PolarPro's New Cinema Series Exposure Collection Allows Aerial Photographers to Capture Stunning Long Exposure Aerial Imagery
PolarPro’s new Cinema Series Exposure Collection includes ND128 (7 stop), ND256 (8 stop) and ND1000 (10 stop) machined thread-on filters for Phantom 4 Pro and Mavic Air, or press-on filters for Mavic Pro/Platinum. These neutral density filters reduce camera shutter speed in broad daylight, making cinematic long exposures of up to eight seconds or longer possible with the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, Mavic Air or Mavic Pro/Platinum.
“We like to use Exposure Collection filters when shooting with the Phantom 4 Pro to get some great shots in the middle of the afternoon at the beach,” says PolarPro lead design engineer Esteban Martinez. “For example, our ND128 at f/2.8 reduces 7-stops of light. When combined with an f/11 aperture, it reduces light by a total of 11 stops, allowing us to capture a long exposure shot during daylight hours that could only be captured in low light conditions without the use of a large-stop ND filter. And with the fixed aperture on the Mavic series drones, the Exposure Collection gives those new to aerial photography the opportunity to capture stunning long exposure content like the pros.”
PolarPro’s Cinema Series Exposure filters provide a neutral color profile and enable DJI pilots to shoot at longer shutter speeds in bright scenes. With eight layers of optical coatings on each side of every lens that reduce ghosting, flaring and other artifacts, PolarPro’s Exposure Collection is a welcome addition to its Cinema Series line of filters for producing quality long exposure aerial content that can be used in both independent or commercial projects alike.
TransAkron Raises Awareness and Shares Stories of Akron Transgender Community
The Gay Community Endowment Fund (GCEF) of Akron Community Foundation has unveiled a new photojournalism series aimed at fighting stereotypes, increasing inclusion for the transgender community, and celebrating Pride Month.
Created by award-winning photographer Shane Wynn and writer H.L. Comeriato, the TransAkron series shines a light on trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people in Akron, Ohio. The project captures the lived realities of these individuals and tells the stories of their journeys while adding a data-driven narrative about the transgender community nationwide.
The photos and stories can be viewed online at TransAkron.com.
The TransAkron project is part-narrative and part-resource, and at the Gay Community Endowment Fund, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy through storytelling.
The TransAkron series features the stories of eight individuals, including U.S. veteran Giovonni Santiago, who opened the country’s first transgender-specific clinic in the Veterans Affairs system, and Rylee Jackson, who, after experiencing a dozen foster homes and four different high schools, found joy through her love of dance.
“The idea of TransAkron originated in early 2017 when I had a conversation with Shane Wynn — a local artist and advocate — about her photography and how we could use images to humanize people and advocate for the GCEF’s important work in the community,” said Phil Montgomery, advisory board chair of the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation. “The TransAkron project is part-narrative and part-resource, and at the GCEF, we are proud to be on the front lines of advocacy through storytelling.”
TransAkron was made possible thanks to funding and support from the Gay Community Endowment Fund and several community partners, including ArtsNow (an innovative nonprofit that connects arts and culture through collaboration) and the EXL Center at The University of Akron. The series’ writer, H.L. Comeriato, is a former University of Akron student who was identified by faculty member Dr. Heather Braun.
“People are often unaware that their friends, neighbors, civil servants, police officers, doctors, etc. identify as trans,” said Nicole Mullet, executive director of ArtsNow. “Breaking down that sense of ‘other’ helps us come together as a community. We are Akron – all of us.”
Established in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund accepts grant applications for programs and services that positively impact the LGBTQ+ community and Greater Akron as a whole. It also raises awareness about equality issues and rallies the LGBTQ+ community around a common philanthropic purpose. Since its founding, the GCEF has invested nearly $475,000 into local causes that change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the Greater Akron community. Recent grants have advocated for countywide nondiscrimination protections, supported a mentoring program for LGBTQ+ college students, and raised awareness about domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community, among other critical initiatives.
To support the Gay Community Endowment Fund, please visit GayCommunityFund.org. Gifts of all sizes will make a permanent difference in the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, a gift of $600 could provide safe housing and basic living essentials for one homeless LGBTQ+ young adult, who is more likely to become a victim of violence, abuse and human trafficking than their heterosexual peers. Likewise, a gift of $100 could provide HIV testing and prevention education for five LGBTQ+ people in Akron. All gifts are fully tax-deductible and are invested and grown over time, so gifts made today will continue to multiply for generations to come.
For more information about the TransAkron project, please visit TransAkron.com.
Ripley's 99 Strange Days of Summer $5,000 Photo Contest!
Everyone has a little STRANGE in them!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is hosting a 99 Strange Days of Summer Photo Contest with a $5,000 cash prize for the strangest photo.
From incredibly weird pets to outrageously cool beards and mustaches, everyone has a little STRANGE in them. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is rewarding the strangest summer photos with their 99 Strange Days of Summer Contest. Submit a photo via Twitter, Instagram, or by directly uploading to ripleys.com/strangesummer.
The winner will receive a $5,000 USD cash prize and a feature on Ripley’s social media. The winner will be selected based on the strangest and most creative photo.
From incredibly weird pets to outrageously cool beards and mustaches, everyone has a little STRANGE in them. It's your chance to win some cool prizes and enjoy fantastic promotions.
HOW TO ENTER
Take an original photo or video and then share it on social media or upload directly to ripleys.com/strangesummer.
Twitter entries must include #Ripleys99 and @Ripleys. Instagram entries must include #Ripleys99.
A panel of judges will select the finalists, and the winner will be chosen by a public vote. Voting begins on September 2, 2018 at ripleys.com/strangesummer.
PolarPro's New IRIS Mobile Filter System Lets You Capture Stunning Cinematic Content With Your iPhone X or Pixel 2
Never miss an opportunity to capture another off the cuff moment again with PolarPro’s IRIS mobile filter system for iPhone X, iPhone 6/7/8 (and Plus sizes) and Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Featuring drop-in neutral density filters to control shutter speed, professionals to casual content creators will find the IRIS filter system useful, expanding their smartphone’s camera capabilities to produce smooth, cinematic content.
IRIS gives content creators complete creative control to tell their stories just how they were imagined. For those times that you are caught without your primary camera, PolarPro’s IRIS neutral density filter system helps you capture cinema-style content using your iPhone or Pixel, making it easier to tell your story in smooth and stunning 4K detail by giving you the best image quality possible from your phone to match other high-resolution content shot with your DSLR, mirrorless or production level video camera.
“So, we were really excited back when the iPhone 7 Plus came out with 4K video capabilities,” says PolarPro CEO and founder, Jeff Overall. “We started shooting a bunch with it, but kept running into the same problem, that the footage never looked consistent next to our other cameras. On a sunny day, the iPhone’s 7’s shutter speed would be shooting near 1/1000th and when you try to edit that with video shot at 1/50th on a production style camera, it just doesn’t look fluid.”
PolarPro tackled a similar problem with their flagship ND filters for creating smooth video with drone cameras and has developed IRIS with the same goal in mind for iPhone and similar smartphones like Google’s Pixel 2/2XL.
“We wanted to be able to quickly change out camera filters, so we created an easy drop-in system, and the glass had to be color neutral, coated-to reduce ghosting, and sharp with a low refractive index, so we selected our top end Cinema Series glass,” says Overall. “One year, and 18 design iterations later, we are excited to launch the IRIS, a mobile filter system allowing you to reduce shutter speeds to cinematic levels and add smartphone video to your multi-camera edits seamlessly.”
The IRIS filter mount is built with an expandable machined-aluminum frame, fitting neatly over the top of your camera lens with or without a phone case installed. When disassembled, the IRIS filter mount and filters fit into a slim hard case that slides neatly into a pants pocket, jacket pocket or small bag, helping you maintain a low profile as you move through your day. The IRIS filter system includes a filter mount, 3 neutral density filters (ND8, ND16, ND32) and a low profile carrying case, with the ability to add more filters as they become available to further expand your smartphone’s camera capabilities.
With IRIS, PolarPro has designed a filter system that meets the photography and video production requirements of a diverse consumer base who’s technical abilities range from consumer, prosumer and professional backgrounds, allowing users to capture cinematic quality content on the fly with their smartphone when using their regular camera isn’t an option.
International Association of Women Honours Debra Parks as a 2018-2019 Influencer of the Year
Debra Parks, Owner of Deb's Art Designs Photography, is selected for her outstanding leadership and commitment within her profession.
The International Association of Women (IAW) honors Debra Parks as a 2018-2019 Influencer of the Year. She is recognized with this prestigious distinction for leadership in entrepreneurship. The International Association of Women (IAW) is a global in-person and online networking platform with nearly one million members, 1000+ in person and virtual events, over 100 Local US based Chapters and International Chapters in several cities in China.
“I’m pleased to welcome Debra into this exceptional group of professional women,” said IPDN President and IAW Spokesperson Star Jones. “Her knowledge and experience in her industry are valuable assets to her company and community.”
Ever since she was a young girl, Debra Parks has always loved creating art, from drawing to painting to photography. Although she chose to enter the field of nursing and worked as a labor and delivery nurse for many years, Ms. Parks eventually chose to follow her passion.
It is my desire that anyone who views my work, to feel emotion, and that is what I strive to achieve with all my photos.
It was after moving to Maryland to start a new life that Ms. Parks began to seriously study photography. She attended workshops, honed her craft and started a small photography business from her home in 2012. Four years later she opened her own studio and has not looked back since. Ms. Parks’ photography recently earned two bronze awards in an international competition — it was the first competition she ever entered.
As the Owner of Deb’s Art Designs Photography, Ms. Parks uses her talent and skill as a photographer to provide an array of services, including contemporary portraits, children and family, maternity, boudoir and themed photography, professional head shots, branding and more. “My photography style concentrates on lighting,” Ms. Parks says on her website. “After all, a photograph is all about the light and shadows. It is my desire that anyone who views my work, to feel emotion, and that is what I strive to achieve with all my photos.”
Jason Thomas Crocker Photography Moves Headquarters to New York City
Jason Thomas Crocker Photography Makes the Big Move from Cleveland to NYC
Award-winning photographer, Jason Thomas Crocker, has made the leap to being in NYC full time by moving the Jason Thomas Crocker Photography headquarters from Cleveland, Ohio to New York City. The global photographer has shot weddings all around the world including France, Maui, Bainbridge Island, Cleveland, Denver, and Chicago and is ready to light up New York City.Jason Thomas Crocker believes in creating an experience for his clients and making their wedding day special and a day they can look back on for the rest of their lives through photos.
Jason walks clients through the entire process from engagement sessions to what to expect on your actual wedding day. Throughout the whole experience, Jason put the emphasis on clients and how they would like everything. From the exchange of heartfelt wedding vows to breaking it down on the dance floor, Jason captures every timeless moment that makes the client’s wedding day special.
While working out of Cleveland Jason built up his New York City wedding portfolio and has become a go-to in the area for the best wedding portraits. Having shot over 200 couples on their special day, many in NYC, Jason made the decision to make the big move to be more accessible to his NYC clientele. Jason truly blends his eye for epic compositions with his photojournalistic style of photography to capture the true essence of who you are as a newly married couple.
“I have so many couples reaching out to me from NYC, it just made sense to make the move,” says Jason. “NYC is a pinnacle for weddings and I have found myself being called to shoot weddings there more and more.”
About Jason Thomas Crocker Photography
Jason Crocker is a New York City Wedding Photographer who loves capturing candid wedding day photos as much as traveling around the globe to photograph destination weddings.
After documenting 200+ couples, Jason can honestly say that no two weddings are the same, which makes every wedding story that he captures unique and special. Jason blends his eye for epic compositions with his photojournalistic style of photography to capture the true essence of who you are as a newly married couple.
Along with his award-winning photography, he has also built his wedding photography process to infuse more fun and less stress into your wedding day. Leave the photography planning, organizing, and wrangling of aunts and uncles to him so you can relax and enjoy the celebration.
Capture Life, Not A Picture: The Resurgence In Candid Photography
Candid photography is growing more and more popular. It is not hard to see why candid photography is making such a prominent comeback, the natural behaviour in a natural setting creates a timeless photograph.
The fact that you are capturing subjects when they are unaware helps the picture to build a snapshot of life, not a forced scene with a fixed image in mind. The rise of social media and photo sharing platforms has widened the hobby to new audiences which has led to an increase in candid photography. As candid photography requires little preparation, it is perfect for amateurs to try as well as experienced and professional photographers to perfect. While social media has given photography an increase in popularity, coupled with the growing camera technology available on smartphone, it has led confusion as to what is branded as candid.
Candid and street photography are two photographic genres that are increasing in popularity as a way of capturing real-life rather than a prepared scene and commonly confused and misrepresented on social media. Street photography focuses on the public spaces more than the unaware subject that candid gets success from.
Candid wedding photography is another field that is growing as it helps images to retain their freshness and spontaneity, rather than a fixed portrait that can become a tired, generic and ultimately boring. If you want to try out candid photography for yourself, here are five top tips:
• Take your camera everywhere, so you feel more comfortable
• Don’t use flash, instead raise your ISO for low light conditions and remaining unseen
• Be patient to capture the best moment or facial expression
• Shoot in burst mode to increase your chances of the perfect shot
• Blend in so that the crowd isn’t aware of you and will act naturally.
An Interview with Angela Mariano
We recently spoke with 19-year-old up and coming model Angela Mariano. She told us her unique story of how she went from taking care of turtles in Costa Rica to appearing on the cover of DEZINE and all the bits in between and beyond!
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into modelling?
So I’m from Upstate New York and I always knew that I wanted to model. I’ve always been into art and fashion my entire life. My parents were both accountants and had desk jobs and were very much like ‘Oh you need to go to college and get a real job’ and that never really interested me ever from day one, I always knew that’s never been what I wanted.
After High School I kinda had a freak out and really didn’t want to go to school so I, I wanted to help people so I volunteered in Costa Rica. I was working with kids and teaching them English, helping them with homework and things like that. Then I also was volunteering with sea turtles (laughs) taking data and also working with monkeys a little bit. Yeah, it’s so random!
When I came back, I really liked Costa Rica and the weather so I applied to the University of Hawaii, got in and was all set to go. And then, had kind of another freak out like “I don’t wanna go to school, I don’t wanna do this I really really wanna be in New York City – I wanna try modelling” and I like moved here with no plan I didn’t know anyone, I was by myself. I’d just turned 19. From there I just kinda met a bunch of photographers and small brands through Instagram and that’s how I got started.
"I was by myself. I’d just turned 19. From there I just kinda met a bunch of photographers and small brands through instagram."
I suppose that’s like the American Dream isn’t it? To just go away and try something?
Yeah, literally when I moved all my friends were like so concerned ‘Is Ange OK?’ “Ange is gonna be homeless’ but it’s working out! I never had a plan B. I don’t believe in those - plan A needs to work out. I want to earn my success, I don’t want anyone to just hand it to me.
Is it something you’re doing full time?
Yeah, currently full time. I’ve been struggling with money a little bit because I didn’t realise ‘oh groceries and laundry and the subway’ that’s a big expense! I mean I knew it was going to be expensive, especially being in the city, it’s like you breathe and they take ten dollars right there. Everything is so much money, everything. I go to the grocery store and I see like three cantaloupes for two dollars, “OK I guess I’m having cantaloupe!”
My boyfriend always is like aggravated with it a little bit, my parents – not to say that they’re not supportive – because I’m not in college or anything they’re kind of like “figure it out on your own”. Which in a way I kind of like because I’ve always been an independent person.
But when I’m struggling with money a little bit it’s kind of frustrating for them to be like “Well, figure it out!” But then I got a cheque from a really big job and I had like $2,000 in my account and I’m like “Whoa, I’m ballin’ I could go to Mexico right now, I’ve never had this much money” It works out, and now that I’m being signed I’ll have consistent work all the time, which is nice.
Read the full interview with Angela Mariano in Issue 04 of DEZINE
An Interview with Julia Trotti
We hear from Sydney-based fashion photographer, Julia Trotti, as she tells us all about her career.
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got into photography?
I’m Julia Trotti, a fashion photographer based in Sydney, Australia. My work consists of fashion campaigns, lookbooks, editorials, portrait work as well as travel photography. I have been creative for as long as I can remember. At first I dabbled in creating work out of traditional mediums, then moved on to creating photo manipulations in Photoshop with stock images I found on the Internet. I truly loved editing and retouching, and slowly wanted to start taking more control over the images I created. That’s when I picked up a camera to start shooting and fell in love with the art of photography. I started photographing more and manipulating in Photoshop less until photography became my full time profession.
“Go out and shoot! You can read about photography, spend time organising and planning but the best practice and the fastest way to learn is to get out there and start doing.”
Who or what are your main sources of inspiration?
While I love awing at the beautiful work Tim Walker creates (one of my favourite photographers who inspired me to get into photography), I tend to find my inspiration in other places. I am inspired by locations - more often than not I will come across somewhere beautiful that will spark ideas for an editorial. I am also inspired by emotions, colours, lighting and new faces.
Click here to read the full interview with Julia Trotti in Issue 03 of DEZINE
Featured Photographer: Chris Devour
We hear from 25-year-old Oradea-based photographer, Chris Devour who tells us about his passions and inspirations.
All photography featured is from Chris’s “Indoor Stories” series, featuring Alice Peneaca with make-up by Ana Medinschi.
I am 25 years old, currently based in Oradea, but travelling a lot to Bucharest. I was born in Oradea, and lived there for about 13 years, then moved to Budapest for 4 years, and afterwards to Bucharest for 2 years for my MA studies. I have always been fascinated with art related stuff, collecting things I found interesting, drawing, photography, history and cultural studies. I played drums for 3 years in a punk-rock band when I was younger and living in Budapest, so music is really important to me. One of my favourite projects in 2016 was going on tour around Europe, with Golan (band) opening for Parov Stelar. I had to document their tour. It was an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to work with great people from models to artists, friends and people I love. Everyone I’ve worked with was and is a great inspiration for my photos.
"While my studies focus mainly on political science diplomacy & security, Marxism and anarcho-communism, my passion for photography comes from my childhood."
While my studies focus mainly on political science diplomacy & security, Marxism and anarcho-communism, my passion for photography comes from my childhood. As I mentioned before, I was always fascinated with collecting photos or illustrations of the things I liked from cartoons, books, magazines. Making collages was part of this process. Growing up I loved to draw, so combining photography with drawing and collages somehow ended up into what I love doing today.
One of the main concepts reappearing in my work was the covering of the face/identity/self. A mixture of futuristic virtual reality where we will hardly know our actual features, instead we will only settle for the virtual ones, thus covering our true identity, while this is already beginning to take shape, it is quite haunting if we think about it, but like everything it does have beauty and it can inspire. What if this becomes norm in the future.
I like ordered chaos, so I usually take something and try to make it simple, I believe it comes naturally, but inspiration is always present so I admit that I was influenced by many foreign artists. However, I’m constantly trying to apply my own style to the photo.
My favourite place to shoot would be a minimal white room with little or no furniture, wooden floors and big windows.