Ernest Em Shows you how to Dramatize Portraits Using Simple Prisms

04. Sep. 2021
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Photography Culture
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We’re streaming daily on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, and Spotify! You can also listen to it right here on The Phoblographer.

“When you practice something for a long time, you have to ask yourself why it works that way”, says Ernest Em about his left-field techniques. Also going by the moniker 19Tones, Em creates his portraits using glass prisms. We love how he thinks outside the box. Having that creative vision allows him to deliver images that veer away from the standard portrait, making it much more compelling for the viewer. Peeking behind the curtain, Em shares the creative journey behind his work.

New COOPH Braid Straps Add a Touch of Color and Style to Your Cameras

27. Jul. 2018
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News
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COOPH Braid Straps make interesting choices whether you’re looking for a sturdy alternate strap or just something more different from the usual.

Not a fan of leather camera straps but want something just as elegant and eye-catching? COOPH’s fun and functional Braid Camera Straps could be an option for you. According to the photography apparel and accessories creator and online magazine, they were inspired to design the straps not only to be sturdy companions to lug cameras around with, but to also reflect every photographer’s creative mindsets. For those who are more inclined to pick something different, these newly released camera straps in colorful combinations could make great options.

The BlackForest K2 is a Stylish Mini Messenger Bag for the Compact Shooter

01. May. 2018
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BlackForest’s new K2 – perfect for compact cameras and relaxed, one-camera days

We photographers sure can get pretty spoiled by choice when it comes to our camera bags, and that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. In fact, we think it’s great to keep getting more options that fit our needs and lifestyle. The latest of these is the BlackForest K2, a new messenger style camera bag that is perfect for compact cameras and everyday shoots where you only need a few necessities with you.

Lomo’Instant Square Gets New Wide Angle Glass Lens Attachment

27. Mar. 2018
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Lomography’s new Lomo’Instant Square Wide-Angle Glass Lens Attachment promises to let you get more out in every snap

Heads up, lomographers and instant photography fans! Lomography has recently launched a new wide angle lens attachment for those wanting for a wider capture with their Lomo’Instant Square. With this new accessory, you now have the option to shoot both tighter crops and wider scenes with just one instant camera.

Memorywall Transforms Your Wall into A Dynamic Photo Display

12. Sep. 2017
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News
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If you’re looking for an eye-catching way to display your photos but the usual frame won’t do, Memorywall may be the creative solution that could do the trick for you. The fun frame promises to bring any wall to life with their dynamic frames that you can maneuver into any shape you want for a 3D effect.

Memorywall is an interactive display frame which is comprised of a base and four square picture mounts. The picture mounts are held by extendable arms which can be adjusted at different angles and heights. You can create a display as big as you want, as you can connect multiple bases to cover any wall or surface area. According to the makers of Memorywall, this can get really addicting since the bigger your display, the more dramatic it looks.

It’s Time for Cameras To Become a Lifestyle Accessory

12. Jan. 2016
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Features
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In the year 2016, society and technology have made photography so incredibly simple and so incredibly good that really anyone can do it as long as they have a creative vision. A while, I wrote about how no one is making a bad camera anymore, and to be honest that applies to more than just dedicated traditional cameras. It also goes to point and shoots, phones, etc. Being a photographer doesn’t mean that you need a million lenses, lights, and high tech fancy gear anymore; it just means that you need a creative vision.

Photography has changed so much and the general public, who used to need dedicated cameras don’t really need them anymore. They’re quite happy with filters and effects that can be done with their phone and an app. Many don’t understand the value of pixel peeping and many don’t care about being able to shoot at an ISO over a million. Instead, what they indeed care about is creating meaningful images to them and to their social media followers.

The Litebrush Makes Light Painting as Easy as Waving a Magic Wand

13. Feb. 2014
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News
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Light painting has become somewhat of a trend in recent years, and the tools used are as diverse as the subjects in the images. From abstract paintings that contain little more than streaks of light, to renderings of actual objects such as cars, to the enhancement of portraits with an LED torch – anything is possible.

That’s what the guys from Wave Gap Labs thought when they set out to create a simple, easy-to-use and affordable light painting accessory. Travis Stevens and Jamie MacDonald, who have been doing light painting for a couple of years, were unhappy with the solutions available on the market, so they decided to come up with their own product. The result is the Litebrush, which is now up on Kickstarter for crowdfunding.

Fujifilm’s MHG-XPro and MHG-XE Accessory Grips Promise Better Ergonomics for X-Pro and X-E Models

15. Jan. 2014
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News
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Here’s one we missed when it was originally announced: Fujifilm recently introduced a pair of accessory grips for its X-Pro and X-E models, called MHG-XPro and MHG-XE respectively. The grips attach to the bottom of the camera and provide a new tripod mount that is positioned on the lens axis. Access to the battery compartment is possible while the grips are attached.

In addition to extra comfort when holding the camera, the grips also provide an extra bit of height, so that larger lenses don’t get in the way of a tripod head. The MHG-XPro and MHG-XE’s frames are milled from aluminium and sit right on top of the camera’s integrated grip, providing the same textured pattern.

Both grips are available now for prices of US-$ 150 (MHG-XPro) and US-$ 130 (MHG-XE) respectively, according to dpreview. However, we couldn’t find them with any of the regular retailers as of yet.

New Gariz Half-Case for the Panasonic GM1 is Both Beautiful and Practical

13. Jan. 2014
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Gariz, a manufacturer from South Korea, have made themselves a name in the photo industry in the recent past by producing beautiful leather half-cases for numerous camera models. Their half-cases combine beauty with practicality, providing both a slightly retro look as well as extra comfort and protection.

One of the company’s latest additions to its product portfolio is a half-case for the Panasonic GM1, which due to its extremely miniaturized body suffers from a severe lack of ergonomics. For one, the body is so small that even regularly sized hands have a hard time finding a grip. And secondly, its small height makes it awkward to use with larger lenses.

While Panasonic’s own aluminium grip does a decent job of looking good and providing extra grip plus a little bit of extra height at the same time, we have to admit that it looks nowhere near as nice as a proper leather half-case. Just like the good old days! The Gariz half-case for the Panasonic GM1 comes in a choice of black and brown leather and can be yours for US-$ 99 on eBay.

Via 43rumors

The Ladibird Case Transforms Your iPhone Into a Serious Portraiture Device

07. Jan. 2014
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News
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Real invention is scarce these days, especially when seeing the major brands playing it safe and releasing the same thing over and over again. It’s refreshing to see some really new stuff every once in a while–and the ladibird iPhone case definitely qualifies. The device is a bit like a Ricoh GXR module in that it houses a large sensor and a prime lens, and uses the iPhone 5 as its camera body. But what it does to your iPhone is simply spectacular: it transforms it into a serious portraiture camera!

The ladibird has been successfully crowdfunded over at Indiegogo, and is now preparing for mass production. Once development is finished, you’ll be able to buy an iPhone case that holds a large sensor as well as a 50mm f1.8 prime lens that’ll let you take pictures both in low light and with strong subject isolation and beautiful bokeh. As for the size of the sensor, and whether the lens is a real 50mm or just a full-frame equivalent, that information is not available yet.

When the ladibird hits the market, it will be available for US-$ 315 according to the Indiegogo page. While that may be a lot of cash for an iPhone case, it’s really not that expensive considering what you’d pay for a real DSLR or mirrorless camera with an equivalent lens. Currently, the ladibird is expected to reach mass production during 2014. We really hope that we’ll get to see it by the end of the year, as this is definitely one of the most intriguing announcements as of late.

Olloclip Introduces 3-in-1 Macro Lens Attachment for the iPhone

05. Dec. 2013
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News
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As of today, iPhoneographers have one more reason to be happy. Olloclip, maker of photographic lens attachments for the iPhone, has just introduced a new 3-in-1 macro lens featuring 7x, 14x and 21x magnification. Just like Olloclip’s previous products, the new macro lens attaches directly to the iPhone’s top corner where the camera is located, without taking up much space. The lens elements are made out of multi-coated ground glass, which promises high image quality.

Olloclip has had a macro option before, with the original 3-in-1 lens which consisted of a fisheye, wide-angle and a macro lens. The 3-in-1 lens, however, is limited to 10x magnification. Another, even more versatile option is Olloclip’s new 4-in-1 lens, which adds 15x magnification on top of the fisheye, wide-angle and 10x macro.

The 3-in-1 macro lens is available for the iPhone 5/5S and can be pre-ordered now for US-$ 69.99. More information is available on Olloclip’s website. Their products are also available from Amazon.com.

Via Engadget

Joby’s New Pro Sling Strap is Fastened by the Weight of Your Camera

28. Oct. 2013
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At Photo Plus Expo 2013, Joby was showing off a very clever new camera strap called the “Pro Sling Strap”. Building on Joby’s previous strap designs, the Pro Sling strap includes a fastening mechanism that is actually activated by the weight of your camera. This helps not only keeping the camera in place while you’re on the move, but it also adds extra security as it keeps your camera from accidentally dropping. While visiting Joby’s PPE booth, we got a quick demonstration of the strap, and we have to admit that we were quite impressed.

Peak Design’s POV Kit Lets You Use Any Camera Like a GoPro

28. Oct. 2013
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News
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Peak Design, the guys behind the Capture Clip which we reviewed here at The Phoblographer (both the original and the new pro version), have recently been funding a new product via Kickstarter, called the POV Kit. Basically, it’s an attachment for your Capture Clip, and it lets you use pretty much any camera like a GoPro. At Photo Plus Expo 2013, we got a short demonstration of the device, and we have to say that Peak Design seems to have done it again.

Triggertrap Mobile App Goes Version 2.0, Fixes Bugs and Adds Features

19. Sep. 2013
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News
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Triggertrap just announced version 2.0 of its mobile app that allows to remote-control any camera equipped with the Triggertrap dongle from your phone. Apart from a re-design that aims at making the app easier to use, version 2.0 also comes with a number of bugfixes and new features. One of these is the possibility to run the app in the background on Android devices, significantly reducing power usage. Among the features included in Triggertrap Mobile 2.0 is a timelapse mode with HDR function, smart shutter release functions that react to sound, a GPS signal, vibration and more, a long-exposure HDR mode, a dedicated star trail mode, WiFi triggering and more. The app is available for free on iTunes and will be available on Google’s Play Store soon.

More info on Triggertrap’s website.

Photojojo’s Smartphone Spy Lens Lets You Take Pictures of Your Food in a Stealthy Manner

26. Aug. 2013
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News
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Photojojo has come up with another product that is as brilliant as it is crazy. It’s called the ‘Smartphone Spy Lens’, and it lets you be sneaky while taking pictures with your phone. What it does is that it lets you take pictures from a 90° angle, in any direction. Which means that you can photograph things to your left or right, or above or below you, without ever changing the way you hold your phone. One sample application that Photojojo themselves provide is taking pictures of your meal without having to “climb up on the table.” But don’t post it to Instagram afterwards.

If this is just what you needed for your phone, you can now order the Smartphone Spy Lens online via Photojojo’s website for a mere US-$ 20.

Review: Hoodman Custom Finder Kit for DSLR Video Capture

28. Jul. 2013
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Photography Accessories
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When it comes to shooting video with an HDSLR, I am dependent on using the camera’s LCD screen rather than the optical viewfinder. The LiveView mode results in my having to use the 3.2-inch screen. This screen provides some great advantages when capturing motion, but one of its key challenges is getting a clear view when shooting under bright lighting conditions.

The glare not only makes it difficult for me to compose a shot, but also to view the displayed information regarding exposure, white balance or more. Getting a clear view of the screen while recording or playback becomes essential and this is where Hoodman promises a solution with their Custom Finder Kit for DSLR capture.

These New Leather Accessories Make Your Olympus E-P5 Look Even More Retro

26. Jul. 2013
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News
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When you own a retro camera such as the Olympus PEN E-P5, you also need the fitting retro accessories, that’s a given. And the guys from Olympus know that, so they announced their own exclusive series of leather accessories for the E-P5. The series comprises a very sexy bag, an elegant strap and a sleek half case. In combination, these items will take you straight back to the sixties. And just imagine everyone’s looks when you turn up in the year 1969 sporting a digital camera …

The CBG-9 bag, CSS-S117L strap and CS-41B half case have so far only been announced for Europe and Asia, and will retail for GBP 349.99 (bag), 129.99 (half case) and 89.99 (strap) respectively in the UK–that’s US-$ 538, 200 and 138 respectively at current exchange rates. We have no info on an official US release date yet.

Via ePhotoZine

Review: Lance Photo Straps with Quick Release

25. Jun. 2013
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Photography Accessories
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For the last several years, there has been an explosion of lens strap designs that try to be more than something to hang a camera from. Instead, these specialty sling straps, dual straps and multi-purpose straps offer a “high tech” alternative to the traditional strap that might have come with a new camera.

Though I don’t deny the advantages of such systems, I have a hard time with a camera strap that requires a learning curve. Photography can be complicated enough and when you add a camera strap that demands its own user’s manual, I really wonder if something as simple as a strap has suffered from over engineering.

Manfrotto Announces KLYP Case and KLYPAPP for iPhone 4/4S/5

04. Jun. 2013
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News
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What are the two things that iPhoneographers were missing from their iPhone so far? A flash hot-shoe and a tripod mount. Manfrotto’s new KLYP case offers both (sort of). The case for iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5 looks more or less like a regular iPhone, but it can be fittet with an LED light panel and can be mounted to a tripod, making your iPhone as versatile as never before. The KLYPAPP app that goes together with the KLYP helps to maximize the benefits of the KLYP case, by offering a virtual horizon, self timer and basic picture editing.

The KLYP case alone is available for US-$ 29.99, while the KLYP + ML240 LED light panel comes in at US-$ 99.99. A fitting accessory tripod is offered with the PIXI table tripod for US-$ 24.99. Finally, the KLYPAPP can be downloaded for free from the iTunes app store.

Photojojo’s The Kick Light is a Light Studio That Attaches to Your iPhone

31. May. 2013
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News
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It seems that Photojojo is a neverending source of gadgetry awesomeness. Their latest offering is called ‘The Kick Light’ and attaches to your iPhone. The Kick Light is a compact light studio that sports an array of LEDs that can be remote-controlled via WiFi to light up in almost any color. Via an iPhone app, you can control the LEDs’ brightness and hue, set a white balance, or program the LEDs to display various light patterns. Of course, you can also use The Kick Light–which has a standard tripod mount–with an Android phone, or with any other WiFi-enabled camera, but you’ll have to do without the app then, and program it via the buttons on its body.

The Kick Light is available now for US-$ 179 via Photojojo. To get an impression of what The Kick Light is able to do, here’s a video that shows off its awesomeness.

JOBY’s New UltraPlate Features Second Tripod Mount for Accessories

23. May. 2013
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News
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The idea of multi-purpose tripod mounting plates seems to be making the rounds these days. The latest offering comes from JOBY, whose new UltraPlate features a second tripod mount for accessories such as camera straps. JOBY claims almost universal tripod compatibility for their plate which is made of anodized aluminium for high durability. Priced at only $19.95 (US MSRP), the JOBY UltraPlate is available now via JOBY’s online store.

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