Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 Finale Days: Top laptop for students deals https://www.digit.in editor@digit.in (Silky Malhotra) The Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 sale has now reached its final days and brings to you amazing deals on a laptop for students sale. Amazon India has teamed up with ICICI and Kotak to give additional discounts to customers on credit/debit card and EMI transactions. You can avail of extra cash backs, discounts on purchases. Amazon India is exciting discounts on the purchase of student laptop deals. You also get a chance to get added benefits like exciting exchange offers and discounted prices on purchases. Here are the best deals on laptops for students. Dell 15 (2021) Price – Rs 56,776.00 Deal Price – Rs 41,990.00 Dell 15 (2021) laptop is powered by 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor with 8 GB storage and 256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive. The stylish laptop is great for students and comes with a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlight display. Powered by Intel UHD Graphics with shared graphics memory the device can handle most tasks with ease. The laptop is available at the best prices during Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 sale. View deal here. Dell Vostro 3401 14" FHD Anti-Glare Display Price – Rs 43,139.00 Deal Price – Rs 36,990.00 Dell Vostro 3401 14" FHD Anti-Glare Display runs on 10th Generation Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor. The laptop has 4 GB RAM and 1TB 5400 rpm 2.5" SATA Hard Drive. It has a 14.0-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlight display. The laptop is powered by Intel UHD Graphics with shared graphics memory. It runs on Windows 10 Home. The laptop has Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 which makes it great for students. Amazon India brings the best offers on laptops. View deal here. HP Chromebook 14-inch Price – Rs 29,741.00 Deal Price - Rs 26,990.00 HP Chromebook 14-inch laptop comes with Google Assistant built-in, which makes it work smarter and faster without lifting a finger or switching screens. You can simply ask your Google Assistant to ask questions, set reminders, play videos, and more. control your home and more. Powered by Chrome OS the notebook will receive automatic software updates. Powered by an Intel Celeron N4020 processor the laptop can handle everyday tasks with ease. You can easily access all your favourite apps from Google Play like Google Drive, Gmail, YouTube, Evernote, etc. on the laptop. View deal here. Dell Inspiron 3501 39.62 cm (15.6") FHD Anti-Glare Display Laptop Price – Rs 44,634.00 Deal Price – Rs 38,490.00 Dell Inspiron 3501 15.6" FHD Anti-Glare display Laptop runs on 10th Generation Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor with 4GB RAM. It has a 256 GB Solid State Drive that meets all your storage needs. The laptop has a 15.6-inch FHD Anti-glare LED Backlight Display with 1920 x 1080 resolution. Powered by Intel UHD Graphics with shared graphics memory, the laptop runs on Windows 10 Home upgradeable to Windows 11. It has Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 which makes it great and easy to use for students. View deal here. AVITA Cosmos 2 in 1 Celeron Dual Core Price – Rs 23,490.00 Deal Price – Rs 15,990.00 AVITA Cosmos 2-in-1 laptop is a stylish and powerful laptop with a detachable keyboard, touchscreen, and a kickstand that makes life easy. The laptop allows a seamless transition from working to playing. It is equipped with an Intel processor, 4 GB of RAM, and Intel UHD graphics that provide a lag-free and smooth operation. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home edition and has an 11.6 Full-HD IPS touchscreen. The laptop allows you to work, play, as well as enjoy entertainment for long hours. The laptop has a long battery life of up to 6 hours. View deal here. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J November 01, 2021 at 12:08PM

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Negative Space in Photography: The Essential Guide

The post Negative Space in Photography: The Essential Guide appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sandra Roussy.

What is negative space in photography, and how can you use it for beautiful compositions?

The term negative space may sound problematic, but it’s actually an essential component of almost every great image. In fact, if you want to create gorgeous photos, you must master negative space; that way, you can take shots that feature balanced, harmonious, eye-catching arrangements. (You can also capture wonderfully minimalistic compositions, as I discuss down below.)

In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about negative space, including:

• What negative space actually is
• Why negative space is important
• Simple tips and tricks to use negative space in your images, whether you shoot landscapes, portraits, street scenes, or architecture

Ready to become a compositional master? Then let’s get started.

What is negative space?

Negative space refers to areas of a composition that are empty, bland, or otherwise uninteresting. That’s why negative space is also called white space; it’s where nothing is really happening.

Here’s an image full of foggy sky, all of which acts as negative space:

In photography, negative space is often made up of certain elements:

• Water
• Sky
• Walls
• Sand

Note that all of these elements tend to fade easily into the background, and that’s why they make such great negative space. An empty sky does not draw the eye, any more than a blank white wall, a stretch of empty sand, and so on.

Now, some photos are full of negative space. These compositions are often very abstract, such as a stretch of empty blue sky, or a sand dune stretching off in every direction. Such negative-space-centric compositions can also be minimalistic, with a single eye-catching element surrounded by emptiness.

Other photos, however, feature plenty of non-negative space, also known as positive space:

Positive space versus negative space

Positive space is the complete opposite of negative space. Negative space rejects the eye, while positive space steals the spotlight. You see, positive space is the area of a photo that includes elements of interest, the area that includes the main subject, the area where the viewer’s eye goes first.

In the photo below, there is plenty of positive space, but very little negative space. The flag, the buildings, and the trees all act as positive space. Even the clouds provide some positive space, thanks to their interesting arrangement and texture. The biggest patch of negative space is the sky, which takes up a tiny portion of the shot.

Now, positive space can be anything, but here are some common examples:

• Faces
• People
• Buildings
• Birds
• Wildlife
• Mountains

So which is better, positive or negative space?

Neither.

In photography, the goal is to combine both types of space to create a balanced composition. You want negative space, yes, but you also want positive space. That’s how you can get consistently stunning photos!

(Some photographic styles do heavily emphasize negative space, while others heavily emphasize positive space – but in general, a mix of the two is the way to go.)

Negative space tips and tricks

In this section, I’ll share my favorite tips and techniques for working with negative space.

1. Let the scene dictate your negative space and positive space combination

Every scene has a different ratio of negative space to positive space.

And while you, as the photographer, can zoom in, change perspective, and crop to emphasize certain parts of the scene, you need to be flexible; you need to be able to embrace a scene that’s full of negative space, just the same as you embrace a scene filled with positive space.

So don’t try to force a scene in a certain direction. Instead, ask yourself: What is the scene already like? And work with what you’ve got.

For example, a few years ago, I stood at a popular lookout, observing an iconic rock sitting in the Atlantic Ocean in Eastern Canada. It was early morning and some fog had rolled in, covering most of the impressive structure. The woman standing next to me turned to me and said, “It’s so sad, we’re driving by today, and I wanted to get a photo of the Percé Rock. But due to the fog, it seems it won’t be possible.”

She left, disappointed that she didn’t get her shot. But I stayed, and I stood for a long time, examining the fog and the way it draped the rock like a heavy blanket. I thought it was one of the most amazing things to happen that day. I felt so lucky to be there at that exact moment to capture the wonder unfolding. I embraced the negative space, and I captured a beautiful, minimalistic image.

Bottom line:

Be adaptable. Be flexible. If negative space dominates a scene, let it, even if you generally prefer to avoid minimalistic compositions. Make sense?

2. Use negative space to balance out positive space

A key goal of photographic composition is to achieve visual balance. You want your images to feel whole, complete, satisfying.

And one way to achieve balance is by identifying your positive space, then countering it with negative space.

For instance, look at the image below. You can see the positive space – the clenched fist. It’s a powerful, eye-catching subject, but it’s countered by all the surrounding negative space. It creates an overall balance, as you can see:

By the way, it’s important to recognize how lots of negative space can balance out just a little positive space. Positive space is aggressive and powerful. Negative space is much more subdued, even soothing. So unless you’re specifically after a very in-your-face image, positive space should come in small doses.

Some photographers practice a “2:1” negative space rule, where you add two parts negative space for every one part positive space. I don’t like to restrict myself in this way, but it’s a good guideline to bear in mind.

3. Experiment with minimalism

Minimalistic compositions use negative space to great effect. In fact, they’re all about negative space; they take lots of negative space, include a touch of positive space, and create an eye-catching result.

Here’s an example of a minimalist image, where the shadow acts as positive space, while the bricks provide some empty negative space:

If you like the minimalistic look, I highly recommend you try it out. It’s pretty simple to pull off.

Here are my recommendations:

1. Start by identifying a main subject, like a tree, a person, or a building. This will be your positive space.
2. Adjust your positive, focal length, and camera angle until your main subject is all alone, surrounded by nothing but negative space. (A low perspective is great for this; by dropping down to the ground, you can frame your subject against the sky.)
3. Eliminate as much color as possible. You want uniformity, if you can get it: just one or two colors in a highly harmonious scene.
4. Position your main subject toward the edge of the composition. You can try putting the subject at a rule of thirds power point or along a gridline, but you might also consider moving it closer to the edge of the frame.

The tree photo below is highly minimalistic. It includes a small tree positioned in the corner as positive space, while the rest of the photo is (for the most part) negative space, for a nice overall balance.

4. Use negative space to convey emotion

Negative space tends to be bleak, even melancholy, especially in black and white images.

Use this fact. Tell a story with your composition – a story that’s laced with sadness, or loneliness, or quiet pleasure.

Of course, you should let the scene guide you, as I emphasized above. But you can also carefully add more negative space to your composition by zooming out, or by finding a uniquely empty background, etc.

Check out this negative-space-filled image. Is it full of emotion?

Yes, it’s an emotional shot, at least to my eye. The empty sky, sprinkled with a bit of positive space, tells a captivating, haunting story.

Negative space in photography: final words

Negative space photography is an excellent way to expand your skills and your photographic eye. By mastering negative space, you can capture consistently gorgeous images – no matter your genre of choice.

So remember this article. Memorize the advice. And good luck!

Now over to you:

What do you think about negative space? Do you plan to use it in your images? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Negative Space in Photography: The Essential Guide appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sandra Roussy.

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22 Self-Portrait Ideas to Get You Inspired

The post 22 Self-Portrait Ideas to Get You Inspired appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.

Are you looking for self-portrait ideas so you can create powerful, eye-catching results? If you’re a frequent self-portrait photographer, you’re bound to struggle with inspiration now and then, so this article will be a big help. And if you’re a first-time self-portrait photographer, then you’re certainly on the right track; the ideas I share below will get you started taking gorgeous self portraits!

Now, if you are a beginner, you might be wondering: What’s the difference between a selfie and a self portrait? It gets a bit complicated, but selfies are usually taken spontaneously with a phone camera (often with the intent of uploading the images to social media). Self portraits, on the other hand, are more thoughtfully composed, and aim to explore deep themes such as identity.

In this article, we’ll look at 22 ideas for engaging self portraiture, perfect for photographers of every skill level.

A brief history of photographic self portraiture

The first surviving photographic self portrait is a daguerreotype by American Robert Cornelius taken in 1839, just 12 years after the oldest surviving photograph was made.

Today, self portraiture is a way for photographers to express either themselves or an idea on the opposite side of the camera. However, the exact purpose of a self portrait depends largely on the photographer.

While some photographers create self portraits out of convenience, others seek catharsis. Some photographers use self portraiture as a means of documentation, while others appreciate the creative control and transformative process a self-portrait shoot can entail. Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and Vivian Maier are all well-known self-portrait photographers.

Equipment for self portrait photography

Self portraiture can be a tricky form of photography, as you must act as both the photographer and the subject.

Therefore, a few basic pieces of equipment can aid the creative process. You’ll want a decent camera setup, and a tripod can help hold the camera in position for a shot. In addition, while the self-timer function on many cameras will give you time to get in front of the camera, a remote is much more convenient, and will let you trigger the shutter without having to run back and forward to the camera before each shot.

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at 22 ideas for beautiful self portraits!

1. Try a change in perspective

First on our list of self portrait ideas is perspective. Many self portraits are made with a traditional straight-on perspective, but others are made from a low or high perspective, which adds a sense of scale and dynamism to a shot.

Both approaches have benefits: traditional straight-on portrait perspectives make for intimate photos, whereas perspectives that convey a unique point of view give a viewer a sense of movement or activity.

So if you normally use a traditional perspective, why not try getting high or low? And if you’re more of a dynamic, angled self-portrait photographer, calm things down to create a standard, intimate portrait.

2. Include motion blur

While many self portrait photographs are pin sharp, a long exposure can create fascinating visual effects. By setting the camera to a slower shutter speed and introducing movement during the exposure, you can create unique, even surreal, results.

3. Make use of shadows

By thoughtfully applying shadows, you can create dramatic effects; for instance, you can obscure areas of the face, body, and the surrounding environment. Harsh light can be used to apply impactful or even mysterious patterns to a self portrait, while shadows with a softer gradient can convey a more subdued atmosphere.

4. Experiment with minimalism

Minimalism is a form of abstract art developed in America in the 1960s, typified by artworks comprised of simple geometric shapes. Reveling in the beauty of simplicity, minimalist self portraits emphasize the central figure by cutting down on superfluous detail. Some minimalist self-portrait techniques use plain or simple backgrounds, a shallow depth of field, and/or shadows or highlights to direct attention to the subject.

5. Emphasize color

Color in self-portrait photography can convey emotions and ideas, and it can also direct attention. Using color as a tool to express the self is a simple and effective way to create engaging self portraits. While reds can create an eye-catching shot, blue is more calming and reflective.

Color can indicate location or time of day, the emotion of the sitter, and the atmospheric tone of the image. Mindfully incorporating colors into a self portrait is a way to attract attention, set a scene, and reinforce the actions of the subject.

6. Go abstract

Abstract photographers aim to create visually appealing images without relying on conventional self-portrait approaches. A few examples of abstracted self portraiture include the use of intentional camera movement (ICM), subject movement during a long exposure (discussed above!), and selective lighting. Double exposures can be another way to create abstraction in an image; by combining layers of photographs, you can create a hauntingly evocative result.

7. Make a faceless portrait

A compelling self portraits doesn’t always need the face of the subject. Faceless self portraits draw attention to the form and the context that surrounds the subject – because by excluding the face, a self portrait highlights other elements like line, shadow, color, and light, which can create atmosphere and mood. The use of props or interesting environments can add clues about the personality of the photographer, too.

8. Experiment with depth of field

If you’re just getting started with self portraiture, consider experimenting with different depth of fields. Depth of field dictates the areas within a photo that appear sharp, so by incorporating careful depth of field control, you can combine focused and unfocused regions in an image. Introducing unfocused features into the foreground can add a greater sense of narrative and detail.

9. Make multiple exposures

Sometimes, a single photo won’t cut it. A multiple-exposure technique combines two or more exposures into the one image. In film photography, a film frame is exposed multiple times, whereas in digital photography, many cameras provide a multiple exposure function.

Techniques in the darkroom or in Photoshop can also create multiple exposure effects. But no matter the method, multiple-exposure self-portraits effects condense more information into a single image, allowing you to explore deeper messages and themes.

10. Work in black and white

Number ten in our list of self portrait ideas: black and white photography.

A black and white format can lend a unique, distraction-reducing aesthetic to a self portrait. The absence of color emphasizes contrast, drawing attention to the light-play in a photograph. Photographing a self portrait in black and white can also accentuate a unique atmospheric density, and create a more formal, thoughtful, or documentary format.

11. Experiment with reflections

Making self portraits in reflective surfaces has a few benefits:

1. The camera can be included in the photograph for added information about the subject.
2. Shooting a self portrait from behind the camera allows for easier exposure manipulation.
3. A reflective surface can incorporate the surrounding area, adding interest and context.

12. Venture into the great outdoors

Many self portraits are taken in an indoor studio setting. However, venturing into the great outdoors is a great way to expand the story! Forests, meadows, waterways, or even urban nature are versatile environments that convey context and depth. Nature-based self portraits can also indicate season, time, place, and a connection with the surrounding landscape.

13. Introduce objects

Objects have been used to complement photography since the early days of self portraiture. Many well-known photographic self portraits involve the use of items to help convey a mood or insight, such as Andy Warhol’s Polaroid self portraits of 1979. Of course, all self portraits are as unique as the photographer, but additional items can add to the overall image narrative.

14. Play with light

We’ve already discussed sculpting with light through shadows and color, but there are other ways light can be used to transform a photographic self portrait. Make use of the soft morning light spilling from a window, or experiment with light painting. Harsh light peeking through a curtain can create interesting lighting effects indoors, while natural light outdoors can introduce different temperature effects.

15. Make a photo within a photo

Making a photograph can be broken down into layers; photographing yourself as the self portrait sitter is one layer, while including a photograph inside the photograph is a way to add depth and intrigue to an image. Try incorporating polaroids of yourself, or use photographs of yourself on your phone. This adds an extra level of dimensionality and playfulness to a portrait, inviting a viewer in for closer analysis.

16. Photograph your passion

Self-portrait photography gives you the opportunity share personal perspectives and experiences. In this way, many photographers choose to include additional information about themselves in a self portrait, often in the form of conveying what they love or are passionate about. Plenty of photographers feature a camera in their self portraits, emphasizing their preferred creative methodology. Other options might include making a self portrait in nature, or shooting in an intimate home setting. Choose locations or props that provide the viewer with an insight into you as a person.

17. Experiment with objects in front of the lens

Sometimes, the addition of simple objects or tools can alter the atmosphere of an image. You can use prisms to bend the light before it reaches the camera sensor for beautifully ethereal effects. You can also try attaching stockings to the front of the lens for a dense, atmospheric effect. You might even add glad wrap and Vaseline to the camera lens to create a romantic, unfocused aesthetic.

18. Try frozen motion

We’ve already covered subject motion, but frozen motion in a self portrait can offer a compelling result. Frozen motion photography is made when a fast shutter speed captures motion and translates it into a single physical frame of movement. Action shots in sport of wildlife photography are a common example of frozen motion photography, but the technique can be applied to self portraiture, too. Set a faster shutter speed (starting at 1/250s), and use the camera timer or remote to activate the exposure once you’ve started to move.

19. Shoot a self-portrait in landscape orientation

A landscape image is wider than it is tall, while a portrait image is taller than it is wide. Portrait-orientated images are named so for a reason: they’ve been historically used for portrait photography. But capturing the essence of a person is not reserved to a portrait orientation, and you can experiment with landscape orientations for eye-catching results.

20. Photograph detail

Not all self portraits have to include a whole person, and zooming in for a closer look can reveal a lot of information. Photographing details like hands or eyes can complement full-body portraits or headshots, though they can also stand alone as an intimate portrayal of a subject’s physicality. Scars tell a story, as do wrinkles. Detailed self portraits document the stories revealed by the body over time.

21. Try framing

Framing is a common compositional device in all forms of photography. Doorways and windows are great ways to frame a self portrait, while other objects like plants, holes in objects, shadows, puddles, old keyholes, and mirrors can add depth and impact to a self portrait, too.

22. Reference other creative works

From painters to graphic designers, there are countless artists creating self portraits – and you can always draw on these images for your own photography. Some pre-shot research will undoubtedly open up creative possibilities for self portraiture, plus you can emulate and pay homage to other artist’s self portraits (or portraits) of the past.

22 self-portrait ideas: final words

Self portrait photography can be a lot of fun – so hopefully these ideas get you inspired! From sculpting with light and shadow to paying homage to past artists, self portraiture is a diverse field of photography rich with self expression and creativity.

Now over to you:

Which of these ideas is your favorite? Do you have any self-portrait ideas to share? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

The post 22 Self-Portrait Ideas to Get You Inspired appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Megan Kennedy.

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dPS Weekly Photo Challenge – The Number 3

The post dPS Weekly Photo Challenge – The Number 3 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

This week’s photo challenge is “The Number 3” from one of our Facebook group members, Jayda Messer. Open to your own interpretation, “The Number 3” could be many things! Your image clearly needs to indicate or say “The number 3” in some way, shape or form.

I had NO idea what to photograph for this theme, and then spotted this little trio, thankfully not quite ripe enough for the kids to demolish, but just fine for their portrait session. Photographed with a 55mm f/1.8 in the dark, using the modelling lamp on my new Godox V806iii flash to light them.

The Number 3, what could it be? 3 people in a park? 3 cats in a tree? 3 photographic rules in one frame? (Do you even know 3 photographic rules? You can’t break them until you know them, can you!)

So put down your cup of tea, pick up your camera and go and find your photograph! “The Number 3” and then share it here on the comments of this blog post, or share it on social media and tag it #dPSNumber3 or share it in our private group. (If you haven’t already joined, join now)

Happy Shooting!

The post dPS Weekly Photo Challenge – The Number 3 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

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Meta Smartwatch leaked, tipped to feature a front camera https://www.digit.in news@digit.in (Digit NewsDesk) Meta, formerly known as Facebook, might have pretty big plans. The company already showcased a number of AR and VR projects, but it looks like it might have even more plans up its sleeve. Bloomberg reports that the company is developing a smartwatch and even posted an image tipped to be of the device. The report notes that the image was found within the company’s Facebook View app that will help control the new smart glasses it plans to develop in partnership with Ray-Ban. The Meta smartwatch: Details The image suggests that the Meta smartwatch will feature a screen and case that is slightly curved at the edges. However, the most notable feature of the smartwatch is the front-facing camera located towards the bottom. The report speculates that this might be used for video conferencing and helps it stand out from other wearables. The report further adds that the code within the Facebook View app suggests that it could be called Milan. It further hints at the possibility that the smartwatch’s camera would be capable of taking photos and videos, and save them on the phone. While a smartwatch will be a brand new device from Meta/Facebook, the company already has some hardware offerings. Most notable being the company’s Portal series of devices. The Portal devices are focused on video conferencing. It is not yet known if or when Meta will launch the smartwatch and speculation suggests that it might be some time next year. When it does launch, it will face some pretty stiff competition from established players like Apple, Garmin and so forth. It remains to be seen if the front camera will help distinguish the device enough to make it stand out. Also read: The Facebook Company goes Meta: Here’s what it means for the future of Facebook https://ift.tt/eA8V8J October 29, 2021 at 09:39PM

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Meta is retiring the Oculus brand in favour of Project Cambria https://www.digit.in editor@digit.in (Kajoli Anand Puri) Earlier today, Facebook announced that it is now rebranding itself as Meta, making it the second time this week the tech giant has reinforced its intention to build a Metaverse. The Meta branding will leak into multiple products, starting with the Oculus brand. Meta announced that Oculus Quest will now be rebranded as Meta Quest, and the Oculus App will now be called the Meta Quest App. What is Project Cambria? "We all have a strong attachment to the Oculus brand, and this was a very difficult decision to make," Bosworth said. "While we’re retiring the name, I can assure you that the original Oculus vision remains deeply embedded in how Meta will continue to drive mass adoption for VR today." Meta Announces Project Cambria In line with this announcement, Meta has also revealed that its VR headset will now be referred to as Project Cambria,until its official name is revealed. The high-end VR headset is going to help make the Metaverse a reality, by allowing your virtual avatar to mimic your expressions in real time and maintain eye contact. It will also offer mixed-reality experiences by using algorithms that will let it represent objects in the physical world with an accurate sense of depth and perspective. Cambria’s new optics will help it maintain visual fidelity, which is extremely important when talking about a convincing mixed reality experience. Also Read: What do Civil Unrest in Myanmar, Ethiopia, India and the US have in Common? Facebook https://ift.tt/3nEk77K October 29, 2021 at 06:28PM

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Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 Finale Days: Best gaming laptop deals https://www.digit.in editor@digit.in (Silky Malhotra) The Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 sale brings you amazing deals on gaming laptops. Amazon India has also partnered with ICICI and Kotak Bank to give buyers additional discounts on credit/debit card transactions and EMI options. Buyers can also avail of extra cash backs, discounts, and EMI schemes on all purchases. purchases. Amazon India is offering up to 40 per cent off on top gaming laptops in India. You also get a chance to get added benefits like up to 24 months of no-cost EMI. You also get up to INR 25000 Off on exchange schemes on gaming laptop Amazon. View the best deals on gaming laptops below. ASUS TUF Gaming F15, 15.6-inch laptop Price – Rs 83,990.00 Deal Price - Rs 57,990.00 The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 gaming laptop is ideal for gaming enthusiasts. It is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H 2.5 GHz Processor. You also get access to 100 high-quality PC games on Windows 10 for free with the device. The laptop gives gaming enthusiasts a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass that’s included with the purchase of your device. Amazon India gives the best deals on gaming laptops in India. View deal here. Victus by HP Ryzen 5 FHD Gaming Laptop Price – Rs 76,020.00 Deal Price - Rs 64,990.00 The Victus by HP Ryzen 5 5600H 16.1-inch (40.9 cm) FHD Gaming Laptop comes with a 5th Gen AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor that is ideal for gaming. The laptop has a 16.1" diagonal, FHD display and has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. The gaming laptop is one of the best offerings available on Amazon India. It comes with Realtek Wi-Fi 6 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.2 combo and supports Miracast. View deal here. HP Pavilion Gaming 10th Gen Intel Core i5 15.6-inch gaming laptop Price – Rs 81,869.00 Deal Price - Rs 62,990.00 HP Pavilion Gaming 10th Gen Intel Core i5 15.6-inch laptop comes with 8 GB DDR4-2933 MHz RAM, upgradeable up to 32 GB. The gaming laptop has 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD + 1 TB 7200 rpm SATA HDD. Powered by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics, the laptop has an Ultra Violet backlit keyboard. It has a 15.6" diagonal, FHD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. The powerful gaming laptop comes pre-loaded with Windows 10 Home with lifetime validity. View deal here. Acer Nitro 5 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400H 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz Gaming Laptop Price – Rs 1,00,000.00 Deal Price - Rs 67,990.00 Acer Nitro 5 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400H 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz Gaming is upgradable to Windows 11. Powered by an Intel Core i5-11400H processor with 8 GB of DDR4 system memory, upgradable to 32 GB and is meant for gaming enthusiasts. The gaming laptop has a cool and stylish body and is powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM. The laptop has a 15.6" display with IPS technology. View deal here. Lenovo Legion 5 AMD Ryzen 5 Gaming Laptop Price – Rs 91,790.00 Deal Price - Rs 63,990.00 Lenovo Legion 5 AMD Ryzen 5 4600H 15.6-inch Full HD IPS Gaming Laptop has 4th Gen AMD Ryzen 5 laptop and comes pre-loaded with Windows 10 Home with Lifetime Validity. The gaming laptop is ideal for gaming enthusiasts and has 8 GB RAM DDR4-3200 which is upgradable up to 16 GB. The laptop has 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD. It has a 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) Wide Viewing Angle display. Powered by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 Dedicated Graphics the gaming laptop is one of the best. View deal here. Dell 15 (2021) i5-11400H Gaming Laptop Price – Rs 1,16,331.00 Deal Price - Rs 86,990.00 Dell 15 (2021) i5-11400H Gaming Laptop is upgradeable to Windows 11. The gaming laptop is powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core i5-11400H processor, with 16GB DDR4 3200MHz memory and 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive storage. The laptop has a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits WVA Anti- Glare LED-Backlit Narrow Border Display. Powered by NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3050 Ti (4GB GDDR6) graphics, the laptop is equipped with Game Shift Technology. View deal here. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 AMD Ryzen 5 Price – Rs 82,490.00 Deal Price – Rs 53,990.00 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 AMD Ryzen 5 laptop is powered by a 4th Gen AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor. It comes with a pre-Loaded Windows 10 Home with Lifetime Validity. The gaming laptop has powerful specifications, including 8GB RAM DDR4-3200, Upgradable up to 16GB and 512 GB SSD storage. The laptop has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 Dedicated Graphics. It has a 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) display with a 60 Hz Refresh Rate. View deal here. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J October 29, 2021 at 03:05PM

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Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 Finale Days: Top premium mobile phone deals https://www.digit.in editor@digit.in (Silky Malhotra) The Amazon Great Indian Festival 2021 sale ends on Nov 2, 2021, and brings to you amazing deals on premium mobile phones. Amazon India has partnered with ICICI and Kotak to give additional discounts to customers on credit/debit card transactions and EMI options. Buyers will get extra cash backs, discounts, and EMI options on purchases. Amazon India is offering up to 40 percent off on top high-cost mobile phones. You also get a chance to get added benefits like free screen replacement, exciting exchange offers, and discounted prices. Here are the best deals on premium smartphones below. Find the best deal on premium smartphones below. OnePlus 9 Pro 5G Price – Rs 64,999.00 Deal Price - Rs 60,999.00 OnePlus 9 Pro 5G smartphone has a Quad rear camera which is co-developed by Hasselblad. The OnePlus phone has a 16 MP front camera. The phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Processor with Adreno 660 GPU. It has a 6.7 Inches Fluid AMOLED Display. The stylish pone is loaded with features and runs OnePlus Oxygen OS based on Android. View deal here. Apple iPhone 11 Price – Rs 49,900.00 Deal Price - Rs 42,999.00 Apple iPhone 11 is one of the best premium phones with a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD LCD display. It has a Water and dust-resistant body and can survive under 2 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The dual-camera system on the iPhone 11 has 12 MP Ultra-Wide and Wide cameras which are capable of recording 4K video up to 60fps. The phone has a 12 MP TrueDepth front camera and supports Face ID for secure authentication. The phone is available at the best price on Amazon India. View deal here. Apple iPhone XR Price – Rs 47,900.00 Deal Price - Rs 32,999.00 Apple iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD LCD display. The phone has an IP67 rating and a water and dust-resistant body. It has a single 12MP Wide camera and comes with features like Depth Control, Smart HDR, Portrait Lighting, and 4K video up to 60fps. The 7MP TrueDepth front camera system can take clear images and selfies. The iPhone XR has a Face ID for secure authentication. It runs on A12 Bionic with a second-generation Neural Engine. Get the best deals on Apple iPhone XR on Amazon India. View deal here. OnePlus 9 5G Price – Rs 49,999.00 Deal Price - Rs 46,999.00 OnePlus 9 5G Triple rear Camera setup is Co-Developed by Hasselblad. It has a 48 MP main camera and a 16 MP Front Camera. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Processor with Adreno 660 GPU. It has a 6.55 Inches Fluid AMOLED Display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The phone runs on OnePlus Oxygen OS based on Android 11. Amazon Great Indian festival sale 2021 brings the best deals on premium phones. View deal here. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G Price – Rs 1,71,999.00 Deal Price - Rs 1,49,999.00 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 is a stylish new phone with a 7'6" Infinity Flex Display and an Under Display Camera. It has a dynamic AMOLED 2X with an Adaptive Refresh Rate. The Cover Display on the phone is a 6.2” Infinity-O Display. It is compatible with S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro as well. The 5G Ready powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Octa-Core processor can handle all tasks, gaming, web browsing, etc. with ease. The one-of-a-kind phone is the ultimate premium phone. It has an IPX8 Rated for Water Resistance and a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus display protection. View deal here. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Price – Rs 99,999.00 Deal Price - Rs 88,999.00 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Octa-Core processor with 8GB RAM. It has 256 GB of internal memory and runs on the Android operating system. The phone has a Dual Rear Camera Setup and a 10 MP Front Camera. It has a 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+ Infinity-O Display. It has a 1.9” Super AMOLED 60Hz cover display and is backed by a 3,300 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G phone is one of the best premium phones available in India. View deal here. Mi 11X Pro 5G Price – Rs 47,999.00 Deal Price - Rs 39,999.00 Mi 11X Pro 5G smartphone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G with Kryo 680 Octa-core processor. The phone has a 108 MP Triple Rear camera with 8 MP Ultra-wide and 5 MP Super macro. It has a 20 MP Front camera as well. The phone has a 120Hz high refresh rate FHD+ 6.67-inch display. Backed by a 4520 mAH large battery with 33W fast charging the phone can handle gaming, web browsing, etc. with ease. View deal here. iQOO 7 Legend 5G Price – Rs 44,990.00 Deal Price - Rs 39,990.00 iQOO 7 Legend 5G smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform with Adreno 660 GPU. The phone has 48MP OIS Main camera with a Sony IMX598 sensor. It has a 6.62 120Hz AMOLED Display with a 300Hz Touch Sampling Rate. The device comes with a powerful 66W FlashCharge Technology. View deal here. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J October 29, 2021 at 01:36PM

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Will an AORUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series card and a G-SYNC monitor improve your gaming experience https://www.digit.in brandstory@digit.in (Sponsored) The Indian gaming landscape has seen a sea change over the past five years. With mobile internet penetration having broken world records and with every Tom, Dick and Harry owning a smartphone these days, it’s no wonder that mobile gaming took off faster than PC or console gaming. 94% of the gamers in India can be classified as Mobile Gamers, 9% are PC gamers and console gamers bring in the rear with 4%. Obviously, there’s a bit of overlap here. The interesting aspect is that a lot of the upcoming PC gamers are those upgrading from being just mobile gamers. When you realise that a gaming PC with a powerful NVIDIA RTX graphics card, a superb high-refresh rate monitor offers you a more enriching gaming experience, it’s but obvious to want to build a gaming PC for oneself. And where there are more gamers, there are also more streamers, shoutcasters, memeing maestros and other forms of content creators. Some of these tasks can be easily done on a smartphone such as making memes. But for streamers and shoutcasters, a good PC that can run the game and handle the streaming software simultaneously, is of utmost importance. Playing on a PC that stutters while gaming is no fun, and trying to shoutcast for a game which is stuttering on your PC makes for an equally unpleasant experience. So the need for good hardware is accepted by all, gamers and streamers alike. 2020 was a huge year for gamers and content creators in India. If you were to sort out the list of top streamers across the globe by views, then 6 of the top 10 streamers in the world are from India. That’s how big the Indian gaming community is. Another interesting fact about these six streamers is that most of them were or are professional eSports gamers. Most of them started out in the midst of the PUBG craze but have since then upgraded to PC gaming. Speaking of eSports, we’ve seen a lot of major events coming to India. 2019 alone saw not one but three major gaming tournaments of international repute held in India. The prize pool for eSports titles went up by 180% in 2019 and it’s only going to climb higher. So the Indian eSports community is growing at an exponential rate and more gamers are realising the importance of getting the right hardware for the video games that they play. They understand that a good PC with a powerful graphics card and processor coupled with the appropriate amount of memory is required to game properly. They understand that a powerful gaming PC needs to be paired with a capable gaming monitor that can render all the frames coming from the graphics card in time. They understand that a high refresh-rate monitor coupled with a gaming PC will give them the upper hand in an eSports title. Essentially, they understand that frames win games. NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX graphics cards have several unique features that not only enhance the visual fidelity of video games but also reduce the overall system latency and make games feel more responsive. And you don’t need to be an eSports professional to realise how much latency matters to gamers. NVIDIA Reflex is one of the newest technologies to be introduced by NVIDIA for the benefit of gamers. Here’s how it helps. NVIDIA Reflex to the rescue Game developers have to account for a wide assortment of hardware combinations when building PC games. There’s little chance that gamers are all running the exact same configuration using the exact same set of PC components bought from the exact same set of brands. So when you have to factor in so many different combinations, you can’t really optimise your game for every combination out there. As a result, you’ll end up giving little leeways. These leeways then have other impacts, one of them being higher system latency. This is where NVIDIA Reflex comes into the picture. NVIDIA Reflex is a collection of technologies which help gamers and game developers measure system latency and take appropriate actions to improve the same. Getting your hardware to talk to each other in the right fashion is NVIDIA Reflex’s job. Here are all the technologies within NVIDIA Reflex at a glance: NVIDIA Reflex SDK - A software development kit for game developers to implement a low-latency mode and other features within their video games. These include - Reflex Low Latency Mode, Low Latency Boost, Reflex Low Latency Mode UI, In-Game Latency stats, and Reflex Latency Analyzer Flash Indicator. Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Warzone, CRSED F.O.A.D., Destiny 2, Enlisted, Fortnite, Kovaak 2.0, Mordhau, Rainbow Six: Siege, Valorant and Warface are the games that have currently incorporated it. NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency Mode - Boosts responsiveness by getting the CPU and GPU to work in an optimal fashion so that the GPU does not have waste time while pushing out frames to the display. Low Latency Boost - Overrides the power saving feature within the GPU to allow the GPU to run at higher clocks, especially with CPU-bound games. Reflex Low Latency Mode UI - A graphical in-game overlay that provides gamers stats such as Render Latency, Game to Render Latency, Client FPS and Game Latency. Reflex Latency Analyzer Flash Indicator - A flashing box that can be placed anywhere on the screen. This box flashes in response to your mouse clicks and provides a clear and very visible indicator that can be used to measure latency. NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer - A feature in select 360 Hz G-SYNC gaming monitors that enables measuring end-to-end system latency. How does NVIDIA Reflex help? To understand this, we need to look at the entire process that each action has to undergo before you see the reaction within the game. It starts with the moment you press the left-click button on your mouse to the time your in-game character shoots their weapon. End-to-End System Latency - This is the total time taken per frame from the very first input given via a keyboard or mouse to the final output seen on your monitor. Peripheral Latency - Time delay resulting from the hardware and firmware within the mouse. PC Latency - Time involved by all components of the PC to react to your action and then send out the proper response via the GPU. Game Latency - Latency within the game engine when it updates positions of various animate and inanimate objects within the frame which is then sent to the graphics API runtime. Render Latency - Once the graphics API receives the updates from the game engine, it will send the same into the GPU render queue. Render latency involves the delay within the render queue and the actual render process within the GPU. Display Latency - The time taken when the GPU is feeding each ready frame to the display, line-by-line as per the refresh rate of the display. Which will then be processed by the monitor and then each pixel is activated to the corresponding value from the frame. All of the above work together in a linear fashion with some amount of parallelism. To better visualise the same, we can take a look at the render pipeline of a typical game. Here we’re looking at four simultaneous frames of a video game being processed across different stages of the render pipeline. It should be understood that not every frame requires a human input to be generated which is why even if you are not moving within a game, the entire game continues to run and the display continues to be updated. The very first frame is ‘Frame 4’ followed by ‘Frame 3’, ‘Frame 2’ and ‘Frame 1’. Let’s look at the CPU, Render Queue and GPU timelines. We can see that there’s plenty of time delay between the processing of two subsequent frames at the CPU level which means that the CPU is making quick work of whatever frames are assigned to it. The CPU then puts frames that it is done processing into the render queue. The render queue then feeds the GPU. At both these stages, we see there’s no waiting time between two subsequent frames. This tells us that the workload is GPU bound i.e. the GPU is the bottleneck. And this is where NVIDIA Reflex comes into the picture. NVIDIA Reflex empties the Render Queue and the game is able to time the CPU workload so that it keeps pace with the GPU. This way the CPU doesn’t run off ahead of the GPU. Another benefit of delaying the CPU work is that peripheral inputs can be sampled at the very last moment. So that leads to a reduction of peripheral latency as well. Overall, you experience very low latency and that improves your gameplay experience. Here are some benchmark numbers from NVIDIA to showcase the impact of NVIDIA Relfex. It can be seen that the impact varies across different video games and depends on how the game developers implement NVIDIA Reflex SDK. Certain games such as Valorant show significant improvement that could aid eSports professionals to gain an advantage over the competition. Now if you were to take the enormous latency reduction made possible with NVIDIA REFLEX and pair that with a high-refresh rate monitor, then you can get even better latency reduction. Here’s a simple graph showcasing the amount of latency reduction you can get by pairing an NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX graphics card that’s capable of dishing out high framerates in modern games, with a high refresh-rate NVIDIA G-SYNC monitor. You stand to reduce latency by up to 60%. We understand that some concepts are better explained with a video, so here’s a video to help you understand how NVIDIA Reflex works with a practical example. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cXg7GQogAE) Now that you’ve understood how NVIDIA Reflex helps gamers, let’s look at where you can upgrade your gaming experience. UPGRADE WITH AORUS You now know how a PC powered by the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX graphics card can really improve your overall gaming experience. However, the graphics card is but one of the many components that make up a gaming PC. Aside from the graphics card, you also have the processor, motherboard, RAM, storage, power supply and cooling. Sure you can head to any store and grab one of each and there’s a good chance that you’ll end up with a functional PC but is it the most optimal way of going about it? Will such a PC play the games that you want to play at the right resolution and provide enough FPS for a smooth gaming experience? Will the cooling be sufficient to ensure none of the components keep hitting their thermal limits? Is the monitor good enough to make the most of the graphics card’s prowess? There are many such concerns that need to be addressed when you’re considering building a gaming PC. An easy way to tackle this concern is by simply getting a gaming PC that has been configured by experts who will pick the right hardware as per your requirements. They’ll even assemble the entire system and ensure that all the hardware is functioning properly. #UpgradeWithAorus is an initiative conceived by GIGABYTE to help gamers find the right hardware. Under the #UpgradeWithAorus initiative, GIGABYTE has partnered with several well-known PC hardware stores across India and launched an promotion campaign – ‘AORUS Gamer Days’ to provide gamers with some exiting exclusive bundle offers where gamers can get Paytm vouchers up to INR 10,000. One can avail these offers here. But what if you are a streamer? You need a much beefier CPU to handle streaming and gaming at the same time and having a powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX GPU to make use of NVENC for encoding your streams will make your streams seem even better. Worry not, AORUS Gamer Days campaign has some offers for you as well. GIGABYTE AORUS has worked with streamers and gaming influencers in the recent past where they have created some unique builds with NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX GPUs. You can check out the latest Creator Build they had build for Techno Gamer - https://ift.tt/3xIGegG. No matter which popular game you’re into, there will always be a #UpgradeWithAorus build powered by the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX graphics card to provide you the best possible experience. Over the next couple of weeks, as part of the AORUS Gamer Days, you can reach out to any of the following online stores to grab an #UpgradeWithAorus exclusive bundle and get cashbacks. https://ift.tt/3boEssa October 29, 2021 at 04:35PM

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Lightroom Adds Sky and Subject Masking, a Masks Panel, and More

The post Lightroom Adds Sky and Subject Masking, a Masks Panel, and More appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

This week, Adobe released Lightroom Classic version 11.0 and Lightroom version 5.0, both of which provided a handful of eye-catching updates, including a revamp and expansion of Lightroom’s masking options.

Prior to the October improvements, users could work with three distinct local adjustment tools: a Graduated Filter, a Radial Filter, and an Adjustment Brush.

Now, Adobe has integrated these tools into a Masks panel that offers increased functionality, plus you now have access to several handy new masking options. 

Let’s take a closer look, starting with:

Lightroom’s new Masks panel

Both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom now feature a Masks panel, which allows you to easily create new masks and combine existing masks:

Previously, masks could only combine in a limited capacity. Now, however, you can create several sub-masks, which add and subtract from the overall mask for precise results. 

Want to brighten a person’s face while leaving the eyes untouched? You can add a Radial Gradient (i.e., a Radial Filter) to the face, then subtract a Brush mask over each eye. The three masks will “intersect” to form a single (still editable!) mask in the Masks panel:

In addition to these new “Add” and “Subtract” features, the panel allows you to easily name and organize your masks. Compare this to previous versions of Lightroom, where you might struggle to even determine where each masking pin was located.

You also have plenty of overlay options, so you can view your masks in different colors, on black, on white, and more.

Expect these features to enhance local adjustment flexibility, as mask intersection makes highly customized, specific masks a reality. And thanks to the organization capabilities of the Masks panel, it’s easier than ever to apply dozens of masks without becoming overwhelmed.

Select Subject and Select Sky masking commands

Lightroom and Lightroom Classic now include two never-before-seen masking features, Select Subject and Select Sky:

Tap the Select Subject option, and Lightroom will identify and mask the main subject from the image; tap the Select Sky option, and Lightroom will do the same for the sky. Of course, these masking options are only as powerful as Adobe’s technology, but I did a few tests and was impressed by the results.

As with all masks in Lightroom, Subject and Sky masks appear in the new Masks panel, and they’re completely editable – so if Lightroom accidentally selects an area behind your subject, for instance, you can always subtract it with a Brush mask.

Previously, precise selections were the domain of Photoshop. But with these automatic masking options, photographers can rely on Lightroom for precise local adjustments to subjects (helpful, in particular, for portrait, pet, and wildlife shooters) and to skies (helpful for landscape, real-estate, and architectural photographers).

Additional updates to Lightroom Classic

The October update included several helpful changes to Lightroom image organization features. Metadata can now be customized to include specific fields, batch editing has been sped up, and Lightroom databases will occupy less hard-drive storage space. 

Adobe has also added support for new cameras, including the Canon EOS R3, as well as new lenses, including a handful of Canon RF models.

And you get new Lightroom presets: Retro, Food, Landscape, and Cinematic II, among others.

Additional updates to Lightroom 

Adobe Lightroom has received the same masking updates as Adobe Lightroom Classic, along with new presets. Lightroom users will also appreciate several additional improvements, such as:

• Recommended presets. Lightroom will now suggest different presets for your images, using the ever-expanding capabilities of its artificial intelligence technology.
• Additional supported cameras and lenses. These appear identical to the cameras and lenses now supported by Lightroom Classic, and include recent cameras like the EOS R3, as well as lenses from Canon, Sigma, Tamron, and more.
• Remixes. You can now edit the images of other users, which you can then share with the original photographer. This update is confined to the desktop version of Lightroom.

Lightroom updates: final words

For the advanced, and even casual, Lightroom user, these changes are a huge deal, allowing for precise local adjustments, easy organization, and a few additional bonuses. 

I recommend you go test out the updates for yourself. See what you think. And then let us know in the comments below:

Are you pleased with the Lightroom updates? Which new feature is your favorite? How will it change your editing? 

The post Lightroom Adds Sky and Subject Masking, a Masks Panel, and More appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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The Facebook Company goes Meta: Heres what it means for the future of Facebook https://www.digit.in news@digit.in (Digit NewsDesk) The Facebook Company has been rebranded and will be known as Meta going forward. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the rebrand at Connect 2021 and the company is now aiming to build the Metaverse which is described as “a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world.” The Facebook Company encapsulated social media services including Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus. Going forward, these services will fall under Meta but the rebrand does not affect how Facebook, WhatsApp and more will function. “Our corporate structure is not changing, however, how we report on our financials will. Starting with our results for the fourth quarter of 2021, we plan to report on two operating segments: Family of Apps and Reality Labs,” the company said in a press release. On Metaverse CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced a $50 million investment in global research and program partners to ensure the Metaverse products are developed responsibly. As Zuckerberg explains in the Founders letter, the Metaverse will ensure that you are in the experience and not just looking at it through visual aid. With it, the company wants to explore the “ultimate dream of social technology” which is giving you a feeling of presence, as though you are with another person in another place. “In the metaverse, you’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine — get together with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create — as well as completely new experiences that don’t really fit how we think about computers or phones today,” Zuckerberg writes in the Founder’s Letter. https://ift.tt/3GrHw53 October 29, 2021 at 02:05PM

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Adobes new Project In-Between helps you create Living Photos using AI https://www.digit.in editor@digit.in (Kajoli Anand Puri) As a part of its Annual Design Conference this year, Adobe will demonstrate Project In-Between, which is an AI-based tool that helps with creating living photos. The tool adds a seamless transition between two photos to create an animated end result that can be posted to GIF sites and social media platforms. How does Adobe’s Project In-Between Work? The tool leverages Adobe Sensei AI in order to create a transition between two similar photographs to give you a living photo. Users can also pick the number of transition frames to ensure the animation is as fluid as possible. The new frames created between the two photos (or the in-between frames) can also be accessed while editing. The same tool can also be used to create a slow-motion effect in video clips. What is Adobe’s Project In-Between? While Adobe says that this tool is designed to make the photos taken by your smartphone more interesting, the tool itself is only available on the desktop software. Hopefully, Adobe will offer a version that works on smartphones too, so that creators can use it and post the results while on the go. The concept of creating living photos is not necessarily new, with America's Next Top Model dedicating an entire episode to the same in Cycle 20 in 2013. However, this is the first time a company is using AI to make the media format more accessible to the masses. Also Read: Adobe releases Premiere Pro Beta for M1 Macs https://ift.tt/3133hYw October 29, 2021 at 01:18PM

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Apple launches Safari 151 for macOS Big Sur and Catalina https://www.digit.in editor@digit.in (Kajoli Anand Puri) With the release of macOS Monterey, Apple reverted to a more classic design for the Safari browser. Now, the company has made the update available to those running macOS Big Sur and Catalina with Safari 15.1. Multiple design changes for Safari 15 Safari 15 brought a new design that unified the address bar and tab bar - a decision that was unanimously disliked by Apple users. To rectify this, Apple offered an option that allowed users to separate the address bar from the tabs, however, this layout was also fairly disliked, with many people calling it bad when compared to other versions of the browser. Now, Apple has decided to keep things simple and revert to the classic design to keep users happy. How to use the Apple Safari 15 Having said that, it’s important to note that the unified layout is still available, and is the default option for the browser. You have to opt for the classic look to use it. If you want to install the latest version of Safari on your Mac, all you need to do is open the System Preferences app and then click the Software Update option. You can go into the Tabs menu within the app’s preferences window to revert Safari to the old design. Also Read: Apple announces new MacBook Pro 14, MacBook Pro 16-inch models with all-new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips https://ift.tt/3bm4a0s October 29, 2021 at 01:17PM

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Apple Music makes its way to Sony PS5 https://www.digit.in news@digit.in (Digit NewsDesk) In a move that is sure to interest gamers and music lovers, Sony has announced that Apple Music will now be available on the PlayStation 5. The company notes that this makes it the first gaming console to integrate Apple Music. This will allow gamers to listen to music from the PS5 either during or between their gameplay sessions. On the official Sony PS5 blog, Erin Metzger, Director of Product Management at Sony Interactive Entertainment stated, “starting today, PS5 users with an Apple Music subscription can enjoy more than 90 million songs from Apple Music, tens of thousands of curated playlists, music videos in 4K, Apple Music Radio streaming today’s hits, classics, and country live, and personalized playlists based on your music preferences. Apple Music on Sony PS5: How it works The Apple Music app can be downloaded from the Media space on the PS5. Players can link their Apple Music account by simply following the on-screen instructions. Once gamers install the Apple Music app on the PS5 and sign in, they can start the app either before or even during gameplay. Players will have to press the PS button on the DualSense wireless controller to access the Control Center and select the Music Function card. They can then find recommendations that match the game they are playing. They can also choose a playlist in their library or any other Apple Music-curated playlist. Apple Music subscribers can also watch music videos in the app. Players can play videos on full screen, but if they go back to gaming or navigate to another part of the PS5’s menu, the audio from the video will continue to play. Once they go back to the Apple Music app, the video will continue playing seamlessly. Also read: Sony PS5 review https://ift.tt/eA8V8J October 28, 2021 at 11:54PM

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Emotional Photography: 5 Tips to Add Feeling to Your Photos

The post Emotional Photography: 5 Tips to Add Feeling to Your Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Peter West Carey.

The best photography often conveys emotions, but how do you create emotional photography? How do you add feelings to your photos so you can move the viewer and ensure they connect with the piece?

I’ve spent years honing my ability to infuse photos with emotions. And in this article, I’ll share my absolute favorite techniques – so that you can capture powerful, moving images, too!

Of course, not all viewers experience the same emotions in response to the same photos, so don’t feel pressure to convey specific feelings to everyone. Instead, use these tips, plus your personal emotions, to create powerful, one-of-a-kind images.

Let’s dive right in, starting with my first tip:

1. Identify your mood before shooting

The emotional state of the photographer – that’s you! – has the largest impact on the emotional quality of your photos.

So whenever you head out with your camera, before you take a single shot, or even look for a shot, ask yourself: How am I feeling today? Then let that emotion guide your shooting, and channel it into your photos.

After all, it’s tough to infuse an image with an emotion that you aren’t feeling. If you’re over the moon with happiness, you’ll struggle to find sad or bleak compositions. And if you’re down in the dumps, creating awe-inspiring or uplifting images won’t be easy.

So start by identifying your emotions. Look for compositions that align with those feelings.

At the same time, it’s often worth rechecking your feelings periodically throughout your photoshoot. Depending on the view, the light, chance encounters, etc., emotions can change, and you don’t want to miss out on emotionally resonant shots because you’re searching for the wrong thing.

Make sense?

By the way, sometimes, your emotional state might simply be “bored” or “bleh.” That’s okay; it happens to the best of us. When I look back through my travel photos, I’ll notice a dip in quality, and it often corresponds to my feelings at the time. On days like these, you might consider leaving your camera behind, watching a movie, or doing something creative that doesn’t pressure you to take powerful, emotional shots.

And don’t worry. Your boredom will pass, and pretty soon you’ll feel excited about photography again!

2. Simplify the shot (try using a telephoto lens)

In wide, busy, expansive scenes, emotions often get lost. Yes, the emotion might be there, but the viewer will have a hard time noticing – the image may fall a bit flat, at least from an emotional point of view.

So if you’re looking to create emotional photography, consider simplifying the shot. Exclude elements from your frame. Choose a perspective that highlights a single area of interest, not the entire scene.

An easy way to simplify is with focal length and/or compositional cropping. The longer the lens, the less you include in the shot, which can be a great way to emphasize certain subjects, so consider shooting with a 70-200mm lens rather than a wide-angle option.

That said, you can also simplify wide-angle images. Try getting down low, so that the subject is framed against a uniform sky. Or use natural framing to exclude distracting elements.

And you’re also free to “zoom with your feet” by moving forward to isolate people, natural features, and beautiful details.

3. Focus on faces

Faces are full of emotion. The eyes are the windows to the soul, after all, and often show anger, joy, sadness, love, and so much more.

Plus, faces can convey emotions through puffy eyes, tears, wrinkles, etc. So if you want feelings to really shine through, train your lens on people’s faces!

A word of caution, however: Do not rush up with your lens, thrust it into a person’s field of view, and snap a shot, especially if they’re feeling emotional. Instead, be respectful. Whenever possible, ask permission, especially if you don’t know the person. (I often just raise my eyebrows while pointing at my camera, and it works great.)

By the way, if you want top-notch emotional portraits, make sure to think about the lighting. Learn about lighting patterns and how they affect the viewer, because it’s easy to convey different emotions simply by changing the light’s position relative to the subject.

A final piece of advice: Don’t encourage your subjects toward specific emotions. If they’re feeling sad, take a sad photo; if they’re feeling happy, take a happy photo; if they’re feeling tired, take a tired photo…You get the idea. Yes, it’s good to head into a scene with specific feelings in mind, but you must be adaptable, depending on the content of the scene.

4. Set your camera down and observe

When I tell people to stop shooting and put the camera away, I often get criticized, yet it’s an important part of photography – especially photography infused with feelings.

Setting down your camera gives you time to observe the world. Just look around and see what pulls at your consciousness. Ask yourself: What interests me? What draws me? What do I want to capture? What matters to me about this scene?

These questions only take a minute or two, but they’ll help you identify new, emotionally resonant compositions, plus they might clarify your ideas about a scene and show you the way forward.

Also, when I shoot, I often travel in a bubble. So setting down the camera lets me feel the surroundings and its emotional content, which can, in turn, affect my own emotional state (this matters a great deal; see Tip 1!).

Sometimes, it can be enough to simply sit down or stand in place for a minute or two, just looking around and taking in the scenery. Other times, you might want to pack your camera in your bag and go for a walk. It depends on your mood, and I don’t recommend you force things, but a little break can go a long way.

5. Return to the same scenes repeatedly

Scenes look different on different days, and your feelings are different on different days, too.

Take advantage of that fact.

If you’re shooting a subject that you can return to, then do it. The street or beach or room or person will have a different feel on different days, especially if you’re photographing outdoors and the weather changes often.

Make sure you return to a location with an open mind. Don’t expect certain feelings, or you might be disappointed. Instead, clarify your emotions, then pretend you’re seeing the scene for the first time.

(Pro tip: Try changing up your approach each time you tackle the scene. Bring a different camera, use a different lens, shoot with a tripod, shoot a long exposure, etc. Anything to capture new emotional content!)

And who knows? If you return to the same scene/subject enough, you might even create a series, which can turn into a portfolio or an article or even a book.

Capturing emotional photography: final words

Conveying emotion is a surefire way to create powerful images that connect with the viewer. Feelings will elevate your work and give it more punch.

So remember the tips I’ve shared. Think about your own emotional state. And capture some gorgeous photos!

Now over to you:

Do you have any advice for capturing images full of feeling and emotion? Do you have examples of emotional photos? Share your thoughts (and shots!) in the comments below.

The post Emotional Photography: 5 Tips to Add Feeling to Your Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Peter West Carey.

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