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2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year revealed

<p>The finalists of the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition have been revealed, with the talented photographers capturing the magic of the animal kingdom. </p> <p>The competition, run by the Natural History Museum, saw its largest number of entries yet, with 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories.</p> <p>Shane Gross, a Canadian photojournalist, was the overall winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his captivating image capturing the "magical underwater world of western toad tadpoles."</p> <p>Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury and Editor said: "The jury was captivated by the mix of light, energy and connectivity between the environment and tadpoles. We were equally excited by the addition of a new species to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year archive."</p> <p>A few other winners included a photo of a "curious" leopard seal looking into the camera, a sleeping baby monkey, and a "wrestle" between an anaconda and caiman. </p> <p>Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum said: "Wildlife Photographer of the Year's longevity is a testament to the vital importance and growing appreciation of our natural world."</p> <p>"We are delighted to feature such inspiring images in this year's portfolio - these are photographs that not only encourage further wildlife conservation efforts, but that spark the creation of real advocates for our planet on a global scale."</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">Take a look at some of this year's best entries below.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"><em>Images: Wildlife Photographer of the Year</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;"> </p>

International Travel

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Legendary Australian photographer found dead

<p>Legendary Australian news photographer John Grainger has been found dead in Sydney's northern beaches, just days after he went missing. </p> <p>In a statement from the NSW Police Force, they said that Mr Grainger's body was discovered in Elanora Heights on Wednesday morning, after being reported missing on Tuesday afternoon. </p> <p>Mr Grainger's death is not being treated as suspicious. He was 64. </p> <p>Grainger's extensive career in the media spanned more than 30 years, starting with his photography work in the mid 1980s and building into an impressive portfolio of covering news events. </p> <p>Over the years, his work earned him numerous accolades, including a 2018 Walkley Award for his famous photo for<em> The Daily Telegraph</em> that confirmed Vikki Campion was pregnant with then Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's baby. </p> <p>Grainger was also a two-time Kennedy Award winner, with his most recent award being won for a candid photograph of newly-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his front porch. </p> <p>Grainger's passion for photography never wavered, even when the job put him in harm's way, as he said in an interview in 2023, "I was assaulted many times. I had to have police track people down. I was strangled once. Some people just see red, and that’s it – if you are in their way you’re it."</p> <p>While his career was spent taking breaking news photos, Grainger's love for photography extended beyond the headlines, as he turned his lens to nature photography in recent years, capturing stunning images of birds and the landscapes of Narrabeen, which he described as "one of the best photographic locations in Sydney".</p> <p><em>Image credits: Ingleside Rural Fire Brigade </em></p>

Caring

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Bride slammed for asking wedding photographer to commit fraud

<p dir="ltr">A bride-to-be has been slammed online over a “dodgy” email she sent to her wedding photographer, in which she asked him to commit a crime to lower the wedding cost. </p> <p dir="ltr">The young woman, who works in event planning, was shocked when she realised the cost of her wedding photographer, and was worried the cost didn’t fit in her budget. </p> <p dir="ltr">She came up with a plan to lower the cost, not knowing that she was asking her photographer to commit fraud. </p> <p dir="ltr">In an email to the photographer, the woman pitched an idea to charge her business some of the wedding costs to lower the overall price of her big day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so excited to have you as a wedding photographer. Hard to believe it's only a few months away,” the email began. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I wasn't sure how to approach this with you, but the budget has been rapidly expanding as we go through this process. I'm sure that happens with a lot of weddings and you've dealt with it many times.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was wondering if we could work something out. I work in the events department at [a company], and I'm wondering if I could hire you to photograph some events there, and you could overcharge them, and whatever you overcharge you could take off our remaining balance.” </p> <p dir="ltr">“What do you think? Do you have any other ideas?”</p> <p dir="ltr">The shocking email saw the “unhinged” bride labelled as “tacky” and “criminal”, with many people urging the photographer to report the bride-to-be to her place of work. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Is this person also telling the florist, the caterer, or any other vendor this?” one asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Stop expecting to bargain with creatives like photographers. If you can't pay for a professional photographer, ask a relative or friend to get a few shots. This is so tacky.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Many couldn't believe the bride would stoop so low, as one woman suggested, “Just write back, 'I respectfully decline because I don't want to go to jail'.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another person added, “I beg your finest pardon? I thought she was going to ask for an extension or a payment plan - not fraud!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Legal

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Amateur photographer captures once-in-a-lifetime photo

<p>An Aussie photographer has captured her favourite photo "of all time", with thousands on social media praising her lucky timing. </p> <p>Chloe Sirach, who decided to try her hand at amateur photography, traversed down the cliffs near Lennox Head point, 20 kilometres south from Byron Bay, to "get some practice in and have a bit of fun" towards the end of June. </p> <p>However, what started as a relaxed day of "clicking the shutter" of her camera has now catapulted her work after she captured a large whale breaching the waves behind surfers at sunrise.</p> <p>"I lined up my shot with the surfers in the foreground... I then managed to capture the moment that everyone is now seeing all over their social media feeds," Sirach told <em><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/lucky-timing-sees-aussie-photographer-capture-favourite-picture-of-all-time-005429099.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a></em>. "I was ecstatic and knew I'd gotten the shot."</p> <p>She explained she was absolutely delighted with the image and believes the picture "truly encapsulates the beauty of the area that I live in."</p> <p>Australia's east coast waters are notorious for humpback whales, who travel thousands of kilometres up and down the from antarctic waters, where they feed during the summer, to warmer waters where they breed during winter. </p> <p>The northern migration occurs between early May and August, before mothers and calves will begin their southern migration around late September and October.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Royal photographers weigh in on photo editing fiasco

<p>Royal photographers, brothers Zak and Samir Hussein have opened up about the realities of altering royal images - including what is and isn't allowed. </p> <p>"It's pretty clear what we're allowed to do – we're allowed to basically use darkroom techniques," Samir - who has also taken official portraits of members of the royal family - told <em>9Honey</em>. </p> <p>He then explained what darkroom techniques entail: "So what photographers in the days when they were shooting film used to do in the dark rooms.</p> <p>"We're pretty limited in what we can do, it's sort of a basic crop, maybe a bit of colour correcting and that's how we edit our photos basically.</p> <p>"Sometimes you look at picture and you think 'Oh, if I crop it like this, it will stand out more, this will be more impactful'. So it's usually, if I'm honest, when looking back at the picture that's taken, that's the first thing I look at – how can this be cropped to make it have the impact that it should really."</p> <p>Zak, who has taken many photos of Prince Harry and Meghan as well as other royal family members agreed and said that the photographers do their best to get the shot right to reduce the need for editing. </p> <p>"You try and get it right first time around when you're taking the picture," he told 9Honey. </p> <p>"Ideally, you don't want to have to do too much to the picture but yeah, it's very basic what we do.</p> <p>"I think cropping is really important because you're trying to find the best version of that picture, so if it means cropping in tighter to make it a nice portrait or keeping it wider to show more in what's going on in the event.</p> <p>"It's pretty basic what we do to the picture because it's all about when you take the picture, you're looking through the viewfinder [and] that's when you want to get it right."</p> <p>The topic of re-touching royal photos sensationally <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/princess-kate-sensationally-speaks-out-over-photo-fiasco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made headlines</a> over a manipulated image posted by Kate Middleton, and has now made its way back into the spotlight following the launch of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/incredible-treasure-trove-of-unseen-royal-images" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new exhibition</a> at The King's Gallery exhibition in the Buckingham Palace.</p> <p>The exhibition which runs until October 6 has noted darkroom techniques including  cropping and framing out backgrounds or brightening up levels in a few of the negatives, including one label that read: "retouching is an essential part of photography.</p> <p>"Analogue retouching can occur at three stages: Modifying the negative, Manipulating the image during printing, direct retouching on the final print."</p> <p><em>Image: 9Honey/ </em><em>Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2024.</em></p> <p> </p>

Art

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Dive below the surface with the Underwater Photographer of the Year awards

<p>There's a world beneath us that we don't know much about, and photographers around the world have all tried to capture its beauty. </p> <p>With over 6,500 photos submitted for this year's Underwater Photographer of the Year contest, one photo captured the panel of judges' heart - Alex Dawson's 'Whale Bones'. </p> <p>The image shows a diver swimming among the enormous skeletons of slaughtered whales off the coast of Greenland. </p> <p>"Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions, as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear witness to the carcasses," Alex Mustard, Chair of the UPY Jury said. </p> <p>"The masterful composition invites me to consider our impact on the great creatures of this planet," he added. </p> <p>"Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today, just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock.</p> <p>"Our way needs to change to find a balance with nature." </p> <p>Lisa Stengel from the US won the title of Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024, for her shot titled 'Window of Opportunity'. </p> <p>The photo captured the beauty of nature as a mahi attacks a swarm of fish, an action shot that captured "high speed hunting at the decisive moment."</p> <p>Nuno Sá from Portugal won the award for 'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024 for his work titled Saving Goliath. </p> <p>The photo showed dozens of sun seekers working together to try and save a stranded sperm whale off the beaches of Costa da Caparica. </p> <p>UK residents Jenny Stock won the title of British Underwater Photographer of the Year for her work  'Star Attraction' and Sandra Stalker won the title of Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2024 for 'Midnight raver'. </p> <p><em>Images: UPY </em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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Extraordinary snaps from around the world for the Nature Photographer of the Year awards

<p>Every year, the <a href="https://naturephotographeroftheyear.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Photographer of the Year</a> awards showcase the best that Mother Nature has to offer. </p> <p>For the 2023 competition, photographers from all around the world have captured beautiful snaps of wildlife in their natural habitat, picturesque landscapes and much more. </p> <p>The annual competition is an initiative of Nature Talks, the organisation responsible for the Nature Talks Photo Festival that takes place in the Netherlands. </p> <p>This year, the competition saw entrant from South Africa, Germany, the USA, England, Finland, France, Luxembourg and many more corners of the globe. </p> <p>This year's winner is a photographer hailing from Canada, Jacquie Matechuk, who stole the show with her photo of the Spectacled Bear. </p> <p>Chairman Marco Gaiotti explained why her photo was chosen as the winner, "The Spanish moss hanging from this centuries-old fig tree gives an incredible sense of three-dimensionality while the soft light filtering through the colours highlights the profound connection between species and habitat in this image."</p> <p>"Finally, the pose of this spectacled bear fits perfectly into the texture of the photograph. Congratulations to Jacquie Matechuk for this outstanding photograph of the spectacled bear."</p> <p><em>All image credits: Nature Photographer of the Year</em></p>

International Travel

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"This doesn’t feel right, does it?": Photographer admits Sony prize-winning photo was AI generated

<p>A German photographer is refusing an award for his prize-winning shot after admitting to being a “cheeky monkey”, revealing the image was generated using artificial intelligence.</p> <p>The artist, Boris Eldagsen, shared on his website that he would not be accepting the prestigious award for the creative open category, which he won at <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/winners-of-sony-world-photography-awards-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023’s Sony world photography awards</a>.</p> <p>The winning photograph showcased a black and white image of two women from different generations.</p> <p>Eldagsen, who studied photography and visual arts at the Art Academy of Mainz, conceptual art and intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, and fine art at the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication in Hyderabad released a statement on his website, admitting he “applied as a cheeky monkey” to find out if competitions would be prepared for AI images to enter. “They are not,” he revealed.</p> <p>“We, the photo world, need an open discussion,” Eldagsen said.</p> <p>“A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what not. Is the umbrella of photography large enough to invite AI images to enter – or would this be a mistake?</p> <p>“With my refusal of the award I hope to speed up this debate.”</p> <p>Eldagsen said this was an “historic moment” as it was the fist AI image to have won a prestigious international photography competition, adding “How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn’t feel right, does it?</p> <p>“AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this. They are different entities. AI is not photography. Therefore I will not accept the award.”</p> <p>The photographer suggested donating the prize to a photo festival in Odesa, Ukraine.</p> <p>It comes as a heated debate over the use and safety concerns of AI continue, with some going as far as to issue apocalyptic warnings that the technology may be close to causing irreparable damage to the human experience.</p> <p>Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pirchai said, “It can be very harmful if deployed wrongly and we don’t have all the answers there yet – and the technology is moving fast. So, does that keep me up at night? Absolutely.”</p> <p>A spokesperson for the World Photography Organisation admitted that the prize-winning photographer had confirmed the “co-creation” of the image using AI to them prior to winning the award.</p> <p>“The creative category of the open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image making from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices. As such, following our correspondence with Boris and the warranties he provided, we felt that his entry fulfilled the criteria for this category, and we were supportive of his participation.</p> <p>“Additionally, we were looking forward to engaging in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris’ wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for our website.</p> <p>“As he has now decided to decline his award we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition. Given his actions and subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts at misleading us, and therefore invalidating the warranties he provided, we no longer feel we are able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him.</p> <p>“We recognise the importance of this subject and its impact on image-making today. We look forward to further exploring this topic via our various channels and programmes and welcome the conversation around it. While elements of AI practices are relevant in artistic contexts of image-making, the awards always have been and will continue to be a platform for championing the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Sony World Photography Awards</em></p>

Technology

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Photographer reimagines the super-rich

<p>Indian photographer Gokul Pillai has shared his vision of “slumdog billionaires” with the world.</p> <p>Using Midjourney, an artificial intelligence program that pulls artists’ work from across the internet to generate AI ‘art’, Gokul has taken some of the world’s wealthiest and reimagined them in scenarios far from what they’re used to. </p> <p>The likes of Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump, Muskesh Ambani, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk were reimagined by the photographer after his viewing of the award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire inspired him to consider them as their own ‘poor’ counterparts. </p> <p>“It was very coincidental,” he told <em>The Daily Mail</em>. “The movie is set in the slums of India and I wanted to recreate something based on that.</p> <p>“The word 'millionaire' in the movie title and juxtapositioning it with actual billionaires, that's how it started.”</p> <p>Gokul posted his series to Instagram with the title “Slumdog Millionaires”, and called on his followers to let him know if he’d forgotten to include anyone. </p> <p>His post quickly went viral, with comments rolling in from supporters who had praise and suggestions in store, and also those who weren’t thrilled about his use of an AI generator. </p> <p>“Just amazing,” wrote one follower, “they look real.”</p> <p>“This is epic,” said another, alongside a flame emoji. </p> <p>“What an insane concept,” one noted. </p> <p>“Wonderful series of images,” praised one more, to a chorus of agreement. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqvxGHwyyf1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqvxGHwyyf1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Gokul Pillai (@withgokul)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>As Gokul confessed to <em>The Daily Mail</em>, he was delighted and “completely overwhelmed with the response” to his series, despite his idea that “it would be funny and [a] few might find it hilarious”. </p> <p>However, there were still those who believed Gokul - who has also shared his own photography to his account - could have approached it differently, without the use of AI, and made sure to point it out. </p> <p>“AI ‘artist’... that's funny,” one said. </p> <p>“Midjourney is honestly scary if you think about how evil people who desire to assassinate someone's character would use it,” another admitted, to an outpouring of likes. “As an artist it excites me but looking into the future it scares the c**p out of me.”</p> <p>As for how well Gokul felt he’d achieved his vision, he confessed that while it was hard to determine who had been the most popular, it was “probably Bill Gates”, and that his followers had decreed that Mukesh Ambani “looked the poorest.” </p> <p>And to those same supporters he gave his thanks, returning to his own post to write “thank you all for the great response on the post.. I totally appreciate the support.. thank you!!” </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Midjourney</em></p>

Art

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Royal photographer admits to faking iconic shot

<p>Jason Bell, the photographer responsible for the official family portraits from Prince George’s 2013 christening, has revealed the truth about the shots - and admitted to faking one significant detail. </p> <p>In the documentary <em>Portrait of the Queen</em>, Bell admitted to feeling pressure over getting the shot just right. It was, after all, the first time that four generations of direct heirs had been captured together in over a century - since Queen Victoria’s reign specifically. </p> <p>The iconic picture sees the Queen and her four heirs - Prince Charles (now King Charles), Prince William, and Prince George - gathered around the chair upon which the Queen sits in the Morning Room at Clarence House, with sunlight streaming in around them. </p> <p>The catch? The light wasn’t real. </p> <p>“A christening picture is a happy picture,” Bell explained, “and when I think about happy, I think about - sort of - summer, and sun, and light, and bright. </p> <p>“So I think in a way, that was my first creative decision going into it. I want[ed] it to feel like a beautiful, warm, summer-y afternoon.</p> <p>“Obviously, the problem with that was I was actually doing the shoot in October in London and, you know, I’m a longtime Londoner, and I know that you can’t rely on London weather.</p> <p>“So, what I did was I put big heavy lights around all of the windows and the window behind them outside in the street. And, you know, to get enough light coming through the windows to really feel like a sort of summer afternoon, you know, you need quite a lot of light.”</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/03/Portrait_of_the_Queen_Sharmill.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>As well as the big creative decisions necessary on the day, Bell had to plan well ahead, and explained how “it’s always important to research around the project and you know, see what people have done before – who goes where. Where does the Queen go? Where does Prince George go?</p> <p>“You’re thinking about the sort of lineage, if you like, and the structure of the picture wants to reflect [that].”</p> <p>Bell also admitted that he drew inspiration from a portrait of Queen Victoria and her heirs in 1894 - in that picture, Queen Victoria was holding her youngest direct heir, who would go on to become King Edward VIII. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CisbmEIu2vP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CisbmEIu2vP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jason Bell (@jasonbellphoto)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>And with the opportunity may have been daunting, and the stakes for his career high, Bell noted that one detail in particular stood out to him, confessing that he was “quite drawn” to it. </p> <p>“The personal element of it, you know, is the same as it is in any other family,” he said, “and that’s kind of interesting watching, you know, them be[ing] a family together if you like.”</p> <p><em>Images: @jasonbellphoto / Instagram, </em><em>Portrait of the Queen / Sharmill</em></p>

Art

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Time to focus: The accidental photographer’s guide to taking great travel shots

<p><em>Interested in photography? Travelling overseas? Freelance travel writer, photographer and content queen Carolyne Jasinski shares some of the best tips to get great shots wherever you are.</em></p> <p>What makes the perfect photograph? Is it a complicated combination of aperture settings to determine depth of field or shutter priority to choose between blurred movement or keeping everything in focus?</p> <p>No. It’s much simpler than that.</p> <p>The perfect photo is the one you like best. But there is a knack to getting those pics.</p> <p>I am a travel journalist, so words are my main focus. But most stories need good photos to get published, so I have had to learn how to take photos for publication.</p> <p>I am the accidental photographer.</p> <p>I have taken courses, sat in on workshops and even been on a photography-based expedition to the Arctic.</p> <p>I have travelled with landscape photographers, wildlife snappers, photojournalists who cover war zones, news “togs” and those who shoot food and fashion. Each has taught me something different.</p> <p>So how do we get those great shots? Here are some simple tips to help budding photographers – and you might be surprised at how many of these you are already doing.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1. Don't knock the automatic setting</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Digital cameras have made life easy. If you’re happy with what your camera produces on automatic, stick to it. That’s what you’ve paid for.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, if you want to learn the “how and why” of photography, play with all those extra dials. </p> <p dir="ltr">Take a course or better still, go on a photography weekend and learn from the professionals. It’s really interesting knowing how to be in control.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2. Horizontal and vertical</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Take horizontal and vertical shots of the same subject — you’ll be surprised at how different the photos turn out.</p> <p dir="ltr">It’s especially important if you are going to try and sell them to a magazine or online site. More than once I’ve heard designers despair because they have the perfect image to go alongside a story, but it’s oriented the wrong way. Give them both and double your chances of getting published.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to make it to the cover of a magazine, take a vertical (portrait) photo.</p> <p dir="ltr">Horizontal (wide) shots are best for inside pages, especially a spread. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>3. Rule of thirds</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Divide your frame into thirds — both horizontally and vertically.</p> <p dir="ltr">Place the focus of your pic on one of those third lines rather than in the middle of your frame.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>4. Change your angle... Move</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">A photo that looks ordinary from front-on can be much more interesting from a different angle. The trick is to move. Get in closer — unless it’s a wild animal. If there are big teeth or horns involved, just zoom in with your camera.</p> <p dir="ltr">Try getting down on the ground or taking the shot from a high point</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>5. People</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">For me, travel is all about people.  Photos always look better with people in them as they add perspective and “life”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Take snapshots to help remember the people you meet.</p> <p dir="ltr">But be kind. Lift chins and cover cleavages. Be aware of what shooting from down low does to your friends — no-one will thank you for highlighting their double chin or looking up their nostrils. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>6. Zoom in</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Get up close and personal with your zoom lens. It can be a powerful tool for capturing the nitty gritty.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>7. Shapes & patterns</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Look for interesting shapes. Natural patterns make naturally great shots.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>8. Diagonals and leading lines</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Diagonals create visual flow and add the illusion of movement and dimension to photos.</p> <p dir="ltr">No matter where they start in a frame, they can pull you in and act as a leading line to where you want the focal point to be.</p> <p dir="ltr">Not all leading lines have to be diagonals … a curving river, for example can lead you to a spectacular backdrop.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>9. Work with the light</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The general rule when it comes to working with light is: Don’t shoot into the light. Unless it works. Sunsets are a great example.</p> <p dir="ltr">But when shooting sunsets, always turn around and look at what the light is doing behind you. Sometimes it’s even prettier than what’s in front.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bright sunny days will often give the most ordinary pics. Early morning, shadows and evening light offer the best contrasts.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>10. Contrast</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">If you see contrast, capture it — look for light and dark, colour and mono. It might be a bright green shoot coming out of a blackened tree trunk, or a pop of colour in a sea of grey. They always make for interesting shots.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>11. Framing</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Use natural elements to frame your shot. Same goes for man-made structures — they often make perfect boundaries for your pics.</p> <p dir="ltr">Natural props make your job easy.</p> <p><strong>12. Location markers</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Signs or souvenirs (with names) can help you remember where you are.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pics of information boards are great memory joggers and the best notes when trying to write your journal or travel story later.</p> <p><strong>13. Aim for something different</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Shoot the obvious but aim for more and shoot that, too.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>14. Ask permission when shooting people</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Cultural cringe — if you are in a foreign country, always ask for permission to take a photo. It’s common courtesy. And before including children, always ask their parents and explain what you are doing. If you want to publish those photos, you’ll need written permission.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>15. Surprise element</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Try to capture people (you know) when they are unaware that you are there. Candid shots are often the best.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>16. Capture the moment</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. If you see a great photo opportunity, don’t think, “I’ll come back and get that later.” Later might be too late.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>17. Reflections</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Use reflections to reflect on the moment.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>18. Mood</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Let photos reflect how you feel.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>19. Aperture and shutter priority</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">It had to get technical somewhere.</p> <p dir="ltr">As you increase the size of your aperture (increasing the hole you shoot through) you let more light into your image sensor.  That means you need a shorter shutter speed. </p> <p dir="ltr">If you increase the length of time your shutter is open, you decrease the aperture needed to get a well exposed shot.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aperture and Shutter Priority modes are semi-automatic on most cameras. If you set one, your camera will set the other. Or it will have a dial or meter to show where the perfect setting is.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>20. Depth of field</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Aperture Priority — ‘A’ or ‘AV’ on your camera program dial.</p> <p dir="ltr">When would you use it? To get “depth of field”.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want a shallow depth of field — an object in front in focus but the background blurred — choose a large aperture (f/1.4) and let the camera choose an appropriate shutter speed.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want an image with everything in focus, choose a smaller aperture (f/22) and let the camera choose an appropriate shutter speed (generally a longer one).</p> <p dir="ltr">Or you can use Portrait mode on your iPhone.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>21. Movement</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Shutter Priority — ‘TV’ or ‘S’ on your camera dial.</p> <p dir="ltr">When would you use it? To capture movement.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to photograph a moving object but want to freeze it so there is no motion blur, choose a fast shutter speed (1/2000) and let the camera decide how much light there is available and set an appropriate aperture. </p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to photograph the object but include some motion blur, choose a slower shutter speed (1/125) and let the camera choose a smaller aperture as a result.</p> <p dir="ltr">The slower the shutter speed, the more need for a tripod.</p> <p><strong>22. High resolution photos</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">What does high resolution mean? It means a photo with a lot of information — showing a lot of detail. For publication in magazines, you need a photo with at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) that means your photos need to be at least 2MB in size (but the more, the better).</p> <p><em>All images: Carolyne Jasinski</em></p> <p style="color: #0e101a; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p>

Travel Tips

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Take a walk on the wild side with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards

<p>The People’s Choice Award winners of the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards have been revealed, featuring stunning images of some of the world’s most majestic creatures. </p> <p>Competition for the coveted People’s Choice Award was fierce, with over 39,000 images submitted for consideration. 25 pictures were shortlisted from there, and a staggering 60,466 votes were received to crown the winner: German photographer Sascha Fonseca. </p> <p>Sascha’s image, titled “World of the snow leopard”, presents a snow leopard at sunset in Ladakh in northern India, with a breathtaking snow-covered mountain range backdrop. </p> <p>“Thick snow blankets the ground, but the big cat’s dense coat and furry footpads keep it warm,” the image was captioned. “Sascha captured this image during a three-year bait-free camera-trap project high up in the Indian Himalayas. He has always been fascinated by snow leopards, not only because of their incredible stealth but also because of their remote environment, making them one of the most difficult large cats to photograph in the wild.”</p> <p>The winning images, selected for their “artistic composition, technical innovation, and truthful interpretation of the natural world”, boast not only a winner, but four other highly commended finalists as well. </p> <p>"This year’s record number of votes illustrates how wildlife photography can engage and inspire audiences with the wonder of nature,” said Director of the Natural History Museum Douglas Gurr.</p> <p>The other finalist feature a leopard with some unexpected cargo titled “Holding on” by Igor Altuna, a moment of “Fox affection” in the snow by Brittany Crossman, a polar bear basking in the sun “Among the flowers” by Martin Gregus, and a magnificent “Portrait of Olobor” the lion by Maasai Mara. </p> <p>The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, produced by the Natural History Museum, provides amateur and professional photographers from around the world with a global platform for their work. 2022 marked the 58th year of competition, and the 59th is currently being judged, with the 2023 winners to be announced in October. </p> <p><em>All image credits: Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards</em></p> <p> </p>

International Travel

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Stunning winners of the 2023 International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards

<p dir="ltr">The winners of the sixth annual International <a href="https://iwpoty.com/2022-winners-gallery/">Wedding Photographer of the Year</a> awards have been announced, with the grand winner going to a dedicated Aussie photographer. </p> <p dir="ltr">This year there were 10 categories in the competition, such as best solo portrait and dance floor photo, as well as an overall grand winner and a runner-up. </p> <p dir="ltr">The winning image was taken by Dee Kampe, who was photographing her first wedding out of lockdown when we captured the sweet moment between newlyweds Liana and Jono. </p> <p dir="ltr">“After a year of being in and out of Melbourne’s notorious Covid-19 lockdowns, Liana and Jono’s wedding was my first wedding post-lockdown and this image is all the more sentimental to me for that reason,” Dee said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We were setting up for portraits when a strong gust of wind unexpectedly took off with Liana’s veil. While Jono went racing after it, Liana, amused by the whole debacle laughed and embraced the situation for what it was. I instinctively began photographing and this frame was captured a few seconds into the veil’s escape.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Did they get the veil back? Yes they did. After lifting some 50 metres into the air we assumed it was long gone, but it had come to rest half-way up a telephone pole on the opposite side of the street. But that’s another story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This year’s categories included dance floor, epic location, black and white, bridal party, from above, single capture, solo portrait, lit, and non-wedding/engagement. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>All image credits: International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards</em></p>

Relationships

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Breathtaking shots from the 2022 Travel Photographer of the Year

<p>The winners of the 2022 Travel Photographer of the Year have been announced, showcasing stunning photography with a focus on conservation and sustainability. </p> <p>The competition, regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions, received nearly 20,000 entries from both amateur and professional photographers in 154 different countries. </p> <p>The top prize went to Slovenian photographer Matjaz Krivic who submitted a stunning shot of one of the world’s last two remaining northern white rhinos. Najin, the 33-year-old rhino, was pictured with her keeper, Zachary Mutai. </p> <p>The picture was shot in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy and demonstrates the impact of the Cumbre Vieja volcano’s eruption on La Palma’s landscape. </p> <p>As the judges commented, Krivic told their story “beautifully and sensitively. The images are tender and intimate.”</p> <p>“I am honoured to have my work recognised and acknowledged by the judges of the Travel Photographer of the Year competition …” Krivic said of his win. “Travel and photography has been my passion and a big part of my life since I can remember and this award inspires me to continue with my journey.”</p> <p>A 14-year-old Australian, who now lives in Portugal, took home the Young Travel Photographer of the Year award. Kaia Tham’s work is shot solely on an iPhone, and the judges praised this choice by commenting, “seeing the world in a different way and exploring it with a phone rather than a camera has given this young photographer’s portfolio a fresh feel and a different perspective observing the streets of Lisbon.”</p> <p>Two other Australians received acknowledgement for their work, securing themselves special mentions from the judges - Jason Edwards with one, and Scott Portelli with three.</p> <p>2022’s People’s Choice award went to Romain Miot from France. This award is the only category in which the judges have no say on the winner - the 130 finalists are instead voted on by the general public. </p> <p>Miot’s work features a salt caravan in Mauritania’s Sahara Desert. Of the photograph, Miot said, “when I returned from the trip, I realised that this image of a camel owner ordering the dromedaries looked like a conductor with an orchestra.”</p> <p>The photos from the 2022 awards will be exhibited in May at the Royal Photographic Society as part of World Photography in Focus, ahead of the 21st Travel Photographer of the Year awards for 2023.</p> <p><em>All image credits: 2022 Travel Photographer of the Year </em></p>

International Travel

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Stunning winners of the Historic Photographer of the Year awards

<p>The stunning winners of the 2022 Historic Photographer of the Year competition have been announced. </p> <p>With over 1,200 entires submitted, judges were looking for photographs that "capture the very best historic sites that the world has to offer", while showing "originality, composition and technical proficiency".</p> <p>The contest is run by content platform History Hit, who said, "Entries ranged from ancient structures steeped in legend, to well-known, incredibly preserved historic sites around the world."</p> <p>"While some photographs gave new perspectives on prestigious historic sites such as the ancient city of Petra, others highlighted surprising histories of industrialisation, abandonment and endurance."</p> <p>Dan Snow, Creative Director at History Hit, said, "As always, judging these awards was a highlight for me. It is clear that the stunning entries that make up the shortlist are the product of patience, technical skill, and an awareness of both the past and the present. The creativity and talent on show was next to none."</p> <p>The winning photographs feature extraordinary weather phenomenons in the UK, abandoned structures, historic villages in Asia, ancient cities in the Middle East, and other-worldly displays in a Spanish church.<span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: graphik, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="letter-spacing: -0.18px;"> </span></strong></span></span></p> <p><em>All image credits: Historic Photographer of the Year 2022</em></p>

Art

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Dramatic underwater rescue of unconscious swimmer captured in photographs

<p dir="ltr">The dramatic rescue of Team USA swimmer Anita Alvarez has been captured by underwater photographer Oli Scarff in a series of photos that make for a moment-by-moment replay.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alvarez was performing in the artistic swimming solo free final at the 2022 World Aquatics Championship in Budapest when, at the end of her swim, she became unconscious and sank to the bottom of the pool.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-01548cc8-7fff-8bb9-08a0-7e9ed3b7fe5e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Head coach Andrea Fuentes quickly sprang into action, diving into the pool fully clothed and swimming down to grab Alvarez.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a good scare,” Fuentes told Spanish sports newspaper <em>Macra</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had to dive in because the lifeguards didn’t do it. I was scared because I could see she wasn’t breathing.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c768b9ad-7fff-b3c4-cf03-c7d3e2e2b8ae"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Fuentes then brought Alvarez to the pool’s surface, where another swimmer helped take the unconscious athlete to the edge of the pool.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alvarez was lifted out of the water and onto a stretcher so she could receive medical attention.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement, Fuentes confirmed that Alvarez had a medical emergency but that “all is okay”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The doctors checked all vitals and everything is normal: heart rate, oxygen, sugar levels, blood pressure, etc … all is okay,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We sometimes forget that this happens in other high-endurance sports.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have seen images where some athletes don’t make it to the finish line and others help them to get there.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our sport is no different than others, just in a pool, we push through limits and sometimes we find them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Anita feels good now and the doctors also say she is okay. Tomorrow she will rest all day and will decide with the doctor if she can swim free team finals or not. Thank you for all your well wishes for Anita.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This isn’t the first time Alvarez has experienced a medical emergency in the pool, nor is it the first time Fuentes has saved her.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alvarez briefly lost consciousness at the end of a routine while at an Olympic qualification event in Barcelona last June, where Fuentes dove in to rescue her.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 25-year-old came seventh in Wednesday’s competition with a score of 87.6333, with Japan’s Yukiko Inui claiming victory having scored 95.3667.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1d8743d9-7fff-d5de-90ba-85bf48e13c84"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Oli Scarff (Getty Images)</em></p>

Caring

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Wedding photographer photoshops "crazy eyes" over blinking guests

<p>A bride has gone viral for sharing her hilarious wedding photos that had been photoshopped to "fix" the faces of people blinking. </p> <p>Anaya Ramos-Bridgeford, from Pennsylvania in the US, took to Facebook to celebrate her recent marriage with a selection of photos from her big day. </p> <p>However, most of the people in the photos, including the bride herself, had "crazy eyes" after the photographer had attempted to edit out the people blinking. </p> <p>Anaya admitted feeling "upset" about the photoshop blunder, but said she "couldn't help but laugh".</p> <p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fanaya.ramos.31%2Fposts%2F1076308886431509&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="758" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>"My photographer called to allow me to view my photos before he released them to our entire family to view. I noticed that some of the pictures looked ODD," Anaya said in the Facebook post.</p> <p>"I am so upset but can’t help but laugh. I’ve been laughing all day."</p> <p>The now viral post has racked up much online attention, with a flood of comments praising the woman for sharing the hilariously altered pictures. </p> <p>One person said, "Thank you for sharing. I didn't know this was a thing but holy moly."</p> <p>Another said, "I see this a lot. Hire a pro, you won't regret it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook </em></p>

Relationships

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Photographer demands apology from Lisa Wilkinson

<p>The photographer who snapped Lisa Wilkinson's solo dinner in Melbourne has hit back at <em>The Project</em> host, demanding an apology. </p> <p>Lisa took to Instagram earlier in the week to call out the photographer who left her feeling “totally violated” as he took photos of her eating dinner and enjoying a cocktail on her own over the weekend.</p> <p>She has also since addressed the photos on <em>The Project</em> when her co-hosts made light of the situation. </p> <p>Her original post came after the <em>Daily Mail</em> published the pictures in an “exclusive” article which chronicled her every move during the meal in great detail.</p> <p>“Lisa Wilkinson sips on a margarita as she dines alone at a restaurant in Melbourne following <em>The Project</em>’s recent panellist shake-up,” the article’s headline read.</p> <p>Furious at the story, Lisa slammed the article in a lengthy post while referring to a “creepy old guy” she had seen walking past “half a dozen times”.</p> <p>In response, the photographer published an <a href="https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2022/03/open-letter-to-lisa-wilkinson-from-the-creepy-old-man-who-took-her-margarita-quaffing-photo.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open letter</a> to Lisa on the independent <em>Michael Smith News</em> website, saying he took issue with the "creepy old guy" jab.</p> <p>“Let me introduce myself – I'm Steve – and I'm the ‘creepy old man’ who photographed you sipping margaritas during a quiet dinner alone the other day in Melbourne. Who would have thought ‘that’ would turn into ‘this’?” he began.</p> <p>“Let’s deal with the ‘creepy old man’ reference first. I’m actually 10 years younger than you are, so, Lisa, what does that make you? An ‘old old woman’? Of course not, and shame on anyone who refers to you as that because it’s degrading, sexist and downright offensive."</p> <p>Getting down to “brass tacks”, Steve then questioned the journalist’s claims she was “aware” of him taking photos of her.</p> <p>“You claim you were aware of a guy. ‘He was incredibly menacing. I saw him walk past half a dozen times, staring at me.’ </p> <p>“Really? Here’s the thing. I did not walk past you once. Hundreds of other people did though as you’d expect given where you were sitting – in the front window of a busy hotel on possibly Melbourne’s busiest street,” he added.</p> <p>“People know your face, Lisa. They’re going to look,” he said.</p> <p>He went on to call out Lisa's "hypocrisy" for calling out the photographer violating her privacy, given her career as a journalist has often included exposing private matters. </p> <p>“Today you work as a presenter on <em>The Project</em> delving into all matters’ private,” he added.</p> <p>“You claim to be an intensely private person, but have an Instagram account where you post about the dress you wore, the ‘shiny’ new hair do, how proud you are of your daughter. Private stuff."</p> <p>“It is just nonsense. It’s the same entertainment journalism that pays your $2 million a year salary.”</p> <p>He concluded the letter saying Lisa should apologise to him, before signing off as "Steve (aka the creepy old man".</p> <p>Lisa has yet to respond to the letter.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 16px;" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div>

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Stunning winners of Wedding Photographer Of The Year Awards

<p>Happy couples, picturesque ceremony locations and celebratory reception parties have been captured in this year's <span>Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards.</span></p> <p><span><a rel="noopener" href="https://iwpoty.com" target="_blank">The International Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards 2021</a> have announced its winners and </span>runners-up in a collection of heart-warming marital moments. </p> <p>The competition began in 2017, and sees photographers from every corner of the globe compete to set the benchmark for exquisite wedding photography. </p> <p>This year, over 1,500 images were submitted by 415 people from 58 countries all competing for the $20,000 grand prize.</p> <p>This year, Fabio Mirulla from Tuscany won the grand prize for this deceptive photo of a woman getting dressed on her special day. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Fabio said, "I love shooting creative photos with everyday life objects, that can turn out to be the best props."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"Just looking at them with different eyes, those of a child that can never get enough of dreaming."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>All image credits:</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>1. Newlyweds in Ecuador - Adriana Ortiz</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>2. Windswept sea wedding in Iceland - Nikolaichik Photo</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>3. Embracing on a mountain peak in Austria - Catherine Ekkelboom-White</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>4. Three cheeky boys under a veil - Peta Laycock</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>5. Alternative wedding in a field in Germany - Mic Panic</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>6. Bride doused in water for Haldi ritual bath in Auckland - Michael Kouk</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>7. Young boy praying with sincerity in Australia - Chris Jallard</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>8. Dancing in a winter wonderland in Canada - Taralilly Photography</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>9. Groomsmen celebrate under confetti in Candada - Cafa Liu</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>10. Vows on a clifftop - Matt Porteous</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>11. Dressing in the light of a lamp - Fabio Mirulla</em></p>

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Check out some of the 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners

<p>The winners of the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition have been announced, and the photos are predictably stunning. The competition has been held by the Natural History Museum in London every year since 1965, with categories for children and teenagers as well as adults.</p> <p>Without further ado, here are some of our favourite winners from this year's competition.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Winner, plants and fungi (main image, featured above): </strong>Rich reflections, by Justin Gilligan, Australia</li> <li><strong>Winner, behaviour: birds: </strong>The intimate touch, by Shane Kalyn, Canada</li> <li><strong>Winner, 11-14 years: </strong>Sunflower songbird, by Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco, Spain</li> <li><strong>Winner, oceans: the bigger picture: </strong>Nursery meltdown, by Jennifer Hayes, US</li> <li><strong><span>Winner, urban wildlife: </span></strong>The spider room, by Gil Wizen, Israel/Canada</li> <li><strong><span>Winner, behaviour: mammals: </span></strong>Head to head, by Stefano Unterthiner, Italy</li> <li><strong>Winner, 15-17 years: </strong>High-flying jay, by Lasse Kurkela, Finland</li> <li><strong>Winner, rising star portfolio award: </strong>Cool time, from land time for sea bears, by Martin Gregus, Canada/Slovakia</li> <li><strong><span>Adult Grand Title Winner: </span></strong>Creation, by Laurent Ballesta, France</li> <li><strong><span>Young Grand Title Winner: </span></strong>Dome home, by Vidyun R Hebbar, India</li> </ol> <p>You can view all of the winning entries <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery" target="_blank" title="here.">here</a>.</p>

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