When is a smartphone not a smartphone? When it is what Sony calls a “communication device.” That’s what Sony is calling their next-generation Xperia Pro 5G that, depending on how you look at it, is either a really interesting camera or your typical smartphone.

For one, it comes with a dedicated Type D Micro HDMI input (a first for smartphones), a somewhat dated Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, and a 6.5-inch 4K OLED screen with a 60hz refresh rate optimized for making your Sony communication device an effective external monitor as well as something for data transfer.

This comes into play when the Xperia Pro 5G is used for live streaming, among other things. A trend we’ve seen among some of the other manufacturers with their consumer cameras, this isn’t that shocking to see in a Sony pseudo-smartphone effort.

Still, the middle ground this device occupies might confuse some consumers as it is definitely designed to be a dedicated smartphone. It can also connect with other Sony cameras like those from the Alpha lineup.

Basically, the Xperia Pro 5G is a sort of hub device spanning many different functionalities that helps tie in with the broader Sony ecosystem. This is especially reflected in its price. At $USD 2,499.99, it is quite clear that Sony has a particular target audience in mind and, given the phone isn’t competing with top-of-the-line devices from Apple or Samsung, that isn’t your average smartphone consumer.

You can watch a video from Sony detailing the Xperia Pro 5G’s features here.

Does the Sony Xperia Pro sound like a smartphone – or “communication device” – you would be interested in owning? Let us know your thoughts on Sony’s latest device in the comments below.

Don’t forget to check out some of our other photography news on Light Stalking at this link right here.

[PetaPixel]

Given how much chaos drones can cause in sensitive areas, it’s no surprise that the fines attached to violations can be quite high.

Still, nearly $USD 200,000 in fines is a huge number by any standard.

Yet that’s exactly the bill one Pennsylvania drone pilot is facing after posting no less than 26 violations across 26 separate flights into restricted airspace according to the FAA.

DP Review quotes Jonathan Rupprecht, an aviation attorney, who said of the fines, “This is the second largest proposed fine that I know about. Skypan was for about $1.9 million. Drone flyers need to realize that flying a drone is a regulated activity and there are consequences. While a fine might not deter some, laws have been passed in recent years which can send you to federal prison for operating in an unsafe way near airports or aircraft.”

The exact amount of the fines, $USD 182,000, was easy for the FAA to levy given the pilot’s recording of his drone flights and subsequent posting of them to YouTube. The FAA even reached out to the pilot and warned him about the violations but heard no response from the as-yet-unnamed person. Violations include going beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS), operating at night without a waiver, flying too close to buildings, intentionally losing control of the drone, and flying without LAANC authorization. And all of this is easily proven given not only the posted videos but also the reams of other data that can be obtained from both the videos themselves as well as the drone if needed.

Just goes to show you that ignorance of the law, or, in this case, ignoring warnings about the law is no protection against the consequences for breaking it.

As we covered recently, the FAA has released a slew of new rules and regulations for drone pilots in the United States. This was matched by the European Union also offering its own standardized list of rules. You can read those articles here and here respectively.

What do you think of one drone pilot receiving nearly $USD 200,000 in fines? What do you think about proposals for regulating drones in the future? Let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments section.

Don’t forget to check out some of our other photography news on Light Stalking at this link right here.

[DPReview]

One of the bigger trends in technology that should become more prevalent in the next few years is augmented reality and mixed reality devices.

Think Google Glass but something everyone will want to use. While we’ve been promised this kind of thing for a while now, with even the vaunted Apple rumored to be working on their own headset, we just haven’t seen anything materialize yet.

Well, Canon is hoping to make your mixed reality dreams come true but it’s going to cost you. The nearly $40K MREAL S1 can display CG images within real space using two CMOS sensors that basically act as the eyes of the device, interpreting the real-world environment and placing the virtual object within that space. Targeted towards industrial designers, among others, the MREAL S1 lets the wearer interact with the object but also place objects in real space in use cases such as a designer showing how a space would look when completed.

The full unit comes with all of the software and equipment necessary to make it work and is much smaller than Canon’s previous efforts in this area. Still, at $USD 38,400, it’s not exactly cheap but, then again, it isn’t really for the average consumer.

You can watch a video from Canon demonstrating the device at this link right here.

As always, we’d love to know what you think about mixed reality headsets and the Canon MREAL S1 in particular. Could you see yourself using such a device? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Be sure to check out our other photography news on Light Stalking at this link right here.

[PetaPixel]

Fashion photography is certainly one of the most competitive fields nowadays. Working in the fashion industry allows portrait photographers to shoot very elaborate and creative portraits, which can be very challenging yet fulfilling. If you’re just starting out as a fashion photographer, it might be hard to get your photos noticed.

The following 15 fashion photographers are all great examples of successful artists who have reached a wide audience on social media. Check out their well-crafted portfolios on Instagram if you want to find inspiration for your own fashion shoots!

Here Are 15 Of The Best Fashion Photographers To Follow On Instagram:

Matthew Brookes is a British photographer raised in South Africa. He lives between Paris and New York City nowadays and aside from working with celebrities and models, Brookes enjoys photographing sports men and women and dancers.

His portraits could be found in a wide range of publications, such as Vanity Fair, Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, The New York Times’ T Magazine and many more.

Glen Luchford is a British fashion photographer and film director who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. 

His photographic style is heavily influenced by his love of cinema. Luchford likes to photograph his models in the studio and he often uses elaborate lighting to create memorable cinematic photographs.

Emma Tempest is a British photographer based between London and New York. Her images are typically soft, dreamy and full of pastel colors, which evokes a sense of serenity and balance.

She collaborates with important clients such as Shiseido, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Trussardi and so on. 

Sebastian Kim is a Vietnam-born photographer who was raised between Iran and France. His portfolio features seductive yet stylish images which are very sophisticated when it comes to lighting and composition. 

He collaborates with prestigious fashion magazines such as American Vogue, German Vogue, Russian Vogue, Numéro Tokyo, Muse, and others.

Alessio Bolzoni is an Italian avant-garde photographer famous for his unusual and daring photographs which are redefining the concept of beauty in the fashion industry. His work is inspired by cinematography, theater, street life and street photography.

Alessio's photography has been widely featured in top publications like Marie Claire, Elle US, Harper’s Bazaar UK, Numero, Glamour and many more.

6.Julia Johnson & Cody Cloud – @jucophoto

JUCO photo represents the collaborative work of Julia Johnson and Cody Cloud, two artists who met in 2002 at The San Francisco Art Institute. Their work is best known for bold and playful use of colors and shapes.

Julia and Cody are based in Los Angeles and their clients include major names such as Vogue Taiwan, Paper Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and others.

Dario Castellani is an Italian photographer best know for his conceptual editorial work and interesting blend of street and fashion photography.

He has shot editorials for important magazines such as Vogue Italia, British Vogue, Dazed and many more.

Patrick Demarchelier is a French photographer who discovered fashion photography by working as a freelancer and learning from legendary photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson.  

Since the late 1970s Demarchelier has shot the covers for almost every major fashion magazine such as American, British and Paris Vogue. His Instagram account has nearly a million followers.

Tony Kelly is an Irish fashion and fine art photographer who is currently based between Los Angeles and Europe. His approach to fashion photography is rather bold and provocative and his images look very lively thanks to vibrant colors.

His work has been published in Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair Italia, Vogue Paris, Vogue Greece, GQ and other prestigious fashion magazines.

Amanda Charchian is an American photographer based in Los Angeles. Her photography explores sensuality in a rather surreal way and her images are very subtle, feminine and dreamy. She captures the intimacy and the connection between herself and the models she photographs.

Her commercial clients include Gucci, Bulgari, Chloe, Cartier, Nordstrom, Glossier, MCM and others.

Petra Collins is a Canadian fashion model and photographer who rose to fame in the early 2010s. Her photography focuses on feminist issues and also characterises a dreamy feel.

She was a resident photographer for Rookie magazine and has directed a number of short films and music videos.

Lillie Eiger is a fashion photographer from Chicago based in London who is represented by probation agency that showcases creative artists. She is someone who experiments with various styles so you may be in for a surprise if you follow her.

Mariano Vivanco's passion for photography began after he settled down in New Zealand. Inspired by the works of famous photographers Vivanco moved to London to pursue a career in fashion photography.

He is now one of world's leading editorial photographers, shooting regularly for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, and many more where his subjects incluse actors, designers, athletes, singers and other celebrities.

Georges Antoni is an Australian fashion photographer whose works have been published in some of the biggest magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, etc. He strongly believes in photographing the current fashion trends so his fashion images can remain a witness to depict a particular time, like the fashion, the society, the emotions, etc.

James Houston is an Australian photographer who developed a love for nature and the great outdoors when growing up. James travelled around Europe and that is when he built his photography portfolio and on his return to Australia started shooting cover and fashion stories for Australian Vogue, Oyster magazine and others.

James shot several commissioned shoots for Interview magazine after which he moved to New York and shot for advertising campaigns for many international brands and is also popular among celebrities.

If you want to learn more about fashion photography, feel free to check out the following links!

Further Resources:

1. How To Plan A Fashion Photography Shoot
2. 20 Creative Examples Of Fashion Photography
3. 3 Fashion Photographers Who Defined The Genre
4. Editorial & Fashion Photography: Use These Instagram Hashtags
5. 12 Fashion Photography Tips For Better Instagram Promotion
6. 20 Fashion & Portrait Photographers To Follow On Instagram In 2019