Sony India celebrates 30 years of offering products and services to the Indian market in November 2024. Since its inception in 1994, Sony India has been at the forefront of revolutionising consumer electronics, reshaping the entertainment landscape and setting new standards in product quality and innovation across key product categories such as televisions, home and personal audio, digital imaging and gaming.
Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director of Sony India, commented, “For 30 years, Sony has been more than a brand, it has been a companion in the lives of millions of Indian families. We are deeply grateful for the trust and love our consumers have shown us. This milestone is a testament to our shared journey of innovation, creativity and connection. As we look ahead, we are committed to continuing to deliver experiences that inspire and bring people closer together.”
At Sony, every product and service is designed with Kando– the Japanese concept of deeply moving and inspiring people. From enabling families to enjoy blockbuster movies together, to listening to music in its purest form, to compelling gaming experience and empowering creators’ intent with world-class cameras, Sony’s mission has always been to bring people closer to what they love.
Sustainability remains a cornerstone of Sony India’s operations, aligning with the global “Road to Zero” environmental plan. Beyond its business operations, Sony India has made a impact on society through its CSR initiatives. Some of these programmes focus on skill development, heritage preservation, village development, elderly care and medical support.
As Sony India steps into its fourth decade, the company remains steadfast in its mission to create products that inspire wonder and connection. From reimagining home entertainment to pushing the boundaries of technology, Sony is committed to shaping a future filled with possibilities.
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
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.
FUJIFILM India has unveiled the X-T50, the latest addition to its X series of mirrorless digital cameras. Priced at ₹1,49,999 for the body, the X-T50 combines exceptional image quality with a compact, lightweight design, targeting both photography enthusiasts and professionals.
The X-T50 is equipped with a new 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor and the X-Processor 5, ensuring high-resolution images and advanced performance. Despite its powerful capabilities, the camera is lightweight, weighing only 438 grams, making it a convenient option for photographers on the go.
A major highlight of the X-T50 is its 5-axis in-body image stabilization, offering up to 7 stops of stabilization. This feature enables steady handheld shooting even in low-light conditions. The camera also supports 6.2K/30P video recording with tracking autofocus, catering to both still photography and video recording needs.
The X-T50 also introduces a Film Simulation dial on the top plate, a new feature that allows users to switch between 20 different Film Simulation modes, including the newly added “REALA ACE.” This mode offers faithful colour reproduction and smooth tonal gradations, enhancing the creative potential for both stills and videos.
The X-T50’s AI-based autofocus system can detect a wide range of subjects, including animals, birds, vehicles, and drones. An advanced AF prediction algorithm further improves the camera’s ability to track fast-moving subjects, ensuring precise focus in dynamic shooting scenarios.
The FUJIFILM X-T50 is now available for purchase from all online and retail outlets.
Nikon has recently launched the Z6 III in India, featuring a 24.5-megapixel partially stacked CMOS sensor. This release marks a significant advancement in camera technology, distinguishing it from its predecessors and higher-end models. The camera is priced at ₹2,47,990 for the body only.
The Z6 III’s sensor architecture is unique, with components arranged as bars at the top and bottom of the pixel area, rather than across the entire sensor. This partially stacked design enhances processing speeds up to 3.5 times faster than the Z6 II’s traditional BSI CMOS sensor, leading to notable improvements in continuous shooting, autofocus, video frame rates, and rolling shutter effects.
In terms of viewfinder, the Z6 III features an exceptionally bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) capable of up to 4,000 nits, enhancing visibility in various lighting conditions. Video capabilities are also a highlight, with the camera supporting 6K RAW recording at up to 60fps and 4K RAW at up to 120fps. Nikon reports a 20% increase in autofocus speed compared to the Z6 II, along with extended sensitivity down to -10EV for better low-light performance. The ISO range reaches up to 51,200 for videos and 64,000 for photos, accommodating detailed imaging in dim conditions.
The Z6 III includes an advanced in-camera Vibration Reduction (VR) system, achieving an 8.0-stop stabilization. This system also features focus point VR, reducing blurring around the edges and aiding in subject framing. The camera is built with robust materials, combining Sereebo P series carbon fibre and magnesium alloy, and is designed to withstand challenging environments. It offers dust and moisture sealing and can operate at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
Set to be available by the end of June 2024, the Nikon Z6 III will be sold across Nikon outlets in India. This camera, with its innovative sensor design and advanced features, aims to attract both professional photographers and enthusiasts seeking high performance.
With fake images and videos becoming more convincing everyday (like the Rashmika Mandanna fake video), tech giants have increased their monitoring to combat that menace. But now it is not only the tech giants, but camera manufacturers that are joining this fight by developing technology that will embed digital signatures in their cameras with new technology that can verify the authenticity of photos. Sony, Nikon and Canon are working on embedding digital signatures in their cameras that will act as the proof of origin and the integrity of the images shot by them reports Nikkei Asia.
The digital signatures are believed to contain information such as the date, time, location, and the name of the photographer who has shot the image. The manufacturers believe that this will restrict tampering and help the photographers and viewers to identify the credibility of the work. Nikon is expected to offer this feature in its mirrorless cameras, while Sony and Canon are expected to offer it in their professional line-up as well.
How does it work?
If you are wondering how does this work? Then the three manufacturers have agreed on creating a global standard for digital signatures, which will be made compatible with a web-based tool called Verify. This tool has been launched by an alliance of global news organisations, technology companies, and camera makers, will allow anyone to check the credentials of an image for free. Once the online tool runs through the image, it will display the relevant information if an image has a digital signature. If the image has been altered by AI, then the tool will flag it as having “No Content Credentials”.
Google, Intel doing their bit
Google, the biggest search engine globally is also doing their bit to help this fight. They have released a tool that adds invisible digital watermarks to AI-generated pictures, which can be detected by another tool. Intel has developed technology that can analyse the skin colour changes of subjects in images, which indicate the blood flow under their skin, and use that to determine the image’s authenticity.
The Challenge?
The biggest challenge though seems to be the user journey where they will have to use these tools to verify the images and authenticity. Whether a user undertakes that journey remains to be seen. But it is clear that a tool/technology like this is much needed at this point with the increase of deep fake images and videos on a rise.
Sony is expected to release this technology by 2024 as per reports and Canon is expected to make it available later this year. Currently this embedding is expected to be available only for images, but reports suggests that Sony and Canon are considering adding the feature to videos, although under development.
