It’s just crazy how fast this stuff is evolving…
The post Google’s New Stuff appeared first on Stuck in Customs.
It’s just crazy how fast this stuff is evolving…
The post Google’s New Stuff appeared first on Stuck in Customs.
Dutch photographers and couple Sarah van Rij and David Van Der Leeuw create dreamlike worlds within the artistic traditions of surrealism, yet in a style undeniably their own. Elegant and cinematic, their imagery conveys an understated sense of mystery.
Their images exhibit an anamorphic, collage-like quality, often achieved by capturing objects distorted in reflective surfaces or by incorporating their own shadows to obscure or warp a scene. They are drawn to the visual density of big cities in their work and have recently published two books—one a personal project focused on New York, and the other a commission for Louis Vuitton featuring images taken in Seoul.
The photos presented here were captured in New York in December 2024 and created using only in-camera effects.
“In our street photography, we don’t just point and click,” David explains. “We try to create something different—something that highlights the surreal qualities of life.”
For Sarah and David, photography is about mood and leaving room for the viewer’s imagination. “When I started,” Sarah notes, “I was super into color, and I still am. Color can really set a mood,” she adds, explaining that, for her, art is “when I enter a room and I’m drawn to it because of a color, a shape, or a face.”
What makes their images interesting goes beyond gear and equipment. “It’s definitely not technical for us,” David points out. “We never apply tricks,” Sarah observes, adding, “Some people think we make double exposures, but we never do—all our photographs are in-camera.”
“A lot of our images are totally unplanned,” David says. For the work created with the Sigma BF camera, they went out in New York, staying close to each other but not photographing exactly in the same spots. At the end of the day, they looked at the images they had taken, made selections and pieced everything together.
New York is a city they know well and keep coming back to, having lived there for six months spread out over two years. Their latest book, Metropolitan Melancholia, came out of their stay in the city. “We feel very at home here,” David says, adding, “New York has a lot of art direction in the city. The colors are very beautiful.”
“It’s a unique city where so many people have arrived to start a new life and become American or a New Yorker,” Sarah says. That sentiment, Sarah observes, “offers a very interesting feeling for us.”
An element of New York that is essential to Sarah and David’s photographic approach is the city’s cinematic quality. They both love film and cite Alfred Hitchcock, John Cassavetes, Roman Polanski, and Michelangelo Antonioni as a few of their many influences. Their work is infused with this obsession, evident in its ability to tell a story within a single image.
Sarah and David are self-taught image-makers. “Neither of us attended a proper photography or art school,” Sarah says. “We both have our own paths into it.”
As a child, Sarah was surrounded by film and cinema. Her mother made sure she was exposed to the classics. David grew up in an art-filled home with a father who was a painter.
Both are kids of the 90s and early 2000s, a time of rapid change, with the rise of the digital era and increasing access to imagery through Tumblr and Flickr. That period “was a really important point for me,” Sarah says. It was then that she began to find her place in the visual world. “We got our first little phones with cameras, and I would always capture everything around me.”
Isotta is now shipping its new RED64 strobe, which the Italian company had on display in their booth at the ADEX Singapore dive show in April. With an anodized aluminum body sporting Isotta’s signature red paint, the RED64 features a circular flash tube, promising a smooth, even light beam. The strobe has a guide number of 22 and a color temperature of 5,300ºK. Flash power can be manually adjusted in 10 increments, from GN 22 to GN 1.
According to Isotta, at GN 8, the strobe can keep up with burst shooting at 6fps, and when fully charged, the strobe achieves 300 flashes at full power. The company says the strobe offers high-speed sync (HSS) compatibility with Sony, Canon and Nikon cameras. Powered by eight rechargeable AA batteries, the strobe can be triggered fiber-optically or electrically via its S6 bulkhead.
Available now from retailers such as Backscatter, the Isotta RED64 costs $1,500.
When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the products mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Isotta Strobe RED64
TECHNICAL DATA
SPARE PARTS
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Scuba divers are known for being well-trodden world travelers. But one man has taken dive log travel to record levels.
Diver travel influencer Barrington Scott has recently set the Guinness World Record for fastest person to scuba dive all seven continents in a row—in just 19 days, 19 hours and four minutes.
The intrepid diver covered more than 27,000 miles to accomplish the task, which took place in late November of last year. New additions to his logbook include stops in Thailand, Malta, Egypt, Malta, and Argentina. The record-setting plunge took place in the frigid waters of Antarctica.
“When I finished my final dive, I called my sisters first to share the good news,” Scott told Essence.com. “I could feel the pride and excitement in their voices—it made the achievement feel even more real.”
Scott’s journey into the record books is a long time in the works. After dropping out of New York City’s foster care system as an adolescent, he joined the Marines and served in Afghanistan. Following his service, Scott earned a culinary degree and spent a year backpacking in Asia.
Finally, in 2014 he took the giant stride into diving in the Bahamas and never looked back. Scott eventually worked his way up to Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) and even authored a book on his adventures, Trent’s Adventures: Deep Sea Discovery, hoping to inspire young ocean explorers of all backgrounds.
“Breaking a Guinness World Record isn’t just about making history; it’s about showing that we belong in these spaces,” Scott shared on Instagram. “Black explorers, Black divers, Black adventurers—we’ve always been here, and we will continue to push boundaries.”
Learn more about Barrington Scott’s recent (and lifelong) diving journey in this wonderful profile featured in Essence.
Scientists Find New Evidence That South Korea’s Female Freedivers Evolved for a Life Underwater
Haenyeo sing traditional songs before heading out to sea to harvest abalone, sea urchins, seaweed, and other seafood from the waters around Jeju Island, South Korea
Scientists studying the DNA of the famous female freedivers of Jeju Island—the haenyeo—have discovered there are unique genetic differences that the women have evolved to cope with the physiological stress of freediving. Published in the scientific journal Cell Reports on May 2, 2025, the research was led by Melissa Ann Ilardo, a geneticist and assistant professor in biomedical informatics at the University of Utah.
Ilardo and her colleagues recruited 30 haenyeo divers, 30 non-diving women from Jeju Island, and 31 women from the South Korean mainland for the study. The participants’ average age was 65. As well as sequencing their genomes from blood samples, the researchers compared their heart rates, blood pressure and spleen sizes. In order to simulate dives, participants held their breath while submerging their faces in cold water, stimulating the mammalian dive reflex. As a result, the heart rate slows, blood pressure increases and the spleen contracts.
The analysis showed that the participants from Jeju—divers as well as non-divers—were more than four times more likely than the participants from the mainland to have a genetic variant associated with lower blood pressure. “Your blood pressure increases as you dive,” explains Ilardo. “Their [Jeju residents’] blood pressure increases less.” The scientists suggest that the genetic trait may have evolved to keep unborn babies safe—since the haenyeo dive throughout pregnancy, when high blood pressure can be dangerous.
Previous research has linked cold and pain tolerance to another genetic variation, and this study revealed that the participants from Jeju were more likely to have this genetic variant. However, the researchers weren’t able to say with certainty whether the variant may be important for the haenyeo’s ability to dive throughout the year, since the participants’ ability to withstand low temperatures was not measured in the study.
Genetics wasn’t the only factor to explain the haenyeo’s impressive diving capabilities. During the tests, the researchers also found a dramatic difference between the heart rates of the divers versus the non-divers. A reduced heart rate would help the haenyeo conserve oxygen during their dives. “Actually, their heart rate dropped about 50% more over the course of the dive than the control (participants),” says Ilardo. “We know that it’s because of training, because it’s something that we only saw in the haenyeo.”
While much more work needs to be done, the research could potentially lead to the development of new drugs for lowering blood pressure.
Read more here.
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!
Availability through the end of 2026 is here.
Sun deck
Dive deck
Camera room
Premium Twin Deluxe cabin
A couple weeks ago, I asked my subscribers to let me know what kinds of online photography courses they’d like to see me teach, and I got some incredible feedback! After reading hundreds of answers, I have some solid direction about how to proceed, and I’m looking to start filming some brand new courses in the next few weeks.
With that in mind, I’m excited to announce the launch of my brand new online school, which features a free course, called Creative Color Techniques for Photographers and brand new options for personalized individual coaching.
In addition, I’m now offering 3 different options for my signature 30-lesson course, Photography On The Brain, that are designed to better match a variety of budgets and commitment levels.
ESSENTIALS gets you unlimited access to all 30 lessons and downloadable PDF assignments, at the lowest price I’ve ever offered. (Even lower with the discount below!)
WORKSHOP adds full forum access where you can share you own insight, post your images for critique, and get input from me and other students.
MENTORSHIP goes even deeper by adding personal coaching with a series of 4 one-hour video calls. This is the ultimate way to keep your motivation up and get targeted instruction and insight as you progress through the lessons.
I cover such a wide variety of topics that you are guaranteed to come away with a huge batch of new ideas, confidence and inspiration.
If you want to be better at composition gain more creative confidence, then I strongly urge you to check out this course, because I know it will help you expand your creative skills in a big way.
I’m also unveiling my brand new PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHY COACHING SESSIONS.
With three different video call options that range from 30-minute Quick Coaching sessions, 60 minute 1:1 sessions and an extended series of 4 one-hour monthly sessions, I can give you one-on-one advice, targeted instruction, and provide critiques, direct feedback and direction that will help you progress in your current photography life.
Whether you just need quick answers about a specific topic you’re struggling with, insight about how to better apply a certain creative technique, or if you want more in-depth feedback and ongoing follow-up, this is an incredible option for learning.
I’m so excited about my new course site, which is built with the Teachable interface. The user dashboard and lesson pages are so easy to navigate, and they look great! You can view the lesson videos and assignment briefs with unlimited access on any device, and there’s even a free iOS app you can use for streamlined viewing of lesson material when you’re offline.
I actually did a 12-week online singing/vocal course last winter that was built with the the same framework, and I was really impressed by the clean format and ease of access that Teachable offers. That’s why I’m using it for my own courses, and I think you’re really going to like how it looks and functions.
Finally, to celebrate the launch of my new course site, I’m offering my readers a special limited time discount code for Photography On The Brain.
My readers have been incredibly supportive over the years, and that’s why I’m so excited about my new course site. I know that you guys like to learn from me, and you deserve the best possible user experience to access and absorb the information that I share.
I’m looking forward to building and uploading more courses in the coming weeks and months, but for now, I encourage you to check out the site, try out my free color course, and the share my courses with your other photographer friends.
Thanks so much for reading and take care.
Canon is offering up some holiday treats as we head into winter. The company has announced two new full-frame RF lenses, one APS-C RF lens, a Power Zoom Adapter, and firmware updates for the EOS C70 and EOS R5 C cameras. The three new lenses cover everything from wide-angle to ultra-telephoto, offering a bit of something for everyone. They include the RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM, the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z, and the RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM. There’s lots to unpack here, so let’s get into it.
We are especially excited to see the RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z. This lens is the world’s first 24-105mm focal length lens with a consistent f/2.8 maximum aperture. Canon designed the RF24-105mm as a hybrid lens, tailoring it to high-level video content creators and video production individuals or firms. It did specify that this is not a cinema lens but does approach that category with new features.
Though it offers many video-centric features, it should also be a superb still photography lens. The 24-70mm has long been the workhorse lens for many photographers, but we could see this extended range becoming the new go-to for many. The fast and constant f/2.8 aperture will offer excellent low-light performance, adding to its versatility. It will be ideal for a vast number of applications, including portraits, weddings and events, fashion, photojournalism, sports, wildlife, and more.
Canon’s RF24-105mm offers a constant overall length when zooming and focusing, which is a big advantage for videographers. It also offers a stepless manual aperture ring for video use. Canon optimized the optical design for high-end video, with excellent focus breathing performance and superb image quality. The image stabilization results in 5.5 stops of optical IS or eight stops of coordinated IS.
The lens can focus as close as 1.5 feet at all focal lengths and offers a maximum magnification of 0.29x at 105mm. Two Nano USM focus motors drive the autofocus system, resulting in fast and accurate focusing abilities. Its 11 aperture blades provide beautifully smooth bokeh.
The RF24-105mm weighs 2.9 pounds and is 7.8 inches long. It offers an 82mm filter thread.
For videographers, one of the most exciting aspects of this new lens is the option to use a newly developed Power Zoom Adapter. This new optional accessory will connect to the side of the RF24-105mm without any tools required. It enables super-smooth zoom control when recording video. Zooming will look more natural, and it will make control easier for solo creators.
Canon is making two different versions of the Power Zoom Adapter. You can opt for a standard version (PZ-E2) with only a USB port or a 20-pin port version (PZ-E2B) to support zoom and focus demands. It’s important to note that, as of now, the Power Zoom Adapter is only compatible with the RF24-105mm.
The Canon RF24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z will be available in December, though is available for pre-order now for $2,999.00.
Both versions of the Power Zoom Adapter won’t be available until the spring of 2024, but you can already pre-order both. The standard version (PZ-E2) is priced at $999.00, while the 20-pin port version (PZ-E2B) is $1,299.00.
For those who need ultimate telephoto reach, the RF200-800 F6.3-9 IS USM should fit the bill. This lens is impressive for many reasons, most notably the range it offers. There are not many zoom lenses that offer a maximum focal length of 800mm, with most topping out at 600mm. And at $1,899, it’s very reasonably priced for what it provides. For context, Nikon’s new NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens is $1,696.95, so you’ll get 200mm more reach for roughly $200 more.
Its long reach makes it perfect for photojournalism, wildlife, outdoor sports, and dramatic landscapes. Should you need even more zoom power, it’s compatible with the Canon RF 1.4x and 2x tele extenders, which will get you up to a whopping 1600mm.
The maximum aperture varies from f/6.3 at the wide end to f/9 when zoomed in, so its low-light capabilities are slightly limited. But as we would expect on such a lens, it offers image stabilization to assist with obtaining sharp images even when handholding the lens. You’ll get 5.5 stops of correction at 800mm, and 7.5 stops at 200mm. It also offers automatic panning detection.
The RF200-800mm uses an extending lens design, meaning it gets longer when you zoom in. Even though this lens isn’t in Canon’s pro-level L-series, it did apply weather sealing, meaning it is still durable and protected against the elements despite the extending design. The lens is surprisingly lightweight for what it is, weighing just 4.5 pounds. It should be feasible to shoot handheld for at least short durations. A rotating tripod mount on the lens makes it easy to attach to a tripod as well.
Canon pointed out that even though the lens RF200-800m is white, it is not the IR reflective surface found on the latest L-series lenses. A single, compact Nano USM motor drives the autofocus system, which is fast and quiet. It is a varifocal lens, meaning it won’t stay in focus as you zoom in. But Canon promised superb image quality thanks to an optimized optical design.
The Canon RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM will be available in December, but you can pre-order it now for $1,899.00.
The third lens of the new trio is a beginner-friendly APS-C lens. And at just $329, it is extremely budget-friendly as well. The RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens offers a full-frame equivalent view of 16-29mm. Canon designed this lens for video and vlog creators as well as amateur photographers. The wide-angle perspective is ideal for selfie videos, travel videos, and landscape, travel, or architectural photography. For many, this could be the only lens they use on their camera because of its versatility and size. It would pair well with cameras like the R100, R50, or R7.
Canon created an entirely new optical design lens for the RF-S10-18mm, one that isn’t based on any current Canon lenses. It is absolutely tiny, weighing only 5.3 ounces. It utilizes a collapsible design to maximize its compact size for travel, meaning you’ll need to extend it out in order to start shooting. But when collapsed down, it is a measly 1.8 inches.
Surprisingly, Canon included image stabilization on the RF-S10-18mm. You’ll get four stops of optical IS and six stops of coordinated IS with your camera’s in-body image stabilization. For video users, this can also be combined with Movie Digital IS for added stability, but that will result in a crop. Canon also mentioned that the focus breathing is very well handled with this lens. There is some present, but it is minimal, and some cameras offer focus breathing correction in-camera to improve it even more.
A stepping motor drives the autofocus, and it offers close focusing abilities of 5.5 inches with autofocus at all focal lengths or 3.4 inches at 10mm with manual focus. Unsurprisingly for such a compact, budget-friendly lens, there is no focus switch on the lens, so you’ll need to change between manual focus and autofocus in your camera’s menus.
As with the other two lenses, the Canon RF-S10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will be available in December (just in time for you to pick it up as a Christmas gift for a photographer in your life) and is available for pre-order now for $329.00.
I’m excited to announce my brand new online course, MASTERING THE FUJIFILM AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM. It just went live this week, and it’s already getting great reviews from people who have enrolled.
“Great course on Fujifilm Autofocus Dan! I ran through all the video without even picking up my camera, now I will go back and watch all the videos again with camera in hand to insure I understand all the settings.”
“Everyone with a Fuji camera should watch this course.
Thanks very much, keep up the good work!”
—————–
-Neil M.
In my new course, I’ll walk you through the entire Fujifilm AF/MF system, show you all the features, setting and controls, teach you how to use them, and I’ll even share invaluable shooting tips I’ve learned from my 26+ years as a pro outdoor action and adventure photographer.
Whether you shoot still or moving subjects, sports, birds, wildlife, kids, pets, adventure, or any other kind of real-life scene, knowing how to navigate the X Series focus system, and knowing how to work around its limitations, will make you a better all around photographer.
I also cover what I feel are the essential Fujifilm settings that can help ensure even more success when shooting action and moving subjects.
I’ll show you how to customize your camera so that it’s ready for action, and teach give you tips on how to capture more dynamic & visually stunning photos with your X Series camera.
I also cover what I feel are the essential Fujifilm settings that can help ensure even more success when shooting action and moving subjects.
I’ll show you how to customize your camera so that it’s ready for action, and teach give you tips on how to capture more dynamic & visually stunning photos with your X Series camera.
With the tips and techniques I share with you in this course, you are guaranteed to increase your skills and confidence when photographing things that move. I even show you tips that are specifically designed for the new 5th Gen Fuji cameras, like the X-H2, X-H2S and X-T5.
This course is the product of my many years of experience shooting a wide range of subject matter, so it’s your chance to take advantage of my 26+ years as a working pro shooter, in an area where I feel I’m an expert. If you want to be better at focusing, no matter what you like to shoot, then I promise, this will be a very helpful resrouce.
If you haven’t enrolled already, you can check out the course here. And as with all my courses, you have a fully 100% money back guarantee if you’re not satisifed.