Welcome to my Pixel 6 Pro long term review. In this review I detail 7 reasons not to buy the phone.
I also discuss the January and December updates, and showcase photos throughout the video.
In addition, at 11 minutes 30 seconds into the video, the photography showcase section starts and continues until the end of the video. It is approximately two minutes long. The showcase shows you some of the best photography from a smartphone. Don’t miss this whatever you do!
Welcome to my review of the Joby Podzilla Flexible Tripod Kit which retails for £45.
My journey using Joby tripods goes back 9 years to 2013. Thereafter, I bought a different style of Joby tripod in subsequent years; 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and now I have the Joby Podzilla. All of the Joby items still work today like they did when I bought them new, apart from one tripod as I lost this on a hike across Dartmoor. In my video review, I show some of these older items. To give you an idea of what I purchased, in 2013 I bought the Joby Gorillapod Micro 250 Folding Tripod, then in 2014 the Joby Gorillapod Ball Head for SLR Cameras, followed by in 2015 the Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom tripod. In 2017, I acquired the Joby GripTight One Magnetic tripod followed by in 2018 the Joby Griptight Pro for Smartphones.
Key Specs & Features
JOBY PodZilla Large Kit – Flexible Tripod with Ball Head, GripTight 360 Phone Mount, for Smartphones and Compact Mirrorless Cameras or Devices up to 2.5Kg
Flexible structure with a solid aluminum core and rubber exterior
Includes a quick release plate for easy attachment of the camera thanks to the standard 1 / 4-20″ attachment
The plate with ball head integrates a spirit level for precise adjustment
GripTight 360 Phone smartphone clamp with double sled attachment suitable for smartphones with a width from 6.7 cm to 8.8 cm
Video Time Index
00:00 Intro & My 9 Year Journey using Joby tripods 02:47 Specs 03:24 Demo / How To 05:22 Adding Mics and Lights 07:00 Comparison & Summary
Video Review
Conclusion
A superb versatile tripod kit from Joby, ideal for phones and camera. Highly recommended 9/10.
The Nik Collection 4 has just been released. This is a substantial update over the previous version.
An industry leader in the field of creative photography, Nik Collection 4 by DxO now features Meta Presets, improved U Point™ technology, and more seamless interactions with Adobe® Photoshop® and Lightroom®.
Packed with a palette of over 250 professional-grade presets, the unparalleled power of U Point™ local adjustment technology, and sophisticated editing tools, Nik Collection 4 targets every aspect of creative photography. From colour photography to black-and-white images, HDR, and analogue film simulation, Nik Collection 4 redefines the limits of creative photography.
A new, user-friendly design for an even more thrilling experience
The easy-to-use design of the software plugins Nik Viveza, dedicated to tone and colour local adjustments, and Nik Silver Efex, the ultimate solution for black-and-white conversion, has been completely revamped to offer an optimal user experience. Both plugins now feature a modern interface that is more beautiful and functional than ever. They also allow users to directly access all available presets, filter for type and favourites more seamlessly, and identify tools more easily through its newly redesigned palettes. That means photographers can concentrate on the essentials—expressing their creativity.
Next-level U Point™ technology
U Point™ technology, the first system to allow users to apply local adjustments without masks, has revolutionized photo editing. Nik Collection 4 now makes it possible to incorporate Control Points into personalized presets.
That means photographers can apply a similar style to several images while still preserving a specific area. For example, users can choose to apply a colour effect as well as a blurred background to several portraits. U Point™ technology also
includes a new Colour Tolerance setting so photographers can regulate the saturation of a specific tone range. Users can not only select the colour they want to change, but also adjust the tolerance of similar colour hues. Lastly, Control Points have been made easier to use than ever. This feature now includes fewer sliders, making the applied effect easier to view, and can be renamed so users can craft an optimized workflow experience.
Combine the settings of several plugins with Meta Presets
A new type of filter has been added for Adobe Photoshop users: “Meta Presets.” Directly accessible from the Nik Selective Tool, the Nik Collection software launch tool for Adobe Photoshop, these presets are Adobe Photoshop actions that combine the filters and settings of several Nik Collection plugins into one. They make it possible to edit photos by applying a series of presets from several plugins in just one click. Nik Collection 4 comes with a series of 10 Meta Presets.
Improved workflow with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
Nik Collection 4 is continuing to expand its selection of lightning-fast retouching features. The Last Edit function, which lets users re-apply the last preset they used in one of the Nik Collection plugins while using Adobe Photoshop, has been extended to include Adobe Lightroom Classic. In addition, the new Smart Copy & Paste feature lets users selectively re-apply the effect of a plugin to one or several images directly in Adobe Lightroom without having to launch the software suite’s interface.
Even more striking black-and-white photos
To help users create even more brilliant black-and-white images, Nik Silver Efex now includes revolutionary ClearView technology, which was first offered in DxO PhotoLab, the market’s leading image-development software. This technology removes haze and enhances local contrast. The results are spectacular: In just one click, users can eliminate haze, all while revealing more natural objects, edges, details, and transitions. Get ready to create even more dazzling black-and-white photos!
Ever more creative
To offer users an even better editing experience, Nik Viveza features 10 native presets designed by professional photographers. And for fans of analogue black-and-white photography, Nik Silver Efex comes with 39 new and incredibly realistic grains that are even better at accurately recreating the look of iconic films than before.
Price and availability
Nik Collection 4 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website https://shop.dxo.com/photo-software/dxo-nikcollection for a special price of £88.99 instead of £133, and £54.99 instead of £69 for the upgrade until June 30, 2021.
Photographers who already own Nik Collection 3 by DxO or a previous version can upgrade their software by signing into their customer accounts. A fully functional, one-month trial version of Nik Collection 4 is available on the DxO website: https://nikcollection.dxo.com/download/.
First Impressions
I have been using the Nik Collection 4 for a week now and have been extremely impressed with the new features and effects. If you follow me on twitter, you will have seen some pretty special images already!
Welcome back everyone. Today, I am going to show you how to edit ProRaw photos on your iPhone. Currently only the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max support Apple’s ProRAW.
There are 3 parts to the tutorial –
Part 1 – The correct camera settings
Part 2 – The camera app interface
Part 3 – Editing the ProRAW photos
And finally as a bonus, there is a gallery at the end of 60 photos all shot in ProRAW, to show you what’s really possible.
If it helps, below is the time stamp, so you can go back or forth as required. If you are never going to edit ProRAW pics, I thoroughly recommend viewing the gallery.
This is one of my favourite sunrises taken on Dartmoor National Park. The mist in the valley is still clearing adding to the overall atmosphere. The full size image without the watermark is available to purchase for £50.
Below are photos taken of Hound Tor on Dartmoor. Hound Tor is one of the largest tors on Dartmoor National Park. Tors are naturally formed pieces of granite.
If you wish to purchase any of these photos, drop me a line at gavinfabl at gmail dot com. The cost is £50 per photo. You will receive the full size photo without the watermark.
Hi everyone. At the request of many of you, I have now started a photography section on my website. You can access it by going to the index and selecting “Photography”. If you are browsing on a desktop, you will see the option across the screen.
Last night I went out to photograph the sunset over Dartmoor. It was a risk due to the clouds as to whether I would get the shots I wanted. Above Merrivale Stones, a long line of ancient stones covering a total distance of 264 metres!
Foxgloves are seen growing wild everywhere on Dartmoor. Above view of Great and Little Mis Tors in the background.
Just before the sun set, ominous clouds appeared creating some fantastic shadows over the landscape. Views of Great Staple Tor at sunset shown below.
All the photos were shot on the new Huawei P40 Pro.
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 