience on a genuine level remains paramount. Legal considerations and a deep understanding of one’s audience also play crucial roles in shaping a successful monetization strategy. The narrative has shifted, highlighting a delicate balance between honing one’s craft, embracing the artistic value of photography, and navigating the waters of financial gain.

In conclusion, the impact of social media on photography and its education is profound and multifaceted. The platforms that once served as mere showcases for the final product have now become arenas of learning, networking, and business. The challenge for photographers is to navigate this new terrain with an eye for authenticity and a heart for artistry, balancing the pursuit of passion with the pragmatics of income generation. As we stand at the crossroads of creativity and commerce, the future of photography remains a canvas awaiting the next stroke of genius.

Photography’s essence and education have been significantly altered by the surge of social media, presenting a complex challenge for photographers. This insightful video dives into this topic, exploring how the focus has shifted from the art of photography to monetization and gear reviews, emphasizing the importance of this shift for both emerging and established photographers.

Coming to you from Prince Meyson, this candid video highlights the evolution of photography content on social media platforms. Meyson points out that earlier, content was primarily educational, with photographers sharing their skills and behind-the-scenes insights. However, as social media grew, there was a noticeable pivot towards gear reviews and monetization strategies, driven by the allure of collaborations with brands and the potential for financial gain. This shift, according to Meyson, has led to a dilution of content quality and a move away from the core of photography as an art form. He stresses that while gear reviews and monetization advice are valuable, they should not overshadow the educational aspects of photography that inspire passion and creativity.

Moreover, Meyson reflects on the impact of this transition on learning and passion in photography. He observes that many newcomers are drawn to photography not for the love of the craft but for the potential financial rewards, a trend fueled by advertisements and content emphasizing quick financial success. This, Meyson argues, undermines the foundational skills and the joy of learning photography, suggesting a disconnect between the pursuit of money and the artistry of photography. He advocates for a balance, encouraging photographers to focus on improving their craft and embracing photography for its artistic value, not just its potential for income. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Meyson.