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Welcome to a brand new Issue of my Magazine. Another amazing one, enjoy the read ;)
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In this weekâs Issue:
Hoboliteâs Vintage Lights
Get featured in this magazine for FREE
Essential Tips for mastering Architectural Photography
Latest Instagram Updates
SanDiskâs crazy SD-Cards
SmallRigs Camera Cages
Photographer of the Week
Double your chances of being featured
Nvidia scraped Netflix and YouTube to train their AI
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Hoboliteâs Vintage but modern Lights
Hobolite, the company known for its chic lighting solutions like the Micro LED, just rolled out new versions of their Avant and Mini lightsânow called the Avant Max and Mini Max. These updated models offer more power, with 80 watts from the Avant Max and 40 watts from the Mini Max, while still keeping that signature vintage look.
Starting with the Avant Max, this light is a bi-color continuous LED that puts out 80W of brightness. Itâs designed to maintain consistent color accuracy across the board, with a CRI/TLCI of over 96. You can adjust the color temperature anywhere from a warm 2,700 K to a cool 6,500 K. The Avant Max works with all sorts of magnetic light modifiers like barn doors, color gels, and a frosted dome. With the lens on, it can hit 9,005 lux at one meter, or 2,568 lux without it. Plus, it comes with a handy magnetic, quick-release lens that can boost brightness up to 3.5 times when you need some extra oomph. You can tweak the brightness from 0 to 100% either directly on the light or through Hoboliteâs app on your phone. Thereâs also a built-in fan to keep things cool during long shoots, even at high brightness levels.
The light is powered by a new 99Wh V-Mount battery, which also works with Hoboliteâs other lights, like the Avant 100W and Pro 300W. You can also plug it directly into AC power with USB-C. On battery power, it runs at full blast for 78 minutes. At just 2.02 pounds (0.91 kilograms), the Avant Max is easy to handle.
Now, letâs talk about the Mini Max. Itâs smaller and lighter, weighing in at 1.53 pounds (0.69 kilograms), and naturally, it doesnât shine as bright as the Avant Max, but itâs still impressive. This little guy offers 40 watts of power, delivering 7,325 lux at one meter with the lens on, or 1,414 lux without it. Just like its bigger sibling, the Mini Max has a CRI/TLCI of over 96, and its color temperature is adjustable between 2,700 K and 6,500 K. The Mini Max also uses the new V-Mount battery, and because itâs less power-hungry, youâll get more life out of the batteryâup to two hours and 18 minutes at full brightness. You can also power it via AC, USB-C POD, or the Max LiteDock, which is a handle with a built-in 3,450mAh battery and USB port for extra juice. This powered handle works with the Hobolite Micro LED too.
Both lights are compatible with Hoboliteâs smartphone app and work with magnetic light modifiers. Bian highlights that the Mini Max is designed to keep your creative flow smooth and uninterrupted, making it a must-have for content creators who need reliable and portable lighting.
The Avant Max and Mini Max come in âstandardâ and âcreatorâ kits, with the Mini Max also offering a âtravelâ kit option.
The Avant Max starts at $699 for the standard kit, which includes the light, Max Battery (99Wh), AC adapter, Avant Max Lens, Max Handle, 100W power supply, D-Tap cable, and AC cord. For $899, the creator kit adds barn doors, a Max honeycomb grid, colored filters, and a V-Mount clamp.
The Mini Max standard kit is priced at $599 and includes the light, power cable, Max Handle, adjustable lens, and a 65W power adapter. The creator kit, which adds the same extras as the Avant Max, goes for $799. The travel kit, which swaps the Max Handle for the LiteDock, also costs $599.
Both the Avant Max and Mini Max are available now in brown and midnight black. Honest, concluding opinion - if you want that vintage vibe this is probably the way to go, even tho it is quite expensive.
Image credits: Hobolite
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I am currently testing a new feature, where everyone can get a completely free chance to be featured in my magazine and get seen by thousands of fellow photography enthusiasts.
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Essential Tips for Mastering Architectural Photography
Bring a Tripod Along
If there's one piece of gear that can make a huge difference in your architecture photography, it's a tripod. It ensures your shots are sharp and steady, which is crucial when you're dealing with detailed structures. Plus, a tripod opens up the possibility for long-exposure shots, letting you capture scenes at any time of day. Youâll also want to get comfortable with the Exposure Triangleâunderstanding how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together is key.
Using a tripod isnât just about stabilityâit forces you to slow down and think about your composition. Youâll find yourself carefully choosing your spot, setting up your shot, and framing it thoughtfully. Some handy accessories to pair with your tripod include a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake and a hot shoe-mounted bubble level to keep your setup perfectly aligned.
Master Composition
When it comes to architecture, you canât exactly move your subject around, but that doesnât mean youâre stuck with a boring shot. Composition is where your creativity comes into play. Try changing your shooting position or angle if the shot isnât working. And when photographing interiors, donât hesitate to move furniture or decor (with permission, of course) to clean up the frame. If you can't move things around, focus on details or find a perspective that excludes any distractions.
Composition isnât just about framing; itâs also about timing. A building that seems mundane at first glance might come alive when you find the right angle or time of day. Look for architectural details like sconces, knockers, or unique textures that most people might overlook. Lines, shapes, and symmetry can help guide the viewerâs eye to where you want them to focus. Donât forget classic rules like the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Spiralâthese still apply to architecture photography.
For a different challenge, try black-and-white photography. Stripping away color forces you to concentrate on the fundamental elements like lines, shapes, tones, and textures, adding a new layer of depth to your work.
Tackle Perspective Issues
Perspective can make or break an architectural photo. When you tilt your camera to capture a tall building, youâll often get converging lines that can make the building look distorted. While this effect can sometimes be interesting, itâs not always desirable.
You have several options to control perspective. One approach is to embrace the distortion as part of the composition. Alternatively, you can correct perspective issues in post-production using software like Adobe Photoshop, though you may lose some clarity and resolution. For the best results, consider investing in a tilt-shift lens, which allows you to adjust the angle without causing distortion. These lenses can be pricey, but theyâre invaluable for serious architecture photographers.
Master Light Control
Lighting is everything in photography, and architectural shots are no exception. Instead of reaching for strobes or flashes, pay attention to natural light. Scout the location to determine when the light hits the building just right. Tools like The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) can help you figure out the best time of day to shoot, factoring in shadows, angles, and time of year.
When shooting interiors, start by appreciating the existing light before adding artificial sources. Remote flashes and portable lights can help accentuate features, but natural light should be your first choice whenever possible.
Make the Most of Natural Light
Architects often design buildings with natural light in mind. Before you start setting up additional lights, take a moment to see how the natural light interacts with the space. Use it to your advantage to highlight the building's design as the architect intended.
If you do need extra lighting, consider using remote flashes or portable lights to create accents. You might light up certain elements or the surrounding environment to enhance the overall composition.
Decide Whether to Include People
Thereâs no hard-and-fast rule about including people in your architectural photosâitâs a stylistic choice. In busy cities, avoiding people might be impossible, so why not embrace the chaos? Including people can add context and show how the building interacts with its surroundings.
A neat trick is to blur the people in your shot by using a long exposure. This way, they become indistinct, which can reduce distractions while adding a sense of movement to your image. Itâs a great way to convey the passage of time in a still photograph.
Embrace the Weather
Weather is a natural backdrop that can add mood and context to your architectural photos. A bright, sunny day gives a completely different feel compared to a stormy, overcast sky. The building remains the same, but the atmosphere changes dramatically with the weather.
Donât limit yourself to one shootâreturn to the same location in different weather conditions and seasons to capture how the building interacts with its environment. Each time you revisit, you'll find new perspectives and lighting opportunities.
Slow Down and Compose Your Shots
Architecture photography isnât a quick process. Take your time to set up each shot carefully. Since youâve got your tripod handy, experiment with long-exposure shots. This technique allows you to use optimal settings, like low ISO, long shutter speeds, and small apertures (high f-stop numbers) for deep depth of field. These settings ensure sharpness throughout the image, although they might introduce some distortion, especially at the edges, so be sure to check your shots closely.
Long exposures are particularly useful at night, but they can also work wonders during the day if you use ND filters. These filters let you shoot in bright conditions with long shutter speeds, creating a smooth, dreamy effect in clouds, water, or moving vehicles.
Vary Your Shooting Angles
Perspective isnât just about the buildingâs linesâitâs about how you choose to see and present the building. Donât settle for the same shots everyone else has taken. Move around, explore different angles, and bring your unique vision to the forefront. Whether itâs a low angle looking up to create a sense of dominance or a wide shot that includes the surrounding landscape, your perspective can evoke different emotions in the viewer.
Challenge yourself to avoid the clichĂŠs and find new ways to interpret familiar structures. Abstract architecture photography can also offer a fresh take by focusing on shapes, lines, and details rather than the entire building.
Know When (and When Not) to Use Your Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses are a double-edged sword in architecture photography. While they can capture the grandeur of a building, they also introduce distortion, especially around the edges. This can be a problem when you want to present a building as it is, without warping its lines.
That said, wide-angle lenses can be useful in tight spaces where you canât back up far enough to fit everything in the frame. Just be mindful of the composition and be prepared to correct any distortion in post-production.
Experiment with High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography
HDR photography is a technique that can be particularly useful in architecture. By taking multiple shots at different exposures and blending them together, you can capture a wider range of light than your camera can normally handle. This is great for scenes with extreme contrasts between light and dark, like interiors with bright windows.
The key to good HDR is subtletyâoverdoing it can result in unnatural-looking images. Aim for a result that looks like what your eyes see, not an exaggerated version of reality.
Use Polarizing Filters
A circular polarizing filter is a handy tool for outdoor architecture photography. It helps control reflections, enhances the contrast in the sky, and can reduce glare from reflective surfaces like glass windows or water. By rotating the filter, you can adjust the effect to suit the scene, making skies deeper and reflections more controlled.
Latest Instagram Updates
Instagram Now Lets You Post More Photos and Videos, Plus Itâs All About the Views Now
Instagram just dropped a couple of big updates that are going to change how you share and track your posts. First off, you can now add up to 20 photos or videos in a single post! Thatâs rightâInstagram has doubled the limit from 10 to 20. So, for photographers that can be a big deal.
This change rolled out globally yesterday. Instagramâs move brings it closer to TikTokâs carousel feature, which lets users add up to 35 photos in one post. While TikTok might have started as the go-to app for short videos, people are now using it to create memes and tell longer stories with photos. Instagram might be hoping weâll start doing the same.
But thatâs not allâInstagram is also switching things up with how you measure your postâs success. Theyâve announced that "views" are now going to be the primary metric across everythingâReels, Stories, photos, and carousels. So instead of just focusing on likes or followers, itâs all about how many people actually see your content.
Before this, Instagram had different metrics for Reels versus other posts, but now theyâre streamlining everything. âReel Playsâ will just be called âViewsâ from now on, and this will apply to all types of content. Itâs meant to make it easier to see how your posts are performing, no matter what format theyâre in.
Instagramâs head, Adam Mosseri, mentioned that views, along with how often people share your content in DMs (called âsends per reachâ), are going to be the most important things to watch. This shift seems to be part of Instagramâs push to get creators focused more on reach and engagement rather than just counting followers.
Over the last few months, Instagram has been moving away from prioritizing content from people you follow, and instead, itâs showing you more stuff picked by its AI. That might be why theyâre making views such a big deal nowâbecause your feed is increasingly filled with posts from accounts you donât follow but that Instagram thinks youâll like.
However as we all know Instagram will always be Instagram, prioritising big accounts, and leaving the small ones in the dust. The algorithm will always SUCK for small creators and it will always be super hard to grow.
SO letâs see if these changes will actually ââchangeââ ANYTHING.
In the meantime⌠if you have trouble growing on instagram organically as a photographer, maybe itâs time to check out my IG-Growth-Course, that I made SPECIFICALLY for photographers. I will personally help you grow on Instagram, without the need of ââreelsââ ;). Check out the Growth-Course here.
SanDisk making a 4TB and 8 TB SD Card
Memory card makers are always trying to push the envelope on storage, and SanDisk is really making waves right now. At the Future of Memory and Storage Conference in Santa Clara, California, Western Digital (SanDiskâs parent company) unveiled two huge advancements: a 4TB microSD card and an 8TB SD card. These are the first of their kind and are set to be a game-changer for everything from smartphones to drones and cameras.
However, thereâs a catch. Both cards use UHS-I technology, which means theyâre designed to offer massive storage but not necessarily the fastest speeds. The physical design of SD and microSD cards limits how fast they can go. The extra contacts needed for faster UHS-II speeds just donât fit, and with SDexpress facing delays, manufacturers like Western Digital have opted to go big on capacity instead. Details on the speed ratings for these new cards are still under wraps, but current SanDisk 1TB UHS-I cards have speeds up to 30 MB/s and can briefly reach 200 MB/s. The 1.5TB microSD card is even slower, capping at 10 MB/s. For high-demand uses like shooting video or capturing rapid bursts of photos, this might be a bit of a letdown.
On top of these memory cards, Western Digital is also showing off a 16TB portable SSD prototype called the SanDisk Desk Drive. This SSD is aimed at providing massive storage and high performance, meeting the growing need for space to handle all kinds of rich content.
SanDiskâs reputation took a hit last year when some of their portable SSDs started failing unexpectedly. They didnât address the issue publicly when it was raised, and follow-up questions went unanswered. It looks like Western Digital is hoping that the excitement around these new high-capacity products will help them put those problems behind them and win back the trust of photographers and filmmakers.
SmallRigâs Camera Cages
Starting August 15, SmallRig is rolling out a limited-time event offering exclusive color options for their camera cages. This special opportunity, available to the first 100 customers, lets you choose from nine Pantone metallic shades including blue, purple, pink, silver, gray, gold, green, orange, and red.
During this event, participants can select from 16 different camera cages, encompassing grips and full cages tailored for a variety of brands like Blackmagic, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, and Sony. Once a cage is chosen, customers can personalize it with their favorite Pantone color.
SmallRig is excited to invite you to this unique customization event. âWeâre thrilled to offer this exclusive opportunity to personalize your gear,â they announce on their dedicated event page. This event is a nod to the popularity of the DreamRig project, which began in 2017 and allowed creators to co-design their SmallRig equipment. To date, over 2,900 customized DreamRig products have been crafted for more than 1,400 creators, with some designs moving into mass production.
While custom gear requests can still be made through the DreamRig team, this new event offers a more straightforward approach. No need to submit detailed project plans or designsâjust select your cage and color.
Thereâs no extra cost for the custom colors, but availability is limited to the first 100 orders, processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The event kicks off at 00:00 GMT on August 15 (8 PM ET on August 14). To participate, visit the event page, choose your camera cage, and indicate your preferred color in the âany extra infoâ box. With cages priced between $50 and $100, act quickly to secure one of these custom-colored cages.
âSeize this chance to get a uniquely personalized camera cage,â urges SmallRig.
But Do You Really Need a Camera Cage?
So, youâre wondering if a camera cage is even worth it? Hereâs why it might be a game-changer for your setup.
Mounting Made Easy
A camera cage gives you way more options for mounting gear compared to just using a hot shoe. Need to attach a monitor, microphone, or a bunch of cables? The cageâs multiple attachment points and magic arms can handle it all. Plus, it helps secure your camera to your tripod or rig better, reducing the risk of it loosening during shoots.
Solid Protection
Sure, you can buy a soft case for your camera, but nothing beats the durability of metal. Iâve dropped my camera more times than Iâd like to admit, and the cage has saved it from serious damage every time. Itâs like having extra insurance for your gear.
Boosted Stability
Even with built-in stabilization features, a little extra weight can make a big difference. A cage adds just enough heft to your camera to make handheld shots more stable and less shaky. This is especially helpful for mirrorless cameras, which can be a bit wobbly without it.
Professional Look
A camera cage isnât just practicalâit also gives your setup a more professional vibe. It helps set your gear apart from consumer-level cameras and shows that youâre serious about your work. Itâs an easy way to look more credible on set.
In short, a camera cage can enhance your mounting options, protect your gear, improve stability, and make you look more professional. Itâs definitely worth considering if you want to level up your camera setup.
So honestly if you like the colourful look of the samllrig cages, maybe go for it.
Image credits: SmallRig
Photographer of the Week
Photographer of the week goes to: Julia
Congratulations on your luck:)
You can find her on Instagram as @julia.with.camera
A few photos of hers:
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Nvidia scraped Videos From Netflix and YouTube to Build their AI
A recent leak from 404 Media reveals that Nvidia has been using videos from YouTube, Netflix, and other platforms to build its AI model. Nvidia insists their methods follow copyright law, but the legality of using copyrighted material for AI training is still unclear.
The model, codenamed Cosmos, hasnât been released yet but is designed to be a top-tier video model for things like virtual worlds and digital avatars. The leak showed Nvidia employees downloading YouTube videos and debating the legal and ethical issues.
An Nvidia spokesperson told 404 Media, âWe respect content creators' rights and believe our practices comply with copyright law. Copyright protects specific expressions, not facts or data, which can be used for new purposes like model training. Fair use supports this kind of transformative work.â However, YouTube and Netflix see this as a violation of their policies.
The leaked documents show Nvidia downloaded 100,000 YouTube videos in just two weeks and collected over 38.5 million video URLs, including from creators like Marques Brownlee. They used a dataset called HD-VG-130M, meant for academic research, but Nvidia used it for commercial purposes.
When concerns were raised, Ming-Yu Liu, Nvidiaâs VP of Research, reportedly said the decision to acquire data this way was made by top management.
Nvidia, now a trillion-dollar company, plays a huge role in the AI world, with customers like OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and Google relying on its GPUs. Recently, Nvidia also expanded its partnership with Getty Images, using its Picasso model for updated AI image tools.