Sony FE 14mm F1.8 G Master review

[ad_1]

With it’s ultra-wide 114-degree field of view on full-frame cameras, the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 G Master is designed to let you see the bigger picture. It’s eminently suitable for capturing sweeping vistas in landscape photography, cityscapes, architectural interiors and more besides. The fast aperture rating also makes it ideal for astrophotography and the lens is engineered to suit both stills and video capture. A notable competitor is the Sigma 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art lens, which costs about the same price. However, the Sony is more compact and much lighter in weight, at 460g compared with the Sigma’s 1,170g, as well as boasting additional handling exotica.

Specifications

Mount: Sony E (FE)
Sony product number: SEL14F18GM
Full-frame: Yes
Autofocus: Yes
Stabilization: No
Lens construction: 14 elements in 11 groups
Angle of view: 114 degrees
Diaphragm blades: 9
Minimum aperture: f/16
Minimum focusing distance: 0.25m
Maximum magnification ratio: 0.1x
Filter attachment: Rear gel slot
Dimensions: 83x100mm
Weight: 460g

Key features

Top of the features list is the expansive viewing angle. Not just for shoehorning more of a scene into the image frame, it also enables creative expression, as you can get in close to subjects and exaggerate the perspective between foreground and background elements. The f/1.8 aperture makes it a fast lens, and it’s also super-speedy in terms of autofocus, utilizing dual XD (eXtreme Dynamic) linear stepping motors. Typical of the breed, the autofocus system is also virtually silent in operation, as well as enabling smooth transitions during video capture.

(Image credit: Sony)

(opens in new tab)

Despite its lightweight build, the lens packs 14 optical elements. Specialist glass includes two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements, one Super ED element and two high-precision XA (eXtreme Aspherical) elements, plus a regular aspherical element. The mix intends to maximize sharpness, contrast and clarity while keeping aberrations to a minimum. Nano AR Coating II is also applied to minimize ghosting and flare.

Typical of ultra-wide-angle lenses, the petal shaped hood is an integral part of the barrel and can’t be removed. This helps to give physical protection to the bulbous front element, with the usual downside that there’s no front filter attachment thread. This can be a drawback for landscape photography, where you might want to use ND Grad or high-density neutral filters. We wouldn’t advise using circular polarizing filters with such a wide-angle lens anyway, as the polarizing effect will vary across the image frame.

The fixed hood precludes the inclusion of a filter attachment thread at the front, but the lens features a gel filter slot in its mounting plate. (Image credit: Sony)

(opens in new tab)

Build and handling

The ‘Click On/Off’ switch enables smooth, stepless aperture adjustments when shooting video. (Image credit: Sony)

(opens in new tab)

Handling is sublime. The electronically-coupled manual focus ring has a smooth and precise action with a linear response that’s well suited to both stills and video shooting. A further bonus for the latter is that the manual aperture ring can be de-clicked via a switch located on the right hand side of the barrel. For stills, one-third f/stop click steps are available. On the left of the barrel, there’s an AF-MF focus mode switch and a function button which is nominally for AF Hold, although its action can be customized via in-camera menus.

The function button above the AF/MF switch is for AF Hold by default, but alternative functions can be assigned, like preview magnification for manual focusing. (Image credit: Sony)

(opens in new tab)

Performance

[ad_2]

Lego Photography Is Harder Than You Think

[ad_1]



Anna Bitanga's LEGO version of Omoide Yokocho in Tokyo, left, and another scene called "Galen's Row." @fourbrickstall


© Provided by BuzzFeed News
Anna Bitanga’s LEGO version of Omoide Yokocho in Tokyo, left, and another scene called “Galen’s Row.” @fourbrickstall

Legos, the much-loved plastic toys that you construct, are instantly recognizable around the world. With no signs of slowing down, the Danish company reported a 17% increase in sales during the first half of 2022 alone, partly due to partnerships with movie franchises such as Star Wars and Harry Potter. Though Lego sets have become more intricate, one foundation is still a key component: the Lego brick. But how did the current form of the brick come to be?

Prior to 1958, Lego had a previous version of its beloved interlocking brick. Earlier versions of the brick in the 1930s and ’40s were made of cellulose acetate, but this had limitations regarding construction and durability. After taking five years to find sturdier components to make the Lego brick, the company settled on an ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) polymer, a nontoxic plastic that is easy to mold and sturdy in its final form. On Jan. 28, 1958, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, managing director of the Lego Group and son of Lego founder Ole Kirk Christiansen, filed a patent application in Denmark for what we know today as the modern Lego brick. Filing the one patent would prove to be a pivotal moment for the company, leading to a seemingly infinite amount of Lego sets for decades to come. 

To celebrate what is known to many fans as International Lego Day, BuzzFeed News spoke with Anna Bitanga, who is an official Lego community ambassador and photographer.



A US patent for the Lego brick in 1961. USPTO


© Provided by BuzzFeed News
A US patent for the Lego brick in 1961. USPTO

How did you get into photographing Legos? 

I started shooting Lego minifigures as a way to keep taking photos creatively while I was busy raising a 2-year-old. I think it was around 2013. I’d seen an article about how a landscape photographer took photos of his Lego photographer minifig with his phone as part of a 365-day project, and that brought me right back into the Lego hobby. I took the same idea but with a different purpose: to keep shooting portraits when I didn’t really have the time for photography. Faced with a choice between a bulky diaper bag and a bulky camera bag, I went for the baby wipes. But I could easily slip my phone and a minifigure in my pocket and take quick shots of that little plastic toy while my kid played in the park.

How did you get involved with the company? 

I started sharing my photos on Twitter and Tumblr, and found a few people who were also shooting Lego minifigures and models artistically. I found even more people on Instagram and stumbled onto a Lego photography shoutout account there called BrickCentral. After a few years of being in the Lego photography community, I took over BrickCentral in 2019. 

The Lego Group has a program called the Lego Ambassador Network, which allows the company to work with Lego fan communities. I thought BrickCentral would be a good fit, so I applied to join and we were accepted. So I became the Lego community ambassador for BrickCentral.

Did you grow up playing with Legos as a child?

I loved Lego as a child! My favorite theme was space. My brother and I both loved building with Lego bricks: I was more of a collector and he was a My Own Creation (MOC) builder. My parents bought us the same sets so we could do both things…or not fight. Maybe it was the latter.

What have you learned from photographing Legos? What joy does it bring to you? 

Photographing Lego toys is a lot of fun. I get to play twice: build a set and then take photos of it. I love to get into a zone when I’m just building, whether that’s an official set from instructions or free-building with a loose idea in mind. I’m already imagining what photos I’ll be taking of the model while I’m building it, or I start changing things in the models so I can create opportunities for lighting or camera angles. It’s such good fun to try to figure out ways to bring details of a model out or bring a minifigure to life. The whole process is kind of like a puzzle sometimes, and I happen to love puzzles.

Are there ever challenges when shooting the Lego scenes? 

Shooting Lego toys can be really challenging because of the highly reflective and largely planar surfaces. Glare is a big problem. Lighting and getting close can be tough too because of the tiny scale of the buildings and how tight the interiors are — if they’re minifigure-scale, that is. I often have to take models apart or use more specialized gear like macro lenses with different focal lengths to get a decent composition.

Taking a large Lego set outdoors to shoot in a natural environment can be a chore. I have a huge Ikea bag reinforced with Lego delivery boxes to keep the sides from falling in and to keep the base level. I don’t want my Lego set to fall apart or slide around while I’m heading to a location. The last thing I want to see is a few loose bricks at the bottom of the bag. Where did these come from?!

I sometimes get weird looks from people when I’m out with my Lego — I suppose it’s unusual to see someone walking through a forest awkwardly lugging a big blue Ikea bag. I’ve also appeared in lots of tourist photos around New York. Someone will be curious what I’m doing, see the Lego, and then start taking pictures of me taking pictures of Lego.

Taking minifigures outdoors for photos is much easier, so that’s the most common kind of Lego photography. But they are super light and topple over very easily if the slightest breeze blows. Minifigures can be tricky to pose and need extra supports like wires or pins to keep them steady on uneven ground. Using supports often means having to edit them out in Photoshop later, unless you can hide them with perspective.

The last big challenge for me is having to crouch down for the entire photo shoot. It can be really uncomfortable, even though I have an articulating screen. I tend to shoot at ground level, so I’m always hunched over, making sure I have precise focus on these tiny subjects while not casting my shadow on them.

How long does it usually take to make a scene? Are you building them besides shooting them? 

It can take me an hour just to make my custom character. I have drawers of parts and I love to just try different combinations of heads, torsos, legs, and accessories. 

If it’s an official set, the build time is as long as it takes to get it assembled. The longest I’ve spent building an official set was maybe 9-12 hours, but those sets are big like Lion Knights’ Castle.

If I’m making a MOC, that takes me weeks. I’m not a very talented builder and I don’t usually have all the parts I need for my plan, so I need to improvise or order online. I’ve tried building digitally a few times, but the model tends to get away from me since I have access to infinite parts.

Are these sets you’re making off the top of your head, or are they scenes from Lego? Are there building instructions like normal Lego sets? 

My MOCs are usually a result of me wanting to free up more space in a Lego bricks bin: “Oh, I can’t close this white bricks bin anymore. What can I build that will use up a lot of that color?” That’s probably not the typical approach, but it works for me. 

I’m just digging through the bins to see what I can use, so I don’t have instructions. I wanted to make instructions for this medieval alley MOC I made, which I started physically (to use up bricks in another overflowing bin of light bluish gray) and then recreated digitally with Lego’s digital builder called Stud.io. I don’t have a lot of experience in the software, though, and I find it distracts me a lot. It also makes my wish list bloat.

One day, I’ll learn how to make instructions, but I have to set aside time to learn how to do it, and right now, it’s not a priority. Especially since all my file names are galens-row-final-final-final-v3.io.

How do you decide which scene you’re photographing? 

Most of my photos are focused on a character — ideally, one that I’ve created. New muses and interesting minifigures always get me pumped to shoot. I think about where this character might be found and when: indoors or outdoors, in the forest or underwater, in the morning or late at night, and so on. Then I’ll decide what I need to build or bring with me to support the concept.

How long does it usually take to photograph a scene? What equipment are you using? 

I take photos indoors and outdoors from simple minifig portraits to complicated interior shots, so the time and effort I spend on a photo can be anywhere between 20 minutes and three hours. I usually shoot with either my Sony a6500 or a7iii with a macro lens and CPL filter. I have a bunch of macro lenses, but I tend to shoot with a 30mm or 40mm to get more of the environment in the frame. 

I lean more on flash for lighting, even when I’m outdoors during the day. I can’t always get the sunlight I want where I want it to be because of trees blocking it or clouds passing, so I take a little flash attached to a selfie stick. It’s my sun-on-a-stick.

Artistically, I like to backlight my models and create shadows in my Lego photos too, and flash helps me do that. I like to bring out the form rather than flatten everything. 

What would you like people to take away from your Lego scenes? 

I would like people to look at my Lego photos and think how fun it is to bring Lego to life in a photo. I want them to try to do the same because it’s a different way to play and create with Lego. 



[ad_2]

Where the wild things are … for now

[ad_1]

Opinion editor’s note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes a mix of national and local commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

•••

The National Park Service plans to cull wild horses from its lands, with an approach that is all but guaranteed to exterminate them.

This is a tragedy in the making. These free-spirited steeds are grand animals who deserve to live free and unfettered. I’m familiar with their beauty because of an expedition my daughter Allison, a hairstylist in St. Paul, took to Theodore Roosevelt National Park at Medora, N.D., to experience the horses up-close and personal with the Wild at Heart Images Wildlife and Nature Photography (www.wildlandswildhorses.com).

Of immediate concern is the proposal to reduce the number of horses in the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Herd Management Area near Cody, Wyo. The plan would reduce the McCullough Peaks herd from 179 to 70 or less. Unfortunately, such a reduction would render the herd genetically unsustainable, according to appropriate management level standards.

The culling plan could result in some of the horses being killed.

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comment on the issue until Feb. 7 at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022012/570/8003386/comment.

Following is a reflection Allison wrote about her experience.

Mike Tighe

•••

On privileged occasions, we are lucky enough to see something so beautiful that it stops us in our tracks, leaving us without words as we disconnect from everything else surrounding us.

I was lucky enough to experience this after seeing a photo of what I now know was a horse in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. A gentle voice brought me back to reality. “Have you ever been?” she said. I turned with wide eyes and replied, “Where is this magical place?”

Imagine my surprise, as a Minnesotan, to learn that this beautiful image came from our neighboring state of North Dakota. As a lifelong horse lover, how did I not know this place existed? In that moment I knew I must go.

Six months later, I was celebrating my birthday at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park during an expedition with Wild Lands Wild Horses.

A breathtaking sight greeted me as I entered the park — Nichols and his band stood right in front of my tear-filled eyes just as a storm was rolling in. Dark clouds filled the sky, and I couldn’t tell if the deep rumble I was hearing was thunder or my own heart beating. Manes swirled and foals rose from slumber as the storm was upon us. Even though the winds were whipping and ice pelted my face, I could have stood there for an eternity.

Over the next two days, I was able to see every horse in the park, minus the elusive Circus. The experience was surreal. I felt as though the initial photo that had transported me there, like some sort of magical dream. To this day, it still brings tears to my eyes every time I remember that it was real.

As a hairstylist in the Twin Cities, I spent the next several months sharing with my clients every morsel of information I had learned about the horses, their bands and the beyond-words beauty I was honored to witness. I shared photos, in hopes that they could have a glimpse of the beauty of the magnificent animals.

Of the several hundred people I spoke with, almost none had any idea that wild horses roamed at Theodore Roosevelt. Several have since traveled there to experience their beauty firsthand.

Seeing such stunning animals in the wild was an incredible gift. It makes me sad that something so magical and accessible seems to be hidden from so many.

Words that can give justice to a truly life-changing experience elude me, just as Circus thwarted my hopes of seeing him. What I do have are images I will never forget. Nichols, majestically standing guard during the storm. A standoff between stallions after someone got too close to a sleeping foal. An aging bachelor, living out whatever time he has left in his rightful home. A band grazing peacefully, as the sky lit up with shades of orange, pink and purple as the sun set on another day in paradise.

I can say for certain that I would have never made the trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park if it weren’t for the horses. My world is a better place with them in it. I will carry these images in my mind and heart until the day I die. And when that day comes, I hope the other side is as beautiful.

Please help save the horses by registering your objection with the Bureau of Land Management.

Allison Tighe lives in St. Paul. Mike Tighe lives in Shoreview.

[ad_2]

Galaxy S23 Ultra: One for the Astrophotography people! Everyone else, take another look at S22 Ultra

[ad_1]

Well, it seems like this is the time for incremental upgrades on phones, and after Apple, it is now Samsung’s turn to unveil its new flagship phone that looks suspiciously similar to the company’s previous offering.

Still, although incremental, some of the upgrades and improvements coming to the Galaxy S23 Ultra will likely be nice to have and therefore appreciated. However, there’s a “but”, which is there because (I don’t know about you), but I’m not willing to pay $1,200 for a phone that’s likely to turn out being 80-90% similar to what we already know and love about the Galaxy S22 Ultra…

Despite the fact the Galaxy S23 Ultra is shaping up as one of the most comprehensive, feature-rich and capable smartphones of 2023, that doesn’t mean it will exist in a vacuum, which is the key point I’ll be making here.

And while I’m not going to bring up the Pixel and iPhone into this argument, I do think you might want to consider buying Samsung’s current (soon to be “old”) top-of-the-line flagship phone – the Galaxy S22 Ultra! Why? Because it’s an amazing phone! Especiallybecause you’ll probably get it at half the price of the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra once the latter is released (or even right now…)

Let’s get into a bit more detail…

Galaxy S22 Ultra instead of Galaxy S23 Ultra? Long software support makes getting last-year’s Galaxy flagship phone over the new one a great idea

While I wouldn’t usually advise anyone to buy an older phone when the new model is released, this year might be slightly different, as the Galaxy S22 Ultra already ticks every box and looks basically the same as the S23 Ultra!

But more importantly, the Galaxy S22 Ultra promises a total of fouryears of Android upgrades, which means even if you pick it up now (running Android 13), you’re guaranteed to receive a total of three new Android versions (up to Android 16), as well as four years of security support! iPhone aside, that’s the longest software support you can get when buying an “old” phone. Hats off, Samsung!

If you do want to pick up the new Galaxy S23 Ultra, you can pre-order it now! Here’s a quick list of improvements the S23 Ultra is expected to bring over its predecessors (based on leaks):

  • First and foremost – the S23 Ultra will ship with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in all regions of the world now, meaning the days of Exynos injustice are over – not something to overlook if you have a Galaxy running on Exynos…

  • New 200MP primary camera, and upgraded ultra-wide-angle and selfie sensor; the star of the S23 Ultra show is expected to be that 200MP sensor, which is said to preserve more detail (duh!), but also improve low-light photography and videography (looking forward to those camera comparisons!)

  • 256GB storage for the cheapest variant of the S23 Ultra model (makes you wonder why the Galaxy S22 Ultra started at 128GB in the first place); bizarrely, the S23 Ultra is getting 8GB of RAM for the base variant, which isn’t a great look – cheaper phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and OnePlus 11 start at 12GB RAM, which is never a bad idea when it comes to Android

Surprisingly (or not), that’s where (at least according to the leaked information), the more meaningful upgrades with the Galaxy S23 Ultra seem to end…

Of course, the greatest reason to go with the Galaxy S23 Ultra over a Galaxy S22 Ultra is if you live in a place where you absolutely can’t get your hands on a Galaxy S22 Ultra powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Also, if your carrier comes in with that amazing offer, I’m not going to blame you for choosing the newer phone…

For everyone else, a discounted, refurbished, or even used Galaxy S22 Ultra might be the best $650 investment you’ve made in years…

  • The Galaxy S22 Ultra will have one of the very best displays even in 2023 – super-bright, colorful, and high-refresh-rate; leaks say the new Ultra should be able to reach the same brightness as the old one
  • Considering you aren’t buying a Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Exynos 2200 chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 version of the phone will be more than powerful enough to serve you well for years to come; again, don’t forget the extended software support that gets you three new versions of Android and four years of security patches
  • The Galaxy S22 Ultra might very well be the second-best camera phone of 2023 when it comes to versatility; the zoom ceiling of Samsung’s 2022 flagship is still unmatched by any other Android phone/iPhone and it generally takes excellent photos and videos in all lighting conditions 
  • While not being the absolute best, the Galaxy S22 Ultra still boasts great battery life and charges reasonably fast; the new Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t expected to bring a bigger battery or faster charging

Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t the phone for those with Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 flagships – it’s meant for people with other phones

In the end, why are companies like Apple and Samsung giving us 80-90% similar phones compared to their predecessors, presenting them as “new”? To me, the answer’s always been “strategic planning”.

Don’t forget – we’re talking about multi-million businesses here, which have one major goal – to sell more phones (act surprised!). Therefore, setting the pace of hardware upgrades and innovating to “just the right level” is pivotal for the success of Samsung as a company (an exception to the rule might be Sony, which seems to make phones for fun).

Potentially influenced by Cupertino, Samsung seems to have realized that throwing in everything you got isn’t the most sustainable business model, and now takes a more relaxed approach to upgrades. Although, the relative lack of Android competition on the global scene certainly helps Samsung too! I miss you, Huawei.

But hey, just like the iPhone 14 is an upgrade aimed at those with old old iPhones, the Galaxy S23 series seems like a the choice for people with Galaxy S20 flagships, or older.

In fact, you might be one of those people with a Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22 or another recent phone that’s not necessarily made by Samsung. In that case, assuming you haven’t just won the lottery (in which case, congratulations; let’s be friends!), I’d wholeheartedly suggest you put your hard-earned money away, for now…

Rumor and logic have it that the Galaxy S24 series of phones will bring fresh new designs, and even some hardware upgrades that could turn out to be more appealing than what the S23 phones will give you now. It’s expected that Samsung will upgrade the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a brand new zooming system, farther-reaching and more advanced than the one in the S22 and S23 Ultra…

But, but, but!Do wait for our Galaxy S23 Ultra review, which will give you a better perspective on whether Samsung’s 2023 premium flagship is worth your attention. Perhaps I’m underestimating the new 200MP camera, which will blow everyone away, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor will fly like… a dragon!

Once the puns get to that level – that’s when I know to wrap things up… So, that’s a wrap!

[ad_2]

Huge sadness at passing of Letterkenny photographer, Dermot Donohue – Donegal Daily

[ad_1]

Tributes are being paid to award-winning Letterkenny photographer Dermot Donohue, who has sadly passed away this weekend.

One of the town’s great creative minds, Dermot was a much-admired photographer, artist and musician.

Dermot’s photography work takes pride and place in many homes across Donegal and beyond, as his studio specialised in family portraits.

For more than three decades, Dermot captured precious photos of families through the generations. He opened his first studio on the Main Street in Letterkenny in 1978, before making the move to the Port Road.

In 2014, he leased the studio to focus on 3D photography and videography for businesses.

As a musician, he was well-known in the Blues circuit and was one of the founding members of the Letterkenny Jazz and Blues Festival.

A tribute from the festival committee said: “We are devastated today to hear about the passing of our good friend, committee member and one of the original founders of the Letterkenny Jazz and Blues Festival, Dermot Donohue. A great man, a blues fanatic, a dynamic performer and with an energy unsurpassed in the Irish Blues scene today. Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this very sad time. RIP DD, God bless you.”

Photo: Dermot Donohue at the Letterkenny Blues and Roots Festival

May he Rest in Peace

Huge sadness at passing of Letterkenny photographer, Dermot Donohue was last modified: January 28th, 2023 by Staff Writer

Tags:



[ad_2]

Watcher Of The Waves On Salt Creek Beach: Photo Of The Day

[ad_1]






© Susana Cruciana Photography


DANA POINT, CA — On the Orange County coast, you’re never far away from the waves and the surfers and skimboarders who ride them.

Laguna Beach photographer Susana Cruciana regularly ventures out into South Orange County to photograph the world around her.

Susana was visiting Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point when she captured this colorful shot of a young man watching the waves in the early afternoon.

Thank you for sharing your photo with Patch, Susana!

If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.

We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Orange County, and that show off your unique talents.

Email photo submissions to [email protected].

The article Watcher Of The Waves On Salt Creek Beach: Photo Of The Day appeared first on Laguna Niguel-Dana Point Patch.

[ad_2]

Watch the 1st half-lit first quarter moon of 2023 rise tonight

[ad_1]

On Saturday, Jan. 28, skywatchers will be able to see the year’s first first quarter moon, when the moon appears to be half-lit from the perspective of Earth.

Across the United States, the moon will rise in the late morning and be visible until it sets around midnight some 13 or 14 hours later, depending on your specific location. In New York City, the moon will rise at 10:53 a.m. EST (1553 GMT) and set at 12:40 a.m. EST (0540 GMT) on Jan. 29, according to skywatching site In-the-sky.org (opens in new tab).



[ad_2]

30 Funny & Hilarious Photos Of Kids Whose Parents Don’t Know Whether to Laugh or Cry

[ad_1]



Here are the 30 funny and hilarious photos of kids whose parents don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Parenting refers to the process of raising and caring for a child from birth to adulthood. It involves providing for the child’s physical, emotional, and social needs, as well as setting rules and boundaries, teaching values and life skills, and guiding the child’s development and growth. Parenting can be challenging, but it is also a rewarding experience. There are many resources available to help parents, including books, websites, and support groups.

While everybody says that becoming a parent is one of the most beautiful moments in life, nothing can compare to the joy of having a child and seeing him or her grow up day by day. But while you check these below photos its very tough to handle kids.

Here you can find 22 funny and interesting stories about kids Scroll down and enjoy yourself. All photos are linked and lead to the sources from which they were taken. Please feel free to explore further works of these photographers on their collections or their personal sites.

#1 Silence is not a good sign

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#2 Always have no cloth to change into

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#3 Yes, even in such situations. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale …

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#4 We can feel the headache settling in

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: kovikovi144 / reddit

#5 My daughter thought this was her. Bonus: my son is in the background

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: Trampolice / reddit

#6  I can’t decide if she is playing pretend make-up business or bakery

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: OmoKiikan

#7 And the children will have fun without you, do not worry

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#8 My son feeding his fake dog goldfish while his real dog sits outside, pissed

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: forester1983 / reddit

#9 My daughter felt one straw was not enough…

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: IAmCanadian / reddit

#10 Remember that they are capable of anything. Even the most unthinkable

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#11 I mean, he does have a point

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: Why1sGam0Ra / reddit

#12 My kids have disabled my iPod for 45 years

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: CFearon615 / reddit

#13 Caught my son watching cartoons at 3 AM. He didn’t expect to be caught

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: picc / imgur

#14 This is how my son was sleeping. He may be immortal

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: dreadpirateciv / imgur

#15 My son just made a huge mess. This is his ’just let me explain’ face.

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: mjonesbulldog / imgur

#16 Love between siblings is a beautiful thing

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#17 Some accidents cannot be explained by the laws of nature

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#18 My 6-year-old daughter is great at multitasking

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: KentuckyforKentucky / reddit

#19 Took my daughter out for a nice dinner…

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: thegreatbarcia / reddit

#20 My son after trying to get back down from washing his hands. Just hanging there…helpless…

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: fiteMILK / reddit

#21 He is the lord of the mini marshmallow clan

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: imgur.com

#22 Playing hide and seek with my kids and this is how I found my daughter

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: 11BINF / reddit

#23 My 2-year-old daughter drew a pillow with chalk, then laid down for a nap…

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: mpbishop / reddit

#24 Took my daughter to a Van Gogh exhibit

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source:  Ka_paw / reddit

#25 Babies, cats, and dogs… own any of them and your privacy is gone…

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: atmospheric

#26 My daughter has been picking out her own clothes and watching her big brother get on the bus

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: MatthewSmith58 / reddit

#27 Momming Ain’t Easy

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: _motormichael_

#28 Don’t let your child use your laptop

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: craghawk

#29 My daughter looks like she just destroyed an entire Sith army

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: Fruitlessbox / reddit

#30 A paint party at their daycare

Funny and Hilarious Photos Of Kids

Source: ShiningMark20

Related Articles:









[ad_2]

How Pixel Binning Makes Your Samsung, Apple and Google Photos Better

[ad_1]

Megapixels used to be so much simpler: A bigger number meant your camera could capture more photo detail as long as the scene had enough light. But a technology called pixel binning now universal on flagship smartphones is changing the old photography rules for the better. In short, pixel binning gives you a camera that offers lots of detail when it’s bright out, without becoming useless when it’s dim.

The necessary hardware changes bring some tradeoffs and interesting details, though, and different phone makers are trying different pixel binning recipes, which is why we’re taking a closer look.

Read more: Check out CNET’s Google Pixel 7 Pro review, iPhone 14 Pro review and Galaxy S22 Ultra review

Pixel binning arrived in 2018, spread widely in 2020 with models like Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra and Xiaomi’s Mi 10 Pro, and arrived on Apple and Google hardware with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 7 phones in 2022. The top-end model from Samsung, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, features a 108-megapixel main camera sensor, and pixel binning could take the next technological leap with the S23 Ultra’s expected 200-megapixel main camera set to debut Feb. 1

Here’s your guide to what’s going on.

What is pixel binning?

Pixel binning is a technology that’s designed to make an image sensor more adaptable to different conditions by grouping pixels in different ways. When it’s bright you can shoot at the full resolution of the sensor, at least on some phones. When it’s dark, sets of pixels — 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4, depending on the sensor — can be grouped into larger virtual pixels that gather more light but take lower resolution shots.

For example, Samsung’s Isocell HP2 sensor can take 200-megapixel shots, 50-megapixel shots with 2×2 pixel groups, and 12.5-megapixel shots with 4×4 pixel groups.

Pixel binning offers another advantage that arrived in 2020 phones: virtual zoom. Phones can crop a shot to only gather light from the central pixels on the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48-megapixel main camera or the Google Pixel 7’s 50-megapixel camera. That turns a 1x main camera into 2x zoom that takes 12-megapixel photos. It’ll only work well with relatively good light, but it’s a great option, and 12 megapixels is the prevailing resolution for years now, so it’s still a useful shot.

With such a high base resolution, pixel binning sensors also can be more adept with high-resolution video, in particular at extremely high 8K resolution.

Pixel binning requires some fancy changes to the sensor itself and the image-processing algorithms that transform the sensor’s raw data into a photo or video.

Is pixel binning a gimmick?

No. Well, mostly no. It does let phone makers brag about megapixel numbers that vastly exceed what you’ll see even on professional-grade DSLR and mirrorless cameras. That’s a bit silly, since the larger pixels on high-end cameras gather vastly more light and feature better optics than smartphones. But few of us haul those big cameras around, and pixel binning can wring more photo quality out of your smartphone camera.

How does pixel binning work?

To understand pixel binning better, you have to know what a digital camera’s image sensor looks like. It’s a silicon chip with a grid of millions of pixels (technically called photosites) that capture the light that comes through the camera lens. Each pixel registers only one color: red, green or blue.

The colors are staggered in a special checkerboard arrangement called a Bayer pattern that lets a digital camera reconstruct all three color values for each pixel, a key step in generating that JPEG you want to share on Instagram.

Samsung pixel binning diagram

This diagram shows how the image sensor on the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s 108-megapixel camera has 3×3 pixel groups to enable pixel binning. The technology lets a camera take either high-resolution photos when it’s bright or lower-resolution shots in dimmer light.


Samsung

Combining data from multiple small pixels on the image sensor into one larger virtual pixel is really useful for lower-light situations, where big pixels are better at keeping image noise at bay and capture color better. When it’s brighter out, there’s enough light for the individual pixels to work on their own, offering the higher-resolution shot or a zoomed-in view.

Pixel binning commonly combines four real pixels into one virtual pixel “bin.” But Samsung’s Galaxy S Ultra line has used a 3×3 group of real pixels into one virtual pixel, and the South Korean company is likely to adopt 4×4 binning with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

When should you use high resolution vs. pixel binning?

Most people will be happy with lower-resolution shots, and that’s the default my colleagues Jessica Dolcourt and Patrick Holland recommend after testing the new Samsung Galaxy phones. Apple’s iPhones won’t even take 50-megapixel shots unless you specifically enable the option while shooting with its high-end ProRaw image format, and Google’s Pixel 7 Pro doesn’t offer full 50-megapixel photos at all.

The 12-megapixel shots offer better low-light performance, but they also avoid the monster file sizes of full-resolution images that can gobble up storage on your device and online services like Google Photos and iCloud. For example, a sample shot my colleague Lexy Savvides took was 3.6MB at 12 megapixels with pixel binning and 24MB at 108 megapixels without.

Photo enthusiasts are more likely to want to use full resolution when it’s feasible. That could help you identify distant birds or take more dramatic nature photos of distant subjects. And if you like to print large photos (yes, some people still make prints), more megapixels matter.

Does a 108-megapixel Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra take better photos than a 61-megapixel Sony A7r V professional camera?

No. The size of each pixel on the image sensor also matters, along with other factors like lenses and image processing. There’s a reason the Sony A7r V costs $3,898 while the S22 Ultra costs $1,200 and can also run thousands of apps and make phone calls.

Image sensor pixels are squares whose width is measured in millionths of a meter, or microns. A human hair is about 75 microns across. On Samsung’s Isocell HP2, a virtual pixel on a 12-megapixel shot is 2.4 microns across. In 200-megapixel mode, a pixel measures just 0.6 microns. On a Sony A7r V, though, a pixel is 3.8 microns across. That means the Sony can gather two and a half times more light per pixel than a phone with the HP2 Ultra with 12-megapixel binning mode, and 39 times more than in 200-megapixel full-resolution mode — a major improvement in image quality.

Phones are advancing faster than traditional cameras, though, and closing the image quality gap. Computational photography technology like combining multiple frames into one shot and other software processing tricks made possible by powerful phone chips are helping, too. That’s why my colleague and professional photographer Andrew Lanxon can take low-light smartphone photos handheld that would take a tripod with his DSLR. And image sensors in smartphones are getting bigger and bigger to improve quality.

Why is pixel binning popular?

Because miniaturization has made ever-smaller pixels possible. “What has propelled binning is this new trend of submicron pixels,” those less than a micron wide, said Devang Patel, a senior marketing manager at Omnivision, a top image sensor manufacturer. Having lots of those pixels lets phone makers — desperate to make this year’s phone stand out — brag about lots of megapixel ratings and 8K video. Binning lets them make that boast without sacrificing low-light sensitivity.

Can you shoot raw with pixel binning?

That depends on the phone. Photo enthusiasts like the flexibility and image quality of raw photos — the unprocessed image sensor data, packaged as a DNG file. But not all phones expose the raw photo at full resolution. The iPhone 14 Pro does, but the Pixel 7 Pro does not, for example.

The situation is complicated by the fact that raw processing software like Adobe Lightroom expects raw images whose color data comes in a traditional Bayer pattern, not pixel cells grouped into 2×2 or 3×3 patches of the same color.

The Isocell HP2 has a clever trick here, though: it uses AI technology to “remosaic” the 4×4 pixel groups to construct the traditional Bayer pattern color checkerboard. That means it can shoot raw photos at full 200-megapixel resolution, though it remains to be seen whether that will be an option exposed in shipping smartphones.

What are the downsides of pixel binning?

For the same size sensor, 12 real megapixels would perform a bit better than 12 binned megapixels, says Judd Heape, a senior director at Qualcomm, which makes chips for mobile phones. The sensor would likely be less expensive, too. And when you’re shooting at full resolution, more image processing is required, which shortens your battery life.

Indeed, pixel binning’s sensor costs and battery and processing horsepower requirements are reasons it’s an option mostly on higher-end phones.

For high-resolution photos, you’d get better sharpness with a regular Bayer pattern than with a binning sensor using 2×2 or 3×3 groups of same-color pixels. But that isn’t too bad a problem. “With our algorithm, we’re able to recover anywhere from 90% to 95% of the actual Bayer image quality,” Patel said. Comparing the two approaches in side-by-side images, you probably couldn’t tell a difference outside lab test scenes with difficult situations like fine lines.

If you forget to switch your phone to binning mode and then take high-resolution shots in the dark, image quality suffers. Apple automatically uses pixel binning to take lower-resolution shots, sidestepping that risk.

Could regular cameras use pixel binning, too?

Yes, and judging by some full-frame sensor designs from Sony, the top image sensor maker right now, they someday do that.

What’s the future of pixel binning?

Several developments are possible. Very high-resolution sensors with 4×4 pixel binning could spread to more premium phones, and less exotic 2×2 pixel binning will spread to lower-end phones.

Omnivision pixel binning future diagram

Sensor maker Omnivision shows how 2×2 pixel binning (lower left) can be used to create larger virtual pixels (second row, top) or re-create a traditional Bayer checkerboard pattern (second row, bottom). It also can be used to create HDR images (third row) or to improve autofocus with larger microlenses (fourth row). 


Omnivision

Another direction is better HDR, or high dynamic range, photography that captures a better span of bright and dark image data. Small phone sensors struggle to capture a broad dynamic range, which is why companies like Google and Apple combine multiple shots to computationally generate HDR photos.

But pixel binning means new pixel-level flexibility. In a 2×2 group, you could devote two pixels to regular exposure, one to a darker exposure to capture highlights like bright skies, and one to a brighter exposure to capture shadow details.

Indeed, Samsung’s HP2 can divvy up pixel duties this way for HDR imagery.

Omnivision also expects autofocus improvements. With earlier designs, each pixel is capped with its own microlens designed to gather more light. But now a single microlens sometimes spans a 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4 group, too. Each pixel under the same microlens gets a slightly different view of the scene, depending on its position, and the difference lets a digital camera calculate focus distance. That should help your camera keep the photo subjects in sharp focus.

[ad_2]

Live interview with astrophotographer Josh ‘Tinian Astro Dad’ Brazzle Saturday | Lifestyle

[ad_1]

Josh “‘Tinian Astro Dad” Brazzle is a Marianas-based astrophotographer, a photographer who specializes in images of the night sky and deep space.  

He’s recently been capturing images of a rare green comet that last swung past Earth 50,000 years ago. Experts predict its closest pass will be on Wednesday or Thursday. 

The Pacific Daily News will be talking with Astro Dad live on our Facebook page, barring any technical difficulties, at about 2 p.m. Saturday ChST.   

You can watch the interview live at facebook.com/GuamPDN.