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Mountain bikes have a way of getting muddy, while their riders have a way of getting dirty and sweaty. The latest offering from outdoor gear company RinseKit was designed with these facts in mind, as it combines a tailgate pad and a shower.
Tags: Shower, Mountain Bikes, Cycling, Pickup
Though playing through a huge rig can be supremely satisfying, it's not really practical for jamming at home. Boss has birthed a new 10-W combo amp that packs tube-like Katana tones and effects into a battery-powered compact frame.
Category: Music, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: BOSS, Roland, Guitar, Guitar Effects, Bass guitar, Amplifiers, Compact, Portable
Earlier this week, Sony announced its FE 28-70mm F2 GM lens, its first constant F2 zoom. The company promised "prime levels of performance" and said the lens doesn't rely on software corrections.
Our sample gallery shows how the lens performs in general use as a portrait lens and contains a few samples designed to show how it renders sun stars and its vignetting performance throughout its aperture range. There are also some shots designed to show off how it renders bokeh when wide open at F2.
A note on processing: our standard procedure for lens galleries is to export the JPEGs using Capture One, as it gives us more control over how lens corrections are applied than Adobe Camera Raw. However, we shot this gallery with the just-announced Sony a1 II, which currently isn't supported in Capture One, so we reverted to processing these images using ACR. We've worked to use settings similar to our standard C1 recipe. No correction for vignetting or distortion was applied.
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Buy at Adorama$2898 at B&H PhotoThe 11th annual International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition has announced the winners of its 2024 awards, showcasing stunning imagery from around the world. Photographers competed in various categories, including the coveted Landscape Photographer of the Year, requiring a portfolio of at least four images, and Landscape Photograph of the Year, recognizing the power of a single captivating shot.
This year's competition saw Canadian photographer Andrew Mielzynski, an amateur with a deep connection to the natural environment, claim the top prize for his portfolio of stark images with simple color palettes. Ryohei Irie from Japan captured the Landscape Photograph of the Year award with a mesmerizing image of fireflies illuminating a forest.
Beyond the overall winners, the competition presented awards in specific categories, including Black and White, Aerial, Snow and Ice, and Forest, along with at-large winners. In addition to the overall and category winners, we've included several of our favorite photos from the 202 photographs recognized this year. You can visit the competition's website to see all the winning images or to download its 2024 eBook.
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 1st placePhotographer: Andrew Mielzynski, Canada
Subject and location: Cono de Arita in the Salar de Arizaro, Atacama Desert in Argentina
Description: The Cono is a perfectly cone-shaped volcano at 3,690 meters above sea level. It’s very graphic due to the contrast between the dark, perfectly formed cone and the bed of white salt that is found at its base.
Copyright Andrew Mielzynski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 1st placePhotographer: Andrew Mielzynski, Canada
Subject and location: Winter Cottonwoods, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Description: During the pandemic, I went out for a walk at a local park during a fierce winter storm. I ran across this scene. It seemed very chaotic, with many layers of trees. I loved how the snow, driven by high winds, was embedded into the bark of the trunks. The snow on the bark created a textural contrast that adds detail and interest to the trees. I took a few frames, trying to simplify the scene in front of me and settled on this one, loving the tones, the depth, the order and the minimalism. Even in a chaotic scene, there seems to be a sense of balance that feels orderly and pleasing.
Copyright Andrew Mielzynski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 1st placePhotographer: Andrew Mielzynski, Canada
Subject and location: Found in a roadside ditch near Heathcote, Ontario, Canada
Description: After a melt, we had a flash freeze with extremely cold temperatures and a clear blue sky. I was driving by a ditch on the side of a road that had been filled with water and had to stop and look (as we photographers do, can’t pass a ditch without investigating). This is what I found. Great textures and patterns, tones and flow, with lovely graphic lines creating a dynamic, abstract designs. I love this type of work – it’s so much fun, yet challenging to find just the right composition.
Copyright Andrew Mielzynski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 2nd placePhotographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia
Subject and location: Pumice Field, La Puna, Argentina
Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 2nd placePhotographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia
Subject and location: Seven Colors Mountain, Siloli Desert, Bolivian Altiplano
Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 2nd placePhotographer: Ignacio Palacios, Australia
Subject and location: Arita Cone, La Puna, Argentina
Copyright Ignacio Palacios / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 3rd placePhotographer: Gheorghe Popa, Romania
Subject and location: Early Autumn, Vânători Neamț Natural Park, Romania
Copyright Gheorghe Popa / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 3rd placePhotographer: Gheorghe Popa, Romania
Subject and location: Poisoned Beauty, Geamăna, Apuseni Mountains, Romania
Copyright Gheorghe Popa / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photographer of the Year: 3rd placePhotographer: Gheorghe Popa, Romania
Subject and location: Whispers of the Sunken Trees Cuejdel Lake, Romania
Copyright Gheorghe Popa / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photograph of the Year: 1st placePhotographer: Ryohei Irie, Japan
Subject and location: Traces of Light, Ichinomata, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Description: The Landscape Photograph of the Year Award went to Ryohei Irie of Japan. He likes the mysterious atmosphere created by the standing dead trees and firefly light. “I have been visiting this Subject and location for several years during the firefly season, and it is an interesting place because the intensity and length of the firefly light and the Subject and location where the fireflies fly vary greatly, depending on the year and time of day, resulting in completely different works, even when photographed in the same way.”
Copyright Ryohei Irie / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photograph of the Year: 2nd placePhotographer: Justinus Sukotjo, Indonesia
Subject and location: Mother Care Framing, Walakiri Beach, Sumba Island, Indonesia
Copyright Justinus Sukotjo / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Landscape Photograph of the Year: 3rd placePhotographer: Himadri Bhuyan, India
Subject and location: The Flow, Sohra, Meghalaya, India
Copyright Himadri Bhuyan / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Black and White AwardPhotographer: J. Fritz Rumpf, United States
Award: The Black and White Award 2024
Subject and location: White Tie Affair. Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Copyright J. Fritz Rumpf / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Aerial AwardPhotographer: Benjamin Barakat, Switzerland
Award: The Aerial Award 2024
Subject and location: The Final Dune, Namibia
Copyright Benjamin Barakat / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Snow and Ice AwardPhotographer: Jeroen van Nieuwenhove, Iceland
Award: The Snow and Ice Award 2024
Subject and location: Isþyrlu – Ice Swirl, Scoresbysund, Greenland
Copyright Jeroen van Nieuwenhove / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Forest AwardPhotographer: Shirley Wung, Taiwan
Award: The Forest Award 2024
Subject and location: Fireflies flying in the Misty Mountains, Wufeng Township, Hsinchu, Taiwan
Copyright Shirley Wung / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
The Exciting Sky AwardPhotographer: Federico Delucchi, Italy
Award: The Exciting Sky Award 2024
Subject and location: Aurora, meteor shower and other cool stuff, Rocca la Meja, Italy
Copyright Federico Delucchi / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: Laura Bennet, United States
Subject and location: Sumba Island, Indonesia
Copyright Laura Bennet / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: William Preite, Italy
Subject and location: Pale di San Martino, Falcade, Dolomites, Italy
Copyright William Preite / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: Siegfried Makedanz, Germany
Subject and location: Sandfellsjökull Glacier Lagoon, Southern Iceland
Copyright Siegfried Makedanz / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: Sabine Weise, Germany
Subject and location: Moonscape Overlook, Utah Badlands, USA
Copyright Sabine Weise / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: Yuriy Vantowski, United States
Subject and location: Mount Bromo, East Java, Indonesia
Copyright Yuriy Vantowski / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: Tanay Das, India
Subject and location: Kistwa, Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Copyright Tanay Das / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Other top entriesPhotographer: Rajesh Jyothiswaran, United States
Subject and location: Texas, United States
Copyright Rajesh Jyothiswaran / The International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Hyundai has just taken the wraps off its Ioniq 9, an electric crossover SUV aimed at families and camping enthusiasts. This entirely new addition to the company's EV lineup is set to launch in the US and other markets in 2025.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Electric Vehicles, Hyundai, ioniq
Adding another plus in the "nuts are good for you" column, new research shows that regular consumption of the superfood not only holds off death, but it also keeps the mind sharp and limits persistent disability. But age was a factor in the study.
Category: Diet & Nutrition
Tags: Nutrition, Diet, Dementia, Monash University
New York might be known as the city that never sleeps, but it turns out there's a lot less shuteye happening in urban areas across the globe. And it's not because of nightlife, but the artificial light emitted from buildings and infrastructure that is driving up levels of insomnia for even those in smaller metropolises.
Category: Sleep
Tags: Southern University of Science and Technology, Urban Planning, Urban Redevelopment, Insomnia, Sleep, Artificial, Light, City
For the first time, researchers have discovered that the accumulation of aged and failing cells, called senescent cells, in one diseased organ can spread to multiple healthy organs, causing them to fail. The findings have opened the door to preventing multi-organ – or even age-related – disease.
Category: Body & Mind
Tags: Cellular senescence, Liver disease, Multi-organ failure, University of Edinburgh
Situated in Yangpo Village atop the Gaoligong Mountains, the Nujiang Grand Canyon Bookstore blends contemporary architecture with the surrounding natural and cultural landscape. With panoramic views of the Nujiang River and nearby peaks, the innovative project showcases an approach that connects modern design with local heritage.
Category: Architecture, Lifestyle
Royal Enfield knows a thing or two about creating retro classics but a drag bike? That’s a stretch. Oregon-based ICON Motosports has created a custom café racer based on the Shotgun 650 that’ll turn heads again and again.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Custom Bikes, Royal Enfield, EICMA 2024
Although autonomous, uncrewed ships are now being trialled, those vessels still need human workers to moor them when they come into port. That could soon change, however, thanks to a new automated suction-based mooring system.
Tags: Autonomous, Ships
Australian food company Vow is working on lab-grown foie gras that not only takes the cruelty out of producing it, but also aims to make a distinctively tastier version of the delicacy.
Category: Technology
Tags: Lab grown meat, Food
The incredible rate of construction in Saudi Arabia shows no sign of slowing with yet another ambitious project announced. This time it's a massive sports stadium, which will be one of the world's largest once complete, and is designed to resemble a seed germinating in the desert.
Category: Architecture, Lifestyle
It wasn't long ago that many of our reviews of APS-C cameras had to come with a warning: no matter how good the body was, you were almost certainly going to be limited by lens selection. This was especially true with Nikon and Canon's mirrorless cameras. Sony has followed its longstanding tradition of letting third parties build out a healthy selection of lenses, and the selection for Fujifilm's APS-C-only X-mount is second to none, but Nikon's Z mount and Canon's RF mount appeared to be almost completely locked down. As a result, you could count the number of APS-C lens options available on your fingers.
But things are changing. Over the past year, we've seen several APS-C lenses announced and released for Canon and Nikon cameras, filling notable gaps in the first-party lens lineups. But while the situation is improving, it's clear that the two companies are still in control.
This week, Sigma released four APS-C primes for Canon's RF mount, making good on its promise to release six licensed lenses for the system – earlier this year, it released the 10-18mm F2.8 and 18-50mm F2.8. Meanwhile, Nikon has allowed Sigma to release select primes for Z-mount – a trio of F1.4 primes at 16, 30, and 56mm. It's worth noting the company's 23mm F1.4 is the only one of its APS-C primes that it hasn't brought to Z-mount; it likely isn't a coincidence that Nikon's only first-party APS-C prime lens is a 24mm F1.7.
Sigma's APS-C prime lens lineup is quite good, and now most of them are available for almost any mirrorless APS-C camera.
Image: Sigma
However, Nikon hasn't stopped companies like Viltrox and Sirui from releasing a slew of Z-mount APS-C prime lenses, complete with autofocus. If you pick up a Nikon Zfc or Z50II, you can get anywhere from a 13mm F1.4 (20mm equiv.) to a 75mm F1.2 (113mm equiv.) to go with it, as well as most of the classic focal lengths in between.
Your choices are no longer limited to a few first-party options, manual-focus only lenses, or glass meant for full-frame bodiesThis is an important change for APS-C shooters. Even going back to the DSLR days, it's felt like many manufacturers have viewed the format as a stepping stone to full-frame rather than something enthusiasts and pros might consciously choose. Neither Canon nor Nikon have been particularly prolific when releasing new APS-C glass. But with the gates being slightly opened, you're no longer limited to a few first-party options, manual-focus-only lenses from third parties, or heavier, more expensive full-frame lenses. Now, there's at least some selection of third-party lenses with autofocus to choose from, alongside Canon and Nikon's offerings.
This isn't to say that you can now buy any APS-C camera you want and be assured that all the lenses you want will be available – you are still at the mercy of what Canon and Nikon wish to allow. While plenty of primes are available for Z-mount APS-C cameras, no fast zoom lenses are available; Nikon's all start at F3.5 and end at F5.6 or F6.3.
In fact, there are currently no third-party APS-C zooms available for Nikon Z-mount at all, despite the fact that two have made the jump from E and X-mount to RF – it also goes without saying that there are many others more available on Fujifilm and Sony's systems. That's a bummer for anyone looking to step up from the kit lens or wanting to shoot sports or birds in anything but ideal lighting without having to shell out for and lug around a full-frame 70-200mm.
Tamron has promised to bring its 11-20mm F2.8 APS-C lens to Canon RF mount this year as well – no word on Z-mount, despite Tamron bringing some of its full-frame lenses to Nikon.
Image: Tamron
RF mount at least has the two constant F2.8 zooms thanks to Sigma, with one more on the way from Tamron, though those are all at the wide end. However, there are far fewer autofocus primes available for Canon, as manufacturers like Sirui and Viltrox aren't producing them. That's not surprising; a representative for the latter once said that Canon had told it to stop producing products for RF mount. The 85mm F1.4 lens that Samyang announced for the system in 2020 also disappeared from the market not long after.
In a perfect world, these problems wouldn't exist. Canon and Nikon would make the lenses that their APS-C cameras needed to stand on their own feet as a real alternative to full-frame options, and there would be robust competition from third parties, which would be allowed to make whatever lenses they want.
None of that seems particularly likely. However, at least those who choose to shoot with a smaller sensor in a Canon or Nikon body have gotten a wider choice of lenses, even if they're still bound by the companies' rules.
At the end of the day, that's better for everyone interested in APS-C, because it means that cameras like the EOS R7 and Z50II are competitive with the Sony a6700 and Fujifilm X-T5 in a way that they wouldn't have been with an extremely limited lens selection. With any luck, this trend will continue, and the APS-C landscape will become more competitive – even if Canon and Nikon aren't giving it their full attention.
Yesterday, Sony announced the a1 II, a new flagship camera aimed squarely at professional photojournalists shooting sports and other high-speed action. The camera uses the same 50MP sensor as its predecessor but features an updated autofocus system that supports more subject recognition types.
While we'll have plenty more testing to do once we get a production model, we were able to get a feel for what the camera is capable of by shooting part of an American football game and several portraits in New York City, as well as using it for other general photography in Florida and Washington State. You can see the results in the gallery above.
Click here to view the sample gallery
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Buy at B&H PhotoPrepare to start seeing unprecedented shapes and designs in the motocross world. Spanish company Stark Future is taking titanium 3D printing out of the prototyping lab, and into mass production of its insane electric dirtbikes.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: 3-D+Printing, Electric Motorcycles, Dirtbikes, Manufacturing Technologies, Titanium
The sixth flight of SpaceX's Starship went off today without a second capture landing of the Super Heavy first stage, but it did have a dramatic daylight powered soft landing of the Starship second stage in the Indian Ocean. And a banana.
Milwaukee camper van innovator Orion Motors takes the largest Ford Transit cargo van out there and turns it into a camper utility van so versatile, you can use it 365 days a year.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Campervan, Ford, RV, Cargo, Van, Outdoors and Camping, Camping
It's ironic that even when surrounded by water, sailors who are lost at sea can still die of thirst. The QuenchSea 3.0 portable desalinator is designed to keep that from happening, and it requires no power source other than its user's arm muscles.
Tags: Kickstarter, Desalination, Water, Osmosis
When most of us think of freshly poured concrete, we picture a material that should be left to dry as smooth as possible. A new wheeled robot drives right over the stuff, however, gouging its surface to make structures stronger yet also cheaper to build.
Category: Robotics, Technology
Tags: Concrete, Construction, Autonomous
