DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

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Imagen is an AI-powered, cloud-based workflow solution for busy photographers offering fast and efficient culling, professional-standard editing and secure storage.  All this and more in one, easy to use platform with a choice of packages to suit photographers of all levels.

Digital capture is wonderful because it gives complete shooting and creative freedom. The downside is the copious amount of time, effort and energy needed post-shoot to sort and edit all your brilliant shots. 

Imagen could be the answer with the potential of cutting down your editing time by up to 96%. The first step to a faster workflow is to sign up – you get up to 1500 free Imagen edits as a reward – and download the Imagen app.

In the app, start building your Personal AI Profile by uploading some of your previously edited shots and you can do this from existing catalogues. Imagen works seamlessly with Adobe Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop and Capture One so you don’t have to learn a new software. A minimum of 3000 images is needed and any tweaks you make over time will refine your profile further, so you’ll get consistent results that’ll match your style and vision, and all in a few minutes.

 

 

To start using Imagen immediately, you can create a Lite Personal AI Profile by uploading your favourite preset and answering a few questions. Another quick start option is to use one of the pre-built Talent AI Profiles which have been made by leading photographers using Imagen, and these are available free within the app.

Once you have a Personal AI Profile, Imagen has the ability to adjust editing characteristics and to take Talent AI Profiles and refine them to match your vision.

Of course, image editing is time consuming but so too is culling, and it’s arduous too. Going through thousands of high res RAWs, rating, flagging and deleting, is a trudge. Imagen’s Culling Studio streamlines the process with its advanced AI skills. Duplicates, blurred photos and shots with people blinking or with eyes shut are automatically removed.

Your images and all the editing that’s linked to them are valuable assets but here again, Imagen has a solution. Its Cloud Storage automatically backs up your projects, and you don’t have to do anything extra in the workflow. Edits are saved alongside your full-size RAW files so if there is any issue with your own storage, the Imagen-edited work is safe.

If Imagen sounds like your ideal workflow solution, sign up and download the app, which is available for Mac and Windows. The process is quick, no credit card is needed and you can start uploading files straightaway. As an ePHOTOzine user, sign up here and you will get 1500 free Imagen edits to get you on the road to a faster workflow.

 

 

Three pricing plans are on offer so just choose the one that suits your budget and needs best. The no-commitment, Pay-as-you-go option is the most popular and this offers unlimited Personal AI Profiles, access to Talent AI Profiles, 24/7 support and 100GB free storage for three months.

Click here to read more about Imagen and to take out the Black Friday 50% off workflow essentials deal. 

Grab the deal now

When it comes to group shots, there's not just one genre of photography it sits under. From weddings and Christmas parties to school events and sports, there are many occasions when a group shot will be needed. However, getting them right so no one's blinking, looking the wrong way or are hidden from view by someone else in the shot can be a little tricky so here are a few tips to help you perfect that group shot.

 

Start Small If You're Unsure

The less people there are in your group the easier they are to co-ordinate so if you've not done group shots before, try splitting the people you have into smaller groups rather than shooting them all together.

If you are working with a big group where you have lots of lines of people stood one in front of another, do check that everyone is in focus. If they're not, use a smaller aperture to keep everyone sharp. If you're struggling to get everyone in shot, try shooting from a higher vantage point. Not only will it help you get everyone in frame, it'll give you an interesting twist to your group shot.

Be A Director

Don't let the group take control, you're the one behind the lens after all so can see what works and what doesn't. Don't be afraid to give instruction and actually walk people into position if needs be. Generally, tall people wander towards the back and those who are shorter tend to find a position towards the front of shots but this isn't set in stone. If you have a person who is the main focal point (birthday girl, top scorer etc.) try to position them towards the centre of the shot. To be more creative, try to position the rest of the group so they're looking at them or change your aperture to blur some of the group out of focus slightly, leaving your main subject sharp.

Enjoy Yourself

If you smile and seem relaxed, your subjects are more likely to be. Talk to them and don't be afraid to have a bit of fun as the more relaxed your subjects are, the better the photos will look.
 

Lighting

If you're working outdoors, a slightly overcast day's good for portraits, however if you're working outdoors on a bright day, pose your group with the sun behind them and use a pop of fill-in flash to fill in any shadows.
 

Backgrounds

As with all portraits, you don't want a background that'll distract from your main subject so take a good look around the frame to make sure there's nothing to the sides, front or above the group that'll pull the eye, taking the viewer's attention away from the people in your shot. Having said that, don't be afraid to use a background that adds to the shot. For example, a swim team at the side of a pool or a family at Christmas stood near the tree and fire surrounded by stockings etc.
 

Make Sure It Looks Like They Know Each Other

You may need to squash people a little closer together as what they think is close may not look very close in-camera. Try to fill the frame but take care not to remove anyone's limbs by accident as it's easily done to people who are at the side of the frame.
 

Shoot Lots And Often

People have a habit of talking, moving, pulling odd faces and blinking when you don't want them to so make sure you take plenty of shots. Switching your camera to continuous shooting mode will help increase your chances of getting a good shot as you'll usually find the first shot isn't that great, but shot two or three could be a winner.

 

 

The updated version of Meike’s popular 85mm f1.8 SE Mark I lens, the 85mm f1.8 SE Mark II, brings noticeable improvements in image quality, focusing speed, and chromatic aberration control. It also features a closer minimum focusing distance of just 0.65m, making it more versatile for portraits and close-up shots. The lens is offered in Nikon Z, Sony E, and Leica L mounts.

This lens is available now and ready to ship for $229.99 USD.

 

 

Specifications:

• Aperture Range: F1.8-F16
• Focal Length: 85mm
• Filter thread: 62mm
• Diaphragm Blades: 11
• Weight: about 369g
• Focus Mode: Auto Focus
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.65m
• Lens Construction: 11 elements in 7 groups
• Full frame Angle of view: Diagonal 27.8°, Horizontal 23.4°, Vertical 10.8°
• APS-C Angle of View: Diagonal 18.67°, Horizontal 15.53°, Vertical 10.38°

 

To order the Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II lens, please visit the Meike website and Amazon.