HP India showcased its latest innovations at the recently concluded Labelexpo India 2024. The showcase included solutions tailoured for growing market segments such as in-mold labels, lamitubes, flexible packaging, shrink sleeves, folding cartons, and security printing. Aiming to optimize job lengths and operational efficiency, HP Indigo technology empowers businesses to boost productivity and reduce their total cost of ownership.
The HP Indigo 6K Digital Press headlined the display, demonstrating its ability to handle diverse applications with speed and precision. Virtual highlights include the revolutionary HP Indigo V12, capable of printing at up to 120 meters per minute for high-volume label production.
HP also unveiled workflow solutions like the PrintOS software suite, featuring tools such as Spot Master, which enables accurate spot colors in minutes while reducing waste. The booth will also focus on sustainable printing technologies, including carbon reduction initiatives and brand protection tools.
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) recently announced the winners of their 13th Season in Dubai with Chinese photographer Liping Cao winning the Grand Prize of $200,000 for his black-and-white image. The award was given by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).
The image won the prize as it captures a poignant scene of nature and technology in harmony: towering wind turbines rise prominently on the horizon, their blades slowly rotating in the breeze, embodying the quiet power of renewable energy. Behind them, the sky is speckled with drifting clouds, creating a dynamic backdrop. The dry riverbed beneath the turbines adds depth to the image, reminding us of the importance of sustainable practices in a world facing environmental challenges.
Sheikha Latifa affirmed that Dubai, with its visionary approach, is a nurturing space for innovative initiatives and awards, establishing itself as a global source of inspiration and a gathering place for creative minds and exceptional talents from diverse fields. She noted that the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award reflects the emirate’s inspiring ethos, cultural richness, and the strength of its visual and creative arts landscape.
“This award, with its diverse categories, embodies Dubai’s ambitious vision and leadership, enhancing its position on the global stage as a magnet for photographers and creatives in general. It showcases Dubai’s ability to build bridges of communication among people and communities by honouring talented individuals who, through their creative work, tell the stories of cultures, document traditions, and convey powerful messages that reflect society and heritage,” Her Highness said.
Sheikha Latifa also highlighted that the award aligns with the UAE’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, focussing in its current cycle on ‘Sustainability’, a theme that reflects the forward-thinking mindset of the award’s organisers and their conviction in the critical role of culture and the arts in advancing sustainability, thereby contributing to the well-being of societies.
Ali bin Thalith, HIPA’s Secretary General, thanked Sheikh Hamdan for his continued support of HIPA and the art of photography. “In our thirteenth year, we have extended our reach to 205 countries. What truly matters to us is the advancement of the photographer and the photography industry. His Highness’ vision for nurturing human creativity is apparent from his decision to raise the total prize purse under the award to $1 million.
More than a quarter of the winners in this season’s awards reside in the UAE, benefitting from a creative environment that stimulates innovation and competitiveness, Bin Thalith highlighted. “This reinforces the UAE’s leadership in attracting global talent and innovators,” he said.
James ‘Jimmy’ Philip Nelson, a Dutch photographer known for his work with indigenous communities, received the Photography Appreciation Award for his significant contributions to photography and projects that foster greater understanding between different cultures.he Photography Content Creator Award went to Emirati photographer Salma Ali Humaid Alsuwaidi for her pioneering work documenting the wildlife and bird species of the UAE. Her book, ‘Common Birds and Their Nests in the United Arab Emirates,’ significantly contributes to the scientific and artistic communities.
The inaugural HIPA Photographer of the Year Award was presented to Samy Al Olabi, a Syrian astrophotographer renowned for his images of celestial objects and nature photography, particularly in the dark skies of the Arabian Peninsula. He is famous for his projects photographing stars from the dark corners of the Arabian Peninsula. His work has been featured in more than 80 local and international publications.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, honoured the winners in the ‘Sustainability’ category. Ruijuan Huang from China took the first prize, with French photographer Virginie Ellis and Ranganathan Mukkai from India finishing second and third respectively.
H.E. Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, HIPA Secretory General, presented the ‘General – Colour’ winners. Rahul Vishwanath Sachdev from India won first prize, followed by Youmn Mohammed Almanla from Saudi Arabia, and Ahmed Abdallah Al Housni from Oman.
In the ‘General – Black and White’ category, American photographer Renee Capozzola took the first prize, followed by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod from Sri Lanka, and Ateeb Hussain from India.
His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HIPA, honoured the winners of the ‘Portfolio (Story-Telling)’ category, where Palestinian photographer Fatma Alzahra Shbair won first place, with Sarah Wouters from the Netherlands taking second spot and Wen Bing from China finishing third.
Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, presented the Sports Photography awards. Tobias Friedrich from Germany took the first prize, followed by Karim Iliya from the USA, and Hendra Agus Setyawan from Indonesia respectively.
His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HIPA , honoured the winners In the ‘Short Video (For Social Media)’ category, Aleksandr Tsuprun from the Russian Federation won first prize, followed by Norbert von Niman from Sweden, and Abhin Kizhakke Veettil from India who finished third.
In this issue read: ~Capturing The Landscape of Love – Marcus Bell ~House on The Clouds – Siddharth Sharma ~How To Be A Second Shooter – Photo & Video ~Tech Trends in Wedding Photography ~The Importance of Time Management in Wedding Photography ~Tamron 28-300 vs 50-300 Review & Shootout ~Stuffcool Click20 Magnetic Powerbank Review
Xiaomi India recently announced that Muralikrishnan B, the current President of Xiaomi India, will be transitioning out of his role at the end of the year. After over six impactful years with the company, Murali is set to pursue his passion for academic research, focusing on his Executive Doctorate in Management, where he aims to deepen his expertise in ‘Consumer Behaviour on Technology Platforms’. Murali will continue to support Xiaomi India as an independent Strategic Advisor.
Murali joined Xiaomi India in 2018 and held various roles, including Chief Operating Officer, before his promotion to President in 2022. Throughout his tenure, he played a pivotal role in enhancing Xiaomi India’s brand presence, leading strategic direction across teams, and steering critical public affairs efforts.
“Under Murali’s leadership, Xiaomi has seen exceptional success in India, continuing to be a key player in the technology landscape and connecting millions to innovative products. We deeply appreciate his contribution, and our commitment to India’s growth journey remains stronger than ever,” said Adam Zeng, Senior Vice President of the Group and President of International Business Department.
Reflecting on his journey, Murali said, “My experience at Xiaomi India has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. The values of sincerity and passion that Xiaomi embodies have been central to our journey. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together in such a dynamic market. I am grateful to Xiaomi’s leadership for their guidance, to my peers and team members for their support, and to our partners and Xiaomi fans who have been integral to our success.”
Sudhin Mathur will continue to guide key functions as COO. Key leaders, including Sameer Rao (CFO), Varun Madan (CPO), and Anuj Sharma (CMO), will further strengthen Xiaomi’s focus on high-quality technology experiences and its ambitious vision for the next decade.
Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. recently announced the release of the APS-C size Nikon Z50II mirrorless camera especially targeted towards content creators across genre, vloggers, and streamers of all skill levels.
On this occasion, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India said “At Nikon, we are committed to innovation and delivering advanced imaging solutions that meet the evolving demands of our customers. With the launch of the Nikon Z50II, we are excited to redefine creative possibilities and provide a product tailored to the needs of today’s creators. This versatile camera stands out in its segment, especially for content creators across all genres, featuring 4K video capture from 5.6K oversampling and AI-powered portrait enhancements. We are proud to introduce Z50II that empowers creators to bring their unique visions to life, ushering in a new era of creative expression.”
The EXPEED 7 image-processing engine, inherited from the Nikon flagship mirrorless camera Z9, supports high video resolution of 4K from 5.6K oversampling. It also supports the recording of N-Log video with RED LUTS available for free download for subtle and rich tonal gradation, enabling high-quality video recording.
The Z50II also offers advanced AI-driven features such as Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance, which intelligently refine portraits. These features help achieve professional-quality results with minimal post-production, making it perfect for fast turnaround times and ready-to-share social media content.
Furthermore, the Z50II is the first Z Series camera to feature product review mode that focusses on objects in the foreground. As well as a video self-timer function that allows the user to specify an interval of 2s or 10s before recording begins after the record button is pressed. In addition, support for USB streaming (UVC/UAC) allows users to easily deliver clear images for online meetings and live video streaming by simply connecting the camera to a computer or smartphone.
The Z50II comes packed with advanced autofocusing system, the same 9-type subject detection as that of the flagship model Z9. The Z50II also inherits the Pre-Release Capture function, which enables the camera to buffer images up to one second before the shutter-release button is fully pressed, ensuring you never miss critical moments. This feature is available exclusively in High-Speed Frame Capture mode, supporting continuous shooting at 30 frames per second.
The EVF built into the Z50II is the brightest in its segment. It allows easy checking of focus and details at the edges of the frame, even in bright surroundings, such as outdoors on a sunny day. Reducing the difference in brightness between the viewfinder display and that visible with the naked eye makes it easier to achieve the desired images.
The Nikon Z50II is the first APS-C camera to support both Imaging Recipe and Picture Control, offering users exciting ways to explore and create unique visual styles with the Nikon Imaging Cloud. With these features, users can save their personalised adjustments to colour, brightness, contrast, and more as custom recipes. Additionally, they can download colour presets curated by renowned professionals directly to their Z50II, storing them as Cloud Picture Controls for seamless use in their workflow.
Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. also announced the release of MC-DC3 Remote Cord, a remote cord compatible with the Z50II. From starry skies and nighttime scenes, or commercial (product) photography. It can also be used for remote photography to release the shutter at a distance from the camera. The shutter-release button can be locked in a fully-pressed position for long exposures (bulb shooting) or held down for continuous shooting. It can also be held halfway down for shooting with less release time-lag.
The Nikon Z50II body and MC-DC3 Remote Cord will be available by the End of November 2024 at ₹77,995 (body only) across India at Nikon outlets. Furthermore, it would be available in following kit combinations — Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM at ₹91,645; Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM + 50-250MM VR at ₹1,12,645 and Z50II + NIKKOR Z DX 18-140MM F/3.5-6.3 VR at ₹1,15,795.
Stuffcool is a Mumbai-based technology brand who primarily sell mobile and laptop accessories. Today we’re reviewing their “Click 20” MagSafe compatible wireless power bank.
Retailing at ₹3499 on their website, it is in a very tough market segment of accessories. Let’s find out if it’s worth it.
What’s In The Box:
The power bank itself
A USB-C to C cable
Literature
A warranty card with a QR code for registration
The packaging is minimal, encased in a plastic shell, with the only “waste” in the box being the cover that the power bank comes wrapped in (and perhaps the literature).
Features:
It comes with a capacity of 20,000mAh and can be charged using a USB-C input.
It outputs :
USB-C: 20W max
USB-A: 20W max
Wireless: 15W max
Just like our last powerbank review, this is a standard for a lot of devices in the market.
Review:
The power bank is not small, unlike what the packaging says. In fact, you won’t be wrong calling this a power BRICK, because it is HEAVY, perhaps heavier than any power bank in this segment. It will feel solid in your hand even though it’s made out of plastic. The rectangular design coupled with the titanium finish feels premium, as if it’s made for the latest iPhone. The bank is made of metal on the top and plastic where the wireless charger is.
With dimensions of 69x110x28.5 mm, it’s not as pocketable as you might think, unless you have deep pockets! But weighing at 326 grams, it’s not going to be a light payload, as a phone might add another 200 grams to it.
On the bank, there is a LED screen which shows the charging and PD indicator and battery percentage – while both charging and discharging. One little ick with this design is that this screen is actually upside down whilst charging. The magnets are solid, and it takes a bit of force to separate it from the phone.
When charging wirelessly on an iPhone, the normal charging animation appears. Unlike other packs, a second animation displaying the power bank’s remaining level isn’t shown. But that’s not a big concern, as the power bank has its own display.
Charging with the USB-C port is as quick as advertised. Tested on an android device, the phone indicated that it was “quick charge” but the PD indicator didn’t go green – which might just be a compatibility issue. The phone went from 30% to 70% in about 45 minutes. Compared to the phone’s native 33W charger, it’s not as fast, but from the power banks of the yesteryears, it is definitely faster.
Throughout our charging cycles, the power bank showed signs of moderate heating, however, due to the metal design (on the top) the heat quickly dissipated.
Is This For You?
It is hard to put a finger on the value for this power bank. If you’re looking to charge your devices atop a table, this seems like a bang-for-the-buck product with its capacity. Because, certainly, this is not pocketable at the weight and size.
But this power bank might be more valuable if you’re a photographer with a mirrorless camera. You can use this power bank to extend the life of your camera on-location and for much longer than other power bricks, due to its capacity.
But is it worth the ₹3500 price tag? That’s for you to decide, as the competition is quite fierce in this segment. Especially if you don’t care about wireless charging or matching aesthetics, where you can find similarly specced power banks for half the price.
According to us, the Stuffcool Click 20 gets a solid recommendation!
Nikon India announces the fourth edition of its prestigious Wedding Film Awards (WFA). This annual competition aims to recognize and celebrate the artistry of wedding videographers and cinematographers across India, providing a platform for both seasoned professionals and emerging talents to showcase their skills.
This year’s theme, “Magical Memories,” encourages participants to capture the special moments that make weddings unique. The contest offers a chance to win prizes valued at over ₹6 lakhs, including the Nikon Z6III. The WFA not only highlights creative talent but also gives videographers an opportunity to gain widespread recognition and become part of a growing community dedicated to wedding cinematography.
A Platform for Growth and Creativity
Running over three months, from October 2024 to January 8, 2025, the Wedding Film Awards provide a valuable opportunity for videographers to refine their craft and gain visibility in a competitive industry. The contest serves as a gateway for young creators to hone their skills while promoting Nikon as the go-to brand for wedding videography tools.
Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, expressed his excitement about this year’s competition. “Following the tremendous success of the previous seasons, we are delighted to announce the fourth season of the Wedding Film Awards. Nikon has continuously supported the creative community in India, and this platform allows us to honor the unique artistic visions of wedding videographers. Our cameras are more than just tools; they empower creators to capture love, tradition, and emotions in ways never imagined before.”
Elite Jury and Submission Details
Participants will have their entries evaluated by an expert panel of Nikon Creators, including some of India’s leading wedding cinematographers and photographers. The jury features well-known names such as Raj Rj (Founder of The Yellow Draft), Kirandeep (renowned wedding photographer), Snehal Patel (Founder of Spectrum Pixels), and Sazid Ansari (Founder of The Royal Diaries).
To participate, videographers are required to submit a 60-second video shot using Nikon cameras and lenses, along with a 100-word caption describing how their video uniquely captures the essence of the wedding. Entries can be submitted via the Nikon India website or through Instagram by tagging @NikonIndiaOfficial and using hashtags #WFAMagicalMemories and #WFAS4.
Exciting Prizes Await
The top winner of the Wedding Film Awards will receive Nikon’s cutting-edge Z6III camera, along with a Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4 lens. Runners-up will also receive Nikon’s best-selling models, including the Nikon Zf and Z50 cameras.
With the Wedding Film Awards, Nikon India continues to support and nurture the growing community of videographers, offering them recognition, exposure, and the tools to excel in their craft. For more information on how to enter, visit the official Nikon India website.
In this issue read: ~ATR: For A Cause – Aarzoo Khurana ~Framing The Future – Ratish Nair ~A Mission for Preservation – Jayanta Guha ~Mastering Animal Behaviour ~How To Stay Safe While Photographing Wildlife ~The Art of Creating Compelling Wildlife Portraits ~Nu Republic Cyberstud X2 Review
When we last reviewed Nu Republic’s battery bank and concluded that what they were offering wasn’t anything new, there were certain features that set them apart as a brand – especially the aesthetics. Today, we’re looking at (or rather listening to) the Cyberstud X2- a True Wireless Earbuds offering, whose case doubles as a pendant!
Priced at ₹2,499, let’s see if this is a hit or a miss.
What’s in The Box:
The earbuds case/pendant
The pendant chain
A USB A to C cable
A card with the QR code for a user manual
No literature
STICKERS!
The packaging is instantly recognizable as a Nu Republic product and they have little-to-no waste, except one extra little bag carrying the pendant chain.
Look, Body and Feel
The case looks like it’s made out of plastic, but it’s actually made out of metal – impressive! And that is one of the best highlights of this product, because from the looks of it – other things might not be as impressive. The earbuds themselves are made of plastic, which is fine by itself, almost all TWS earbuds are. But the quality of plastic used seems inexpensive. But I don’t expect much at this price range and neither should you.
The case is solid! To take the earbuds out you have to take the lid out, which uses magnets. The fit of the earbuds are average and what’s disappointing is that they don’t come with soft silicone ear tips. And that probably might be the biggest challenge with these. Honestly, I haven’t come across any earbuds that don’t use ear tips. Have you?
Rated for “splash resistance”, we didn’t feel confident about wearing this out in the rain. Wearing this during a run made it feel uncomfortable and we weren’t confident.
5/10
User Experience
An earbud user is aware of a familiarity in terms of the control that their buds offer, and usually tend to use these as muscle memory. This is where Nu Republic has changed things a lot. Unfortunately, you have to consult the user manual to learn how to control the earbuds and doing that is also finicky.
In the music app, two taps on either earbud isn’t the command to go to the next song. Three taps doesn’t go back to the previous song.
And there is no app which you can use to reprogram these buttons. The touch sensitivity isn’t consistent, so it’s better not to use it to begin with.
2/10
Sound Quality & Noise Cancellation
Now despite the challenges above, if these earbuds sound decent, then users would’ve been able to find good value. But the sound quality is average. The sound is hollow and lack clarity, with bass that leaves you wanting for more. Even with EQ, there is no redemption.
3/10
The earbuds offer ENC or Enhanced Noise Cancellation, which didn’t seem to work and we couldn’t find a way to turn it off or on. Other earbuds can at least passively cancel noise when you put them in your ears because of their silicone tips, which this one lacks. So, no passive or (effective) active noise cancellation.
1/10
Conclusion
At a price of ₹2499 this was an average product, especially considering there are better products in the market. In the similar price range you will get OnePlus, with their value TWS line “Nord Buds” – wherein even the last generation buds outperform the Cyberstud X2 and are way better value, in our opinion.
The Chennai Photo Biennale is back with the fourth edition, featuring a host of exhibitions and programs from 20th December 2024 till 16 March 2025. The theme is ‘Why Photograph?’ and unfolds a set of inquiries into our relationship with photography. In this era of visual saturation, CPB4 brings together slower approaches to image making.
The CPB4 is set to open in two phases – Phase 1: 20 Dec 2024 and Phase 2: 17 Jan 2025.The Biennale closes on 16 March 2025. Both phases will include a set of primary shows of the CPB Foundation as well as the CPB Invitation shows that are pre-existing works and projects invited to be part of the CPB4.
Phase 1: Exhibitions opening on December 20, 2024 CPB Primary Shows – Dec 2024 include: “Roots that Reach for the Sky” curated by Jaisingh Nageswaran, featuring a diverse group of artists including Alina Tiphagne, Aishwarya Arumbakkam, Arun Karthik, Brinda Anantharaman, Krithika Sriram, Osheen Siva, Priyadarshini Ravichandran, Sathish Kumar, Shankar Raja Narayana, Sridhar Balasubramaniam, Steevez Rodriguez and Vivek Mariappan.
The show is supported by the Goethe-Institut; and Contemporary practices by women in photography and lens based art showcasing works by artists from India and around the world including Fast Forward Collective (UK), Hannah Cooke (Germany), Nony Singh (India), Indu Antony (India), Offset Projects (India), Ann Griffin (Switzerland), Farheen Fatima (India) among others at the Lalit Kala Akademi, supported by the Goethe-Institut Chennai, British Council, Pro Helvetia and other cultural partners.
CPB Invitation shows – Dec 2024 include: “Madras, Margazhi & Music” featuring portraits by Amar Ramesh at Narada Gana Sabha.
Phase 2: Exhibitions opening on January 17, 2025 CPB Primary Shows- Jan 2025 include: “Love and Light: A Site of Infinite Possibilities”, a retrospective of Sunil Gupta curated by Gupta-Singh Archives at the Egmore Museum, supported by Tarun & Tarana Sawhney, Vadehra Art Gallery and Jaiveer Johal; “What Makes Me Click!” – Celebrating & spotlighting 20 photography projects by children globally showcased at the Government Museum, Egmore curated by CPB Prism and the Children’s Photography Archive, UK, with support from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies featuring photography by children from India, Cambodia, Singapore, Gaza, Turkey, New York, Guatemala, Greece, UK and South Africa. Participating institutions include the Bronx Documentary Centre (New York), Girl Museum (London), Museum of Photography Thessaloniki, Art Reach India (New Delhi), Objectifs (SIngapore) and more.
The exhibition will be curated as an interactive installation along the campus of the museum campus with photographs as well as engaging playful activities for all ages including a pinhole camera and slide projections; Open Call Exhibition featuring 40 photographers at a public venue in Chennai. Entries were received from across 30 countries.
The exhibition will showcase single images and photo essays selected by an established international jury including Alessia Glaviano, Brendan McCleary, Gwen Lee, Joseph Radhik, Julie Héraut, Michael Weir, Smita Sharma, Umah Jacob, and Varun Gupta; Darkroom Residency Showcase, showcasing works by artists from India and UK – Ārun(Chennai), Holly
Birtles(UK) and Soham Joshi(UK). The show is supported by the British Council in partnership with PhotoWorks UK and CPB Graduate Students’ Showcase. CPB Invitation Shows – Jan 2025 include: ‘Photography Strictly Prohibited’ – a retrospective of Navroze Contractor at Folly, Amethyst Chennai; ‘Postcards from Home’ by Manisha Gera Baswani at Raw Mango Store, Chennai; LM Sen Archive by Emami Art at Alliance Française Madras Gallery, Chennai; ‘Poetics of Space’ by Sebastian Cortez at Folly, Amethyst CPB Invitation Shows – Feb 2025; ‘Indianisms’ by Prashant Panjiar and ‘Limits of Change’ by Parvathi Nayar and Nayantara Nayar at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.
CPB Invitation Shows – Mar 2025 include: So far and Hereafter by Nandini Valli Muthiah at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.
