How to Take #Cinematic #Timelapses at Night with #OsmoAction @DJIGlobal

Hi Friends, 

Osmo Action was designed to shoot dynamic footage not only during the day but also at night.

The mesmerizing lights of city traffic can provide a new creative perspective to your footage. Read on to discover some simple tips to capture compelling night time footage with your Osmo Action.

Important Safety and Caution Disclaimer

The following steps and content have been created in a controlled environment under professional supervision. Exercise extreme safety and discretion when operating a vehicle. DJI is not responsible for any injury or damage sustained from using Osmo Action with a moving vehicle.

1. Attach Osmo Action to a Vehicle

To add a unique vantage point to your Timelapse, we recommend attaching Osmo Action to a vehicle while recording. You can use an Osmo Action Adhesive Mount and Camera Frame to do so.

2. Plan Your Route

The best conditions for shooting this type of Timelapse are straight routes with a lot of lights along the way. Additionally, it is best to avoid roads with too many traffic lights or busy traffic since long stops during recording will reduce the dynamic effect.

3. Select Timelapse

You can easily switch the shooting mode to Timelapse via Osmo Action’s back screen.

After that, adjust the shooting interval and duration.

4. Set the Shutter Speed

To create a beautiful effect of blurred lights, we suggest you slow the shutter speed to 2-3 seconds. If the image is too bright due to the slow shutter speed, you may want to use ND filters to help balance the brightness.

5. Start Recording

After you have completed the preparation, press the shutter button to start recording. After the recording is finished, Osmo Action will complete post-processing automatically.

Check out this tutorial to learn more about shooting Timelapse videos with Osmo Action.

Cheers!!!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to discuss your products, launch events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay #NoFreePosts. TheLife'sWay charges a blogging fee for the time and efforts to join a new campaign or an existing one based on your requirements. Namaste!

Introducing the #MavicMiniSA - Why Did @DJIglobal Create a 249-Gram #Drone?

Hi Friends, 

The all-new Mavic Mini is a transformative product for DJI and the entire drone industry. It is the most advanced drone of its size ever made, featuring many of DJI’s high-performance capabilities in a drone that weighs only 249 grams. Why did we work so hard to stuff as many features as we could into such a small package? It’s another example of DJI’s commitment to drone safety.

Regulators around the world have agreed that drones weighing less than 250 grams are virtually harmless. In a fall or a collision, a sub-250g drone is just not going to cause the same kind of damage as a heavier drone. Since they consider sub-250g drones to pose the lowest risks, they have made them subject to fewer restrictions or requirements than their heavier counterparts. The rules differ in each country, but in many places, a sub-250g drone may not require registration, and may also be eligible for more complex operations, such as flying over people.

This sub-250g weight category was created in 2015 when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) asked a committee of aviation and drone experts to quickly determine the minimum weight of a drone that recreational drone pilots should be required to register. With personal safety the main goal, the committee employed complex formulas involving kinetic energy and terminal velocity to recommend a weight category of 250 grams and above, which the FAA then adopted.

While the 250g limit was intended only as a threshold for registration, it was quickly adopted by other countries as the threshold for many drone regulatory expectations. Any weight below that was considered so light that it was unlikely to cause safety problems, and thus there was little reason to impose stronger regulations. DJI later took a more comprehensive look at the science behind the calculations and concluded that the 250g limit was very conservative. In a white paper released in 2017, DJI said drones up to 2.2 kilograms should be considered lowest-risk. However, the 250g limit has become the global regulatory standard for drones that pose a negligible safety risk.

With that in mind, DJI is now proud to be able to manufacture a drone that provides advanced functionality within that ultra-lightweight category, making the skies safer for everyone. Every time you fly with a Mavic Mini instead of a heavier drone, you’re flying safer than before – simply by using a lighter product. 

Even as we prioritize safety, we also recognize that compliance with rules, respectful social interactions, resolution of security threats, and pilot accountability all remain important for a drone of any size, particularly one that is as capable as Mavic Mini. This is why Mavic Mini includes our GEO 2.0 geofencing system, to help prevent inadvertent flight in locations that would raise serious safety or security concerns. In the United States, if you are already registered with the FAA as a recreational drone operator, your registration is valid for all the drones you own. We encourage you to mark your Mavic Mini using that same registration number, although it is not required.

Mavic Mini is also equipped with our AeroScope system for Remote Identification, which allows safety and security officials to detect, identify, and locate the drone and its pilot during flight. AeroScope is a system that is protecting airports, stadiums, high-security events, and other sensitive locations all over the world, and it demonstrates the power of Remote ID to resolve some of the biggest concerns about drones.

DJI supports regulatory efforts around the world to create mandatory Remote ID systems. As a supporter of, and collaborator in, the forthcoming rules and standards for remote identification, DJI also expects Mavic Mini to be compatible with official Remote ID requirements once they are implemented. In our work on the FAA’s Remote Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee in 2017, we vocally supported the conclusions of the Working Group of security, law enforcement, and air traffic control stakeholders about which drones should be included in Remote ID. That group recommended to the FAA that remote identification be required for drones that provide the types of advanced capabilities that raise substantial security concerns, such as long-distance flight capabilities and live video downlinks. Although the FAA’s forthcoming remote ID requirements have not yet been revealed, we continue to agree with this recommendation from 2017 that a capability-based threshold for Remote ID makes more sense than a threshold based only on a drone’s weight.

When regulators said drones weighing under 250 grams are the safest, we took that as a challenge. DJI has always made safety our top priority, and we’re proud that Mavic Mini opens a new frontier for how a small yet powerful drone can do great things in the lowest-risk category. As you enjoy flying your Mavic Mini, always consult and comply with your applicable local rules, and remember that no matter how small your drone, when you fly it, you are an ambassador for drones of all sizes. You can learn more about DJI’s safety commitment at dji.com/flysafe. Fly safely, and have fun.

Cheers!!!

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

Osmo Pocket In-Depth Review: The World in Your Hands @DJIGlobal #OSMOPocket

Hi Friends, 

Inside the DJI forge of technical innovation, engineers have crafted the smallest 3-axis stabilized handheld gimbal camera. Embodying the perfect balance of form and function, Osmo Pocket transforms pocket-sized adventures into epic cinematic experiences. All of this filmmaking capability inside a device that fits comfortably in your hand!

Whether you’re strolling through a busy city or traveling thousands of miles for that one special dish, having a compact device that shoots smooth footage is truly a game-changer.

The writer looked in-depth at Osmo Pocket and will be referred to the next paragraphs in first-person voice and discover how it copes with the challenges of spontaneous filming. As DJI’s smallest handheld gimbal camera, Osmo Pocket offers the boundless potential for travelers, vloggers, and those that want to capture the beauty of life. I still have not received and reviewed the device. 

Unboxing and Features 

What's in the Box?

Before we dive into our big plate of adventure, let’s take a quick look at Osmo Pocket.

The minimalist packaging houses several essential items:

• Osmo Pocket ×1
• Cover ×1
• Lanyard ×1
• Power Cable ×1
• Smartphone Adapter (USB-C) ×1
• Smartphone Adapter (Lightning) ×1

Osmo Pocket Top Features

Light and Portable

True to its name, Osmo Pocket is a compact handheld device that fits snug in the palm of your hand. Thanks to its portable design, you will have no problems taking it around and filming with it throughout your day.

Ergonomic Build

The device comes in a classic matte black color and features a rounded ergonomic design. The handle is non-slip and sweat-proof, which means you can comfortably film for the entire day.

Stabilized Shooting

At the heart of Osmo Pocket is an incredible 3-axis mechanical gimbal that automatically stabilizes your footage, allowing you to focus more attention on capturing the perfect shot.

4K/60fps Video

Osmo Pocket can capture photos in breath-taking detail thanks to a 1/2.3-inch sensor, 80° wide-angle lens, and f/2.0 aperture. It also serves as a powerful tool for filmmaking, shooting 4K/60fps video at 100Mbps.

Simple Interface

​On the front side of the device, there is a 1.08-inch integrated touchscreen that can be used for a live view or playback and device navigation. Underneath the LED screen is two dedicated buttons. The left button enables you to take a picture or start and stop recording a video. The button on the right can be used to turn Osmo Pocket on and off. One-click and you’re ready to go!

ActiveTrack and FaceTrack

For a more intelligent and efficient shooting experience, ActiveTrack recognizes, follows, and films your subject of choice. Osmo Pocket also features FaceTrack which automatically detects your face during Selfie mode, keeping you in the spotlight of your adventure.

Universal Port 

Osmo Pocket’s Universal Port is a multifunctional expansion interface that connects the device to your smartphone and several other accessories. When you connect it to your smartphone, you can use your smartphone screen to control Osmo Pocket and access its features.

DJI Mimo 

DJI Mimo was developed for anyone who has a story to tell. This dedicated app automatically opens when you connect Osmo Pocket to a smartphone. It extends your creative potential with editing tools and provides a platform for its own photography community, opening the door to a world of visual storytelling.

My Story was developed for both beginners and experienced users, offering a robust editing suite to take visual storytelling to the next level. You can use this function to create unique videos that you can share on your social media channels.

The story mode is another alternative option that can be directly accessed from the camera view, offering a variety of stylistic editing pre-sets that help bring your creative projects alive. You can choose from many expertly designed templates and soundtracks to elevate your footage. This feature will be available to use soon!

Versatile Accessories 

As well as providing a connection to your smartphone, the Universal Port also serves as a multifunctional expansion interface, which unleashes your creativity with a collection of perfectly suited accessories. This includes a Wireless Module, which provides Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity, and transmission so you can control the gimbal using your smartphone. Additional accessories will be available soon, including a waterproof case that allows you to shoot footage at a maximum depth of 60 meters!

Without further ado, let’s begin our adventure!

A New Dawn for Handheld Stabilization

Osmo Pocket triumphantly delivers as a portable camera that’s ready for the big moments in life. Its 3-axis mechanical gimbal is excellent at adjusting unwanted movements and producing smooth cinematic footage.

Motion Made Easy

As the sun continued its daily ascent, I decided to give Osmo Pocket its next challenge. I turned the device on and selected the Motionlapse function using the interactive touchscreen. This mode allows you to take a timelapse while the camera is moving, introducing a stunning motion effect to your footage. Owing to its incredibly small size, I was able to safely position Osmo Pocket on a flat surface and started recording. After five minutes, my Osmo Pocket had effortlessly accomplished its first Motionlapse.

Ready for Anything

When you are on the prowl for exciting footage, the last thing you want to worry about is carrying around bulky camera equipment and accessories. To be on top of your game, you need to react quickly to whatever the situation presents. Osmo Pocket really comes into its own in these moments. The device turns on in seconds, shooting smooth footage whenever your moment arises.

ActiveTrack

Shooting clear, stable footage is often achieved when you use a large camera on a tripod. While this method is reliable, these types of static shots limit your freedom to move around and fully immerse your viewer. This is why I decided to get right in the thick of the action and use ActiveTrack to film from a more personal perspective.

I headed down to a local food market, where vendors were engaged in their early morning preparations. While the local butcher was busy with his daily activities, I enabled ActiveTrack by selecting him on my smartphone screen. In a matter of seconds, Osmo Pocket was able to track his every movement accurately. This feature gave me the complete freedom to film without disturbing others in their daily activities.

Capture Your Memories

Food photography is a huge passion of mine, and as a writer of a food blog, I would welcome any device that can capture the magic of my culinary adventures. With this in mind, I took Osmo Pocket right into the heart of the kitchen to see if it was up for the challenge.

In just a few seconds, I was able to capture pictures in stunning detail thanks to Osmo Pocket’s 1/2.3-inch sensor and 80° wide-angle lens. Having a device that shoots this easily makes traveling all the more fun!

Glorious Slow Motion

Osmo Pocket also features a Slow Motion mode, which is incredibly easy to select from the interactive menu. In just a few seconds, every tantalizing part of my dish was captured in glorious high-definition detail! Combining slow motion and stabilized footage provides a delicious slice of the action.

The World from Your Perspective

During the middle of the day, I decided to dust off my tennis rackets and hit the courts. Eager to immerse the viewer at this moment, I took Osmo Pocket with me to record my perspective. The FPV mode cleverly allowed the camera to follow my every movement, letting the viewer experience an uninterrupted flow of twists, turns, and all-round magic on the tennis court!

In the Spotlight of Your Adventure

Osmo Pocket also has an intelligent FaceTrack mode that enables the device to automatically track human faces, which makes taking vlogs and selfies incredibly easy! After rotating the camera around using the interactive touchscreen, FaceTrack automatically recognized my face and let me record instantly. This feature is incredibly responsive and it was able to keep my face in focus even as I rotated the device (and spun around in circles).

Breathtaking Panoramas

To capture your destination with breathtaking definition, Osmo Pocket can take a 180° and 3×3 Panorama. What surprised me most was how easy it is to obtain this kind of shot. After selecting the mode on Osmo Pocket’s interactive screen, I held the device out with one hand and the camera automatically rotated in different directions to capture the panorama.

Bring the Night Alive

Travel adventures extend far beyond the reach of daylight. Many film-worthy scenes and spontaneous moments come alive in the night. With this in mind, I set out to discover how Osmo Pocket performs in low-light conditions. The 3-axis mechanical stabilized gimbal eliminated any unwanted movement and kept the camera perfectly stable for great low-light footage.

Nothing Can Stop You

Developed with convenience and endurance in mind, Osmo Pocket has a battery life that supports a 140-minute video. I was able to take it everywhere with me during the day and obtain a variety of different shots. And thanks to its one-hour fast charge, I was able to boost the battery to a 90% charge! After a full day of filming, Osmo Pocket stood triumphant, having effortlessly surpassed all the challenges thrown it's way.

​The Bottom Line

What impresses most about Osmo Pocket is how easy it is to take smooth professional-looking footage. The device is extremely portable and starts within a few seconds, which gave me the freedom to film spontaneous moments as they arose throughout my day. Whatever journey brought to the plate, Osmo Pocket handles the challenge with ease. For anyone looking for a portable device that effortlessly captures the beauty of life, DJI Osmo Pocket certainly delivers.

A new dawn for handheld stabilization is here.

Cheers!!!

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

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!