Part One’ Photography Book Delivers Intimate Glimpse At Denis Villeneuve’s Arrakis (First Look)

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With Dune hype riding high off the trailer for Part Two of Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptation, publisher Insight Editions has offered up an exclusive peek inside a new book of stunning imagery taken on the set of Part One by veteran film photographer, Chiabella James (Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Wonder Woman 1984).

“I’ve spent my whole life on film sets, but the difference on Dune was the atmosphere amongst the cast and crew,” James tells me over email. “The tone of the whole experience was of respect, collaboration, and creative expression, which gave space and opportunity for crew like myself to work with the freedom to push our boundaries and show our best.”

Hitting stands this August, Dune Part One: The Photography comprises an assemblage of production and candid stills meticulously culled from the thousands snapped during the film’s Sandworm-sized shoot around the globe.

Principal photography took the cast and crew from the precarious cliffs of Norway (serving as Caladan, the Earth-like home world of House Atreides) to the expansive deserts of Jordan (standing in for the spice-filled wastelands of Arrakis). While stunningly depicted onscreen, these real-world locations posed the greatest challenge for James, who found herself in a constant battle with the elements.

“The most difficult images to get are usually the ones in extreme conditions like the sandstorms or the rain,” the photographer recalls. “It’s hard enough to find a great angle when you’re squeezing your way into a film set, trying to stay out of the way of the cameras and crew working to shoot the scene, but add in the practicalities of sand or rain whipping your face, seeping into your equipment and obscuring your image, and the challenge to get a great image is intensified exponentially!”

As for choosing which stills would make the cut for publication, James selected “a few hundred images from the thousands,” and then winnowed it down from there. The goal, she explains, was to show that an on-set photographer’s job goes well beyond the usual collection of assets included with a press release.

“I went through multiple rounds of selections to narrow down to the best. I wanted to incorporate the whole experience of the production … while also shining a light on the fact that, on a film like Dune, unit photography is an art — not just a marketing tool.”

Hailed for its dense and world-building and influence on the likes of Star Wars and Game of Thrones, the seminal source material written by Frank Herbert takes place in a far-flung future where royal houses live in tenuous harmony throughout the cosmos. This interstellar civilization thrives on Spice Melange, a precious and mind-altering substance only found on the desert planet of Arrakis. When his father, Duke Leto Atreides, is betrayed by the ruthless Harkonnens, young Paul seeks refuge among the Fremen (the native folk of Arrakis) and fulfills his destiny.

Dune Part One: The Photography goes on sale from Insight Editions Aug. 15. The book features a foreword by executive producer Tanya Lapoint, a preface by cast member Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), and an afterword by author Brian Herbert (son of Frank Herbert and curator of the Dune legacy).

Dune: Part One is currently streaming on HBO Max (or just Max, if you prefer). Part Two arrives on the big screen Friday, Nov. 3. While nothing’s been confirmed yet, Villeneuve has voiced interest in a trilogy by adapting Dune Messiah.

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Bestside Studios Launches Natural Light Inspired Studios For Photography In Albion

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(MENAFN- ForPressRelease) Bestside Studios launches natural light inspired studios for photography, located at Albion, Victoria. The photo studios have been built around the concept of natural light allowing ample sunlight inside the rooms for perfect brightness. They own a production house apart from photography studios available on rent, which are offered at affordable prices to their clients. They provide the best of the varieties in backdrops, be it for a photo project or a video project. Currently, there are two different studios to choose from. Each has their unique look. Studio 1 has its own furniture setups, various backdrops, basic equipments, continuous lights, well equipped kitchen etc. They rent out studios designed and customised for unique photo or video shoots.

“It was surprisingly profitable for us and advantageous to use. The amount of sunlight inside the studio surprised and amazed us. It helped us save money on our lighting costs. You should visit their studios and you will be surprised as well” said one of the clients who had hired them repeatedly for a few of his photo and video projects.

Photographer-in-residence Marcus Hart, provides excellent photography assistance with his more than a decade’s of experience. A client who was in search of a photo studio hire Melbourne that would be reasonable in terms of cost, finalised Bestside Studios to complete his photo shoot project said,“Marcus is truly an outstanding photographer (and wonderful person) with an awesome ability to capture the true nature of people and events. He has been available and responded to every question I have had. He has even had the patience to evaluate and critique my work, providing meaningful feedbacks. Marcus is a consummate professional I’d recommend to anyone!” He is a video photographic and creative idea professional in the fashion world. Thus apart from getting assistance in photography one can get a complete package of studio hire in Melbourne plus professional assistance.

To help promote business or launch of a new range to the existing business, a professional assisted photography shoot is provided by Bestside Studio. The pictures taken in the studio are attractive and have helped promote the business. In addition to ecommerce, they also provide catalog photos for the product, create catalog specific contents and assist to display the products online or send it to the customer. If Melbourne photography studio hires assistance or photo ops and contents are needed at affordable prices, Bestside Studios will make a perfect pick. Visit or give a call to book the studios.

About The Company:

Bestside Studios, provide highly professional and spacious photo and video shoot studios on rent unlike any other studio hire companies. They provide a wide range of facilities including their own production house and photographers. As a result, all of their clients return to them for their projects. Visit Bestside Studios website at for more information.

Company :-Bestside Studios

User :- Poppy Hart

Email :ne

Phone :-0498010126

Url :-

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Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

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V&A Photography Centre review — the good, the bad and the total drag

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★★★☆☆
The V&A’s newly revamped and expanded photography section is a mix of the good, the bad and the total drag. More than good, the first room is a masterclass. It tells the story, immaculately presented, of photography: from the first flash of inspiration in the 1840s to the present day. First, a display of bulbs and their foils, lined up largest to smallest like un-nested Russian dolls, as sparkling as anything in the nearby jewellery galleries. We are led confidently through the greats and their innovations from Henry Fox Talbot to Eadweard Muybridge.

We meet not the usual Muybridge horses, but a Victorian lady in only her petticoat dancing a jig. A series of stereographs — two images taken from slightly different angles and

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Chrissy Teigen’s Breastfeeding Photo With Daughter Esti Offers Advice

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© Provided by Bustle


Chrissy Teigen is continuing her journey to normalize breastfeeding — and offering fellow moms a few tips along the way. Sharing a photo of herself breastfeeding her 4-month-old daughter, Esti, for a May 19 sponsored Instagram post, she wrote, “Esti has another bestie,” shouting out her Haakaa Ladybug Silicone Breast Milk Collector and highlighting how the breast pads save leakage and letdown.

Shortly after Teigen welcomed Esti with husband John Legend — with whom she also shares children Luna, 7, Miles, 5, and a late son, Jack — on Jan. 13, Teigen posted an Instagram video of herself attempting to breastfeed the newborn. Meanwhile, Miles showed off his counting skills in the background, though he quickly lost his audience. Sitting next to his mom, the then-4-year-old began at number 91 and eventually made it all the way past 170. As the counting dragged on, though, Teigen relatably seemed to be on the verge of succumbing to the exhaustion of mothering a weeks-old baby, as she appeared to be nodding off to sleep.

As always, she’s been candid about her latest breastfeeding journey, too. “I was so lucky because Luna and Miles latched immediately. Esti latched immediately. If anything, it was like me that was like, ‘I need to produce this,’” she shared with People in March. “I love pumping and I love trying to make as much milk as possible.”

However, the Cravings by Chrissy Teigen author noted she also “supplemented with all three children,” adding that she hopes other moms “don’t drive [themselves] crazy” if they use formula. “I’m surprised I have a drop of milk. I’ve done the lift augmentation twice. The fact that my nipple came off and was sewn back on, and I still have milk is incredible to me,” she continued. “I mean, Luna and Miles are thriving, and they’re great, and they were fed, and the most important thing is a fed baby. I used to be so scared, like, ‘Oh, my God, they’re not getting milk.’ I used to try to order donor milk online and freak myself out about everything. Not this time.”

The model’s candor in the breastfeeding discussion is hardly new. In November 2020, for example, Teigen posted a Twitter thread about normalizing formula usage. “Normalize breastfeeding is such a huge, wonderful thing. but I absolutely felt way more shame having to use formula because of lack of milk from depression and whatnot,” she wrote. “People have surrogates, people have trouble breastfeeding and all you hear as a new, anxious mom is how breast is best.”

She continued, “I remember pumping my ASS OFF, highest mode, so often, because I didn’t trust milk was going into their [mouths] if I breastfed. it drove me mad to the point I could only get an ounce. an ounce! … The stress of it, combined with the guilt that you cannot do nature’s most natural thing for your own baby is too much. I dunno why this is my crusade now. I just remember the sadness I felt and want you to know you are doing it right if your baby is fed, mama.”



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Best locations for astrophotography and skywatching 2023

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When searching for the best locations for astrophotography and skywatching there are some key points to consider, with the most obvious being light pollution. 

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDSA) has a complete database of International Dark Sky Places (IDSPs) which meet specific criteria. As of January 2022, there were 195 certified IDSPs around the world and in January 2023 there were 201, so it’s great to see that number increasing year-on-year. Within this list, there are five categories: Parks, reserves, sanctuaries, urban night sky places and international night sky communities.

Each category comes with specific demands that a destination must meet to be included. The criteria were originally put together primarily to protect and preserve unique nighttime conditions. The benefit to photographers and skywatchers is that a considerable amount of hard work involved in scouting the perfect astrophotography spot has been done.

A screenshot of the interactive IDSP map on the darksky.org website

The interactive IDSP map on the darksky.org website showing the best locations across North America. (Image credit: OpenStreetMapContributors/ Darksky.org)

This leaves astronomers, sky watchers, and astrophotographers to focus on picking the right kit for their dark sky adventures.

Essential astrophotography kit

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Noble Maritime Collection and the Alice Austen House present new exhibition ‘Picturing the Water: The Photography of Alice Austen’

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Noble Maritime Collection in collaboration with the Alice Austen House presents “Picturing the Water: The Photography of Alice Austen,” an exhibition of never-before-exhibited photographs by Alice Austen.

The exhibition will be on view at the Noble Maritime Collection beginning May 18, 2023.

“Alice Austen and John A. Noble share a birthday—March 17—albeit 47 years apart,” noted Ciro Galeno, Jr., Executive Director of the Noble Maritime Collection. “They are Staten Island’s most preeminent historic artists, with a pair of ferries named for them. New York’s working waterfront figured largely in their art and lives, and we are honored to host this exhibition of the subject through Austen’s unique lens, which I am sure Noble would have appreciated.”

Living and working on Staten Island during the Gilded Age, Alice Austen (1866–1952) was one of the first women photographers to work outside the confines of a studio, employing a visionary documentary style that was ahead of its time.

“Picturing the Water” explores Austen’s deep connection to both local and international waterways and the vessels that traverse them. The newly printed photographs, reproduced from Austen’s glass plate and hand-printed photographs, will be framed in John A. Noble’s signature handmade frames, reflecting on parallels between the artists’ visions.

This exhibition was guest-curated by Alice Austen House Executive Director Victoria Munro with collections assistance by Kristine Allegretti.

Courtesy Noble Maritime Collection and Alice Austen House

E. Alice Austen, Ribs of wreck, 1896. Collection of Historic Richmond Town.

“When the Noble museum asked me to curate an exhibition of Austen’s photographs for their galleries, I was thrilled to make connections between Austen’s and Noble’s legacies.” Victoria Munro, Executive Director Alice Austen House said. “This project gave me and the Alice Austen Collections Director Kristine Allegretti the opportunity to research the vast archive of maritime images that Austen captured.

“This revealed a collection of over 1,000 images that have rarely been viewed and opened a doorway to explore Austen’s intrinsic connection to the waterways of her front door and her travels. I hope viewers will take away an understanding of Austen’s professional dedication to her medium and her bold unconventional determination to capture the magnificent beauty of the open water and vessels that inhabit it.”

This exhibition was made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; and by a grant from the Lily Auchincloss Foundation.

Courtesy Noble Maritime Collection and Alice Austen House

E. Alice Austen, [Boy in a rowboat], n.d. Collection of Historic Richmond Town.

The Noble Maritime Collection, located in Building D, a former mariners’ dormitory at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Livingston, and is open from noon to 5 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. Admission is a monetary donation.

Alice Austen House Museum members will be offered free admission to the Noble Maritime Collection during regular gallery hours throughout the run of the Picturing the Water exhibition.

For more information, call 718-447-6490 or visit noblemaritime.org.

The Alice Austen House Museum is located at 2 Hylan Blvd., Rosebank, and is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $6 per person.

For more information, call 718-816-4506 or visit aliceausten.org.

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Kate Middleton is a queen bee in newly released photo

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Kate Middleton is a queen bee in newly released photo

She’s channeling her inner Queen Bee.

A never-before-seen photo of Kate Middleton was released on Saturday in honor of World Bee Day – and it’s buzz-worthy.

In the picture, which was posted on the official Instagram page for the Prince and Princess of Wales, the royal is seen dressed up in a beekeeping suit and protective gear, tending to the honeybees.

She is looking lovingly at the bees she’s attending to.

“We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay ,” the royals wrote in the caption of the photo.

“Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.”

The photo was taken by royal family photographer, Matt Porteous, last summer at Anmer Hall, which is part of their Sandringham Estate in England.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsdcUTmNhGk

And, as it turns out, Middleton seems to be quite fond of beekeeping as a hobby.

In 2021, she made a visit to the Natural History Museum in London, where she met with local elementary school kids and learned about the museums Urban Nature Project, which focuses on biodiversity and teaching others about the environment.

But, while she was there, she brought the kids a special treat – a jar of homemade honey from Anmer Hall, according to Harpers Bazaar.






© Provided by New York Post



In a newly released photo, Kate Middleton is seen dressed up in a beekeeping suit. Instagram/princeandprincessofwales

“Would you like to try some?” she reportedly asked the kids during the visit, according to the outlet. “This came specially from my beehive.”

Middleton’s brother, James Middleton, has also opened up about his love for the creatures in the past, too.

“I have ten hives at Bucklebury & I’m fascinated by the little creatures,” Middleton’s brother wrote in an Instagram post in 2019, as he shared a carousel of photos of himself tending to the insects.






© Provided by New York Post



Beekeeping is something that Kate’s brother, James Middleton, enjoys. POOL/AFP via Getty Images





© Provided by New York Post



The photo was posted to Middleton and her husband, Prince William’s, official Instagram account. Getty Images

“From their waggle dance to the queen laying her own body weight in eggs a day… there‘s a lot to be said about these humble little creatures.”

He also likened the experience to a form of meditation.

“But that’s not it,” Middleton continued writing. “Bee keeping to me is a meditation it’s a chance to escape my mind and be so consumed by something that hours can pass by without knowing it.”






© Provided by New York Post



The Princess has taken part in her fair share of outdoor activities over the years. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

“Meditation is a wonderful tool to help with stress, anxiety, depression and doesn’t just need to be practiced sitting down!”

The new photo of Middleton comes just a few weeks after the historic coronation ceremony of King Charles, which took place on Saturday, May 6 at Westminster Abbey.

The ceremony marked the official transfer of power to the new monarch after his mom, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away last September at the age of 96.






© Provided by New York Post



Together, Middleton and Prince William share three children. Getty Images





© Provided by New York Post



During a 2021 visit, she brought a jar of homemade honey to elementary school children. Getty Images

She had reigned for 70 years at the time of her death.

King Charles became the oldest king to be crowned at 74 years old.

Last week, King Charles and Queen Camilla made their first joint public appearance since the coronation, visiting Covent Garden in London.

They met with local community members and even made a trip to a craft market called The Apple Market.



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conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County, S China-Xinhua

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Mo Jirui patrols in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 20, 2023. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

Mo Jirui cultivates mangrove seeds in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 20, 2023. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

Flie photo taken by Mo Jirui shows birds in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua)

Mo Jirui introduces the making process of egret specimen in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 20, 2023. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

Mo Jirui checks mangrove seedlings in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 20, 2023. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

Mo Jirui collects pollen in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 20, 2023. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

This aerial photo shows a view in Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in Hepu County of Beihai City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 20, 2023. Mo Jirui, 68, started working as a conservator at Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve in 1993. After retired in 2015, he was re-hired by the reserve because of his rich working experience.

In the past 30 years, the old man protected the mangroves ceaselessly. He has also taken over ten thousand of photos here, which provided basic data for biodiversity conservation and research in the nature reserve.

“I loved mangroves since I was a child. When I saw egrets flying in the air and crabs and fish busy on mudflats, my heart was inexplicably happy. I had no other thoughts for the rest of my life, I just wanted to guard these ‘coast guards’.” said Mo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

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5 tips for phenomenal phone photography

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 Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Like most of the population, I take a smartphone with me everywhere I go. This makes its built-in camera an obvious, and most available, option for taking photos quickly and easily.

The smart autofocus and easy point-and-shoot style enables me to capture images even while walking. I can then edit or share the pictures on social media without having to lug my Fujifilm X-S10, along with the lenses, SD cards and batteries I would carry for more dedicated jobs. It’s really easy to use phone editing apps, like Photoshop, Gallery and Snapseed, to name a few – and many of these are free.

• Check out the best camera phones around right now

I think the future for smartphone photography is exciting – particularly how many people are more than satisfied with the results. It has become a widely accessible way to have the thrill of taking photos but getting to the final results far quicker.

Another benefit (especially when on the move) is that taking photos with a phone is more discreet than using a digital camera. In recent years, people all over the world have become used to seeing people using their phones to take photos and don’t pay attention any more. So you can pretty much go about your day without anyone wondering what you are up to.

Here are my top five tips for perfect phone photography…

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

(Image credit: Future)

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

(Image credit: Future)

1) Be mobile

Get out into your local towns or cities and start shooting. Grab yourself a coffee and start to explore the area, looking for potential image opportunities in new spots
that you might not usually venture into. Try not to rush around; a big part of camera phone photography is that it’s easy and enjoyable, and you don’t have to put too
much emphasis on the final images.

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

(Image credit: Future)

2) Shoot in Portrait mode

Most of the time, but not always, I’ll use the Portrait mode setting. Designed for taking portraits, this option adds a little more blur to the background and foreground, therefore drawing the viewer’s attention to the areas that matter.

Is phone photography REAL photography? A day in the life of pro shooter Mike Kus

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

(Image credit: Future)

3) Adjust the exposure

When you offer up your phone to the scene, it will hazard a pretty good guess at the required overall exposure. If you’d like a little more control, however, just tap on the brightest area. You can also hold your finger on the screen and pull up or down.

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

(Image credit: Future)

4) Zoom in and out

Camera phones have fixed optical lenses, but you can zoom in or out digitally by pinching the screen. Zooming further will usually result in reduced image quality,
so use this functionality sparingly when trying to adjust the composition to your advantage.

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

Fiona Georgeson Powell gets smart with her Huawei to shoot colourful urban scenes

(Image credit: Future)

5) Edit your images

Snapseed is installed on my phone, so I don’t need to wait until I’m at home to edit. In the basic ‘Tune Image’ tab, I can experiment with brightness, contrast, saturation, ambience and so on. This is usually enough to take an image to the next level.

Check out the best lenses for iPhone and Android phones, be sure to look at the best flip phones & best fold phones, and here’s our reality check – nobody actually needs a 200MP camera phone!

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Paddling the Presumpscot to Westbrook

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Michael Shaughnessy, co-founder and president of Friends of the Presumpscot, back paddles while canoeing the Presumpscot River on May 9. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Michael Shaughnessy pushes off and settles in for a 5-mile paddle down the Presumpscot River on a sunny spring day.

He’s eager to canoe from the Mallison Falls dam in Windham to Saccarappa Falls in the center of Westbrook, where last month the city added more than 5 acres of public waterfront access.

A city councilor and longtime river advocate, Shaughnessy is happy to share the wonders along a stretch of the 26-mile river that was set free when the dam at Saccarappa Falls was removed in 2019. Leading the morning ride is David Butler, a registered Maine Guide who lives in Windham. And there’s plenty to see.

Trees bend toward the river, their roots clinging to the edge where fiddleheads unfurl in dappled sunshine. Swallows dive and skim insects from the shimmering surface. A great blue heron takes flight from the shallows, banking upward to show off its pale belly and full wingspan before heading downriver.

A great blue heron flies above the Presumpscot River on May 9.  Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

But Shaughnessy notices things that others might miss. He thrills at the sound of little streams trickling into the river, swollen from spring rains. You wouldn’t have heard that a few years ago, he says, before the Saccarappa Dam was removed and the river shifted closer to its true course.

“They’re so beautiful – like little gems,” he says. “It’s just more evidence of how the river is transitioning from what it was to what it can be.”

Until the early 2000s, the Presumpscot had nine dams that hampered its flow from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay and blocked Atlantic salmon and other sea-run fish from returning to spawn upriver. Even then it was the largest fresh-water source flowing into the bay.

Winding through Windham, Gorham, Westbrook, Falmouth and Portland, the river hosted one of Maine’s first gristmills in the 1650s, its first dam and paper mill in the 1730s, and its first hydroelectric dam, built in 1889 for the former Smelt Hill Power Station, all at Presumpscot Falls in Falmouth.

Seven dams remain, remnants of when the river was tamed to power mills, transport goods and serve as an open sewer for industries and communities that turned their backs on its beauty and abundance.

“At one point it was known as the most dammed river in America and people were proud of that,” says Shaughnessy, co-founder and president of Friends of the Presumpscot, a nonprofit that’s been fighting to protect and restore river habitat and recreational access since 1992.

Shaughnessy and others mourn the loss of a free-flowing natural resource that the Indigenous Wabanaki named for its many falls and rapids, and that area schoolchildren now learn about as part of the Maine Native Studies curriculum.

“The Presumpscot churned with fish before it was dammed,” says Butler, the Maine Guide, also a Friends member. “Damming the river was genocide for the people who ate the fish.”

David Butler of Windham, a registered Maine guide, poles his way along the Presumpscot River in Westbrook on May 9.  Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Mike Sanphy, president of the Westbrook Historical Society, remembers what the river was like when he moved from Portland to Westbrook in the 1960s. People used to swim in it, he says, but they joked about having to keep their mouths shut because they never knew what might float by.

“It was always a grayish brown and it had a certain smell to it,” said Sanphy. “It was disgusting. Now, it’s coming along real nice. They’re trying to bring it back and it’s getting real close.”

RESTORING THE PRESUMPSCOT

Saccarappa Falls in the Presumpscot River in Westbrook now flows freely after the removal of the Saccarappa Dam in 2019. The dam ran from the concrete abutment at left to the abutment where the mill wall is painted white, at right.  Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

The sound of rough water intensifies as Saccarappa Falls comes into view. Parted by Saccarappa Island, the Presumpscot splits and courses white and wild over the rocky river bed.

Shaughnessy avoids going over the falls, digging deep and paddling fast to the island’s sandy shore. Rimmed by rocks and trees, the grassy river outcrop is peaceful yet energizing. Walking to the edge, he points to where the old dam crossed the falls, from the island to the old Dana Warp Mill building.

The river rushes below, churning oxygen into the water that makes it healthier for fish. It also sends indiscernible negative oxygen ions into the air that have reported health benefits for humans, known as the waterfall effect.

“It’s a great place to just soak it all in,” he says. “It’s so good for people.”

Michael Shaughnessy takes a photo on his phone on May 9 of where the Saccarappa Dam used to span the Presumpscot River in Westbrook.  Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

In April, the city purchased 1.7-acre Saccarappa Island and a narrow 3.7-acre parcel that extends 3,500 feet along the river’s northern shore, from the Bridge Street bridge to the railroad bridge. The land deal with Sappi North America, which operates a paper mill further downriver, included a 980-foot trail easement along the river’s southern shore.

It was part of a 2018 settlement that included the Friends of the Presumpscot, the Conservation Law Foundation and a variety of state and federal agencies. The city bought the land with $350,000 donated by the Westbrook Environmental Improvement Corp. and the Cornelia Warren Community Association.

It’s the latest in a long-term effort spearheaded by those who want to restore the river as a life-giving regional watershed and the soul of the city.

“The river is the reason Westbrook exists, whether because of the Indigenous population that was here first or the colonial settlers who came after,” said City Manager Jerre Bryant. “Over time, it lost its natural features. With what has happened over the last couple of decades, it’s becoming an attraction once again.”

Rejuvenating the river has meant putting the needs of fish before people – at least initially.

The Smelt Hill dam was removed in 2002. Four years later, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s authority to require fish passages and minimum water flow standards around the Presumpscot River dams operated by the paper mill in Westbrook, then owned by S.D. Warren Co.

A fish passage was installed at the Cumberland Mills dam, near the paper mill, in 2013. Three years after that, Sappi negotiated a deal to remove the dam and power station at Saccarappa Falls in return for license extensions from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for several dams upriver.

With Saccarappa Falls running wild and a fish passage added in 2021, migratory fish now have access to the entire bottom half of the river. Alewives and other species have resumed annual late spring runs from Casco Bay to the base of Mallison Falls dam. Additional fish passages are anticipated there and further upstream at Little Falls dam.

“The fish are coming back, though not in the numbers they once were,” Shaughnessy says. “But with the success of each smaller run, more fish will return in the future.”

IMPROVING ACCESS

Michael Shaughnessy takes a photo with his phone while standing on Saccarappa Island in the Presumpscot River in Westbrook on May 9. The City of Westbrook purchased the 1.7-acre island in April. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

The city’s plans for the newly acquired waterfront property include developing a park on the island, with possible access via a footbridge that would be built at the end of Dana Street. A new riverwalk along the northern shore would connect to an existing trail and boardwalk on the southern shore, creating a recreational loop through downtown.

The improvements are expected to attract more businesses and residents to the city center and emphasize the river as a community focal point. Senior housing, single-family homes and condominiums are being developed nearby. City officials say interest in riverside properties is strong, despite post-pandemic inflation and economic uncertainty.

“The river is returning in a whole new way to be the focus of the city,” said Mayor Mike Foley. “It really makes the downtown area stand out.”

Discover Downtown Westbrook agrees. The nonprofit’s website features a photo of the river and the bold statement, “A River Runs Through Us,” borrowed from a novella and 1992 film with a similar title.

“We believe the river is one of our most valuable assets,” said Amy Grommes Pulaski, executive director. “One of our goals is to celebrate and reconnect people with the river.”

Upcoming events planned on or near the river include a Thursday evening summer concert series July 13-Aug. 31 in Vallee Square; a community paddle and grill Aug. 16 at Riverbank Park; and an Outdoor Film Fest Sept. 9 at the park.

Shaughnessy says he appreciates the work Pulaski’s group is doing and all the interest and attention the river is getting, but he has reservations.

He takes stock of the improvements as he and Butler pull their canoes out of the Presumpscot at the Lincoln Street boat launch, one of four in the city.

Shaughnessy says he welcomes greater investment to preserve the waterway, improve public access and restore river habitat. But he worries that cleaning up the Presumpscot and making it more desirable will encourage development that didn’t happen when the river was dammed, dirty and smelled foul.

A few homes and camps dot the riverbanks from Saccarappa Falls to the Mallison Falls dam in Windham, but much of it appears to be undisturbed.

“I hope it doesn’t get too developed,” Shaughnessy says. “Because to be this close to nature in the most populated region of the state is really remarkable.”


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