5 Things to Consider Before Buying a New Camera

I have been a very happy Sony customer for the last 2+ years. My a7R continues to serve me well, but I am inching closer to an upgrade. I know the a7R II is an awesome camera. I've read the reviews. There are photographers I follow and respect who rave about it. I've held it in my hands and it feels good. And there's even the recently rumored a7R III.

However, I must also consider the "surround" that goes with a new camera body. Especially when a new camera body means an increase in megapixels. Having more megapixels comes with a cost. I think we photographers often fail to consider the ripples of a new camera body.

There is more to the decision than just the camera body, and that's what prompted me to write this post. So let's go. Here are 5 things you should consider before making your upgrade.

1. Storage Space

Hard drive space is the obvious impact when the new camera body you are considering has a higher megapixel count. More pixels mean larger photo files. In my example, the Sony a7R produces 36MB RAW files. The a7R II pumps out 42MB RAW files — that's about a 16% increase. Non-trivial for disk storage, but manageable. But if I dabble with uncompressed RAW files, I'm looking at more like 80MB per shutter press. I'll hazard a guess the a7R III will produce even larger RAW files, on the order of 50MB to 70MB.

What about memory cards? How large are the ones you own? If you are still shooting with 32GB memory cards, that may be a problem. Using my example again, my a7R could take around 900 photos before filling a 32GB card. That drops to more like 750 with the a7R II. Or a mere 400 for those 80MB uncompressed RAW beasts.

Storage is relatively cheap, but for prolific photographers (think sports, wildlife, weddings), you may be eating up disk space and memory cards faster than Pac-Man eats dots. Projecting your storage needs is easy enough math. Just know those storage needs come with a price tag beyond the camera body — and they are recurring costs.

2. Lens Compatibility

Many of us that have been into photography for a long time have an investment in lenses. Maybe you've scrimped and saved to get some really good glass. If you are considering a camera body from another vendor, you need to consider lens compatibility. A prime example is moving from a DSLR system to a mirrorless system.

A new camera body may push the limits of your current glass.

All things being equal, it's probably preferable to protect the investment you've made in lenses. There are lens mount adapters out there. Read the spec sheets. Adapters have gotten better and better. However, you have to do your homework. Does the adapter support your lenses? What features (e.g. auto-focus) will or won't work? What features (e.g. focus speed) are hampered by the adapter?

3. Lens Resolution

You are drooling over that new, high megapixel camera. And maybe you are able to keep using your existing glass with an adapter. However… can your current lenses resolve enough detail for that big new sensor? A top-notch sensor paired with a lens of lower optical quality won't produce optimal images. Good glass from a few years back may or may not be up to the task of resolving 40 or 50 megapixels of data.

In simple terms, the quality of your photo is only as good as the weakest link in the chain.

DxOMark added the "perceptual megapixel" to their lens ratings several years ago. A nice feature of the DxOMark site is you can check the ratings of a lens as mounted on a variety of camera bodies (assuming the combination has been tested). I checked my Sony lenses on DxOMark and the perceptual megapixel (sharpness) values increased going from the a7R to the a7R II. Sony built the lenses thinking ahead to larger sensors. Did they think all the way ahead to a rumored 50-60MP a7R III sensor? We will see.

I also temper by-the-numbers ratings by asking other photographers I know and trust that use the gear I'm considering. Of course, I can only ask about cameras that exist. I have plenty of photo friends that use the a7R II. If I jump on the a7R III train early, I won't have much tribal knowledge to tap into.

4. Computing Horsepower Is your computer up to the task of pushing more megapixels?

The power of your computer is something all to often overlooked by photographers when moving to a new camera body. Imagine going from a 20-megapixel to a 40-megapixel camera. You have doubled the size of every photo you are processing. Can your computer handle that?

In this example, you are asking your machine to do double the work. Of course, you don't want to have a slow processing experience. Yet, if your system is a few years old, you will probably experience sluggish behavior. In my opinion, the days are gone in the photography world where we can expect to use the same computer for more than a few years without an upgrade (or tolerating a slower experience).

I try my best to get 4 years out of a desktop machine… and that's pushing it. When I purchase a system, I get the maximum config, especially for components I know I can't easily swap in and out to upgrade myself. I also add loads of memory and future-proof my system as much as possible. I'm not looking forward to my next iMac update — memory won't be user replaceable. Apple's pricing on RAM is… well, let's just say off market prices.

If you're able, get a few test files from the body you are considering. You may be able to find some online. Or find a photographer friend that is using the camera you are considering and try working with the files on your machine. Visit a local camera store and ask to take a few snaps to your own memory card. Or rent the body for a weekend and give your cataloging and processing workflow a real-world test. Another idea is to stitch together a few panoramas and take those through your workflow. They are morally equivalent to large RAW files with lots of pixels to push.

And prepare yourself: you may either need a computer upgrade as well or live with a sluggish experience for a while.

5. What Problem Are You Trying to Solve?

The last consideration on the list should be the first thing you think about. Why are you getting a new camera body? When I consider a new gear purchase, I ask myself what photographic problem the new gear will solve.

Ask yourself what limitation a new camera body will help you overcome.

Sometimes the reasons are easy to rattle off. Your current camera 10 years old and reaching the end of its life. Or your current camera is flat out broken! Other times, the benefits are nebulous, the perceived problems are more subtle. You ask yourself "Do I really need that gear? Or do I just want it because it's new?"

Let's use me as an example. Why am I considering an upgrade when I'm quite happy with the a7R? I have a few reasons.

1. I need a second full-frame camera. My current backup body is a crop sensor system, an A6000. It works great and I like the A6000, too. However, when I'm traveling for a shoot, I'm always a little nervous that a problem with my a7R means I lose my full-frame goodness.

2. I want the in-body stabilization of the a7R II or a7R III (I'm assuming the a7R III will have this feature). This will allow me to take better handheld shots. My landscape work is always on a tripod. However, when I travel, I shoot handheld much of the day. And my hands aren't all that steady.

3. This is part of a grander plan for my cameras and my photography. Once I have a new full frame camera, it will become my main body and the a7R will become my backup. I then will convert my A6000 to infrared and explore a whole new (to me) arena of photography.

So ask yourself: what problem will that new camera body solve for you? It is a way to temper that desire for a new "shiny object". You might know this as GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).

Parting Thoughts

Buying a new camera is fun. It's exciting. It can reinvigorate your photography. It can get you off the couch and out making photographs. However, don't overlook the ripples a new camera creates. There may be costs beyond the camera itself in lenses, disk space, or computing power. Weigh those costs against the value of solving the photographic problem you have with your current system. And after all that, if a new body makes sense… buy it, enjoy it, and make great work.

About the author: Scott Davenport is a landscape photographer and photo educator based in San Diego, California. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. You can find more of his work and writing on his website, blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. This article was also published here.

Source: 5 Things to Consider Before Buying a New Camera

The Fly in Infrared (No, Not The Insect)

by Sean Setters When packing up for my exodus from Savannah, GA with the center of hurricane Irma forecasted to hit the city dead on (it later hit farther west), I made sure to pack as much photography equipment as possible (we all have our priorities). One of the things I brought with me was my infrared-converted EOS 7D. Deciding not to brave the flood of traffic heading to Atlanta, we instead headed west to New Orleans to stay with family who resides there. One of the places I visited while in New Orleans was The Fly (or, more precisely, Butterfly Riverview Park), a waterfront area located in southwest Audubon Park along the Mississippi River. The Fly is a popular hangout for college students, who typically enjoy sunbathing and other outdoor activities in the manicured lawns next to the river. While the hordes of college students were certainly interesting, a few isolated trees on the opposite side of the road from the river bank caught my attention. With my IR-converted 7D avai lable, I photographed a few of the trees. My favorite appears at the top of this post, and another image I enjoyed can be seen below. Photographing isolated trees on flat land set against a bright blue sky with a Super Color IR-converted camera creates a dramatic contrast that helps draw the viewer's eyes directly to your subject. If photographed with a normal camera, the scene would have much less impact. Upgrading DSLRs in the near future? Consider converting your older DSLR to an infrared camera to add an inspiring and creative tool to your kit.
Source: The Fly in Infrared (No, Not The Insect)

Top Rod-Holder Accessories

There are never enough hands on board, but these cool gadgets keep things handy and secure while you do your thing.

They're referring to the rod holders in their boat. You may not fish and, consequently, may not have rod holders installed aboard your boat, but after browsing this peek at the coolest boat gear designed to be mounted in rod holders, you may want to install some. And that might accidentally lead to fishing.

But bear in mind, some rod holders aren't made to support much more than a light-action crappie fishing rod, and most of this gear needs more support than offered by light plastic mounts. These all require a solid offshore mount, not a plastic or light stainless mount, to hold this gear. It's also a good idea to note that rod holders are built to hold rods at various angles, from vertical to 30 degrees. Some of our gear is capable of adjusting to any rod-holder angle, and some comes in various angles to match your rod holder.

Magma Newport II Infrared GrillThis marine-quality, highly polished stainless-steel grill has infrared heating grates that provide the most even heat for consistent cooking with no hot spots on the grill. A tempered-glass window lets you check your progress without losing heat, and a built-in thermometer keeps track of the temp. It's equipped with a padded carrying bag with a corrosion-resistant zipper, folding legs for setting on the deck, a gourmet tray for added workspace, and stainless-steel barbecue tools to boot. It uses either a 2-pound Coleman propane bottle for fuel or can be hooked to an 18-pound tank.

Options: The ball-mount rod holder (from $82.98) is optional but a worthwhile purchase so you can keep away from foot traffic and at a comfortable work level.

Best Applications: Without the rod mount, use it dockside. It's big enough to entertain at home, but easy to carry and stow in its custom shoulder bag.

Tips: Mount the grill in an aft rod holder in rougher seas, go forward when calm.

Cost: $519.88; magmaproducts.com

Magma Kayak/SUP RacksThese racks are beauties for carrying stand-up paddleboards and 'yaks to the paddling waters of your choice. Paddling has become so popular, it is a wonder these are the first racks we've seen to secure these popular vessels on board for transport. They are all stainless steel, and the gimbal mounts compression-clamp into the rod holders for security. Even better, each has a ball mount for perfect angle adjustment. They are all 316 stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer for long life.

Options: Mount the kayak of your choice across the transom or along the gunwales. Or put two SUPs together for tandem paddling.

Best Applications: Their secure compression clamps mean your 'yak or SUP can ride securely at any reasonable speed.

Tips: Use a bungee cord to secure the paddle vessels to the racks using the stainless-steel rings at the ends of the U-shaped supports.

Cost: $299 per pair; magmaproducts.com

Gemlux BluewaterThese may be the most beautiful rod holders on the market. Made from 326 stainless steel, their most striking feature is the lack of mounting screws. This is possible thanks to the threaded barrel of the rod holder and the locking nut that spins on underneath the gunwale or transom.

Options: They are available on zero-, 15- and 30-degree models and come in models for coastal, bluewater and big-game fishing. The rod holder comes standard with mounting hardware; however, you'll need one socket ($75) to tighten each locking nut.

Best Applications: The Bluewater model is ideal for trolling for mahi, stripers or sails, but the Bluewater Heavy Duty model is best selected to deep-drop for swordfish or pursue tuna. This model is plenty capable of handling all the gear in this installment of BoatingLAB.

Tips: If your mounting location is concealed behind coamings, be sure to plumb the drain hole and preferably connect it to an overboard drain.

Cost: $75; gemlux.com

Mate Series Rod HolderMate Series' popularity has grown rapidly thanks to its unique integration of a solid, big-game-capable rod holder and a handy cup holder. The upper section of the rod holder fits a can in a koozie or a Yeti Rambler. Its unique design takes up nearly the same footprint as a regular rod holder, making it ideal for retrofitting. Adding to the appeal, the design allows a simple vertical hole, eliminating the need for a complicated angle cut.

Options: Models are available in zero, 15 and 30 degrees, and newer Elite models feature a screwless flange and fasten from beneath the gunwale.

Best Applications: Double your pleasure with these rod/cup holders and minimize deck and transom holes thanks to their dual-purpose design. All the 316 stainless models are offshore- capable and tough enough to handle the gear in this issue.

Tips: Vertical or zero-degree rod holders are an ideal choice for mounting umbrellas or other shades. Most other gear items have been designed for 30-degree mounts or are completely adjustable.

Cost: $139; mateseries.com

Gemlux Deluxe Carbon-Fiber OutriggersOur pair of these riggers was so light, the shipping box felt empty. The rigger has a gimbal butt to fit into a rocket launcher when used as a center rigger or to lock into kingfish mounts when you want to spread your baits out. Instead of the annoying and hard-to-align snap-button clips, these feature anodized aluminum threaded locking rings for easy extension and retraction. Line guides are sleek integrated rollers.

Options: The integrated rigger line rollers are ideal for monofilament rigging kits available at any marine tackle supplier.

Best Applications: Today, bay boats in the 25-foot class are the hot ticket for inshore and offshore fishing, and these make ideal substitutes for heavy swiveling hardtop mounts.

Tips: While they are high enough to clear the seas for short moves, move them to rocket launcher mounts or vertical shotgun mounts at the transom for running.

Cost: $399 each; gemlux.com

Hydra Shade XL-100There is never enough shade at the sandbar or when you're on the hook at a party cove. The 8-foot-by-8-foot Hydra Shade solves that by clamping firmly into any rod holder. Its tilting head adjusts for any rod-holder angle, and five vertical positions let you set the head clearance needed. The nylon fabric is touted to have a UPF-30 rating, and the umbrella is made from corrosion-resistant aluminum, stainless steel and plastic.

Options: Forget about options, this comes with a carry bag and an extra auger post for screwing into the sandbar, or even in the backyard at a pool party.

Best Applications: Use it only when beached or on the hook.

Tips: Its adjustable nature makes it versatile for almost any rod holder, but this would be the ideal accessory for adding an extra rod holder somewhere along the centerline for optimal coverage.

Cost: $149; hydrashade.com

Austin Industries Party TrayBe the most popular dockside entertainer with the Party Tray. It's set up for wine, spirits and dual 2-liter bottles of your favorite mixers, plus glassware. Two cutting boards come with it for cutting lemons and limes. It's made entirely of King Starboard and Thermo-weld-bonded and screwed together with stainless-steel screws. It sits perfectly level on 30-degree rod holders.

Options: Two cutting boards fit the large holes and are standard.

Best Applications: Dockside parties or overnights on the hook are the best times to break out the Party Tray.

Tips: Standard configuration for the Party Tray is 30 degrees, but Austin Industries makes them to order at no extra charge for 15- and zero-degree rod holders.

Cost: $150; jwaustin.com

Nautical Cross Boarding PoleThis is the ideal companion for stepping aboard and avoiding YouTube-worthy spills. It slips into a 30-degree rod holder for a perfectly vertical grab handle to steady your step aboard. We've used one on our boat, and it's ideal for that extra boost up and out over the gunwale or to hold your balance when dropping inboard. It's made of aircraft aluminum and rated for 300-pound capacity. Ours has remained handsomely polished for eight years.

Options: There is an extra-durable 15/8-inch model for larger rod holders for $99.99.

Best Applications: Besides climbing aboard, we found it was also ideal for positioning a Garmin Virb Ultra POV camera to capture video or photography of your day on the water.

Tips: Change your camera angle by rotating the mount in the rod hole until you reach the best angle.

Cost: $79.99 (11/2-inch-diameter pole); nauticalcross.com

Source: Top Rod-Holder Accessories

21 beautiful reader photos of North East monuments

We asked keen photographers in the region to send us their pick of the pictures they are proudest of - and here is a collection featuring the best manmade landmarks, sculptures, monuments and buildings in Newcastle and the North East region.

There are so many beautifully designed buildings and sculptures to choose from. Many of the submissions we had were of photographers' favourites including the Angel of the North, Tommy in Seaham and Penshaw Monument.

The photographs were taken by a variety of people including students, teachers, nurses and a retired RAF engineer and you can read all about them below. Thank you to everyone who submitted photographs. Please note that we aren't accepting any more submissions for Take Your Pic at present.

Here is a little about each of the photographers who are featured in the video.

HELEN BRAIN: Snowdog at the Sage

I am 38 and married. Apart from photography, I absolutely love yoga! I like taking photos of Newcastle city centre , as I live there and I get lots of opportunities to capture the city at its best. I also love to take photos of the seaside and countryside in the North East. At the moment I only have an iPhone to take photos with, but one day I'd like to get a real camera.

BOBBY WHITE: Seaham Tommy

Hi, my name's Bobby White from Sunderland . I'm 45 years old, a father of two beautiful boys and a husband of one beautiful wife. My full-time job is the campaign manager for a leading contact centre and order fulfilment company. My main area of photography is landscapes and popular places in the North East. I have also photographed a few events and dabbled in portrait photography.

LIAN KIRTON: Angel of the North

Hi I'm Lian, I'm 29 originally from Sunderland, now living in Blyth . I took on photography around a year ago as a hobby. Other than photography, I run my own pet care business. My other hobby is playing guitar! I like to take landscape pictures particularly of the interesting weather we get! I love how photography can capture the beauty in something you can miss just walking by. I think the North East has some amazing landmarks to photograph.

Read More

BETH ABBOTT: The Lit & Phil

Hello! I'm a 37-year-old currently living in Hexham , but originally from Newcastle. I live with my partner Darren, kids - Lauren, 13, Daniel, 11, and our dog Tot the Boston Terrier!

I work as a staff nurse at St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth and really love my job. Outside of work I have a real passion for photography and just love to get out and about taking photos, especially around the North East as there really are some fantastic spots to capture.

My other interests are gardening, swimming and yoga. Happy days.

JOANNE SHEARS: In the distance, Lindisfarne Priory, Northumberland

I am a 36-year-old dog lover who competes in flyball with my two rescue border collies. A regular camper who loves the great outdoors and makes tea bags for a living. All pictures are off my mobile phone as I don't own my own camera yet. My pictures feature the countryside and my dogs are my favourite subject. It's a perfect mix.

MICK RAY: Queen Victoria - South Shields Town Hall

I'm a retired ex-RAF electronics engineer aged 70, although in the later years I travelled the North East teaching students how to build and repair computers. I am married with two grown-up children and three grandchildren. My hobbies include reading, computers, and electronics. I don't have any favourite photographic subjects, but lately I have been concentrating on Infrared images. The colours are distorted, especially anything green, which appears as white in the images. This naturally favours landscapes, with trees as the prominent feature.

Queen Victoria - South Shields Town Hall by Mick Ray of South Shields (Image: UGC TNE)

PAUL HOOD: The bandstand in Exhibition Park

I am a 56-year-old married man with two younger children and two adult children. As a primary teacher I don't have time for many hobbies other than photography. I started getting properly interested in photography a couple of years ago and I have taken a number of courses with Newcastle adult education. I am still finding an area that I like so am snapping whatever I can, although I do like architecture.

MATT WALKER: Tommy - Seaham

I'm 30 years old, recently married to the lovely Beth and work as the videographer for Nissan. I get to travel with work, which is fantastic as travel and the outdoors are my favourite things. During the weekends I'm either in Northumberland , the Lake District, Yorkshire or Scotland. I'm a huge fan of the cinema and I am also obsessed with Roman history. Landscape is the area I focus on. I love to get out first thing and enjoy the calm, quiet sunrises. I love the Northumbrian coastline. Closer to home I shoot St Mary's Lighthouse, Old Hartley and all the beaches south of Tynemouth. The English Lake District is just on the doorstep and I look to get over as often as possible as it's too beautiful to miss out on!

SARAH BLUNT: Lighthouse

I love to go out walking with my husband and son - he calls them adventure days. We go all over the North East and especially love the coast. I love to try and capture my son when he doesn't realise and I love the Northumberland coastline.

Read More

REBECCA PARKER: This was the first photo I took with a SLR camera on a quick trip to Roker

I am aged 22 and I am currently training to be a primary school teacher. I recently moved in with my fiancé and our pet dog, with whom we go on varying walks.

My alternative hobbies includes horse riding once week, going to the cinema and reading. I have quite recently started to develop an interest in history.

I enjoy taking photos of a variety of objects but love images of monuments and macro shots which are full of detail. I also enjoy taking pet portraits because of the connection which people have with their animals. I occasionally do some portrait photography but this is normally with a specific theme in mind. Furthermore, I really like it when my photos are natural with little need to be edited.

JOHN ROBINSON: Central Station

Hi, I am 28, I work in office admin. At weekends I love to spend time with my son who keeps me on my feet. My hobbies include following football and UFC and, of course, editing and taking photos.

DAREN PHILLIPS: The demolition of the flats at Cruddas Park, March 2012

I am 49 years old, married with four fantastic children. Our 18-year-old twins are off to university and our younger two boys are 10 and 11.

I am assistant restaurant manager at Dobson & Parnell on Queen Street in Newcastle's vibrant Quayside. I enjoy reading, cooking, improving my knowledge of wines as well as taking part in Taekwondo with my children.

I enjoy landscape photography and hope one day to compile a portfolio of the castles of Northumberland.

The demolition of the flats at Cruddas Park, March 2012 - Daren Phillips of Throckley (Image: UGC TNE)

PARIS ELSENDER: South Shields Town Hall

I am 23 years old and I work in a fast food restaurant. I like to go out with friends and go to old buildings. I like taking photos around Newcastle and of different buildings.

KEVING ASH: Sage lights - The Sage

I'm married with one daughter. I'm 46 and I enjoy reading. I like to photograph landscape and horror-style photoshoots.

WENDY PEARSON: Cathedral in Newcastle

I'm Wendy and I am 43 years old. I'm married and have three cats and two rabbits. I'm an assistant manager for Greggs and also do voluntary work at Brysons Animal Shelter. Animals are my passion and I like to visit zoos and wildlife parks. I mainly photograph animals, which are my passion.

JOHN TURNER: It's Baltic!

I'm 37 and live in North Shields . I enjoy camping, walking, swimming and cycling. I enjoy taking photos of landscapes, night photography and long exposure. You don't see too many pictures of people.

Read More

DAVID ROGERS: Penshaw Monument

I'm 49, have a partner and a daughter who is 17. I'm also a keen sea angler. I love to take pictures of urban and country landscapes around the North East of England.

PAMELA KARAGEORGIOU: Newcastle from Tyne Bridge

I am Pamela, Greek South African with a passion for photography! My camera is always with me! I am 57 and live in Gateshead with my son. I have a daughter and I am an official member of the *grandmother club*. I have two adorable felines, if I could have it my way I would have at least a dozen, crazy cat lady, oh, and owls, I love owls too! I like to capture random sights I see, people being my favourite, animals, trees and flowers! I love clouds and sunsets, and the moon too. My camera is always in my bag!

DAREN KNOTTS: Hardwick Park

I love the outdoors and walking, I try to do it as much as possible. I'm married with a one-year-old boy who will hopefully love the outdoors too. Places and family are my main interests.

Hardwick Park - Daren Knotts of Heworth (Image: UGC TNE)

MARION WILLIAMS: Emerson Chambers

I live in Newcastle but work in Edinburgh. I will be 60 this year, but no retirement, thanks to the government changes in pension age! I have two grown-up sons, one in Newcastle and the other where I was born, Tunbridge Wells. I'm an NUFC fan, following the team wherever they go. I miss the European adventures. I like landscapes and urban environment. Place is so important to our culture and wellbeing.

BRENT MARCH: Monument

I am a 19-year-old musician from Northumberland. As well as investing most my time into music, whilst travelling I like to do various short films and take as many pictures as possible with my Canon 700D (various lenses) and my iPhone. Mostly landscapes and scenery. My favourite place to photograph is the Lake District. I have so many photos of the lakes and whether it's summer or winter, sunny or cloudy it always looks beautiful.

Thank you again to everyone who submitted photographs. We will be creating more themed collections in the coming weeks.

Source: 21 beautiful reader photos of North East monuments

Monochrome photography: Interview with Tony Sellen

Tony Sellen, who's won plaudits in both the EISA Maestro and APOY competitions, discusses his minimalist approach

This is a new residential building in London. It has some interesting shapes, which caught my attention right away. Nikon D810, 20mm, 1/500sec at f/8, ISO 100. All images Tony Sellen

When did you first become interested in photography?

I bought my first DSLR back in 2009, but I don't think I really got into photography seriously until 2014. In those first five years of owning a DSLR it was really an on/off hobby where I'd go months without touching the camera, yet I would learn something new every time I did pick it up. Then, in 2014, I decided to start taking it more seriously. I did a workshop with the talented Vulture Labs (www.vulturelabs.photography) at the end of 2014, and then I was really was hooked. Since then, I've been taking my camera everywhere I go and, as a result, I shoot most weeks.

Why do you like black & white?

Black & white for me is timeless; it's a style that will never go out of fashion. I believe architecture and street photography really suit black & white processing, and they just happen to be the two genres that I frequently shoot.

After reading an interesting article by Joel Tjintjelaar on split toning I thought I'd give it a go. Nikon D810, 25mm, 396sec at f/8, ISO 100

What is it about long exposures that you love?

Long-exposure photography allows you to be creative, taking a scene and making it your own. Whether it's smoothing out water or turning fluffy clouds into sleek streaks across the sky, it's a look that you can't see without using the long-exposure process.

Have you dabbled in any other genres of photography?

I do enjoy wildlife photography and I'm always drawn to good photographs of animals. I've been on safari and I've taken photos of birds while I was learning. But when you're living in the city, wildlife is a genre that is hard to maintain interest in.

This is such an unusual building with its curved structure and sloping sides. It really stands out in the Warsaw skyline catching the light so well. Nikon D810, 20mm, 1/250sec at f/9, ISO 80

What is your go-to kit?

I've always used Nikon cameras and I currently have a Nikon D810 and an infrared converted D7000. I only use prime lenses now, which means the bag is a lot heavier, but I think the fixed focal length helps you improve as a photographer. My 25mm and 50mm lenses tend to go everywhere with me. I find the 50mm is ideal for street photography and the 25mm is perfect for architecture and cityscapes. I've also got a good set of ND filters that I use for my long exposures, along with a couple of grads.

Can you explain your typical long-exposure technique?

With long-exposure photography I first set up a composition just holding the camera. Once I find that I have roughly what I want, I set the camera up on the tripod and concentrate on getting the framing exactly right. I manually focus in live view and then plug the remote in and cover the eyepiece. I have the camera set to aperture priority mode at the start. I adjust the aperture to try to achieve a shutter speed of about 1/250sec. From here, I know what my exposure time will be, although I must say there are many phone apps available that will do the calculation for you. Next, it's time to put on the ND filter. There are many types of filters, and I use Formatt-Hitech screw-on range. The camera then needs to go into manual and/or bulb mode to set the correct exposure time.

This shot was taken on the new underground line in Warsaw. Nikon D810, 20mm, 1/80sec at f/7.1, ISO 1600

How often do you get a chance to go out and shoot?

Last year I managed to get out at least once a week. It's not been quite as frequent this year, but I've been on quite a few trips where I have spent several days taking photographs, so it's possible I have taken more photographs this year than I did last year. I've usually got my camera with me, so even if I haven't planned to go out shooting, I've always got the option to take a few shots.

What is your favourite time of day and locations to shoot?

I don't like busy locations, so I tend to try to avoid busy times of day. A stroll around London on a Sunday shooting some street and architecture is always nice. Trips to Venice and Iceland in the winter were cold, but all the good locations were not as busy as they would have been at peak tourism times.

This fantastic little house surrounded by water was taken in Venice. Nikon D810, 18mm, 251sec at f/6.3, ISO 100

What post-production software do you use?

I use Lightroom and Silver Efex Pro for most of my post-production work. During the past year I've also started adding Photoshop to my workflow.

Do you tend to apply the same adjustments in post-production?

I always try to go for the same style throughout most of my photographs. Yet, I don't have any presets saved and start every process from scratch. While I want the same style, every photo needs different treatment.

This shot is called 'Step on Up' and gives a unique architectural view. Nikon D810, 25mm, 1/320sec at f/8, ISO 250

Do you have any big projects you're currently working on?

I've never been one for projects. Last year I entered the Wex Photographic weekly social media competition #WexMondays every week. This was a project of some sorts, having to take a different photo every week throughout the year. It was quite a challenge to produce a good shot each and every week. I'm currently trying to get a different photograph from a different country each month. I may have to bend my own rules a little on this, but it's not going too badly at the moment.

Do you have a dream location you'd like to shoot at?

The list of locations to go and shoot is a list that gets longer and longer. Places like New York, Chicago and Paris would be great cities to visit, and are high up on my list, as are more remote places such as Japan and the Faroe Islands. I'm hopeful that I'll get the chance to go to some, if not all of them.

Berlin Cathedral sat next to the Spr ee gave a dreamy reflection. Nikon D810, 25mm, 52sec at f/11, ISO 64

What attracts you to a scene?

Shapes and leading lines are always good places to start when looking for a good composition. Nice clean lines in architecture always draw my attention, and if this can be incorporated into street photography too then even better.

How do you feel about being the British winner of the 2017 EISA Maestro competition and second overall?

I was thrilled to have won the British leg of the competition. Having seen the other photographs that were entered, I really thought it was quite an achievement, especially with it being a portfolio-based competition. When I went up against the winners from 14 other countries for the overall competition, I never expected to do so well by finishing second. I'm so pleased to have placed in such a big competition.

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park with low cloud and its active volcano smoking. Nikon D810, 50mm, 1/80sec at f/3.2, ISO 500

You've also entered our competition, APOY, on Photocrowd. How important are competitions to you in terms of raising your pro le and helping your photography?

It's a good way of gauging how good your work is, but you shouldn't read too much into it. Winners are often one person's or a small group's collective opinion. It's always nice to do well, of course, but you shouldn't get too upset if you don't.

Tony Sellen

Tony Sellen is a self- taught photographer shooting with Nikon FX and DX cameras. He is passionate about fine-art, long-exposure images and, as he is based in London, the City is where he finds most of his inspiration. You can see more of his work on his website www.londonfineartphotography.co.uk, on Instagram @ts446photo and his recently launched Facebook page www.facebook.com/londonfineartphotography.

What advice would you give someone when creating a series/portfolio of cohesive shots?

I'd say a small strong portfolio is better than a large weak one, and a good portfolio takes time to achieve, so don't expect it to happen overnight. Try to have a style – if your photographs can be recognised without your name next to them, you're doing something right.

Source: Monochrome photography: Interview with Tony Sellen

Hackaday Prize Entry: Infrared Vein Illumination

Phlebotomy is a fun word, and the fine art of finding veins. While the skill of putting needles in arms is honed by nurses and physicians over the course of decades, there are, of course, technological solutions to finding veins. One of the more impressive medical devices that does this uses near-infrared imaging — basically looking under the skin with almost visible light. These devices cost a fortune.

One project in the Hackaday Prize is looking to change that. It's a near-infrared vein finder. Instead of the thousands of dollars professional unit costs, this one can be built for under one hundred bucks.

As far as this build goes, veins are illuminated via IR light at about 950nm. The backscatter of this light is captured via a Raspberry Pi NoIR camera, with regular old photography film blocking visible light. From there, it's just a simple matter of image processing and hitting enhance several times until veins appear on a display.

The team behind this project has already developed a mobile version of the device, complete with 3D printed parts. It's a handy device and a great entry for the Hackaday Prize.

The HackadayPrize2017 is Sponsored by:
Source: Hackaday Prize Entry: Infrared Vein Illumination

The Nine Best Drones for Travel

There are so many drones out there that sometimes it is difficult to choose a perfect flying friend for yourself. Unsplash

There are many ways you can record your adventures while traveling around the globe. You can take pictures with a camera, Polaroid or record everything on video. However, in these modern times, probably there is no better way to capture your adventures than a drone. They are getting smaller, lighter and more portable than ever before. Also, they are equipped with new high-quality cameras that can take 4K video or images with no problem. Therefore, you can capture your high moments from above and even record some documentary of yourself like a professional cinematographer, and instantly share it on social media or with your family. There are so many drones out there that sometimes it is difficult to choose a perfect flying friend for yourself. Thus, I am here to help you. I collected 9 drones that are best for travelers and will allow you to capture breath-taking photos of your journeys.

DJI Mavic Pro DJI DJI

DJI is a well-known drone manufacturer that has a reputable name. Their DJI Mavic Pro drone is an excellent choice for a traveller because it is really compact and can easily fit in your backpack or suitcase. Also, it is more affordable than the bigger ones. In spite of the size, it brings you a lot of possibilities and power. It has 24 high-performance computing cores and new transmission system that lets you control it within a range of 4.3 mi. Moreover, you can easily use it in remote and unknown areas because of the safety sensors in front of the drone. The sensors ensure that it would safely land instead of crashing into something. Furthermore, the intelligence of this drone given by FlightAutonomy is incredible. It can avoid obstacles and hover precisely. The drone can travel about 40 mph in Sports mode and has 27 minutes of flight time.

Pros

Small and easy to carry anywhere.

Much quieter than most of the other drones.

4K camera stabilizer.

Cons

As it has so many features, it could be too complex for some people.

In some lightings' situations, you might get blue casts on your videos and pictures.

Price:  $999.00

DJI Spark DJI

Spark is a mini drone from DJI. It is a perfect drone for those who travel and want to capture every simple moment or take a selfie with friends. It has a quick launch technology that lets it take off from your hand by recognizing your face. Moreover, you can easily control the drone with a hand gesture without any controller or smart phone, it has never been easier to take a selfie. DJI Spark allows you to follow any subject with a fixed perspective with ActiveTrack technology. The drone can even circle around the target, and make amazing shots. Also, like all DJI drones, Spark can return to the home point by itself when it has an adequate GPS signal which ensures that you will never lose it. The FlightAutonomy sensors will make sure that it would not hit any obstacle. Furthermore, creative flight modes allow you to create breath-taking cinematic aerial videos with just a few taps on your smartphone screen.

Pros

Affordable drone for everyone.

Small, can fit into your palm.

GPS stabilization.

Cons

There is no 4K camera.

Battery last about 13 min of flight time.

Limited flight range compared to other drones.

Price:  $499.00

X-Star Premium. X-Star

X-Star Premium Drone is perfect for a traveller that does not have any drone flying experience. The X-Star Premium has beginner mode that limits its speed, distance, and altitude. Also, by having dual GPS and GLONASS satellite navigation that is aided by the Starpoint Positioning System, it ensures that the drone will stay safe and stable in harsh conditions and low altitudes. This makes the drone perfectly designed for any pilot to use, from beginner to a professional. Moreover, the drone has an inbuilt home-coming feature when the battery gets under 25%, and it will automatically land on home-point when it reaches 10%. Thus, you can feel safe that it will not drop out of the sky. The X-Star Premium comes with a splash-proof and shock-absorbent case, and 64-GB MicroSD card that can record up to two hours of 4K video.

Pros:

Has a 4K camera

Customizable battery fail-safes.

Battery life: Up to 25 minutes

Cons:

A bit heavy 3.4 lbs.

64GB internal storage capacity limit

No collision avoidance system

Price:  $799.00

DJI Phantom 4 DJI

DJI Phantom 4 is another great drone from DJI company. It has multiple flight modes, and because of that, it will suit any needs. It is perfect for the amateur pilot, traveller, and even for a professional landscape photographer. It can be controlled from a distance of up to 3.1 mi, with a complete control and a live 720p HD video on your phone or tablet. It is equipped with a powerful 4K camera at 30fps and Full HD 1080p at 120fps for slow motion. You can take stunning pictures of your travel with this beast. Furthermore, it has integrated 3-axis gimbal that will help keep your camera stable and enable you to make smooth videos, while flying or hovering around the air. Moreover, the ActiveTrack feature will allow you to follow fixed targets and film them without controlling the drone. The collision avoidance system that is built-in will guard your drone so that it would not hit anything.

Pros

5-direction obstacle avoidance.

28-minutes flight time.

4K excellent camera.

Cons

Optional touchscreen controller costs around $300.

Extra batteries are expensive

Price: $1,199.00

Yuneec Breeze 4K. Yuneec

Yuneec Breeze 4K is a small drone that is best for selfies. The drone comes with a compact and lightweight design that is specifically ideal for travellers because it can easily fit into your backpack and weighs under 1 pound. It is controllable with a smartphone app that is available both on iOS and Android. Moreover, the drone is easy to fly and use because of its automated flight modes. Therefore, even a beginner can use it. Also, the drones allow you to make complex shots easily due to its automatic flight modes. You will only need to take control of the camera instead of flying and filming at the same time. The drone has optical flow and infrared positioning sensors that allow it to hold a position in any place. Additionally, it comes with auto-landing and auto-return feature. Furthermore, it has a 4K camera, although your video will be shaky because it does not have any stabilizer.

Pros

Affordable.

Beginner-friendly.

Replacement parts are available to buy.

Cons

There is no digital image stabilization at 4K.

Flight time is about 12 minutes only.

Not suitable for aerial photography.

Price:  $449.99

GoPro Karma GoPro

GoPro Karma is a drone from famous action camera maker GoPro. This drone is perfect for travellers because the drone camera can also be used as a simple GoPro action camera. Thus, you can get it cheaper if you have a GoPro camera that is compatible with it. The drone itself can fold which enables you to save some space, and it comes with a protective case/backpack for drone and its accessories. Furthermore, in the bundle, you get many items, and one of them is camera stabilizer which is attachable to the drone, helmet or can be handheld. Therefore, it has a multi-purpose function that allows you to make amazing pictures in various ways and free of worries. GoPro has made a cool app that lets your friends view your flight and even control your drone during your flight. Also, its flight controller is really simple. Thus, the new pilot can feel confident flying it.

Pros

Detachable GoPro action camera, good image quality guaranteed.

Control remote has integrated display.

User-friendly controls.

Cons

20-minutes flight time.

Short flying range.

GoPro is not good for aerial pictures.

Price: $1,099.99

Hover Camera Passport. Hover

Hover Camera Passport is maybe the most portable and the best selfie drone ever made to this day. The drone won many honors and awards for its unique and outstanding design solutions. It is small, light-weight, compact and can easily fit into any backpack or even a back pocket. It is one of the best choices for travellers who want a small portable drone to capture their unforgettable moments. The Hover Camera Passport has an auto follow feature as well as full autonomous flight compatibility that can make 360 panoramic videos of you and your environment. Furthermore, it can be controlled with hand gestures and by Android or iOS smartphone. Moreover, it gets frequent Firmware updates which makes it even smarter and independent along your journey.

Pros

Face and body tracking system.

Portable and lightweight design

Really stable in the air

Cons

No image stabilizer for 4K videos.

Short battery life, about 10 minutes.

Short range.

Price:  $499.99

Parrot Bebop Drone 2 Parrot

Parrot Bebop Drone 2 is another small and lightweight drone that is excellent for travelling. The drone has high-level flight stability that lets it hover nicely as well as fly at high speeds in harsh conditions. Furthermore, it has inbuilt wide-angle 14 megapixels camera with a stabilization system, and it is capable of taking smooth full HD 1080p videos and pictures. The drone is controlled by a smartphone app that works on both iOS and Android. Also, it has features like GPS and visual tracking that will help you to capture your travelling moments from the sky while you are running or hiking and do not have the time to control it. However, the drone has some difficulties flying in areas with many Wi-Fi signals around.

Pros

Lightweight and compact.

Stable 1080p video.

Over 20 minutes flight time.

Cons

Limited suburban operating range.

Smartphones are required for camera view.

Images taken in full-resolutions are with fish-eye effect.

Price: $349.99

PowerVision PowerEgg PowerVision

PowerEgg is a drone from PowerVision that looks like an egg as you could tell from the name. In spite of its unusual design, it is one kind of a beast. Also, it is really comfortable to carry as every part of the drone folds to one egg shaped thing and it fits into a regular backpack. Therefore, it's an excellent drone for travelers. It has 4K HD camera with 3-axis gimbal stabilization and can stream video from the distance that is up to 3.1 mi without losing much quality. Additionally, It can take 360 degrees panoramic video of your environment. Furthermore, it comes with Smart Maximum Distance Mode that allows you to set maximum travel distance from the controller for each flight. At any time of your flight, you can pause the drone, and it will steadily hover in its current position. Also, it is user-friendly due to its intuitive PowerEgg Maestro gesture recognition remote control. Thus, every beginner can manage the drone.

Pros

The flight time is about 23 minutes.

Equipped with a 4K camera with 3-axis gimbal stabilizer.

Optical positioning.

Cons

The design may be not applicable for everyone.

Weighs 4.6 lbs.

Might be too expensive for some.

Price: $1,288.00

Here are 9 drones that will lend you a hand on taking stunning pictures and videos on your adventures. As you can see, every drone has some advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is sometimes hard to compare them and choose the most suitable. Now, it is only up to you to decide which one to buy and use on your trips.

Justas Markus is the Founder and CEO of Just&Tom and JustasMarkus.com. He is a passionate traveler and blogger at Entrepreneur.com, Observer.com, Business.com, Influencive.com and others.

Source: The Nine Best Drones for Travel

MATRIX Labs Joins Z-Wave Alliance; Announces Z-Wave Plus Certification for MATRIX Creator IoT Development Platform

The MATRIX Creator allows custom installers to design and build IoT smart home apps that deliver functionality that may not be provided by the big-name control brands.

MIAMI, FLORIDA, September 20, 2017 - Following the successful launch of its MATRIX Creator Raspberry Pi-based dev board, that allows for the fast, efficient and affordable development of simple-to-complex IoT home automation applications, MATRIX Labs today announced that it has achieved Z-Wave Plus certification. According to MATRIX Labs co-founder and CEO Rodolfo Saccoman, the announcement marks the MATRIX Creator's official introduction to the AV market, as it opens up entirely new possibilities for custom installers.

"Following a rigorous evaluation process, Z-Wave certification for the MATRIX Creator serves as a significant vote of confidence from the AV trade community," Saccoman emphasized. "It validates our claim that custom installers can successfully leverage MATRIX Creator and our proprietary MATRIX OS to build MATRIX-based IoT apps that perfectly complement any home automation system, and deliver functionality that may not be available through the large-scale automation systems."MATRIX Creator incorporates a Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGA, an ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller, a range of sensors for motion, temperature, humidity, light, ultraviolet and infrared, an 8-microphone array and a 35-LED array. The board, which can be programmed in 40 different languages, also incorporates integrated Z-Wave and zigBee communications plus connectivity via a wide range of analogue and digital input/output interfaces. It can also be used in standalone mode using its onboard processing capability."The reality is that integrators may not be able to satisfy all of their client's requirements with a big-brand automation system," Saccoman explained. "With the MATRIX Creator in their toolkit, though, they can seamlessly build and add customized functionality to accommodate any request beyond the system's out-of-box capabilities. The MATRIX Creator fills in the gaps, serving to seamlessly pair with a whole-home automation system and satisfy all of a customer's requests, no matter the ask."According to Saccoman, building with the MATRIX ecosystem of products - which also includes MATRIX Voice, MATRIX OS, and MATRIX App Store - provides integrators with an entirely new revenue stream. Once a MATRIX-based app is built for one project, it can be productized and sold to all future clients who may require that same highly-customized functionality."The MATRIX Creator has the ability to impact the home automation market in a legitimate way and create new solutions just as it has in the maker community," said Mitchell Klein, Executive Director of the Z-Wave Alliance. "Installers can now address all client requirements - regardless of how out of the box they may be - and utilize those apps later to evolve their businesses. We welcome MATRIX Labs to the Alliance, and we look forward to seeing how their platform will be leveraged by our community of Z-Wave integrators."Z-Wave certification comes on the heels of a series of major 2017 corporate developments for MATRIX Labs, including a partnership with Premier Farnell to manufacture and distribute the MATRIX Creator, and the launch of their MATRIX Voice dev board, which equips Raspberry Pi projects with voice control functionality and fundraised over $120,000 on Indiegogo."We are thrilled with our continued 2017 momentum, and are truly honored to be recognized among home automation's best products through our Z-Wave Certification," Saccoman concluded. "The MATRIX Creator and our MATRIX ecosystem, in general, stand to transform the custo m-installed and DIY automation markets, alike. When creating with the MATRIX Creator, the opportunities and possibilities are virtually limitless."For more information on MATRIX Labs, visit www.matrix.one. For hi-res product photography, click here.About MATRIX LabsMATRIX Labs is a complete ecosystem of IoT dev tools that also include MATRIX Voice, MATRIX OS, and MATRIX App Store. Together, the MATRIX ecosystem makes IoT app development easier, and more affordable than ever before. MATRIX OS is the application hosting platform for the MATRIX Creator and MATRIX Voice, which uses machine learning and computer vision libraries to expedite the development of complex apps. IoT applications will be bought, sold, uploaded and installed from the first-ever IoT app marketplace, the MATRIX App Store, which will support MATRIX OS, Android Things and future IoT platforms.About Z-WaveZ-Wave® technology is an open internationally recognized ITU standard (G.9959). It is the leading wireless home control technology in the market today, with over 2100 certified interoperable products worldwide. Represented by the Z-Wave Alliance, and supported by more than 600 companies around the world, the standard is a key enabler of smart living solutions for home safety and security, energy, hospitality, office and light commercial applications.Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs (NASDAQ SIGM) and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.About the Z-Wave AllianceFormed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include: ADT, Alarm.com, FIBARO, Ingersoll Rand Nexia Intelligence, Jasco Products, Leedarson, LG Uplus, Nortek Security & Control, SmartThings and Sigma Designs. Alliance members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comf ort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security.
Source: MATRIX Labs Joins Z-Wave Alliance; Announces Z-Wave Plus Certification for MATRIX Creator IoT Development Platform

Supercontinuum lasers to inspire better beer, bread

Sept. 19 (UPI) -- For the first time, researchers have used a supercontinuum laser to analyze whole grains. The laser, powered by state-of-the-art photonic crystal fibers, could help food scientists bake better loafs and brew better beer.

"The supercontinuum laser has made it possible to measure very small objects rapidly and with high energy," Tine Ringsted, a food scientist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, said in a news release. "A supercontinuum instrument can therefore potentially be used to measure whole grains and thus find grains with, for example, fungal or insect attacks, or to sort grains by baking, health or quality parameters."

The laser can rapidly image and measure individual grains among a field or a single piece of straw. Scientists say the technology could be used to identify dietary fiber beta-glucan among whole grains. Fiber beta-glucan is prized in barley and oats for its health qualities. Studies suggest the fiber helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

For brewers, fiber beta-glucan is an expensive nuisance, as the fiber can clog drains and valves in brewing equipment, as well as encourage cloudiness in the final product. The supercontinuum laser could help brewers source beer-making ingredients with lower levels of fiber beta-glucan.

Researchers have previously measured grains using lasers, but not at such a high-resolution. Less powerful lasers can't probe the interiors of grains with near-infrared wavelengths.

"The supercontinuum laser's collimated light beam with high energy meant that we could measure through the entire barley grain at the information-rich wavelengths," Ringsted said.

Scientists believe the supercontinuum laser can serve in a variety of capacities within the food production system, including analyzing the volatile compounds of various food stuffs -- the gasses responsible for a food's aroma.

"A supercontinuum laser provides even more options for food measurements, so it offers great potential for improving the quality of our food in the future," said Ringsted.

The latest testing of the whole grains using the laser is part of an ongoing project called Light and Food. Researchers published the project's latest results this week in the journal Analytica Chimica Acta.

Source: Supercontinuum lasers to inspire better beer, bread

Infrared Based Imaging and Forensic Applications

Table of Contents

The Night Of….Infrared-Imaging 101Using IR Imaging to Solve CrimesAn Errant Paint Chip can Mean 25 Years to Life…Body Heat: A Criminal's Worst EnemyImmediate Evidence

The Night Of….

January 3rd 2012 was an evening that started out as a jovial evening among friends, but unfortunately turned into a bloodbath. On that fateful day, three men were enjoying a meal around a fire, at a camping area in Sarasota, Florida, when an argument broke out between two of them. Although witnesses in the area instantly called police, unfortunately they were too late. The suspect, wielding a machete, had fled the scene after murdering his friend.

One witness stayed back, and told his version of the evening. However, to figure out exactly what happened Investigators employed infrared imaging. By examining the blood spatter on the clothing of the victim, witnesses and suspects, as well as the environment in which the murder occurred, they eventually figured out exactly how the scene unfolded.

Infrared-Imaging 101

These days, we come across waves (or radiation) from the electromagnetic spectrum in numerous forms. However, the most familiar wave is the 'visible light' which is typically found between UV (ultraviolet) and IR (infrared) wavelengths.

In simple terms, the light that is visible to human eyes dwells between 400 and 700 nanometers. IR light occupies the wavelength between microwave radiation (or the range between 700 and 15,000 nanometers) and visible light, and although it is invisible it is constantly being emitted by objects based on their temperature. While infrared light is invisible to the human eye, it can still be detected by cameras with special sensors that transform the infrared light into a signal which is then shown as an image.

Using IR Imaging to Solve Crimes

Luminol is an organic compound that exhibits a glowing quality, or chemiluminescence, when mixed with the iron found in blood. It is widely used in shows like CSI to expose bloodstains at a crime scene. When luminol is sprayed at a crime scene, blood that is not instantly apparent to the human eye is revealed. Still, it does have its restrictions – it is pretty toxic and is capable of diluting the blood and rendering it useless for DNA testing. As DNA is usually the most critical factor in tying a suspect to a crime scene, the preservation of blood is of major importance.

Crime scene with luminol sprayed to reveal trail of blood.

Latest advancements in infrared photography have ushered in a new era in forensic analysis and crime scene investigation. When an image captured with an infrared sensitive camera is illuminated by an alternate light source, then blood or other trace evidence can be exposed without compromising the crime scene, and can preserve it for additional testing and examination.

Based on what Investigators are searching for, filters can be swapped out on infrared cameras to uncover the evidence that can only be seen with certain parts of the infrared spectrum. For instance, if blood is what they are looking for, they will use a filter coated with albumin, a protein found in both blood plasma and egg whites. Fingerprints, drugs and even explosives can be detected using other filters.

The image on the left depicts a black piece of cloth with no visible stains. The image on the right, taken with an infrared camera, shows a blood stain in the top right corner. (Image courtesy of Scott T. De Broux)

An Errant Paint Chip can Mean 25 Years to Life…

Infrared spectroscopy is an even more comprehensive use of infrared technology in forensics. In other words, infrared spectroscopy involves the use of infrared light to study the chemical bonds within molecules. Every chemical bond within a molecule vibrates at a frequency that is specific to that bond – more or less like a fingerprint. Forensic analysts are thus able to know exactly what a piece of trace evidence is made up of. For instance, they can analyze a paint chip and find out its exact chemical make up and connect it back to the manufacturer, and thus discover what car make it was used on. This can be very helpful for Investigators for example, a hit and run, as it helps them conclude which vehicle the suspect was in.

IR forensics is derived from the fact that all molecules, because of the nonstop motion of their atoms, vibrate at a characteristic frequency which falls within the infrared spectrum. When an individual molecule is struck by an infrared photon that matches its vibrational frequency it will resonate, and this resonance, detected through a variety of spectroscopic techniques, can be used to precisely identify the molecule, much like a fingerprint can be used to identify an individual person.

Lynn Yarris, New Clues from Infrared Forensics

Body Heat: A Criminal's Worst Enemy

Thermal imaging, often confused with infrared¸ is another useful technique that is used in law enforcement.

As mentioned before, all objects discharge a degree of infrared radiation based on their temperature, irrespective of the degree of visible light.

This indicates that it is possible to detect objects, in this case people, in complete darkness. This has shown to be very productive for police monitoring areas at night, and has resulted in the capture of criminals in hiding. This was the case in Baltimore, Maryland where cops caught three armed men hiding after committing an armed robbery. In spite of fleeing the scene, the robbers were caught with the help of a thermal imaging camera that was attached to a roving police helicopter in a nearby forest.

The armed robbers are pictured above hiding in the dense bushes of a forest. Without the thermal imaging camera, they would have been undetectable. (Image courtesy of CBS Baltimore)

It was during the aftermath of the tragic Boston Marathon bombing on April 15th, 2013, where thermal imaging was shown to be very useful. After the police pinpointed the suspect's general location to Watertown, Massachusetts, they used thermal cameras that were fixed to the bottom of a helicopter to identify their exact hiding place on a boat. Although the suspect was hiding under a tarp in the boat, the advanced thermal imaging camera was able to see through it as his body heat was transmissive.

The Massachusetts State Police has released this video showing aerial footage of the boat where Dzhokhar Tsarnaev lay hidden during a standoff with police. (Image courtesy of the Massachusetts State Police)

Infrared Helicopter Video Of Boston Marathon Bomber In Watertown Boat.

Immediate Evidence

In forensic investigations, photography has always been an important tool. In addition, the recent advancements in infrared imaging have expanded its role significantly. The development of live infrared imaging is yet another recent advancement, enabling Investigators to investigate a crime scene with an IR sensitive light source as well as an UV-Vis-IR sensitive camera mounted to a lightweight computer tablet. This in-situ can be used by an Investigator at a crime scene who can then scan the area– collecting evidence on the spot, without having to send the images to a laboratory for analysis. Although this is a relatively new and expensive tool, it could probably become more widespread in the future and also become a vital tool in crime scene analysis.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Teledyne DALSA.

For more information on this source, please visit Teledyne DALSA.

Source: Infrared Based Imaging and Forensic Applications

Aerial Mapping Company Bluesky Celebrates 2017 Flying Success

Aerial mapping company Bluesky is celebrating following its most successful flying season to date. As temperatures soared, Bluesky took to the skies deploying three dedicated survey aircraft. To date, Bluesky has captured more than 70,000 square kilometres of aerial photography in 2017 – an area more than twice the size of the Netherlands – of which more than half is at ultra-high (12.5cm) resolution. In addition to aerial photography, Bluesky's survey planes have also been simultaneously capturing data for the creation of detailed 3D height models and Colour Infrared imagery.

Coverage of the 2017 Bluesky flying includes the UK urban areas of Leeds, Bradford, Norwich and Milton Keynes, as well as large swathes of the south-west of England, including Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. Bluesky has also been active in Ireland, capturing nearly 30,000 square kilometres of imagery, more than 40 percent of its three year target. Full coverage of Ireland is expected to be achieved early in the 2018 flying season.

"Despite the usual end of summer reports of wash out temperatures, we're in fact above average on our capture, having had several clear days which are perfect for flying," commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Leicestershire based Bluesky. "There are also reports that an Indian summer is heading our way, with the Met Office predicting hotter than average temperatures for the next three months. This will hopefully mean we can maximise the multiple resources we have on standby over the last two months of the flying season."

The imagery captured in 2017 forms part of Bluesky's nationwide coverage of high resolution, map accurate aerial photographs. Updated on a three year rolling cycle, Bluesky images will be available to view and purchase online at www.blueskymapshop.com. The Bluesky online Mapshop also offers 3D models (Digital Terrain and Surface Models DTM / DSM), LiDAR data, Thermal Mapping and Bluesky's National Tree Map.

Bluesky is expert in the capture of remotely sensed data and the production of innovative geographic data products. Bluesky launched to market the first ever detailed National Tree Map, is leading a Government funded project to investigate the potential of mobile phones for capturing accurate 3D spatial information, and has a joint venture company with the University of Leicester – working to develop solutions for air quality mapping and night time aerial surveys. In addition, Bluesky is a supplier of geographic data to UK Central Government organisations under the multi-million pound (APGB) contract.

Source: Aerial Mapping Company Bluesky Celebrates 2017 Flying Success

Here's what's new in the Apple iPhone X's cameras

This cycle of iPhones is all about optimising the hardware and software introduced first in last year's Apple iPhone 7 Plus.

Apple has taken the wraps off its precious new iPhone X, and with it has come a bunch of new camera announcements too. This year, though, the announcement of the new cameras happened on a much more low profile note than last year's iPhone 7 Plus. The special edition Apple iPhone X (pronounced as iPhone 10) celebrates a decade of the iPhone's being by optimising the dual camera layout first introduced in 2016, with the iPhone 7 Plus.

So, what's new here?Rear cameraStraight off the bat, the IPhone X uses new sensors, and Apple claims that both the sensors used for the standard and telephoto cameras are bigger in size. Theoretically, this should translate into better photograph quality. Apple also states that both the sensors now have 'deeper' pixels, although what that exactly means remains to be found out, and so are the exact makes of the sensors in question. However, Apple seems to be pointing at sensors that have faster focus pixels, and that should sum up to provide faster autofocus time, both for photographs and videos.

Alongside, the telephoto lens on the iPhone X gets a faster f/2.4 lens, which should increase both low light photography and the bokeh effect that was first introduced via Portrait Mode on the iPhone 7 Plus. Both the camera units now get optical image stabilisation, and these two factors combined should significantly improve the standalone telephoto camera performance on the iPhone X. The special edition iPhone also gets a quad-LED 'True Tone' flash, to improve low light flash shots.

Front cameraThe front camera, however, is where Apple seems to have put in a lot of effort this time. The front camera module, alongside getting a new sensor, also gets an infrared camera and a dot projector. It also gets flood illumination and a new, Apple-customised image signal processor (ISP) that enables depth-sensing, and thus enables bokeh on the front camera. While the primary reason for the inclusion of the peripheral elements (IR camera, dot projector and flood illuminator) is to facilitate the all new Face ID biometric face security lock, these elements should also play their part in the front camera's performance, even if Apple does not seem to explicitly mention it.

Portrait LightingWhile the physical upgrades are all about improving the setup that was established with the iPhone 7 Plus, the software features are all about further optimising the background defocus options. Hence, Portrait Lighting - Apple's software-induced, ISP-based three-dimensional lighting to enhance emphasis on the subject and subsequently level the light balance between the background, midground and foreground.

Portrait Lighting offers multiple modes - Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, and Stage Mono. For each of these modes, Apple's camera algorithms apply artificial filters to emulate the effect that physical studio light arrangements would have on a subject. For instance, the Natural mode in Portrait Lighting emulates the play of natural light on the subject and keeps the photo's background more or less similarly lit as the original composition. The Studio mode appears to emulate the classic, three-point Kino Flo studio lighting system so that the subject's face appears more uniformly lit, and the background fringes appear slightly darker. The Contour mode, similarly, emulates the addition of contouring filters on physical lights, emulating the warm tungsten effect of studio lighting along with highlighting facial textures with relevant shadows. This presumably takes help from the dot projector to gauge three-dimensional depth and then facilitate the addition of shadows to bring out the contours.

"Apple's sensors now have 'deeper' pixels"

While the Apple iPhone X's camera, at least on presentation, does not seem to be a completely new affair, Apple has certainly thrown in a lot of new features to make better use of the two cameras. With faster lenses, larger and faster sensors, and the plethora of features in the front camera, the iPhone X may just have what it takes to present well-refined background defocus photographs.

All of it, however, is subject to testing, at least for now.

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Source: Here's what's new in the Apple iPhone X's cameras

Fox squirrels organize their nuts by quality, quantity and preference

Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Like a child sorting Halloween candy, fox squirrels organize their loot using what's known as "chunking." Chunking describes the process of dividing a large number of items or information into smaller groups.

A new study -- published this week in the journal Royal Society Open Science -- offers the first evidence that squirrels use chunking to divvy up their nuts.

A single eastern fox squirrel collects between 3,000 to 10,000 nuts each year. The nuts aren't lobbed haphazardly into a hole. Instead, they're organized by type.

"This is the first demonstration of chunking in a scatter-hoarding animal, and also suggests that squirrels use flexible strategies to store food depending on how they acquire food," Mikel Delgado, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, said in a news release.

Delgado hypothesizes that chunking helps squirrels recall what they hid and where.

"Squirrels may use chunking the same way you put away your groceries. You might put fruit on one shelf and vegetables on another," said Lucia Jacobs, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley. "Then, when you're looking for an onion, you only have to look in one place, not every shelf in the kitchen."

For two years, Delgado and Jacobs tracked the nut-stashing patterns of 45 male and female fox squirrels. Every day, researchers gave each squirrel 16 nuts -- a combination of almonds, pecans, hazelnuts and walnuts. Researchers varied the order of the distributed nuts and location at which the nuts were distributed. GPS devices helped the scientists track where the squirrels carried and buried each nut.

Squirrels who foraged in a single location tended to organize their caches, or groups, by nut type, while squirrels who foraged a several locations tended to prioritized spatial separation among their caches, never burying nuts close to the place where they retrieved them.

"These observations suggest that when lacking the cognitive anchor of a central food source, fox squirrels utilize a different and perhaps simpler heuristic -- problem-solving approach -- to simply avoid the areas where they had previously cached," researchers concluded.

Source: Fox squirrels organize their nuts by quality, quantity and preference