Astrophotographers rejoice! Sigma has just announced the world’s first mirrorless 14mm lens to feature an f/1.4 aperture. Available for E-Mount (Sony) and L-Mount (Panasonic/Leica/Sigma) – the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN is now the world’s fastest 14mm lens.
Sigma has specially designed this lens to be one of the best lenses for astrophotography, paying particular attention to optical aberrations and sagittal coma flare, which are two common concerns for night sky photographers, the optical design of the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 lens aims to ensure bright points in a photo remain sharp with the lens specially engineered for optical quality at infinity focus.
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens
Using an optical design that includes 1 SLD (special low-dispersion), 3 FLD (fluorite low-dispersion), and 4 aspherical elements, the lens works in conjunction with camera’s in-built aberration control profiles for correcting distortion or vignetting, while the optical elements of the lens offer additional reductions to corner softness and chromatic aberration. Sigma argues that using this combination has allowed them to reduce the overall size and weight of the lens but maintain optical performance.
The Sigma 14mm lens comes with a manual aperture control ring, which can also be set to auto, as well as locked so it doesn’t slip during movement, this control ring can be de-clicked if you intend to use the lens for video work. A manual focus ring lock function also allows the focus to be locked, which is essential during long night sky exposures, when even the slightest knock can ruin the focus. The lens also comes with a tripod mount, to better balance the weight of the large and heavy optic.
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens
In an effort to make this the perfect astrophotography lens, Sigma has also included some neat little features including a rear filter holder allowing sheet-type filters popular with astrophotographers to be mounted on the lens, the lens cap also has a separate internal storage area to hold two additional sheet filters when not in use. Finally, the front of the barrel is a Lens Heater Retainer to hold a heat strip in place and help prevent condensation build-up on the lens in cold conditions.
Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens
Lens construction: 19 elements, 15 groups (1 SLD, 3 FLD and 4 aspherical elements) Angle-of-view: 114.2° Number of diaphragm blades: 11 (rounded diaphragm) Minimum aperture: F16 Minimum focusing distance: 30cm Maximum magnification ratio: 1:11.9 Filter size: slot-in rear gel filter Dimensions (max diameter x length): 101.4 x 149.9mm Weight: 1170g
See our full Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art review
The lens will be available to purchase from 23 June 2023, with pre-orders open now, and it will cost £1399 at launch, with the US and worldwide pricing yet to be confirmed.
Find out more about the best lenses for astrophotography and the best cameras for astrophotography in our guides. You can also find more information in our guide for the best star tracker camera mounts for astrophotography.
Here are the 25 exceptional photographers who have emerged as the winners of ‘AAP Magazine #31: Portrait.’
As Henry Cartier-Bresson once said, capturing a portrait is a challenging endeavor, requiring the photographer to bridge the gap between a person’s exterior and their inner self. Portrait photography encompasses a vast array of styles and techniques, ranging from the straightforward identification of a subject to the delicate exploration of their emotions. It transcends traditional studio portraits and ordinary family snapshots, evolving into a distinct genre that allows photographers to unleash their boundless creative potential.
A portrait possesses the power to evoke a multitude of reactions, from descriptive and revealing to embellishing, questioning, or unsettling. However, with countless faces in the world, we can only present a few within the pages of this new issue of AAP Magazine. In this edition, we are honored to showcase the perspectives of 25 photographers hailing from 11 different countries across four continents.
Each of these talented individuals shares their unique personal narratives and distinctive approaches to the art of Portrait Photography.
Continue scrolling to discover the fascinating winning images!
You can find more info about AAP Magazine Awards:
#1 The Winner: The Series “Perspective” By Nanda Hagenaars (Netherlands)
Portrait where I shift my perspective and try new ways of looking and photographing. Squeezing one eye, finding composition and contrast.
#2 The Second Place Winners: The Series “Alex” By Anna Hayat and Slava Pirsky
The photograph Daughter of Chinghis Khan is a part of our larger project, in which we captured our daughter from birth to adulthood. Through it, we explore the process of growing up and the development of one’s personality.
#3 The Third Place Winner: The Series “Anomium” By Matt Findley (USA)
The Anomium series is informed by the concept of Higonnet’s knowing child – the idea that childhood is a time of both innocence and wisdom, a brief window blessed with this innocence but burdened by the knowledge of an unkind world. This series examines these ideas and seeks to evoke a sense of transformation that is at once haunting while retaining elements of this fading purity, and to serve as a testament to the resilience and beauty of childhood in the face of the journey towards maturity.
#4 Merit Gallery Winner By Lisa McCord (USA)
Frances was one of the first people I met on the farm with whom I didn’t already have a long-standing relationship. She welcomed me into her home, and we became good friends. I would go back to visit her often and photographed her many times. This is one of the few portraits I made of her using my tripod. When I looked at the film later, I realized the baby couldn’t hold still. From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem strange to make a formal portrait of someone in their bra, but it was normal for women on the farm to dress this way in their homes. The Arkansas heat and humidity led us to seek comfort any way we could. I ended up photographing many women this way.
#5 Merit Gallery Winner By Alain Schroeder (Belgium)
Belgium, Namur Province, Morialmé (Marche Saint-Pierre), the Marches of the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse are on the Unesco List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This march takes place primarily in the countryside, notably the route from the village center to the Poucet chapel. The Marchers are dressed in traditional costume consisting of a blue smock, white pants and red scarf.
L’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse is a historical region that lies between the Sambre and the Meuse rivers in Wallonia Belgium. Situated between Germany and France, two fiercely combative nations, the area endured incessant and often devastating passages for centuries.
The processions that date back to the 13th century, traverse the countryside carrying the relics of saints preserved with great devotion accompanied by armed escorts. During the First Empire, soldiers from Napoleon’s army with their sumptuous uniforms joined the marches to defend cities and honor community ceremonies both civil and religious. The tradition continues today with hundreds of marchers dressed in Napoleonic military attire.
From May to October, processions and marches take place primarily in the region between the Sambre and the Meuse rivers south of the cities of Charleroi and Namur.
Inscribed in 2012 on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO), they owe their enduring popularity not only to faith and historic imitation, but to the magnificent landscapes of this isolated region where customs and traditions have remained unchanged for centuries.
#6 Merit Gallery Winner By Erberto Zani (Italy)
Naomi, 5 years old, was born with hydrocephaly. At age of 20 days, she was adobt by Wisma Kasih Bunda Foundation (Semarang, East Java, Indonesia, 2023).
Minamata’s disease is caused by chronic mercury poisoning.
This metal, used in hundreds of illegal gold mines in the forests of Java, Indonesia, is contaminating the environment. Miners, who have worked for years in contact with mercury, have developed neurological degenerative diseases. But the spillage of gold mining waste has contaminated also the aquifers upstream: the villages downstream from the mines, have for years used water with mercury for domestic use and to irrigate crops. On Java island, are dozens of cases of poisoning: pregnant women have passed mercury to the fetus without their knowledge, causing irreversible damage to the unborn child with morphological and anatomical abnormalities. The disease is manifested by neurological problems, difficulty in movement, muscle weakness, visual, auditory and cognitive deficits, hydrocephaly. Paralysis or coma can also occur until death. These photo are part of the long-term project Venoms on the subject of pollution created by humans.
#7 Merit Gallery Winner By Lori Pond (USA)
‘As I See It’ comprises portraits that attempt to duplicate what my brain is seeing, opposed to what my eyes see. With this project, I’m looking at the human face as the starting point. I then try to see that face as my brain would, putting the most important features in the foreground, and bringing the least important to the background. From what I’ve read, the brain quickly sizes up a new face into just a few categories: 1) Will it hurt me? 2) Will it eat me? 3) Will it love me? The “sizing up” occurs before I can consciously register it.
#8 Merit Gallery Winner By Frank Baudino (USA)
These portraits were obtained while I had the privilege of serving the people of what is now South Sudan 18 years ago. I worked with Doctors Without Borders and was in charge of the therapeutic feeding center in the village of Akuem. The Sudanese, largely members of the Dinka tribe, generously allowed me to photograph them and tell their story. The purpose of this series is to bear witness to the human suffering that occurs in Sudan and surrounding countries due to famine and poverty.
A vignette of my work in Sudan was published last fall in “Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine.
#9 Merit Gallery Winner By Charles Shotwell (USA)
A wet Chamoi wrapped around a manikins head , held on by rubber bands till dry. No retouching was used.
#10 Merit Gallery Winner By Roberta Vagliani (Italy)
Nelson Mandela said «Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world». This image was taken in a school in Zanzibar, where there are no desks, chairs or school supplies. All these little girls own is a notebook and their own memory. Knowledge is passed on to them by a single master. In every person there is the possibility to transform the world.
#11 Merit Gallery Winner By Hugo Thomassen (Netherlands)
Walt Disco, with lead singer James Potter, is a Scottish post-punk band known for their unique style and powerful performances. The band members stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and freedom, celebrates individuality and selfexpression and encourages viewers to embrace their own creativity and unique identity. James Potter stated that he hopes Walt Disco can be a source of inspiration and empowerment for other queer people. He also expressed a desire to use his platform to raise awareness of the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, such as discrimination and lack of representation. Walt Disco’s serves as a powerful statement of individuality and liberation and promotes inclusivity and acceptance for all.
#12 Merit Gallery Winner By Annemarie Jung (Luxembourg)
The objective of the series is to depict the impact of dogmatism on practical life, and to provoke the audience’s self-inspection about their own beliefs.
#13 Merit Gallery Winner By Ian McFarlane (USA)
On a hot summer day I meet with Amanda and her daughter Eva that their home. We did photos in their front yard using only natural light. I was amazed at the look Eva gave me in every frame. I was so happy to be able to create this image for them.
Three years ago my sister and I had to place our mother in a home for those suffering from server dementia. My mother no longer recognized me or my sister. We had lost her to another reality, she was not coming back . My goal for this series was to create memories for these mothers and daughters to have and remember each other and for me to face the grief I had just begun to process, letting my mother go.
#14 Merit Gallery Winner By Nicola Ducati (Italy)
The thousand shades of white told through a trip to the Yamal, the icy Siberian peninsula in the far north of the Russian Federation. This land is inhabited by the Nenets people, nomadic reindeer herders who, guided by the seasonal cycles and the needs of their herds, migrate incessantly in an infinite circle of movements between ice, frozen rivers and neverending winds in search of new pastures in the most remote tundra. The hostile environment did not stop their innate adaptability and gave them prosperity for millennia.
#15 Merit Gallery Winner By Prescott Lassman (USA)
Off Kilter presents portraits that are slightly askew. In many photographs, the subjects find themselves in situations that are mildly uncomfortable. In others, the portrait may create vague feelings of discomfort in the viewer. In either case, the intent is to present a portrait where the equilibrium is just a little out of balance. In these off kilter moments, the subjects let their guard down briefly and reveal something unexpected and authentic about themselves. And in these moments of dysregulation, something authentic is also revealed about the viewer.
#16 Merit Gallery Winner By David Dhaen (Belgium)
It’s a picture I have taking on the Gerewol festival in Niger. I was Lucky to be one of the few that attended this beautiful festival, where the fulani gather. This beautiful Girl i saw walking and I asked if i could take her pic. She said yes. I have few of her. Also where she is smiling, but the gaze she gave me here on this picture, took my breath away. The serene beauty she is. With those eyes and skin. A real Nomads Rose.
#17 Merit Gallery Winner By Emily Fisher (USA)
My ongoing body of work Natural Tendencies studies the complex and symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world. I am acutely aware of the precarious nature of our shifting environment, of the fragility of life and the ephemerality of childhood and I use my photographs to express this sensibility.
#18 Merit Gallery Winner By Laurie Freitag (USA)
The Hammock from the series, ‘The Lost Years’, the years that most adults can’t remember before the age of seven-years-old.
#19 Merit Gallery Winner By Marc Gaillot (France)
That day, I decided to lock myself in the dark, alone in front of my mirror. My wish is to think outside the box and get original portraits straight from the camera. Camera in black and white with hi contrast mode, a light behind me, a few drops of water well lit. Then much patience to find the right shutter speed, fair exposure compensation and the right movements to follow. Here, a powerful rendering, dark, confusing, frightening, poetic, .. everyone be free to interpret them as he wishes. Virtually no post processing, just a cropping, an adjustment of shadows and whites.
#20 Merit Gallery Winner By Joseph-Philippe Bevillard (Ireland)
Irish Traveller Biddy leans against a horse transport box for the photograph. She lives in a 3-berth caravan on the roadside campsite with her parents and ten other siblings.
In 2009, I started photographing the Travellers who are an ethnic group at a horse fair in Ireland. I returned to the horse fair the following year to meet them again and to give them some photos I had taken. They gained my trust and invited me to photograph their families and other clans. I am intrigued by their nomadic lifestyle so I decided to visit their caravans, halting sites and roadside encampments. In March 2017, Irish Travellers group have been formally recognized as an ethnic group. Today, they are still facing racism, discrimination, hardship by society and high suicide rates. Travellers are very proud of their culture. I want to represent these people through my photographs. My goal is to continue to work with these families as well as other members that I encounter, and perhaps let the settled people have more understanding of their unique culture.
#21 Merit Gallery Winner By Stephen Hoffman (USA)
Coney Island Beyond the boardwalk is the title of this project . I am a documentary photographer who has who spent the last dozen years working with and photographing the people that live the housing projects in Coney Island . I mainly like to record people in their homes and places of worship. I give each person a copy of their picture. When I started this project, I worked with film and would come on Saturday morning with a group of pictures and people would line at the basketball court on 24th street to see if I had their photo. Many times, a mother or a sister would say that’s my brother or my grandma and I would give them the picture. The projects are like one enormous family. Everyone knows everyone else. Even though I now work with digital I still make photos to give out . My greatest thrill is to go to someone’s apartment and see my photos hanging on the wall.
#22 Merit Gallery Winner By Rossi Fang (Taiwan)
Underpass worker break moment,Eat full the resting and eating snacks is a short time to relax.
#23 Merit Gallery Winner By Eliane Band (Brazil)
I arrive, dazzled, at a settlement with 20 families from the Jat Fakirani community. In an increasingly pasteurized world, I am moved by the treasure of these moments. In every detail, I see the symbols of a culture that took millennia to form and is rapidly disappearing. From its magnificent traditional houses called PAKHO, through traditional clothing, its intimate relationship with animals, ancestral knowledge, everything is rare, unique and in the process of disappearing.
#24 Merit Gallery Winner By Stephanie Eley (USA)
2020 was a year that confirmed a huge divide in the society we live in currently. Why are black men still being vilified unjustly? Stop, look closer, reach out, get to know him. Understand that he is a dynamic being – an educated, kind, and beautiful black man.
#25 Merit Gallery Winner By Christian Bobst (Switzerland)
Samba Soknhna Ba, Ferlo Desert, Senegal, 2023; The pastoralists in the Ferlo Desert are an important example of people’s ability to adapt to extreme conditions and the importance of tradition and culture in a changing world. Although they face many challenges, they continue to live their lives and maintain their unique way of life.
This summer, nature is in full flower at four major art institutions around New York City: Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Met Cloisters, the New York Botanical Garden, and Storm King Art Center north of the city. Just as important as the shows themselves are your activities before and after. Here’s our cheat sheet to navigating your way around them as you savor the dual experiences. Don’t forget your walking shoes!
Metropolitan Museum of Art “Van Gogh’s Cypresses”
Visitors look at a painting during a preview of “Van Gogh’s Cypresses” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 15, 2023, in New York City. Photo: Wang Fan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images.
Planning a visit to the highly anticipated Vincent van Gogh “Cypresses” exhibition at the Met (through August 27)? You are, of course, going to need your strength. First, duck into Bluestone Lane (1085 Fifth Avenue at 90th Street)—an Upper East Side favorite—for bracingly strong coffee. Placing your order under the grand stone archway of the historic Church of the Heavenly Rest isn’t a shabby way to start your day.
Now that you’re rejuvenated, walk south along iconic Fifth Avenue toward the Met (1000 Fifth Avenue, between 82nd and 83rd Streets), where nearly 40 of the daring Post-Impressionist’s paintings await, including masterpieces like Wheat Field with Cypresses and The Starry Night. It’s the first exhibition to focus on cypress trees, those enigmatic evergreens that figure prominently in Van Gogh’s oeuvre.
Vincent van Gogh, Cypresses (1889). Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
After taking in his arboreal brushstrokes, step out the back of the museum for the real thing. Central Park is famed for its idyllic landscapes and sylvan strolls. The Ramble, a short walk west (between 73rd Street and 78th Street), offers 38 acres of winding paths, not to mention excellent birdwatching. The Great Lawn, meanwhile, offers grassy patches to rest your weary feet or roll out a picnic lunch. The lawn also holds any number of summer concerts this summer.
Should all that imbibing of nature inspire quaffing of another kind, trek back toward civilization, across Fifth Avenue, for the quintessential post-Met romp: the Carlyle Hotel. Inside the historic and luxurious Bemelmans Bar—where whimsical murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of the Madeline children’s books, adorn the walls—offers an array of refreshing beverages, from dirty martinis to Shirley Temples.
Met Cloisters Garden Tours
View of Cuxa Cloister (ca. 1130–40), currently located in the Cloisters. Courtesy of the Cloisters.
Located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive in Northern Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, the Cloisters—governed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art—has been a must-see for locals and visitors since opening to the public in 1938. Open year round with free admission, it was founded by oil heir John D. Rockefeller, Jr., reassembled from fragments he acquired from American artist George Grey Barnard, who in in the early 1900s began collecting medieval art and architectural fragments from European monasteries and churches that were being demolished.
The richness of medieval Europe is on full display. Many of the works are world-famous, like the incredibly preserved late 15th-century Unicorn Tapestries, with their dense, vibrant millefleurs, and the 12th-century Cloisters Cross. Another gem of the collection is the Book of Flower Studies (ca. 1510–20), for which medieval illuminators in Tours, France, made watercolor illustrations of numerous flower species with remarkable attention to detail.
Page from the Book of Flower Studies (ca. 1510–15), attributed to Master of Claude de France, showing St. Peter’s Keys (Primula veris) with a butterfly. Courtesy of the Cloisters.
Visitors are also well-advised to seek out some quality time with the namesake cloisters, meditative gardens located in various corners of the museum; their therapeutic value is the stuff of legend. A horticultural staff maintains the gardens and gives daily educational tours, too.
Fort Tryon Park itself is worth the trip. The space is rich in history, serving as a battleground in the Revolutionary War, and boasts eight miles of pathways, as well as plenty of lawn space for picnics. Heather Garden, Manhattan’s biggest, contains over 500 varieties of plants, while Linden Terrace offers unobstructed and spectacular views of the Hudson River.
New York Botanical Garden Ebony G. Patterson
Ebony G. Patterson. Photo: Frank Ishman. Courtesy of the artist and Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago.
Before heading inside the New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, it would be wise to make a pitstop at La Masa, a modern Colombian bakery at 726 Lydig Avenue on the garden’s east side. Here you can power up on gourmet empanadas and, of course, perfectly roasted coffee.
Now for the main event, where the contemporary artist Ebony G. Patterson has transformed the garden—one of the largest of its kind in the world, boasting over a million living plants—into a stunning medley of art and nature. Flowers, fabric, glass, and other materials combine to create lush, otherworldly environments.
The sprawling site-specific exhibition (through October 2) is the result of the Jamaican-born artist’s yearlong residency at the garden, making her the first visual artist to embed within the institution. Be sure to check out the Herbarium, where Patterson has installed the centerpiece of the exhibition, a monumental glass and stone peacock.
After a day of soaking in all that art and nature, you don’t even need to leave the garden to revive. Make your way to the northwestern corner to the scenic Hudson Garden Grill, which is conveniently nestled among the 40 acres of the Ross Conifer Arboretum. The menu emphasizes locally sourced recipes and ethically produced ingredients straight from Hudson Valley farms.
Storm King Art Center Ugo Rondinone, RA Walden, Beatriz Cortez
Visitors gather around Menashe Kadishman’s artwork Suspended at Storm King Art Center in New York on May 21, 2023. Photo: Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images.
Storm King has just opened for the summer season, and not a moment too soon. The 500-acre open-air museum contains perhaps the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the U.S.—and it’s located only an hour’s drive north of Manhattan in the Hudson Valley, at 1 Museum Road in New Windsor. Although it was originally devoted to Hudson River School painting, Storm King soon began placing large-scale sculptures directly into its landscape, turning it into a world-class sculpture garden.
This summer, Storm King has added three contemporary sculptors to its roster (through November 13). New York-based Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone has installed the sun (2018) and the moon (2021), two large circular sculptures fashioned out of cast-bronze tree branches. RA Walden, meanwhile, has reimagined the electron configuration of the six most common elements—carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur—as crop circles on a hillside. And Beatriz Cortez has sculpted, by hand, volcano-like forms with undulating surfaces that echo the surrounding landscape.
Ugo Rondinone, the sun (2018) and the moon (2021). Courtesy of Storm King Art Center.
As long as you’re near the art center of Beacon (just across the Hudson River), why not take a small detour to Dia Beacon? Housed in a former Nabisco box-printing factory at 3 Beekman Street, the museum’s collection includes major works by artists—particularly land artists—such as Richard Serra, Nancy Holt, and Robert Smithson.
Should you need to stay a night or two before heading back to the city, Beacon is the place to do it. Look no further than the Roundhouse Hotel, at 2 East Main Street. The property was originally a textile manufacturer and one of the first factories in Beacon. Its restaurant, too, is a must, inspired by the agricultural richness of the Hudson Valley, highlighting local farms, wineries, and distilleries. All the tables have waterfall and creek views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Check back for additional Artnet Summer Itineraries for Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.—coming this month.
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The Club have also launchied a photography competition for young people entitled Summer with my camera. Submitted pictures can be taken on any camera or mobile phone and should show any interesting and creative subject taken during July and August. Details are available at the exhibition or on Newbury Photography Club Website, Facebook, or Instagram:
The inaugural meeting of Newbury Photography Club (formerly Newbury Camera Club) was held at 7pm on Thursday 01 February 1945 at the Tudor Cafe in Newbury (103 Northbrook Street). The Cafe remained the home of the Club for half a century, and it now meets in The Royal British Legion Club.
Membership numbers have been variable over the years reflecting the changes in photography which has progressed through black and white, colour prints, slides, digital and the rapid growth in the use of camera phones and on-line platforms. They have a strong programme of talks and presentations on many aspects of photography by leading professional and amateur photographers. Encouragement is given to those wishing to exhibit their skills in friendly competitions between members and between other clubs, advice is freely given, and problems shared. The club is an active member of the Southern Counties Photographic Federation, and we enter competitions with other clubs in the Federation and the Federation’s annual exhibition.
They also organise special interest groups, workshops, discussions, and social events during the year. We pride ourselves in catering for all standards of photography, and in helping members to learn and to get the most enjoyment from photography.
Meetings are held every Thursday from 7pm for 7.30pm start at The Royal British Legion in Pelican Lane.
Nineteen teens posing for photo injured after deck partially collapses at Texas seaside park
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Friday, June 09 2023 ABC News Radio
(HOUSTON) — More than a dozen teenagers from a church camp posing for a group photo were injured after a portion of a deck walkway collapsed at a seaside park in Texas, officials said.
The students were visiting Stahlman Park in Surfside Beach, Brazoria County, on Thursday with the Bayou City Fellowship when the incident occurred, the church said. Nearly 80 students from several campuses were on the trip, the church said.
Students from the Bayou City Fellowship’s Cypress campus were taking a group photo when a portion of the deck collapsed around 12:30 p.m. local time, according to the church.
Footage from the scene showed a section of a wooden walkway ramp that had partially detached, falling on the grass below.
Nineteen students between the ages of 14 and 18 suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, according to Brazoria County officials. Five were transported to a Houston-area Memorial Hermann hospital via a helicopter, five were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, and nine were taken to hospitals by private vehicles, the county said.
Multiple police, EMS and fire departments responded to the scene.
“While this is a traumatic event, we are blessed to report that none of the injuries are life-threatening,” Bayou City Fellowship said in a statement. “We are thankful for the outpour of concern from our community and ask that the city and surrounding areas keep all that are affected physically and emotionally in prayer.”
The church said it is not releasing the names of the victims or the nature of their injuries due to privacy concerns.
The incident remains under investigation, the county said.
Stahlman Park is located on the Gulf of Mexico, about 66 miles south of Houston.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new exhibition at the Division Avenue Arts Collective is showcasing the struggles of ADHD and autism through astrophotography.
Artist Kae Pershon started the collection over a year ago as a continuation of her ongoing series entitled “(less).”
“Each of these exhibits deals with different symptoms or experiences (of) someone who has ADHD or who has a neurodivergence” including time blindness, emotional dysregulation, and memory, she said.
The portion of Pershon’s series on display at DAAC, entitled “End(less),” speaks to executive dysfunction, described by the Cleveland Clinic as “a behavioral symptom that disrupts a person’s ability to manage their own thoughts, emotions and actions.”
“A lot of times it’s looked at like a paralysis because you become so overwhelmed and you freeze. You know you’re supposed to be doing something but you can’t really put it together in your mind to actually get started,” Pershon said.
“Glitter Dreams” part of the End(less) exhibition. (Courtesy of Kae Pershon)
The exhibit consists of 33 photos of nightscapes in a variety of sizes.
“I knew that when I started this, I wanted astrophotography for executive dysfunction just because I remember growing up, I grew up in a very rural area in Michigan, and getting those big moments of awe and overwhelming feeling when you’re looking at the night sky. It can feel very similar in that kind of vein,” Pershon, who has ADHD, said.
“My hope is that when someone looks at this exhibit either if they themselves have a neurodivergency can feel some sort of relation and know that they are not alone in their struggle … or if it’s someone who may not experience those things can look at it through a new lens and go ‘Oh, OK. I didn’t realize this is what it’s like to experience that.’ And it can kind of help break down those stereotypes or stigmas,” she explained.
The opening reception is being held Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at DAAC, located at 1553 Plainfield Ave NE near Lafayette Avenue. Pershon will be there to answer any questions or talk about ADHD and autism.
The exhibition will be on display until July 7. It can be viewed during events at the DAAC. Anyone who is interested in viewing the exhibition outside of those times or would like Pershon there is asked to reach out on Facebook or Instagram.
A closing reception will be held on July 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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Headshot photography entails creating photos that look natural and authentic for casting directors or employers to see the real you in these photographs.
Light
Headshot photography requires making sure that the subject’s face is properly illuminated. Therefore, for best results it is often shot using natural or soft artificial lighting without harsh shadows and glare, as well as featuring an uncluttered background that keeps the focus solely on their face.
While many assume a quality headshot must include full-length photos, this isn’t always necessary. Some actors prefer head and shoulders shots because they find them easier for conveying emotions and range with their faces.
When posing clients, photographers will encourage them to use various facial expressions such as frowning, puckering the forehead/eyebrows, squinting eyes, crinkle eyebrows or make other facial movements while playing around with different smirks and smiles for optimal results.
Headshots typically call for one light that illuminates all aspects of the subject’s face – either inside a studio, outdoors or both. Adding another light can provide more dramatic or vignette effects behind the subject and ensure a high shutter speed to minimize camera shake or subject movement during shooting.
Composition
An effective headshot will showcase you in their best light. However, in order to do this successfully, lighting and composition must also be considered when taking this image. You can visit this site for more information on taking good photographs.
A photographer will start by talking to you about what you expect out of their session in order to gain insight into its overall theme and style. They will suggest settings and compositions to highlight your best features.
For example, a professional actor’s headshot must feature their face and eyes for maximum impact; on the other hand, those looking to establish themselves as executives or thought leaders might opt for more full-body shots with vibrant backdrops.
Photoshop or another photo-editing software can also help enhance the image quality of your headshots, from fixing white balance and exposure adjustments, to adding contrast that brings out details in eyes.
Furthermore, higher-level retouching may also be used to soften skin or remove blemishes – but take care not to go overboard. A Vancouver headshot photographer may also offer this service as an add-on. Be sure to inquire up front to ensure it is available if you are interested in this service.
Background
Though professional headshots focus on the face, their surroundings also play a pivotal role. A corporate job may require an objective backdrop while creative industries often prefer bold colors or unusual textures. Color and personal taste should all be considered when selecting an ideal backdrop.
White remains the go-to headshot background, but a professional photographer should offer clients alternative choices as well. Grey offers an ideal alternative, giving your headshot a more subdued aesthetic. A dark background has also become increasingly popular for creative industries professionals; creating an ethereal aesthetic and helping outfit colors pop!
Your options for backgrounds range from brick walls, buildings, textures such as lines or plant life; beautiful natural scenery like lakes, woods or flower fields may also work; for more formal headshots you could use your studio or business’s location as the setting. You can visit https://www.pinterest.com/ for more background ideas.
Some subjects may desire photographs with more natural backgrounds that they can use on social media, their website and printed materials to represent themselves more authentically. This may be especially applicable to thought leaders, business professionals and others looking to showcase their personality through photographs.
Getting Started
Before a headshot session begins, it is crucial that both you and the photographer have an understanding of where it will be displayed; this will allow them to plan the most effective shoot in order to obtain the best photo.
Headshots should go beyond mere visual identification; they should convey more about an individual’s character and attitude. The best photographers will have a mastery of people skills in order to help you feel relaxed while eliciting genuine expressions.
Before beginning a shoot, it is crucial that a pre-session consultation be held between photographer and client either in-person or over the phone. This consultation allows photographers to get acquainted with their clients while discussing desired looks as well as any concerns or queries the client might have.
A good photographer will help you bring your ideal headshot to life.
The winners of the photography and filmmaking competition will receive cash prizes of INR 12,00,000.
The application window for the competition is scheduled to close on 15 June 2023.
The Nature inFocus Photography and Film Awards 2023 has introduced a new category this year that is open to participants under the age of 17. The category is being called Young Photographer and it is the perfect opportunity for young students to take part in Asia’s largest film and photography awards.
The Nature inFocus Photography and Film Awards 2023 is an international premier platform for wildlife photographers and filmmakers to showcase their talents. Candidates interested in participating can visit the official website at festival.natureinfocus.in and register themselves.
The application window for the competition is scheduled to close on 15 June 2023.
Competition Details
Participants must submit Images of nature and wildlife shot by them. They can upload up to 15 photographs. Additionally, for the Young Photographer category, a non-refundable registration fee of ₹1000 + 18% GST is applicable.
Prize Details
The winners of the photography and filmmaking competition will receive cash prizes of INR 12,00,000. Last year, the keenly contested award received more than 16,000 entries from across the globe. Stunning photographs and world-class content poured in from the photography and filmmaking fraternity.
Commenting on the Awards, Rohit Varma, Founder, Nature inFocus, said, “There are so many talented photographers and filmmakers who capture the essence of the beauty of our world but very few platforms to highlight their talents. Over the years, Nature inFocus Photography and Film Awards has been a meeting place for national and international wildlife photographers and creators with breath-taking content.”
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Categories
Additionally, the photography competition is also open for participants above the age of 17. There are six categories for adults, ranging from: Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Conservation Focus, Creative Nature Photography, Wildscape and Animals in Their Habitat along with the Photographer of the Year – Portfolio. The participants can submit up to 30 images, all in one category or divided across the five categories, plus 6 – 10 images in the Photographer of the Year – Portfolio category.
The filmmaking competition has two categories: Indian Films & International Films, each with separate sub-categories for Funded and Non-Funded films. A participant can upload up to four films, two films under each sub-category.
Next time you visit the Downtown Boca Raton Public Library to pick up some summer reading materials, take a minute to look around the front lobby.
A new photography exhibit, “Through Our Eyes: Boca Raton Community High School Student Photography,” is on display through July 31 showcasing photographs taken by students in the school’s photography program.
Over 500 Boca High students are enrolled in as many as four photography and digital media courses for college credit through the College Board in the United States and Cambridge University in England.
Leila Levy’s digital photo “Umbrellas” is part of “Through Our Eyes: Boca Raton Community High School Student Photography” exhibit at the Downtown Boca Raton Public Library. (Leila Levy/Courtesy)
“The students work diligently all year to prepare their AP Portfolio for College Board,” said Rob Sweeten, the school’s AP and AICE photography teacher. “We do have the largest AP 2D Art and Design program in the county.”
He teaches them the elements and principles of art; how to properly use cameras and photographic techniques; and how to create and process their images using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. In addition to winning photo contests, the students also serve the school’s yearbook, newspaper and athletic programs.
“Visitors will be impressed with the high standard of artistic merit, creativity and expression in the diverse collection of photos from the Boca High School photography students,” Program Services Librarian Lisa Testa said in a statement. “Congratulations to photography teacher Rob Sweeten for his ability to bring out the best in his students to produce exceptional photos for our community.”
Digital drawing “In the Balance” by Katherine Oberle is featured in the front lobby at the Downtown Boca Raton Public Library through July 31. (Katherine Oberle/Courtesy)
The Downtown Library, 400 NW Second Ave., in Boca Raton is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.
Library patrons also can sign up for the free Summer Reading program at bocalibrary.readsquared.com, on the READSquared app available through Google Play or the Apple Store, or at the Downtown or Spanish River (1501 NW Spanish River Blvd.) library locations. Incentives such as weekly prizes, wireless earbuds, pins, a raffle to win a Nintendo Switch Lite or an Imagine Your Story Beach Bag with Bluetooth speaker and beach towel, and book lovers’ gift sets are available to babies through fifth grade, grades 6-12 and adults who log their reading hours. A library card is not required to participate.
Multiple injuries reported in Texas boardwalk collapse
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More than a dozen teenagers from a church camp posing for a group photo were injured after a portion of a deck walkway collapsed at a seaside park in Texas, officials said.
The students were visiting Stahlman Park in Surfside Beach, Brazoria County, on Thursday with the Bayou City Fellowship when the incident occurred, the church said. Nearly 80 students from several campuses were on the trip, the church said.
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Students from the Bayou City Fellowship’s Cypress campus were taking a group photo when a portion of the deck collapsed around 12:30 p.m. local time, according to the church.
Footage from the scene showed a section of a wooden walkway ramp that had partially detached, falling on the grass below.
Nineteen students between the ages of 14 and 18 suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, according to Brazoria County officials. Five were transported to a Houston-area Memorial Hermann hospital via a helicopter, five were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, and nine were taken to hospitals by private vehicles, the county said.
Multiple police, EMS and fire departments responded to the scene.
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“While this is a traumatic event, we are blessed to report that none of the injuries are life-threatening,” Bayou City Fellowship said in a statement. “We are thankful for the outpour of concern from our community and ask that the city and surrounding areas keep all that are affected physically and emotionally in prayer.”
The church said it is not releasing the names of the victims or the nature of their injuries due to privacy concerns.
The incident remains under investigation, the county said.
Stahlman Park is located on the Gulf of Mexico, about 66 miles south of Houston.
