Sony Announces the Highly Anticipated FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lightweight Portrait Lens

Hi Guys, 

A Next-Generation 85mm Full-Frame E-Mount Lens Brings High-Resolution and Stunning Bokeh with Fast Autofocus Ideal for Portrait Photography and Cinematic Video

Sony announces the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (SEL85F14GM2) a premium lens offering a supreme blend of high resolution and stunning bokeh with fast autofocus (AF) in a compact body. This is a second-generation lens that inherits the optical design that achieved a high-level fusion of bokeh and resolution that was highly praised in the first-generation model and generously incorporates the latest technology. When paired with the latest Sony’s Alpha™ series cameras, it is an ideal option for a wide variety of creative uses in both photography and videography, including portraiture, wedding, travel, and cinematic video.

High Optical Performance & Beautiful Bokeh

The advanced and refined optical design and elements of the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II bring together appealing bokeh and enhanced high resolution, making it ideal for portrait photography.

Packed with two XA (extreme aspherical) and two ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses, the state-of-the-art optical design effectively suppresses aberrations. This combination offers corner-to-corner resolution and rendering, resulting in outstanding image quality. Moreover, Sony’s original Nano AR Coating II technology effectively subdues flare and ghosting for clear, crisp images. The 11-blade circular aperture and optimisation of spherical aberration during the design and manufacturing process provide the beautiful, soft bokeh that is the hallmark of the G Master series.

Fast, Precise, Quiet Autofocus and High Tracking Performance

The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II’s AF is agile, maximising the speed advantage of advanced camera bodies. For stills, it is up to 3 times faster[i] compared to the previous model[ii], tracking moving subjects with high precision. It keeps up flawlessly with the Alpha 9 III’s 120fps[iii] continuous shooting, and subject tracking performance is improved by as much as 7 times.

Lightweight and Stylish Design without Compromises

Compared to the current 85mm F1.4 GM1, the weight of the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II (642 grams, 22.7 oz.) is approximately 20% lighter[iv] and 13% smaller in volume, which is achieved through the latest mechanical technology and optical design. The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has a filter diameter of φ77 mm, a diameter of 84.7 mm (about 3-3/8 in) and a length of 107.3 mm (about 4-1/4 in).

Effective Cinematic Creation Features

For smooth movie creation at F1.4, the FE 85mm F1.4 GM II has an XD linear motor. Focus breathing is minimal, and in-body focus breathing compensation[v] is supported. It has two customisable focus hold buttons and an AF/MF switch offers flexible operability, while an independent aperture ring and Linear Response MF focus control provide the kind of intuitive control that creative shooting demands.

Crafted for Durability

The front lens element features a fluorine coating, which makes it easy to remove fingerprints, dust, oil, and other contaminants from the lens surface. The dust and moisture-resistant design[vi] provides extra reliability for outdoor use in challenging conditions.

Availability

The FE 85mm F1.4 GM II will be available in South Africa starting September 2024.

A product video on the new FE 85mm F1.4 GM II can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/-TiFpUYVCHg

For detailed product information about FE 85mm F1.4 GM II, please visit: https://www.sony.com/za/electronics/interchangeable-lenses/sel85f14gm2

[i] When used on the Alpha 1. Sony tests.

[ii] Compared to FE 85MM F1.4 GM.

[iii] Maximum continuous shooting speed may be lower in some conditions. Continuous shooting speed may vary depending on the lens used in the AF-C focus mode. Refer to Sony's lens compatibility support page for details.

[iv] Compared to the FE 85MM F1.4 GM. Sony tests.

[v] Please refer to support page; https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/cscs/function/compatibility.php?area=jp&lang=en&cs_ref=slct_lang&fnc=1001

[vi] Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof.

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NEW @HuaweiZA #HuaweiNovaY60 and #HuaweiNova8 Now Available from @TelkomZA

Hi Friends, 

The new Huawei Nova Y60 and Nova 8 are part of the new Nova series and this September Telkom is championing Monate and connecting you to these new devices as of 1 September 2021. Telkom’s online channel and physical stores across the country will be showering customers with exemplary service and compelling products with a fresh burst of innovation, as well as devices with features that appeal to all types of users.

These two beautiful-looking devices from the nova series will impress you with their top-of-the-line camera specs and larger-than-life batteries. Qualifying customers for the deal include new and existing Telkom Mobile and Business subscribers as well as Prepaid and Post-paid subscribers.

The Huawei Nova Y60 lets you capture every aspect of life with its 13MP triple AI camera that allows users to capture clearer photos with ease. The new Nova Y60 gives users an immersive multimedia experience with its 6.6-inch Huawei Full View display and its huge 5000mAh battery. The device uses a smart AI power-saving algorithm that ensures that it lasts for at least three days without being powered up.

The Huawei Nova 8 has four cameras, the 64MP HD main camera, a 120° ultra-wide-angle AI camera, a Bokeh (depth-of-field) camera and a macro camera with a super-short shooting distance of just 4cm. It features the Kirin 820E chip, along with 8GB of RAM, and a 3,800 mAh battery. The nova 8 features a superb re-designed aesthetic, fresh look, bold design and is built for a generation that is always on the go.

The Huawei Nova Y60 is bundled with a Huawei Bluetooth Headset and the Huawei Nova 8 is bundled with a Freebuds 4i, while stocks last. These smartphones come with a two-year warranty. Deals on the Nova Y60 start from R239,00 on FreeMe 1.5GB x24 months and Deals on the Nova 8 start from R549,00 on FreeMe 1.5GB x24 months.

For complete pricing and availability details, please visit www.telkom.co.za.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

Flawless AI #Photography and #Videography with The #HUAWEInova5T @HuaweiZA

Hi Friends, 

At the core of Huawei, products are a focus on innovative technology, and the latest HUAWEI nova 5T smartphone is no different. The HUAWEI nova 5T challenges what’s possible with mobile phone cameras, and incorporates a quad camera array on the rear comprising a 48MP HD lens, 16MP wide-angle lens, 2MP macro lens, 2MP bokeh lens, and 32 MP selfie Superstar lens. These, together with the device’s AI technology and advanced beautification algorithms, ensure that consumers get the best images and videos every time. This smartphone also comes pre-installed with all Google apps and the Google Play Store.

Powerful quad-camera configuration for all shooting scenarios

Following the trend of flagship Huawei devices, the HUAWEI nova 5T hosts four cameras on the rear, supporting high-definition, ultra-wide-angle, macro, and depth-of-field photography. This configuration enables the HUAWEI nova 5T to capture rich, clear images within a single shot in all scenarios, ranging from vast landscapes to close-ups.

The embedded technology combines powerful AI- fuelled image semantic segmentation and partition optimization technology via the device’s 48MP HD lens, 16MP wide-angle lens, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP bokeh lens. The combination presents crystal-clear details in the image and balances the exposure under all lighting conditions. This results in the prevention of under- or over-exposure and offers an array of shooting modes for capturing colorful and high-resolution images anywhere, anytime.

Landscape shooting has never been easier with the HUAWEI nova 5T, as it features an f/2.2 17mm ultra-wide angle lens, allowing even the most vast cityscapes or landscapes to easily fit within the frame. Ever wanted to shoot amazing close ups? The HUAWEI nova 5T allows for images to be taken as close as 4 cm away. The smartphone’s bokeh lens, software algorithms, and advanced Kirin chipset also allow for seamless bokeh shooting, ensuring the subject of the picture stands out without the distraction of a busy background.

More realistic AI beautification with the 32MP front-facing selfie camera

Early adaptations of beautification algorithm technology resulted in every image being treated with the same adjustments, often resulting in the image appearing obviously fake, or applying an extremely pale skin tone to the subject. The current AI beautification algorithms on the HUAWEI nova 5T, however, contour a specific face shape based on individual features. By operating with the Kirin 980 chipset’s dual NPUs, the AI system is able to tailor the beautification influence on the image, avoiding a caked-on appearance and accentuating the user’s own personal beauty and characteristics.

Another drawback of many smartphone cameras is that the contrast between the brightest and darkest areas can prove difficult for even a professional SLR camera to capture effectively. However, with the HUAWEI nova 5T, multi-frame synthesis is deployed for backlit scenes that snap a number of images in one shot. The system then merges the best parts of each shot to form one final photo, in which the dynamic range is effectively widened, and image contrast, sharpness, and quality are substantially enhanced. This ensures images with ultra-clarity definition and unmatched sharpness and detail, down to even the finest of hair strands.

Advanced AI settings for spectacular videos

The HUAWEI nova 5T’s AI-powered cameras also lay the groundwork for optimal video shooting effectiveness, with settings such as AI Image Stabilisation (AIS), Auto Exposure Lock (AEL), and Auto Focus Lock (AFL) technologies working together. This device also comes equipped with an automatic video editing feature that is ideal for novices and brings simplicity to the video editing process. The camera has the ability to automatically recognize recurring subjects in videos, thus saving the user the hassle of sorting through clips, by creating edited subject-based videos.

AI also assists in applying auto-beautification for the subjects in video clips. Developing this technology required substantial trial and error, including testing on approximately 60,000 models before the beautification effects were fine-tuned. Over the course of this tireless process, Huawei developers took into account factors such as brightness contrast, inactive blur, saturation, as well as advanced photography composition principles.

Lastly, the HUAWEI nova 5T’s Kirin 980 chipset is equipped with dual NPU computing, resulting in the ability to cipher advanced algorithms. This AI-powered colour results in the camera capturing and keeping the colour of a subject in a video, all while applying a greyscale background to the image, and thus giving it the appearance of leaping off the screen.

The HUAWEI nova 5T comes in two creative colour schemes – Crush Blue and Midsummer Purple. The smartphone is available on contract from the following service providers:

• Vodacom - R599 Smart XS+ Plan
• MTN - R599 MFMXS Plan
• Telkom - R599 FREEME 1GB Plan
• CELL C - R619 Pinnacle 2G Plan

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra! 

TOP 10 @BOKEHfff Emerging Creative Talent Finalists Announced #bokehfff #bokehfff2019

Hi Friends, 

The top 10 Bokeh Emerging Creative Talent finalists have announced at the glamorous “Bokeh on Tour” events in Johannesburg and Durban on the 10 and 13 April 2019 respectively.

Over 40 film entries were received from aspirant South African film creatives under the theme “The City Superhero”. The top 10 will go on to compete for the grand prize of R50 000 which will be announced at the sixth edition of the prestigious Bokeh South African International Lifestyle and Fashion Film Festival later this year.

Johannesburg Event

The Johannesburg event took place at The Melrose Gallery in Melrose Arch against the backdrop of the current exhibition; “Out of the Furnace” by Willie Bester and Wolf Werdigier. Also on display was the stunning new Mercedes-Benz CLS 53 Copper Edition and a live shoot of body art painted models by photographer Steve Casting in partnership with Fujifilm. Fujifilm was on hand to loan guests Fuji’s new XT3 Camera systems to shoot with during the evening.

One-man-band-maverick Lonesome Dave Ferguson entertained guests while Segafredo kept those in attendance well fed with a delectable spread of Italian antipasto and gelato. The night also saw the launch of Savanna’s new alcohol-free variant.

The Best Dressed Male and Female were awarded to Peta Eggierth-Symes and Jarred Doyle. Peta’s prize included flights and accommodation to the week-long Bokeh Festival in Cape Town in July, as well as the use of a new Mercedes-Benz model vehicle for the duration of the stay.

Nthabeleng Phora from the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) announced the five Gauteng finalists and spoke about the GFC partnership going forward with Bokeh.

This year Bokeh also welcomes additional partners; Fitch and Leeds, Skyy Vodka and Pongracz as well as new hair partner Sebastian Professional Hair Products.

Durban Event

The second “Bokeh on Tour” event took place took place at the IBV International Bank Vaults at the Gateway Shopping Centre in Umhlanga. The fountain in the courtyard in front of IBV was transformed into a magical fantasy, as dry ice was added to it and models dressed in Jacques LaGrange Couture gowns were on display within it.

Eight Mercedes-Benz vehicles, ranging from the S600 to the new A-Class, were on display. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class taking pride of place, as it recently won the Autotrader South African Car of the Year award for 2019. The last remaining classic 1938 Roadster was also on display.

As in Joburg a live photo shoot by photographer Steve Casting entertained attendees, this time on top of the brand new Mercedes-Benz CLS 53 Copper Edition and featuring the artistry of make-up artist Dani O’Kane.

Amongst the star-studded celebrities in attendance were; ZEE TV Empress India South Africa 2018, lifestyle blogger/vlogger Ruan Scheepers and Bachelor SA contestant; Michelle Reddy. 

The Best Dressed Male and Female were awarded to Genna-Wae Webster, from fashion label Wae West, and Lunga Magigaba. Both the Joburg and Durban Best Dressed won hampers including Havaianas, MAC and Sebastian Professional products. Genna-Wae Webster’s prize also included flights, accommodation, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle for the week, and tickets to the upcoming Bokeh South African International Lifestyle and Fashion Film Festival in July.

Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa, Selvin Govender welcomed the audience while introducing the fleet of vehicles, where after Lazola Dali, the activations manager for Savanna, presented the new variant of Alcohol-Free Savanna as well as Savanna Light to the festive crowd.

Top 10 Bokeh Emerging Creative Talent finalists:

1 - Born to be a Hero

2 - Blackswitch

3 - Myota

4 - Culture is the Real Hero

5 - Beyond Conventions

6 - Children of the Ascended Masters

7 - Boys have Feelings Too

8 - Gcwala

9 - She did that

10 - Skabenjamin

Over 400 general fashion film submissions have been submitted so far and entries can still be submitted for free till the 1 June 2019 via https://www.bokehfestival.co.za/submit/.

The Bokeh South African International Lifestyle and Fashion Film Festival Gala event will take place from 9-18 July 2019 in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Judges, talk line-ups, presentations, and locations will be announced at a press event on 6 June 2019 in Cape Town.

Social media:

Facebook: @bokehfff (https://www.facebook.com/bokehfff/)

Twitter: @bokehfff (https://twitter.com/bokehfff?lang=en)

Instagram: @bokehfff ( https://www.instagram.com/bokehfff/?hl=en )

Hashtags: #bokehfff #bokehfff2019

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Apr 2015 www.thelifesway.com

Hi Guys,

April is the first month of the new financial year in India and you have redefine all your Income Tax related documentations along with several new tax saving schemes that you make. The implementation of those schemes is the main agenda for the rest of the year. But last year, my agenda was not tax-saving but was waiting for the Samsung's #MissionSamsung Final challenge to begin. 

1. Product Review - @AramexSA Global Shopper - Part 1 - http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/product-review-aramex-global-shopper.html - Last year I got to try this amazing services to shop for online products around the world and then got it couriered back to you in South Africa. The amazing part is that in each of the serviced countries, you will have a local address and can get it shipped there for free from the online companies and then Aramex will collect the whole products and bring it here. Checkout the second part of the series also - http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/05/product-review-aramex-global-shopper.html

2. MERCEDES-BENZ #BOKEH Fashion Film Festival, Cape Town - http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/mercedes-benz-bokeh-fashion-film.html - Mercedes Benz Fashion Film Festival always launches in April firstly in Cape Town and around 1-2 months later in Johannesburg. I am thankful to brands to always invite me to the launch event in Johannesburg and I got to click some amazing photographs which I generally share on my instagram channel. 

3. Last year, for the first time on my blog I tried regular posts on my blog with scheduling content for the whole week and it really saw some increase in the pageviews. The content was mainly for Disney movies as Avengers - Age of Ultron was scheduled to release in South Africa - 

#StarWars - Everywhere the Force will be with you! - http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-everywhere-force-will-be-with.html

#AvengersJozi #Smile #Joburg - Hollywood came looking! - http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/avengersjozi-smile-joburg-hollywood.html

#StarWars I - The Phantom Menace - Facts #DisneyAfrica

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-i-phantom-menace-facts.html

#StarWars II - Attack Of The Clones - Facts #DisneyAfrica http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-ii-attack-of-clones-facts.html

#StarWars III - Revenge of the Sith - Facts #DisneyAfrica

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-iii-revenge-of-sith-facts.html

#StarWars IV - A New Hope - Facts #DisneyAfrica

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-iv-new-hope-facts-disneyafrica.html

#StarWars V - The Empire Strikes Back - Facts #DisneyAfrica

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-v-empire-strikes-back-facts.html

#StarWars VI - Return of the Jedi - Facts #DisneyAfrica

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/starwars-vi-return-of-jedi-facts.html

4. Mad Stuff with Rob - Youtube Channel - My daughter used to watch and love Rob tricks to change stuff lying around home into something useful and that can be decorated at home. So when he launched the Youtube channel, I was instantly glued to the amazing content he shared online around the world. I have subscribed to Mad Stuff with Rob Channel on Youtube and try to do the activities he shows with my daughter and family from time to time. 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/madmadrob-robcycling-tips-for-earthday.html

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/scare-your-friends-with-pranks-from.html

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/mrx-does-mad-stuff-with-rob-crafts.html

http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/05/its-hulk-time-on-robosphere-madmadrob.html

5. @TanishqJewelry - The Modern Sindoor is for Grooms too! - http://www.thelifesway.com/2015/04/tanishqjewelry-modern-sindoor-is-for.html - I tried out a new bloggers community and got to write a sponsored post for one brand which took a lot of time to confirm on my post. It was a bad service on the community platform so I changed my post for a free publicity for Tanishq which doesn't required any but atleast I was happy that I used my written content.

My blog started to pick up in pageviews due to the regular posts and saw record #15926 pageviews for the first time ever which was subsequently broken next month. 

Cheers!!!

Book me for your Brand's Influence at https://webfluential.com/TheLifesWay

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 

Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!

Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page 

Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in

Like The Life's Way Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay

Get Snap Happy #HTCOneLifeSA #Android Smartphone Apps

Hi Guys,

Photography is something that you can always learn at whatever age group you are and now with capable smartphones which are even better than point and shoot cameras you can take it further. Learning from the best of the trade is always a great option and various social media channels enables us to always keep on the lookout for who is the best in the industry. Tegan Smith (Tegan Smith Photography) is a professional fashion photographer and blogger from Cape Town, who enjoys taking pictures with her HTC smartphone. Here are a few apps and functions that she recommends will help you to shoot and edit smartphone photos that can compete with professional pictures.

1. VSCO Cam

This app is the premier way to shoot, edit, and share your photographs. Use it to crop, sharpen and straighten pics or to set exposure, temperature and contrast to your liking. Download VSCO Cam

2. Snapseed

Snapseed is an easy-to-use app that lets your fine-tune aspects of your image such as the warmth, saturation, shadows and highlights. One cool feature is that it allows you to touch up only a selected part of the photo. Download Snapseed

3. Layout from Instagram: Collage

Create one-of-a-kind layouts by remixing your own photos and sharing them with your friends, with the Layout app. You can choose photos from your gallery and instantly see them laid out in a cool collage. Pick the layout you like best and edit it to make it your own. Download Layout

4. Instagram

Perhaps the most popular smartphone imaging app in the world, and with good reason – Not only is its selection of filters fantastic, but Instagram also has a wonderful community that you can share your images with and where you can some truly impressive work from fellow photography enthusiasts. Download Instagram

5. Bokeh

Cameras on selected HTC devices - such as the HTC One M9 - include an awesome bokeh feature. Bokeh is the lovely blurred effect produced by the way a camera lens renders out-of-focus points of light. It’s a cool aesthetic feature that can make your photos look like they were shot by a pro. I have not tried this one but will definitely as soon as I lay my hands on the latest smartphone M9 from HTC. 

6. Split Capture mode

Use the Split Capture mode on the HTC One M9 to capture a selfie and the scenery in front of you as photos or videos. You can use the main and front cameras to capture both photos and videos at the same time, or you can take them separately. This is an awesome feature to capture both sides of a street.

Do join the photography community by sharing your pictures and learn from the best in the trade.

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway
Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!
Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page
Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in
Like The Life's Way Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay

@MercedesBenz_SA #BOKEH Fashion Film Festival - Johannesburg

Hi Guys, 

After a breath-taking event held in Cape Town earlier this year, the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh Fashion Film Festival arrived in Johannesburg for a one night only extravaganza at the Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle Centre in Bedfordview. The location was awesome as it was a AMG special dealers showroom and really loved all the latest models of cars on display. 

Invited guests braved the onset of winter and freezing temperatures to dress in their fashionable best and join celebrities, VIP’s, local and international film-makers for a sensory interactive brand experience. Each guest was chauffeur driven in the latest Mercedes-Benz models and entered an Oscar style red carpet flanked by a host of local and international media jostling for the perfect shot and interview opportunity.

The venue was transformed into a light and sound extravaganza with winning films from the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh Fashion Film Festival presented on large format UHD Hisense screens. Selvin Govender, Marketing Director of Mercedes-Benz cars commented, “This is the second year in a row that we are title sponsors for this event and we are even more excited about the overall success of our brand alignment and collaboration with Adrian, his team and the fashion film genre. Fashion Films are relevant, powerful and stylish and this is exactly why we feel that this event is the perfect platform for our brand, as it definitely showcases the stylishness and elegance of our Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Naturally, we were first to embark on this alignment and as a result, the Mercedes-Benz brand in other countries are now looking to follow.”

Aidan Whytock, winner of The Mercedes-Benz Award along with the US$ 10000 prize money, thanked founder Adrian Lazarus and Mercedes-Benz for their commitment and support, and mentioned that the competition had allowed him to showcase his winning film internationally, opening doors and opportunities for himself and other entrants. His movie was simply awesome and moved the other passionate photographer to learn some of the video photography and participate next year in this contest.

The Cape Town Fashion Council were joined on the evening by some of South Africa’s top designers including Spero Villioti, Hendrik Vermeulen, and Gert-Johan Coetzee. The ever stunning MC Bailey Schneider donned an exquisite Spero Villioti Couture dress to welcome the guests and introduce proceedings. Catherine Timotei also grabbed the attention by exhibiting several original art masterpieces and Mercedes-Benz had guests drooling at an interesting showcase of their latest and greatest cars.

What started off as a dream for founder and MD, Adrian Lazarus, is now a reality. “We’re just getting bigger and better every year, and once again Johannesburg didn’t disappoint. Guests ventured out in freezing conditions tonight to join us and experience the incredible talent that this year’s Fashion Film Festival offered, and we are all delighted for the support as well as our amazing sponsors,” said Adrian. It was really freezing as the weather Gods decided to start winters on that very first evening but the warm food and drinks kept us sane. 

Sponsors of the event included: Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Hisense, Cape Town Fashion Council, Fashion-One TV, MAC cosmetics, Luxury Brands, GHD Hair care, Sunglass Hut, Monkey Shoulder, Tranquini and African Pride Hotels. Tranquini was a nice non-alcoholic drink which is catching a lot of attention and I really loved drinking the same. 

The goodies bag has awesome Mercedes Benz 8gb pendrive, Mercedes Benz Keyring along with Sunglass Hut Gift vouchers and the very first issue of BOKEH magazine which was launched recently. Overall, it was a great event with lot of great Mercedes-Benz cars, selfie stick models and live performances by entertainment singers as some models of the cars make their way into the event area. 

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway
Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!
Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page
Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in
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MERCEDES-BENZ #BOKEH Fashion Film Festival, Cape Town

Hi Guys,

Elevated 2 stories up on a glittering stage overlooking a thronging crowd of over 500 Celebrities, VIP’s and Fashionistas, South African filmmaker Aidan Whytock proudly held aloft the Mercedes-Benz trophy for ‘The Choice’ as well as a cheque for US$ 10 000. It was a biggest moment of fame for him and he was elated to hear his name pronounced amongst all the valid entries for this contest.

Adrian Lazarus with actress Tarina Patel

This iconic moment was the culmination of the second annual Mercedes-Benz Bokeh South Africa International Fashion Film Festival held at the stylish 15 on Orange Hotel in the Cape Town CBD. The 2 day fashion and film extravaganza, founded and owned by film-maker Adrian Lazarus provided a focused platform for both local and international up and coming talent to showcase their fashion films and design in conjunction with pop-up retail outlets and focused industry talks. The event attracted the very best in South African fashion talent with greats such as Hendrik Vermeulen, Adriaan Kuiters and Jenevieve Lyons to name a few and each design house showcasing unique collections while some also featured fashion forward installations.

Mercedes-Benz, headline sponsor of the event holds an established international alignment with the fashion industry as a central component of their lifestyle marketing activities, and Selvin Govender, Marketing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars affirmed their commitment, “We are extremely pleased with the overwhelming success of the second Mercedes-Benz Bokeh International South African Fashion Festival. Being the title sponsor of this exciting event has created a unique interactive sensory platform for us to share our brand values and simultaneously offer the South African fashion and film industry the international recognition that they so richly deserve."

Following on from the success of the first event in 2014, the festival has again attracted the commitment of the Cape Town Fashion Council with CEO Brian Ramkilawan affirming, “The Mercedes-Benz Bokeh International South African Fashion Film Festival is now an established annual event that showcases our immense local fashion talent to the world and is contributing towards developing the fashion industry in this country.” The event also attracted other premier brands including global make-up company M.A.C cosmetics, ghd stylists, Fox Box, global TV channel Fashion One TV, electronics manufacturing giant Hisense, RGBC, African Pride 15 on Orange and Protea Hotels Fire and Ice, Sunglasses Hut, Platinum Groups labels Jenni Button by Warrick Gautier and their men’s label Hilton Weiner.

Each day-event culminated with a high glamour ‘Oscar-style’ Red Carpet evening, with invited guests inspired to dress for the occasion and clearly showing that there is overwhelming support for high fashion and the fashion and film industry in Cape Town.

The sold out ensemble of celebrities, VIP’s, Movie producers, Media, Fashionistas and invited guests were calmly introduced to a daunting red carpet walk by glamorous host Bailey Schneider, whereafter local and international media took over and jostled for position to gain the ultimate image and interview. The Jonny Cooper Big Band accompanied the arrival, and played throughput the night interspersed with the musical genius of renowned international pianist, Joja Wendt accompanied by floating food, designer canapés and sparkling aperitifs.

Elihle Mnguni, Specialist Communications Manager for Mercedes-Benz cars and Leon Visser with the winner filmmaker Aidan Whytock

Natalie Becker was the charming MC on the evening, introducing each film as well as the respective producers. All the films submitted for the festival were assessed by a panel of esteemed local and international judges, with 52 finalists nominated across various categories with their films showcased over the two nights of screenings during the festival.

Winners on the night included:

Best Actress – Purgatory of Monotony - Sonja Kinski
Best Actor – 206 with David Oyelowo - Contentmode x J. Cooper
Best Hair and Make-Up - Perfidia - Raul Rosillo
Best Fashion – Etro - The Encounter - Valentina BeÃ
Best Art Direction – Risky Dancing - Kuba Lubniewski
Best Music and Sound: Love ZA Buy ZA - The good Dress - Shoestring productions
Best Cinematography – The Legend of Shalimar
Best Director – The Legend of Shalimar - Bruno Aveillan
Best Picture – Kiss of a Siren - Viktorija Pashuta & Miguel Guthier
Mercedes-Benz Award - The Choice - Aidan Whytock

The Mercedes-Benz Award and US$ 10 000 was awarded to Aidan Whytock. The award is presented in recognition of an uncompromising pursuit of quality, passionate design and creative innovation.

In conclusion, event director Adrian Lazarus said, “I am so grateful to our sponsors and partners for investing in our dream and our events team in making it a reality. Only in its second year now, the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh International Fashion Film Festival now comfortably shares the stage with global film festivals the likes of New York, London, Berlin, Madrid and La Jolla. It also proudly positions Cape Town as the creative fashion hub of sub-Saharan Africa.“

I am waiting for the 4th of June this year, when this event will showcase in Johannesburg. Looking forward to watch all the the nominated fashion movies and the winners thereafter.

Cheers!!!

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Mercedes-Benz BOKEH Fashion Film Festival - Cape Town, South Africa

Hi Guys,

The Fashion Film is the hottest new marketing genre pioneered by fashion icons such as Carl Lagerfeld, Bruce Webber and David Simms. It is fast gaining traction with top fashion houses, brand and sponsors as a way of exposing their brand and new ranges to a global audience while encouraging the viewer to engage with the DNA behind the fashion label.

Founder of Africa’s Bokeh Fashion Film Festival, Adrian Lazarus has made his initial dream a reality. His first festival which was held in Cape Town last year proved to be a resounding success resulting in international acclaim and a massive submission of new entrants eager to gain access to this dynamic showcasing platform. The audience connects with the film on an emotional level, giving personal relevance to the brand and deepening the level of engagement, and it is for this reason that Mercedes-Benz has again aligned itself with the event.

“Mercedes-Benz lays great importance on the support of local and international fashion platforms and the promotion of young designers. We support various initiatives in the fashion world and we are always looking forward to seeing the latest collections from all the exciting young and established designers showing at our Fashion Weeks. As our involvement with fashion is a central component of our lifestyle marketing activities, the Mercedes-Benz brand partnership with the Bokeh Fashion Film Festival plays an important role in highlighting our presence in the world of fashion and film. Fashion and automobiles are actually quite closely linked and design and image are pivotal to the success of both automobile and fashion brands.  Our customers are highly fashionable and their automobiles are an extension of their lifestyle,” says Selvin Govender, Marketing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars.

As the creative hub of sub Saharan Africa, Cape Town is the perfect city to host Africa's Mercedes-Benz Bokeh Fashion Film Festival. The city is already a top destination for fashion shoots and a prime location for international film crews with a wealth of local talent in both the fashion and film industries. This event provides the opportunity to align these two thriving industries in the city.

Lazarus comments, “We have now created an annual event that holds its own on the international fashion film festival calendar alongside the La Jolla, Madrid, Miami, San Francisco and Berlin Fashion Film Festivals. The festivals provide a platform for both local and international up and coming talent to showcase their films on the same stage as established international brands like Chanel, Prada, Dior, Gucci, Yves St Laurent and Givenchy who have all embraced the genre and have had tremendous success with their films going viral on the internet. We have been inviting International and local film submissions and look forward to what can only be yet again an incredible platform to showcase these focused masterpieces. Films need to be edited to between 1 and 15 minutes and span the themes of fashion, beauty, chic brands and products, lifestyle and current trends.”

An international panel of experts from both the fashion and film industries will judge the submissions; these judges comprise film directors, fashion magazine editors, designers, stylists, fashion bloggers, brand managers and art directors. They will each bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from their respective fields, ensuring all the stringent criteria are met in the judging process. The winning films in each category will then be showcased over the two Red Carpet ”Oscar Style” screenings on 27th  and 28th  March.

A pop-up retail space, this year offers the fashionistas the opportunity to purchase garments as well as meet the local and International designers personally. “Fashions films create a narrative that captures the ethos of the brands identity.” Bryan Ramkilawan: CEO Cape Town Fashion Council (CTFC). The CTFC Designer Pop-Up, which will be located in the library of the 15 on Orange Hotel, will be open from 12h00 – 17h00 and 18h00 – 20h00 on both the 27th and 28th of March.

This year the thriving festival will be held at the trendy 5 star African Pride Hotel – 15 on Orange Hotel in the heart of the Cape Town CBD. 15 on Orange is renowned for being home to international business travelers, film industry moguls and international models, with Group Marketing Manager Nicholas Barenblatt commenting, “African Pride is an urban lifestyle brand which engages with a target market ranging from millennial’s to ‘forever young’ baby boomers.  The brand has always been known for its experiential, energetic brand experience which is expressed through the service culture that the staff deliver, the food and beverage concepts, the creativity of the physical design and the social happenings that occur within the hotel spaces.  We therefore have an appreciation for the elements such as Fashion, Film, Creativity, Lifestyle and Social happenings which is expressed and celebrated by the Fashion Film Festival; hence this having good alignment with our brand.”   

“With Hisense cutting edge technology and fashionability, Bokeh Fashion Film Festival was the perfect visual platform to collaborate with. Especially with our ultra-high definition TV’s and tablets that enable 4k playback, it made perfect sense to align ourselves with this collection showcase, where fashion meets film.”
Hisense Brand Manager: Ryan Curling.

Other prestigious, high-end sponsors include global fashion news leaders – Fashion-One TV, MAC cosmetics, GHD Hair Care, Sunglass Hut and premium drinks brand - RGBC. Craig Dore’ Marketing Director RGBC comments, ”There is good synergy and alignment between the progressive art of Bokeh films and our really great brand portfolio of premium and deluxe spirits. We strive to be innovative with our marketing to ensure our brands remain relevant with consumers but we also need to engage them in non-traditional marketing channels, like at Mercedes-Benz Bokeh Fashion Film Festival”.

This festival will have a positive and far-reaching legacy. It will once again be a spectacular showcase for the South African fashion and film industries, exposing both to an international market, putting them front and center on the world stage of this emerging genre. Local and international up and coming filmmakers will receive tremendous exposure both in traditional media and on social media platforms as the hype around the festival gains digital traction. For more information on the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh Fashion Film Festival go to: www.bokehfestival.co.za

Awards: The highlight of the three-day festival will be the “Oscar Style” Award ceremony. Of all the films submitted five will be nominated in each category. The categories being:
Best Hair + Make Up
Best Fashion
Best Cinematography – this year sponsored by Sunglass Hut
Best Music
Best Art Direction
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Picture
Mercedes-Benz Star Award - Mercedes Benz, will be hosting their own special category, with details being announced on our website in the upcoming days. The winner of this category receives a cash award of US$10 000-00 from Mercedes-Benz. Selected VIP guests and celebrities have been dressed by Jenni Button and Hilton Weiner of The Platinum Group for the red carpet event.

Looking forward to the event whenever it happens in Johannesburg as launch event happened in Cape Town and I was not a part of the same. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me for your product's review /sponsored posts on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com  Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page or www.photoyatra.blogspot.in  Like The Life's Way Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay