Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
A climate report projects that the world's carbon emissions are on track to hit an all-time high this year, despite major advances in green tech and adoption of measures to curb pollution from the use of fossil fuels.
Category: Environment, Science
Tags: Greenhouse emissions, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Carbon Dioxide, Climate Crisis
A few years back, BMW teamed up with bike-maker Cube and mobility company SoFlow to prototype a funky leaning cargo e-trike as part of a mobility expo. Cube subsequently launched the concept as the Trike Hybrid in 2023, and has now added a flatbed variant to the range.
Category: Urban Transport, Transport
Tags: Trike, Tricycle, cargo bike, ebikes, Pedal-assisted, Bosch, Cube
In The Matrix, human beings are a literal (and metaphorical) power source – specifically, they supply bio-electricity to our AI overlords. Fortunately, enslavement to robotic masters in a virtual-reality prison is completely unnecessary for biochemistry to power our machines. Instead, all we need is sugar and vitamins.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Battery, flow cell, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Biomimicry
What are you willing to put up with to get the exact aesthetic you're looking for? For some Hollywood directors like Yorgos Lanthimos or Paul Thomas Anderson, the answer is a lot, at least according to The Wall Street Journal. The publication recently put out a story titled "The Biggest Diva in Hollywood Is a Camera," going over the on-set headaches brought on by using old VistaVision cameras on productions like Bugonia and One Battle After Another.
The issues are numerous: film jams and other "moody" behaviors that occasionally required some percusive maintenance to fix, and the racket that comes with running 35mm film horizontally, rather than vertically, through the camera. The article recounts ruined takes, on-set slowdowns and the need for insulated boxes and special software to keep the sounds of the camera from ruining dialogue. Overall, it turns out that using cameras whose heyday was in the 50s can be a bit of a pain.
Presumably, those issues didn't come as a surprise to the directorsWell... duh. I could've told you that, and I don't even have an IMDB page (yet). Presumably, those issues didn't come as a surprise to the directors and cinematographers who have chosen to work with them either. (Though the actors may be a different story.) So why did they choose to do it?
I'm sure part of it had to do with the experience. As with shooting stills, there's a texture to shooting movies with film that would take a lot of work and discipline to replicate with digital. To paraphrase Reed Morano in Side By Side*, people may take things a bit more seriously when they hear the money running through the camera, kind of like how photographers are more considered with their compositions when they only have 36 exposures.
Being shot in a novel format is also sometimes used in the movie's marketing.Of course, you can get that experience using more modern film cameras that won't have so many issues. The WSJ goes a bit into why the artists chose VistaVision specifically, and cites a variety of reasons, with the foremost being the look. Shooting a movie on what is essentially a stills photography format gets you more detail than you'd typically be able to achieve with a 35mm movie camera, while still having the look of film.
The result is an aesthetic that's somewhat familiar, but grandiose, a callback to tentpole films like North by Northwest and The Searchers. Sure, there are modern digital cameras from Red and Panavision with similarly large sensors, but do they have the heritage?
Cinematographer Robbie Ryan hasn't been shy about discussing some of the downsides of shooting with VistaVision cameras.Maybe not, though I am left wondering whether the audience will truly notice the difference. Certainly, those watching the movie on their phones during their commute or their uncalibrated TVs sitting right in front of a window won't, but there's also the argument to be made that we shouldn't make art for the lowest common denominator viewing experience. And realistically, if you want that specific aesthetic, you either have to go with old film cameras, spend a lot of time in post, bending digital footage to make it look like film, or shoot Imax. And the latter has a lot of the same problems unless, of course, you're Christopher Nolan and can just get Imax to make you an updated camera**.
The Wall Street Journal article is well worth a read, even though most people who have touched a camera before will likely be unsurprised by the initial premise. It's still an interesting look at the lengths some artists will go to fully realize their vision, and the eccentricities of the movie business and old tech.
I'd be interested in hearing from you, though. Do you often find yourself putting up with an annoying camera purely because of the look it produces? Do you find the look of VistaVision or other large film formats compelling enough that you totally get it? Are you happy to have left film behind forever? Let us know over on our forums.
* A documentary hosted by Keanu Reeves interviewing a who's who of cinematographers and directors about digital cinematography, which you should definitely watch if you've made it this far into this article.
** And if you are Christopher Nolan: Hi. Big fan. Don't listen to the haters, I thought Tenet was pretty good.
What are you willing to put up with to get the exact aesthetic you're looking for? For some Hollywood directors like Yorgos Lanthimos or Paul Thomas Anderson, the answer is a lot, at least according to The Wall Street Journal. The publication recently put out a story titled "The Biggest Diva in Hollywood Is a Camera," going over the on-set headaches brought on by using old VistaVision cameras on productions like Bugonia and One Battle After Another.
The issues are numerous: film jams and other "moody" behaviors that occasionally required some percusive maintenance to fix, and the racket that comes with running 35mm film horizontally, rather than vertically, through the camera. The article recounts ruined takes, on-set slowdowns and the need for insulated boxes and special software to keep the sounds of the camera from ruining dialogue. Overall, it turns out that using cameras whose heyday was in the 50s can be a bit of a pain.
Presumably, those issues didn't come as a surprise to the directorsWell... duh. I could've told you that, and I don't even have an IMDB page (yet). Presumably, those issues didn't come as a surprise to the directors and cinematographers who have chosen to work with them either. (Though the actors may be a different story.) So why did they choose to do it?
I'm sure part of it had to do with the experience. As with shooting stills, there's a texture to shooting movies with film that would take a lot of work and discipline to replicate with digital. To paraphrase Reed Morano in Side By Side*, people may take things a bit more seriously when they hear the money running through the camera, kind of like how photographers are more considered with their compositions when they only have 36 exposures.
Being shot in a novel format is also sometimes used in the movie's marketing.Of course, you can get that experience using more modern film cameras that won't have so many issues. The WSJ goes a bit into why the artists chose VistaVision specifically, and cites a variety of reasons, with the foremost being the look. Shooting a movie on what is essentially a stills photography format gets you more detail than you'd typically be able to achieve with a 35mm movie camera, while still having the look of film.
The result is an aesthetic that's somewhat familiar, but grandiose, a callback to tentpole films like North by Northwest and The Searchers. Sure, there are modern digital cameras from Red and Panavision with similarly large sensors, but do they have the heritage?
Cinematographer Robbie Ryan hasn't been shy about discussing some of the downsides of shooting with VistaVision cameras.Maybe not, though I am left wondering whether the audience will truly notice the difference. Certainly, those watching the movie on their phones during their commute or their uncalibrated TVs sitting right in front of a window won't, but there's also the argument to be made that we shouldn't make art for the lowest common denominator viewing experience. And realistically, if you want that specific aesthetic, you either have to go with old film cameras, spend a lot of time in post, bending digital footage to make it look like film, or shoot Imax. And the latter has a lot of the same problems unless, of course, you're Christopher Nolan and can just get Imax to make you an updated camera**.
The Wall Street Journal article is well worth a read, even though most people who have touched a camera before will likely be unsurprised by the initial premise. It's still an interesting look at the lengths some artists will go to fully realize their vision, and the eccentricities of the movie business and old tech.
I'd be interested in hearing from you, though. Do you often find yourself putting up with an annoying camera purely because of the look it produces? Do you find the look of VistaVision or other large film formats compelling enough that you totally get it? Are you happy to have left film behind forever? Let us know over on our forums.
* A documentary hosted by Keanu Reeves interviewing a who's who of cinematographers and directors about digital cinematography, which you should definitely watch if you've made it this far into this article.
** And if you are Christopher Nolan: Hi. Big fan. Don't listen to the haters, I thought Tenet was pretty good.
An antibiotic primarily used in veterinary medicine was found to turn the gut into a factory that pumps out life-extending compounds. The finding could change the way we think about the development of longevity drugs.
Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Longevity, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bacteria, Gut Bacteria, Microbiome
Apparently, one amazing music venue just isn't enough for Hamburg, Germany. The city already boasts the Elbphilharmonie – one of the world's most notable concert halls – and now it's lining up a second. The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has revealed plans for a new state opera house, which will allow Hamburgers to enjoy a stroll in a park and watch a ballet at the same venue.
Category: Architecture, Technology
Tags: Building and Construction, Bjarke Ingels Group, sustainable design
Legendary British automaker TVR, which has a history of building championship-winning sports cars dating back nearly 80 years, is returning to the performance vehicle market after a long break. Up first: the super-light, V8-powered Griffith that was supposed to ship in 2019.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: TVR, Sports Cars, British
The “trophy wife” trope has been given a modern twist. New research shows that after the wedding, beauty-for-status becomes a two-way street, with both husbands and wives adjusting their looks as income power shifts.
Category: Society & Community, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Sex and gender, Relationships, Weddings, Money, University of Bath
The Portuguese man-of-war, or Physalia, is a jelly-like creature that uses a special gas-filled balloon to float on the sea surface. Physalia inhabits the area where the ocean meets the atmosphere, in contrast to the majority of jellyfish that drift deeper. Its balloon serves as a sail, allowing it to glide with the wind and currents. Large groups may occasionally be carried to coastlines where they are rarely observed due to changing winds and ocean temperatures.
Tags: Marine Biology, jellyfish, Species, Climate Crisis, Japan
Some people don’t lose enough weight after bariatric surgery, but a new study shows that adding a daily shot of GLP-1 drug liraglutide can help patients shed extra pounds and may reduce the need for further surgery.
Category: Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind
Tags: Obesity, Bariatric surgery, Weight Loss, GLP-1 receptor agonists, Monash University
Antarctica's ice cores are like frozen diaries of Earth's past, preserving ancient air and climate clues. Most continuous records go back about 800,000 years. But in a region called the Allan Hills, a special patch of blue ice holds scattered snapshots dating back as far as 2.7 million years.
Category: Science
Tags: Antarctic, Ice, Climate Crisis, Environment
Fruit smoothies have become a huge trend in healthy lifestyle world – and for good reason. They are a quick source of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, and they take just a few minutes to make! Bananas are the number-one ingredient for a good smoothie. Creamy and naturally sweet, they seem to pair well with pretty much every other fruit ... or do they?
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Just over a year after it launched its novice-friendly Neo camera drone that doesn't require a license or even a remote control, DJI has updated it. There are several compelling upgrades and a few new features that make it worth a look if you want to get started shooting video hands-free.
Category: Drones, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Camera drone, DJI Innovations
3D-printed architecture has evolved from futuristic concept to everyday construction technique at lightning speed – and the pace shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. A recent example of this progress comes in the form of a non-towable tiny house that was printed in just one week.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, 3D Printing, House, Home
Valve – which runs the Steam game store and made the legendary Half-Life series – already makes a VR headset for hardcore gamers who care to tether themselves to a beefy PC for an immersive experience. Its new headset, the Steam Frame, is designed to make VR gaming a lot more accessible to folks who want to easily jump into their favorite titles, with some clever tech hidden inside.
Category: Virtual Reality, Consumer Tech, Technology
DJI has announced a new iteration of its tiny, beginner-friendly camera drone. The DJI Neo 2 introduces several changes designed to make the drone easier and safer to fly, such as obstacle sensing, a new display, and better wind resistance. DJI also gave a boost to the video specs, promising higher-quality footage from the palm-sized device.
DJI's Neo drone is the company's entry-level offering meant for true beginners. However, the original had a tendency to run into obstacles mid-flight, since it could only collect data about what was beneath it, rather than around it. The Neo 2, however, aims to make controlling the drone less stressful, as it can now sense obstacles in any direction, thanks to its "monocular vision system," forward-facing LiDAR and downward-firing infrared sensors. As a result, it's able to sense obstacles in real time to avoid collisions.
The Neo 2 still supports gesture control, or it can be controlled via the DJI smartphone app or compatible DJI controllers.Another improvement that enables easier drone control comes from improved handling in windy conditions. The original Neo could withstand moderate breezes of 20–28 kph (13-18 mph) while the Neo 2 can handle winds of 29–38 kph (19-24 mph). It should be more stable in open environments, even with some gusty wind, as a result.
The Neo 2 keeps the 12MP Type 1/2 (30.7 mm²) sensor found in its predecessor, but the camera sees other improvements. It's now capable of 4K 100fps recording, up from 4K 30fps. Vertical recording is upgraded to 2.7K (compared to 1080p on the Neo). DJI also increased the aperture of the lens from F2.8 to F2.2.
DJI added a new two-axis gimbal on the Neo 2, which should provide better stabilization over the first version's single-axis gimbal. Additionally, DJI says it improved tracking performance with the new drone, enabling faster response time and better stability at speeds of up to 12 meters per second.
The Neo 2 features a small screen that displays the shooting mode.The Neo 2 now features a small display on the front near the camera, which shows the current shooting mode to make operation easier when you're using the gesture and / or voice control modes without a controller. DJI has also increased the onboard storage from 22GB to 49GB. All of the new features and hardware changes come with some added weight, of course. The Neo 2 weighs 151g (5.3 oz), which is slightly more than its predecessor.
The Neo 2 keeps other useful beginner tools, such as a selection of "Quick Shot" presets that carry out a pre-programmed move and quick launch tools. It can also be paired with the DJI RC-N3 remote and used with the company's FPV goggles and motion controller for a more immersive experience.
US customers are, once again, out of luck. As with all other DJI releases this year, the Neo 2 will not be officially available in the US thanks to a looming DJI ban. For those outside of the US, the Neo 2 is available beginning today at a starting price of €239/£209 for the drone only.
DJI Launches Neo 2: Follow-Me Camera Drone Returns Safer with More Creative Ways to FlyOmnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, Palm Take-off & Landing and Gesture Control combine for the ultimate beginner drone
13th November, 2025 - DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today launches the Neo 2. At just 151g1, Neo 2 is DJI’s lightest and most compact drone1 equipped with omnidirectional obstacle sensing1 to date. It features gesture control1, allowing complete operation by hand, SelfieShot for capturing moments with minimum effort and improved ActiveTrack1 to make low-altitude, follow-shooting during activities such as running or cycling even easier. Easy to fly for beginners, Neo 2 is ideal for family outings, outdoor sports, travel and FPV experience, always capturing best moments as a personal follow-me camera drone.
Master Content Capture in a Couple of Clicks
The Neo 2 features a new small onboard display to the left of the camera when facing the drone, which clearly shows the selected shooting mode. The drone can be launched from the palm1 by the user pointing it at themselves and pressing the take-off button. After completing the desired content capture, the innovative Return-to-Palm feature1 allows Neo 2 to precisely locate the user’s palm, return safely and land steadily, making flights easier than ever.
Gesture Control and Multiple Ways to Fly
When using Gesture Control, its direction and proximity can be controlled by using one palm or both. With a single palm, the drone’s left/right movement and altitude can be controlled; users just need to face the drone and raise hand with the palm directed toward the drone. With both palms facing the drone, users can move the hands apart to make the drone fly away, while bringing the hands together to make it approach. No remote controller is needed for camera angle adjustment.
The Neo 2 also supports voice control1, allowing flying commands to be sent by smartphone or Bluetooth headphones during any sporting or other activity. For those looking for a longer transmission range, Neo 2 can be paired with the DJI RC-N3 remote controller to achieve a maximum video transmission distance of 10 km1.
Whether the user is using the drone without a remote controller1 or is pairing the drone with a motion controller1 and goggles for an exciting FPV1 (first-person view) immersive experience, there are multiple ways to control Neo 2.
Smart Capture, Sharp Results
Neo 2 features a 12MP, 1/2-inch CMOS sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and high-performance image processor for clearer, low-noise footage stabilized by a new 2-axis gimbal. When combined with DJI’s signature ActiveTrack and new SelfieShot, subjects are automatically framed for smooth, hands-free shooting from start to finish. With multiple intelligent shooting modes unlocking fresh perspectives and with 4K video recording1 at up to 100fps1 for slow motion1 or 2.7K vertical video, Neo 2 delivers crisp, detailed and cinematic-quality footage.
The Neo 2’s enhanced tracking performance offers faster response and improved stability, enabling smooth and steady tracking for running, cycling and more. In open areas, it can track at speeds of up to 12 m/s1. Eight-direction tracking (forward, backward, left, right and four diagonals) produces more natural follow shots and expands creative possibilities. In complex environments, the drone can switch to rear tracking mode, steadily keeping the subject in focus and providing confident creative freedom.
When it comes to capturing solo or group moments hands-free, Neo 2’s new SelfieShot allows the user to effortlessly switch between waist-up, full-body and long shots without a tripod or any extra assistance. Whether it’s birthday parties, weekend picnics or family outings, Neo 2 automatically composes every scene and maneuvers the camera as needed to capture cherished moments with just a tap.
Intelligent Shooting Modes, Stunning Shots
Neo 2 supports intelligent shooting modes, such as Dolly Zoom, QuickShots and MasterShots, offering diverse perspectives and making standout footage simple to create.
Dolly Zoom: Supports Hitchcock effect and enables users to create stunning videos for social media.
QuickShots: DJI’s signature QuickShots includes Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix and Boomerang, allowing captivating cycling, skateboarding or any other activity follow shots to be created with ease.
MasterShots: Automatically captures diverse shots with creative camera movements, and intelligently edits with music to produce high-quality videos.
Triple Protection for Beginner Confidence
The Neo 2’s omnidirectional monocular vision system, combined with forward-facing LiDAR and a downward infrared sensing system, detects obstacles in real time for safe, confident flying. Coupled with an integrated propeller guard design, which provides all-around protection, beginners are given peace of mind when operating the drone. Furthermore, Neo 2 supports versatile flight1 with enhanced hovering and positioning capabilities over Neo, making it easier to navigate challenging environments such as indoor, close to buildings and over water or snow.
Create with Ease and Efficiency
With level 5 wind resistance, up to 19 minute1 flight time and 49GB internal storage, Neo 2 can save up to 105 minutes of 4K/60fps video, up to 175 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 241 minutes of 1080p/60fps video. Once saved, no extra data cables are needed to transfer the footage; connecting to a phone by Wi-Fi will quickly transfer it to the DJI Fly App at up to 80 MB/s1 enabling smooth post production and sharing.
1For more information, please refer to https://www.dji.com/neo2. All data was measured using a production model of DJI Neo 2 in a controlled environment, actual experience may vary.
You won't find us endorsing aggression towards animals very often, however, scientists have discovered that raising your voice to seagulls – especially if you're male – will make them think twice about stealing your food. It's simply science.
Tags: University of Exeter, Birds, Beach, Animal science, Tone, Human, Behavior
Tens of millions of people with type 2 diabetes might actually be undermining their efforts to improve their health, with researchers demonstrating that the commonly prescribed metformin blocks the cardiovascular benefits normally gained through exercise.
Category: Diabetes, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind
Tags: Rutgers University, Type 2 diabetes, Medication, Chronic illness, Exercise, Cardiovascular, blood-glucose, Hypertension, Metabolic syndrome
Last week, we asked you to look beyond specs and sensors and dig into the true heart of photography: the images that etch themselves into your memory. It wasn’t about the sharpest lens or the newest tech – it was about the stories and emotions behind the frame, whether born from quiet, unassuming moments or from rare, lightning opportunities (literally in our community's cases).
We invited you to share not just your photos, but the context behind them – what, where, who, and most importantly, why these moments stand out. True to form, the DPReview community responded with a dazzling assortment of personal stories. Some are dramatic, others gentle; together, they create a mosaic of what it means to be a photographer at any level.
In the spirit of our previous "Diamonds in the rough" feature – where beloved camera shops became the scene of fond memories and surprises – this week’s entries prove that the greatest treasures in photography are the stories behind the images.
View the above slideshow to check out the 10 selected memorable photographs.
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories! Discuss these spotlight entries in this week's forum thread.
Photo: Collage of entries for this week's Question of the week article
Sundre (Europe)A fire performance, a flash of inspiration, and the birth of both an unforgettable image and a friendship.
"I took a photo and made a friend. One of my first fire shows, with a new camera (Sony A9), I wasn't sure what I was doing. Somehow, everything came together to create an image I only realized I had when I went home to edit. This entire sequence lasts around 3-4 seconds, and the performer is only visible among the flames from a very specific angle for maybe 0.5 seconds. That day, I happened to nail both the angle and the timing." - Sundre
Rescue at sea, captured on film - a story as memorable as the photo itself.
"I found this mantaray in my anchor chain when sailing around the world about 44 years ago. The ray was realy stuck but I managed to save tne animal and also save my precious anchor. This was of the coast at Islas Perlas in the Gulf of Panama in 1981." - pwmoree
An unexpected heron, perfectly still among rapids, makes a simple landscape session unforgettable.
"I turned around to return to my car and saw a heron, standing dead still in the rushing water just below a little dam, presumably waiting for lunch to come by. It remained so motionless that I was able to capture it with a long enough exposure amid the river's chaos.
The shot is memorable to me not so much for the image but as a reminder that around every corner, even when you're not looking for it, you can find something interesting, perhaps even extraordinary. No matter how good the equipment might get, it's the photographer who makes the result, though a combination of skill, awareness, and most especially luck. A thought I carry with me that helps me persevere whenever I'm out looking, but not finding anything I'm particularly satisfied with.." - Tailwagger
wvdvegte (Netherlands)The stillness of a cold Polish morning brings lasting peace and a sense of nostalgia to an analog classic.
"Lagów, Poland, 2002. Visiting a conference, I decided to go for a morning walk before breakfast. Around 7AM, this tranquil scene of a solitary angler sitting on a frosted jetty caught my eye." - wvdvegte
DJ STU-C (UK)Chasing storms at the coast, risking the elements for one amazing frame.
"This is my most memorable, as it earned a place in Practical Photography magazine as a double-page spread. Ironically, a friend and I went out to photograph sunset in the North Sea (Technically it's over land, but from certain parts of North Yorkshire it appears to set in the sea in summer), as we got there, the weather had taken a massive turn and a huge storm was circling overhead. We decided to set our cameras up near the cliff edge, just north of Staithes, and set the timer to shoot continuously. I'll never forget it." - DJ STU-C
Proving that sometimes the most memorable glamour isn’t planned, but found after dozens of creative resets…and a golden rose.
"As a Glamour photographer for over 20 years, I always strive to create something special. Of all the images I have created, the attached image is one that took over an hour of shooting and reshooting with my model to make all the lines, curves, and perspective I envisioned. We started with the idea of capturing the model shaving her legs. Shooting in the bathroom just didn't seem to make the image special. We moved to the kitchen sink and shot about 40 images.
Between each shot, we moved props in and out of the image while adjusting the positions of the objects, paying careful attention to the alignment of the faucet, leg, arm, face razor, the curvature of the belt for the robe, and the angle of the light. But the final adjustment was adding the gold rose in a steel vase to the image. When we saw the finished image on the camera, we knew that we had captured a perfect image, and we broke out laughing." - MSTR Photography
mcxxrr (Italy)History and destiny, revealed in a morning at Ground Zero.
"Hard question, but this image, taken in NYC back in 2007, showing Ground Zero, gave me Travel Photographer of the Year in 2008 and somehow opened my path as a photographer." - mcxxrr
Sometimes, the photograph that calls to you for years isn’t the sharpest or the boldest. It’s just…yours in the moment.
"The portrait of my grandmother, aged 95. She had finally agreed to pose. She'd never liked her looks, always dismissing my pleas for a "real" portrait: "Why do you want a photo of an old woman? You should shoot the beautiful young people," her shaking hand sweeping the room filled with kids, grandkids, great-grandkids.
She'd been ailing. Her hearing is all but gone. Once an avid reader and an exquisite seamstress, her eyes by then could only make out blurry shapes. A photo session would cheer her up, I thought. "Grandma," I said, "you are beautiful. When a young person is beautiful, they have only their parents to thank. The beauty of old people is earned by them."
The day of the shoot, we didn't have much time. My grandmother tired easily. In her tiny apartment, we helped her to a chair in front of the window. My 13-year-old niece Zoë was holding up a scarf as a backdrop. My 10-year-old niece Sophia diligently propped up a reflector, I shot off a dozen images. "Done," I said. My mother leaned in to hug Grandma, saying, "Good job." And my grandmother beamed up at me. I snapped this last image. The last image I would ever take of her." - Yanina G
Alan Grinberg (USA, CA)The "most expensive photograph I have ever taken," shot during king tides, cost a camera and some bruises, but delivered drama and a story for the ages.
"I had my Sony a6500 and Zeiss 24 - 70 mm lens set at rapid fire to take 11 frames per second. I saw this wall of water coming over the edge, so I held the shutter button down to catch a series of images. Well, the water kept coming and coming, and within half a second, it pushed the deck furniture against the house, got me soaked, knocked me down, and pushed me through the alley gate. I cut my leg on something I don't know what, my eyeglasses went missing, and the camera was drenched.
I did not feel scared; actually, it was rather exhilarating...Fortunately, the SD card was still sound, and I recorded 7 frames of the event. This is the first photo. The last photo is a solid wall of gray." - Alan Grinberg
Bill Ferris (USA, AZ)An adrenaline-spiked moment - catching a mountain lion in the wild, a reminder of why we adventure with a camera at our side.
"Just before 8 a.m., I'd quietly gathered & packed my gear, and made my way through the trees to an old logging road that paralleled the forest's edge. I planned to use the ponderosa pines as cover and work my way closer to the pronghorn. If lucky, they wouldn't see us hear me coming.
When I heard the sound of snapping branches as some unseen animal off to my right sprang into action, I instinctively reached for my camera, which was hanging on a shoulder strap against my right hip. My right hand wrapped around the D500's grip, index finger poised above the shutter release. My left cupped the 200-500mm zoom lens.
It was then that I saw the big cat - a mountain lion - leap across the road, no more than 100 feet from me, and continue its sprint. Raising the camera to my eye, I was pivoting at the waist to follow the cat's movement. I caught a brief flash of its head in the viewfinder, pressed my thumb against the AF-ON button, and mashed the shutter release while continuing to pan.
One second later, I lost the animal amidst a dense tangle of fallen branches, raised my head to peer over the camera, and saw the cougar sprinting up a slope toward the top of a low mesa.
Five seconds had passed since I'd heard the mountain lion break from cover. Now, it was gone. Had it been stalking the same pronghorn family I'd been watching?
My heart was racing, and I sat down at the base of a tree, trying to wrap my mind around what had just happened. Had I really just had a close encounter with a mountain lion?" - Bill Ferris
