THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Woodlands Photography Club hosted its recent annual exhibition of submissions to its yearly photography contest at the South County Community Center. All of the submissions adorned the walls of the center for the entire day for judges and members of the public alike to admire, then that evening the winning photographers took a bow.

The contest committee chair, Randi Munsey, and committee members Chris Summers, Ann Greene, Becky Anderson, and Teresa Otto were proud to announce the winning photographers and photos:

Best of Show — Ann Green — Trees of Fog (ICM)
Member’s Choice — Tom Flink — Here I Come (TWPC Field Trips)

Texas
1st — Chris Summers — Stopping to Smell the Flowers
2nd — Andrew Steptowe — Caddo Calm
3rd — Randi Munsey Independent Spirit — Austin, TX
HM — Randi Munsey — Sunrise Amusement

Curator’s Choice
Andrew Steptowe — Road to Hell
Tom Flink — Pedernales Sunset
Michaels Schaffner — The Light Beckons
Bob Gower — Yee — Haw
Alicia Kominek — The blue house
Francisco — Collado — Texas Country Side

Architecture BW
1st — Michael Schaffner — Church in The Woods
2nd — Bob Gower — Escheresque
3rd — Richard Chesney — Houston Cistern — Underground
HM — Dahlia Dean — Aligned Rectangles

Curator’s Choice
Chris Summers — Form Ever Follows Function
Kathy Craven — Utility in Architecture
Joan Tilton — The Portal
Bob Jefferis — Kimbell Art Museum
Teresa Otto — In Savannah’s Defense
Bob Clemson — Lonely Street

Seasons
1st — Richard Chesney — Colorado in the Fall
2nd — Ann Green — Winter in Yoho National Park
3rd — Richard Chesney — Oregon Coast Sunset Splendor
HM — Andrew Steptowe — Winter Vista

Curator’s Choice
Darryl Scearce — Magical Views from the Ice Caves
Kathy Craven — Sisters of the Summer Sun
Craig Micklethwaite — Autumn Sprinkles
Craig Micklethwaite — Symphony
Dahlia Dean — Fall Colors
Zoraya Stern — Early Stretch

TWPC Field Trips
1st — Tom Flink — Here I Come
2nd — Zoraya Stern — Wrapped in Love
3rd — Joan Tilton — Post Grid
HM — Kathy Craven — Mexicranios — The Post

Curator’s Choice
Chris Summers — In Nomine Patris
Chris Summers — ’51 Ford F1
Glenn Siegert — Hight and Dry
Glenn Siegert — Deep Roots
Richard Yzaguirre — Swamp Prince
Bob Clemson — Sunflower

Open
1st — Michael Schaffner — Striped Reflection
2nd Chris Summers — The Warm Jets
3rd — Teresa Otto — Are Your Affairs in Order?
HM — Craig Micklethwaite — The Ethereal and The Eternal

Curator’s Choice
Chris Summers — Dunk, Rinse and Spin!
Darryl Scearce — Displaying her beauty
Darryl Scearce — Vertrahorn by Night
Remington Mullins — Observant Eyes — A Shared Gaze
Zoraya Stern — Reflections Interrupted
Richard Chesney — Not a Baby Anymore

Artistic Digital Manipulation
1st — Dahlia Dean — In a Hurry
2nd — Becky Anderson — Sunflowers Dreaming
3rd — Joan Tilton — Spin City
HM — Chris Summers — Apollo’s Harp

Curator’s Choice
Darryl Scearce — Whimsical Sunflowers
Becky Anderson — Raindrops and Flowers
Joan Tilton — Floating Flowers
Bob Jefferis — Sand Sailing Club on the Beach
Alicia Kominek — The House by the creek
Zoraya Stern — If Architecture Is A Reflections of Music Standing Still, Photography Is A Frozen Moment if the Composition

ICM (Intentional Camera Movement)
1st — Dahlia Dean — Downtown
2nd — Randi Munsey — Basket Weave
3rd — Bob Jefferis — Ocean View
HM — Kathy Craven — Windchimes

Curator’s Choice
Ellen Taylor — Out of the Park!
Tom Flink — To Infinity
Bob Jefferis — Sunset Watchers on the Beach
Teresa Otto — Sunbeam
Craig Micklethwaite — Passage of Time
Zoraya Stern — Lifeline

New Members — Textures/Patterns
1st — Kathy Hutchinson — Patterns on steroids
2nd — Kathy Hutchinson — Wild thing, you make my heart sing
3rd — Remington Mullins — Mamba Mosaic
HM — Craig Micklethwaite — Timeless Jigsaw

Curator’s Choice
Darryl Scearce — Wavy Sand Beach
Jim Anderson — Pathways
Kelly Geohegan — Ample Staple Inventory
Kelly Geohegan — Fuzzy Squash
Craig Micklethwaite — Frozen Fabric

Wild Card — Roadways, Bridges and Monuments
1st — Kathy Craven — Montrose Boulevard Bridge
2nd — Joan Tilton — Over the Top
3rd — Tom Flink — Exit Memphis
HM — Chris Summers — Forgotten Bridge to Nowhere

Curator’s Choice
Becky Anderson — Morning Stillness
Joan Tilton — Under the Boardwalk
Bob Jefferis — Meeburg Bridge in Bruges after 630 years
Teresa Otto — Below the Bridge to Nowhere
Zoraya Stern — Beyond
Bob Clemson — Dawn Patrol

In her new exhibition, 5 East Broadway, the image-maker brings together still photography and film to revive the optimism of the American dream

When Apple launched its M1-equipped MacBook Air in 2020, we called its in-house chip a “game-changer” – and the tech giant might be planning an equivalent move for iPhone cameras, according to the latest rumors.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple “is eyeing an in-house strategy for camera sensors”. In other words, making its own camera sensors in much the same way as Apple Silicon. And while there’s no rumored timescale for this, it would be a big moment for mobile photography and videography.

The benefits of Apple making an in-house camera sensor – beyond the business benefits of moving into an expanding sector – are potentially many. But the main one for the iPhone would be a much better-optimized image processing pipeline, which could unlock image quality and performance improvements when combined with Apple’s Photonic Engine. It could also put Apple at the forefront of spatial photos and video.

Apple introduced its Photonic Engine – a computational photography development of Deep Fusion – in the iPhone 14 series. Its main advancement was that it applied Apple’s multi-frame processing earlier in the image development process than Deep Fusion, this time on uncompressed (or raw) images. This gave Apple more control over detail, color, and exposure – and adding an Apple-made sensor to this mix could again unlock more computational processing advancements.

Apple doesn’t disclose the image sensors used in iPhones, but the iPhone 15 Pro’s 48MP sensor is strongly rumored to be the Sony IMX803 (also used in the iPhone 14 Pro). Sony dominates the CMOS camera sensor market (according to The Elec, it had a 51.6% market share by the end of 2022), so most iPhone cameras (and their Lidar scanners) are based on Sony sensors – this means an in-house Apple camera sensor would deliver a sizable earthquake through that market.

This rumored move also wouldn’t just be about iPhone cameras. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported, image sensors are also “core to future developments in the mixed-reality and autonomous-driving industries” as well. That means the Apple Vision Pro and, potentially, the long-rumored Apple Car would also benefit from the tech giant taking on image sensor giants Sony and Samsung.

Analysis: A distant but likely Apple move 

If Apple does decide to pursue this rumored in-house strategy for camera sensors, it won’t happen anytime soon. The iPhone 16 Pro is already rumored to be packing a stacked sensor (most likely Sony’s IMX903), so the prospect is likely at least a few years off.

But it would also make strategic sense for Apple. Recently, we heard rumors that Apple could be making its own batteries for future iPhones. And this year, the Apple M3 made us rethink the whole concept of integrated graphics on processors and could even turn Apple into a gaming force to be reckoned with.

Today’s iPhones aren’t exactly being held back by Sony’s excellent image sensors and computational processing is now the most important part of the image pipeline for smartphones. 

It also isn’t uncommon in the professional camera world for Sony rivals to use its sensors – the flagship Nikon Z9, for example, is built around a stacked Sony sensor (the Sony IMX609AQJ), despite the fact that Nikon is competing with cameras like the Sony A9 III for the title of best professional camera.

But aside from making business sense, it’s clear from Apple Silicon that Apple has the technological might and financial muscle to optimize and rethink the architecture of chips that have been traditionally outsourced. 

If it does the same with image sensors, that could give it far greater control over the future of our pocket cameras – moving them into new spaces, like the spatial video that’s already possible on the iPhone 15 Pro. And also helps promote the concept of ‘spatial computing’ that Apple is so keen to push into the mainstream with the Apple Vision Pro.

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In a world where the hustle and bustle of city life often take center stage, there exists a hidden realm of breathtaking beauty, rich in ecological wonders and artistic inspiration.

The spectacular landscapes of the Sky Islands of South India are about to take the limelight as Ian Lockwood showcases the ‘Sky Islands Exhibition: An Endangered Landscape’ at the Dilip Piramal Photography Gallery at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai from November 23 to December 3, 2023.

Violet Lane | Ian Lockwood

This exhibition is an immersion into the ancient and fragile landscape that exists as a unique and isolated biodiversity hotspot in the Western Ghats. These Sky Islands, also known as ‘Shola Sky Islands,’ rise above the lower plains, creating their own secluded world. Here, Ian Lockwood’s artistry breathes life into the ecology, the ever-changing panoramas, and the mystery of this special place.

Southern Escarpment Pan | Ian Lockwood

With a deliberate choice of black and white photography, Lockwood’s work goes beyond mere imagery; it delves into the essence of the landscape. Each image captures the intricate relationship between nature and the city, highlighting the vital role these remote landscapes play in sustaining life in urban centres. Protecting these surroundings is not just an environmental concern; it’s a matter of urban sustainability.

Each image within this collection bears witness to a 30-year artistic journey. While some offer familiar vistas from accessible locations, acquiring complex permits, days of trekking, and unwavering determination. These images tell the story of dedication, patience, and a deep connection to the Sky Island landscapes.

Rhododendron Arboreum Flower on Totapolakanda | Ian Lockwood

The Sky Islands, once nature’s untouched treasures, have become landscapes in transition. The heart of Ian’s work lies in documenting the transformation of this place. These sensitive habitats have witnessed the conversion of forests into agricultural and timber plantations.

Rapid urban development has eclipsed quaint townships, and rivers have been harnessed and redirected. Climate shifts, unpredictable rainfall, and biome changes now threaten those who depend on these hills for their livelihood and sustenance. These sensitive habitats in the Southern Western Ghats are on the cusp of profound change—a change that touches us all.

Eucaplytus on Perumal slope | Ian Lockwood

The Sky Islands Exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the interplay between Mumbai and the pristine highland landscapes. It highlights the critical role these untouched forests play in safeguarding Mumbai’s resources, a fact acknowledged by PHCC (Palani Hills Conservation Council), and serves as a call to action for preserving these vital ecosystems.

Ian Lockwood in Kukkal | Ian Lockwood

Ian Lockwood, the visionary behind this exhibition, is more than an artist. He’s an educator, a writer, and an advocate for South Asian culture and ecology. Talking about the Sky Islands, Ian Lockwood shares, “The Sky Islands have been my source of inspiration, and this body of work is a testament to my enduring fascination with this remarkable landscape. Through these photographs, I aim to communicate the profound ecological changes and the importance of their preservation.”

KIS Campus Drone Shot | Ian Lockwood

This exhibition is an exploration of simplicity and depth, an intimate look at familiar hill stations like Kodaikanal, and a journey into lesser-known terrain that required years of dedication to access. The images unveil the familiar and the extraordinary with the same clarity, emphasizing the intrinsic beauty of the natural world.

The proceeds from the exhibition will be used to support the KIS Center for Environment and Humanity (KIS CEH) initiative. The KIS CEH program aims to educate and raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. The funds raised will be utilized to train and support young individuals to advocate for environmental conservation. 

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Bengaluru: Vihaan Talya Vikas, an amazing 10-year-old from Bengaluru who won a big prize in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition in London. Vihaan took a deep-thought picture of a spider with a statue of Lord Krishna in Bengaluru. The photo not only appears aesthetic but also makes you think about what it is trying to deliver. It shows the spider near Krishna’s statue as if it’s enjoying the music of Krishna’s flute. This awesome photo stood out among 50,000 entries from 95 countries, and Vihaan won in the under-10 category.

Vihaan got into photography three years ago when he was only seven. He likes using different kinds of lenses to take pictures of spiders, insects, and even goes on safaris. Besides photography, he also enjoys studying astronomy, according to the Natural History Museum’s website.

Vihaan’s journey to winning this award started when he saw a special spider while visiting a temple near Bangalore. The spider was catching its prey, and this amazing moment happened against a wall with a statue of Lord Krishna. It felt like a connection between nature and spirituality.

Vihaan’s winning photo is to be part of the important WPY59 collection and will be shown in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London. This exhibition is to travel to 25 places across four continents to teach people about the importance of taking care of wildlife.

Dhritiman Mukherjee, a judge in the competition, said Vihaan’s photo is great because it shows coexistence – the spider and the statue together. The picture tells a story about art, concept, taking care of nature, and science.

Every weekday morning, I sit down at my desk, log on and wait for my 18-year-old cat, Toonces, to jump in my lap. Then I open my email and click on Nature 365.

It’s not the stuff of “Nature Gone Wild.” There are no raging crocs, no cougars threatening attacks or sharks in a feeding frenzy.

Instead, the daily videos offer one lovely, lingering minute of nature at its most miraculously mundane: A brilliantly colored kingfisher preening itself. A wolf pup emerging from its den. A fish jumping in a mist-shrouded lake, sending ripples across its mirror-like surface.

The project, which highlights the work of famed Minnesota nature photographer and filmmaker Jim Brandenburg, started several years ago, out of happenstance.

A longtime National Geographic photographer and lifelong Minnesotan, Brandenburg had amassed “thousands of hours” of film clips from what he calls his “backyards”: his childhood stamping grounds near Luverne (now Touch the Sky Prairie), the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near his home in Ely, and the woods in his Medina yard.

“Taking pictures is my life,” he says by way of explanation. “It’s what I do.”

On an assignment in France, he shared the clips with French photographer Laurent Joffrion and Nature 365 was born.

“There’s no music. No ads. Just the sounds of nature,” Brandenburg says. “In this day and age of TikTok, when there’s so much action, this is just the opposite. It’s authentic. Quiet. Understated. It’s settling.”

He and Joffrion aren’t in it for the money (the project has no sponsors, but accepts donations) — or the clicks (though some of the videos rack up millions of them).

“It’s a gift,” Brandenburg says of nature, which he considers “a healing and calming entity.”

Since 2021, Nature 365 has been welcoming other nature photographers — mostly from France and Japan — to share their exotic-seeming “backyards.”

And Brandenburg’s gift has been a springboard for three feature-length films he’s working on.

“Nature 365 figures in about everything I do,” he says. “Sometimes when you give, you get something back.”

Follow the daily adventures at nature365.tv.

Ryan said, “Adjustment is truly challenging, and the most common struggle is homesickness. Many people return home because they can’t cope with the difficulties of life here, but if you know how to adapt and are not choosy with jobs, you can truly survive.”

Today, Ryan stands as a living testament to the potent combination of determination and passion. As a Cebuano who ventured beyond his homeland to explore new horizons, he now holds a prestigious position as a chef at Mercure Hotel.

Simultaneously, he continues his relentless pursuit of food photography, showcasing the beauty of culinary artistry. His journey serves as a profound inspiration to anyone confronting life-altering changes, underscoring the fact that with resolute dedication and fervent passion, it is possible to surmount adversity and forge a brighter future, even in a foreign land.

Ryan’s story is a vivid illustration that unwavering determination and an unwavering commitment to one’s dreams can help a Cebuano photographer and chef overcome obstacles and flourish, capturing life’s most beautiful moments.

After a trip to America’s rural south in the thick of the 2016 elections, Fumi Nagasaka turned to “photography as a tool to show this appreciation for life”

November 20, 2023

British photographer Alastair Philip Wiper talks Dezeen through eight images from his latest book, Building Stories, including a spooky skiing resort, nuclear missile control centre and Steve Jobs’ childhood home.

Published by the Danish Architectural Press, Building Stories is filled with photographs that contrast with typical architecture imagery.

Wiper‘s aim is to “bring viewers into a fantasy world where their interpretation of the buildings escapes reality”.

“My photography is not about how people interact with architecture, how it blends with the landscape, or how the architect wanted it to look. It’s about stories and fantasies,” the Copenhagen-based photographer told Dezeen.

“I want people to make up their own stories”

As the follow-up to Unintended Beauty, a book that focused on industrial buildings such as factories and power stations, Building Stories features a far more diverse mix of buildings.

Famous works of architecture sit alongside forgotten or ubiquitous structures and spaces.

“I want people to make up their own stories,” Wiper said.

“The pictures might seem completely random – there are nuclear bunkers, car parks and a dead Albanian dictator’s toilet – but I’ve thought carefully about the order. I hope people will wonder what they have to do with each other.”

In a Dezeen exclusive, Wiper reveals the thinking behind eight key photos:

“Apple-2” House used in Atomic Bomb Test at the Nevada National Security Site, Nevada, USA

“This is an iconic building in the nuclear world,” said Wiper.

“Meant to represent an average American house, it is one of the buildings used to test atomic bombs in the 1950s. Now it is a national landmark,” he continued.

“It could be just a ruined house in the middle of nowhere, yet it is so much more – it represents the atomic age.”

Chalet l’Ours II, Avoriaz, France

“I lived in this skiing resort when I was in my early 20s and was fascinated by the architecture,” said Wiper.

“The buildings reminded me of an old horror film from the 1930s. I decided to capture the buildings in the way I saw them in my imagination and emphasise their spooky, cinematic nature.”

The Danish National Archives (Landsarkivet), Copenhagen, Denmark

“The space used to contain the National Archives of Denmark but has now been stripped for redevelopment into apartments and shops,” Wiper said.

“There was so much atmosphere but it was totally dark. I wanted to elevate it, rather than make it look like ruin porn, so I worked with lights and coloured gels. It was like having a playground to myself.”

Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA

“Because Reno isn’t as obvious as Vegas, that made it more interesting for me to photograph,” Wiper said.

“The hotel where I stayed didn’t look that interesting by day, but at night they lit it up with this garish green light. By capturing it when the sun had just gone down, I could bring out the purple colours in the sky and create this contrast.”

“I found it really futuristic in a retro way, like what people in the 60s thought buildings on the moon would look like in 100 years’ time.”

Underground Nuclear Fallout Shelter, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

“This is a bunker built by an eccentric billionaire called Jerry Hendersen, a proponent of living underground full-time,” Wiper explained.

“It is built like a real house, but it’s underground and it’s massive. Jerry lived here for five years with his wife Mary until he died in the early 80s. About 10 years ago, it was bought by an organisation called The Church of Perpetual Life, which promotes cryonic preservation.”

Steve Jobs’ Childhood Home, Los Altos, California, USA

“In 1976, together with Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs built the first 50 Apple 1 computers in this Silicon Valley garage,” Wiper explained.

“I was interested in the contrast between this very normal suburban house and what Apple grew into. The house is on a completely normal street; you would never know that there was something special about it if it wasn’t for the signs saying ‘no trespassing’.”

Launch Control Centre of Titan II Nuclear Missile, Arizona, USA, 2022

“This decommissioned silo, complete with a disarmed intercontinental ballistic missile, is where World War Three could have started,” said Wiper.

“The Titan II nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile carried the most powerful nuclear warhead ever built by the United States. At nine megatons, it was about 600 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.”

“It was crazy to think that, if the two people sitting here had received an order with some codes, it would have meant the end of the world as they knew it.”

Vitra Schaudepot, Weil am Rhein, Germany

“This building by Herzog & de Meuron is one of the best-known works of architecture in the book,” said Wiper.

“I wanted to give it another twist, an element of the unknown. What is this weird brick building? What is going on behind the door? Is the black sky real?”

“The idea was to remove it from its context so that the viewer has more questions than answers.”