Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73754 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-13 12:51:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-13 17:51:34 [post_content] => Yesterday many of us on the west coast awoke to the news that the once "belle of the ball" startup Lily was shutting down for good. Coincidentally, perhaps too coincidentally, yesterday the San Francisco District Attorney filed a lawsuit against Lily accusing the company of false advertising and unfair business practices.The suit alleges that the video used to sell the Lily showed a much more advanced drone that would require two people to operate, which kind of goes in line with what we saw during our demo with the product a couple years ago.“It does not matter if a company is established or if it is a startup,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “Everyone in the market must follow the rules. By protecting consumers, we protect confidence in our system of commerce.”What is being inferred by several outlets is that Lily knew the lawsuit was coming, and reacted quickly to be out in front of it and issue refunds before that suit went public. It's not to say that they agree with the allegations filed against them, but more that they lacked the resources to fight a suit and their manufacturing timelines had already been missed multiple times.My biggest question right now is... if Lily couldn't finish their drone because of hitches in manufacturing and a the fact they burned through their funding... how are they going to issue refunds? Where is this money coming from?Representatives from the company and the D.A.'s office are due in court on Jan. 18.[Via TC] [post_title] => Lawsuit Filed by San Francisco DA Likely Prompted Lily's Shutdown [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => lawsuit-filed-by-san-francisco-da-likely-prompted-lilys-shutdown [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-13 12:59:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-13 17:59:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73754 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 3 [filter] => raw )[1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73737 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-13 11:57:46 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-13 16:57:46 [post_content] => If you don't know what Plotagraph is, it's a software that allows you to animate still images. Instead of having to capture the movement beforehand, which is what you have to do with cinemagraphs, Plotagraph allows you to add that movement to any still image you've ever taken. That means though it may not work for every image, the ones it does work for look... really good.Below is the original photo taken by our travel editor, Michael Bonocore, of Resource Magazine owner Alexandra Niki during a team retreat in Jamaica last year:
Nice photo right? Well, Plotagraph ended up working really well with the image, giving it movement and "life."Before you raise an eyebrow that this might be an ad, all I can do is assure you that it is not. A lot of Plotagraph images don't look nearly as good as this one because of the way the software works. The blending and moving of certain frames on things like leaves looks generally pretty bad, but in contrast we've noticed that fire and water give the best results.Anyway, Plotagraph isn't cheap, and you have to really be invested in doing this a lot in order to get your money's worth, but creating images like this work really well on Instagram to add a new element to your images. But man, when it works... it really works. [post_title] => This Might Be the Best Plotagraph We've Seen Yet [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => this-might-be-the-best-plotagraph-weve-seen-yet [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-13 11:57:46 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-13 16:57:46 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73737 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73723 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-13 11:43:36 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-13 16:43:36 [post_content] => Rarely do I just port a press release title into an article because they tend to be... well, bad. But this is probably the one exception of 2017 because it's just so perfect. Sanho Corporation has announced that the HyperDrive Kickstarter campaign which ends next Monday (January 16th) has raised over $1.5 million from more than 17,000 backers... all to just add ports to the new MacBook Pro. That's an absurd statistic.What that says is two fold: It's kind of the #1 go-to product for getting ports back on the MacBook Pro and there are a lot of people who want the old connectivity of the previous MacBook out there. Like, a lot. Willing to, unsurprisingly, spend a lot.https://youtu.be/eFLTXiT5Rso?t=5m7sIn case you missed it:HyperDrive is a unique Thunderbolt 3 USB-C adapter specifically designed for the 2016 MacBook Pro. It is the first adapter in the market to utilize two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports on the MacBook Pro to deliver the fastest 50Gb/s bandwidth across 7 ports (HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, microSD, SD, 2 x USB 3.1), virtually restoring all the ports found on the previous 2015 MacBook Pro model. The 50Gb/s bandwidth allows for all 7 ports to be used simultaneously, including connecting to a 5K Thunderbolt 3 Display and a 4K HDMI display at the same time. The Thunderbolt 3 port on the HyperDrive also supports up to 100W power delivery allowing the user to charge the MacBook Pro at full speed while using the HyperDrive.
So yeah, the people wanted ports, and the people ordered ports. Apple didn't give them what they wanted, so a third party just made a ton of money off that desire. [post_title] => Over 17,000 People Paid Over $1.5 Million to Give the New MacBook Pro Same Ports as the Last One [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => over-17000-people-paid-over-1-5-million-to-give-the-new-macbook-pro-same-ports-as-the-last-one [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-14 12:44:34 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-14 17:44:34 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73723 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73637 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-12 13:58:45 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-12 18:58:45 [post_content] => Today Lily announced that almost two years of struggles attempting to get their product to market, they would be shutting down and issuing refunds to backers. The decision was, at this point, not unexpected. We had a close relationship with the Lily team after our hands-on video garnered over a million views, and we were prepared to give the flying camera (note, Lily was the first company to coin that term) a huge feature in an upcoming issue of Resource Magazine. In fact, we had offered a spot in our tech section multiple times to the Lily team, only to hear that they weren't quite ready for that kind of attention.As it turns out, they never would be.Despite garnering over $34 million by January of 2016 (eight months after the product was announced), Lily was unable to meet their shipping deadline of summer 2016. And then was unable to hit fall or winter either.
But is the collapse of Lily entirely on them? Though I cede that getting the tech right and actually bringing the product through the manufacturing process was likely far more complicated and full of potholes than the team originally anticipated, I also think that DJI's clever and well-produced marketing had a large role in tanking the flying camera before it could even get off the ground.Much of what made the Lily feel... special was found in three features:- Easy, autonomous flying
- Throw-and-fly
- Waterproof
Even though the camera on the Lily was, even in 2015, not great, backers didn't care. It was the ease of use and feeling of indestructibility that sold the camera to backers- Sold it enough for thousands of people to fork over nearly $1000 a head to reserve one.But something Lily should have anticipated, and I'm sure they did, was that drone giant DJI wasn't just going to let them build a competitor product without a fight. Just six months after the Lily was revealed, DJI released this masterpiece of marketing:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec1EF2UaQ4UThis "concept" drone video presents a product that looks shockingly similar to the Lily in form and function, but with just enough more pizazz to make it look like the better option. Here is what I said about it at the time:If the final product works like the video above shows, the X will take flight after being tossed end-over-end into the air, and be controlled via phone or Apple Watch. What’s more, DJI has apparently figured out spacial awareness, a problem that has plagued self-flying drones thus far. Instead of needing to fly out in the open, the X will purportedly be able to duck and weave around and between trees and other obstacles, making it the most versatile and “hands off” design for a drone yet.
Filled with familiar faces, outstanding cinematography and obviously cost a ton of money to produce, the video was a perfect killing machine of misdirection.Now, over a year after this was put on YouTube, we know that DJI was capable of making obstacle avoidance, but nothing so far has come close to the seamless flying shown in that video.But it doesn't matter.DJI showed a product that appeared more polished and immediately had more "street cred" thanks to DJI's sterling reputation. This product was better than the Lily and put a lot of doubt out there. I'm certain that this video helped DJI slow down Lily pre-orders, which cut off additional capital that Lily eventually would desperately need to survive.And the Phantom X? It turns out they never had to make it. As long as the Lily never hit the market, DJI had no reason to actually throw out their Lily killer either.I feel this way about the Phantom X because this isn't the only time that DJI has successfully smashed a competitor product with one of their own, it's just the first inkling that they were willing to do it.When GoPro announced the Karma, the world was pretty impressed... until DJI announced the Mavic. Months later, the Mavic is selling at a spectacular rate, and the Karma? Well... it doesn't exist anymore. By introducing a better competitor at a lower price, DJI successfully murdered any hope the Karma had to survive. Even though much of the Karma's problems were its own, the Mavic served to highlight those issues spectacularly.When DJI's market was threatened, they had a trump card waiting in the wings.Being a China-based company, it's highly likely that they have a finger on the pulse of any factory there that is capable of making a competitor drone product, and knows ahead of time what to expect from possible competition. It explains how they were quickly able to make a ridiculously high-end commercial for a product they had no intention of launching, and how they were able to later trump GoPro's last hope for salvation with ease.Don't get me wrong, I love DJI. They make spectacular products and continue to innovate faster than anyone else in the drone market. But as down-to-earth and whimsical as their brand is, behind it is a cutthroat business machine that knows how to tackle opposition. They know very, very well how to keep being the top dog. [post_title] => Was DJI's Vaporware 'Phantom X' Instrumental in Killing the Lily? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => was-djis-vaporware-phantom-x-instrumental-in-killing-the-lily [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-12 13:58:45 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-12 18:58:45 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73637 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 7 [filter] => raw )[4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73632 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-12 13:28:27 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-12 18:28:27 [post_content] => File this one in "weird and unexpected," as today Nikon announced they have partnered with Mini Cooper to use the new KeyMission 360 camera to produce marketing materials in 360 degrees. Nikon says that the global partnership will offer "new virtual reality driving experience for new cars even before they become available."Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that its Imaging Business Unit has come together with MINI in a global marketing partnership to collaborate on a series of marketing initiatives and content creation for the new KeyMission series of action cameras and the recently announced new MINI Countryman. Through a collection of real-life experiences documented on the KeyMission 360 and enabled by the new MINI Countryman, the partnership aims to inspire and encourage the spirit of exploration and sharing of these experiences in complete 360° immersive detail.
So it looks like Mini is going to be using Nikon exclusively for making 360/VR content, and in return Nikon gets advertising at the Mini point of sale and whatnot:This cooperation benefits both partners reciprocally. MINI integrates the KeyMission 360 in various stages of its marketing and press activities, reaching from exclusive footage and media drives to social media and point-of-sale campaigns. Using the KeyMission 360, MINI is able to bring new perspectives and immersive experiences to customers even before the cars are physically in the showrooms. On the other hand, KeyMission 360's standout optical and imaging innovation is clearly demonstrated through the full 360° videos of the MINI Countryman.
Cool. I mean Nikon really needs to get people to buy the 360 camera, and if putting it in front of more people means more purchases, I get the decision. I suppose this was more cost-effective for Mini than just buying a bunch of cameras, which would have been more straightforward.
[post_title] => Mini Cooper Just Partnered with Nikon to Make 360 Marketing Content [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => mini-cooper-just-partnered-with-nikon-to-make-360-marketing-content [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-12 13:29:31 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-12 18:29:31 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73632 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73588 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-12 11:21:35 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-12 16:21:35 [post_content] => What was once heralded by us, among many others, as the greatest idea in drone development has slowly spiraled back down to earth. As of today, Lily, the flying camera, is winding down business operations and closing up shop. As Lily puts it, the "adventure comes to an end."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObDvc1saMr4Once the first brand to give us the best concept for a "follow-me" drone, and still the only one that would fly when thrown, the Lily simply couldn't keep competing in a costly space. Most of what made Lily unique has been released in numerous drones by DJI, and in contrast Lily failed to get their unit out on time, repeatedly missing deadlines.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec1EF2UaQ4UThose who invested in Lily will be receiving their refunds within the next 60 days, and if you've changed credit cards since buying a Lily, you will need to fill out this form in order to assure you get your money back.Here is the letter issued to the public that was published this morning:January 12th, 2017
Dear Lily community,Antoine and Henry here from the Lily team. When Lily set out on the journey to create a flying camera over 3 years ago, we were determined to develop and deliver a product that would exceed your expectations.In the past year, the Lily family has had many ups and downs. We have been delighted by the steady advancements in the quality of our product and have received great feedback from our Beta program. At the same time, we have been racing against a clock of ever-diminishing funds. Over the past few months, we have tried to secure financing in order to unlock our manufacturing line and ship our first units – but have been unable to do this. As a result, we are deeply saddened to say that we are planning to wind down the company and offer refunds to customers (details below).We want to thank you for sticking with us and believing in us during this time. Our community was the drive that kept us going even as circumstances became more and more difficult. Your encouraging words through our forums and in your emails gave us hope and the energy we needed to keep fighting.Before we sign off, we want to thank all the people who have worked at Lily, who have partnered with us, and who have invested in us. Thank you for giving your all, nights, weekends and holidays, in the effort to deliver a great product.After so much hard work, we are sad to see this adventure come to an end. We are very sorry and disappointed that we will not be able to deliver your flying camera, and are incredibly grateful for your support as a pre-order customer. Thank you for believing in our vision and giving us the opportunity to get this far. We hope our contribution will help pave the way for the exciting future of our industry.Sincerely, Antoine and Henry Lily FoundersRefund Details:Lily will be offering a refund to customers over the next 60 days. We will be initiating refunds to the payment card used for the original transaction (no action is required on your part; please allow 14 days for the refund to appear on your statement).If the card you used is expired, please fill out this form so we can work with you on providing a refund by other means (e.g., PayPal or check).[Via DIY] [post_title] => Lily Drone to Wind Down Business Operations, Will Be Issuing Refunds [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => lily-drone-to-wind-down-business-operations-will-be-issuing-refunds [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://www.lily.camera/adventure-comes-end/ [post_modified] => 2017-01-31 14:45:25 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-31 19:45:25 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73588 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73566 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-11 17:26:52 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-11 22:26:52 [post_content] => Filmic Pro, my personal favorite app for shooting videos on the iPhone, is soon to release an upgrade that will allow filmmakers to shoot in log format. What is log? It's also known as "flat" profile, and essentially it's as close to raw as you can get in video without actually shooting raw. It widens the dynamic range in both directions to the max, which gives more options and latitude for adjusting in post. When you know you are going to be majorly color grading a film, shooting in log or raw is a must.Having log on an iPhone would be a huge deal, since most Canon cameras don't come with Canon's log profile accessible.Take a look at what YouTuber Matteo Bertoli did with the new profile, as he was kind enough to upload both a finished and un-graded version of the film for comparison purposes:[caption id="attachment_73572" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Original[/caption][caption id="attachment_73571" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Graded[/caption][caption id="attachment_73570" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Original[/caption][caption id="attachment_73569" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Graded[/caption]In looking at the highlights and shadow areas, it looks like, at least right now, the dynamic range is slightly increased. Just a hair. It's not revolutionary by any means, but that's at the mercy of the sensor. That, and creating a log profile is actually insanely hard. It took Panasonic quite a while to finally release vLog, if you might recall.[caption id="attachment_73576" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Original[/caption][caption id="attachment_73575" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Graded[/caption][caption id="attachment_73574" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Original[/caption][caption id="attachment_73573" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Graded[/caption]In this particular color grade, Matteo is absolutely crushing the blacks, and I can't blame him. At 0:05 you'll see a shot where the left side of the frame is devoid of any detail, the shadows totally run black. This is because in the original footage, the area is filled with noise. So while the profile does give access to the range of highlights to shadows, what you might find there isn't always useful.Nonetheless, this software is currently in Beta and looks promising. I have to say, given the option to shoot in log and not, I would nearly always rather, especially with the iPhone, even if that means some of the footage might not be perfect. [post_title] => Filmic Pro App to Soon Release Log Format, Here's a Peek at How That Looks [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => filmic-pro-app-to-soon-release-log-format-heres-a-peek-at-how-that-looks [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-31 14:41:18 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-31 19:41:18 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73566 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73540 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-11 14:20:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-11 19:20:10 [post_content] => Yesterday Adobe posted a video showing a product currently in the works, and it involves a digital assistant, or rudimentary AI. At MAX last year, Adobe did say they were investing in AI research, and this appears to be the first glimpse of what they meant by that.Though it's incredibly basic and doesn't actually show a working product, it does start the conversation of "what if you could do [blank] with AI?"In this case, what if an AI could edit photos for you?"Our Adobe Research team is exploring what an intelligent digital assistant photo editing might look like. To envision this, we combined the emerging science of voice interaction with a deep understanding of both creative workflows and the creative aspirations of our customers."Our speech recognition system is able to directly accept natural user voice instructions for image editing either locally through on-device computing or through a cloud-based Natural Language understanding service. This is a first step towards a robust multimodal voice-based interface which allows our creative customers to search and edit images in an easy and engaging way using Adobe mobile applications."
This is how Adobe says the tech works:- The team combined the emerging science of voice interaction with a deep understanding of both creative workflows and the creative aspirations of its customers.
- This speech recognition system is able to directly accept natural user voice instructions for image editing, either locally through on-device computing or through a cloud-based Natural Language understanding service.
So that begs the question, what if you could just talk to your computer, ask it to start a project for you while also downloading assets from the cloud? What if you could say, "Adobe, import Smith Wedding folder into a new Premiere file," while you were working on something else? Maybe even something more simple, like "Adobe, swap colors" in Photoshop, letting you keep you hands where they were without navigating to the panel or using a keyboard shortcut.Could be interesting.[Via TechCrunch] [post_title] => Adobe's Digital Assistant Can Edit Photos For You [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => adobes-digital-assistant-can-edit-photos-for-you [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-11 16:40:59 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-11 21:40:59 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73540 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73521 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-11 13:56:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-11 18:56:47 [post_content] => It appears that Samsung is going to launch their digital assistant with the Galaxy S8, thanks to a screenshot posted to the Samsung website today. Though it has long been suspected, the Samsung Siri competitor, Bixby, will launch with the new mobile phone, additionally with the ability to simply say "Send Billy $20" and the wish will be granted. Though there are some reporters who have sensationalized this news breaking today, it's highly likely that this confirmation from Samsung was an accident (though hardly a leak).After chasing a string of Via tags, it appears the screenshot below was captured on a Samsung Pay beta page, where it appears the payment system will soon be updated to allow money to be sent to friends and family.
Now, there is no specific proof this will all happen with the Galaxy S8, but given timelines and expectations, it would be odd if it didn't. As SamMobile puts it:Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly when the latest beta version of Samsung Pay will be released, but speculation suggests that it’ll arrive alongside the Galaxy S8, so that users can take advantage of the Bixby functionality, though what with all the controversy surrounding the handset’s release date, there’s no telling how soon that’ll be.
What's the take-away? Sometime in the near future, Samsung is finally getting a digital assistant and expanded functionality with their excellent Samsung Pay feature.[Via SamMobile] [post_title] => Samsung's Galaxy S8 May Launch with Mobile Assistant Named 'Bixby' [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => samsungs-galaxy-s8-may-launch-with-mobile-assistant-named-bixby [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-11 13:56:47 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-11 18:56:47 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73521 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73419 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-10 12:00:28 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-10 17:00:28 [post_content] => Elia Locardi got his major global exposure when Fstoppers.com released a tutorial featuring his work. Since then, Elia has gotten the credit and love his work deserves, and SmugMug is the latest crew to highlight what it's like to be what the Locardis call "location independent." Elia and his wife Naomi do not own a home. They do not rent an apartment. They live where they are, and travel constantly. It is a crazy challenging lifestyle to have, and is insanely difficult to keep up, but it works for them.I highly recommend watching the film, as the nine minutes go by really quickly. It's very well done, and gives a great glimpse into what it's like being the Locardis.Below are some images from the video, along with some captions from Elia:[caption id="attachment_73424" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Colors and light blend beautifully as soft fog rolls through the enchanting hills of Val d'Orcia Tuscany.[/caption][caption id="attachment_73425" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
The beautiful Vernazza at twilight, one of my favorite towns in Cinque Terre, Italy.[/caption][caption id="attachment_73426" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Twilight falls over the quiet little town of Vernazza, a jewel of Le Cinque Terre, Italy.[/caption][caption id="attachment_73427" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
An old pagoda and a sea of cherry blossoms frame the beautiful and timeless shape of Mt. Fuji in Japan.[/caption][caption id="attachment_73428" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Illuminated in soft twilight, Osaka Castle floats on a sea of beautiful cherry blossoms.[/caption][caption id="attachment_73429" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Lamplight illuminates the seemingly endless rows of vermilion torii gates in Kyoto Japan.[/caption] [post_title] => See What It's Like to Be a Nomadic Photographer Through This Short Film Featuring Elia Locardi [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => see-what-its-like-to-be-a-nomadic-photographer-through-this-short-film-featuring-elia-locardi [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-09 17:31:35 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-09 22:31:35 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73419 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[10] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73450 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-10 11:48:04 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-10 16:48:04 [post_content] => 2017 marks Nikon's 100th anniversary, and to celebrate the storied camera company has launched a dedicated website that is headlined by this incredible short film (or music video, whichever terminology you want to use). The website lets you see what Nikon has accomplished in those incredible 100 years, and perhaps will give you a glimpse into what to expect from them in the future.
Bear in mind Nikon's language: it's their first 100 years, meaning they plan to celebrate many more centennials.It's an interesting history lesson for those who didn't know the breadth of Nikon's influence, and a teary-eyed celebration for those who do. I highly recommend you check it out. [post_title] => This Stellar Short Film Celebrates Nikon's 100th Anniversary [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => this-stellar-short-film-celebrates-nikons-100th-anniversary [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-10 11:48:04 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-10 16:48:04 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73450 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[11] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73204 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-05 13:04:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-05 18:04:34 [post_content] => It's not often that we get contributions from readers that contain top-tier analysis of modern photography, but Dr. Elliot McGucken proved to be the exception to the rule. He sent us his analysis of the golden ratio in use in images from National Geographic's best photos from 2016, and it's pretty shocking how nearly every image puts the ratio to use.
"Not long ago, I came across a wonderful book titled The New Art of Photographing Nature: An Updated Guide to Composing Stunning Images of Animals, Nature, and Landscapes, featuring the epic photography of world-renowned National Geographic nature photographer Art Wolfe," he told us.
On page 38 of Art’s book, he read:
Art composes many of his images instinctively close to the ideal ratio the Greeks called the golden mean. It was considered the perfect spatial proportion for sculpture and architecture and works out mathematically close to a ratio of 8:5
"In fact," Dr. McGucken goes on, "the ratio of consecutive Fibonacci numbers, such as 8:5 or 13:8 or 21:13 approaches the irrational golden ratio 1.618… as the sequence augments. As the golden ratio informs the optimum mechanism for growth in nature, the Fibonacci numbers are often found in nature, as well as within our very own bodies, which of course are elements of nature and thus subject to nature’s 'rules of composition.'"
But why? Why does the golden ratio exalt beauty? While conducting research for his book The Golden Ratio Principle, he came up with a theory:
Dr. E’s Golden Ratio Principle: The golden ratio exalts beauty because the number is a characteristic of the mathematically and physically most efficient manners of growth and distribution, on both evolutionary and purely physical levels.
The golden ratio ensures that the proportions and structure of that which came before provide the proportions and structure of that which comes after. Robust, ordered growth is naturally associated with health and beauty, and thus we evolved to perceive the golden ratio harmonies as inherently beautiful, as we saw and felt their presence in all vital growth and life—in the salient features and proportions of humans and nature alike, from the distribution of our facial features and bones to the arrangements of petals, leaves, and sunflowers seeds.
As ratios between Fibonacci Numbers offer the closest whole-number approximations to the golden ratio, and as seeds, cells, leaves, bones, and other physical entities appear in whole numbers, the Fibonacci Numbers oft appear in nature’s elements as “growth’s numbers.” From the dawn of time, humanity sought to salute their gods in art and temples exalting the same proportion by which all their vital sustenance and they themselves had been created—the golden ratio.
"As a master National Geographic photographer such as Art Wolf makes use of the golden ratio (as did great artists including Michelangelo, Vermeer, Rembrandt, da Vinci, Raphael, Picasso, Monet, and Ansel Adams), we should not be surprised to find the golden ratio in many of National Geographic’s 'Best Photographs of 2016,'" Dr. McGucken told us.
As proof, Dr. McGucken overlaid the golden ratio on many of those images from the Best Photographs of 2016. Whether the artists were planning the composition on purpose, subconsciously, or by accident, it might explain why they are seen as so good to just about anyone who lays eyes on them.
Excited by the idea of Golden Ratio in photographs? Dr. McGucken has written a book on the subject and also has a Facebook page dedicated to the topic.
Head over to National Geographic's Best Photos of 2016 and see if you can spot any more Golden Ratio images. Those featured above aren't even all the ones Dr. McGucken sent to us... so we know there are more to discover!
[post_title] => See How the Golden Ratio Plays a Huge Role in National Geographic's Best Photos from 2016 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => see-how-the-golden-ratio-plays-a-huge-role-in-national-geographics-best-photos-from-2016 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-09 14:51:49 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-09 19:51:49 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73204 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[12] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73196 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-05 11:51:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-05 16:51:19 [post_content] => Yes, the number of complaints about dongles and docks with regard to the new MacBook Pro is sky high right now. It's all the rage to talk about how much you hate the dongle, and if that's the case for you personally, OWC has your back.
As you can see, the OWC DEC adds an SD card slot, ethernet port, and three USB Type A (USB-3) ports total. Additionally, it acts as flash storage, adding 4 TB of space to your laptop. It's disappointing that it doesn't have at least one Thunderbolt 2 port, since that's something Mac users undoubtably have a ton of, but what this offers is pretty spiffy for those who miss the ports on their older MacBook Pros.Though this will likely be mainly used as a desktop piece, it is "portable." It just makes the MacBook a lot heavier, and with the thickness of about the 2012 MacBook.
The downside here, in addition to that girth and weight, might be price, which OWC hasn't officially announced but is likely to be expensive. Like, maybe a quarter the cost of the MacBook Pro. Which isn't nice.[Via Gizmodo] [post_title] => This Portable Dock Adds Those Ports You're Missing on Your New MacBook Pro [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => this-portable-dock-adds-those-ports-youre-missing-on-your-new-macbook-pro [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-09 14:53:45 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-09 19:53:45 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73196 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw )[13] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73192 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-05 11:40:04 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-05 16:40:04 [post_content] => Not satisfied with having to go to the sound bar, Sony just announced a television that will use the surface of the screen as speaker. Called "acoustic surface technology," Sony's BRAVIA OLED A1E Series TV might be the first home television that won't require a sound system to fully enjoy.The XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED series offers a totally new entertainment experience with a combination of the superior picture quality of OLED powered by Sony’s 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme, the world’s first Acoustic Surface™ sound system, and its unique, cutting-edge stand-less form factor. Thanks to OLED’s over 8 million self-illuminating pixels, the A1E series brings a significantly enriched visual experience with unprecedented black levels, rich and lifelike color, dynamic contrast, blur-less image and a wide viewing angle. The 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme precisely controls the tremendous number of pixels and extends the capability of OLED to deliver an exquisite 4K HDR picture.
Guys, that's wild. Sony says that the entire screen resonates with sound emanating directly from the screen itself. They claim that it produces sound wide enough to be enjoyed from the side, as well as any OLED television can be viewed from those angles (which is pretty good actually).The Acoustic Surface technology lends to cutting-edge design of the A1E series by doing away with conventional speakers usually located around the TV. The result is a unique stand-less form factor with no distraction from the picture.
The acoustic surface is easily the run-away feature, but the television packs more than that:A1E Series (77", 65", and 55" Class model) 4K HDR OLED TV- Features OLED display technology. 8 million self-illuminating pixels brings a significantly enriched visual experience with unprecedented black levels, authentic color, blur-less image and a wide viewing angle.
- Features Acoustic Surface technology: the entire screen resonates with great sound emanating directly from the screen itself. This allows a perfect unification of picture and sound that conventional TVs cannot deliver.
- 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme provides the ultimate 4K HDR viewing experience by incorporating three picture-enhancing technologies: object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping™ 4K HDR and dual database processing.
- Features vibrant, expanded color with TRILUMINOS™ Display, further enhanced for color accuracy.
- Uses 4K X-Reality™ PRO to produce stunning detail with Sony's unique algorithm of reality creation database for any content, such as TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital photos.
- The cutting-edge design: The Acoustic Surface technology lends to cutting-edge design of the A1E series by doing away with conventional speakers usually located around the TV. The result is a unique stand-less form factor with no distraction from the picture
- Android TV lets you explore a world of movies, music, photos, games, search, apps and more, including PlayStation™ Vue and Ultra services. Voice Search to find content, ask questions and control your TV. With Chrome Cast built-in, you can easily send content from your smartphone or tablet to the TV. With access to Google Play™, you can enjoy what they like to do on a smartphone or tablet, from their TV. With Google Home compatibility, voice-control the TV via the Google Home device for a smarter connected home.
- HDR compatible to receive and process the new video standard signal with higher brightness, higher contrast and more vibrant colors via Internet video services, HDMI and USB port. Supports Dolby Vision HDR format.
Don't expect this to come cheap though, as Sony flagship televisions have never come at a particularly accessible price. Gizmodo reports that their previous flagships have started around $6000.I always have hated how sound bars looked. Hell, mine doesn't even properly fit on my media stand. This is a massive improvement and advancement in televisions, probably the most exciting since we all went flatscreen and ditched the tubes years ago. [post_title] => Forget Sound Bars: Sony's New OLED TV Emits Audio from the Screen Itself [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => forget-sound-bars-sonys-new-oled-tv-emits-audio-from-the-screen-itself [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-05 11:40:04 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-05 16:40:04 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73192 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[14] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 73141 [post_author] => 30241 [post_date] => 2017-01-04 15:05:27 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-04 20:05:27 [post_content] => As an avid Panasonic GH4 fan for years now, you can imagine my excitement when I heard Panasonic was making a successor to my first real video camera: I was elated. I still love my GH4, but it's starting to show its age and there are features I really wish it had: better ISO, 4Kp60, image stabilization and internal 10-bit were all on my wish list. Well, Panasonic delivered every single one of those in the GH5 , and sent a message to the rest of the industry on how a company should update a camera to please the fanbase.Some quick features to focus on:- 20.3MP Digital Live MOS Sensor
- Venus Engine Image Processor
- UHD 4K 60p Video with No Crop
- Internal 4:2:2 10-Bit 4K Video at 24/30p
- 5-Axis Sensor Stabilization; Dual I.S. 2
- 0.76x 3.68m-Dot OLED Viewfinder
- 3.2" 1.62m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen
- Advanced DFD AF System; 6K & 4K PHOTO
- ISO 25600 and 12 fps Continuous Shooting
- Dual UHS-II SD Slots; Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
Below is the full press release from Panasonic. My god is this thing beautiful:Unprecedented Picture Quality in the History of LUMIX Cameras
The LUMIX GH5 is able to achieve high-quality images with real-life details through excellent resolution, image rendering and color reproduction. Its new Digital LIVE MOS Sensor increases the pixel count by 25% compared to the GH4, from 16.05 to 20.3 megapixels, while also removing the low-pass filter.The camera also comes with a new image processor Venus Engine, which achieves improvement especially in natural texture expression. The engine’s Multi-pixel Luminance Generation renders clear, sharp images by referring to a 9x larger area of pixel information during the de-mosaic process for precise detail reproduction. With Intelligent Detail Processing, the characteristic of every single pixel is analyzed to detect whether the pixel is located at a flat, detail or edge part of the picture. Optimum processing according to the characteristic of each pixel is then applied. This results in high-precision yet natural images with stunning detail suppressing false colors at its edges.Also, Three Dimensional Color Control detects not only hue and saturation, but also brightness, and applies optimum control according to the value of each factor. This achieves rich color reproduction from shadows to highlights of the image. The conventional Multi Process NR (Noise Reduction) is upgraded to High Precision Multi Process NR. It boasts 4x the noise identification accuracy compared to the previous engine and preserves details even after the noise reduction process. As a result, photos can be clearly shot even at high sensitivity ISO values of up to 25,600.The LUMIX GH5 also incorporates the 5-axis Dual I.S. (Image Stabilizer) 23, which suppresses blurring in more powerful and advanced ways for both photo and video recording, including 4K video. Combining an O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer, 2-axis) and B.I.S. (Body Image Stabilizer, 5-axis), it compensates for larger movements which were conventionally uncontrollable. The LUMIX GH5’s high-precision gyro sensor controls both the O.I.S. and B.I.S. compensation by studying the focal length and shooting conditions, making it possible to use a max. 5-stop slower shutter speed4. This is highly beneficial not only for wide-angle and telephoto shots, but also in adverse situations, such as at night-time or when shooting with one hand.The world’s first DSLM camera that meets professional quality standards The LUMIX GH Series created an epoch-making industry sensation by achieving outstanding video recording performance with advanced features that meet the needs of professional quality levels and standards.With the LUMIX GH5, the signal readout speed has been accelerated by max 1.7x in the new Digital Live MOS Sensor, and the new Venus Engine processes signals at max 1.3x higher speed. This synergy realizes 4K 60p/50p ultra high-definition, smooth, video recording for the first time in a DSLM camera. It is also capable of internal 4:2:2 / 10-bit video recording, which is the color subsampling commonly used for film production, for even more faithful color reproduction5.The high-sensitivity MOS Sensor and Venus Engine effectively suppress rolling shutter distortion and realize high-speed readout of full digital signals. This ensures an outstandingly high image quality for every single frame. In addition, the focal length in video recording is kept the same as that in photo shooting (no cropping).Users can freely choose between MOV, MP4, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD formats at a variety of frame rates, and there is no recording time limit for both FHD and 4K video. Professional users working globally can set the system frequency to 59.94Hz, 50.00Hz or 24.00Hz.While ‘Cinelike D’ and ‘Cinelike V’, which have similar gamma setting characteristics for film production, are available in Photo Style for video recording, the LUMIX GH5 also provides ‘Like 709’ for compatibility with HDTV. A paid software upgrade to support V-LogL video recording is also available.In response to requests from professional users, the LUMIX GH5 comes with a Waveform Monitor and Vector Scope. It also embeds SMPTE-compliant Time Code either in Rec Run or Free Run count-up methods, which makes it easy to synchronize multiple video footage or sound sources in the post production workflow. Luminance levels can be selected between 64-1023 / 64-940 / 0-1023 (10-bit). Synchro Scan mode suppresses flicker and Color Bars (SMPTE / EBU / ARIB Standard) are also available.
New AF system with advanced DFD Technology never misses a once-in-a-lifetime momentThe LUMIX GH5 comes with a newly improved Depth from Defocus6 and Contrast AF technology, which not only calculates the distance to the subject by evaluating two images with different sharpness levels, but also analyzes the form, size and even motion of the subject comprehensively. Thanks to the new Venus Engine, the time for measuring the distance to the subject is 6x faster, while factoring the distance into in-plane or in-depth is 2x faster.The speed of sensor drive during auto focusing in photo shooting mode has been increased to 480 fps, which is 2x faster than that of the GH4. Consequently, the LUMIX GH5 realizes ultra-high-speed AF of approximately 0.05 sec7 and 12 (AFS) / 9 (AFC) fps high-speed burst shooting using a mechanical shutter in full resolution. By analyzing every single frame precisely, it achieves a maximum 200% higher precision frame detection with minimum motion detection error for higher tracking tolerance against moving subjects.For even more precise focusing, the number of focus areas has been increased from 49 to 225. Users can create a group of focus areas depending on the composition and can control it easily with a new joystick located on the thumb position, without taking your eyes off the subject. This is possible even when using the LVF or releasing the finger off the shutter button.If focus is not exactly as the user intended when the shutter is pressed, the LUMIX GH5’s Post Focus function8 enables users to select the specific focus point even after shooting – particularly helpful in situations like macro shooting where severe focusing is required. In addition, the camera also features a Focus Stacking function. Taking a single macro photo with specific areas in focus can sometimes be difficult, Focus Stacking enables users to take multiple images of the same frame with different focus points. You can then combine them into one image with the defocus as you like.The LUMIX GH5’s new 6K PHOTO9 function makes it possible to capture unmissable moments at 30 fps by extracting the frame with the best timing out of the 6K burst file (in 3:2 or 4:3 aspect) to save as an approximately 18-megapixel equivalent high resolution photo. 4K PHOTO has also been upgraded enabling 60 fps high speed capture in approximately 8-megapixel equivalent resolution. In 6K/4K PHOTO, three exclusive modes are available to choose from depending on the situation; 6K/4K Burst, 6K/4K Burst (Start/Stop) and 6K/4K Pre-burst.By compensating the signal information between the frames, the Venus Engine makes it possible to apply Post Recording Refinement over the pictures to correct distortion and reduce noise when playing back or cutting images out of the 6K/4K burst file. As a result, the picture quality of 6K/4K PHOTO shot at high shutter speed in high sensitivity or those shot in panning are dramatically improved.
High mobility in rugged design for heavy field useTo be tough enough to withstand even heavy field use, the LUMIX GH5’s main structure is composed of a magnesium alloy, full die-cast front/rear frame. Secure construction and the sealing of every joint, dial, and button makes the camera not only splash/dust-proof, but also freeze-proof down to -10 degrees Celsius.The LUMIX GH5 is equipped with a double SD Memory Card slot compatible with high-speed, high capacity UHS-II for the first time in the LUMIX digital cameras. Users can flexibly choose the recording method either in Relay Rec, Backup Rec or Allocation Rec.The LUMIX GH5 has a large LVF (Live View Finder) with a stunningly high magnification ratio of approximately 1.52x / 0.76x (35mm camera equivalent). The high-precision, high-speed OLED display features 3,680K-dot high resolution and 100% field of view. Adopting a static-type touch control system, the 3.2-inch free-angle rear screen in 3:2 aspect with 1,620K-dot high resolution achieves approximately 100% field of view.Finally, the shutter unit is durable for approximately 200,000 releases.Expandability, optional accessories, other features• The LUMIX GH5 integrates Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi® 5GHz (IEEE 802.11ac) connectivity to offer a more flexible shooting experience and instant image sharing with easy operation. • The LUMIX GH5 is compatible with the new Battery Grip DMW-BGGH5. By using two batteries, one in the camera and the other in the grip, the DMW-BGGH5 extends the battery life for longer time shooting. • The optionally available microphone adaptor DMW-XLR1 is a plug-in type adaptor for XLR microphone to record high quality stereo sound. • To save power, the camera automatically enters sleep mode after detecting the eye is off the LVF sensor. Various shutter systems are available with the LUMIX GH5: A mechanical shutter with maximum 1/8000 sec, an electronic-first curtain shutter with maximum 1/2000 sec which can be used with flash while suppressing the shutter shock, and an electronic shutter without shutter shock with maximum 1/6000 sec. Firmware updates will add: Full HD 4:2:2 10bit video recording capability (scheduled for April 2017); 400Mbps 4:2:2 10bit All-Intra video recording in 4K 30p/25p/24p; Full HD, high resolution video recording in Anamorphic mode; Hybrid Log Gamma in Photo Style mode which enables popular 4K HDR video recording and USB tethering (all scheduled for second half of 2017).The Lumix GH5 will be available (body only) in late March for $1999.99. [post_title] => The Panasonic GH5 Looks Incredible: 5-Axis Sensor IS, 4K 60p/50p & 4K 30p 4:2:2 10-bit [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => the-panasonic-gh5-looks-incredible-5-axis-sensor-is-4k-60p50p-4k-30p-422-10-bit [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-09 14:52:48 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-09 19:52:48 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=73141 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )) 
