Next, we’ll see the Google Glass on a surfer, a skier, climber, … and on lots and lots of dogs, cats and other animals, domesticated and wild. Like I said, many Google Glass videos to come from all kind of fantastic viewpoints so that we may start feeling inadequate living a normal boring life. On me? No, no. All you’ll see is the screen I’m typing this on.

via vvv

TechRadar has published its Canon 700D review.

After less than year the brand has decided to replace the Canon EOS 650D with the Canon EOS 700D, also known as the Canon EOS Rebel T5i. It sits alongside the Canon EOS 600D at the very top of Canon’s “consumer” lineup, just below the Canon EOS 60D that starts its “enthusiast” range. However, the new camera only makes a few upgrades on the model it replaces.

Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer is in a giving mood. Not only did she just announced earlier today that she is paying US $1.1B for Tumblr, making founder David Karp the latest billionaire, now she is offering 1TB of free photo storage to every Flickr user. The night is young out here in the East Coast, with one hour to go as I type this post, and who knows what other surprise she might spring on us yet!

How much is 1 terabyte of storage?

A helpful slider calculates how many images you will be able to save in 1TB:

1 terabyte = 537,731 6.5 megapixel photos (* Assuming the resolution of today’s most commonly used smartphones)

So, when readers pointed out that the winning entry in the recent Word Press Photo contest looks obviously digitally manipulated (with a very pronounced tone enhancement), World Press Photo got defensive and, after submitting the photo to Fourandsix Technologies for “forensic analysis,” declared the winning entry’s digital editing totally acceptable.

Just what did photographer Paul Hansen do to his winning photo to stir such controversy?

The experts at Fourandsix Technologies found that though Hansen’s winning photo was “retouched with respect to both global and local color and tone,” they “find no evidence of significant photo manipulation or compositing.” So, what is the problem? Why is there even a controversy?

It is because the tonal enhancements applied to the photo is so very obvious to the naked eyes. Many photographers who have played with so-called HDR photography can spot the over-the-top digital enhancements right away. However, World Press Photo has officially given its blessing that such heavily enhanced photos are acceptable as journalistic photos and so falls within their rule that “retouching which conforms to currently accepted standards in the industry is allowed.”

Even without any digital editing, the content of Hansen’s winning photo packs such a punch as to stop you in your track and elicits a reaction. In our view, that photo deserves to win but requires zero to minimal digital editing. It is sad that the controversy about how much digital editing is acceptable has relegated the content of the photo into the background.

View the before and after pictures.

via Imaging Resource

Stan Douglas wins the 2013 Scotiabank Photography Award which provides:

• $50,000 in cash

• a primary Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibition in 2014

• a book to be published worldwide by international art publisher Steidl

PRESS RELEASE

Stan Douglas wins the 2013 Scotiabank Photography Award

Toronto, ON (05/16/13) – Scotiabank is thrilled to announce that Vancouver’s Stan Douglas has been named winner of the third annual Scotiabank Photography Award. The tightly guarded secret was revealed at a ceremony held Thursday evening at Toronto’s Ryerson Image Centre. The prestigious prize provides the winner with $50,000 in cash, a primary Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibition in 2014 and book to be published worldwide by international art publisher Steidl. The Scotiabank Photography Award is Canada’s largest annual peer reviewed celebration of excellence in Canadian contemporary photography.

“Stan Douglas has helped define and enrich the Canadian art and photography landscape with his outstanding artwork,” said Edward Burtynksy, Chair of the Scotiabank Photography Award jury and co-founder of the Award. “He has pushed the limits of contemporary photography and will continue to have an incredible impact on the world of photography both here in Canada and abroad. He joins an exclusive group that includes Lynne Cohen and the late Arnaud Maggs as winners of this award.”

Based in Vancouver, Stan Douglas has created films, photographs, and installations that reexamine particular locations or past events. His works often take their points of departure in local settings, from which broader issues can be identified. He works with popular media: photography, film, storytelling, public spectacle, and soon, mobile apps. With his artwork, Stan invents, influences and redefines the cultural understanding and reception of art.

The Scotiabank Photography Award was conceived and developed by Edward Burtynsky, one of Canada’s most respected art photographers, and Jane Nokes, Director of the Fine Art Collection and Corporate Archives at Scotiabank. Burtynsky serves as Chair of the jury and Nokes is the Award’s Executive Director.

“We are so pleased to be offering Stan Douglas this opportunity to take his art to new heights,” said Nokes. “His talent is undeniable and his impressive work underlines why we established the Award in the first place. We see tremendous value in celebrating and preserving excellence in contemporary Canadian art and are proud to take a leadership role in supporting such great talent.”

Stan Douglas was selected from a group of three finalists, which included Angela Grauerholz and Robert Walker, by a jury of some of photography’s most respected experts:

• William Ewing, Director of Curatorial Projects, Thames & Hudson/London/New York/Paris/Singapore/Hong Kong/Melbourne
• Karen Love, Independent Curator and Writer, Director of Foundation and Government Grants, Vancouver Art Gallery
• Ann Thomas, Curator, Photographs Collection, National Gallery of Canada

In addition to this Award, Scotiabank is committed to supporting the arts through its involvement in numerous festivals and events, including Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Scotiabank Buskerfest and the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

“Scotiabank has a long history of supporting the arts and artists in their communities through our Bright Future program, and we are proud to celebrate Stan Douglas’ work,” said Jacquie Ryan, Scotiabank Vice President, Sponsorships and Partnerships Programs. “Our customers have long recognized that as individuals we gain much more than we give when we connect with the arts. From photography to dance, theatre to music we understand that the arts have a unique place in our lives, inspiring us to pursue our own interests.”

The exhibition featuring the work of last year’s winner, the late Arnaud Maggs, is now open to the public through June 2, 2013 at the Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould Street, Toronto, as part of the 2013 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.

For more information about the winner, finalists, jury and prize, please visit: www.scotiabankphotoaward.com

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

TechRadar has published its Nikon Coolpix S9500 review.

The Nikon Coolpix S9500 replaces the Nikon Coolpix S9300 at the top of the brand’s Style range of digital compact cameras, and is designed for beginners and casual users. As is to be expected from a camera in this range, Nikon is providing a device filled with all the frills and thrills (3D, GPS, Wi-Fi, subject-tracking autofocus) but lacks the kind of controls that advanced users may want.

TechRadar has published its Nikon Coolpix S5200 review.

An update to the touchscreen-enabled Nikon Coolpix S4300, the Nikon Coolpix S5200 is a slimline compact camera, available in five colours with a 16 million pixel backlit CMOS sensor, 6x optical zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent of 26-156mm and 3-inch LCD screen.

McAfee® LiveSafeTM service

McAfee today announced the release of McAfee LiveSafe service, the first unlimited cross-device security service to use cutting-edge facial and voice recognition to protect users’ digital lives. Designed to protect users’ personal information and identities with industry-leading anti-theft, authentication, and facial and voice recognition technology, McAfee LiveSafe delivers a robust and comprehensive solution for all devices and uses.

McAfee Infographic: Canadians’ Password Safety

Key features of McAfee LiveSafe include the following:

• Provides complete, unlimited device security for PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets

• Offers an intuitive cloud-based “safety deposit box” – Personal Locker – for users to stores their sensitive documents that can be accessed through biometric authentication using voice, face, and device recognition technologies

• Offers simplified password management to securely store usernames and passwords

• Protects users’ personal information with locate, lock and wipe capabilities

• Offers McAfee customer support FREE of charge

McAfee Infographic: Canadian Digital Assets Survey 2013

Also released today are the results of a recent global survey conducted by McAfee to study consumers’ online surfing habits as well as assess their attitudes towards Web security and data protection:

• 34 per cent of Canadian households own five or more Internet-enabled devices

• 51 per cent of Canadian consumers spend at least 15 hours a week (two hours a day) using their devices for personal reasons, contributing to an increased risk of exposure to online threats

• Canadian consumers place a value of $32,000 on the digital assets stored on their devices

  • 51 per cent of those assets are considered impossible to restore if lost and not backed up properly

NEWS RELEASE

McAfee and Intel Deliver New Model for Consumer Security

McAfee launches industry’s first unlimited cross-device security service with facial and voice recognition for consumer devices

MARKHAM, ON, May 14, 2013 – McAfee today announced McAfee® LiveSafeTM service, the first unlimited cross-device security service to use cutting-edge facial and voice recognition technology to protect users’ digital lives. Delivering on the joint vision with Intel to redefine the consumer security experience, McAfee LiveSafe enables consumers to connect with confidence by safeguarding users’ data, identity and all their devices. The service will be offered at a special introductory price of CDN $19.99 with the purchase of selected new PCs or tablets.

A recent global survey conducted by McAfee revealed that 34 per cent of Canadian households own five or more Internet-enabled devices, which contributes significantly to a user’s risk of exposure to online threats. McAfee LiveSafe service delivers a comprehensive approach to security, while providing consumers with a simple Web-based dashboard to centrally manage security on all of their PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets. To increase the level of consumer security, McAfee LiveSafe also includes a cloud-based “safety deposit box” called “McAfee Personal Locker” that uses facial and voice recognition to authenticate a user’s identity so that they can securely store sensitive personal information such as financial records, drivers licences and passports. It also allows users to easily and securely manage their passwords and automatically log into all their online accounts from any of their devices.

“Our digital lives have become more complex as we connect, share and store data though multiple devices,” said Mike DeCesare, president of McAfee. “Consumers deserve a convenient way to protect their identities no matter what type of device they use. The McAfee LiveSafe service delivers this through cutting-edge features combined with simplified security management and unprecedented data protection.”

According to the McAfee survey, 83 per cent of consumers in Canada and nearly 90 per cent around the world report owning more than one digital device. Fifty-five (55) per cent of Canadians have three or more devices. The survey also revealed that 51 per cent of Canadian consumers spend at least 15 hours a week, or two hours a day, using their devices for personal reasons. Canadian consumers put a high price tag on the digital assets stored within their devices, saying that they are worth more than $32,000, and 51 per cent of those assets are considered impossible to restore if lost and not backed up properly.

Consumers also cited that personal memories such as photos and video files are the most valuable of all their digital assets and that when it comes to security, identity theft is their top concern.

McAfee LiveSafe service brings the deepest protections available by taking advantage of technology in the latest Intel® processors. McAfee LiveSafe includes McAfee Anti-Theft, which utilizes Intel Anti-Theft Technology and is designed to protect consumers’ personal information and keep their PCs safe and secure in the event they are lost or stolen.

Also available through McAfee LiveSafe is an innovative application of Intel Identity Protection Technology (IPT), a tamper-resistant hardware authentication mechanism. By combining Intel IPT with facial and voice recognition, McAfee LiveSafe customers who use a 4th generation Intel CoreTM processor-based UltrabookTM device will be able to take advantage of this unique multi-factor authentication capability giving consumers a deeper level of trust and protection. Ultrabook device owners also will receive the added benefit of the McAfee Security Advisor service, providing immediate answers to all their security questions.

“The future of security has to manifest itself in a way that is a part of modern computing. Security can no longer persist as independent pieces of software but must be integrated into the overall mobile experience,” said Renée James, president of Intel. “McAfee LiveSafe represents the first of what will be a series of products from McAfee delivering not only a more robust security technology through the combination of software and hardware, but also deliver a comprehensive solution across all devices and uses.”

Key Features and Benefits
● Provides complete, unlimited device security for PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets against the latest viruses, malware and spam along with a host of other protections.

● An intuitive cloud-based “safety deposit box” – Personal Locker – allows users to store their most sensitive documents, including financial records, copies of IDs and passports, or anything else that is personal and private, in a convenient, safe online location. Users can access their documents through biometric authentication using voice, face and device recognition technologies.

● Simplified password management securely stores usernames and passwords, and allows users to log in with one click.

● Protects users’ personal information by allowing them to locate, lock and wipe devices in the event they are lost or stolen without compromising the privacy of the data.

● Provides users with instant answers to security, cybercrime and online threat-related questions.

● Award-winning McAfee customer support is available free of charge.

Pricing and Availability
Beginning in July 2013, McAfee LiveSafe service will be available through select retailers for $19.99 CDN for a 12-month subscription when purchased with a selected new PC or tablet, and $79.99 CDN for a 12-month subscription for consumers’ existing PCs and tablets. McAfee LiveSafe will come pre-installed on Ultrabook™ devices and PCs from Dell starting on June 9, 2013. For more information on McAfee LiveSafe service, please visit www.mcafee.com/ca/livesafe.

Additional Resources
● Infographic: Digital Assets Survey 2013
http://sawebdev.ca/mcafee/Digital_Assets_Survey_2013/

● Infographic: Password Safety http://sawebdev.ca/mcafee/Password_Safety_2013/

● Press release: McAfee Mobile Study Documents Sophistication and Ubiquity of Risky Apps, February 2013 http://www.mcafee.com/us/about/news/2013/q1/20130219-01.aspx

● Infographic: Canadian Online/Mobile Surfing Habits and Concerns, October 2012
http://sawebdev.ca/mcafee/canadian_and_global_stats/online_mobile_surfing.html

About McAfee
McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), empowers businesses, the public sector and home users to safely experience the benefits of the Internet. The company delivers proactive and proven security solutions and services for systems, networks, and mobile devices around the world. With its Security Connected strategy, innovative approach to hardware-enhanced security, and unique Global Threat Intelligence network, McAfee is relentlessly focused on keeping its customers safe. http://www.mcafee.com.

McAfee Canada is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, with regional offices across Canada. The company’s Consumer Software Research and Development facility is based in Waterloo, Ontario.

Note: McAfee is a registered trademark of McAfee, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

• at Somerset House, London from 17 – 21 May, 2013

  • Address: West Wing, Somerset House, the Strand, London WC2R 1LA

• aims to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue about the relationship and tensions between urban and rural environments, and to further explore the impact these issues have on global resources

There are two categories of the Syngenta Photography Award 2013

• Open Competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers

  • The first, second and third place winners of the  Open Competition will receive US$ 5,000, US$ 3,000, and US$ 2,000 respectively

• The Professional Commission is for professional photographers whose major income is derived from photography

  • The first place winner will receive a US$15,000 prize, in addition to up to US$25,000 to complete the commission

  • The second and third place winners will receive US$10,000 and US$5,000 respectively

The judging panel this year is chaired by the author and curator William A. Ewing.

• The other members of the panel are:

  • Irina Chmyreva (Russia) curator and researcher of photography

  • Stephen Dunbar-Johnson (UK) publisher, International Herald Tribune

  • Milton Guran (Brazil) curator and photographer

  • Malu Halasa (Jordan/Philippines) writer and editor

  • Marcus Lyon (UK) photographer

  • Mike Mack (US) Syngenta Chief Executive Officer

  • Liu Heung Shing (China) photographer and photo editor

PRESS RELEASE

The Syngenta Photography Award 2013 winners announced

• Polish documentary photographer, Jan Brykczyński, wins Professional Commission for his series Árnes

• Holly Lynton (USA) wins Open Competition for Sienna, Turkey Madonna

• Winning images included in exhibition at Somerset House, London

• Total prize money of US$ 65,000

The Warsaw-based documentary photographer Jan Brykczyński has tonight, Wednesday 15 May, been announced as the winner of the Syngenta Photography Award Professional Commission at a ceremony at Somerset House, London.

Jan Brykczyński (Poland) was selected by an international jury, chaired by the author and curator William A. Ewing, for his series “Árnes”, which documents an isolated region in the Icelandic Western Fjords and responding to this year’s Rural-Urban theme. Here he spent several months studying the relationship between the natural surroundings and the village’s small community.

In addition to the US$ 15,000 prize money, Brykczyński will receive a grant of up to US$ 25,000 to complete a commission, a central part of the professional competition. “Farming Tribes” will explore the relationship between human beings and nature in four of the world’s major urban spaces – New York, Yerevan, Warsaw and Nairobi. As an award-winning photojournalist Brykczyński’s work has featured worldwide in such publications as Der Spiegel, Le Monde, foto8 and Lense Culture.

Mimi Mollica (Italy), announced as the second place winner for the Professional Commission, was awarded US$ 10,000, and Pablo Lopez Luz (Mexico) received US$ 5,000 in third place.

Holly Lynton (USA) was announced as winner of the Open Competition for “Sienna, Turkey Madonna”, in which a farm worker embraces four turkeys that are to be slaughtered for Thanksgiving on an independent farm in the small town of Shutesbury, Massachusetts. The image is part of the series, “Bare Handed”, in which Lynton explores communities struggling to maintain agrarian traditions despite the challenges of globalization. Lynton’s work, which has been exhibited nationally and internationally, has featured in the New York Times, Photo District News and the New Yorker.

In the Open Competition, Vitaliy Popkov (Ukraine) was the second place winner and in third place, André François (Brazil). The three Open Competition winners will receive US$ 5,000, US$ 3,000, and US$ 2,000 respectively.

The winning images of both categories will be included in the Syngenta Photography Award Rural-Urban Exhibition at Somerset House, London from 17 -21 May, 2013 which aims to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue about the relationship and tensions between urban and rural environments, and to further explore the impact these issues have on global resources.

William A. Ewing, chairman of the jury, said: “The jury was unanimously impressed with the high standard of entries in the first year of the award. It was a great pleasure to see the commitment and dedication the photographers brought to their work and the wide range of approaches to the rural-urban issue. There were many fine images, and many possible winners, but ultimately the jury unanimously selected Jan Brykczyński and Holly Lynton because of their singular artistic vision, the high quality of their work, the surprising perspective they brought to bear on the theme and the importance of the story they had to tell. They both examine simple, human scale lives under pressure. I shall personally look forward to seeing the new work that Jan Brykczyński as part of his commission proposal which will explore the attempts of what he calls ‘Urban Tribes’ to live in new ways.”

Mike Mack, CEO Syngenta, said: “The winning photographers have created stunning images that bring to life some of the tensions and tradeoffs associated with rapid urbanization. With nearly 200,000 people moving to cities every day, urban and rural environments will increasingly compete for land, water and energy. We believe that these photographs can help spark an important conversation about what is needed to create a sustainable future for both environments.”

For full details of all the Syngenta Photography Award finalists, please visit http://www.syngentaphoto.com. Syngenta is one of the world’s leading companies with more than 27,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.

Nikon D5200 Review

The Nikon D5200 is a 24 megapixels entry-level DSLR geared towards amateur action photographers. Its 39-point AF system is unique in its class and provides better focus-tracking of moving subjects compared to other entry-level DSLRs. This makes the D5200 an ideal candidates for shooting sports and wildlife, when combined with a suitable lens.

This DSLR can shoot at 5 FPS continuously and record full 1080p HD video with stereo-sound. AF is available during video recording, even continuous autofocus, using a standard Contrast-Detect AF system, rather than the 39-point Phase-Detect one.

Read the review to find out how it performs, handles and compares to other DSLRs.

The Samsung Smart TV is the world’s first and only future-proof Evolutionary TV, allowing you to have access to the latest Smart TV technology with a small Evolution Kit. See what happens when a wife tries to upgrade other things around the house with an Evolution Kit!

Learn more about the Evolution Kit and the 2013 Samsung Smart TV via the links below.

Samsung Smart TV: Evolution Kit
Samsung Evolution Kit: Upgrade to a New Smart TV
2013 Samsung Smart TV Hot Videos

Credits:
Animated film: “Tadufeu”.
Directed by: Michaël Bellamy, Coralie Braconnot, Franck Delfortrie, Julien Jamme, Olivier Pierre at ESMA — Ecole Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques — 2011

THIS IS A SPONSORED POST

To be ready to capture the moment, the memory, and the shot no matter where you are in the world, be sure to pack the following compact, performance enhancing gear from brands like Sigma, OPTEX, Manfrotto, BlackRapid, Kata and National Geographic:

SIGMA 18-250mm OS HSM DC MACRO Lens

Get Closer
SIGMA 18-250mm OS HSM DC MACRO  Lens(Available for Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts)
($649.95, London Drugs, Henry’s)
Designed exclusively for Digital SLR cameras, this all-in-one zoom lens has a high zoom ratio that’s ideal for close-up photography. And with Sigma’s unique Optical Stabilizer Technology, photographers have the option of using shutter speeds up to four stops slower, ideal for handheld photos from macro to telephoto lengths or in low-light environments.

OPTEX High Speed All-in-One Reader

Multitask
OPTEX High Speed All-in-One Reader
($29.95, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sony Store, Best Buy)
Compact, portable and easy-to-use, the OPTEX High Speed All-in-One reader connects directly into a USB equipped Mac or PC to transfer data at 15MB per second. Compatible with several different types of memory cards, the device transfer files easily from many different sources.

Manfrotto 293 Compact Aluminum Tripod

Stabilize
Manfrotto 293 Compact Aluminum Tripod
(Available with Ball Head or 3-Way foldable head)
($189.95/$239.95, Henry’s, Vistek, The Camera Store)
The best solution for compact and speedy set up, this tripod is ideal for the spontaneous photo opportunity. With an anti-shock collar that protects your camera from accidental impact and locking legs for rock-solid support, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is catching that sunrise.

BlackRapid SNAPR 20 Point and Shoot Camera Bag and Strap System

 Swing It
BlackRapid SNAPR 20 Point and Shoot Camera Bag and Strap System  ($59.95, Henry’s, London Drugs, Fotosource)
Grab, glide and click! BlackRapid’s revolutionary SNAPR 3-in-1 system combines an innovative strap design with a shoulder sling and padded camera bag and hand strap to make carrying and using your compact camera or digital video recorder easier. The strap system keeps those with butterfingers from dropping their cameras and snap covers provide added security against snatch and grab theft.

Kata D-Light Series Laptop Backpack

Pack Light
Kata D-Light Series Laptop Backpack
($149.95, Henry’s, Vistek)
Designed to protect everything from laptops to DSLRs, this backpack is the ultimate carry-on for the tech-savvy photographer. With extra padding for your devices, this lightweight bag keeps your belongings safe from the drops and bumps of travel no matter where you are.

National Geographic Africa Series Rucksack

Pack More
National Geographic Africa Series Rucksack
($249.95, Vistek, Downtown Camera)
Stay organized with individual compartments designed to hold all of your gear. Removable dividers keep your accessories from getting tangled and the side pouch doubles as a tripod/water bottle compartment. The bonus is the padded, breathable fabric on the back, which will keep you cool and comfortable if you’re travelling through warm to hot climates.