Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

Here is my dilemma. Since discovering OpenAI’s DALL•E 2 image generator a few weeks ago, I’ve had good success and great fun creating images I’m truly proud of. No, it’s not photography, but it’s still pretty amazing. More importantly, however, it raises a fundamental question: Is it ethical to publish AI-assisted images instead of photos of living, flesh and blood models, even with clearly-worded disclaimers? Frankly, I’m torn by this predicament.

What’s the difference between water resistant and splashproof? Do weatherproof, waterproof and moisture resistant all mean the same thing? And what the heck does an IP56 rating mean? When it comes to mixing camera equipment with water, what you don’t know can hurt you—and could cost you dearly. 

Time to hit the Reset Button and put your notions of Image Quality on Pause. In our everyday lives as photographers we prize sharpness, saturation, acutance and absence of aberration when we idealize the images we want to capture. Now it’s time to recognize that images that are blurred, smeared, warped and otherwise traumatized can be beautiful.

Lensbaby lenses produce images that are intentionally unsharp, because optical aberrations can be beautiful. In a word, a Lensbaby turns blur into bliss.

There’s a new tabletop tripod in the JOBY stable, the slim, sleek PodZilla. Perfect for cell phone photography, it includes a cleverly designed rotating smartphone grip. Here we compare it a longtime favorite, the JOBY GorillaPod 3K Kit.

You’ve admired Kelly Moore photo bags and backpacks for their innovative designs, distinguished style and well-deserved reputation for high quality and durability. Perhaps you didn’t know that their extensive lineup of extraordinary products includes models designed especially for men.

How old were you when you took your first picture? By yourself, I mean, not while an adult was looking purposefully over your shoulder. If you remember that moment then you know how exciting and meaningful it is for youngsters to begin taking pictures at an early age.

Maybe you can’t fool Mother Nature—but who says you can’t give her a facelift?