DEC, 2020 | 03
Interview
NEERAJ MAHAJAN & MADPAULE FEMALE IN FOCUS MARIA TIRKEY
PHOTO FEATURE LOW-KEY BY YEASHU
HE CREATED HIS OWN NICHE
OUT SIDE OF CONVEN TION S
Cover story PARAM SAHIB
REVIEW OLYMPUS OM-D EM-10 MARK IV TAMRON 35MM F1.4 DI USD TAMRON 85MM F1.8 DI VC USD
LEARN WITH FRAME LIGHTROOM VS PHOTOSHOP
FRAME CONTENT COVER STORY
Param Sahib INTERVIEW
Neeraj Mahajan MadPaule REVIEW
Olympus OM-D E-M 10 Mark IV Tamron 35mm f 1.4 Di USD Tamron 85mm f 1.8 Di VC USD FEMALE IN FOCUS
Maria Tirkey LEARN WITH FRAME
Lightroom vs Photoshop PHOTO FEATURE
Low-key by Yeashu Yuvraj WHAT`S NEW
Update with Tech World CREDITS EDITORIAL
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
COVER STORY
EDITOR Dimple Choudhary
DESIGN Amit Kumar Gangal
CONTRIBUTERS Idris Ahmed Dimple Choudhary Savi Bhushan
PRODUCTION TEAM Amit Kumar Gangal Yeashu Yuvraj Puneet Jain
Photography- Idris Ahmed Garments- Param Sahib Styling - Dimple Choudhary Retouching- Amit Kumar Gangal Shot at Studio Photocommune
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EDITOR’S NOTE “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi
As we find ourselves at the cusp of change, a likely paradigm shift in the way we perceive all of our nature and its existence, these once-in-a-lifetime experiences pertaining Covid-19 has undeniably led all of us to look inward and beyond. It has probably been a blessing in disguise, a much-needed jolt from the mundaneness of our robotic lives to pause and decode what life truly means to all of us. We all have so much yet we are always hungry for more. And thanks to the social media, the more we see, the more we seek, when in all honesty, it all truly lies within us. In this time of isolation, we want to bring stories about what makes us, what connects us, the challenges we face and the moments when we rise to meet them. Our December issue is all about chasing dreams and being original. The lives and works of Param Singh, MadPaule, Neeraj Mahajan and Maria Tirkey only validates this further and sets the right tone to self-love. The featured photo techniques and product reviews ensure you instantly jump out of your comfort zone and try some really cool stuff with best ever productive time on hand. So, as we approach a new dawn, let’s promise to ourselves to love what we choose and to choose what we love, let’s not hesitate if we think differently, let’s not stop if we have a different pace, let’s not quit because the world cannot make sense and let’s not stop believing in ourselves just because someone has given up on us. Let’s always remember, in a world that is constantly trying to make us something else, to be ourselves is indeed the greatest accomplishment. Let’s never underestimate our ability to make a difference. It’s only one life. Let’s make ours count. We made precious memories while making this issue. Hope you too start your journey soon. Cheers!!!
Dimple Choudhary
PHOTO FEATURE
HE CREATED HIS OWN NICHE
OUTSIDE OF CONVENTIONS Featuring PARAM SAHIB
By Dimple Choudhary
They say sometimes, you must get knocked down lower than you have ever been, to stand back up taller than you ever were. A man who simply wanted to design, express and help others towards self-belief and love was once forced to walk the path of forgotten dreams
© Param Sahib Outcast & bullied as a schoolboy for being ‘different,’ shamed & discouraged as a young artist for being too honest, thrown out of a posh club for dressing up too colourful and threatened as a designer for bringing shame to the Sikh community.
was not even a recognised profession to now being on national television as a contestant on Myntra superstars, it has been a therapeutic journey for him with art at the heart of it all. Going back in time, Param feels that art was an escape gate for him, away from the bullying he faced while growing up. Having
These may be just a few of the things that became a part of his journey but as they say difficult roads only lead to beautiful destinations, he created his own niche outside of conventions.
identified himself as Queer while in School, it was a long road ahead to self-confidence and acceptance. “When I was young and was experiencing mental and physical changes within myself, ones that did not comply with society’s idea of normal, I walked the path of a
At 28, Param Singh is an inimitable Indian designer, stylist and influencer known for his maximalist fashion.
repressed childhood. I was called by titles like Chakka, Hijra, Sixer and was counted amongst the girls in my class. I wanted to stop attending the school at once, but I didn’t give up as all
One look at him and you instantly connect
that I wanted were some answers and a person
with the fun side of him. Someone who
to confide in and talk about the voices in my
believes in walking the talk, Param has always
head. Luckily, college gave me wings beyond
been a vocal and expressive soul. Fortunate as
my orientation and preferences and the idea
it was, Param met the artist within him early
of friendship wasn’t bound by norms. I realised
on which helped him in self-discovery. From
the gift of Queer is options because you don’t
casually styling his mother and aunts when it
have to fit into any one thing.” Says Param.
© Param Sahib Entering the world of fashion was his first
being a non-conformist. He was bombarded
step into a larger world. He was always
with hatred and trolling on social media.
fascinated by unexplored places, people and
Many a night were spent crying. “You
cultures. But as a designer and artist, he felt
know I had moments of feeling broken
immensely inspired by women who were
and shattered. Expressing myself meant
fearless, opinionated and had a clear sense of
shaking some age-old beliefs and for that
what they wanted. This is also something you
I was abused, attacked, and threatened
will observe in his controversial illustrations
many a times. A mob of around 50 Sikh
and artworks over the years. “I feel a visual
men barged in my studio and broke
is the easiest global language to convey a
furniture and threatened my staff about dire
message, sometimes relevant, sometimes
consequences if they continued with me.
hard-hitting but always personal for
That was the lowest point in my career, and
someone, somewhere.” Says Param
I decided to chop off my hair. But the next moment I realised I don’t have to give up
“Fashion is sometimes my armour to be
on who I was and what I believed in just to
myself and express my character without
please people and since then there has been
having to introduce myself. I was lucky to find
no looking back.” recalls Param.
my calling in fashion and I knew I could write stories, create conversations, revolutions and
The determination to follow the path he
even instil feelings through clothes.” He adds.
chose for himself helped him find great support in activists, NGOs and massive
However, just when life seemed like a
following on the social media. “The social
celebration with his brand Param Clothing
media has the power to make or break.
being talked about, he had to pay a price for
So, while you cannot ignore it, use it to
© Param Sahib
h
your advantage to have a voice. After all, I
own calm amidst the social media tempest.
chose this life and gave them that right to
Speaking of his controversial illustrations and
command over me sitting at a point. I learnt
artwork, he says “I feel Digital Illustrations
that when you are in the public eye, you have
help me in becoming a voice of thousands of
to learn to take the criticism as dearly as
people just like me. I could be anyone without
embracing the applaud” says Param with a
being apologetic about it and that is the fun
smile.
part.” My first Karvachauth, the Transgender bride, the art of Shame, Mothership, Kinnar,
Param agrees that with power comes
Naaari Naari & Quarantine Love have been
responsibility and so he wishes to set an
some of his recent works defying the old
example by giving back in simple ways. He
school.
recollects an incident when he was refused an entry to a posh Delhi club due to his
And while he may be writing his own rules
colourful attire. When this became headlines
now, it has been hell of a rollercoaster ride,
in all the leading papers, the club was forced
one that he is immensely proud of. He is
to apologise. Param instead came with a kind
quick to add that one must evolve and enjoy
suggestion and made the club organise a
the process as it is the journey that matters
langar for 100 poor kids. “Not only did they
more. “We keep discovering ourselves until
serve the needy, but they also understood
the end. We relate to behaviours and
where they were wrong. This was liberating.”
characters, that tend to define us. Also, life
Says Param.
is never going to be stable forever and you need people (family and friends) to have your
Today, far away from the expectation of being
back. You can only be happy when you feel
accepted by the society, Param has found his
love and can give love.” says Param
Being asked about a take home line for our readers, he says, “It is the simplest thing to say but the toughest to really understand Just be yourself.�
Photography- Idris Ahmed Garments- Param Sahib Styling - Dimple Chaudhary Retouching- Amit Kumar Gangal
INTERVIEW
In Conversation with Photographer Neeraj
Mahajan
Think of advertising photography and you probably won’t look beyond him. From being awarded by the India Habitat centre as “photographer of the year” for his series Gypsy Souls, to winning hearts at the reputed “Wilfrid Israel Museum” with his documentary work, Neeraj Mahajan is one of the most celebrated commercial photographers of our times. Having worked with some of the largest F&B chains in the world like Delmonte, KFC, Taco Bell and Dominos to name a few, Neeraj’s body of work is a school in itself with extremely moody images, whether taken inside a studio or on location. Let’s meet the man of the hour, through conversation with Idris Ahmed
I fondly remember your proof sheets from Gangasagar, Allahabad & Nashik from 15 years ago and I still feel your series ‘sinners’ & ‘Gypsy Souls’ are few of the most emotive photographic works one can come across. I have been longing to know what happened to those series? Neeraj - Wow! 15 years is a long long time Idris… I was an angry young man then (laughs). But on a serious note, back then I had more time and energy to channelize. I had always believed in doing things wholeheartedly but when I realized I wasn’t giving it my best, I shifted my focus to commercial work and that has been extremely demanding and stressful. Moreover in my head, I have already completed the ‘sinners & Gypsy souls’ but knowing myself, I won’t be surprised if something reignites my desires to do free flowing work again! Oh, I shall wait for that to happen. But we would like to know more about your initial steps into professional photography? Neeraj - God bless, I was born to a photographer father and so luckily I had access to all the amazing journals & magazines from an early age. They were a part of my growing up years and unknowingly
might have had an effect on me. After school, I was all set to study hotel management in Australia and before leaving, I did a course in color printing just to earn myself a certificate in extracurricular activity. Though I had plans of taking up photography in Australia after my management degree, life had other plans and I was back home in India owing to some family crisis. I was looking for work and after chasing legendary Pradeep Dasgupta for a long time, I finally landed a job with him. That was the beginning of it all and I knew where my heart belonged and then I never looked back again. Which photographers influenced you initially and how did they shape your thinking, photographing, and career path? Neeraj - I was greatly impressed and influenced by the works of Elliott Erwitt, Sebastião Salgado and Raghu Rai. Overall speaking, pictorial works in photography never impressed me, as these were too flawless for my liking, instead dark-stark & imperfect images enthralled me. However, I have no clue if their work ever guided my thought process
☺
I remember, you were a big ‘film’ fan! Given a chance would you still shoot on film and why or why not? Neeraj - Hmmmm! Idris Bhai, I guess a lot of people have misconceptions about me It might surprise you but I am not at all a fan of any particular style or technique. I love shooting and equipment doesn’t matter much. I am as pleased and hands on with a 8x10 negative sheet as I am with a phone camera. Frankly my liking for film was because I used to buy film rolls often and load them into film cassettes as per my liking while also processing my films. So, my love for film was more the love for how economic and accessible they were back then.
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I feel that black & white film had this subtle imperfection due to uneven range of grains, which made the results look very interesting. Digital, on the other hand, is perfect, smooth and being instant, makes for a perfect choice for the modern day style of photography. How would you describe your body of work?
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Neeraj - Well, that is a tricky one but come to think of it, since I like to do strong compositions, I would say it is composition based stark work. It isn’t soft nor melodic but is in fact dynamic & layered – precise and pre conceived. And yes composites are an integrated part of my work. You have worked with the biggest and best clients. How would you suggest a change in artistic direction when a client has explained their ideas? Neeraj - Luckily for me, since my forte is food & products, the craft becomes more important than the idea and that makes my life easier. However, it is important to understand the needs of a client when you take up commercial projects. The main goal is to deliver certain numbers of images, in a given time frame and within a defined budget. Also remember, budget controls everything and some clients demands’ can put you under a lot of pressure. I sometimes feel like a warrior myself (laughs)
☺
Do you perceive photography to be an art form or simply a way of communication?
Neeraj - In my opinion, photography is an effective mode of communication but certainly not an art form. Although with so many new mediums of communication, photography is not a stand-alone medium anymore, it relies heavily on other genres like music, motion pictures, positioning & graphics. What according to you, makes a good picture standout from an average one?
Neeraj - Oh, I believe it is all about perception as there is no such thing as a good or bad picture. Especially in this day and age where images have nothing to do with the skill & craft, to me, it is all about how well one can perceive and ruminate over an idea! A good image is one that stands tall with head held high and doesn’t have to lean on the shoulder of a verbal story.
A picture is a good picture if it emotionally influences a number of people in a certain fraternity!
What is the best learning that you’d like to pass on with young photographers?
Are you satisfied with what you have achieved as a photographer?
Neeraj - I would say that the greatest fear in the world is the opinion of others, either create something and bring your potential to actuality or go inwards to find yourself, but whatever you do, do wholeheartedly! And don’t just stop at learning technical stuff, go learn some ‘business of photography’ to help you go a long way.
Neeraj - Satisfaction is not my trait (laughs)! If you observe my work, it screams dissatisfaction. I have a strong urge to go deeper and explore layers beneath layers. In fact, I feel an artist or a creative person can and should never be satisfied.
INTERVIEW
In Conversation with Photographer MadPaule
“ A beautiful story is never complete without a tinge of darkness, satire and madness� believes MadPaule! He has showcased his art works in reputed galleries worldwide. Featured in Maxim Magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Ignant, Nakid Magazine, Illusion 360,Nature in Focus, Better India, Homegrown & Peachfuzz . MadPaule is currently represented by Tsukuba Art center, Ibaraki, Japan and ALF( A Little Fly), Mumbai, India.
How did you develop an interest in photography?
There is a mystery in most of your images and a veiled layer of longing! What is it you are searching
Well, I was always interested in drawing and I
for?
studied fine arts which helped me in expressing myself a lot better. My early inspirations were the
Honestly, nothing in particular. I think more than
likes of Joel-Peter Witkin and Gottfried Helnwein
longing, it is the curiosity and my search for new
and even though I was using images earlier, these
stories and people that keep me going. I often travel
two inspired me a lot, to look at my work and
alone, and such trips always surprise me.
express in a different way. Slowly, I started marrying images with my drawings and working with mix
How would you describe your work?
media which gradually led to a lot of photography and videography. And ever since these have been
A lot of my work (I would say most of it) is based on
the primary mediums for my Artworks.
my personal celebration of intimacy, nostalgia and finding beauty in deterioration and slow growth. I
Your images are very intimate and somehow they
try to use the same aesthetics in my commercial as
look very warm! Is it a deliberate effort or these
well as personal work whether in my illustrations or
come naturally to you!
photography.
Intimacy is the major theme of my work, though the
Do you agree with the adage ‘a picture is worth a
warmth may be missing at times. Sometimes I use
thousand words’?
cool colours as detachments or contrasts.
Although it is very subjective, I do tend to
result which comes out on the paper is the idea
somewhat agree with it. Photographs do have
of how the artist views that person. It is not a fact,
the power of creating their own world and stories
and not probably a reality. and that indeed is the
within themselves and are often Self-explanatory.
beauty of it. Everyone experiences it in a different
Documentary photography on the other hand
way. Creating images not only makes me happy
need a context or photo essay in words to bring
but amuses me how they communicate with
the photo-series and the audience on the same
different people in different ways. Isn’t that exciting?
page. Most of the fine art on the contrary leave your artwork open ended with enough food for thought,
Any suggestions to the photographers who want
imagination and interpretation and I like that.
to take up photography as a career?
“The camera creates such a beautiful illusion,
A - If aesthetics is the face of it, technique is surely
an illusion so similar to what we see with our
the backbone. They both go hand in hand so work
eyes, it seems as though we’re looking through
hard on both. Always spend more time with the art
the surface.” Are you happy how your images
side of it. Read as much as you can. Observe, not
communicate?
just other photographers work but different genres of artists too - musicians, dancers, actors etc.
The best thing about creating art is that you are
That process will help in creating your individuality
merely representing an idea. Whether It is drawing
as a complete photographer. And that is what
a portrait or taking a portrait using a camera. The
people will value in you.
PHOTO FEATURE
YEASHU YUVRAJ
I tend to notice more of the greys. In my life, relationships, or in the truth, I hear or tell people. I want my photography to reflect the same. I found similar greys in low-key photography and chose to work with that as my expression. In my opinion low-key photography leads to every person viewing the image with his or her own interpretation, just like the life I am used to living. Being a professional musician first, I was always inspired by seniors from the frat,
who were comfortable with who they were even if that meant being different from the norm. Their art was an extension of their personality, their thoughts expressed in a tangible manner. I have always strived to be that. When photography happened to me, my old habits took over to shape me into the photographer I am today. I wouldn’t say I am a master at what I do but I certainly like the direction I see myself moving towards and would like to keep evolving my style in the same direction.
FEMALE IN FOCUS
Maria Tirkey An important aspect of travel is exposure to the Socio-cultural fabric of the country or city you are visiting. And ever evolving art forms are the best way to catch these sentiments. ‘Street Art’ has always intrigued me as a genre of artistic expression encompassing a diverse range of works and mediums. Street art is like good fiction - it speaks out on behalf of everyone, for everyone.
Blank walls are a shared canvas and over the years various artists have made this canvas come alive. While there have been discussions around graffiti, street art and murals being different art forms in terms of expressions and medium, art is subjective and ‘Expression’ is what intrigues me and captures my interest as a photographer. Therefore, my work titled ad ‘Street Art’ is a collective showcase of all the three. My first exposure to the graffiti happened about six years back when I accidentally came across a beautiful graffiti work in Hauz Khas Village sprawled across almost four storeys. I had never seen an art work so big and so vibrant before. That kind of set the wheels in motion and I decided to come back and explore more.
It was an overwhelming experience as walking through the narrow lanes now all I could see was beautiful art work at almost every nook and corner in Hauz Khas Village i.e. the walls along the lanes, the houses, the doorways, narrow passages. It was like getting transported to an art exhibit only it was not in a traditional gallery The first graffiti I came across was of a ‘pointing finger’ with vibrant color as if asking me to channelize my vision outward and pointing me in a new direction to start my journey. That was a day well spent capturing, observing, trying to hypothesize and understand the artist’s thought process behind their work. Cinema has been an integral part of our lives.
Mumbai has made Bollywood, but in many ways, Bollywood makes Mumbai too. And the most celebrated work that I have come across is the ‘Bollywood Art Project’ abbreviated as BAP started by graphic designer and artist Ranjit Dahiya with an aim to popularize Hindi cinema through murals on buildings. The mural of Ankarkali and Saleem marked the beginning of the BAP and painted next to it is the picture of eternal beauty Madhubala with her captivating smile from Barsaat Ki Raat. Another mural immortalizes the ‘Angry Young Man’ of Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan with all his mirth, waiting for Peter to come and fight him
on the wall had faded over the years it seems lending a certain finality to material things, the graffiti around the photo of ‘Mother Mary’ symbolizes the flow of messages/wishes into the infinite universe.
While cinema has found its way to many art works, ‘faith’ as a theme has also inspired artists over centuries. While many renowned artists have based their body of work on this, it has also been incorporated by many unknown in street art in their own way. My next favorite work is from Venice, painted on the back side of a house. Though the red paint
The last one in the series was taken just outside the ‘Colosseum’, Rome. It seemed to be a perfect frame from a composition point of view - graffiti on the metal door perfectly balanced by the man standing next to it. To me the scribbles on the metal door are messages and the man just next to it with his mobile symbolizes a form of communication.
While walking down the lanes in the serene city of Florence, I came across this beautiful work on the shutter of a closed shop. Graffiti depicts the dome of the famous Cathedral in Florence [Duomo di Firenze] and it harmonizes perfectly with the telephone booth next to it. To me it was a visual treat as the both focus on a need to connect and symbolizing themselves as an enabler of the process.
Versus LEARN WITH FRAME
Photoshop or Lightroom Photoshop is a great choice if you need to do complex editing such as removing unwanted objects from an image, any compositing and blending, editing images with masks, and so forth. Aside from the ability to organize your photo library, the Lightroom allows you to process a large number of photos a lot faster than Photoshop. Lightroom Advantages
Photoshop Advantages
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Built-in RAW editing: Unlike Photoshop, you don’t need a plugin to edit the RAW files from your camera. Simpler and faster way to edit photos: Lightroom doesn’t have as many tools and features as Photoshop, which makes it simpler to use and faster when it comes to doing simple edits on hundreds of photos. A large number of presets: Similarly to Actions in Photoshop, Lightroom includes a set of basic presets that control exposure, contrast, white balance, and more that can be applied to photos with a click of a mouse. There is also a large selection of presets available online. Workflow. When it comes to importing, organizing, sharing, getting photos ready for print, and exporting them, Lightroom is a definite winner. It allows for a certain level of automation. This should always be welcome if you don’t want to spend hours editing hundreds of photos. In Lightroom one can arrange the imported images by keywords, tags, and metadata. You can easily publish finished work and there are many more under the hood tools and preferences to play around with.
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Photoshop is like an ocean, which has huge expanse, and it can enable you to do anything you can imagine. It needs more practice! Since it is enormous, it needs more time to get a hang of it. Photoshop allows multiple layers to be applied to an image. You can keep images and edits on separate layers, and modify them accordingly and independently. Actions can be recorded in photoshop, which is a big advantage. Photoshop lets you create compelling graphics for a variety of purposes like- designing brochures, flyers and book covers. Photoshop is an all purpose software. It is for all round purpose like color tweaking, restoring, masking, image stitching and many more. Photoshop has the ability to edit videos or animation layers: Apart from editing images, Adobe photoshop has also included the features to effectively edit videos and animations.
So which is the best for you? Answer is ‘both’! Although Lightroom uses a catalog system to organize your photos, which means you can sort, categorize, keyword, and keep track of all images you ever imported into Lightroom but on some complex assignments, a photographer needs to work in multiple layers to achieve the desired professional output and the answer is Photoshop. So I would say both the softwares are integral part of photo editing workflow. I personally like to start with lightroom and I swiftly switch to Photoshop according to the assignment!
Lightroom uses a catalog system to organize your Photoshop lets you create compelling graphphotos, which means you can sort, categorize & ics for a variety of purposes like - designing keyword images easily. brochures, flyers and book covers.
Use lightroom to capitalize on the benefits of RAW file and then move on to photoshop for advance techniques and edits.
POWER of RAW To achieve the optimum output of digital images with Adobe Lightroom, one should always shoot in RAW.
What is RAW? RAW image files are large, uncompressed images stored on the memory card of a digital camera. As an uncompressed file format, RAW differs from JPG or JPEG files; although JPEG images have become the most common format in digital photography, they are compressed files, which can limit some forms of post-production work. Shooting RAW photos ensures you capture a greater amount of image data. RAW image doesn’t have a standard format. It is basically a brand specific format with different file extension for example Nikon has .NEF, Sony has .ARW and Olympus has .ORF
WHY SHOOT in RAW As an uncompressed format, RAW offers many notable advantages over a compressed file format like JPEG.
If the camera format is set to raw, no processing is applied, and therefore the file stores more tonal & color data and with more data stored in the file, there is more processing flexibility. RAW has a better dynamic range: If you have a high-end camera with a large megapixel count, you will see a noticeable difference between the camera’s RAW mode and JPEG mode. RAW provides far more image information, allowing you to capture more detail and greater dynamic range from your camera sensor. For example a JPEG file records 256 levels of brightness, while a RAW file records about 4,096 to 16,384 levels of brightness! More Colors: The RAW format contains 68 billion more colors than JPEG files. A 12-bit RAW image contains thousands of shades of RGB, while a 14-bit RAW file contains trillions of possible colors. More flexibility for editing: When you transfer images from your camera’s SD card to a hard drive for editing, you will appreciate the image quality you get from RAW data. Whereas JPEG files are processed within the camera (resulting in a loss of color data), RAW files are unprocessed and contain more color data for you to work with during the editing process. More creative control: When you save files using lossy compression, as is the case with the JPEG format, you have fewer options in terms of tweaking brightness, contrast, white balance, color saturation, and tonal range detail. If your goal is to be creative, you’ll get better results manipulating RAW images.
RAW image straight out of the camera often results in slightly pale looking images but these are loaded with details which can be easily boosted by basic working in lightroom.
With very little time spent in lightroom it is possible to bring back details both in highlight and shadow areas. This is the major advantage of shooting in raw.
Conclusion Lightroom is a brilliant option to capitalize on the benefits of shooting RAW files and for keywording & organizing your data. However, for advance editing techniques one should switch to photoshop. My suggestion is that a professional photographer should practice and use both softwares and alter between the two according to the assignment’s needs.
REVIEW
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10 MARK IV
It’s Power packed, considering it`s Size, Weight & Price!
Review by IDRIS AHMED
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV Introduction This gorgeous looking camera by Olympus aims at the amateurs and beginners who want to have a better range of controls and better optics and is much more powerful than their smartphones! The fourth version of the Olympus OM-D E-M10, the Mark IV, is Olympus’ latest Micro FourThirds camera, and is the entry-level OM-D in the range with an electronic viewfinder. This one promises a host of new improvements, several of which are not typically available in the entrylevel segment. Most notably this one has a large 20 Megapixel sensor and the latest ‘TruePic’ processor along with an updated stabilization. To provide you full manual controls and raw shooting, the E-M10 IV camera has all professional modes like Aperture priority, Manual, Program, Shutter speed priority and along with these it has Auto, Scene Modes, Art Filters, and an AP/Advanced Photo mode. The Advanced Photo mode is where you’ll find a range of creative shooting modes designed to make it easier to get highquality results without necessarily being an expert Live Composite, Live Time, Multiple exposure, HDR backlight, Silent, Panoramic, Keystone Compensation, AE bracketing, and Focus bracketing. Live composite and
Live Time are both excellent features to help get long-exposure and low-light (night) photographs exposed correctly, without the guesswork usually required. E-M10 has 12-bit RAW images, which delivers excellent detail and great dynamic range, easily matching Olympus’ higher-end cameras. The JPEG engine also provides natural rendering and latitude when using the built-in filters. Overall, the 4MP bump is a welcomed change that makes the camera quite competitive in this segment. The updated processor also yields marginally faster continuous shooting speeds. It now provides 8.7 fps in the high setting and 15 fps when using the electronic shutter. But, its buffer depth has nearly doubled; now providing 42 RAW images in the high setting and virtually unlimited RAW images in the low setting. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark-IV obtains many of the same video capabilities as the predecessor. With that, it records 4K UHD video up to 30 fps and 1080p FHD videos up to 60fps but surprisingly, Olympus has added the slightly wider Cinema 4K resolution at 24 fps. Otherwise, it still shoots to the MOV format using IPB compression with a data rate of 102 Mbps and like most cameras in this category; video recordings are limited to 29 minutes.
Ergonomics The camera uses a full polycarbonate construction, which makes it slightly lighter; it now weighs 335g (for body). Nevertheless, it still provides the same premium feel as the predecessor. The front grip has been improved, with a deeper and more noticeable groove to hold on to, and this works well with the rear thumb grip, letting you get a firm grip of the camera. The rubber coating provides ample texture to hold on to, and this feels like a nice compact camera in your hand. There is a built-in pop-up flash that is activated when you push the on/off switch beyond the on position. It also has a dedicated video record button, which starts movies without first setting the Mode dial position. In Olympus EM10 Mark-IV Highresolution 2.36m-dot electronic viewfinder is available for eye-level monitoring, and it offers a 0.67x
maximum magnification for clear, distortion-free viewing.It also has a 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen LCD for good color reproduction and clarity with a resolution of 1.04M dots. This screen tilts up 80º and down 180º, so that it faces forward, making it suitable for selfies, and vlogging. And it’s a significant improvement over the predecessor, which employed the standard tilting screen. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth permits wireless image sharing and remote camera control from a linked smartphone or tablet when using the dedicated O.I.Share app for iOS and Android.
Special Features As mentioned earlier Olympus EM10 Mark-IV has 20.3MP, Live MoS sensor and TruePic VIII image processor to support fast shooting. It also offers extensive in-camera RAW and JPEG processing. You can select picture modes and make individual adjustments to contrast, sharpness, art
filters, crop, and resize, among many others. It has a built-in 2x digital teleconverter, allowing you to zoom digitally, which is helpful when you can’t physically get closer to your subject. Also powered by built-in HDR, which captures four separate images and combines them into a single high definition image. EM10 Mark-IV has a Live Composite mode, which is a unique feature as it allows a photographer to gradually build up an exposure over time without overexposing key elements within the frame. This mode works to only record newly detected light sources over time, and allows you to watch as an image develops, making it ideally suited for photographing star trails or other
moving light sources. One of the most powerful things about this camera is its 5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization which helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake by up to 4.5 stops with any lens in use and compensates for camera movements that become especially noticeable when working with telephoto shots, macro imagery, and long exposures. Furthermore, this advanced image stabilization system works across five axes to compensate for vertical angle rotation, horizontal angle rotation, horizontal shift, vertical shift, and rolling camera shake movement. This range of detected movements serves to benefit traditional still image shooting as well as movie recording and working with moving subjects more effectively.
Conclusion Olympus EM10 Mark-IV is an entry-level camera packed with some of the typical Olympus features. But then you get what you pay for! So it’s obvious that it lacks features like Pro-capture, focus stacking & high-resolution. Weather sealing along with the microphone input and headphone output is also missing. But having said that Olympus EM10 Mark-IV is still a power packed camera considering its size, weight and price!!
TAMRON 35MM f 1.4 Di USD Review by IDRIS AHMED Tamron 35mm f 1.4 Di USD is a tough and intelligent guy with a brilliant built and superior sharpness output. Launched on the 40th anniversary of the ‘SP’ (Super Performance) line-up, this one had to be special! 35mm is a popular wide-angle lens category particularly for documentary, travel & wedding photography. Keeping professionals in mind Tamron has designed this one for photographers who are not ready to compromise even a bit when it comes to quality.
Fast lens comes handy while shooting in low light for instance this image was shot on 1/30 sec handheld at f5
Superior lens quailty results in no visible barrel distortion or chromatic aberration even on zooming in close.
I used it for my travel work as well as in the studio and the results were impressive (frankly more than I expected). One of the most impressive qualities of this lens is its ability to deliver images with excellent contrast and sharpness with minimal chromatic aberration. There is however a minor barrel distortion which I believe can be easily corrected in post-production.
It has 14 lens elements in 10 groups- in this combination 3 elements are aspherical and 4 elements are with extra low refractive index glass. The lens elements have a BBAR-G2 coating, and the front element has an extra fluorine coating, which has excellent water- and oil-repellent properties. This also makes it less vulnerable to damaging effects of dirt, dust and moisture.
Tamron’s 35mm has an electromagnetic diaphragm system for precise diaphragm and aperture control, it is possible because the 9-blade diaphragm is driven and controlled by a motor through electronic pulse signals. Tamron 35mm f1.4 Di USD is a tough and intelligent guy with a brilliant built and superior sharpness output. Launched on the 40th anniversary of the ‘SP’ (Super Performance) line-up, this one had to be special!
Auto focus is precise and swift resulting in sharp and crisp images with fine contrast.
Conclusion Tamron 35mm f1.4 Di USD provides splendid image quality, especially in the frame center and its controlled lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberration is just awesome! It also has a very smooth and effective auto focus. Only con is its weight (Weighing little more than 800 grams for Nikon & canon mounts) and wide aperture f1.4 is available only for DSLR’s, unfortunately large aperture (f1.4) is missing for all mirrorless mounts.
TAMRON 85MM f 1.4 Di VC USD Review by IDRIS AHMED
Tamron 85mm f1.8 Di VC USD lens has been around for almost 4 years yet it is one of the most interesting lens available, purely because of its focal length which is a must have for any professional photographer. It is used widely across genres - be it wedding, events, fashion, documentary, lifestyle and portraiture. I used it for both my studio and outdoor shoots on my Nikon D-850. I was highly impressed by its performance on the field, as it is incredibly sharp, has a wide aperture that allowed me to shoot in low light and capture portraits with a pleasant bokeh.
I am sharing sample images shot with this lens; you zoom them closer and realize the uniformity in resolution at all aperture settings, including wide-open at f/1.8. I vouch for this focal length for portraits as it results in precise compression & controlled dimensions, which leads to a very natural looking headshot. Ergonomically very sleek design with strong barrel frame on outside and superior eBAND & BBAR coating makes this one an overall performer. USD (ultrasonic silent drive) delivers precise and quick focusing. Also available is Manual Focus override at any point during the autofocus operation for deliberately shifting focus without switching the AF-MF mode selector. Vibration compensation ‘VC’ and a wide aperture allow photographers to use a handheld camera even in low light conditions. Wide aperture (f/1.8) provides a bright viewfinder and provides a significant amount of light to the AF system, activating the high-precision mode in some cameras. What I loved most about this lens is its ability to produce portraits with correct proportions to give them a very natural feel. Also, the 9-blade aperture produces interesting and pleasant looking bokeh.
Focal Length
85mm
Maximum Aperture
F/1.8
Angle of View (diagonal)
28°33’ for full-frame format 18°39’ for APS-C format
Optical Construction
13 elements in 9 groups
Minimum Object Distance
0.8m (31.5 in)
Maximum Magnification Ratio
1:7.2
Filter Size
φ67mm
Length*
91.3mm（3.6 in) Canon 88.8mm (3.5 in) Nikon 90.8mm (3.6 in) Sony
Weight
700g Canon 660g Nikon 650g Sony
Aperture Blades
9 (circular diaphragm)
Minimum Aperture
F/16
Image Stabilization Performance
3.5 Stops (CIPA Standards Compliant)
Standard Accessories
Lens hood and a Lens cap
Compatible Mounts
Canon & Nikon with VC and Sony-without VC
Conclusion Tamron 85mm f1.8 Di VC USD lens is a must have if you like shooting portraits! It’s incredibly sharp, has a wide aperture that allows you to shoot in low light and capture portraits with a smooth, blurred background. The image stabilization helps in steady handheld shots and videos.
What`s New !!
Update with Tech World
WHAT`S NEW Panasonic Lumix S5 Compact Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera With 24-Megapixel Sensor, 5-Axis IBIS Launched
Fujifilm Introduces FUJIFILM GFX100 IR (Infrared) Version Large Format Mirrorless Digital Camera
Panasonic Lumix S5 full-frame FUJIFILM Corporation (Presimirrorless camera is a new dent: Kenji Sukeno) is pleased to “hybrid” camera in the S-series, announce the launch of FUJIFwhich is said to offer equally good ILM GFX100 IR version (GFX100 performance for stills and video IR), a new version of the GFX100 work. The Lumix S5 features a large format mirrorless digital wide ISO sensitivity range, 5-axis camera, now with infrared imin-body stabilization (IBIS) and age-making capabilities, ideal advanced video features such as for use in forensic, scientific, and 4K 10-bit video recording support. There’s a new autofocus cultural preservation applications. Infrared images can system too which is said to support real-time eye, face, head now be made at 100MP – and even at 400MP through and body detection for stills and video. GFX100’s new Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function – to reveal intricate details within a subject or scene that can only Panasonic Lumix S5 specifications normally be seen through the infrared spectrum. The Panasonic Lumix S5 uses a full die-cast magnesium alloy body that is splash and dust resistant. It features a 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with Dual Native ISO sensitivity. The native ISO range is 100-51,200, which can be expanded. The camera can shoot up to 7fps burst shots or you can extract 6K photos from a short 30fps video clip. There’s 5-axis IBIS, which promises up to 6.5 stops of stabilization.
DJI Mini 2, The Ultra Light, Feature-Packed, Easy-To-Fly Drone You’ve Been Waiting For
Make images in the infrared spectrum at an incredible 100MP or 400MP of resolution. Images made of a subject within the infrared spectrum can reveal details that a regular (non-IR) digital camera or the naked eye cannot see. For example, in the field of forensics, this can be an important tool in helping to identify counterfeit documents. For individuals working in cultural preservation, GFX100 IR can be used to analyze pigments and in works of art and historical artifacts, even if they have degraded over time. Using the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot feature on GFX100 IR can create 400MP images with incredible detail and little-tono color fringing.
DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, launched DJI Mini 2, a high-performance camera drone that packs impressive new features into a small, porUsing GFX100 IR with the Pixel Shift Multi-Shot feature is table design in the safest drone category weighing less than invaluable for cultural research because reviewing images 249 grams. of a subject in infrared could ultimately lead to potentially unlocking untold secrets from some of history’s most DJI Mini 2 enhances those key aspects, packing larger drone treasured artifacts. It can also be an incredibly powerful performance in an approachable, small design in the safest tool for researchers using the images to evaluate works of drone category that is perfect for beginners and will also im- art or pieces of evidence. press more experienced pilots.”
Samyang unveils a 35mm F1.8 autofocus lens for Sony E-mount camera The lens is the latest in Samyang’s growing ‘Tiny Series,’ featuring a fast aperture in a compact, lightweight design. Samyang says the lens is ‘specifically designed for 3 main targets: street photographers, vloggers and Instagrammers,’ but the reality is this lens would be a nice budget option in any photographer’s arsenal.
Nikon upgrades the Z series by launching Nikon Z 6 II and Nikon Z 7 II Nikon has been updating its Z-series of mirrorless cameras quite frequently. The Japanese camera maker launched Nikon Z5 in the month of July this year. The company now adds two new full-frame mirrorless cameras -the Nikon Z6 II and Nikon Z7 II to its Z-series camera portfolio. Unlike an entry-level Nikon Z5, the latest Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II target professional photographers and filmmakers. The new Nikon Z6 II and Nikon Z7 II are incremental updates over the existing Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z7 camera models that were launched in 2018. Now, two years later, the newer Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II cameras come with improvements such as 4K/60p video capture, dual memory card slots and more. Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II pack Dual EXPEED 6 image processors, 4K video recording at up to 60fps, max burst of 14fps in Nikon Z6 II and max burst of 10fps in Nikon Z7 II. Dual memory card slots feature was also much required by the camera users. Both the latest Nikon Z-series cameras have one XQD/CF express card slot, and one UHS-II SD card slot. Other features include improved autofocus with expanded eye-detect and animal-detect. Speaking of the design and how the new cameras look, Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II are in the nature of Nikon Z6 and Z7 camera models. Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II equip the same 24.5-megapixel and 45.7-megapixel BSI CMOS image sensors as in Nikon Z6 and Z7 respectively. Again, the Nikon Z6 II and Z7 II feature the same resolution EVF and the same vari-angle LCD panel as well. Both the Z6 II and Z7 II are weather-sealed cameras.
Olympus Releases Lightweight Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens Olympus has officially released its long-awaited M.Zuiko Digital ED 150400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO lens. This is a noticeably lightweight and compact lens, designed for Micro Four Thirds format cameras and, therefore, has a 35mm focal length equivalence of 300-800mm. With its built-in 1.25x teleconverter, it will extend the equivalent focal lengths to 375-1000mm. Again, this focal length, with a constant f/4.5 maximum aperture (f/5.6 when using the built-in teleconverter) is in a lens body that weighs just 4.1 lb (1.875 kg) and is only 12.4” (31.4 cm) long. The compact size of this lens should not be underestimated; it is fundamental to this lens being so functional, so useful for sports, nature, and wildlife photography, especially when used handheld. Other factors, including its 5-AxisSync IS image stabilization system, complement this functionality.
Tamron announces world’s first 17-70mm F2.8, wide range 4.1x standard zoom lens with VC for APS-C mirrorless cameras December 3, 2020, Saitama, Japan – Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shiro Ajisaka), a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the launch of the 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Model B070), a high-speed standard zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras on January 14, 2021. Although due to the current global health crisis, the release date or product supply schedule could change. The new 17-70mm F2.8 is Tamron’s first high-speed zoom lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C size sensors. It features a maximum aperture of F2.8 across the entire 4.1x zoom ratio that covers a focal length of 17-70mm that is ideal for regular use (a full-frame equivalent of 25.5105mm), and superb optical performance. It is a small, lightweight lens that is also equipped with Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism to minimize camera shake. The lens features Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating and a 67mm filter size – the same as the Tamron series of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras.
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