In the ever-evolving world of social media, new platforms continually emerge, each catering to different preferences and needs. One such platform gaining traction is Threads, a creation by Meta—the tech giant behind Instagram. But is Threads any good for photographers? And how does it differ from Instagram? Here I’m looking a little deeper into the app, and how suited it is to photography enthusiasts.
(more…)In the world of photography, there is currently a lot of buzz surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), and it’s not without reason. AI has the ability to accomplish remarkable feats, but it also poses a threat to what many consider the essence of photography. As AI increasingly permeates the field, it’s bound to stir up diverse opinions and divide photographers. However, one thing is certain: we cannot ignore its influence, as it is poised to play a significant role in the creation of images.
Take, for example, Adobe’s recent release of a beta version of Photoshop featuring an AI-powered feature called Generative Fill. While purists may not appreciate this development, as a graphic designer, I believe it has the potential to revolutionise my approach to working with photography.
Let’s consider the nature of photography itself. Even without AI, capturing an image with a camera is already a departure from reality. It freezes a single moment, compresses a three-dimensional scene into two dimensions, and relies on post-processing to determine colours, clarity, and sharpness. So why should an image be a strict representation of real life? Isn’t the enjoyment we derive from images more important? Should the means of creation matter? For most people, drawing the line will depend on personal preferences, but I believe in maintaining an open mind and pushing that line at least a little.
There are times when even the keenest photography enthusiasts are not carrying a DSLR or mirrorless camera. In these situations, having a good camera on your smartphone is essential to capture those fleeting moments that you can easily miss. Today’s smartphones come equipped with advanced camera features that rival many dedicated interchangeable lens cameras, making them a popular choice for photographers of all levels.
Here I’m taking a look at the top smartphone cameras for photography, specifically the Apple iPhone 14, Google Pixel 7, Samsung Galaxy S22, OnePlus 11, and Sony Xperia 1 III. I will give a brief overview of the camera features and performance of each of each one.
The Apple iPhone 14 boasts a triple-lens camera system that includes a 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP wide, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The camera system is powered by Apple’s A18 Bionic chip and features advanced computational photography capabilities, including Night mode and Deep Fusion.
The iPhone 14’s camera also includes ProRAW support, allowing you to capture images in a RAW format for more advanced post-processing. The device also supports ProRes video recording, providing high-quality video capabilities for content creators.
The Google Pixel 7 features a dual-camera system that includes a 12.2MP wide lens and a 16MP ultra-wide lens. The device is powered by Google’s Tensor chip, which includes advanced AI capabilities for image processing and enhancement.
The Pixel 7’s camera system includes features like Night Sight, which allows you to capture low-light photos with incredible detail, and Super Res Zoom, which provides high-quality zoom capabilities without sacrificing image quality.
For those looking for extra flexibility, the Pixel 7 Pro includes a third, 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 features a quad-camera system that includes a 108MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 10MP periscope telephoto lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens. The device is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2200 chip, which includes advanced image processing capabilities.
The Galaxy S22’s camera system includes features like 8K video recording, 100x Space Zoom, and Night mode. The device also supports Pro mode, providing advanced manual controls for experienced photographers.
The OnePlus 11 features a triple-camera system that includes a 50MP wide lens, a 48MP ultra-wide lens, and a 8MP telephoto lens. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, which includes advanced AI image processing capabilities.
The OnePlus 11’s camera system includes features like Nightscape, which enhances low-light photos, and Hasselblad Pro mode, providing advanced manual controls for experienced photographers. The device also supports 8K video recording.
The Sony Xperia 1 III features a triple-camera system that includes a 12MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chip, which includes advanced image processing capabilities.
The Xperia 1 III’s camera system includes features like Real-time Eye AF, which tracks and focuses on the subject’s eyes in real-time, and Dual PDAF, providing fast and accurate autofocus. The device also supports 4K HDR video recording.
The Apple iPhone 14, Google Pixel 7, Samsung Galaxy S22, OnePlus 11, and Sony Xperia 1 III are all excellent choices for photography enthusiasts looking for a smartphone with advanced camera features. I personally use a Google Pixel 7 Pro – here’s one of my videos using it to capture some urban low light photography.
As photographers, we are constantly trying to capture the highest quality images possible. RAW image files are a crucial part of that process. They contain all the information that your camera sensor captured, providing you with maximum flexibility when it comes to editing your images. However, editing RAW files can be a challenge without the right tools. I spend quite a bit of time trying out new software and here I’m outlining 7 of the best RAW image editors for photographers.
In compiling this list, I’ve taken into account several factors, including the features offered, user-friendliness, compatibility with various operating systems, affordability, and popularity among other photographers.
Editing RAW images is an essential part of photography for many people, and having the right tools can make all the difference. The seven RAW image editors listed above offer a range of features and capabilities, making them excellent options for photographers of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced photographer, there will be a RAW editor that suits your needs and helps you to take your images to the next level.
I recently made a video in which I featured the H&Y Revoring. This device is a variable step adapter that features self retracting blades with threaded ends to secure on the front of your lens. This means that it can fit multiple lenses, and saves you having to buy various different sizes of each filter you may want to use.
Additional parts of the system can then be magnetically attached to the Revoring, allowing the use of different filter types, from neutral density filters to polarizers and more.
The main three lenses I use for landscape photography are:
The Revoring that H&Y sent me perfectly covers the filter thread size of each of these lenses, so I just need one of each type of filter to cover all three lenses. This is great because it saves space and money and the innovative design of the system makes it really quick and easy to use too.
I was also impressed with the quality of the H&Y filters. They seem well constructed, really tough, didn’t pick up too much dirt when being handled and didn’t produce any significant colour cast in my images.
I’m definitely going to be using this system going forward, and I can absolutely recommend checking it out.
https://hyfilters.net/