Best PC games 2019: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss

Posted on 30 September 2019 by admin

Welcome to our pick of the best PC games of 2019. With TechRadar's PC Gaming Week 2019 now underway, we've selected the best PC games from all kinds of genres, with each entry on this list proving why the PC is such an awesome gaming platform.

Plus, now that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is here, along with Intel’s Coffee Lake Refresh processors, now’s the best time to get into PC games. The PC is perhaps the best gaming platform in the world – forget about your PlayStations and Xboxes – thanks to a remarkably huge catalogue of brilliant games, starting with the best Steam games 2019 has on offer.

The best PC games cover a wide range of genres, from platformers and point-and-click adventures, to retro favorites and action-packed first-person shooters that take advantage of the best modern graphics tech for eye-popping visuals. There are even co-op PC games that you can play with friends.

The sheer number of brilliant PC games can leave you wondering where to get started, which is where our best PC games of 2019 list comes in. We've put together the definitive list of the best PC games, from oldies like the Orange Box to newer fan-favorites like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Believe us when we say you’ll want to get all of these PC games installed so you can experience them firsthand. 

Looking for the best games to play on your laptop? Check out our best laptop games instead. But if you’re looking to game on your PC, you chose the perfect time to jump in on the platform, and as a warm welcome, we’ll dive into the best PC games you can play in 2019.

The best new PC game: Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3

The Borderlands franchise might not have much in terms of innovations. Plus, its third installation’s vehicle combat isn’t all that impressive, and its humor isn’t all that clever. However, Borderlands 3 has still proven itself more than capable of showing gamers a rollicking good time, with its arsenal of weapons and gear, deep RPG systems and new areas to explore, making it our pick for the best new PC game right now.

It isn’t just your combat skills that are tested here; you’ll be better off sharpening your survival skills as well, as you’re dropped on a Mad Max-esque arid planet where encounters with dangerous local wildlife is to be expected as well. In Borderlands 3, however, you can get a respite from that to explore exciting – not to mention, stunning – new locales with better climates. And, having better weaponry this time around, like the ‘guns on legs’ and guns that moonlight as explosives, only make your journey all the more riotous.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

best PC game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Even four years after its release, it’s still one of the most impressive open world games that’s ever existed – mixing Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s ridiculous depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it tops our list of the best PC games in 2019. Staggering, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just the best PC game of 2019. It might just be one of the best video games of all time.

2. Dark Souls 3

While it's debatably not as hard as earlier entries in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and blends it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent title for PS4.

We won’t sugar coat it: you’re going to die in Dark Souls 3, possibly more than once. It takes patience to master its complicated combat system, but it also plays fair, which allows it to be more approachable for casual players to take part in its bleak, fantastical world. And, on the bright side, it’s much more optimized for PC than the first two games. Now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered, and see where the apocalyptic series began, there’s never been a better time to link the first flame.

3. Control

Control

Control

It’s easy to see why Control is already taking the gaming world by storm. The creative team at Remedy Entertainment made sure that there’s plenty to love in this game, paying very close attention to the intricate details. A deeply cinematic game, this action-adventure offers its players spectacular visuals, inspired environment design and standout performances, as well as a deeply satisfying combat experience.

Control places you in the capable shoes of fiery-haired Jesse Faden. You’re tasked to seek out The Oldest House, a building in New York City that’s in a constant state of architectural flux and only appears to those who desire to find it, and locate your missing brother, all while heading the Federal Bureau of Control as its director and overseeing the containment of paranatural entities.

There’s nothing quite like Control on the market, and it makes it one of the best PC games to play right now.

4. Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter has been one of the biggest gaming franchises you’ve never heard of for years now. With Monster Hunter: World, the series broke into the mainstream and came to the PC (finally), which makes it one of the best PC games you can play today. 

Monster Hunter: World puts you in the shoes of a monster hunter, and you’ll hunt progressively bigger and nastier monsters, strip them for parts, and craft bigger, badder armor. It’s a deceptively simple gameplay loop that ends up being one of the most compelling and rewarding PC games you can play right now. 

There’s a ceaseless onslaught of content in this game, and Capcom, the developers of this monster hunting hit, are committed to bringing a wealth of free DLC to the game – not to mention a new frosty expansion in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. If you’re looking for an addictive, immersive and most importantly, fun game to play on your own or with all your best friends cooperatively, check out Monster Hunter: World. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best PC games you can buy today.

5. Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most anticipated console ports to ever hit PC gaming, and you won’t any arm-twisting to wander back into Los Santos's hugely detailed and highly interactive world. This time, however, it’s 10 times more fun with the PC's richer graphics and smooth 60 fps gameplay.

And, don’t think you’ll be done after you’ve finished its 30-hour campaign. There’s an overflow of post-game content to enjoy, after all. Most recently, that includes The Doomsday Heist in GTA Online and even a radio station hosted by Frank Ocean.

6. Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Sid Meier's Civilization VI is the most recent title in the iconic turn-based strategy game, and it's one of our picks for the best PC game you can play to date. One of the things that make the PC the best platform for gaming on is the sheer breadth of different game genres on offer. Civilization VI might seem slow paced next to the likes of Fortnite; however, its scope is huge.

Spread your empire across the map and crush your enemies. You build up your empire from a simple settlement to a world power, and you can decide to do this through military might, technological supremacy or cultural influence. Since its launch in 2016, it has had two expansion packs that really cement this game as an epic entry in our best PC games list.  Civilization VI: Rise and Fall released in February 2018, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm following in February 2019.

7. Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation

Set 15 years following the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-filled game that fans of the franchise have long anticipated. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, you’re tasked to track down and retrieve the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film, which has been traced aboard the Sevastopol space station.

First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation heightens the tension by giving you minimal weaponry. Its brilliant graphics shine on high-end PCs and clever AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you trembling at every corner. This and more make Alien: Isolation well-deserving of a spot on our list of the best PC games.

8. Overwatch

Overwatch

Overwatch

Overwatch, if nothing else, has significantly altered the landscape, moving it away from the norm of gray-ish cover shooters to the dominion of competitive gaming. Its bright, vibrant colors are only made better with highly likeable characters, each coming with their own interesting backstories, which, while non-existent in game, make for a collection of amazing webcomics and cinematics.

Overwatch is also one of the best PC games, due to how well it runs on all kinds of different hardware. Sure, it’s a bit aged now, but even in 2019, it’s the best PC game for anyone with a competitive streak. If you missed out on this game before, do yourself a favor – sign in to your Battle.net account and take Overwatch – not to mention, its colorful cast of characters – for a spin today. 

9. Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4

Forza Horizon 4

Microsoft's racing series is only getting better with each release, and in many ways this spin-off has exceeded the main Forza Motorsport line as the best racing games on PC at present. They're definitely more fun, adding a dash of arcade fun to the strikingly recreated cars and race tracks we've come to expect from Forza.

Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best PC games you can buy today, and this entry brings the racing to the UK after having explored America, France, Italy and Australia in the previous three instalments of the franchise. Now, you can rip through charming villages, seaside towns and the city of Edinburgh by way of many miles of country roads and dirt tracks in between. It's fast, frantic and a lot of fun.

You can purchase Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store. It's also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass for PC, or you can buy the Xbox One version and get a download code for PC using the Xbox Anywhere feature.

10. Thimbleweed Park

Thimbleweed Park

Thimbleweed Park

Fans of classic point and click games such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, which are some of the best PC games ever made, should add Thimbleweed Park to their must play list. Made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, two of the people behind PC classics Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park plays like a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games. 

From the splendid retro artwork, entertaining dialogue and perplexing puzzles, Thimbleweed Park deserves its place on our list of the best PC games, merging the best of old school PC game design with modern technology.

11. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

From Software is a household name when it comes to designing the best PC games. The minds behind the critically praised Dark Souls series have transported PC gamers to some of the most forsaken landscapes and through some of the most challenging yet rewarding gameplay. From Software is back at it once more, with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Sekiro places you in the shoes of the Young Wolf, a shinobi tasked with rescuing his young master. The game will take you through 16th-century Japan, but things will get eerie and supernatural: this is From Software we’re talking about. 

Don’t expect an easy time of it, however. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an awfully difficult game to master, and you’ll need quick reflexes to deflect enemy attacks, as well as to master stealth. You won’t be able to hide behind a shield all day, like you were able to in Dark Souls III.

12. Minecraft

The phrase "build it, and they will come" rings truer than ever with Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been bought more than 100 million times since its release in 2009. In it, you can construct your own worlds using resources you find in the wild, or discover existing ones created by other players online. 

In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks offered by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. Moreover, sometime in 2019, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that offers more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already amazing game.

13. Doom

Id Software's Doom was a phenomenon for PC gamers in the ‘90s. The crudely rendered first-person shooter series was as controversial as it was adored, thanks in large part to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. 

Parents be damned, the franchise underwent a revival in 2016 with a fresh reset, aptly titled Doom. Although the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy mission that is bloody satisfying, pun intended.

14. Fortnite Battle Royale

How could we not add what’s possibly the biggest game in the world right now to this list? Fortnite Battle Royale is a global phenomenon ­– not to mention, among the best PC games right now, if you like super-competitive online games. This is a game people keep coming back to, and that's mostly thanks to the addictive gameplay and regular updates from Epic.

Fortnite Battle Royale is actually a game mode for the Fortnite game, but this mode has become so popular, many people consider it a separate game in its own right. As with other Battle Royale games, the aim of Fortnite Battle Royale is to fight your way through an ever-shrinking map until you're the last player standing. While that might sound simple enough, there's a whole lot of depth to this game once you start playing.

15. Cuphead

Cuphead's 1930's animation aesthetics undoubtedly makes this one of the most stunning – and sounding – PC games on the list. Combining run-and-gun platforming and boss rush battles, it's an extremely challenging game – but that also makes it very rewarding. 

With hand-drawn cell animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is unlike anything you'll play on PC, and while the steep difficulty curve may put people off, if you're willing to hone your gaming skills, you'll be rewarded with one of the best PC games money can buy.

Welcome to TechRadar's PC Gaming Week 2019. We're celebrating the most powerful gaming platform on Earth with in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and essential buying guides that showcase everything PC gaming has to offer. Visit our PC Gaming Week 2019 page to see all our coverage in one place.

Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article


TechRadar: Photography & video capture news

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Best compact camera 2019: 10 top compact zooms to suit all abilities

Posted on 30 September 2019 by admin

From simple snappers for beginners to high-end powerhouses, here are the best compact and point-and-shoot cameras you can buy right now. 

Compact cameras and the compact camera market have changed considerably over the last few years. Smartphones, with their ever-improving camera systems, have decimated budget models and as a result camera manufacturers have concentrated on putting more advanced features into compact cameras to make them more attractive than ever before.

One of the main reasons for choosing a compact camera is the ability to capture great images without the hassle of changing lenses, with most of them sporting a 1-inch type sensor. That's bigger than the chips you'll find in smartphones and cheaper compacts, yet smaller than the sensors you'll get in the latest mirrorless and DSLR shooters.

With a bigger sensor, you get significantly better image quality than even the best smartphones and, in some cases (particularly the high-end compact cameras), they can rival the performance of a DSLR or mirrorless camera. A larger sensor also offers more light-gathering pixels which, in turn, usually capture images with less noise at high ISO sensitivities or in low-light conditions. 

There's currently a wide variety of different compact cameras offering a wealth of choice to pretty much suit all photographic needs and budgets. There are small compact cameras that can slip in a pocket yet have huge zoom ranges, and large bridge cameras that look like DSLRs, but have a large, fixed zoom lens and lots of automated easy-to-use options (though don't expect DSLR-rivalling image quality). 

That's not forgetting waterproof options and high-end models that are a great alternative to a DSLR or mirrorless camera should you want something a bit more portable. 

If you need a bit more help figuring out what kind of camera you need, then your best place to start is by reading this article: What camera should I buy?

Otherwise, read on to find out our pick of the best compact cameras you can buy right now.

best overall compact camera

In some respects, this is the best compact around right now. Its autofocus system is way ahead of what anyone else is doing right now, tracking moving subjects with excellent skill and cleverly switch into and out of face- and eye-detection as necessary. Control over video recording is as superb as the quality of the footage itself, while image quality is also stellar. But all of this comes at a price, and for many people it's just a little too steep for the camera to be included in the main list, but we can't pass it by as one of the best options there is. So if you have some spare change, we'd highly recommend the RX 100 VII.

If, however, you like the idea of the seventh-generation RX100 but are happy to sacrifice that superb autofocus system, check out the RX100 VI (position 6), which maintains much of what we see here for a little less outlay.

Read more about the Sony RX100 VII.

Best compact camera: Fujifilm X100F

We admit that with its fixed-focal-length lens and bulky body, the X100F isn't going to be everyone's idea of compact camera fun. But as the fourth camera in a hugely popular series, Fujifilm has done a grand job to take the best bits from the previous triplet and elevate its performance once again – and the result is a mighty powerful camera. The 24MP APS-C sensor spits out detailed images with low noise and superb colours, while the manual dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO and aperture connect you with the camera in a way that just doesn't happen on most other compacts. The hybrid electronic/optical viewfinder also gives you the freedom to adjust what it displays to better suit your environment. Our only reservations are that video is limited to Full HD recording, although that's not a deal-breaker for many photographers.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100F review .

Best compact camera: Panasonic Lumix ZS200

Panasonic invented the travel-zoom camera genre – compact cameras that you can fit in a pocket but that have long zoom lenses built-in. Despite strong competition, the ZS range (known as TZ outside the US) has continued to dominate sales, and it looks set to continue this with the brilliant Lumix ZS200 (called TZ200 outside the US). As we first saw with the Lumix ZS100 / TZ100, Panasonic has been able to keep the camera body about the same size as earlier ZS-series cameras but squeeze a much larger 1-inch sensor into the camera to deliver much better image quality. The zoom lens isn't quite so extensive as some, but the versatile 15x zoom should be more than enough for most users, while you also get (an admittedly small) electronic viewfinder, 4K video and a great touchscreen interface. If you're looking for a neat all-in-one compact camera that delivers great images, this is it.  

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 review.

Best compact camera: Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV

If you're looking for a powerful all-in-one bridge camera, then the RX10 IV from Sony is the best there is. You'll pay a premium for that performance, but when you look at what else is out there for the same price, the RX10 IV is virtually in a league of its own. Featuring a huge 24-600mm f/2.4-4 zoom lens, the RX10 IV builds on the RX10 III with an overhauled AF system that now does justice to the rest of the camera, while the 1-inch, 20.1MP sensor is capable of achieving excellent levels of detail. Handling is very polished, feeling like a DSLR in the hand and complemented by a large and bright electronic viewfinder. That's not forgetting the ability to capture video in 4K and shoot at up to 24fps. Impressive stuff.

Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review.

Best compact camera: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

The G7X Mark II proved to be a smash and we're confident that this will be just a great a hit with vloggers and enthusiast photographers. With the new advantages of 4K shooting, a mic port and live streaming to YouTube joining the previously seen built-in ND filter and flip up LCD screen, this is arguably the strongest compact right now for vlogging. But if you've no interest in video there's still plenty to keep you happy, from 30fps shooting at full resolution to a super-sensitive touchscreen, in-camera raw processing and the added convenience of USB charging. It's a shame there's no viewfinder or hot shoe, but then not everyone needs these.

Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III review.

Best compact camera: Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Compact cameras with sensors larger than 1-inch in size are typically limited to fixed-focal-length lenses, which is great for quality but less so for flexibility. But not the Panasonic LX100 II; it manages to marry a 17MP Four Thirds sensor – the same size as those found inside Panasonic's G-series mirrorless cameras – with a zoom lens equivalent to 24-75mm in 35mm terms, proving that sometimes you can get quality and flexibility at once. The original LX100 was something of a landmark camera for offering something similar, and this latest iteration takes the baton, with a nippy AF system, robust body, clear 4K videos and a useful electronic viewfinder among its highlights.

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix LX100 II review.

Best compact camera: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI

Sony's original RX100 was a landmark camera that fused a 1-inch sensor in a compact, metal body with the controls and image quality demanded by enthusiasts. The RX100 VI goes several steps further, though, with a 'stacked' sensor design for high-speed data capture. This means it can shoot 4K video, amazing 40x slow motion and still images at 24fps in continuous burst mode. That's not forgetting the neat little built-in electronic viewfinder that its rivals lack, while this sixth generation model now packs an impressive 24-200mm zoom lens. It's a pricey option and does have its quirks, but if you're looking for a versatile, pocket-sized compact with a quality zoom lens, you won't be disappointed. 

Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI review.

Best compact camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ2000

This trend towards bigger sensors shows up in the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 (known as the FZ2500 in the US). Bridge cameras are very popular because they offer a colossal zoom range at a modest cost. To design a big zoom, though, the makers have to use a tiny sensor – and here Panasonic took the wise choice to sacrifice zoom range for better quality. The Panasonic FZ2000 uses a 1-inch sensor, and while the zoom tops out at 480mm equivalent, which is relatively short for a bridge camera, that's still plenty for all but the most extreme everyday use. We love the FZ2000 because it delivers both image quality and zoom range – if you're looking for something a bit cheaper, the older FZ1000 is still available.

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 / FZ2500 review.

Best compact camera: Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III

Keen photographers usually go for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, but they also want something that will slip in a pocket for those days when the big camera needs to stay at home. Usually, that means putting up with a smaller sensor – but not this time. Somehow, Canon has shoehorned a DSLR-sized APS-C sensor into a compact camera body. There's also a built-in electronic viewfinder and refined touchscreen interface. The zoom range is a bit modest at 24-72mm, but there's nothing else quite like it. 

Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III review.

Best compact camera: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV

It's tempting for list this model higher up just for the value for money it offer, but it isn't the newest model and, as a result, doesn't have the topnotch performance of its newer siblings. The RX100 IV sits in the middle of the RX100 family, and while newer models beat it for burst shooting, autofocus and focal range, for most people this cheaper alternative would still serve them brilliantly. The 1-inch sensor at its heart captures lovely images and super-crisp 4K videos, and while the 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) lens range isn't quite as broad as on the RX100 VI and RX100 VII, the lens itself has a wider f/1.8-2.8 aperture. The 2.36 million-dot viewfinder cleverly hides away when not in use, while optical image stabilisation inside the lens keeps everything steady. You might want to pair it with a separate grip for better handling, but if you need a powerful compact to slip into your pocket – and you don't want to spend a fortune getting it – you'll find the RX100 IV delivers plenty.

Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV review.

Best compact camera: Panasonic TZ100/FS100

The ZS100 may have been refreshed by the ZS200 (position 2) but don't let that put you off; this is still a fine camera, and its last-gen status means it's at a better price than ever. Part of its charm is that fact that it partners a large 1-inch sensor with a 10x optical zoom lens, which provides better image and video quality than other superzoom compacts, but with the flexibility of a broad zoom lens – not something many cameras can claim. Other niceties include a built-in EVF, very good quality 4K video and Wi-Fi, along with image capture in raw. 

Read our in-depth Panasonic ZS100 review.

None of the above take your fancy? Got some cash to play with? Here are two further options.

Best premium compact camera: Leica Q2

The Q2 is a thing of beauty, and right now it's arguably the best compact camera around. It's not for everyone – not least because it costs a small fortune – but if you genuinely want the best compact you'll be hard pushed to find a finer one than the Q2. Leica hasn't compromised on the spec sheet, with the 47.3MP sensor producing masses of detail and keeping noise impressive low, while the 3.68 million dot electronic viewfinder is bright and sharp. Also bright and sharp is that 28mm f/1.7 lens, while 4K videos show plenty of detail. It's not the easiest to handle (although you can get an optional grip) and some may have preferred a tilting screen, but its build quality is near-faultless. If you're pining for such a camera in your life but can't quite find the funds, consider the previous Q1 model, which offers a slightly stripped-down feature set by comparison for a hell of a lot less.

Best premium compact camera: Ricoh GR III

We had mixed feelings when we came to review the GR III, but it still deserves a mention here. Why's that? Because, despite a few quirks, Ricoh managed to get a lot right, and it delivers something no other compact quite manages right now, namely the combination of an image-stabilized 24MP APS-C sensor inside a body that you can squeeze into your pocket. Other advantages include a high-performing lens, fast operation, a revamped menu system and understated styling to help keep you discreet when you're out shooting. The fixed 28mm-equivalent lens won't be to everyone's taste, and the battery life is also disappointing, but for those who need to travel light and take great images, this is a very capable alternative to an interchangeable-lens camera.

Read our in-depth Ricoh GR III review.


TechRadar: Cameras and camcorder reviews

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Sky Replacement Using Photoshop

Posted on 30 September 2019 by admin

The post A Step-by-Step Guide to Sky Replacement Using Photoshop appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

Picture this if you will: you’re out in nature with your hopes, dreams, and a camera to capture it all. You see the beauty of creation stretching out before you, so you carefully and patiently set up your gear to get the perfect shot. Finally, the sun moves to just the right spot, and you hold your breath while you press the shutter button. Then you realize the clouds are all wrong. You can wait for hours for the ideal opportunity to present itself, or you can do sky replacement using Photoshop to drop in another one. It’s not as difficult as it might seem and can lead to some exciting results.

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

The building is in Oklahoma, and I combined it with a long-exposure sky I shot in Kansas.

Before you get started with this operation, you will need two pictures: one with a boring sky and one with a breathtaking sky. If you’re just getting started, I recommend using two pictures shot at a similar time of day under similar conditions. If you replace a sunny sky with storm clouds, the lighting will be all different, and the results will look, well, Photoshopped.

Image: A scenic view in the middle of Kansas. The sky could use some clouds though.

A scenic view in the middle of Kansas. The sky could use some clouds though.

After finding a picture with a nice foreground, you need to get another picture with an interesting sky.

Image: I shot this in the Tallgrass Prairie Nature Preserve in another part of Kansas. These clouds...

I shot this in the Tallgrass Prairie Nature Preserve in another part of Kansas. These clouds would look great in the first image, and Photoshop can help.

The plethora of screenshots below might seem overwhelming, but this entire process is quite easy and a lot less complicated than it seems. Fire up Photoshop, follow along carefully, and you should have some good results in no time at all.

Step 1: Get rid of the boring sky

Open your picture with the sky you want to replace in Photoshop. If you’re not familiar with Photoshop, you’ll see that the Layers panel on the right side has your picture as the Background layer. It’s locked, meaning you need to unlock it or make a copy. Go with the latter route by right-clicking and selecting Duplicate Layer.

Image: Always work on a copy of the background layer so you can revert to it if you need to.

Always work on a copy of the background layer so you can revert to it if you need to.

Click the new layer in the Layers panel to make sure it’s actually selected. You will know it’s selected by the outline that you can see around each corner of the layer thumbnail.

Image: The currently selected layer has white borders around each corner of its thumbnail. Make sure...

The currently selected layer has white borders around each corner of its thumbnail. Make sure the original Background layer is hidden by clicking the eye icon to the left of its thumbnail.

Click the eye button next to the original Background layer to make it invisible. It’s still there if you need it for any reason, but if all goes well, you should be able to do the rest of this entire process using the duplicated layer.

The next thing you need to do is remove the sky, which you can do with a technique known as layer masks. Start by clicking the Selection tool and holding it down until the pop-up menu appears. Click “Quick Selection Tool.” While not perfect, this is a great starting point for people who are new to sky replacements. You can do some fine-tuning to get things just to your liking.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Sky Replacement Using Photoshop

Now click and drag in the sky and watch the selection grow until it covers your entire sky.

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

Use the Selection tool to create a selection around the sky in your original image.

This selection isn’t going to be perfect, but it’s a good place to start. You can refine things once you create your layer mask. As long as you have most of the sky selected, you’ll be good to go. You can also use the Magic Wand tool to select portions of the sky, and hold [shift] to keep adding new parts to the selection. This works well if you have clouds or other elements besides just the color blue in your sky.

With the sky selected, click the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Image: Click this button at the bottom of the Layers panel to create a Layer Mask. This lets you sho...

Click this button at the bottom of the Layers panel to create a Layer Mask. This lets you show and hide different parts of a layer.

The result might surprise you – everything in your picture is now gone except for the sky! (If you still see the original image, remember to click the eye to the left of the Background layer. This will make it invisible, but not remove it from Photoshop.)

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

The initial layer mask shows the sky, which is not exactly what you want for this operation. It’s a good starting point though.

Removing everything but the sky is the opposite of what you want to do! The fix for this is simple: invert your layer mask. Select your new layer mask by clicking on the black-and-white thumbnail in the duplicated background layer.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Sky Replacement Using Photoshop

Now invert the mask by pressing Control-I (Command-I on a Mac) or choosing Image -> Adjustments -> Invert from the menus at the top of your screen. Now we’re really making some progress since the sky is gone but the foreground remains intact.

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

Invert the layer mask to show only the foreground. With the sky out of the way you can now insert a new sky into the background.

If clouds, birds, or other elements of the original sky are still intact, you can remove them by using the Brush tool on your layer mask. (See Step 3 for details on how to do this.)

Step 2: Insert a better sky

There are a couple of ways to do this next step, and I’m sure you will probably develop your own workflow over time. Since this is just a tutorial to get you started though, it should work for most basic sky replacement.

Choose the File menu and then select Place Embedded. Navigate to the folder on your computer with the image you want and double-click on it. This loads the replacement sky picture into your current Photoshop document. You can then tweak the results to get just the right image you want. The image will load on top of the previous image, and you’ll see it at the top of your Layers panel.

Image: When you place a new image into your Photoshop document it will appear at the top of the list...

When you place a new image into your Photoshop document it will appear at the top of the list of layers, which means it’s the only thing you will see in the main image editing screen.

Photoshop layers work like a stack: whatever is on top is, literally, whatever you see on top of your picture. If you want something to appear underneath something else, just click and drag the layers to your liking. In fact, that’s what you have to do with your replacement sky. Click the layer you just inserted and drag it below the duplicated background layer.

Image: Click and drag the sky replacement layer so it’s beneath the copy of your background.

Click and drag the sky replacement layer so it’s beneath the copy of your background.

Now look at your sky picture! Just like magic, the original sky has gone and the new sky shows up in its place.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Sky Replacement Using Photoshop

Step 3: Clean things up

At this point, there are two common issues that generally need fixing. One is that the foreground has some errors that need correcting, like trees or other objects that are cut off or otherwise not showing up properly. The other is that the replacement sky doesn’t quite fit the empty space.

You can harness the power of Layer Masks to fix the first issue. Tap the Z key to switch to the Zoom tool, and click on your picture a few times to zoom in for a close-up view. Hold the space bar to switch to the Hand tool, and click-and-drag the picture to see the spots that need fixing.

Image: These trees don’t really need fixing, but I want to remove them for a cleaner horizon.

These trees don’t really need fixing, but I want to remove them for a cleaner horizon.

Make sure you select your Layer Mask and tap the B key to switch to the Brush tool. Right-click to adjust the size of your brush and other parameters like hardness and shape.

Image: Using the brush tool on the Layer Mask will show or hide specific parts of the layer.

Using the brush tool on the Layer Mask will show or hide specific parts of the layer.

Now click on the parts of the foreground you want to either remove from the picture or add to the picture. (Press the X key to switch between remove and add mode.) What you’re actually doing is painting white or black on the layer mask: everywhere you paint white is shown, and everywhere you paint black is hidden. You don’t actually see the white or black colors, just the results of painting them onto the image.

Image: A few clicks on the Adjustment Layer and the trees have gone!

A few clicks on the Adjustment Layer and the trees have gone!

If you find that your sky doesn’t quite fill the empty space, you can solve that by just adjusting the size of the sky layer. Click the top layer, the one with the foreground, and adjust the opacity to 30%. That way you can see the background layer, the one with the sky, along with the foreground layer.

Image: Set the opacity of the duplicate background layer to 30%.

Set the opacity of the duplicate background layer to 30%.

The result looks like some kind of weird double-exposure error, but it will look fine once you finish the operation.

Image: You can now see the replacement sky and the foreground. This will help you adjust the replace...

You can now see the replacement sky and the foreground. This will help you adjust the replacement sky size and position to your liking.

Select the layer with the replacement sky and choose Edit -> Free Transform, or press Control-T (Command-T on a Mac). Then use the handles at the corner of the sky layer to enlarge it until it fills the empty space.

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

After pressing Transform, click and drag on the squares in the corner of the layer to change its size. Click and drag in the middle of it to change its position.

After you have resized the sky layer, press the [return] key to lock in the transformation. Then go back to the foreground layer and increase its opacity to 100%. This same process is also a great way to adjust the sky in the background even if there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with it. One example of this is if you want to adjust the sky to emphasize a certain portion where the clouds happen to be more interesting.

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

The same image as before, but with the sky zoomed in (i.e. Transformed) to create a more interesting picture.

Once you get the hang of this process, it’s pretty simple. You can do a lot of custom work simply by editing the layer mask you create in the first step. You can also do this just for fun, like the picture below where I replaced the blue sky behind this building with a giant squirrel. If you have kids, or if you just want to have some fun experimenting on your own, this is a great way to explore some of the capabilities of Photoshop.

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

Attack of the Giant Mutant Killer Squirrels!

Once you try sky replacement using photoshop on your own, I’d love to see some examples of your work. Leave the results in the comments below!

 

sky-replacement-using-photoshop

The post A Step-by-Step Guide to Sky Replacement Using Photoshop appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.


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5DayDeal Complete Photography Bundle 2019 Giveaway is Now Live

Posted on 29 September 2019 by admin
The 5DayDeal Complete Photography Bundle 2019 Givaway promotion is now live and runs until October 3, 2019 [noon Pacific Time]. Sign up to be notified of the 5DayDeal launch and you could win one of the prizes listed below:
 
(15) Luminar + Aurora HDR + Signature Looks from Max Rive ($ 187 each)
(5) Year Subscription to Cloudspot.io (Unlimited Storage) ($ 420 each)
(1) Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones ($ 349)
(1) Canon EOS Rebel T6 EF-S 18-55mm + EF 75-300mm Double Zoom Kit ($ 429)
(1) MacBook Pro [ Winner Will Be Drawn in December ] ($ 1,299)
(1) AirMagic License Per Giveaway Entrant ($ 39 Value Each) ($ 10,000+) – NOTE: Will not be distributed until October 22, 2019

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Redskins vs Giants live stream: how to watch today’s NFL football from anywhere

Posted on 29 September 2019 by admin

We’ve reached week 4 of the 2019-2020 NFL season already and this weekend we’ll get to see the Washington Redskins take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. We’re here to make sure you catch every minute of today’s game – see how to get a Redskins vs Giants live stream regardless of where in the world you are.

The Redskins have had a rough go of it so far this season, losing to the Eagles in week 1, losing to the Cowboys in week 2 and losing to the Bears in week 3. The team is going into their game against the Giants 0-3 but there is some good news as starting quarterback Case Keenum may actually get to play now that he is out of his protective boot after recovering from a broken leg last year. According to Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, Keenum is expected to be in the lineup against the Giants during today’s game.

The Giants may not be as bad off as the Redskins but the team could certainly be doing better. During week 1 they lost to the Cowboys 17-35 and in week 2 they lost to the Bills 28-14. Last week though, the Redskins earned their first win this season against the Buccaneers when Daniel Jones scored a touchdown of a seven yard run with just over a minute left on the clock during the fourth quarter.

Whether you’re a Redskins fan in Washington DC, a Giants fan in New York or just want to tune in to see the oldest rivalry in the NFC East, we’ll show you how to live stream the Redskins vs Cowboys from anywhere in the world so you don’t miss a single touchdown.

Watch the Redskins vs Giants game online from outside your country (or in a blackout)

Watching this game from the US, UK, Canada or Australia? We'll tell you how to catch the NFL game further down in the article.

But if you're somewhere else in the world – or if a coverage blackout is stopping you from watching in the US – then there's still a way you can live stream Redskins vs Giants online (and you don't even have to slum it with a grainy, illegal feed you've found on Reddit). Instead you could use a VPN – or Virtual Private Network – to change the IP address to one in a different state or country which does have a stream. And it's not even hard to do.

How to watch the Redskins vs Giants in the US

Can I watch with the NFL Game Pass?

Well it's a no and a yes. The NFL Game Pass in the US will only let you watch a replay of the game, but not the live action.

Interestingly, it's a different story with an International NFL Game Pass where all 256 regular season games are being shown absolutely live…shame you can't officially get access to that if you and your laptop's IP address is in the US.

Other ways cord cutters can stream NFL live online

Sling TV $ 40 per month – Sling TV splits its live NFL options across its $ 25 a month Blue plan and $ 25 a month Orange plan. By combining the two, you get a $ 10 dollar discount and access to Fox, NBC, ESPN and the NFL Network.  

Hulu with Live TV $ 40 per month – Hulu with Live TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN but does not come with NFL Network.

FuboTV $ 35 for the first month – FuboTV gives you the first month at a discounted rate but after that the price increases to $ 45 a month. The service includes CBS, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network but does not come with ESPN.

DirecTV Now $ 50 per month – DirecTV Now includes CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and for $ 5 extra you can add the NFL Network. However, with this service you can only watch football on local TV stations live.

YouTubeTV $ 40 per month – YouTubeTV gives you access to CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN but just like with Hulu with Live TV, there is no NFL Network.

How to watch the Redskins vs Giants in the UK

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Get a NFL live stream in Canada for Free

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Live stream Redskins vs Giants in Australia


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The Fujifilm X-Pro 3: Marvellous or Mistake?

Posted on 29 September 2019 by admin

The post The Fujifilm X-Pro 3: Marvellous or Mistake? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Carl Spring.

Image: A marvelous innovation or a stupid mistake? Whatever your opinion, the new Fuji X-Pro 3 defin...

A marvelous innovation or a stupid mistake? Whatever your opinion, the new Fuji X-Pro 3 definitely has people talking.

Cameras are pretty similar these days. We all want the same things. Better dynamic range, better high ISO performance, and better autofocus. 

Really, if you look at the majority of cameras out there at the moment, there are few things that set them apart. That was until Fuji dropped the X-Pro 3. 

They did what with the screen?

In an incredibly bold move (or stupid, depending on which blogs you read), Fuji has done away with the standard rear LCD screen of the camera. They’ve replaced it with a much smaller screen.

It simply displays the key exposure information, or in a nod to the film cameras of days gone by, an image of the film simulation you are using.

The rear screen is not entirely gone though (although they apparently considered it). Instead, it is hidden from view and accessed via flipping it down from the rear of the camera.

Fuji claim this is to stop photographers spending time “chimping” and spending more time with the viewfinder to their eye instead, concentrating on making images.

Pure photography

Fuji launched the camera at the recent Fuji Summit where the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 was announced with a theory of Pure Photography.

The 3 elements of pure photography are:

Carry and access

You need to carry the camera and access the subject. This stated the camera has to be small, light and discreet. They state the camera should be an extension of your eye. This is then followed by talking about the durability of cameras.

Find and frame

You need to find the subject and frame it to get the best composition. Fuji stated that the viewfinder is the most important part of finding your composition.

Shoot to express

This is simply pressing the shutter and capturing the photograph. You don’t need to check a rear screen or distract yourself, you simply need to press the shutter. 

This concept is definitely summed up in the Fujifilm X-Pro 3. Personally, the idea of removing distraction is appealing, and I’m sure I’m not alone. However, whether this camera has mass-market appeal remains to be seen. Fuji’s X-Pro line (including the x-Pro 1 and X-Pro 2) has always been a favorite of street photographers, and this is how Fujifilm are marketing the camera and the pure photography concept. They are marketing to those who want discretion and to focus purely on making the image.

I can imagine many wedding photographers loving this camera too. Not only for the discretion it offers when shooting, but for the fact that you will be thankful for the lack of a screen every time a tipsy relative asks, “give us a look.” It may even suit travel photographers.

OK, they killed the screen, but what else?

The Fujifilm X-Pro 3 had a couple of other things that are worth mentioning – starting with the choice of materials.

The use of titanium is something that Fuji has surprised many with. Titanium is more durable and lighter than the alloys seen in most modern cameras. Titanium is also notoriously hard material to work with, so we should applaud Fuji by the use of this in the X-Pro 3.

This means that the XPro 3 should stand up to the beating a working professional will give it.

Not only is it made of titanium, but it gives you three color options. You can get the X-Pro 3 in black, DURA black and DURA silver. DURA is a special type of coating that is ten times stronger than stainless steel in terms of scratch resistance.

It feels like Fuji built this camera for war zones.

Image: Available in 3 different finishes, two of which are designed to make the titanium body even m...

Available in 3 different finishes, two of which are designed to make the titanium body even more resistant to wear and tear.

The X-Pro 3 has Fuji’s hybrid viewfinder system. Fuji has upgraded this for the new model. It is set to be clearer, with a wider field of view and less distortion than previous models. The electronic viewfinder is also upgraded (as you would expect) to offer a higher frame rate, higher contrast, and a wider color space – finally, a set of specs that fit into the traditional camera upgrade.

The lack of a screen is something that differentiates the X-Pro 3 in Fuji’s camera lineup. In fact, this differentiates them from the camera market as a whole right now. Fuji has aimed this camera at a specific type of photographer. It remains to be seen whether there are enough of their market to allow this camera success.

If you want to watch the whole of the XSummit announcement, you can view it below. If you’re just interested in the X-Pro 3, skip to about 1:10 or so.

What are your thoughts on the Fujifilm X-Pro 3? Is it something that you are intrigued by? Or, did Fuji just make one hell of a mistake? Let me know in the comments below.

fujifilm-x-pro-3

The post The Fujifilm X-Pro 3: Marvellous or Mistake? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Carl Spring.


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Travel Photography: Planning & Documenting

Posted on 29 September 2019 by admin

Travel photography is quite different from other photographic endeavors, especially if you plan to make a living from it. Most successful travel photographers are writers as well. Actually in the print world, you can’t separate words from pictures. They complement each other.

norway

photo by Giuseppe Milo

What the picture can’t show, the words explain in greater detail. So it’s no surprise that some travel articles are sometimes from husband and wife teams. That’s the perfect job for couples. Think exotic locations, the love of your life with you and endless adventures together.

My biggest problem with travel photography is that a lot of the imagery you see has been so photographed that they’re the equivalent of visual clichés. What comes to mind when you think of China? Great Wall of China or the Forbidden City in Beijing? Egypt? The Great Pyramids. India… the Taj Mahal. Indonesia…Borobodur. Cambodia…Angkor Wat.

As in most printed media, the pictures tend to be more important than the words. A visually striking image will draw a casual browser of publication into reading an article even if the headline is not well-written. A great selection of pictures of one destination can save a article with mediocre writing. But the same can’t be said if the pictures are of poor quality.

No matter how good and compelling the writing, if the pictures are just mediocre, readers will not be drawn to the story. Poorly composed images, especially ones with lots of technical flaws like low resolution, artifacting and digital noise cannot be rescued. As powerful as Photoshop is, it simply can’t fix or add something that isn’t in a picture.

Even if it can, there is the ethical question of whether you are allowed to. Most magazines have strict guidelines against such manipulation of images, especially in their editorial content. But poorly written articles can be “massaged” and fine-tuned by editors into something quite readable.

Tips for a successful trip:

1. Careful planning and research of your destination

This seems obvious, yet a lot of people don’t consider this when making their plans. Festivities like Oktoberfest in Germany or the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California take place annually at the same time.

And by planning, I don’t just mean planning for the length of time you’re going to be at your destination. If you’re a digital photographer, you’ll need power to charge your batteries and a way to download and clear off your memory cards or you will be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

india travel photo

photo by Patrick Savalle

If you’re headed abroad where electrical power is different from home, you’ll also a voltage converter. I recommend the Kensington 3317 International All-in-one Travel Plug Adapter.

2. Precise note-taking

Whether you use a laptop or pen and paper, having good habits like keeping receipts and other bills incurred during the trip is important.

Even if you’re not writing the article, precise notes on how to get from town A to town B, how much the fare was, and the duration of the drive are all details which add value to your pitch to magazines or collaborative effort with a writer.

Remember, your recall will not be so good once you’re home. Foreign names have a way of sounding the same when you get home, so good note-taking is critical.

thailand beach photography

photo by melenama

Your article will have more credibility if you provide details since a travel article is part “how-to” and part narrative. Another reason for those notes is documentation when you claim the trip as a business expense.

3. Digital SLR with wide and telephoto zoom lens

Think “light.” If you’re lugging around a lot of gear, you’ll be too beat to use your camera. Traveling light doesn’t mean you leave essentials like a healthy supply of extra memory cards, batteries and flash units at home.

If you’re bringing along a laptop, then a way to back up your images is important.

safari photography

photo by Feans

Even if you don’t have a chance to edit your images after you download them to your computer, you should burn those images as a backup and mail them to yourself.

That way if all your gear is stolen, you’ll still have images to show when you get home.

About the Author:
Prior to his arrival in the US, before attending college, Riverside portrait photographer Peter Phun traveled extensively, documenting his travels through photography. He specializes in location portraits, weddings, and editorial work. He writes about photography, Macs & the Internet. He also designs websites and is a stay-at-home dad. Previously, Peter worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California’s 4th largest daily newspaper. He is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire.

Go to full article: Travel Photography: Planning & Documenting

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The post Travel Photography: Planning & Documenting appeared first on PictureCorrect.

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Amazon Great Indian Festival sale 2019: best deals and offers

Posted on 29 September 2019 by admin

Amazon India has kicked off the Great Indian Festival 2019 sale . The sale will showcase new products launches, cashback offers, discount & deals across a wide range of category across the online retail platform.

The Great Indian Festival sale 2019 will go on till midnight October 4 and as always, Amazon India offers early access to the sale for its Prime members. For them, the sale will begin at 12 noon on September 28. That's a 12-hour lead for Prime subscribers!

During the sale, Amazon will offer deals on a variety of selection across different catalogs like smartphones, laptops, cameras, large appliances & TVs, home & kitchen products, fashion, consumables such as grocery & beauty and consumer electronic products.

  • SBI debit and credit cardholders eligible for an instant discount of 10%
  • Amazon will also offer no-cost EMI and exchange offers to make the deals even more enticing.
  • Festive cashback offers worth upto Rs 900 can be collected from the sale page and will be valid for the duration of the sale.

New launches

During the Great Indian Festival sale, buyers will get to get their hands on some of the latest products as part of the new launches. The upcoming OnePlus 7T with 90Hz display will be on sale during this event on Amazon India along with Samsung Galaxy M30s featuring a 6,000mAh battery, Vivo U10 which supports 18W fast charging and Samsung Galaxy M10s with an AMOLED display.

The sale event will also witness the launch of Lenovo thin & light laptops, Polaroid Instant Camera, Playfit fitness trackers, Harman Infinity Bluetooth speaker, OnePlus TV, Xiaomi Mi 50-inch 4K TV and AmazonBasics 23L Microwave, to name a few.

Best deals and offers on smartphones

  • 100+ smartphones at lowest prices ever!
  • Exchange your old phones and get upto ₹6,000 off
  • Extra cashback on select products on Amazon Pay payments

Amazon is offering a 1-year free screen replacement offer as well which will be applicable on certain products.

During the sale, mobile phone cases, covers, screen protectors, cables and chargers will start at Rs 99, power banks available starting at Rs 399 and upto 70% off on Bluetooth headsets.

Best deals and offers on electronics

Amazon India is offering over 6,000 deals on consumer electronic products from 200+ brands. Laptops attract upto 40,000 off and upto 12 months No Cost EMI while DSLR and mirrorless cameras will have a minimum discount of Rs 10,000.

Also, there's upto 60% off on headphones, speakers, monitors and hard drives such as Boat Rockerz 255, JBL Flip 3 Stealth, Bose Solo 5 soundbar and LG 25-inch gaming monitor. Additionally, there's upto 40% off on purchase of home theaters.

As part of the new launches, OnePlus TV with 55-inch 4K screen and 50W eight speakers will be up for grabs during the festival sale. Amazon is also offering upto 50% off on smart TVs from brands like Samsung and Xiaomi.

Best deals and offers on Amazon Echo, Fire TV and Kindle

If you're looking to grab Amazon Echo device, Fire TV stick or Kindle e-book reader during the sale, Amazon is offering upto 45% off on these products.

While the retailer hasn't revealed all the offers, there is a flat discount of Rs 1,200 on Fire TV stick, Rs 2,000 off on Fire TV stick 4K, 35% off on Echo Show 5 and Rs 2,750 off on Kindle Paperwhite.

Some of the combo deals include Echo Dot with a free smart Bulb, Fire TV with Echo Dot and a smart Bulb, Echo Show 5 with Xiaomi Mi LED bulb, among others.


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Errol Spence Jr vs Shawn Porter live stream: how to watch tonight’s boxing online from anywhere

Posted on 29 September 2019 by admin

Boxing's welterweight division is something of a mess right now, with four different champions currently holding titles. 

But all that's about to change with a run of unification battles, the first of which is tonight with IBF champion Errol Spence Jr and WBC belt holder Shawn Porter set to go head-to-head (Manny Pacquiao (WBA) and Terence Crawford (WBO) are strongly rumoured to be locking horns early next year).

Which fighter will take a major step to being crowned the best in what is currently one of boxing’s most intriguing divisions? With our handy guide below, we'll tell you how simple it is to get a Spence Jr vs Porter live stream no matter where you are in the world.

Younger and more highly regarded, with a 25-0, 21 KO record, Spence fights for the first time since March when he retained his IBF title in dominant style during a 12 round shutout of the previously unbeaten Mikey Garcia.

Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs), is more of a brawler who is at his best when trading blows at close range. He'll be defending his prized WBC title which he won from Danny Garcia last year. While that fight rejuvenated Porter's career, he'll need to be at his absolute best to pull off a shock against his much respected Texan opponent tonight. 

To catch everything online, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out how to stream Spence Jr vs Porter live anywhere in the world.

  • Motor racing fan? Find out how to get an F1 live stream no matter where you are

Watch a Spence vs Porter live stream from anywhere in the world

Keep scrolling to see how to watch the boxing in the US and UK. But if you're a resident of one of those countries – or any other, for that matter – who is worried about being away from your country and missing your domestic coverage of the Spence Jr vs Porter fight, then fear not, there's a way to watch that doesn't involve trying to find a grainy, illegal feed.

How to stream Errol Spence Jr vs Shawn Porter live in the US

How to watch Garcia vs Spence Jr for FREE in the UK


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Westcott Introduces the Powerful, Yet Affordable FJ400 Strobe and FJ-X2m Trigger

Posted on 28 September 2019 by admin


 
From Westcott:
 
The FJ400 is the first portable 400Ws AC/DC strobe with less than 1 second recycle time at full power and 480+ full-power flashes per charge. The powerful FJ-X2m Universal Wireless Trigger is equipped with multi-brand technology that pairs with virtually any camera brand to maximize the FJ400’s full potential. With a large display and user-friendly menu, controlling TTL and HSS has never been easier.
 
Product Features
 

  • Universal Camera Brand Trigger
  • TTL, High Speed Sync, Freeze Sync, and More
  • Unrivaled Battery Performance
  • Consistent Color Temperature
  • Optimized for Light Modifiers

B&H carries the Westcott FJ400 and FJ-X2m Trigger.

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A Photography Shootout: the iPhone 11 Pro vs the Canon 5D Mark IV

Posted on 28 September 2019 by admin

The post A Photography Shootout: the iPhone 11 Pro vs the Canon 5D Mark IV appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

The iPhone 11 Pro has just been released, with a triple-camera setup (including a telephoto lens, a wide-angle lens, and an ultra-wide lens), a new Night Mode, and an upgraded front-facing camera.

A Photography Shootout: the iPhone 11 Pro vs the Canon 5D Mark IV

But despite all the new bells and whistles, iPhone image quality continues to lag far behind that of full-frame DSLRs and mirrorless bodies. And professional photographers simply don’t find iPhone photos up to their standards.

Right?

That’s what wedding photographers, Lauren and Jamie Eichar set out to test. They did a photoshoot with their new iPhone 11 Pro and their top-of-the-line Canon 5D Mark IV, then compared the images.

And the results are surprising.

In fact, this is relevant to anyone wondering about the future of smartphone photography.

So I suggest you watch the video to see the images, side by side. As you look at the images, see if you can tell the difference. Ask yourself:

  • How would I feel about my images if I were only shooting with an iPhone 11 Pro?
  • How would I feel if I had my wedding photographed by an iPhone 11 Pro?

I’ll admit:

I’ve never been a fan of iPhone image quality. Low light performance is, frankly, terrible, and even the noise levels in good light leave a lot to be desired. Plus, the tiny sensor makes good bokeh practically impossible to achieve, and Apple’s attempt to rectify that (Portrait mode) is frustrating and unpredictable.

That said, these photos left me pleasantly surprised.

For one thing, Apple seems to have given Portrait mode a significant upgrade. Portrait mode on the iPhone XS frequently failed to find the edges of the main subject, which resulted in strange spots of blur and other image inconsistencies. But in the hands of these professional wedding photographers, the iPhone 11 Plus Portrait mode performs well. Certainly better than on the iPhone XS – though you’ll notice that zooming in on the Portrait mode shots does reveal frequent problems along the subject’s edges.

Also, the Portrait mode blur looks more authentic. While the bokeh produced by the Canon 5D Mark IV setup is clearly superior, the iPhone blur isn’t as far behind as it once was.

As for noise and sharpness, I don’t notice any issues when viewing the photos at a normal viewing size. But viewing the images large (which can be done here) shows significant noise and lack of clarity in all of the iPhone images. While this might not seem like a problem when posting small files on the internet, it becomes more serious if you decide to print your photos, especially if you’re looking to print large.

Also, note that Lauren and Jamie tested the iPhone in good light. My guess is that noise levels would increase significantly if doing photography indoors.

So again, ask yourself the questions I posed earlier. How would you feel about your images if you were only shooting with an iPhone 11 Pro? How would you feel about the results if you had your wedding photographed by an iPhone 11 Pro?

And share your response in the comments!

The post A Photography Shootout: the iPhone 11 Pro vs the Canon 5D Mark IV appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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The augmented reality app for the 2019 Range Rover is helpful for any new driver

Posted on 28 September 2019 by admin

Forget the new car smell we all know about. When you first buy any new car, there’s a much more memorable experience for the driver: learning the new car interface.

As a journalist these past 18 years, and a car reviewer the last seven, I can attest to the slight feeling of confusion when you first slip behind the wheel of any new car. You have to learn how to adjust the seat and mirrors, find the radio controls, and then start exploring all of the 'extra' features like how to set the follow distance for adaptive cruise control.

For me, it’s not difficult – every major brand works roughly the same. A Chevy Blazer has similar controls and options to the Chevy Equinox. The radio works roughly the same in every new BMW, and all Ford cars and trucks use a similar navigation.

However, with much more advanced cars with unusual and innovative tech features, it can take some more time. Fortunately, when I started testing the new 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR, I used an app called Land Rover iGuide that helped tremendously.

Minimizing confusion

Now, before I explain how the tech works, you should know that this is not a matter of intelligence or comfort in learning technology. Without doing a deep dive on the brain science involved, it’s really more about how we adjust to new situations. Our brains tend to go into overload when something is brand new.

This is the opposite of a more automated mode our brains use when we actually drive cars – we don’t have to think about where to find the brake pedal. With a new car, for the first week at least, our brains have to work overtime.

The Land Rover iGuide app is designed to minimize the confusion. It uses a form of augmented reality (I will explain that in a moment) where you move your phone around inside the car. If you point the phone over to the side door, the buttons there will illuminate. If you point up to the sun-roof controls, you’ll see highlights on those buttons. Click any of these highlights, and you can then see that portion of the manual with a simple click.

I loved learning about the car this way. I didn’t have to drag out the manual and find page 242 section eight. If I was interested in the touch controls on the steering wheel, I point the app there and then read up on how they work. (Side note: these buttons turn off completely and the touch interface goes to total black, which I’ve never seen before on other cars.)

Find your way around

Now, one interesting discovery (no pun intended Land Rover fans) is that the app doesn’t actually use augmented reality, and maybe that’s OK. You can download and use the app even if you don’t own a Range Rover SVR, and even if you aren't sitting inside one. When you're behind the wheel, you click a centering button in the app with the phone pointed directly ahead. This means the app doesn’t really use your camera or augment reality.

It does, however, work really well. I found that I could still point the phone in the direction I wanted and click the buttons to learn more. It’s smart of Land Rover to do this because you can learn about features anywhere, and then if you are about to drive, it makes it easier. Again, your brain will do the mapping for you when you move the phone, even if it is all a bit fake.

For future cars, this is good news. Augmented reality will most definitely be part of future tech advancements, showing where to drive on the road (or where the robotic car will drive while we play chess). It’s one of those features that will be indispensable as future cars become more and more advanced, and as cars do more and more of the driving for us,

On The Road is TechRadar's regular look at the futuristic tech in today's hottest cars. John Brandon, a journalist who's been writing about cars for 12 years, puts a new car and its cutting-edge tech through the paces every week. One goal: To find out which new technologies will lead us to fully self-driving cars.


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