PT360: Episode 20 – Triumph and Tragedy, New Gear for 2016, Gorgeous Snowflake Photos, the World’s Smallest Camera Drone, and Other Photography News Awaits!
We’re ringing in the New Year with some exciting news from Denmark about 120-year-old photos of space. You’ll have to see them to believe them! We’ve also got a tragic story about a photographer that recently lost his life in a high-rise accident. Checking in on the Rumor Mill, we find some fun new gear on the horizon for Panasonic and Fuji. We’ve also got the scoop on the world’s smallest camera drone, which could very well compel more and more photographers to take to the skies. And, as always, we’ve got some epic Must-See Photography and a great Book of the Week recommendation. Another fantastic edition of PT360 is ready and waiting for your watchful eye, so let’s get to it!
In the News
Check Out These Incredible 120-Year-Old Photos of Space
Astronomer Holger Pedersen recently stumbled upon a collection of amazing space photos in the basement of a nondescript building in Copenhagen.
What Pedersen soon realized is that the images were glass plate photos dating anywhere from the mid- to late-1890s to the 1950s. The images, some of Jupiter, the star Arcturus, various phases of the moon, and the Orion Nebula among them, were taken using the telescope in the Østervold Observatory.
Among the plates are images from other observatories, most notably one from 1919 taken in Brazil by astronomer Arthur Eddington. The image, which is of a full lunar eclipse, actually helped prove Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Have a look at some of the images Pedersen found here.
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Young Photographer Dies After Falling From NYC Rooftop
You’ve likely seen a rooftop photo on Instagram or other social media platforms in which the photographer gives you a birds-eye view of the city below. While these photos can be mesmerizing, they can also unfortunately be deadly.
On December 30, 2015, 24-year-old Conner Cummings slipped and fell from an upper floor of New York’s 52-story Four Season’s Hotel in Midtown after he and a friend had climbed an interior shaft to access the building’s rooftop to take some photos.
After successfully climbing scaffolding near the top of the building, Cummings fell just as he was about to crawl through a hatch to access the roof. He landed on a catwalk nine stories below where he unfortunately died.
Cummings’ friend was unhurt in the incident but is understandably shaken up. Cummings’ family is reeling, and looking for answers as to how the young man and his friend were even able to access the interior shaft of the hotel.
The incident highlights the dangers that photographers face each day as they try to get new, interesting shots or attempt to emulate those they see on social media. Unfortunately, the practice of accessing rooftops – which is illegal – is becoming more and more popular, so incidents like these may very well become more commonplace.
Read more about this tragic event at the New York Daily News.
The Rumor Mill
Panasonic Has a Full Slate of New Products Headed Our Way
In addition to two new compact cameras, Panasonic will soon announce a new 10-400mm lens, all of which should be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016.
The cameras – the TZ100 and the TZ80 – will come in black and silver color variations. The TZ100 will have a 1-inch sensor and is intended to compete with Canon’s GXX and Sony’s RX100 compact cameras. The TZ80, on the other hand, will have a 2/3-inch sensor, a 30X optical zoom, and a very large display.
Have a deeper look at these and other upcoming Panasonic products at New Camera.
Fuji to Announce Two New Cameras, New Lens in Mid-January
The X-E2s and X-Pro2 cameras, along with the XF100-400 lens will be officially introduced by Fuji on January 15th.
The big news with the X-E2s is that it will have the 16MP X-TransII sensor that the X-E2 had. On the X-Pro2 front, that camera will not have 4K video capabilities as some outlets reported last year. However, Fuji fans can take some solace in the fact that the company is currently working on 4K technologies for future releases.
Rumors point to the Fuji XF100-400 lens being announced on January 15th as well. Sources indicate that the lens will retail for somewhere around $1,800.
Visit Fuji Rumors for more details.
Book of the Week
In BetterPhoto Basics: The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Taking Photos Like a Pro, author Jim Miotke simplifies the process of photography for those that are just beginning their foray into digital imaging.
With in-depth tips, tricks, and techniques that anyone can use with any camera, the author makes photography accessible for all – and easily understandable too. From portraits to landscapes to everything in between, new photographers will learn the essentials of taking breathtaking photos. Don’t just take our word for it – BetterPhoto Basics has a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon and is a bestseller as well. The book is currently available on Amazon for $16.87.
Must-See Photography
These Snowflake Photos are Completely Mesmerizing
If you’re assuming that you need to be a professional photographer with expensive camera gear to get incredible images like the one above, you’re mistaken!
A recent collection of photos by amateur photographer Alexey Kljatov shows just how powerful a good eye and a decent point-and-shoot camera can be.
For eight years, Kljatov has been perfecting his snowflake photography techniques, and, well, the results are incredible, to say the least.
Using a Canon Powershot A650 IS, he photographs individual flakes on a dark background, usually made of glass or wool. With the zoom set at 6X, he takes his photos through a reversed Helios 44M-5 lens. A few downloaded hacks that allow him to shoot in HDR and RAW completes the setup.
Cold weather, obviously, is just as important as the time, patience, and practice he’s put into his craft. Unfortunately, Moscow, where Kljatov lives, has seen a particularly warm winter thus far. But he’s not worried – January and February are usually the best months for snowflake photography.
Learn more about Kljatov and see some of his work at PBS Newshour.
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Gear and Gizmos
Take Flight With the World’s Smallest Camera Drone
Last week, we highlighted some of the best drone photography from 2015. Needless to say, the images people have been able to capture with this new technology are astounding.
But if you’ve not gotten into drone photography yet, there’s a gadget that just might make it a reasonable jump.
The tiny drone pictured above is less than 2.5 inches wide by 2.5 inches long and weighs in at a paltry 0.53 ounces. Its four blades give it omnidirectional movement so you can send the drone flying in any direction using the remote control. Three flight speed modes make for fun flying time while onboard LED lights help you keep track of your new toy at night.
The drone includes a 2GB micro-SD card to store your images. No specs are provided for the camera, but given the tiny size of the drone, the camera isn’t going to compete with your DSLR.
Having said that, this little gizmo is a fun way to get into drone photography, even if its batteries only allow for about a 4-minute flight. But hey, for $34.99, it’s worth a try!
Get more details about this fun gadget at Oh Gizmo!