Photo Corners headlinesarchivemikepasini.com
A S C R A P B O O K O F S O L U T I O N S F O R T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R
Enhancing the enjoyment of taking pictures with news that matters, features that entertain and images that delight. Published frequently.
Around The Horn
15 February 2025
In this recurring column, we highlight a few items we've run across that don't merit a full story of their own but are interesting enough to bring to your attention. This time we look at Valentine's Day, Mary Ellen Matthews, a sunflower garden, Pixelmator, McClymonds High and the Optimizing Impulse.
- The World Celebrates Valentine's Day and the Associated Press is there to photograph it. And Reuters adds 30 more of Valentine's Day Around the World.
- In Every 'Saturday Night,' the Stars Smile for Her, Callie Holtermann looks at the "nutty images" of Mary Ellen Matthews, the official photographer for S.N.L. "By her count, about 4,000 of her bumper photographs have made it to air since she took over the job from her mentor, Edie Baskin," she writes. "She will release 272 pages worth of them in a book, The Art of the SNL Portrait, out March 4 from Abrams."
- Grace Holliday features Drama in a Sunflower Garden, shot by Indian photographer Sayan Bose on an iPhone 15 in which a sunflower farmer wears a mask of the Hindu character Mahisha as he poses in his field. "Mahisha is a demon, so while the sunflower garden is extremely beautiful and eye-catching, we're reminded that even beautiful things have their negative side."
- Ric Ford reports Apple's Pixelmator Takeover Is Complete. "The app, based on Apple's 'Metal 2' graphics system, uses machine learning to 'detect and understand various features within images' and offer 'ML Super Resolution' and 'ML Denoise,' as well as background removal," he writes. "The new Apple update brings nothing more than notice of the change in ownership." And eliminates the seven-day trial previously available.
- D. Ross Cameron documented the ribbon cutting after A Crumbling Oakland High School Gets an Assist From Steph Curry. The foundation run by Curry and his wife rennovated the gym at McClymonds High School in West Oakland, which was then renamed after NBA legend Bill Russell, who had graduated from McClymonds in 1952.
- Mike Johnston criticizes The Optimizing Impulse, especially regarding what was once considered the best in film cameras. "I'd argue that very little of that optimization BS really matters much for film shooting now and you might consider taking much of the accumulated advice from the past with a grain of salt the size of a salt lick," he writes.
More to come! Meanwhile, here's a look back. And please support our efforts...