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  • Clemens Ascher – A Photo Editor

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    The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

     

    Today’s featured artist:  Clemens Ascher

     

    “Teatro Ridicolo – A Farce in 28 Collages”

    The title already says a lot about the project.

    My initial basic idea was to stage a play as a photo and collage series.

    In terms of content the series is a funky journey through the topics of our times to the outer edges of our collective cultural memory.

    Mainly it is a homage to the theatre itself.

    However, it has no stringent plot. I try to create constellations and relations between figures, in each image, that are full of tension and contradiction but don’t make a concrete statement – the plot is meant to arise in the viewer’s mind.

    In response to recent developments, I embraced an analog approach. I’ve created stages like compositions with aquarelle paintings and populated them with illustrious figures related to each other through collage, like marionettes playing on a theatrical stage.

    I draw my inspirations from across art history and various cultural influences. From the theatre, painting, photography and collage art throughout the centuries.

    To see more of this project, click here

    Instagram

    APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her on Instagram



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  • African Safari Wedding In Kenya :: Bush Wild Destinations Stories

    African Safari Wedding In Kenya :: Bush Wild Destinations Stories

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    African Safari Wedding In Kenya :: Bush Wild Destinations Stories – Elewana Collection Elsa’s Kopje – Meru National Park Weddings

    All destination wedding photographers in Kenya know about The Elewana Collection Elsa’s Kopje. It’s a wild bush hotel inside Meru National Park surrounded by Nyambene Hills’ storied background. I have wanted to photograph at this venue for quite some time so you can imagine when Sara And Kyle reached out to us, I was elated to be able to travel to Meru to capture this amazing event for them.

     I can go on and on about how beautiful The Elewana Collection Elsa’s Kopje is. As a Nairobi City County Wedding Photographer for over 10 years, I have photographed at nearly every major venue in Nairobi and its environs. We simply don’t have many properties in Nairobi that are comparable from a photography perspective. While the architecture is beautiful, the beautiful architecture alone is not unique to this wild bush environs. What makes this property ideal for weddings and events from a photographer’s eye is the magical perfect circular sunrise light. The light in every corner of this venue was easy to work with.

    Sara and Kyle got married at Elewana Collection Elsa’s Kopje in Meru National Park. This was the first of a series of weddings we are photographing at the beautiful Elewana Collection Elsa’s Kopje over the next year. I loved the architecture and opulence of this wedding venue. The beginning of day started off in a wild bush chasing the magical sunrise. We photographed Sara’s bridal prep in her family room. This was my first trip to Meru since 2019 (we typically would go 3-4 times a year prior to the pandemic). Sara and Kyle placed a high value on photography, and I wanted to make sure that we captured this day in a monumental way for them both. We cannot wait to capture more of their family over the years to come! 

    Are you getting married at Elewana Collection Elsa’s Kopje? Get in touch with us here



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  • Introducing Nauticam’s Midrange Focus Optimizer (MFO-1)

    Introducing Nauticam’s Midrange Focus Optimizer (MFO-1)

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    After rolling out a seemingly endless parade of unique and innovative optics—such as the Extended Macro Wide Lens (EMWL) and Fisheye Conversion Port (FCP-1)—Nauticam has introduced another water contact optic in a class of its own: the Midrange Focus Optimizer 1, or MFO-1. We got a sneak preview at last year’s DEMA Show, but what exactly does the MFO-1 do?

    Designed for use with a wide range of popular macro lenses—including the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro, Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8, Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro, and OM System/Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8—the diopter performs several functions, according to Nauticam. First and foremost, by significantly extending the focus range of your macro lens, the MFO-1 provides more flexibility for capturing subjects at various distances. Nauticam says this increased focus range greatly reduces focus hunting, allowing your camera to lock on to subjects even in difficult conditions.

    Nauticam claims the second benefit is a higher-quality image, as the MFO-1 minimizes lens aberration, providing more-accurate color reproduction and increased clarity. Finally, you also get a magnification boost when using the MFO-1—though the amount depends on the lens you’re using. For instance, in combination with the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8, you get about 1.1x magnification, but when paired with the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro, you get as much as 1.6x magnification.

    Like diopters such as the SMC-3, the MFO-1 features a standard 67mm thread and can be mounted to Nauticam flat ports via the M67 Spacer Ring for SMC/CMC (included) or using the M67 to Bayonet Mount Converter II and Bayonet Mount Adaptor for SMC/CMC (not included). As well as compatibility information, Nauticam’s MFO port chart (download) gives figures for working distance and maximum magnification.

    The Nauticam Midrange Focus Optimizer 1 (MFO-1) costs $550 and is available from retailers such as Backscatter.

     


    When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the products mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.


    PRODUCT INFORMATION

    Midrange Focus Optimizer 1 (MFO-1)

    Introducing our newest Water Contact Optic, the Midrange Focus Optimizer, or MFO-1. The MFO-1 is designed to elevate your macro shooting experience by eliminating any noticeable focus hunting while ensuring crisper, sharper and more vibrant images.

    Key Features:

    • Enhanced Image Quality: Say goodbye to the limitations of flat ports. The MFO-1 dramatically improves your image quality, providing more accurate color reproduction and increased clarity by minimizing lens aberration.

    • No Focus Hunting: The converter seamlessly adjusts the focus range of your lens, eliminating noticeable focus hunting and allowing for smooth, precise focusing even in challenging conditions.

    • Focus Range Conversion: For the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, the MFO-1 converts the focus range to an impressive 12.5cm – 114cm, giving you more flexibility to capture subjects at varying distances with ease. 

    • Increased Magnification: For close-up enthusiasts, the MFO-1 converter slightly increases magnification, allowing for incredible detail at extremely close ranges. With the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, you can achieve up to 1.2X magnification at MFD, and with the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8, you’ll get up to 1.6X magnification.


    Midrange Focus Optimizer 1 (MFO-1) Specifications













    Dimensions OD 70mm x H 26mm
    Weight in air 218g
    Buoyancy in water Negative 150g
    Magnification (*1) 1.2x
    Working distance (*1) 12.5cm – 114cm
    Body construction Hard-anodized aluminum alloy
    Lens construction 3 elements in 2 groups
    Lens coatings Anti-reflection Coating
    Mont thread diameter M67
    Depth rating 100m

    *1 Tested with Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED


    Included in the box

    • Front and rear rubber caps

    • Neoprene bag

    • M67 Spacer ring for SMC/CMC

    • Cleaning cloth



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  • Sony Possibly Spinning Off Sensor Unit

    Sony Possibly Spinning Off Sensor Unit

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    You might recall Sony spinning off its camera unit some time back.

    black sony camera on black background
    Black Sony camera on black background. Photo by Alwin Thomas

    In a move intended to streamline the company’s operations, few could deny it was savvy from a strategy standpoint.

    Increasingly focused on its PlayStation and entertainment divisions, Sony has a myriad of high-tech divisions that are more than capable of standing on their own.

    Plus, the company stands to benefit from the value that would be unlocked in what some would speculate would be a $ USD 49 billion standalone firm. 

    But that’s not happening according to a Sony spokesperson who has put the kibosh on the idea in the media. 

    Naturally, we recognize the company for its camera sensors but it also provides a lot of the sensors found in smartphones, for example. 

    As PetaPixel writes, the move is speculated to be not only intended to unlock value but also to boost the division’s competitive capability in the marketplace. As you can imagine, semiconductors are a cutthroat segment and, while it was once wildly profitable, the Sony division has faced the same pressures that many of its competitors have in the industry – namely, shrinking margins and a crowded competitive landscape. 

    The thinking goes that, on its own, Sony’s semiconductor division would be able to harness its resources more effectively which could manifest in everything from trimming operations to honing in on relevant research and development. Essentially, this line of thought goes, the company might thrive better on its own because it is able to address its specific needs without worrying about larger Sony Group goals and aspirations, particularly as might be related to businesses outside of semiconductors. 

    Any thoughts you might have on Sony spinning off its sensor business are welcome in the comments.

    We have some more news for you at this link.



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  • Expanding Usage For A Non-Profit Healthcare Client – A Photo Editor

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    By Andrew Souders, Wonderful Machine

    Each month, we explain a recent cost estimate, contract, or purchase order in the form of a Pricing & Negotiating article. By redacting the names of the photographer and the client, we can share useful information that would otherwise be confidential. You can read more about our Image Licensing service on the Consulting Services page of our website.

    Concept: Additional licensing for previously shot conference images, including a new set of selects
    Licensing:     Publicity and Collateral use of the original 25 images for an additional 3 years, and Publicity and Collateral use of 7 additional images for 5 years
    Photographer:     Corporate and Portraiture photographer
    Client:     U.S. non-profit healthcare organization
    Agency: Healthcare communications agency representing the client

    A photographer partnered with me to help navigate an image licensing expansion for a recent conference shoot. The client, a non-profit healthcare organization working through a major healthcare communications agency, wanted to expand usage rights for a set of images and license additional selects from the previously photographed event.

    Client Request

    The original license covered a batch of 25 images from the conference shoot for use on digital, social, conference, and internal platforms – terms that generally fall under what we define as Publicity and Collateral use. The client had previously agreed to $6,900 in creative/licensing fees for this usage, granted for a period of 2 years.

    As the client sought to extend the usage of these original images and license new selects from the shoot for a longer timeframe, we also identified an opportunity to improve clarity in the licensing terms. The original agreement did not include a definitions clause for the stated usage categories, and the terms digital, social, conference, and internal felt somewhat open to interpretation.

    To address this, we recommended that the photographer adopt clearer and more standardized usage definitions. We updated the language in the new agreement to reflect our recommended terms and included a Definitions section, helping both parties better understand and align on how the images could be used.

    The client specifically requested pricing for:

    • Extended Usage for the Original 25 Images: The client wanted to extend the current usage of the 25 images for an additional 3 years.
    • Unlimited Usage for the Original 25 Images: The client was also interested in pricing for unlimited, perpetual usage rights for the original 25 images.
    • New Selects: The client wanted to license additional selects from the conference shoot, requesting them for various usage periods: 2 years, 5 years, and unlimited use in perpetuity.

    Proposed Options for Original 25 Images

    Keeping the previously agreed-upon fees in mind, we wanted to propose a solution that expanded on the original licensing agreement to meet the client’s needs while ensuring proper compensation for the photographer. To navigate the negotiation, I worked closely with both the photographer and the agency client to craft a pricing structure that was fair and competitive. Here’s the expanded licensing structure we proposed:

    Extending Usage for Original 25 Images

    We proposed two options for extending the usage of the original 25 images:

    • Publicity and Collateral use for an additional 3 years: This extension would cover the same usage platforms (originally defined as digital, social, conference, and internal use) for an additional 3 years.
    • Additional Fees: $4,500 total.

    This fee was calculated as a fair percentage of the original licensing cost, considering the multi-year extension and the added value.

    • Unlimited use of up to 25 images in perpetuity: This option offered the client perpetual, unlimited use of the original 25 images.
    • Additional Fees: $10,500 total.

    Given that unlimited use provides value over an indefinite period, I suggested we propose a fee 2-5 times the original annual fee, offering a flat rate to ensure the photographer’s compensation for indefinite usage.

    Proposed Options for Additional Selects

    Pricing for Additional Selects from the Conference Shoot

    For the new selects, we offered the following usage options and fees:

    • Publicity and Collateral Use for 2 Years
    • Fee: $325 per image (plus any additional retouching).

    This price was based on the original per-image licensing cost, slightly increased to reflect the extended usage.

    • Publicity and Collateral Use for 5 Years
    • Fee: $650 per image (plus any additional retouching).

    We scaled the price for the 5-year usage based on a multiple of the 2-year option, maintaining a competitive yet fair fee.

    • Unlimited Use in Perpetuity
    • Fee: $1,200 per image (plus any additional retouching).

    The price for perpetual use was designed to reflect the value of indefinite usage rights, with a tiered discount offered for multiple images to make the offer more attractive to the client.

    Proposed Pricing for Additional Selects with Unlimited Use

    To accommodate the client’s interest in licensing additional images with unlimited usage, we proposed a discounted bundle for licensing 15 additional images with unlimited use in perpetuity. The proposed package rate was $12,750, or $850 per image. This offered a significant discount compared to the single image rate of $1,200 per image, encouraging the client to license more images at a reduced rate.

    The Outcome

    After the negotiations, the final terms and costs were agreed upon:

    • $4,500: Publicity and Collateral use of the original 25 images for an additional 3 years.
    • $4,550: Publicity and Collateral use of 7 additional images for 5 years, including basic color correction with delivery of the selects.

    Grand Total: $9,050 for the extended image usage duration and additional selects.

    The client was able to extend the original licensing agreement for the desired period while also licensing the new selects for an extended term. The photographer was fairly compensated for the additional usage and new images, while the client secured the expanded usage they needed.

    Takeaways

    Clear, well-defined pricing structures simplified the negotiations while ensuring the creative work was properly valued. By offering flexible licensing options such as time-limited extensions, perpetual use, and multi-image bundles, the photographer met the client’s needs without compromising on value. This transparent approach gave the client control over the decision-making process and allowed them to make informed choices within their budget, encouraged larger purchases, and fostered a fair, collaborative process to meet their needs. Ultimately, it strengthened the working relationship and demonstrated how thoughtful image license pricing can benefit both sides.

    Follow our Consultants @wonderful_at_work.



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  • Atlantis Dive Resorts Celebrates New Atlantis Infiniti Liveaboard with Special Discounts

    Atlantis Dive Resorts Celebrates New Atlantis Infiniti Liveaboard with Special Discounts

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    Atlantis Dive Resorts Celebrates New Atlantis Infiniti Liveaboard with Special Discounts


    If you have even a passing interest in diving the Philippines, you will know of Dumaguete’s mind-blowing critters and Puerto Galera’s stunning coral diversity, and you’ll also know that Atlantis Dive Resorts has a home in each of those prime locations that will serve your every need as an underwater photographer. But what you may have missed is that Atlantis also gives you the option of venturing further afield via their liveaboard Atlantis Adventurer, including the best of the Visayas and Tubbataha regions.

    Now, with the acquisition of the Infiniti at the end of last year, Atlantis has greatly increased its offerings with the addition of a second liveaboard. Appropriately named Atlantis Infiniti, the 39-meter (128-foot) metal-hull vessel boasts 11 cabins with ensuite bathrooms, a spacious lounge and sun deck, and of course, a fully equipped camera room. (Our favorite part: The snack and drink bar, which is open all day, offers complimentary beer, wine and local rum!)

    To mark the occasion, Atlantis is offering some great deals on upcoming trips—20% or 30% discount on selected itineraries till the end of the year. Check out the press release below and head over to the Atlantis website for information about availability on the new Atlantis Infiniti.

     


    PRESS RELEASE

    Introducing Atlantis Infiniti

    We are excited to share fantastic news from the Philippines!

    Last October Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards completed the purchase of the Infiniti liveaboard.  

    At 39 meters long, the Infiniti is a metal hull, IACS (RINA) classed Liveaboard. Spacious and comfortable, the Infiniti is fully air conditioned with nicely appointed indoor areas, a large, fully equipped dive deck with personal diving stations, and a beautiful lounge area and sundeck on the upper deck. The Infiniti offers 11 spacious cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms. The Infiniti offers guests 4 dives a day, and when possible, a 5th dive as a night dive.

    Atlantis acquired the Infiniti Liveaboard late last year to increase our liveaboard offering for our guests. We are operating the existing charters until July when we will begin a two months drydock. Extensive upgrades will take place at that time including increasing the size of the dive operation, new chef’s kitchen, refreshments to the interior and exterior as well as mechanical and safety upgrades!

    The Infiniti offers three different itineraries, each is 7 nights: Tubbataha, departing from Puerto Princesa, and Visayas North and Visayas South, departing from Dumaguete. Visayas North takes divers to Malapascua, Southern Leyte and Bohol, while Visayas South takes divers to Cebu, Bohol and Negros.

    Atlantis has a resort in Dumaguete; you can easily combine the Infiniti with Atlantis Dumaguete with no extra transfers and not losing any dive days!

    Infiniti Celebration!

    • 20% Tubbataha June departures!

    • 30% off our standard rates for August 30th and September 6th departures!

    • All remaining Infiniti 2025 Visayas departures are confirmed, and 20% off!

    Availability through the end of 2026 is here.

     

    Sun deck

     

    Dive deck

     

    Camera room

     

    Premium Twin Deluxe cabin



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  • Want the Secret to Insta-Success? Enrol in the School of Instagram

    Want the Secret to Insta-Success? Enrol in the School of Instagram

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    Why do some people seem to gain Instagram followers effortlessly, while others struggle to get any traction? Find the answer by enrolling in the School of Instagram. It’s completely free to join, and the lessons you learn will take your Instagram account to the next level.

    Here’s a quick overview of what you can learn from the School of Instagram. (Hint: it’s just a fraction of what’s on the site itself, so you might want to dive right in and get started with your first free lesson right away!)

    1. How to Stand Out on Instagram

    Instagram has over a billion active users, with over 100 million photos and videos uploaded every day. How can you possibly stand out in such a crowded field?

    Start by binge-reading the ten dedicated lessons in the School of Instagram’s first subject area: How to Stand Out on Instagram.

    You’ll learn, among many other things, how to:

    How to write an Instagram captionHow to write an Instagram captionHow to write an Instagram caption

    Successful Instagrammers seem to do all these things naturally, but the truth is that they’ve spent years honing their techniques and learning what works and what doesn’t. The School of Instagram helps you take a massive shortcut and begin using these tried-and-tested tactics right away.

    2. How to Plan Your Instagram Content

    What do you mean, you don’t plan your Instagram content?

    If you’re just using Instagram to connect with friends and family, it’s fine to post off-the-cuff photos of whatever’s happening in your life from moment to moment. But if you want to use Instagram to reach a wider audience, you need to be more strategic. Learn how to do that in Part 2 of the School of Instagram’s curriculum: How to Plan Your Instagram Content.

    Planning your Instagram contentPlanning your Instagram contentPlanning your Instagram content

    You’ll discover time-saving apps you can use to plan your content, create better Instagram Stories, and more. Plus you’ll discover exactly how paid partnerships work and learn how you can grab a slice of the $6.5 billion influencer marketing budget, even if you don’t have a gazillion followers just yet.

    Oh, and have you always wondered how to get one of those beautiful blue “Verified” checkmarks next to your name? See the verification process demystified right here.

    3. Stuff They Don’t Teach You About Instagram

    If you’re an Instagram old-timer, you probably think you know all there is to know about using it.

    Think again.

    Instagram may be a fairly simple app, but with a billion users, and with humans being the creative beings they are, Instagrammers have come up with a ton of useful hacks to do things Mark Zuckerberg never thought of. Learn all about them in Part 3: Stuff They Don’t Teach You About Instagram.

    For example, do you know how to respond more quickly to comments by using the text replacement feature on your phone? How to add animated GIFs to your stories with a few taps? How to offer more poll options with the emoji slider? These are just a few of the Instagram hacks you’ll discover.

    Plus Instagram is always adding new features. Learn how to get the most out of the brand-new Instagram Create Mode, launched just last month.

    Instagram Create Mode TemplatesInstagram Create Mode TemplatesInstagram Create Mode Templates

    There’s so much more there too, from killer video trends to turning your Instagram content into a career. To see all of it, just head over to the site and start taking your free lessons.

    4. Learn From the Insta-Experts

    Let’s face it: there’s a ton of Instagram advice out there. But have you ever noticed that a lot of it is written by people whose own Instagram profiles are… kind of underwhelming?

    If you want to succeed on Instagram, you probably want to learn from people who have tens or hundreds of thousands of followers. You want to know what they’ve done to achieve that success. What have they learned along the way? What can you do to reach the same level?

    That’s where the “Asking for a Friend” interview series comes in. Watch some successful Instagram entrepreneurs talking about their biggest lessons, their best Instagram tips, how they deal with setbacks, and much more.

    You can find these fun and inspiring interviews on the School of Instagram homepage. Here’s one of them, with stylist and digital influencer Kristy Wu.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8JAZ0XjPUM


    Create an Insta-Site With Milkshake

    If you follow the lessons from the School of Instagram, you’ll soon be building a healthy and fast-growing Instagram following. But how do you translate that into sales or traffic for your other projects? After all, Instagram only lets you put one link in your profile.

    The best solution is to build an “Insta website”: an eye-catching, mobile-friendly site that quickly states who you are and what you do. Forget complex web design and hosting fees: you can set up a site quickly and easily using the free Milkshake app.

    With Milkshake, you can build a bespoke Insta-site on your phone in minutes, and use it to connect your followers to everything you offer.

    The site is specially designed for Instagram’s mobile web browser, so your followers can swipe through your site just like Instagram Stories. Seamless!

    You can update the site as often as you like. It’s free to create, and the best part is that no software or design skills are needed! What’s not to like? Download the Milkshake iOS app to get started.

    And don’t forget to enrol for the School of Instagram to ensure you’re getting the most out of the platform. They’re adding more lessons and interviews all the time, so sign up to make sure you’re the first to find out about the latest Instagram tips and tricks!

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  • Nairobi Destination Wedding Photography :: Kenyan East African

    Nairobi Destination Wedding Photography :: Kenyan East African

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    Nairobi Destination Wedding Photography :: Kenyan East African

    Alice and Khalil had a truly magical wedding at the Kempinski Villa Rosa Nairobi, Windsor Golf Hotel And Country Club, And Nairobi Serena Hotel, luxurious and elegant hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The couple was surrounded by their closest family and friends as they exchanged vows in a beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooking the man-made lake at Windsor Golf Hotel And Country Club.

    The ceremony was absolutely stunning, with beautiful flowers provided by the talented team at Mosaic Events Decor Wedding Planner. The flowers added pops of color and texture to the ceremony space, creating a romantic and whimsical atmosphere.

    One of the standout details of the day was the couple’s unique and custom-built stunning wedding stage, which was adorned with delicate floral arrangements and draped with flowing fabric. It was the perfect backdrop for the couple’s exchange of vows.

    After the ceremony, the couple and their guests celebrated with a reception that was filled with delicious food, flowing champagne, and plenty of dancing. The reception was beautifully decorated with more outstanding flowers from Mosaic Events, including colorful centerpieces and cascading bouquets.

    The couple’s love and joy were palpable throughout the day, and it was truly a pleasure to capture their special moments in beautiful Nairobi Serena wedding photos. Thanks to the outstanding planning and attention to detail by Mosaic Events, Alice and Khalil had a wedding day that was truly a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable event, and to Crowne it, We had grand stunning fireworks from Jays‘ Pyrotechnics. Mc Bedan King Dj Joe Mfalme Makeup Artist By Makeup By Ruthie Lesus Executive Car Lesus Executive Concierge Kayamba Africa

     



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  • Microsoft Publishes Full AI-Generated Ad and No One Noticed

    Microsoft Publishes Full AI-Generated Ad and No One Noticed

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    Well, until they told us that is.

    gray microsoft surface laptop computer on white table
    Gray microsoft surface laptop computer on white table. Photo by Windows

    In a sign of the times, Microsoft published a blog describing the process behind one of their latest ads which relied upon AI-generated imagery and content to work.

    Ostensibly conceived to demonstrate the company’s prowess in AI, the ads show off Microsoft’s latest iteration of the Surface along with what is can do for businesses using CoPilot.

    How did this come to be?

    Hint: If you’ve ever used ChatGPT or anything like it before, then you probably have some idea.

    “We probably went through thousands of different prompts, chiseling away at the output little by little until we got what we wanted. There’s never really a one-and-done prompt,” Creative Director Cisco McCarthy told Microsoft. 

    “Like carving a masterpiece from a block of marble, each prompt was a careful stroke of the sculptor’s tool that gradually revealed the form within. Through relentless experimentation and countless revisions alongside generative AI, the team eventually conjured a library of stunning art for characters and sets, translating their ideas into captivating visualizations for the ad,” the company writes. 

    That’s an interesting way to describe it. The results speak for themselves, naturally, and you can watch them over on YouTube at this link.

    From our perspective, we’re seeing it as yet another sign of the times and as further evidence of one of the biggest trends to shake up our industry since we started writing this news blog. How we got here and where we are going are always interesting to ponder but they might make us miss the fact that the future is very much here and now already. 

    Any thoughts that you might have on AI-generated advertising are welcome in the comments. 

    We have some other news you might like to read at this link.



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  • Shark Attacks Could Be on the Rise Due to Selfie-Taking Tourists

    Shark Attacks Could Be on the Rise Due to Selfie-Taking Tourists

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    Earlier this year, a Canadian tourist on vacation in the Turks and Caicos attempted to take a selfie with a shark—and ended up having both her hands bitten off. This comes after a viral video emerged of tourists taking photos with a huge shark that had been caught and dumped on a Florida beach. Now, a new study in Frontiers in Conservation is suggesting that selfie-chasing tourists may be contributing to an increase in sharks biting humans.

    Blaming social media influencers for encouraging tourists to try to photograph or touch sharks, the scientists point out that these animals do not tend to bite unless provoked or harassed. Professor Eric Clua, the study’s first author and a shark specialist at Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) in Paris, told The Times of London: “I don’t encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, to cling to a shark’s dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless and supposedly working for their conservation.”

    While shark bites are incredibly rare, with only around 100 incidents globally and a handful of fatalities, Professor Clua suggests that tourists’ lack of knowledge means they are ignorant of the risks. “People know the difference between a [Yorkshire terrier] and a pit bull,” he says, “whereas they don’t know the difference between a blacktip reef shark and a bull shark, which are their marine equivalents.”

    Looking at records of shark encounters in French Polynesia between 2009 and 2023, the researchers found that about 5% of the “attacks” were probably defensive, occurring soon after a human interaction that was likely perceived as threatening by the shark. “We show that defensive bites by sharks on humans—a reaction to initial human aggression—are a reality and that the animal should not be considered responsible or at fault when they occur,” said Professor Clua. “These bites are simply a manifestation of survival instinct, and the responsibility for the incident needs to be reversed.”

    Read more here.



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