Two American Photographers Secure Pulitzer Prizes
April 27, 2009
In the Feature Photography Category of the Pulitzer Prizes 2009 that was announced a week back, New York Times photographer, Damon Winter won for his memorable photograph series depicting Barack Obama's presidential campaign's multiple facets. Although he had shot numerous remarkable photographs of the American President, the most memorable one arguably was a photograph of Obama speaking at Widener University in Chester, in Pennsylvania, daring a rainstorm.
Another remarkable photograph captured by him was again an Obama picture depicting him speaking to veterans in San Antonion, in the backdrop of the American winter.
Consequently, the Breaking News Photography award was clutched by Miami Herald's Patrick Farrell for his presentation of Haiti in the aftermath of Ike the Hurricane. 'Impeccably composed pictures of despair' was the atatement of the jury on the works of Farrell.
Of the lot, the best addressed was the picture of a desperate father with the body of his 4 year old that got killed in the devastating floods, closely followed by another one that showed the silhouette of Veronica Louis, a malnourished 16 pound weighing four year old girl child. Another image of his that caught the attention of many was that featuring a woman washing her dishes and clothes in the muddy flood water.
Both the photographers had used digital cameras to shoot the images. Surprisingly, not one accolade was handed out for one of the most significant story of the year 2008 – the global economic recession. Many are of the view that this can be considered as a criticism of the press for not coming up with timely warning before the debacle.
TIPA Award to Panasonic G Digital Camera Series
April 23, 2009
Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) has announced that their prestigious Best Design Innovation award for Europe 2009 will be given to the Lumix G Digital Camera Series of Panasonic. Panasonic's G digital camera series have been meticulously designed with a unique interchangeable lens system of the digital kind that comes based on the fresh Micro Four Thirds System parameter.
The G Series digital cameras from Panasonic, apart from the new interchangeable lens concept, also exploits its light weight and compactness to the optimum. The compactness as well as the light weight aspects of the cameras are realised by the presentation of a mirror-less structure. Panasonic claims that the new enhancements have been successful in giving the G Series models unlimited possibilities to enhance creativity.
TIPA, meanwhile is a standalone organisation comprising numerous expert imaging and photo editors representing twelve nations across Europe. A product secures the eminent TIPA Award as an honour for its superiority in performance, value and quality. TIPA's official comment on the innovative device stated that the camera was significant for it being the first digital camera model based on the Micro Four Thirds system parameter that is a new concept.
TIPA accolade-winners for other categories are; Nikon D90 for the best DSLR advanced, Canon EOS 5D Mark II for the best DSLR expert, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX1 for the best Superzoom D-Camera, Canon PowerShot G10 for the best Expert Compact, Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR for the best Compact D-Camera and Olympus mju Tough 8000 for the best rugged D-Compact.
Nikon Confirms Rumours by Announcing Nikon D5000 DSLR
April 16, 2009
Ending an extended span of rumours, Nikon has on Tuesday announced its much anticipated consumer-level digital SLR, Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera. This Digital SLR of Nikon would come imbibing features such as an HD Movie mode and Live View application from its sibling Nikon D90 digital camera.
The D5000 DSLR would be hitting the UK market with a sensor resolution of 12.3 Megapixels and a flip-out vari-angle screen of 2.7 inches diagonal size. Other significant features of the new launch would be an ISO sensitivity equalent of 200 -3200 that can be boosted further to 100-6400. The monitor that boasts of 230,000 pixels also claims a 170 degree viewing angle.
The maximum video-mode resolution offered by this digital SLR would be 1280 x 720 pixels. However, one disadvantage is that the D5000 does not offer any autofocus control while engaging this function. The images captured can be played back on an HDTV, apart from playing back them on the camera monitor itself.
The D5000 also offers some other niceties in the form of an integrated image sensor cleaning system and a dust reduction system based on Airflow Control technology. A unique autofocus system is offered by the D5000 that refers to a 3D tracking AF with an 11 point autofocus. The device also offers 19 shooting modes and options for in-camera image editing.
The D5000, according to the plans of Nikon would hit the UK market in May with an expected price tag of GBP 719.99.
The Digital Camera Owner Who Filmed the Death of Tomlinson Not a Professional Photographer
April 10, 2009
The news that the man who filmed the death images of Ian Tomlinson in the backdrop of the police action on the G20 protestors, come as a virtual blow to the celebrated professional photographers of the UK, who were reportedly wandering like maniacs behind everything from celebrities' drapes, metals, shoes and even lingeries.
Meanwhile, the contented soul who filmed the last scenes of Ian Tomlinson reportedly succumbing to police attacks, although the immediate cause of death was declared as hear failure by the authorities, revealed that he was more than pleased that the footage captured by him has helped trigger a complete investigation into the tragedy.
The digital camera of the man who filmed the tragic happenings is believed to be a Canon model. The man from New York who worked as an investment fund manager said that he started capturing the scenes from behind a police officer, from the moment Tomlinson was pushed to the ground.
The man from New York also said that he, only after realising that no concrete evidence existed for proving the assaults by officers, decided to release the captured footage. He thinks that the decision was very much correct for he was now comforted seeing that action is being taken. He also expressed his deepest regrets to the family of Tomlinson for their loss.
G20 Photos Dazzle, as Obama Shies Away From Bruni Lip Service and the Queen Plays Phantom
April 7, 2009
A great number of professional digital photographers were in the thick of actions amidst some big women and men of the world, at the G20 Summit that took place in London on April 2nd. For the shutterbugs, things already started a day prior to the G20 summit, when an unusual step was taken by Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the US to hug the Queen during a glittering reception hoisted at the Buckingham Palace.
As expected, Silvio Berlusconi did not forget to come up with an antique or two. This time for a change from the verbal rubbishes, he reportedly kept some world leaders including the German Chancellor Angela Merkel waiting, after annoying the Queen in another incidence. In fact, Merkel who stood on a red carpet to welcome the playful Italian prime minister, had a dropped jaw as Berlusconi gave her a sign as if saying he was busy with a phone call.
However, most of the photographers were busily involved in capturing the quick-changing outfits of the French First Lady, Carla Bruni and her US counterpart Michelle Obama. Some misses were also reported; the predominant one being of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The absence of Harper was reported by the BBC with a question, “was he de-briefing himself in loo?” In fact, Harper had explained his absence in the first family photo-session due to an official breifing on the G20 communique draft.
Some smart photographers who flew to France following the trail left by the Obamas, found themselves even luckier as Barack Obama shied away from a Carla Bruni lip service, even whilst Nicholas Sarkozy and Michelle Obama exchanged a deep cheek kiss at Strasbourg in France. Nevertheless, the most striking statement came from Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev a few days prior to the G20 Summit. He said that although he was to meet Obama for the first time, the American President was very much familiar to him, for he had seen him numerous times on the television.
Whatsoever, something that went much unnoticed amidst all the hype and hue was the death of a protester in London, called Ian Tomlinson. Eye witnesses have revealed that Tomilson, a news agent who collapsed in the vicinity of the clashes that took place between protesters and the police on Wednesday, had been attacked by the riot police. Not many photographs of the unfortunate, as well as unvalued incident was available, although the death of the man due to heart failure was captured by one of the dedicated photgraphers operating in the vicinity.
