The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017

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[View it in your browser](. to the PetaPixel Photography Podcast!]( [25683aad-fd15-4681-b999-25b47f86a370.jpg]( TODAY'S POSTS [Lightroom Gets Selective Brush on iOS, Native Design on Android, and More]( [Photographers, Register Your D*mn Copyright]( [When a Camera’s Frame Rate is Synced to a Bird’s Wings…]( [What It Takes to Photograph Nepalese Honey Hunters for Nat Geo]( [The Top 10 Things I Wish I Had Known as a Beginner Photographer]( [How to Replace the Sky in Any Photo in Photoshop: A 2-Minute Tutorial]( [The Matador Base Layer is Like a Puffy Down Jacket for Your Camera Gear]( [The BlackRapid WandeR is a Universal Strap for Smartphone Photographers]( [5 Reasons to Pick a PC Over a MacBook in 2017 for Photo and Video Editing]( [Voyager: A New Smart Light Stick That Lets You Digitally Paint Color]( [Beware: Camera Drones Are Weak Against Confetti and Toilet Paper]( Lightroom Gets Selective Brush on iOS, Native Design on Android, and More Jul 18, 2017 12:48 pm | [Michael Zhang]( Adobe [today released new updates]( for its mobile Lightroom apps, bringing powerful new features and new interface designs for both iOS and Android. Lightroom for iOS On the iOS side, for iPhone and iPad, Lightroom now has a Selective Brush that lets photographers selectively paint enhancements into photos. This was “one of the most requested features,” Adobe says. Furthermore, if your iPhone has 3D Touch capabilities, you can control the intensity of the effect by pressing your screen harder or softer as you’re using the brush. This pressure-based editing also works with the iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil. Linear and radial gradients can also be selectively erased now. There’s a new Details Tab that gives you global control over sharpening and noise reduction. On the design side of things, the iPad interface of the app has been redone, bringing larger controls for the larger screen. Lightroom for Android Lightroom for Android has undergone a major redesign. Adobe says the app has been redone “from the ground up,” making it faster in operation and more efficient in use. The rewrite is also Android specific, giving Android users a more natural experience in the native Android app. “Every screen has been redesigned with the goal of ensuring a natural, native Android experience while providing the highest quality, professional-grade mobile photo editing app ever,” Adobe says. You can download Lightroom for iOS and Android for free from the [iTunes App Store]( (iPad version [here]( and from [Google Play]( respectively. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( Photographers, Register Your D*mn Copyright Jul 18, 2017 12:05 pm | Allen Murabayashi Photographer [Max Dubler]( struck a nerve last week with [an article documenting the theft]( of one of his downhill skateboarding images. After finding a skateboard brand using one of his photos without authorization, he did as he always does: he contacted the offending party and requested a payment of $25 for social media usage. Dubler’s straightforward, non-confrontational strategy has worked in the past, but not this time. The offending brand responded: “Seriously? We don’t pay for Instagram shares and we always give proper credit, I mean, who pays for Instagram shares lol. I will take it off if you wish Max” Dubler spent considerable effort constructing a line-by-line response, which drummed up photographer outrage. But the central problem remains. Dubler writes, “They still haven’t paid me. I doubt they ever will, but in the 48 hours since those posts went up, half a dozen companies have contacted me to pay for for skate photos I didn’t even know they’d used. I’m calling it a win.” Dubler scored more than a moral victory given that the piece led to newfound revenue. But his frustration and the outrage that it provoked did nothing for the long term benefit of photographers because of one simple thing: he didn’t register his copyright. When I emailed Dubler about copyright registration, he responded “I didn’t [register], mostly because copyright exists from the moment of creation and I rarely ever have disputes about it.” In the US, a photographer does own the copyright the moment he/she presses the shutter. But damages for willful infringement are generally capped at the market value — presumably $25 in Dubler’s case since that is the precedent he set. But when you register your image with the US Copyright Office, you can be awarded up to $150,000 per image for a willful infringement plus legal costs. And according to [The Copyright Zone]( authors Jack Reznicki and lawyer Edward Greenberg, you can still register a photo even after it’s been infringed. “And we advise to register it even then,” they write. “You just lose some rights that you would have if registered before the infringement, which is the right to statutory damages and collecting your lawyer fees. In some cases that may be a deal breaker for some cases, but then there is [the Alan Paul Leonard case]( where the photographer was awarded $1.6 million plus $400,000 in interest for a registration done after the fact.” The public doesn’t understand copyright As Dubler incident illustrates, most people have a poor understanding of copyright – an issue that is exacerbated by social media sharing. Most of the major social media platforms have an embedding features that usually falls under a “share” link or icon. Embedding is generally seen as a mechanism that doesn’t run afoul of copyright laws because the Terms of Use usually require the uploader to consent to embedding. But taking posted content and republishing it in one’s own account is equivalent to making a copy, and that is illegal. That Dubler’s image appeared in Instagram doesn’t mean another account can “share” it by uploading it to their account. The threat of fines are a defense against infringement Insect photographer [Alex Wild noted in Ars Technica]( “Most copyright holders are individuals; most infringers are businesses. Things are broken.” Content creators don’t wield the power of a corporation, but copyright gives them some significant protections. Reznicki and Greenberg said, “One of the facts about suing and collecting through settlement or trial a large amount, is that it greatly discourages future infringements.” Suing is, for better or worse, a check-and-balance on corporate exploitation. Whether $25 is the “right” amount somewhat misses the point. The market will bear what it will bear, and $25 may very well be the value of a license for use on an Instagram account with a limited following. The larger issue is that a lack of enforcement with punitive damages means that brands will continue to deprive photographers of a way to make a living. Photo by Allen Murabayashi Still Reznicki and Greenberg caution against sending an invoice out of the blue, in part because indicating an amount in an invoice reduces your leverage in court. If you’re trying to solve an infringement amicably and without a lawyer, they suggest, “send an email (not invoice) which states that ‘Rather than consult with my attorney I will accept actual receipt of the sum of $X not later than [date]. If I do not physically receive that money by that date my offer to resolve this matter shall be deemed withdrawn, null and void. I will then turn this over to my lawyer.’” Register your d*mn images Photographers can be their worst enemies. The US Copyright Office provides [an online mechanism]( that is simple and relatively inexpensive. Yet, most photographers don’t regularly register their copyright despite knowing that infringements occur all the time. At the urging of some readers, Dubler [has set up a Patreon account](. But soliciting small donations from strangers is an unsustainable way to make a living. “I’m thinking of registering some of my more frequently stolen photos, though.” --------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The information contained within this article should not be construed as legal advice. Always consult a lawyer. --------------------------------------------------------------- About the author: Allen Murabayashi is the Chairman and co-founder of [PhotoShelter]( which regularly publishes [resources]( for photographers. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Allen is a graduate of Yale University, and flosses daily. This article was also published [here](. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( When a Camera’s Frame Rate is Synced to a Bird’s Wings… Jul 18, 2017 11:20 am | [Michael Zhang]( There are many videos online showing how [helicopters can look like they’re magically floating]( when their rotors are synced with a camera’s frame rate. But here’s a new video of something we’ve never seen before: a floating bird. YouTuber [Ginger Beard]( shared this home security video that captured a bird flying by and taking a look at the camera. But because the camera’s frame rate is perfectly synced to the flapping wings of the bird, the wings are only captured while they’re in a single position. This makes the bird look like it’s magically floating around in front of the camera without flapping its wings at all. “This is the [HIKVISION DS-2CD2342WD-I]( Ginger Beard writes. “I have it set to max resolution at 2688×1520 and the video was captured at 20fps. Pretty happy with it, floaty bird aside.?” (via [Ginger Beard]( via [Resource]( [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( What It Takes to Photograph Nepalese Honey Hunters for Nat Geo Jul 18, 2017 10:33 am | [Will Nicholls]( National Geographic‘s [Renan Ozturk]( is an adventure photographer and filmmaker who will stop at nothing to get the perfect shot. Really. This 9-minute behind-the-scenes video looks at how he shot The Last Honey Hunter, a film documenting the painstaking process of harvesting hallucinogenic honey from cliff faces in Nepal. Despite wearing American-made bee suits, the team still suffered from the stings of the biggest bees in the world. They’re seen swinging with thousands of dollars of camera gear, 300 feet above the ground, being harassed by angry bees. But the star of the film, Mauli, braves the stingers with nothing but a bamboo rope to climb with. National Geographic has released a short teaser of the film, which is currently circulating through film festivals: Want to see the rest? The story is covered in the current July 2017 issue of the magazine, and the film is expected for a worldwide release in 2018. You can also find Ozturk’s still photos [here](. (via [The North Face]( via [Fstoppers]( [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( The Top 10 Things I Wish I Had Known as a Beginner Photographer Jul 18, 2017 09:59 am | Winston Fowlkes Oh the road to becoming the best photographer you can be, you come across loads of useful information… and some not-so-useful information. Sometimes, it’s hard to separate what you need to retain and what you don’t. This 22-minute video is a list of things that I should have paid more attention to when I was first starting. Here’s a list of the subjects covered: 1. Focal Length (0:23) 2. Aperture (3:56) 3. Depth of Field (5:30) 4. Shutter Speed (9:44) 5. Golden Hour (11:52) 6. Shadows (14:00) 7. Light Source Direction (15:36) 8. Group Photo Focus (18:01) 9. Back Button Focus (19:08) 10. Composition (20:44) Note that everyone learns at a different pace, and some of this may seem like common knowledge. But hopefully some of this information helps you! This was my first video and I will be making more. You can follow along by subscribing to [my YouTube channel](. --------------------------------------------------------------- About the author: Winston Fowlkes is a photographer and musician based in Southwest Florida. You can find more of his work on his [website]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( and [YouTube](. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( How to Replace the Sky in Any Photo in Photoshop: A 2-Minute Tutorial Jul 18, 2017 09:37 am | [Will Nicholls]( Photographer [Peter McKinnon]( made this 2-minute video tutorial on sky replacements. Watch it to learn how to quickly swap out the sky from one photo with another in Photoshop. Using the quick selection tool, quickly remove the foreground from a mask of the image. Just click around and Photoshop will do the hard work for you, finding the relevant parts of the photo you want to select. Refine the edges using the refined selection tool, as well as adjusting the feather and contrast sliders, for a much more fine-tuned masking experience. This allows you to eliminate any branches or other smaller objects protruding above the horizon. Once the mask is complete, apply it to a new layer with the sky you want to swap in. Reposition as desired, and you’re done. It’s really that simple. You can find more 2-minute tutorials by McKinnon in [this YouTube playlist](. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( The Matador Base Layer is Like a Puffy Down Jacket for Your Camera Gear Jul 18, 2017 09:25 am | [Michael Zhang]( Want to protect your camera gear with style? Check out the [Matador Camera Base Layer]( and [Lens Base Layer]( accessories designed for “adaptive protection for the active photographer.” They’re essentially puffy down jackets for your cameras and lenses to wear. The Base Layers are filled with a high-performance synthetic down called Sorona, which is used in things like [clothing]( and [bedding](. The outside shell is padded and helps to protect your camera gear from weather, scrapes, and bumps. There’s an integrated rain fly for additional protection when things get really wet: Although it envelops your camera, the Camera Base Layer can be quickly removed in less than a second to give you full access to your controls. The Camera Base Layer is lightweight, weighing in at only 68 grams (~2.4oz), giving you camera protection with virtually no added weight. Both Base Layers are flexible, adapting to different cameras, straps, and lenses. They’re compatible with most DSLR and Micro Four Thirds camera and lenses. The Lens Base Layer features a “rolltop” design that gives it a snug fit with a variety of lenses. You can find the [Camera Base Layer]( and [Lens Base Layer]( for $60 and $40, respectively, on the Matador website. (via [Matador]( via [Lifehacker]( [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( The BlackRapid WandeR is a Universal Strap for Smartphone Photographers Jul 18, 2017 08:45 am | [Will Nicholls]( Popular camera strap maker BlackRapid has unveiled a new universal smartphone strap called [the WandeR Bundle](. The strap works with almost any phone and case combination thanks to a nylon tab that inserts behind your phone. This gives you a protruding loop that you can use to attach the strap to. If you’re into [smartphone photography]( then this may be a new must-have accessory. Or maybe you are a bit of a butter-fingers and have dropped too many phones on the floor or, worse, down the toilet. For the more adventurous smartphone photographer, the strap comes with a tethering clip that you can use to attach your phone to any bag or harness. The WandeR Bundle is available for $20 [from Black Rapid’s website](. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( 5 Reasons to Pick a PC Over a MacBook in 2017 for Photo and Video Editing Jul 18, 2017 08:24 am | [Michael Zhang]( Photographer and Sony Imaging Ambassador [Manny Ortiz]( made this 6.5-minute video sharing the top 5 reasons he chose a [Dell XPS 15]( laptop over a [MacBook Pro]( in 2017 for his photo and video editing needs. Ortiz says he was looking for something powerful enough to edit 4K video yet small enough to be ultra portable, since Ortiz often edits away from home. After narrowing his search down to the Dell XPS 15 and the new Apple MacBook Pro, here’s what swayed Ortiz toward the Dell: #1. Price The Dell had equivalent specs to the MacBook Pro yet cost about $1,000 less. “I couldn’t find a reason to justify spending $1,000 just to get the MacBook,” Ortiz says. “Price played a huge factor in this decision.” #2. Ports Even though the MacBook is $1,000 more expensive, you’ll need to purchase and keep track of [pricey dongles and adapters]( since it [lacks an SD card slot]( and many other common ports (replacing all of them with [4 Thunderbolt 3 ports](. “I’m not ready for the dongle life,” Ortiz says. “I’m going to try and stay away from it as long as possible.” #3. Ability to Upgrade It’s generally easier to upgrade the hardware components of a PC laptop than a MacBook. Especially with the latest MacBook from Apple, the processor, RAM, and SSD [are soldered onto the logic board]( making it virtually impossible for the average person to do an at-home upgrade. Apple decided to have the RAM and SSD soldered into the new Macbook Pro. [Photo by iFixit](. #4. Touchscreen The Dell XPS 15 features a multi-touch screen, something Apple has yet to introduce in the MacBook line, though now the MacBook does have a Touch Bar. “I truly love using the touchscreen on a computer,” Ortiz says. “The Surface Pro 3 got me hooked on touchscreen, and I don’t think I could ever have a laptop without it.” #5. Nvidia GTX 1050 The Dell has never had a hiccup while editing 4K video from all of Ortiz’s cameras and devices. “The rendering times are really, really impossible,” Ortiz. “This just kind of sealed the deal for me.” --------------------------------------------------------------- As you might expect, any discussion about PC versus Mac brings out heated arguments from passionate devotees in both camps. Ortiz says he’s not trying to hate on Apple, but that these are the personal reasons that made sense for his needs. “I’ve been using Mac and Windows for a long time,” Ortiz says. “I truly don’t have a preference. I like the both for their strengths, and they both have weaknesses. And there are some reasons that really entice me to get the MacBook. For the most part, I’ve had less problems with my Mac products than my PC.” “I just want to clarify for those who didn’t watch the whole video that this isn’t a Apple hate video,” Ortiz [writes](. “It’s just come to a point where the MacBook has gotten so expensive that I can not justify paying $1,000 more for one.” “If you have the money and you want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, you’re not going to go wrong with the MacBook Pro,” Ortiz concludes. “But if you’re like me, and you can’t really justify the price difference, you’re not going to be disappointed with the Dell XPS.” [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( Voyager: A New Smart Light Stick That Lets You Digitally Paint Color Jul 18, 2017 07:24 am | [Will Nicholls]( [Digital Sputnik]( creator of LED light systems that have quickly become favorites of directors behind big blockbuster movies, has released an exciting new product: [Voyager](. This new system packs features of their previous product line into a smaller fixture. The Voyager is an LED tube, but the beauty of it is the ease at which you can connect and control multiple units together. Battery powered with an onboard animation controller, the tubes are now waterproof and can be controlled from a phone. The LightGrading software will map out your lighting setup if you just point your phone at it, allowing you to tap on the light you want to turn on or off. You can change the color, and even introduce a color gradient across the tube by painting on the light via your phone. In fact, complete animation sequences are possible which can be modified and controlled in a timeline. You can see the software in action in this behind-the-scenes video: The units come in two sizes: 2ft and 4ft. The company is crowdfunding for their development on [IndieGoGo]( although they have already got 10 prototypes and have smashed through their $300,000 target. It’s the predecessor of this Voyager technology from Digital Sputnik that was used for Star Wars: Rogue One, as well as films like Fast and Furious 8, and Independence Day. It’s not just filmmakers and cinematographers that should be excited, though. Still photographers can use the units for creative lighting, with the Voyager being able to sync up as a flash with shutter speeds as quick as 1/500th of a second. Or, try it in a long exposure for amazing curtains of light. The Voyager system is available [on IndieGoGo]( and you can “pre-order” (if the campaign succeeds and delivers) units starting at $290. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( Beware: Camera Drones Are Weak Against Confetti and Toilet Paper Jul 18, 2017 07:15 am | [Michael Zhang]( If you ever need to fly a camera drone around at events, here’s something you should know: your drone can easily be brought down by confetti, toilet paper, and anything that can get tangled around the propellers. First off, if there are any confetti cannons at the event, you should keep your drone far, far away from them. Here’s what happened to one [extremely pricey DJI Inspire]( drone getting caught up in confetti at a music festival in Alberta, Canada: [Drone Down!!]( A post shared by Arize Nwosu (@rizonline) on Dec 5, 2015 at 11:43am PST And if you’re ever at a sporting event where people could throw toilet paper, you’ll want to watch out as well. Here’s what happened to one drone recently at a soccer match: As you can see, a single cheap roll of toilet paper and well-placed throw were all it took to knock the camera drone out of the sky and damage it. [Read More]( [Like The Daily PetaPixel for 07/18/2017 on Facebook]( [share on Twitter]( [b82dce33-4a48-4869-a135-1d67d5dd676a.jpg](  YESTERDAY'S POSTS [Guy Finds 1929 Camera at Thrift Store and Develops the Film]( [20 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Date a Street Photographer]( [Side-by-Side Photos That Blend Scenes from Around the World]( [This Cute Camera Drone Now Lives on the International Space Station]( [Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS and Three More Lenses On The Way, Report Says]( [Dear Photography Workshop and Conference Organizers…]( [This Olympus Camera Kit Was Made Entirely Out of Paper]( [3 Legged Thing’s New Universal Tripod L-Bracket is Light and Affordable]( [Ep. 194: Yet Another Nikon D750 Service Advisory – and more]( Copyright © 2017 PetaPixel, All rights reserved. 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