Show Notes
Greetings, you’re listening to the Liam Photography Podcast, I’m your host Liam Douglas and this is Episode 432 for Thursday December 12th, 2024. Some interesting stories for this week from our friends at Peta Pixel so let’s get into them now.
Julian Lennon, the son of former Beatle John, is best known for his music career that began in the 1980s, but he is also an accomplished photographer reflected in a new retrospective Life’s Fragile Moments.
Lennon tells PetaPixel that many people are unaware that he’s been a fine art photographer for over 14 years and has exhibited his work in over 40 shows.
Life’s Fragile Moments is Lennon’s first photo book that delves through what he has experienced and captured over the course of his lifetime.
“The editing process [for the book] was about trying to tell the same story/collection, in 4-10 images, as you would 40 images…That was the driving force, the essence, my guideline,” Lennon says.
As he laid the book out, the Liverpool-born photographer tried to understand what matters, what is important, and what is it that he is trying to express.
“And it’s to show the audience where I’m coming from, my voice in another medium,” Lennon adds. “And like music, it’s about relating to people, sharing a message, sharing the Truth.”
Lennon’s book traverses the globe showing his shots from Ethiopia, Istanbul, New York City, and many more. It also goes through his experiences of being a film set photographer and capturing celebrities.
“Japan is one of my favorite destinations,” Lennon says. “A lifetime is not enough, to truly understand and appreciate this country, its people, and its customs.”
Lennon was asked by Jack Bender, the director of Leonard Cohen documentary to shoot behind-the-scenes photos of famous artists performing in the show.
“I had no plan or approach,” Lennon says. “Those shots were taken during the Filming of a Tribute Concert for Leonard Cohen. So I just used whatever light was available, kept out of everyone’s way, and just shot what I could, whenever I could… Voila!”
Lennon says his go-to cameras are the Leica Q3 and Sony a7R IV. “On occasion, I use the Fujifilm GFX 50S but I’ve also used the Leica V-Lux and the M11. In the past, I shot with a Canon 5D Mark IV. I also take a large amount of photos on my iPhone, if that’s all I have with me at the time.”
It has been reported that Lennon’s Dad gave him his first camera, a Polaroid SX-70. Lennon says that while he does own one of his Dad’s SX-70s, it wasn’t his first camera. “Our household always had some sort of throwaway camera, for holidays,” he adds.
Julian Lennon: Life’s Fragile Moments is published by teNeues. More of Lennon’s work can be found on his Instagram.
Sigma’s refreshingly candid CEO, Kazuto Yamaki, sat down with Sigma UK’s Tim Berry for a nearly half-hour-long interview concerning a diverse range of topics, including Yamaki’s favorite photographers, why Sigma remains a “Made in Japan” brand, and an upcoming lens.
Near the very end of the wide-ranging interview, Berry asks, “Now I have to ask you because I have you here, and I can’t go away without asking you. Could you give us a teaser for something that’s coming. I know you can’t probably say too much but you could give us something that we can look forward to in the next few weeks?”
“Okay, that’s the most difficult question you’ve asked today,” Yamaki replies, smiling. “Actually, we are [working on] many projects right now, and I’m very excited about all of the new products we are now working on. So basically, I like all of our customers looking forward to the new announcement from Sigma.”
“But, one of the products that excite me a lot is a telephoto lens that has never existed before,” Yamaki continues.
“Really?” Berry excitedly interjects.
“Yes, so sports photographers and wildlife photographers might be very excited about the lens.”
Yamaki stops short of saying when the new telephoto lens will be announced, but it is worth noting that the Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2025 (CP+) is quickly approaching and will take place in late February and early March 2025 in Yokohama, Japan. Sigma, alongside many other major camera and lens manufacturers, is a confirmed exhibitor at CP+ 2025, so an announcement there would not be surprising in the least.
As for what the teased telephoto lens could be, the possibilities are nearly endless. A telephoto lens that has never existed sounds exciting and rules out certain focal lengths and aperture combinations.
Sigma has made many great telephoto lenses over the years, including primes and zooms for mirrorless cameras. The recent Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports is a standout, with PetaPixel calling it “stellar.” Sigma could be looking at a longer or faster prime, but there is not necessarily a lot of space to make a wholly unique prime lens.
There is more untapped potential in the telephoto zoom space. Sigma’s 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports lens is a highly versatile zoom, and its slightly lower-zooming 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports, seen at the top of this article, is among the best values in all of telephoto lenses. There’s a lens in Sigma’s cupboard that is very exciting to pro photographers: the 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports from over a decade ago. This lens remains available for DSLRs but has yet to make its way to mirrorless.
Could Sigma take another swing at a super-fast telephoto zoom lens for mirrorless photographers, perhaps something a bit wider on the wide end, like the fantastic (and expensive) Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L? Sigma could take advantage of improved optical technology and designs and make an f/2.8 zoom that’s a bit longer than 300mm at the telephoto end. That would be incredibly exciting.
As Yamaki explained to PetaPixel at CP+ 2023, the company uses three sources of inspiration when designing new lenses. First, the product planning team comes up with proposals, and these employees are photographers themselves, so they know what lenses they could use in the real world. Yamaki adds his ideas into the mix. That’s the second source. Finally, the third source for lens ideas is the optical engineers. Like product planners, they’re also photographers, but they better understand what is possible to achieve at specific price point targets and with modern optical technology.
Sigma, which moved to a beautiful new headquarters a few years ago, fosters a very open exchange of ideas. Despite being CEO, Yamaki works in the same space as his employees, including the engineers, so there is a constant flow of ideas. Whatever Sigma’s next lens will be, the concept has certainly been batted around between product planners, designers, engineers, and the CEO himself sometime in the last few years.
Sigma has been releasing excellent lenses one after another at a torrid pace — the company released six new lenses in 2024 alone. It sounds like 2025 will kick off with a bang, too.
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners were announced today at the competition’s Awards Night at the Oxo Gallery in London. Photographer Milko Marchetti is this year’s overall winner, thanks to his excellent and hilarious image of a red squirrel stuck in a tree, aptly named “Stuck Squirrel.”
Marchetti bested a record number of photographers this year, as the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards received over 9,000 images, the highest total in its decade of existence. This huge pool of photos was narrowed down to just 40 finalists, which PetaPixel featured in September.
The competition says the final selection was challenging this year, with only a few points separating the top five entries. Ultimately, Marchetti’s hilarious image won out.
“I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels, in many situations over the years in Italy, but this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position, because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide,” the photographer says. “Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explode with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!”
For his victory, Marchetti receives a once-in-a-lifetime safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya, with Alex Walker’s Serian, plus a unique handmade trophy from the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania. Marchetti also gets a new photography bag from Think Tank.
When Marchetti received a call from Tom Sullam, co-founder of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards alongside Paul Joynson-Hicks, Marchetti says he shouted, “Wow,” over and over while jumping for joy.
“Looking at the beautiful finalists’ photos, I would never have thought I would be the chosen one. What can I say — I am so, so happy,” the winning photographer adds.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Milko Marchetti’s outstanding achievement in the Nikon Comedy Photography Awards 2024. His image, ‘Stuck Squirrel,’ brilliantly captures the playful and unpredictable moments that make nature so enchanting,” says Stefan Maier, General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe. “This year’s competition received a record number of entries, each one a testament to the power of photography in evoking emotion. We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of wildlife photographers through these wonderful awards.”
Alongside Marchetti’s overall winning photo, the judges selected additional category winners, plus special award winners. All these winning images are featured below.
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners will be on exhibit at the Oxo Gallery in London from December 11-15 and are featured on the competition’s website.
American TikTokers are asking users to follow them on other social media apps — as TikTok’s threatened U.S. ban next month seems even more likely after a federal appeals court’s ruling last week upheld the law.
In April, President Biden signed a law that gave TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance 90 days to sell the video app or face a total ban in the U.S.
The law means that TikTok, which is used by 170 million Americans, could be banned across the U.S. as soon as January 19 — unless the video app divests from its Beijing-based parent company.
And last week, a U.S. federal appeals court upheld the law — meaning that TikTok’s ban is set to go into effect next month/in six weeks unless it finds a new owner.
Now American content creators on TikTok have started asking followers to subscribe to their channels on rival platforms like Instagram and YouTube, according to a report by Reuters.
With the prospect of a ban in just six weeks, some TikTokers have also begun asking followers which social media apps they would like to follow them on instead.
On the app, both viewers and content creators expressed fear and confusion, with many doubting TikTok’s survival in the U.S. and bracing themselves for the worst. Many TikTokers voiced concerns about their future livelihoods if the ban goes into effect.
“I don’t think there’s longevity on this app in the United States,” Chris Burkett, a TikTok content creator with 1.3 million followers says in a recent video post in which he asks his fans to follow him on Instagram, YouTube, Threads, and X instead.
“For the first time I’m realizing that a lot of what I worked for could disappear,” Chris Mowrey, an influencer with 470,000 TikTok followers, tells Reuters. “I don’t think it’s been talked about enough how damaging it will be from an economic standpoint for small businesses and creators.”
On Monday, TikTok asked a court for an emergency injunction to prevent it becoming unavailable in the U.S. in the new year.
TikTok warned that U.S. small businesses and social media creators would lose $1.3 billion in revenue and earnings in just one month if the popular app is effectively shut down in the United States on January 19.
“Almost two million creators in the United States would suffer almost $300 million in lost earnings, and TikTok itself would lose 29% of our targeted global advertising revenue for 2025,” Blake Chandlee, president of global business solutions for TikTok, writes in a court filing.
However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) called for the request to be dismissed, saying its underlying arguments have already been “definitively rejected.”
Canon joined the growing number of camera manufacturers making custom cropping guides available to high-volume photographers, such as school portrait photographers. Like others, Canon is charging an upgrade fee for using custom gridlines. However, Canon is the first to require a camera to be sent to a service center for the upgrade.
Custom gridlines are helpful for volume photographers because they make it easy to compose images with consistent framing over and over, even when working with different people. For example, there are available markings to always line up the chin, forehead, and ears in the same spots. There are also markings for full-body portraits, like those seen with sports teams. These custom lines can also show standard print sizes, like 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10 (4×5), which can help photographers ensure that every frame will work with any print size they offer.
There’s no doubt that these custom gridlines are hugely beneficial for certain photographers and save them considerable time during shooting and post-processing. After all, cropping different images to make them all match is tedious. However, a consistent question remains each time a camera manufacturer introduces this feature: Why isn’t it free?
This question first arose when Sony launched the “Custom Gridline License” for the Sony a7 IV for $149. Sony then added the feature to additional cameras, still at $149, of course.
Later, Panasonic got in on the fun with its Lumix Volume Photography Software. This key, similar to what Panasonic has done with Log upgrades in the past, comes at a premium. In this case, it’s $199.99. However, this offers more than custom gridlines; barcode scanning is added to keep all photos easily organized and matched to specific people, which solves another issue that volume photographers must deal with. It works alongside various typical volume photography applications and services, including software and print labs.
Canon’s new offering differentiates itself in two ways. Canon’s Cropping Guide is the cheapest yet, available for $120. Beyond this, the Cropping Guide is also the first custom gridline feature that requires photographers to send their cameras in for service to be upgraded. Sony’s and Panasonic’s offerings can be performed at home. It is worth noting that Canon now sells select camera models equipped with the Cropping Guide feature, available directly through Canon’s online store. However, if a photographer already has a camera and wants the upgrade, they must ship their camera to Canon.
Canon is also different in terms of which types of cameras are compatible. Sony’s custom gridline license works with popular full-frame bodies, like the a1, a7S III, a7 IV, and a9 III. For Panasonic, it works with the Lumix S5II(X) full-frame mirrorless cameras. Canon has instead prioritized affordable APS-C bodies. As of now, the Cropping Guide is available for the EOS R50, R10, and R7. While these are all good APS-C cameras, especially the EOS R7, it is strange to not offering the Cropping Guide for any full-frame cameras, like the EOS R5 II and R6 II.
Ultimately, as has been said when discussing custom gridline features like Canon’s new Cropping Guide before, photographers who need something like this will happily fork over $120. Even if it seems like a feature that should be free, it is a massive time-saver, and time is money. As for sending their cameras in for service, busy working photographers might find that pill a little tougher to swallow.
The Canon Cropping Guide firmware update is available now, and photographers can buy cameras with the upgrade installed directly through Canon. Complete purchasing details for Canon’s new Cropping Guide are available on Canon’s website. It is $120 per unit and, again, is compatible with only the R50, R10, and R7 cameras at this time.
Welcome to the ultimate holiday gift guide for photographers! Whether you’re shopping for a professional photographer or someone who is just starting out in this creative field, we have curated a selection of gifts that will inspire, enhance, and elevate their photography experience. From must-have camera gear to unique accessories, our guide is filled with thoughtful suggestions to help you find the perfect gift for the photography enthusiast or pro in your life. Let’s make this holiday season a memorable one.
The ArtBox Gift Edition by WhiteWall
$84.95
The ArtBox Gift Edition is an elegant choice for any occasion, showcasing your photo in a sleek, narrow wooden frame that highlights small images beautifully. The design offers striking depth, turning each photo into a unique décor piece. Your image is printed on Fuji Crystal DP II paper and laminated behind high-quality acrylic glass, available in glossy or matte. The frame’s 1.37-inch depth allows for a freestanding display, while a milled joint on the back makes wall mounting simple. Packaged in a sophisticated gift box perfect for the holidays, the ArtBox is an ideal blend of style and quality for contemporary spaces.
OM-1 Mark II by OM SYSTEM
$2,399.99 now starting at $1,899.99
Revolutionize your photography journey with the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II, the ultimate hybrid camera for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Featuring a cutting-edge stacked BSI Live MOS sensor, this powerhouse delivers exceptional image quality with stunning detail and low-light performance. Its lightning-fast TruePic X processor ensures precise autofocus, 120 fps burst shooting, and 4K/60p video recording. Built for adventure, the OM-1 Mark II features an IP53-rated weather-sealed body, advanced image stabilization, and innovative computational photography modes like High-Res Shot, Live ND, and Pro Capture. Lightweight yet durable, it fuels creativity for all your outdoor photography.
OWC’s Envoy SSD
$104.88 – $214.99
OWC’s new Envoy SSD is a portable powerhouse of an SSD that is the perfect companion for photographers, video creators, and filmmakers. The Envoy is a stunning rethinking of design that provides an ultra-portable best-in-class experience. Available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, the Envoy SSD boasts an aircraft-grade aluminum housing in a palm-sized form factor, enabling it to fit in your pocket or one of your camera bag pockets. The included USB-C cable ensures that Envoy is ready to use with computers, tablets, and smartphones. Envoy’s high-speed capability means storing, transferring, editing, and backing up files goes quickly. Envoy provides max speeds in excess of 1000MB/s and prevents thermal throttling to provide sustained speeds of no less than the full 1000MB/s it is capable of. The all-new Envoy SSD is available now for $104.88 at 1TB and $214.99 at 2TB.
ProMaster’s GaN USB Charger 3-Port 65 Watt
$39.95
Don’t let its compact size fool you! Small but mighty, the ProMaster GaN Charger has three ports and 65W power output to quickly charge your cameras, laptops, phone, tablets, and other devices that use USB-C or USB-A. This charger utilizes GaN technology to provide more energy in a small, thermally efficient unit so you can safely and rapidly charge up to three devices simultaneously. Folding prongs make it even more compact.
Discover the benefits of GaN technology with this convenient USB charger, perfect for the on-the-go creator who needs their devices charged fast! Available for $39.95 at promaster.com.
Huion Kamvas Pro 19
$1,099 $879 until Dec 2
For the Dreamers! Crafted as a portable 18.4-inch display with a 4K UHD resolution, Kamvas Pro 19 boasts groundbreaking Huion PenTech 4.0 technology and incorporates all-new Canvas Glass. This extraordinary combination not only empowers artists to pursue their creative dreams but also efficiently conserves valuable workspace.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
$2,799 $2,299
Capture life’s most magical moments in stunning detail with a versatile camera that can handle posed, candid, videos, and more. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II enables various photographic expressions that transcend boundaries between recording personal life and professional production purposes, as well as between photo shooting and movie shooting. With a Canon-developed 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor with approx. 24.2 effective megapixels, powerful DIGIC X Image Processor, and highly responsive Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system, you can capture sharp and detailed images, even in low-light scenarios. Achieve creativity in everyday life with the EOS R6 Mark II.
K&F CONCEPT’s Nature Wander Backpack 25L
$84.99
Give the photographer in your life the ultimate adventure-ready companion with the K&F CONCEPT Camera Backpack 25L. Built to handle every journey, this bag’s got your back with rugged, waterproof material, impact-resistant shells, and perfectly designed compartments for your camera, lenses, clothes, and even a drone. Enjoy the comfort of adjustable, breathable straps, plus the added security of anti-theft buckles and a trolley strap for smooth travel. This holiday season, gift them a bag that inspires—and is ready for—every shot they take.
ugee Fun Drawing Pad UT2&UT3
$249 – $429 $229 – $369
The ugee Fun Drawing Pad UT2&UT3 usher in the era of standalone drawing tablets, rendering a remarkable pencil-on-paper experience with its native NanoMatte finish and pressure-sensitive U-Pencil. UT2, your portable art studio, employs a 10.36-inch 2K canvas with a superb 16:10 ratio, fitting comfortably in your hand and following your wrist movements. While UT3 boasts a stunning 14.25-inch canvas, offering more immersive enjoyment supported by 2400*1600 resolution. Powered by a 6nm 8-Core CPU and running on Android 14, UT2 and UT3 effortlessly handle your everyday requirements, serving as an extension of your creation and productivity.
BLUETTI Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station
$599
Bluetti’s Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station builds on its predecessor, delivering double the capacity and a power output of 700W, designed for demanding shoots and extended trips. The Handsfree 2 boasts a 512Wh capacity, allowing it to power high-demand devices such as drones, laptops, and even small refrigerators. Its 700W AC output easily handles multiple devices, including those requiring significant wattage. With a 350W solar input, it recharges quickly, minimizing downtime. An expanded 60L backpack provides ample space for camera gear, ensuring cameras, lenses, drones, and personal items stay secure. Wildlife photographers waiting hours for the perfect shot and filmmakers shooting extended takes will benefit from its increased power and capacity, enabling them to stay out longer while keeping all equipment operational.
SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | S
$2,999 $2,799 limited time
The SIGMA 500mm F5.6 DG DN OS | Sports lens is an ultra-telephoto prime lens exclusively for mirrorless cameras in a remarkably compact and lightweight body. Featuring SIGMA’s new OS2 stabilization algorithm for up to 5 stops of built-in image stabilization, this lens is designed to capture high-action images. High-precision thermally stable composite and magnesium parts, coupled with a dust and splash resistant structure, make this rugged lens durable enough for all photography excursions, as expected from the SIGMA Sports line. The L-Mount version of this lens is compatible with SIGMA 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters for even greater reach.
Luminar Neo by Skylum
Give the Gift of Creativity: Luminar Neo Holiday Bundle for Photography Lovers! Looking for the perfect gift for the photography enthusiast in your life? Luminar Neo is an ideal choice for photographers of all levels! With its intuitive tools, editing photos becomes easy and fun. Plus, enjoy an exclusive holiday offer: when you purchase Luminar Neo, you’ll also receive a free bundle of gifts and a video editing course to elevate your skills.
SmallRig RC 100B COB LED Video Light
$299.99 Standard Version | $199.99 Mobile Version – 20% off during Black Friday
Introducing the RC 100B COB LED Video Light, a compact powerhouse designed for on-the-go lighting excellence. With versatile power options, this light supports both V-mount and NP-F batteries for wireless operation. Experience efficient control with wireless and manual modes, ensuring precise lighting adjustments. Boasting high CRI and illuminance, it delivers exceptional color accuracy and brightness. Dive into creative lighting with variable sunlight simulation from 2700K to 6500K, along with 12 special effects. Complete with a range of accessories, the RC 100B offers comprehensive functionality for your video lighting needs.
Aftershoot
All photographers deserve more time with their families this holiday season and throughout the year. And Aftershoot is the perfect gift and solution to all photographers’ challenges. Aftershoot is a powerful ALL-IN-ONE tool designed to streamline photographers’ workflow with unlimited culling, editing, and retouching (coming soon)! And guess what, all of this at one flat rate.
With features like “One Click Cull + Edit” you can maximize your efficiency and save time doing what you love. Whether it is clicking family moments to cherish forever or having more time for the holidays, Aftershoot is what every photographer needs!
OBSBOT Tail Air – AI-Powered 4K PTZ Streaming Camera
$499
Integrating OBSBOT’s most powerful AI technologies and superior image system into an elegant and classical body, OBSBOT Tail Air could bring you the next-level video streaming experience with the industry-advanced AI Auto Tracking and excellent Multi-Cam setup, mastermind your every moment and unleash your maximum creativity, right on Air.
Check out the awesome products that TrueSonic Inc. offer.
https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2145237&u=3952045&m=130968&urllink=&afftrack=
Check out all the awesome stuff at Moment for your photography/videography needs!
https://partner.shopmoment.com/4PDeVG
Save on your orders for SmallRig gear
If you'd like to pick up your own HOVERAIR XR Drone use the following link
https://thehover.com/products/hoverair-x1-self-flying-camera-combo
and code XMHOVER to save $20
Get your own discount on VITURE XR One glasses, Neckband, Switch Dock and more!
https://shop.viture.com/?ref=LiamPhoto
Check out the latest deals at OWC (Other World Computing) for all your Apple/Mac needs.
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/specials/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cj
Get low cost SSLs for your sites here.
Sign up for VidIQ using the following link:
https://vidiq.com/liamphotoatl
Check out my ThinkTank Affiliate link. When you buy using this link you help the channel, pay nothing extra and can even get a free item!
I now have my own discount code for my Subscribers and Podcast audience at http://www.platypod.com use my code WD20 to get 20% off on any Platypod branded items, excluding bundles which are already discounted by 20% or more. One user per customer.
I also have an affiliate code for Dehancer Film profiles at http://www.dehancer.com and use code LDPHOTO
Check out the awesome gear Ulanzi has for photographers and Content Creators!
https://www.ulanzi.com?aff=1002
You can buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/liamphotoaf
Also be sure to join the Liam Photography Podcast Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/liamphotographypodcast/ You can reach the show by call or text @ 470-294-8191 to leave a comment or request a topic or guest for the show. Additionally you can email the show @ liam@liamphotographypodcast.com and find the show notes at http://www.liamphotographypodcast.com.
You can find my work @ https://www.liamphotography.net and follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @liamphotoatl. If you like abandoned buildings and history, you can find my project @ http://www.forgottenpiecesofgeorgia.com. and http://www.forgottenpiecesofpennsylvania.com.
Please also stop by my Youtube channels Liam Photography
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