Manfrotto recently released two new video heads, the Nitrotech N8, and the Nitrotech N12. Those are high-load video heads which support 0-8kg and 4-12kg respectively. What is interesting about those heads is their counterbalance mechanism. Unlike lower-end heads, these heads have a nitrogen gas piston for counterbalance. We looked at the Nitrotech N8 and it supports quite a load (up to 8kg). The head provides continuous counterbalance power. This means that when you let go of the handle, the head keeps its position as if it was locked in place....

We’ve seen some pretty interesting and amusing cinematic recreations in the past, but this is really cool, if a little bit legally dubious. Somebody has recreated the Game of Thrones intro sequence using timelapse footage shot by Nick Lariontsev of mould and fungi growing right before our eyes. Obviously, it’s not a shot-for-shot recreation, as was the case with this recent recreation of the World of Warcraft movie trailer made from in-game assets, but you can almost imagine little people living out their tiny lives and waging miniature war over these microscopic landscapes....

A frequent and normal question I often get from my first-time direct clients (non-agency) is; “What is your rate?” (I never work on a per hour rate for many reasons) but often the real question should be, “How much will this cost to create this image?” Surprises are never fun for a client, so education from the get go is key. So how much does a commercial shoot cost? Well there are many factors to keep in mind, but let’s keep it simple and break the costs into two categories....

As a commercial portrait photographer specialising in sports, this project is a little different to the regular subjects that Levon Biss is used to shooting, but keen to make a personal project that he could pursue in his spare time which didn’t take up much space, insects became the perfect answer and that project became Microsculpture. Originally starting the project at home using specimens his son had caught in the garden, Levon soon perfected his technique and began to produce some amazing results, that are about to be exhibited at the University of Oxford Museum of Natural History....

Smartphones have come a long way, and every once in a while there’s a photoshoot or a video shot entirely on a phone. But, Apple Singapore brings you something a bit different. A short film titled Three Minutes was shot entirely on iPhone X, but there’s more to it than just showing off what the phone can do. It’s a beautiful movie that will make you think and maybe even bring you to tears....