Catch up on Beaufort County news + Wednesday’s nature photo of the day

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Good afternoon on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Here’s today’s top news:

1. As sea turtle nesting season winds down and sea turtle hatching season hits its stride, the experts are compiling data. Reporter Sebastian Lee shares Hilton Head’s numbers and tells us what we can do to help ensure hatchlings have the best chance of survival. (Even if you aren’t interested in those things, this story is worth opening to see marine biologist Amber Kuehn’s gorgeous photo.)

2. Two years of deliberation, conversation (and, for some islanders, frustration) came to a head Tuesday as Hilton Head Town Council members once again considered rezoning Sea Pines Circle to pave the way for privately funded worker housing. Reporter Blake Douglas was at the six-hour meeting filled with cheers and jeers. Here’s what happened.

3. Beaufort County schools start Aug. 21, which means yellow buses will soon be on the roads. It also means drivers should be aware of South Carolina law when it comes to stopping for them. Reporter Mary Dimitrov explains how you can not only avoid a fine but also save a child’s life.

  • In response to increasing traffic fatalities, the Bluffton Police Department is holding a “Community Safety Discussion” to share measures law enforcement is taking to prevent collisions. Five people have died on Bluffton roads since the beginning of this year, with 17 fatalities so far in Beaufort County.

4. What do an infamous witch, 50 golf carts and a pair of walking shoes have in common? They’re all part of a planned renewal of one of Beaufort County’s most storied villages. A $16 million vision for the remaking of Paris Avenue, the main street through the artsy old village of Port Royal, is in the works. Reporter Karl Puckett has more details about what’s planned.

5. When the weather permits, many locals and visitors alike enjoy renting bicycles to ride around Hilton Head. Reporter Sarah Claire McDonald put together a list of Tripadvisor’s top picks for bike rental companies on the island.

Here are some statewide headlines of interest:

Photo finish

Janice Gierer shared this photo of a morning walk on Islanders Beach. “It never gets old,” she said. I tend to agree!

Janice Gierer shared this photo of a morning walk on Islanders Beach.

Janice Gierer shared this photo of a morning walk on Islanders Beach.

Calling all photographers! Send in your pictures of Lowcountry scenes. Email [email protected], and please include your name and where you took the shot. Submitting a photo gives The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette permission to publish it.

If you’d like to receive this free newsletter via email on weekday afternoons, sign up at islandpacket.com/newsletters.

Thank you for reading!

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The next evolution of Luminar Neo

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New York, NY — Aug. 8, 2023 — Skylum, a leading innovator in photo editing software and the company behind the award-winning program Luminar Neo, announces a significant milestone in the evolution of its core product that will release in the coming months, taking creators’ editing capabilities to the next level. The cornerstone of this update is the introduction of generative AI technologies being integrated into Luminar Neo. 

As one of the first movers in this domain, Skylum is determined to lead the way toward a future where AI-assistive photo editing becomes second nature, saving photographers precious time previously spent on mundane tasks that can now be dedicated to exploring the world and their creativity. The profound impact that AI has already had on all creatives is undeniable, and Skylum is proud to be at the forefront of this transformative shift, with a firm belief that AI should always serve photographers, not replace them.

To illustrate that, Skylum’s announcing an impressive array of new AI-assistive tools designed to streamline
photographers’ challenges with scene manipulation, removing unwanted objects, and expanding the canvas of a photo. Here is what Luminar Neo users can expect this fall.

  • GenErase: A next-generation Erase tool that not only removes unwanted distractions from your images but also replaces those areas using content-aware tools, providing a focused and distraction-free composition. This feature preserves the integrity of your photos by intelligently filling in the gaps with textures and other elements to match the surrounding area. GenErase can seamlessly remove objects like trash, street signs, vehicles, graffiti, and more to preserve the beauty of the composition.
Luminar Neo gen erase
  • SceneExpand: This tool enables users to extend the boundaries of their photos, adding a new dimension to original compositions. Whether creating panoramic landscapes or adding breathing room to favorite images, SceneExpand offers the ability to break free from traditional aspect ratios and unlock new creative possibilities.
Luminar Neo scene expand
  • SceneSwap: Let users replace specific elements (such as the sky or foreground) with high-quality AI-generated visuals that blend seamlessly with the rest of the photo. Imagine a stunning sunset replacing the dull, overcast sky or crystal-clear azure waters instead of a murky pond in your photos.
Luminar Neo scene swap
  • Water Enhancer: Designed to enhance water features in aquatic scenes, giving landscape photos greater visual impact.
Luminar Neo water enhancer
  • Studio Light: A creative tool for portrait photographers that faithfully replicate lightning effects usually achieved with expensive technical equipment in the studio and breathes new life into older photos. With Studio Light, creators can easily add a whole new dimension to portrait photos.
Luminar Neo studio light
  • Neon & Glow: Elevate your creations with impressive lighting effects. This tool will allow photographers to overcome challenges such as inadequate lighting conditions and seamlessly blend visually-striking neon elements into the composition, making them even more intriguing.
neon glow

“As photography keeps evolving, AI should be seen as an opportunity and not a threat. Think about what makes a photo special — the creative ideas behind it, the personal touch, the experience of taking that image. AI cannot replace any of those things, but it can serve as a powerful assistive tool to expand the realm of photography, making it easier for everyone.”

Ivan Kutanin, CEO of Skylum

As part of the commitment to keep Luminar Neo intuitive and easy to use, Skylum will also debut a Refreshed UI Design and Navigation. This update addresses user interface fatigue and usability issues, as well as improves the overall user experience. The improvements will address some of the most common challenges with photo management and interaction with the app, making your experience using Luminar Neo even more intuitive and enjoyable. 

With this update, Skylum’s bringing next-generation AI-powered photo editing technologies, new post-processing tools, and a host of UI/UX improvements, making Luminar Neo better than it has ever been.

Availability of the next evolution of Luminar Neo

Platform upgrades and generative technologies will be available to monthly and annual Pro, Explore, and Ultimate plan subscribers. Studio Light will be added first to the software in the next release within a month, and the rest will be gradually incorporated over the following months this fall.

Existing Luminar Neo lifetime (perpetual) license owners can opt to switch to the Pro subscription at an early bird rate ($49 for the first year), or they can make a one-time purchase of the 2023/24 Creative Journey Pass for $39 (early bird price). This pass will grant access to generative technologies until Aug. 16, 2024, as well as all new features announced and released before that date, except Extensions.

Luminar Neo is available on our website as well as in the Microsoft Store and the Apple macOS App Store. Learn more about our pricing and subscription plans here.

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Tips for Taking Photos With Your Cellphone

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Look for a clean background — a natural canvas with relatively solid coloring or shape, like a wall, open sky or foliage. If that’s not possible, move around the subject to find a backdrop that is less cluttered. Also, check that there are no upright objects, such as streetlamps or thin trees directly behind people’s heads, or other unwanted items in the background that will distract from the subject.

It’s often helpful to have a portrait shopping list: headshot, half-body and full body frames (make sure not to cut off people’s feet), as well as horizontal and vertical ones. Having these frames in mind will help you choose the best shot. Many of the latest Apple and Android phones offer a choice of inbuilt lenses with different focal lengths, which help you do this quickly. You can also use the portrait mode on your cellphone’s camera, which shortens the depth of field, blurring the background and giving a portrait style that is similar to what you would get when using wide-open apertures on longer camera lenses.

Choosing the best pictures is just as important as taking them. If you have been making a separate album of your favorites, you already have a base from which to start. Nonetheless, take your time and go through all the photographs you have taken, scrolling through the images at least twice. If possible, leave a day between doing so. The eye can get overwhelmed when looking at a large number of images, and it’s easy to overlook a good picture.

Phone cameras, just like regular cameras, are not always able to read the light correctly. Often one needs to adjust a photograph’s exposure, shadows or color temperature. A lot of this can be easily done with a phone’s inbuilt software — though there are also plenty of specialist applications like Snapseed or Adobe Photoshop Express. What you can or should do is a personal decision. But, in general, spend as little time as possible working on a picture, and concentrate on balancing tone and lighting across your selection of images so they feel cohesive in style.

Eve Arnold, the wonderful Magnum photographer, used to recount a story about walking with Henri Cartier-Bresson from the Magnum office in Paris to have lunch at his apartment on the Rue de Rivoli. During the 15-minute stroll home, as he kept telling her that he was no longer interested in photography, only drawing, he took three rolls of film on his Leica. The great photographers have an insatiable eye for images, and a cellphone allows one to be ready for everything. But it’s also necessary to understand the moment clearly. Everyone wants their memories of a journey to be captured so they can reminisce later. But it’s also important to see the world without feeling the obligation to take a photograph. Sometimes the eye just needs the pleasure of looking.

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Colorado’s famed nature photographer John Fielder passes away – The Durango Herald

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Dedicated life to preserve, conserve state’s landscapes

Wilderness photographer John Fielder autographs one of his books for Marie Roessler in 2014 at the Powerhouse Science Center in Durango. Fielder died on Aug. 11. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file)

History Colorado announced Aug. 13 that world-renowned nature photographer and book publisher John Fielder died at his home in Summit County on Aug. 11, leaving more than 7,000 photos in the organization’s archives for the public to enjoy.

The archives are available for personal and commercial use.

Fielder spent 40 years promoting and sharing Colorado’s nature through his photography, which inspired organizations and legislators to protect Colorado’s wild lands, ranches and open space.

He worked relentlessly, publishing more than 50 books that depict Colorado’s land.

According to a news release from History Colorado, he committed his life to preserving nature through his photography, which established environmental initiatives and launched programs to protect Colorado’s landscapes.

Throughout his life he visited Colorado’s 104,984 square miles. He roamed and recorded the state’s desert canyons, waterways, extensive plains and 28 mountain ranges.

Banded Peak Ranch in Colorado’s southern San Juan Mountains has been protected with a conservation easement preventing any development. (Courtesy of John Fielder/The Conservation Fund)

Provided by John Fielder/The Conservation Fund

He donated thousands of prints, images and books to various nonprofit environmental organizations to promote and fund land-use protection initiatives.

In 1992, Fielder toured Colorado to promote the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund citizens initiative, which by law directs Colorado lottery profits to protect open space and create new parks and wildlife areas. This led to Great Outdoors Colorado, where he served on the board for the first eight years. This conservation organization has protected 2 million acres while investing $1.3 billion.

In 1993, Congress passed the Colorado Wilderness Act, which was influenced by “Our Colorado Wilderness Future,” a book in which he covered 19 wilderness regions through his photography.

He achieved many accolades, including the 1993 Sierra Club Ansel Adams Award, the 2011 Aldo Leopold Foundation’s first Achievement Award ever given to an individual and the 2017 Honorary Degree in Sustainability Studies from Colorado Mountain College.

Just before his death, Fielder established and curated his exhibition with History Colorado at the History Colorado Center: “Revealed: John Fielder’s Favorite Place,” on July 22.

On top of the photography he left to the organization, he also donated artifacts from his career that include various papers, published books and oral histories about his life in the wilderness.

More than 33 miles of streams feeding the Navajo River are protected in the conservation easement on southern Colorado’s Banded Peak Ranch. (Courtesy)

His photography can be found at HistoryColorado.org.

Before his death, Fielder requested that donations be made to Colorado Open Lands, Conservation Colorado, Save the Colorado and Sierra Club. The family will hold a private memorial service.

The public also can access a 2023 Broadcast-ready prerecorded interview with Fielder. It’s an hourlong interview that explores his inspirations and is available in several video formats and in transcript form.

“I am saddened by the loss of John Fielder, who captured Colorado’s iconic beauty during his 50 years as a nature photographer. His unique talent and work allowed him to showcase our state to millions across the world and he will be dearly missed,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a news release. “My condolences to his family and friends. I hope that we can all follow his example to appreciate and preserve our outdoor lands.”



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Nature regrows forests, can humans do the same?

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Nature regrows forests, can humans do the same?

The New England Forestry Foundation has put forward a prescription for a healthier New England Forest, which they call exemplary forestry.



THE IDEA BEING IN THE WOODS, WORKING THE WOODS, LIVING THE WOODS, THAT ALL JUST MADE SENSE TO ME BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE. IGOR SIKORSKY, OWNER OF THE BRADFORD CAMP, SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH HIS HEAD IN THE CLOUDS, FERRYING GUESTS IN AND OUT OF HIS REMOTE NORTH WOODS SPORTING CAMP IN A FLOATPLANE. TAKE IT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. BUT IT ALSO REALLY FILLS MY SOUL. KATAHDIN IS RIGHT OVER THERE. THAT’S WHERE WE’RE 40 MILES AWAY, 30 MILES AWAY FROM CANADA. I FLY RIGHT NEXT TO THAT MOUNTAIN ALL SUMMER LONG TO MY FAVORITE MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD, SIKORSKY SPAWNING CAMP SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF A VAST, PROTECTED FOREST. THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION ACRES BELOW LARGEST CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN US HISTORY. THE LAND CAN NEVER BE BUILT ON, BUT IT CAN BE LOGGED. LUCKY FOR THE SIKORSKY IS THE PROPERTY SURROUNDING THE CAMP IS OWNED BY THE PINGREE FAMILY, LONG KNOWN FOR THEIR SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE LOGGING PRACTICES. OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF KATAHDIN, A SPORTING CAMP THAT WASN’T SO LUCKY, CLEARCUTTING CAME TO HILLSIDES AROUND WESTBROOK RANCH POND CAMPS IN THE MID 80. WHEN YOU TURN A PERFECTLY HEALTHY FOREST INTO A RASPBERRY DESERT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION? RASPBERRIES WERE ABOUT THE ONLY THING LEFT IN THE BEAR PATCH. THE MACHINES LEFT BEHIND, AND CAROLE STERLING GREW UP HERE AT THE WEST BRANCH POND CAMPS, THE OLDEST FAMILY OWNED SPORTING CAMP IN MAINE, A LOYAL CLIENTELE COMES YEAR AFTER YEAR TO WATCH FOR MOOSE FISH FOR NATIVE BROOK TROUT AND SKI. THE BACKCOUNTRY IN THE WINTER. IT’S A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE THAT CAME UNDER ASSAULT WHEN THE BIG MACHINES ROLLED IN 40 YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT’S AN INTRUSION OF WHAT WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR 10,000 YEARS. IT WAS THE THE FALL BEAUTY AND NOW THERE’S THAT WORKING FOR US. IT’S A PLANTATION. OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, CAROLYN AND A FAMILY HAVE WATCHED THE SCAR ON THE FARM MOUNTAIN SCAB OVER THE SOUTH AFRICAN LOGGING COMPANY THAT TOOK THE HARDWOODS PLANTED ROWS OF FAST GROWING RED PINE ON THE WAY OUT, A MONOCULTURE GROVE WHERE A HEALTHY FOREST ONCE STOOD. ALL THAT HUGE HARDWOOD WAS SHORT TERM PROFIT JUST GONE. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE PROGRESS. I DON’T THINK I’LL EVER THINK OF IT AS THIS PROGRESS. MONEY ISN’T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD, AND THE LAND HAS SINCE CHANGED HANDS AND FORTUNATELY, SO HAVE ITS PROSPECTS. THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB, OR AMC, HAS GOTTEN IN THE LOGGING BUSINESS WAY DIFFERENT. THEY ARE DOING A BEAUTIFUL JOB. I MEAN, THE FORESTERS GO IN AND DECIDE VERY CAREFULLY WHAT SECTIONS OF THEIR LAND NEED, WHAT. OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, THE AMC HAS BEEN BUYING UP LAND IN MAINE’S 100 MILE WILDERNESS AND UNDEVELOPED TRACT OF WILD LANDS EAST OF MOOSEHEAD LAKE, SOUTH OF KATAHDIN. IT WAS VERY CLEAR IN THE 1990S THAT IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM AND WE WANTED TO TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO ADVANCE CONSERVATION IN THE NORTHEAST, WE HAD TO START OWNING LAND OURSELVES. AND THAT MEANS MANAGING THE LAND WHICH INCLUDES LOGGING. STEVE KATKO, THE AMC’S DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT, SAYS MUCH OF THE 75,000 ACRES OF AMC LAND HERE NEEDS HELP AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY OF INDUSTRIAL HARVEST PRACTICES. WE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, SO TO SPEAK, AND PRACTICE ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY IN A WAY THAT PRODUCE IS LONG TERM COMMUNITY BENEFITS, LONG TERM ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS. TATANKA POINTS OUT AN AREA RECENTLY HARVESTED BY THE AMC, A MIX OF TALL, MATURE TREES AND YOUNG REGENERATING SPRUCE FIR AND CEDAR, A VARIETY OF AGE, CLASS AND SPECIES. IF THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR, THE AMC’S APPROACH TO HARVESTING CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE EXEMPLARY FORESTRY STANDARDS PROPOSED BY THE NEW ENGLAND FORESTRY FOUNDATION, OR NEF. THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB, IN NEED OF A LONG RELATIONSHIP GOING BACK DECADES IN CONVERSING ABOUT FOREST ISSUES, TANKO HAS MORE THAN A PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN THE HEALTH OF THIS LAND. HE’S A LOCAL KID WHO GREW UP IN NEARBY MUNSON. YEAH, GREW UP RIGHT HERE. YEAH. I MEAN, THESE ARE PLACES THAT I WENT TO GO SPRING BROOK TROUT FISHING AND, YOU KNOW, GONE TO HARVEST FIDDLEHEADS ALONG THE SHORE OF THESE PLACES. SO IT WAS PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL FOR TATRO WHEN IN 2020, ATLANTIC SALMON WAS SPOTTED IN THE MIDDLE BRANCH OF THE PLEASANT RIVER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 180 YEARS. THE RESULT OF DAM REMOVAL AND CLEANER WATER FROM A RECOVERING FOREST. IT IS A MIRACLE. AND IT’S NOT OVER. I MEAN, THERE’S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE. IT’S SORT OF AN AMAZING THING TO REALLY CONCEPTUALIZE. WE’RE ABOUT 110 RIVER MILES INLAND, RIGHT NOW FROM THE GULF OF OF THE MAINE AND HAVE THESE FISH COME BACK REALLY SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF THE WATERSHED THAT’S HERE. AND THAT’S LARGELY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF A FOREST AND LANDSCAPE. APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB IS IN THE PROCESS OF INCREASING THEIR HOLDINGS IN THE 100 MILE WILDERNESS TO GET TO A TOTAL ACREAGE OF AROUND 100,000. AT THIS POINT, YEAH. AND THEIR BRAND OF ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY IS ALSO PRACTICED BY MAINE’S BUREAU OF PARKS AND LANDS, WHICH OVERSEES THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION ACRES OF FO

Nature regrows forests, can humans do the same?

The New England Forestry Foundation has put forward a prescription for a healthier New England Forest, which they call exemplary forestry.

Bob Perschel–of the New England Forestry Foundation, or NEFF, which has put forward a prescription for a healthier New England Forest, which they call exemplary forestry. The goal: to improve wildlife habitat, grow better wood for commercial markets, and help mitigate climate change–all at the same time.Want to get away? Try Bradford Camps, a traditional sporting camp located on Munsungan Lake, north of Katahdin… 50 miles from the nearest cell signal!Northwoods Aerials provided by Isaac Crabtree’s drone photography.

Bob Perschel–of the New England Forestry Foundation, or NEFF, which has put forward a prescription for a healthier New England Forest, which they call exemplary forestry. The goal: to improve wildlife habitat, grow better wood for commercial markets, and help mitigate climate change–all at the same time.

Want to get away? Try Bradford Camps, a traditional sporting camp located on Munsungan Lake, north of Katahdin… 50 miles from the nearest cell signal!

Northwoods Aerials provided by Isaac Crabtree’s drone photography.

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In-Sight Photography Project announces first Youth Photo Contest & Fair | Entertainment

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BRATTLEBORO — In-Sight Photography Project announces its first Youth Photo Contest & Fair.

For 30 years, In-Sight Photography Project has been nurturing the creativity of young artists in the Brattleboro community and across the country.

“Seeing an opportunity to give young artists an opportunity to have their work exhibited in the community and seen by professionals in the field, this year instead of our Annual Benefit Art Auction, we made a choice to ask the community to support an event that will directly benefit and promote our talented youth,” says Emily Wagner, executive director, Insight Photography Project.

The competition is open to youth 11 to 18 who live within an hour of Brattleboro. Contestants are invited to submit one image in each of the following categories: Analog Film, Artistic, People, Places, and The New England Experience. The deadline to submit images is Aug. 20. Images submitted into the contest will be exhibited in In-Sight’s gallery on September 1st through October 6th. Three winning images in each category will be selected by a jury panel to win awards in each category. The top award being a DSLR camera kit. Submissions are open now.

Cathy Cone, esteemed photographer and long-time In-Sight supporter, whose works are in the collections of IBM, Hallmark Fine Art Collections, American Express, among others, is the event’s honorary chair. As a long-time supporter of In-Sight and its students, Cathy says this is an opportunity for the community to encourage and help guide a young photographer’s dreams, especially now when the visual arts are so much in demand. She and In-Sight are convening a blue-ribbon jury panel, along with a “red-carpet” award’s ceremony and photo fair to include a display of the submitted images, a photo booth, games, and more that will take place at The Latchis Theater on September 30th.

In-Sight’s board of directors vice-chair and local photographer, Rachel Portesi, has helped Cathy assemble the jury panel. The jury panel includes a mix of local and national photographers, including: Cathy Cone, Rachel Portesi, Jon Gitelson (Keene State College), Michael Kirchoff (Analog Forever Magazine), Joan O’Beirne (Greenfield Community College), Geoffery Peckham (Tusen Takk Foundation), Dale Rio (The Halide Project), Aline Smithson (Lenscratch Magazine), Vaune Tractman (Olcott Family Award/ The Print Center’s Annual International Competition), and Tim Trelease (Deerfield Academy). Additionally, viewers of the virtual show will be able to vote for one contest participant to win a “People’s Choice Award.”

Most photography contests require entrance fees, but this competition is entirely free to youth thanks to the help of the community. In-Sight’s Youth Photo Contest & Fair has already received support from a growing list of individuals and businesses including Vermont Center for Photography, 802 Credit Union, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Members’ First Credit Union, The Richards Group, Trust Company of Vermont and the Brattleboro Reformer.

From its humble beginnings in the Brattleboro Teen Club, In-Sight’s programs have always uplifted youth to use photography as an expressive medium and language. Throughout our history we’ve offered an incredible breadth of programming, such as the Exposures Cross Cultural Program that brought youth from different cultures together to the current Photo Team Program specifically designed to help youth explore professional pathways. In-Sight’s approach to photography is to foster personal expression, artistic growth, and self-confidence.

In-Sight’s mission is to create opportunities for youth to learn and use the photographic arts as a technical and expressive medium fostering personal development and cultural engagement. In our vision all youth have equitable access to opportunities to express their creativity in the photographic arts in a learning environment and curriculum that supports the diversity of individuals, communities, and cultures. The programming includes core classes in analog film and digital photography, after school partnership programs, a Photo Team, and an Artist Residency. All of these classes are fully accessible through our sliding scale fee structure and all equipment is provided.

For more information you can visit our website, insightphotography.org, or call 802-251-9960.

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Top news roundup for Beaufort County + Tuesday’s nature photo of the day

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Good afternoon on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Here’s today’s top news:

1. Beaufort natives Hunter and Jessie Cozart scrimped and saved and worked toward the goal of one day opening their own restaurant. Earlier this summer, their dreams became reality as Locals Raw Bar opened its doors on Lady’s Island. Sushi, oysters, seaweed salads, crab and shrimp are just a sampling of the menu.

2. An anonymous tip led to the detention of a 17-year-old Burton teen who police say is responsible for a July shooting at the Hilton Head Gardens apartments that injured one person. The teen faces five charges, including attempted murder, unlawful carry of a firearm and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Reporter Evan McKenna shares this update.

3. Nearly two months ago, a woman and her 2-year-old son were reported missing after leaving Beaufort to head for their home in Sumter. Since then, four law enforcement agencies have remained silent about the investigation into the disappearance of Sophia Van Dam and her son Matteo. Reporter Karl Puckett spoke to Van Dam’s mother about her anguish and her fears.

4. There’s a private, beachfront estate nestled on Kiawah Island that could be your dreamhome. That is, if you have $21 million to spend. Reporter Sarah Claire McDonald takes us along on a tour of the four-story, 8,400-square-foot residence.

Photo finish

Kristi Smith shared this photo taken at Station Creek. Love that blue sky and those gorgeous clouds!

Kristi Smith shared this photo taken at Station Creek.

Kristi Smith shared this photo taken at Station Creek.

Attention, photographers! Send in your pictures of Lowcountry scenes. Email [email protected], and please include your name and where you took the shot. Submitting a photo gives The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette permission to publish it.

If you’d like to receive this free newsletter via email on weekday afternoons, sign up at islandpacket.com/newsletters.

Thank you for reading!

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MagMod XL range launches for studio lights

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MagMod, the company that introduced the concept of magnetic flash modifiers for strobes and flashguns to many photographers, has announced the MagMod XL range for studio lights.

The MagMod Reflector XL is at the heart of the new MagMod range. It’s billed as the world’s first collapsible, durable reflector designed for use with gels. It’s made from silicone with an embedded steel ring, which makes it flexible and durable.

The interior of the MagMod XL reflector has a durable reflective coating to maximise light output. It can also accommodate the company’s new Dome Gels to modify light colour.

While the collapsible design of the Reflector is useful for transportation, it also enables two different light patterns. Fully extended, it reduces light spill and when collapsed, it creates a wider pattern of light.

The MagMod XL Reflector is supplied with the Bowens mount, but this base section can be swapped out for one with another flash mount – including the Profoto mount.

MagMod XL Reflector
MagMod XL Reflector – left extended, right collapsed

MagMod is next known for its MagSphere, a soft, flexible diffuser that mounts using magnets. The MagMod MagSphere XL is just the same, but it’s scaled up to suit studio lights. Magnets hold it in place on the Reflector XL.

Naturally, grids are also available for the XL range – the MagGrid XL 40 and MagGrid XL 20. These are also made from industrial-grade silicone, which means they are squishy and chip-proof.

The MagMod XL Dome Gels are shatterproof and can withstand the heat generated by powerful flashes. They are designed to cover large flash tubes or glass covers and provide additional protection for flash tubes. They come in six essential correction colours plus 12 additional colours for extra creativity. Because they can be mixed and stacked, there are hundreds of colour variations available.

Conveniently, the Dome Gels also work with the MagMod MagBox system.

MagMod XL Starter Kit
MagMod XL Starter Kit

MagMod XL prices

There’s an extensive array of products available in the MagMod XL range, and while they can be bought separately, there are a couple of kits that make a great starting point. The MagMod XL Pro Kit is £289.99 and includes a Reflector XL, MagSphere XL, Mag Grid XL 40 and 20, three Dome Gels (1/4 CTO, 1/2 CTO and Full CTO), plus the Case XL to store everything.

The MagMod XL Starter Kit retails for £184.99 and includes a Reflector XL, MagSpher XL and MagGrid XL 40.

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List of Celebration Ideas and Activities for School Students

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World Photography Day 2023: This article presents a list of celebration ideas and activities for celebrating World Photography Day in schools. You can use these ideas to organize fun, interesting activities that will also be filled with learning.

World Photography Day 2023: How often do you take photographs? How often do you post them online? How often do you take selfies? Don’t we all live in a world where photographs have become an indistinctive part of us like our daily habits? In today’s day and age, every person with a mobile phone wants to click amazing pictures and save them as memories. Our craziness for pictures has extended to a level that mobile phone companies solely function and sell themselves for their camera quality. But, the art of photography dates back decades ago, before the invention of mobile phones. This is how integral photography has been in our lives.

To celebrate this art, every year on 19th August, the world observes World Photography Day. On this day, people all across the globe take part in photography challenges surrounded by a central theme. For World Photography Day 2023, the theme is centered around “Landscapes”. People who have taken amazing shots of landscapes can post it online on their social media handles and use the hashtag, #WorldPhotographyDay2023. They can also write the story behind the photograph that they are posting.

Career Counseling

To instill the art of photography and its importance in students, this day is celebrated in various schools worldwide. Are you looking for some fun activities to conduct for students in school? Then, you’ve come to the right place. This article is just for you. Here, we have presented a few interesting World Photography Day school activities and celebration ideas for school students.

World Photography Day Celebration Ideas and Activities for School Students

(i) Organizing a photography workshop– Schools can organize a photography workshop for students where a renowned photographer can be called and asked to conduct an interactive session with students. The workshop can be conducted on topics such as the relevance of photographs in the modern world, the evolution of photography, the misuse of photography in the digital era, the impact of photography, and many more.

(ii) Photography Exhibition– Students can be taken to the nearest photography exhibit in the city. Students can learn a lot about the art of photography, different angles, different shots, usage and importance of various angles, famous photographs, famous photographers of the world, what kind of photographs are impactful, which photographs have created history, and so much more.

(iii) Ride of Nostalgia– In this activity, students can be asked to bring a photograph of their childhood and everyone in the classroom can share some amazing childhood incidents.

(iv) Classroom Shoot– In this activity, teachers can click some memorable photographs of the class which can then be used to decorate the class itself. These pictures will make the day a memorable one. A photoshoot challenge can also be organized among students, where they will be divided into groups of five and the group who comes up with the most unique poses will get a price.

(v) What do I say?– Here, students will be divided into groups with equal members. Teachers or coordinators of the activity will hand out a photograph to each group. Students have to identify the story behind the picture. They have to analyse what the picture aims to say. This activity can also teach students the art of analysing pictures.

(vi) Photo Contest– For this activity, students will have to be taken to a place and asked to click pictures as per their visualization ability. Then, students will have to pick their best click and submit it to the teacher. The best three pictures will be awarded with certificates and prizes.

(vii) Guess Me– In this game, teachers will show a picture related to any particular area or part of the school. The students will have to identify the correct location by raising their hands first. The student who makes the maximum right guesses will be awarded.

(viii) Photography projects– In this activity, students will be given a theme such as nature photography, street photography, etc. Each student from the class will have to make a photography project on that theme with at least 10 photographs. Remember that the pictures must be clicked by students only, since they will be asked to explain the picture in class. The most unique thoughtful, creative, and skillful photography project would be awarded. It is also important to note that captions play an important role in photography. Thus, each picture must also have a unique and thoughtful caption.

Since photography has become an indispensable part of our lives, it is important for students to be able to interpret the messages sent by the picture. Analysis of pictures is an important activity in today’s digital and social media world. Photography should be learned by students not only for posting their pictures online, but also to be able to analyse what’s wrong and what’s right in a picture, what kind of picture should go online, how fake pictures can be identified and how can they be stopped from spreading, and much more.

We hope these activities would add some value to your World Photography Day. These celebration ideas have been curated to engage students in fun activities while imparting the right knowledge and information required for today’s generation.

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Comedy Pets Photography Awards Celebrates the Crazy Lives of Our Fur Babies– LOOK

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A Life-Changing Event, Beirut, Lebanon. © Michel Zoghzoghi/Comedy Pet Awards,

Now in its fourth year, the Comedy Pet Awards, a photography contest looking to capture the playful, the bizarre, and the hilarious character we all know resides within our fur babies, just concluded in London.

The winner this year was Michel Zoghzoghi, who travels the world shooting pictures of big and fearsome cats among other wildlife. He took first prize when he captured his playful rescues in action, with the rambunctious Max ambushing the timid Alex.

As the winner of the top prize, Michel received £500 cash, a fantastic camera bag
from ThinkTank, and a beautiful bespoke trophy.

“This is still a very young competition in the whole scheme of things, but within a few short years we are already receiving some of the most uplifting, life-affirming hilarious images of pets in the world!” stated Tom Sullam, Co-founder of the Comedy Pet Awards.

“I couldn’t be more excited to share these with you all. Pets have played a fundamental role during the COVID years, and to be able to laugh out loud with these loveable creatures is the reason this competition exists.”

Barkin! New York City, USA © Chris Porsz/Comedy Pet Awards.

“In March 2019 I was sitting in the Union Square New York dog run when I spotted a lady with a pink bag on her hand (to keep her hand clean) throwing a ball to her dog which was sat down facing her. The dog then launched itself and flipped in mid-air to face me and snap!”

Football free kick, Fukuoka, Japan.© Kenichi Morinaga/Comedy Pet Awards
The Three Greys. Landstuhlh, Germany. © Klaus-Peter Selzer/Comedy Pet Awards.

“Karin and her two dogs, don’t they look the same?

Zorro Reborn. Fahrdorf, Germany. © Karl Goldhamer/Comedy Pet Awards

“The avenger of the poor is back, but this time as a dog and not on a horse, but in a car! The obligatory black mask is a must, of course.”

Uplift Anyone’s Day With These Cute And Hilarious Photographs… 



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