Please don’t ACT like this “Famous" Photographer: RAWtalk 172
The biggest story this week was about comments a self proclaimed “famous” photographer made to one of his commenters. I can honestly not believe an adult would make such a harmful comment to someone, WOW. Hear all about it at 33:18 of this weeks show.
No Official plug this week, just some discussion about some videos I will be making in conjunction with Adobe.
This week I sat down with Noah who started working with us a few months back. We were out to breakfast and he started talking about an idea for writing a book. After a quick discussion and a few ideas I suggested he sits in as a guest on the show and we discuss. This is a perfect interview for anyone who has an idea and wants to make it happen.
PHOTO NEWS, Gear Of The Week and Wheel of FRO round out the rest of the show.
Thank you all for your continued support.
00:00:16 – Show Intro
00:01:35 – Importance of Battery Backups
00:04:50 – Reminder: Live Philly RAWtalk
00:05:50 – Plug: I Shoot Raw Bag
00:08:57 – Photo News
00:09:58 – Lightroom Mobile RAW Update
00:27:27 – Meredith is on Social Media
00:33:18 – Jake Olson Controversy
00:38:13 – Todd’s Facebook “Friends” Story
00:54:00 – Noah Friedman Interview
01:20:35 – Gear of the Week: Printer Paper
01:24:45 – Wheel of Fro
01:28:28 – Wheel of Fro Submissions
Here’s all of Stephen’s photo news in detail:
Lightroom Mobile for Android Now Supports RAW
Lightroom Mobile has been updated to version 2.0 on Android. The upgraded Android version of Lightroom now has FULL RAW support, front-to-back. Users can now shoot, edit and share RAW/DNG photos all while still inside the app. However, the DNG capture option is limited to devices that provide DNG capture capabilities. New features include non-destructive built-in shoot through presets, a new in-app camera, the Dehaze tool, a new curve point tool, split toning, a target adjustment tool and more. Check out some preview photos showcasing before-and-after images edited in Lightroom Mobile 2.0 for Android and shot by photographer Colby Brown here. He used the app on his Nexus 6P to create a photo series from when he traveled to Cuba. The app is now available as a free download via the Google Play store. Now the question is, when will it (is ever) arrive to iOS…
Nikon Unleashes New Lineup of Premium Compact Cameras: the DL Series
Nikon has officially unveiled their new line of premium compact cameras: the DL series (which stands for “digital lens”). The lineup includes three new models which all have generally the same specs just different lens options: the DL18-50, the DL24-85 and the DL24-500, with the numbers referring to the lens focal length. Spec wise, all of the cameras boast a 20.8MP 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor, an EXPEED 6A processor, and a native ISO of 160-6400. The cameras also shoot RAW at a blazing 20fps or 60fps with AF lock. They have 171 AF points with 105 having phase detection. The DL series has a new Dual Detect Optical VR feature, along with each camera having a unique 3-inch touchscreen too. While the two—DL18-50 and DL24-85 cameras—sport a tilting touchscreen, the larger—DL24-500—has a full vari-angle screen similar to Canon’s 80D. All cameras shoot 4K UHD video at up to 30fps, and have built-in Bluetooth, WiFi and NFC. The DL24-500 is the only camera that comes with a built-in EVF as well, where the other two models require an add-on accessory if you want a viewfinder. Price wise, the DL18-50 will cost $850, the DL24-85 will be $650, and the DL24-500 will be $1000. The new lineup will be available in the early Summer; thoughts?
Sigma Enters the Mirrorless Race with New Pair of sd Quattro Cameras
Sigma has officially jumped into the mirrorless market with their new pair of mirrorless cameras: the sd Quattro and sd Quattro H. The main difference between the two is sensor size. While the regular sd Quattro comes with an APS-C-sized 29MP Foveon Quattro sensor, the H comes with a 45MP APS-H sensor. Other specs for both cameras include a Sigma SA mount and dual TRUE III processors. The new bodies shoot RAW at about 3fps, have a Phase & Contrast-Detect Hybrid 9pt AF system, a max native ISO of 6400, a 2.3MP EVF, and a split-screen 3-inch LCD screen. With the new innovative screen (see video below), the sub monitor to the right will always display your main exposure settings while the main screen will act like your main, average LCD. It also has a Super-Fine Detail feature, which captures 7 different exposures and merges them into one shot with greater dynamic range, and they have focus peaking for manual focus (not for video). The main thing here that has people talking is the overall body design, which is unique to say the least. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.
Sigma Announces World’s First f/1.8 Telephoto Zoom Lens
Sigma also announced the world’s first telephoto f/1.8 zoom lens, their new 50-100 f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens. It’s an APS-C lens which is the 35mm equivalent of a 75-150mm lens. Sigma says the lens has a “highly durable polycarbonate diaphragm made with fluorine,” and that the “blades feature carbon feather film offering exceptionally smooth operation even during continuous shooting.” One thing they point out is that the lens also maintains its focus as it’s being zoomed, which is great for videographers. Other specs include an 82mm thread size, a minimum close focus of about 3 feet, it has a Hyper Sonic Motor, and more. It will be available in Sigma, Nikon and Canon mounts, and will cost you about $1,100. The new lens will ship this April.
DJI Announces Drone Insurance Plan
Drone news: DJI is now offering their customers insurance when buying a drone, called the DJI Care Plan. Only applying to their Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 v2 series drone currently, they’re offering the new plan in 6-month or one-year installments that you cannot add on after the first year. Coverage will include operator error, signal interference, collision, accidents, and drop damage. The insurance doesn’t cover you for loss of your drone however, or if more than 80% of it is destroyed. DJI says, “Your aircraft is considered ‘completely damaged’ if over 80% of the aircraft parts are damaged. We usually recommend replacing your aircraft if it is completely damaged.” It seems like if you need a whole new drone, they’ll only cover whatever is left in your Care plan account—isn’t that what insurance is for DJI? Price wise, to insure your Phantom 3 Professional, it will cost $189 for the 6-month deal or $279 for the year. On to the Inspire series side, a year of coverage will cost you $699 or $499 for 6 months. Will it be worth it?
FAA Successfully Test New Drone-Detecting Tech at U.S. Airport
The FAA says that they can now detect drones flying near airports and find the drones’ operators on the ground after successfully testing their new drone-detecting technology at an airport for the first time. Earlier this month, the FAA and defense contractor CACI, tested the new drone detection technology at the Atlantic City International Airport. Called SkyTracker, it follows the radio signals that drones use to connect their operators, which would enable authorities to locate the rogue operator. From Jan. 25 to Feb. 2, the FAA conducted 141 tests, with drones both on the ground and in flight. CACI’S COO John Mengucci says of the tests: “SkyTracker successfully identified, detected, and tracked UAS in flight, and precisely located drone ground operators – all without interfering with airport ground operations.” SkyTracker also allows law enforcement to “initiate countermeasures that, unlike other technologies, do not interfere with legitimate electronics or communications systems in the area, or with UAS that are being operated responsibly as determined by the U.S. government.” No word on when, or if, this will roll out to every airport in the country. (via DO)
“Famous” Photographer Causes Uproar After Making Controversial Public Comments
One self-proclaimed “famous” photographer named Jake Olson is stirring up the photo community after posting some controversial public comments on his Facebook page last week. It all started when someone posted a thread from his Facebook page to Reddit. Redditor midwest00 says, “Recently there was some discussion about Jake Olson’s tutorials, if anyone was considering purchasing them I would ask that you read this first.” The screenshot consists of a picture of Olson’s new Porche. In the post, he specifically details how the Porche cost him $190,000. Here’s where it went downhill: one commenter asked, “why is the price so important to know??” Olson replies with, “so you know how much money I have and how much you don’t. Duh.” He goes on to reply to other commenters noting that he has plenty of money and jobs this year, specifically “over two million dollars in corporate commitments this year.” Olson then says how he’s famous because he has his own Wikipedia page and was written about in Forbes, has his own biography, etc. However, after all of this, Olson’s page on Wikipedia is now being considered for deletion though for being a “self-promoting advertising.” The final blow was when he told a commenter that they’ve “been publicly shamed. Move on…Oh and serious give suicide some thought.” His camp fired back with a list of his credentials after several followers began requesting it: “Jake Olson was named by The Huffington Post as one of the Top 30 Most Socially Influential Photographers in the World in 2014. His images have been featured in dozens of publications around the World including British Vogue and Digital SLR Magazine, Practical Photography Magazine, Digital Photo Magazine, SLR Lounge, and My Modern Met. Jake’s images have also been used by the BBC, ABC NEWS and featured on National Geographic, Forbes.com and Bloomberg. Jake’s images are licensed by Trevillion Images, one of the World’s leading creative photo agencies. His images are sold to book publishers and bestselling authors like Lee Child, Nora Roberts, Colleen Faulkner and Jody Lynn Anderson and now seen on hundreds of title’s around the Globe.” He told Petapixel that he doesn’t deny the comments made either, if anything he was happy about it. He says he received over 1,000 new Facebook Likes on his page overnight as a result of the controversy. Olson then publicly responded to the criticism with a Facebook post that has since been deleted, saying “It’s all pretty amazing! THIS SHIT PUT ME ON THE MAP! 6000 NEW FB PAGE LIKES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. It’s insane!” However, as a result of the bad publicity, which he claims there is no such thing, some of Olson’s international workshops have reportedly been cancelled. Then, after days of the initial bad PR, his workshop’s site and Facebook page were taken offline. What do you think about all of this? Find the full news story here via Petapixel along with an in-depth article over at Resource Magazine.
Tether Tools Unveils New Hot-Swappable Mobile Power System
Tether Tools unveiled the world’s first portable battery system that lets you power your DSLR or mirrorless camera using any standard 5V USB mobile power bank or wall outlet. Called the Case Relay, the company says, “This technology provides, for the first time ever, a hot swappable, uninterrupted power source for most DSLR and Mirrorless cameras on the market today.” The system itself is a small box that sits between a connected power supply and a coupler adapter for your specific camera type. The Case Relay unit provides 1200 mAh of power too, so you can constantly replace your power supply connected on the other end while your camera is still powered on, a.k.a. hot swappable. Paired with their Relay Camera Couplers, its compatible with a wide variety of Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Panasonic cameras. Tether Tools founder Josh Simons says, “To a photographer or filmmaker, Case Relay means you will never run out of power and won’t need to stress about remembering to charge and bring extra camera batteries on every shoot.” They note that if you attach a 10,000 mAh battery pack to the other end of the system, you’ll have about 3-10 times the power of most individual camera batteries. It will cost $100 for the unit itself and about $30-35 extra for each coupler adapter.
Judge Rules 1st Amendment Doesn’t Always Cover Photographing the Police
A federal judge has ruled photographing or filming the police is not always protected by the First Amendment. The ruling comes from two cases, Fields v. City of Philadelphia and Geraci v. City of Philadelphia, that both involved citizens who were arrested for simply photographing the police at work. The two cases were consolidated to determine “whether photographing or filming police on our portable devices without challenging police is expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment.” Federal District Court Judge Mark Kearney says there is no constitutional First Amendment right to film or photograph police officers when that act isn’t accompanied by “challenge or criticism” of the police conduct. Kearney writes “Fields’ and Geraci’s alleged ‘constitutionally protected conduct’ consists of observing and photographing, or making a record of, police activity in a public forum. Neither uttered any words to the effect he or she sought to take pictures to oppose police activity. Their particular behavior is only afforded First Amendment protection if we construe it as expressive conduct.” He goes on to say, “We have not found […] any case in the Supreme Court or this Circuit finding citizens have a First Amendment right to record police conduct without any stated purpose of being critical of the government,[…] we decline to create a new First Amendment right for citizens to photograph officers when they have no expressive purpose such as challenging police actions.” Check out the full court decision below if you want to read all of the details from his ruling. An appeal is reportedly planned by both parties… (via PP)
This Glass Disc Can Store Your Data for 13.8 Billion Years
A glass disc can now store and preserve your photos for 13.8 billion years. Researchers at the University of Southampton have created nanostructured glass discs that can store up to 360TB of data for billions of years. The crammed data is written to the tiny piece of special glass via laser writing, which they call five dimensional (5D) digital data, because in addition to the position of the data, the size and orientation plays a role too. The technology was first experimentally demonstrated in 2013 when a 300kb digital copy of a text file was successfully recorded in 5D. Not only do they have a “virtually unlimited lifetime,” but they are heat resistant as well—stable at temperatures at up to 1,000°C (1,832°F). The university says museums, national archives, and libraries could benefit from having this eternal storage, which some are calling the ‘Superman memory crystal.’ So far, scientists have preserved important documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Magna Carta, and King James Bible on individual discs. The team are now looking for industry partners to further develop and commercialize this ground-breaking new technology. Watch a behind-the-scenes video clip of a laser writing data to a disc below: (via PP)
Tamron Reveals 85mm f/1.8 Lens with Stabilization
Tamron announced the world’s first 85mm f/1.8 lens with stabilization built in for full frame DSLRs. The Vibration Compensation lens is available in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts. Specs include a fluorine coating on the front element, an Ultrasonic Silent Drive, a 9-blade circular aperture and more. It’ll be available in April, with no pricing announced just yet. Tamron also unveiled their 90mm f/2.8 VC 1:1 macro lens. It has a new XY-Shift compensation feature, which uses an accelerometer to detect and counteract camera shake, improving stabilization for all focal distances from infinity to macro. That will be available next month in Canon and Nikon mounts with Sony to follow, for $649.
