The Daily PetaPixel for 12/30/2020

The top news from the world of photography. [View this email in your browser]( [PetaPixel Homepage]( [Why Mirrorless Wins: We’ve Come a Long Way and I’m Not Going Back]( By Andy Romanoff on Dec 29, 2020 05:50 pm In 2018 with some trepidation I bought my first mirrorless camera, a Nikon Z7. It wasn’t because I thought it was better than the DSLR I had been using but because my old muscles were spasming with the weight of the camera I was using and I hoped that a package a pound lighter would help me keep on working. … [[visit site to read more]( [Revealing Cold War Espionage Photo Tech: Spy Pigeons, Concealed Cameras, and More]( By [Jaron Schneider]( on Dec 29, 2020 04:50 pm [Watch the Video]( The former CIA Chief of Disguise spoke with Wired for this 8.5-minute video that discusses some of the most crucial photography tools used for espionage in the Cold War. Some of what she describes sounds like myths but were actually hugely helpful in intelligence gathering operations. … [[visit site to read more]( [Google Removed Astrophotography Mode from Pixel 5 and 4a 5G Ultra-Wide Cams]( By [Jaron Schneider]( on Dec 29, 2020 04:02 pm Google has apparently removed support for its Astrophotography mode from the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G ultra-wide cameras in the latest version of the [Google Camera app](. Astrophotography mode is now only available on the phones’ primary camera. … [[visit site to read more]( [Photographer Captures Birds Eating Out of Her Hand in Slow-Motion]( By [Jaron Schneider]( on Dec 29, 2020 03:13 pm [Watch the Video]( Photographer Jocelyn Anderson captures beautiful images of birds in their natural habitats but also has a wonderfully calming ongoing YouTube series where she depicts different bird species eating out of the palm of her hand in slow motion. … [[visit site to read more]( [My Last Mocha: An 8×10 Polaroid Passion Project]( By David Poyzer on Dec 29, 2020 02:06 pm Brzz, bzzzrrr. The rollers on the vintage Polaroid developer start to suck in the 8×10 Polaroid. Dan Bosman, a Mars Cafe barista of 14 years, and I are chatting just like we always do. … [[visit site to read more]( [Penn State Student Photojournalists at War with University Over ‘Predatory’ Copyright Contract]( By [Jaron Schneider]( on Dec 29, 2020 01:57 pm The staff of the Penn State newspaper [The Daily Collegian]( are currently battling a contract being forced upon them by school leadership, claiming it strips them of image ownership and takes advantage of their “volunteer worker” status. … [[visit site to read more]( [35+ Rules and Guiding Principles in Photography]( By Charles Levie on Dec 29, 2020 01:31 pm A primary question in photography is, “What is composition”? Photo composition governs the manner in which our eyes travel through an image. It defines how objects within an image are placed relative to each other in such a way that generates visual excitement. Used correctly, it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. … [[visit site to read more]( [Overcome Your Fear of Going Above ISO 100 in Landscape Photography]( By [Michael Zhang]( on Dec 29, 2020 12:48 pm [Watch the Video]( A common misconception among beginning landscape photographers is that when using a tripod, one should stay at ISO 100 for the best resulting photos. Photographer [Mark Denney]( made this 10-minute video dispelling the myth and showing examples of when that’s not true. … [[visit site to read more]( [6 Professional Tips for Awesome Product Photography]( By Dan St Louis on Dec 29, 2020 12:21 pm This past weekend, I had the pleasure of shooting some product photography for my friends over at HDK Snowmakers. They are a snowmaking machine manufacturer for some of the country’s largest ski resorts and specialize in hyper-efficient machines that keep skiers on the slopes, while not guzzling up tons of water. … [[visit site to read more]( [First Look: Sigma 35mm f/2 and 65mm f/2 DG DN C]( By Ihor Balaban on Dec 29, 2020 11:45 am Earlier this month, [Sigma announced three new lenses]( for Sony E and Panasonic/Leica L Mount cameras: The Sigma 35mm f/2, 65mm f/2, and 24mm f/3.5. These lenses, while bearing the “Contemporary” badge, are part of a new “I series” category. … [[visit site to read more]( [Regarding Photographs: Reading Photos III]( By Andrew Molitor on Dec 29, 2020 11:40 am In [the previous essay on reading photos]( I looked at how things we know, mental baggage we have accumulated besides just memories, affect what we see in a photograph. Things like cultural background, political beliefs, movies we’ve seen, or books we’ve read. … [[visit site to read more]( [FAA Slaps Drone Pilot with $182,000 in Fines for a Myriad of Violations]( By [Jaron Schneider]( on Dec 29, 2020 10:30 am Originally [reported]( early in December, a drone pilot was hit with a set of fines from the FAA for over $182,000, penalties that he could have avoided if he heeded prior FAA warnings. … [[visit site to read more]( Earlier Stories: [Xiaomi Mi 11 Features World’s First AI-Powered ‘Night Mode’ for Video]( [Shoten Announces Contax G to Sony E Mount Adapter with AF Motor]( [FAA Publishes Final Drone Rules: Remote ID Now Required]( [This Free App Lists Recipes for Over 100 Fujifilm Film Simulations]( [Oprah Spots Struggling Photographer’s Tweet, Offers Him a Job]( [Website]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Copyright © 2020 PetaPixel, All rights reserved. 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