Three weeks ago, well-known YouTube vlogger Logan Paul made headlines with his video titled “We found a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest”. If you’ve somehow missed the fierce backlash and public condemnation that arose in the wake of Paul’s nauseatingly insensitive video, let me quickly fill you in: Paul and his crew of instigators travelled to Japan’s Aokigahara Forest—dubbed the “suicide forest” for its unfortunate reputation as one of the most prevalent suicide sites in the world. After coming across a dead body hanging from a tree, the result of a very recent suicide, things became “real” for Paul and his crew, so he says, as they had come to the forest in hopes of focusing on its “haunted aspects”.
Now, after close to a month of silence from Paul across all his media sites, he has reemerged on YouTube with a debut video that targets—you guessed it—suicide awareness and prevention. Many had theorized that Paul would tackle the sensitive subject in his return to YouTube, as really the only first step to be taken if he is to have any hope in gaining back his following, a platform which had amassed over 15 million subscribers at one point in time. ![]() Kevin Hines ![]() John Draper and Logan Paul The video features a supposedly changed, or in the process of changing, Paul, who takes responsibility for his insensitivity, blaming it on his ignorance surrounding suicide. He puts on the appropriate, serious front while he interviews Kevin Hines, a man who survived a suicide attempt at the age of 19 and whose message about perseverance and necessary compassion towards others is touching and inspiring. Paul also speaks with John Draper, director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, after which he shares 5 steps in helping those around you who may be dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. Paul ends the video by pledging to donate $1 million to various suicide prevention organizations, and remarks that he understands he needs to change and is “humbled and thankful to say that this is just the beginning” of said change. The video, from an objective standpoint, is moving and informative, making for a message that has the potential to reach those in need and spread awareness of an often untouched subject. However, Paul is far from being back in the good graces of the YouTube community, with some, like vlogger Jimmy Wong, speculating over the involvement of a PR Team likely behind the video as an obvious first step in salvaging whatever is left of Paul’s respectability, and others, like vlogger Casey Neistat, acknowledging Paul’s thoughtful video but questioning if he can/will really, truly change. Whether or not Paul has transformed for the better is difficult to say at this point. Plenty of celebrities have made mistakes and apologized, only to become caught in a cycle of bad behavior followed by pleas for forgiveness. What Paul’s future as a vlogger holds will depend on his follow up content in months to come, as well as the ways in which he maintains his “changed self” from here on out. Paul has a long, long way to go if he wishes to gain back the respect of his community and cultivate a well-received platform again, and though the video is far from enough to convince us of his changed ways, it is a necessary step in the right direction. Take a look at the video here:
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Whether you’re an established photographer, an aspiring filmmaker or just a hobbyist, drones are an incredible way to capture aerial footage that we normally aren’t able to from the ground. However, because we can only see what’s around us down here, it’s hard to know where exactly the best places to get awesome top-down drone shots are. Fear no more — we’re here to help. If you’ve got the budget for a transatlantic trip across the world to somewhere like Dubai or Australia, you’re in luck. From the deserts of Dubai to the seashores of Australia, there are a number of sweet spots to get some great drone shots. But don’t worry, if you don’t have the time or resources to make it across the world for some drone-shooting, there are a number of places that can make for some of the best top-down drone locations in the world, like Venice, California or the east coast state of New Hampshire. Not sure where to start shooting with your drone? Here are 10 of the best top-down drone locations in the world. 1. Oslob, Cebu, PhilippinesGo a few miles offshore to the beach of Tan-awan in Oslob, Cebu in the Philippines and you’re in the middle of whale shark territory. In fact, whale shark watching is a major tourist attraction and pastime of locals here, meaning it’s also a great opportunity for some aerial footage. The local fisherman feed the whale sharks, which attract them towards the shore and let them interact with people. While many places around the world boast sharks, whales and other marine wildlife as an attraction, you’re guaranteed to see whale sharks in Oslob anytime of the year. 2. The Blue Lagoon, IcelandJust an hour outside of Iceland’s capital city Reyjavik is the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa located in the middle of a lava field. The hot lagoon, which is rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and reaches temperatures of up to 102 degrees F, operates on geothermal power from the Svartsengi geothermal power station located nearby. The contrast between the icy blue colors of the water and the dark, rigid textures of the dried lava make it an incredible location for drone photography. 3. Venice, CaliforniaKnown for its sunny skies and sandy beaches, California is a great spot to get some drone footage. And while an aerial shot of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Santa Monica Pier might be the first thing you test shoot while in Cali, if you want to get even more creative, take a closer look around you. This top-down drone shot of the Venice Skatepark shot by Cali-based photographer @keithkman is the prime example. 4. Lavender fields, Provence, FranceIf you can make it to the south of France between June to August, stop in the Provence region to catch some top-down shots of the lavender fields in full-bloom. Not only will your drone shots be full of hues of blues and golds and the symmetry of the fields, but you’ll be able to snap images of the farming and harvesting processes too. 5. New South Wales, AustraliaThe ocean pool at Mona Vale Beach in New South Wales, Australia is not only a great location to catch some beautiful oceanic shots, but the pool itself is situated in the middle of a break so you’ll also capture crashing waves, a sandbar and more all in one spot. With hues of greens, blues and purples alongside bright sand, the pool itself looks like its own sanctuary — a calmness to the chaos. 6. Swiss AlpsWhile some of the best photographs feel like they are of palm trees, sun rays and white beaches, the wintertime is also a great opportunity to capture some top-down drone shots. Just take a look at Maloja Pass in the Swiss Alps. In the winter, the windy mountain pass, which is nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, boasts picture-perfect white powder surrounding its dark road that takes you all the way to Chiavenna, Italy. Formed from receding glaciers, the historic pass dates back to the time of the Romans and was left over from the last ice age. 7. Guangzhou, ChinaAs China’s third most populous city, Guangzhou is making its way onto the maps of many photographers today. In fact, just last year, the city made headlines for the potential of becoming the world’s next global city because of its plans to become more energy-efficient and an international tech hub. The urban feel the city exudes, along with its clean highways, make it pristine shooting ground for top-down drone shots. 8. Lake Retba, SenegalLac Rose or Lake Retba, otherwise known as “Pink Lake” in English, sits on the northern peninsula of Senegal in Africa. Only an outside of Senegal’s capital city Dakar, the lake is pink and red in color because of its high salinity content combined with intense heat from the sun and the special “micro-algae” called “dunaliella salina” that grow in the warm water. Its vivid color alongside the mountains of salt that build against its shoreline make it an incredible location for aerial footage. 9. Dubai, United Arab EmiratesDesert winds of Dubai are no joke, but they are the perfect opportunity to get some amazing top-down drone shots. With its tropical desert climate combined with its strikingly vibrant and orange sands, just outside the busy metropolis are miles and miles of historical picturesque nature of the Middle East. 10. New Hampshire, USAFrom fall to winter, watching the seasons change in a northeastern state of the United States can be a sight to see. The contrast between the seasons gives you a glimpse of the last brown leaves of fall and the snow front of December. New Hampshire is a great state to watch this happen because of its nature-rich land that cultivates miles and miles of tall beautiful pines. If you’re not able to catch the perfect moment between the changing of the seasons, opt to go in fall instead where the trees feature a diversity of autumn colors like reds, oranges and browns. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2rJuhKv Slowly, cautiously, I lay down on my stomach on the damp tundra. My long lens reached out in front of me as I wriggled slowly forward toward my unsuspecting quarry. Closer, closer I crawled, until the composition finally resembled what I wanted. I peered through my viewfinder, adjusted, and began... The post Wildlife Photography: How to Take Great Pictures of Animals appeared first on Expert Photography. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2rCqZZq It didn’t take long for mountain sport photographer Blake Jorgenson to identify what he wanted to do when he grew up. At 16 years old, his mother took Jorgenson on a vacation to Whistler, British Columbia from their home in Toronto. The young man immediatly fell in love with the everything Whistler encompased. Wide open land, snow, incredible mountain ranges, and one of the world’s premier locations for mountain sports. As soon as Jorgenson graduated high school, he packed up what little he had and moved to the Whistler. Little did he know how that desicion would shape his life and career. SmugMug Films “The Cold Open”SmugMug has been known to make a pretty epic film or two in the days since they launched their film division, SmugMug Films. I was lucky enough to travel to Norway to work with their cinematographer Anton Lorimer to make the company’s award winning film on Chris Burkard. And Lorimer loved the way his cold weather adventure films came out, so he was always anxious to get back into a frozen backdrop. He followed Tim Kemple to Iceland to give us a jaw-dropping look at ice climbing on massive glaciers. So it was only natural that Jorgenson’s work as a mountain sports photographer in one of North America’s best snow sport destinations would be Lorimer’s next film. The filmmaker traveled to work with Jorgenson as he captured snowmobiling and skiing during some of Whistler’s notorious snow storms. The film is a beautiful and insightful look into what inspires the Canadian to venture into the remote backcountry when conditions are less than ideal. Freezing the action with Blake JorgensonTo accompany the launch of the film, the editorial team at SmugMug published a great interview with Jorgenson about his top ten tips on how to improve your mountain sports photography. In them, he talks about how his first job in Whistler was crictical in helping him establish relationships with local athletes. As a teenager, Jorgenson worked in the Blackcomb ski shop. He says that the lack of cell phones in those days really made the shop become the hub of the local action, which allowed him to embed himself in the community that has come to be so important to his work.
Spending Time in the Outdoors Gives the Most InspirationJorgenson gives great advice as to how he maintains his creative flow and finds new ideas.
Composition is KeyUs photographers know it like the back of our hands. Composition is key to any dramatic and visually appealing photograph. But, we can never hear it from other successful photographers enough, as in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to often forget to focus on this critical aspect. Jorgenson told SmugMug:
While trying to work out your composition, don’t forget that this is action sports. Jorgenson says you should’t forget to get right in the middle of it all. And don’t get discouraged when you don’t get what you are looking for right away.
Finding The LightFor me personally, I love photographing in the dead of winter. I love the drama of the snow, and the bright white fluffy powder makes landscape photos beautiful. But it can also be challenging to find good light during these months. But Jorgensen tells SmugMug what his favorite time is:
You Are Not the StarJorgenson gives what is prehaps my favorite advice to date from his excellent sit down interview with SmugMug. You are not the star. Your subject is.
Once again SmugMug hits a home run. The film by Anton Lorimer is beautifully shot, inspiring and makes us feel like we are right in the adventure with Blake, which is prehaps my favorite quality of Lorimer’s films. But on top of that, writer Kerry Ellis was able to find some diamonds in her talk with Jorgenson. We only touched the surface here, so head on over to the SmugMug Blog and read the entire interview and get inspired to get outside this winter and capture some adrenaline-charged snow sports! Follow Blake Jorgenson’s adventures on his website, Facebook and Instagram.
via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2n9VscO Earlier this week, at the yearly World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland–an exclusive event attended by the world’s largest economic and political actors–Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made a strange analogy. Social media, he said, would be regulated “exactly the same way that you regulated the cigarette industry”…Huh? ![]() Mr. Benioff For Benioff and many others who have also recently spoken out on the topic, the addictiveness and detrimental effects of social media have reached such a peak that it is time for the government step in. Using the only other product which–due to its addictive nature–had to be regulated, as an example, he argued that the “technology has addictive qualities that we have to address.” Not only that, but the actors behind it, like tobacco execs before them, are actively fostering this relationship to their products. “Product designers,” he says, “are working to make [these] products more addictive, and we need to reign that back.”
His comments follow a rash of others also decrying the usage models of social media platforms. Perhaps most notably, Sean Parker, Facebook’s first president, who was played by Justin Timberlake in David Fincher’s excellent “The Social Network,” came out forcefully against the tactics used by founders like Mark Zuckerberg and Kevin Systrom (of Instagram) to leech onto its users, taking away their time and focus. ![]() The Real Sean Parker Describing how these platforms were able to amass such massive, rabid, user bases, he told Axios: “It’s a social-validation feedback loop…exactly the kind of thing that a hacker like myself would come up with, because you’re exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology” (vulnerability in human psychology? Hmmm, this does sound an awful lot like cigarette marketing). He explained that the products “sort of give you a little dopamine hit every once in a while” from a like or a comment, in an effort to “consumer as much of your time and conscious attention as possible.” ![]() Justin Timberlake portraying Sean Parker after an extremely-generous-to-Mr.Parker’s-handsomeness casting decision. “God only knows,” he continued, “what it’s doing to our children’s brains.” It’s easy to forget that at one time cigarettes weren’t considered poisonous and fact were prescribed for sore throats and other issues, some doctors apparently thinking that the smoke could have therapeutic effects. When Lucky Strike first sent cigarettes to the front lines of WWI, for example, the general reaction was probably: “oh, how nice of them keeping our boys smoking even in the trenches!” Little did they know the deadly effects of cigarette smoking and the addictive nature of nicotine would soon become public knowledge, an undisputed scientific fact. In the same way, Facebook and others let us on their sites for free, using the drug dealer’s method of reeling in the customer with a complimentary sample. While we can see how addictive social media is just by looking around us, the question of its danger has only recently come to the fore. This isn’t just old fogies crankily lamenting that “no one goes outside anymore,” this is former executives of social media firms warning that their own inventions are making the world a worse place. While it’s difficult to assess these claims at the present moment, (how can one develop a clear link between using social media and the world getting worse? It’s a lot harder than measuring the physical effects an activity like smoking has on one person) it will be interesting to see how this debate pans out, and whether in thirty years time we’ll be asking ourselves, like the cigarette-prescribing doctors before us: “How could we be so blind?”
Feature Image Courtesy Ali Yahya via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2Buykdi On weekends, you can often find me at the local airport, photographing planes as they come in to land. Military, civilian, commercial – there’s something beautiful about these hulking beasts moving through the sky. Human and machine coming together to perform unbelievable feats. My love of photography and aviation have... The post Time for Take-Off with Aviation Photography appeared first on Expert Photography. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2rEHAvU So Kendall has shot a couple covers for magazines, but to call her a professional photographer seems like a stretch. Let’s understand why she got the privilege to shoot these covers in the first place, because it was certainly not from sheer luck. Just because you picked up a film camera at one point in your fabulous rich life that was handed to you by your hotter older sister on the basis of her leaked sex tape with a famous R&B singer doesn’t by any means qualify you as a pro. To start off, thinking deeply into this title, the work and sweat that goes into obtaining it does not warrant such handouts like Kendall has received. A young rich model shouldn’t be taking credit for a job that most people spend their whole lives trying to attain. To minimize such a craft down to being an art and profession that everyone can and will thrive in is a mockery to it, in my opinion. Truthfully, that’s just not the case and to be frank, she wouldn’t have gotten any of those high-profile job opportunities to shoot for the likes of Love Magazine without her name having anything to do with it. Sure many claim that because she’s a model, she would know what goes into the production of shoots, but let’s be real – she more than likely just shows up and smiles. Kendall became a model in the first place because of the household name that is “Kardashian”, and to assume she is doing more than standing there and posing is way too hopeful. The picture of Kylie she did for the cover of Love Magazine proves some major key points. One being that Kylie’s recent social media hiatus has made her a topic of convo and someone very sought out to photograph and feature, so it’s obvious that Kendall, being her sister, had been the only real person for the job. So was Kendall just being buttered up with titles like “professional photographer” in order to get a picture of Kylie? Or did some delusion wipe over people to actually believe such a thing? Being rich doesn’t make you a professional at just about anything you want to try out; hard work, your own built up clientele list and a portfolio made from scratch, does. All things considered, this type of recognition and opportunity is only taking away from the hardworking individuals who have built their life around getting the kind of photography gigs that Kendall gets by just being Kendall. Sorry girl, but holding a camera seems more like a trend for you, not a profession – so let’s keep it that way.
via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2Gh3yIB Yesterday, in a large, dark room on the west side of Manhattan, DJI, the drone-making kingpin, released its latest offering: the Mavic Air. The air (no pun intended) was thick with excitement, and a large crowd was present, all seated at a forward angle, as if hoping for the opportunity to grab product off the presentation stage. As the speaker appeared, looking Silicon-Valley-as-heck in white tennis sneakers and a metallic vest with subtle sheen, the crowd remained silent in expectation, shifting nervously and retrieving smartphones from pockets made inaccessible due to their current posture and the influx of onlookers on all sides. Then, our well-coiffed speaker began, in hushed, tech-quadrant monotones, to relay the new features available on the Air. As each was revealed, along with a demo and corresponding video, the crowd lapsed into applause, showing their pleasure with what the team at DJI had accomplished with their latest iteration. The party had begun, but was far from over. As our speaker made clear, this was only the beginning: DJI had done its job, but now they couldn’t wait to see “what you do with it.” Here’s a few of the most notable additions:
![]() Taken with Mavic Air. Price, Availability, Options DJI is taking pre-orders now on store.dji.com. The product will begin shipping on January 28 and will appear in stores on the same date. This includes the four DJI Flagship Stores as well as other licensed listed on their website. Let’s be honest, though; you’re going to order it on Amazon. It comes in two price packs: a $799 which includes drone, battery, remote control, carrying case, two pairs of propeller guards and four pairs of propellers, and a $999 bundle, entitled the “Fly More Combo” which include an extra battery, a travel bag, two extra pairs of propellers, a battery to power bank adapter and a battery charging hub. It also comes in three colorways: a sinister Onyx Black, a matte-finished Arctic White, and a shiny sports car-esque Flame Red. Get flying. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2DIHt7c Today, FujiFilm announced the FinePix XP130, the latest in their XP series of cameras ready for the rough-and-tumble of adventure shooting. Building off the success of its predecessors, the XP130 includes a bevy of additions which bring it into line with the latest creative tech has to offer. Let’s check ’em out: Ruggedness– Among the things that can not destroy your XP are: a.) Water submersion up to 65 ft. b.) Drops of up to 5.7 ft. c.) Temperatures down to 14 degrees fahrenheit and d.) Dust. However, it should be noted: just because your camera can survive anything doesn’t mean you can, so still be careful. Connectivity– The XP130 is the first in the XP line to feature Bluetooth pairing, allowing it to transfer images–along with their time and location data–to a smartphone or tablet seamlessly. Downloading the free “FUJIFILM Camera Remote” app, users can also send photos to friends, family, or foes at the touch of a button. If you’re lucky enough to have purchased the Instax SHARE Printer, it can send them there, too, making your digital images into tactile objects in a matter of minutes. Sensor– You want your camera to be indestructible and take good images? Fine. Spoiled millennials. This baby comes with 16.4 MP back-lit CMOS sensor, as well as a FUJINON 5x optimal zoom including a 28mm wide-angle setting. With Intelligent Digital Zoom technology that optimal zoom can be doubled to 10x. If you’re willing to get that close, that is. Display– Because you’re probably on-the-go when you’re using it, the display on an XP is crucial. To that end, it’s got a 3-inch, 920K high-def LCD monitor, complete with anti-reflective glass, allowing the user to check their images wherever they should be, in broad daylight or under water. Software– Two big additions on this front are Electronic Level and Eye Detection, both of which are exactly what they sound like. The former is for landscape photographers, and tells you when the image you’re settled on is level (or not), and adjusts it until it is. The latter, meanwhile, focuses on the eyes of your subject, making portraits clean and simple. Finally, it has a burst mode capable of 10 fps and HD recording of up to 60 fps. Price & Availability– The FinePix XP130 will be released in March of this year in both the U.S. and Canada, retailing for $229.95 and $239.99, respectively. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2FddH7T Wedding Photographer Decides to Photoshop 30 Pounds Off Of Couple She Deems Morbidly Obese
1/24/2018
Getting hitched can be filled with plenty of magical moments and unintended screw-ups. One thing you may not be prepared for in the process of planning your wedding: getting body-shamed by the photographer you hired to capture you and your partner’s special day. Katie Liepold and her future husband dished out a pretty penny to hire wedding photographer Linda Silvestri, $600 to be exact. Included in their paid package deal for on-sight wedding photos was the option to have their engagement photos taken as well. Though the couple didn’t plan on taking any engagement photos, they thought it couldn’t hurt. Plot twist: it did hurt. Not only did the bride-to-be notice the outcome of the photos had been blurry and weird angled, but some had even been extremely altered in photoshop. Liepold claimed that Silvestri actually Photoshopped her and fiancé to look 30lbs skinnier, and the side by sides provided proof. What possibly could have been going through the photographer’s head while editing these photos? Did she think that assuming the couple was unhappy with their weight was the right protocol? Or did she just go ahead and adjust it to her preference, even though it wasn’t even her wedding? Regardless, whatever excuse Silvestri had to justify Photoshopping the hell out of these photos is twisted and irrational. ![]() What seems to be an obviously happy and confident couple It gets worse. The couple stumbled upon a post Silvestri had shared on the Northeast Ohio Wedding Professionals Only Facebook page, and it was downright cruel. “Professionals only” my ass. The post started with Silvestri writing: “…and people have wondered why I have scaled back my photography business.” Though I doubt anyone wondered that, it seemed to be the start of an informative post for her clientele. Instead, it was just another way to bash this poor couple and expose her fatphobia. She continued, “last week I did an engagement session for a morbidly obese couple,” stating the obvious that the bride-to-be “was annoyed that I gave her a ‘chin tuck’.” To maintain her reputation and not further tarnish what was left of it, Silvestri apologized to the distraught couple and refunded them their money, minus the $150 dollar deposit. This by no means makes what she did right, morally or ethically. Photographers shouldn’t go into portrait or wedding photography if they are clearly discriminative of a person’s physique. To Photoshop someone to look completely different then who they naturally are is a slap in the face and totally unprofessional. Body-shaming is emotionally straining for those victim of it, and paying $600 dollars to bear the brunt of it right before your wedding is beyond f’d up.
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