News

The trend of using continuous light sources for portraiture that I saw at last year’s WPPI show continues unabated with Westcott’s Two-Light Daylight D5 Softbox Kit being the latest offering. The kit uses fluorescent bulbs as a light source, although that word barely appears in Westcott’s early press material for the kit. Part of the reason may be that when it comes to photographs of people, fluorescent has a negative connotation but nothing could be further from the truth.

Two of the photography industry’s most tenured women—Lily Fisher, a senior camera bag designer and Deanne Fitzmaurice, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer—recently collaborated to create the ideal camera bags for female photographers. After a decade of research and a year-and-a-half of development, the result is the Lily Deanne shoulder bag line from Think Tank Photo.

Fujifilm just announced the Fujinon XF 35mm F/2 WR lens and XF 1.4x TC WR teleconverter. Both new optics will be on display at PhotoPlus Expo in New York City this week where visitors will be able to “kick the tires” on the new glass with a free loan program during the show

Phase One just rolled out a major update to its XF Medium Format Camera System, which was only introduced last June. The Copenhagen, Demnark-based company also announced three new Schneider Kreuznach leaf shutter lenses to add to the arsenal.

Leica just introduced the heavily rumored new Leica SL (Typ 601) mirrorless camera system, which includes a brand new “Leica L” lens and more dedicated full-frame glass to come in the near future. Leica has designed the SL to take on not just rival mirrorless cameras but to, potentially, lure pro DSLR users to switch to this high-end system, which combines what the company claims to be the fastest autofocus on the market with a speedy 11fps burst rate and 4K video capture.

You enter a room bustling with activity. You see models posing in front of photographers on two different sets, other models patiently sitting getting their makeup and hair done, lights and modifiers everywhere, while one petite woman seems to be in charge of this organized chaos. Welcome to a workshop with one of the premier glamour and fashion shooters of our day, Lou Freeman.

We’re proud to announce that the winner of the Shutterbug Nature Photo Contest is Vincent James for this beautifully peaceful pastoral shot.