Though Elizabeth Street Garden has been granted a stay pending a ruling in the Appellate Court, the garden faces ongoing uncertainty. Community members and volunteers continue the fight to preserve the outdoor sculpture gallery and its distinctive place in the community.In October, Elizabeth Street Garden received an eviction notice and the likelihood of housing development planned for the site seemed imminent. The ruling was later amended to pending and the garden has been granted a stay until the case is revisited in February 2025.

Minimalism in black-and-white photography is about stripping away distractions and focusing on simplicity, using negative space, clean lines, and isolated subjects to create a powerful visual impact. In a world where complexity often reigns, minimalist photography stands out by embracing simplicity. Heres how you can use the principles of minimalism to craft striking black-and-white images that resonate. Understanding minimalism in photographyMinimalist photography aims to convey a clear message with as few elements as possible. This approach emphasizes the importance of composition, light, and subject placement. In black-and-white photography, minimalism becomes even more potent because theres no color to rely on, so every detail, shadow, and texture must contribute to the overall impact.Simplicity is keyAt its core, minimalism is about reducing the scene to its most essential elements. Whether its a lone tree in a vast field or a single architectural line, the goal is to focus attention on the subject without distractions. Embracing negative spaceNegative space, or the empty area around your subject, plays a significant role in minimalist photography. By giving your subject plenty of room to breathe, you draw the viewers eye directly to it, enhancing its importance within the frame. In black-and-white photography, the use of negative space can create a sense of calm, isolation, or contemplation, depending on how you frame it.Composition techniques for minimalismMinimalist photography relies heavily on strong composition. Without the complexity of multiple elements or colors, the arrangement of the subject within the frame becomes paramount.Rule of thirdsWhile minimalism often leans toward simplicity, the rule of thirds is still an effective compositional guideline. Placing your subject off-center within the frame can create a sense of balance and flow. The surrounding negative space becomes a complementary element to the subject.Symmetry and balanceMinimalism and symmetry go hand in hand. Symmetrical compositions in black-and-white photography can create a sense of order and tranquility. Whether its a reflection in water or a perfectly centered subject, symmetry adds to the overall simplicity and elegance of the image. Leading linesUsing leading lines can guide the viewers eye directly to your subject, enhancing the minimalist effect. Look for strong, simple lines in architecture, landscapes, or even shadows that draw attention to the focal point of your composition. Light and shadow in minimalist photographyIn black-and-white minimalism, light and shadow are your primary tools for adding depth and contrast to an otherwise simple image. The way you use light can turn a basic composition into something extraordinary.Harsh light for bold contrastStrong, directional light can create sharp contrasts between light and dark areas, which works particularly well in minimalism. The stark contrast between black and white emphasizes the simplicity of the scene and brings focus to the shapes and lines within the frame. Soft light for subtletySoft, diffused light can also be effective in minimalist black-and-white photography. This type of light reduces harsh shadows, allowing for a more gentle, understated composition. Use soft light when you want to highlight subtle textures or create a sense of calm and tranquility.Silhouettes for impactSilhouettes are a powerful tool in minimalist photography. By shooting against a bright background, such as the sky or a well-lit wall, you can turn your subject into a simple, dark shape that stands out boldly against the lighter background. This high-contrast approach strips the subject down to its most basic form, creating a striking visual impact.Choosing the right subjectIn minimalist photography, your choice of subject plays a critical role. It needs to be visually interesting on its own, as there are no other elements to distract or complement it.Isolated subjectsLook for isolated subjects that stand alone in their environment. A single tree in a field, a person walking along a deserted street, or a lone building against the sky are all examples of minimalist subjects. The simplicity of these compositions forces the viewer to focus entirely on the subject, amplifying its importance. Abstract formsMinimalism often blurs the line between reality and abstraction. By focusing on simple shapes, patterns, or textures, you can create abstract compositions that invite the viewer to interpret the image in their own way. In black-and-white photography, the absence of color allows abstract forms to stand out more clearly, making them ideal for minimalist compositions.Maximizing negative spaceNegative space isnt just emptyits an essential part of your composition. The space around your subject can evoke a sense of isolation, loneliness, or peace, depending on how you use it.Balance between subject and spaceWhen incorporating negative space into your composition, the key is balance. Too little negative space, and the image can feel cramped or cluttered; too much, and the subject may get lost. Finding the right balance ensures that the subject remains the focal point while the surrounding space complements it. Creating tension with spaceNegative space can also be used to create tension in your image. By positioning the subject in one corner or at the edge of the frame, you create a sense of unease or imbalance. This can add emotional depth to your minimalist composition and make it more thought-provoking. Techniques for minimalist black-and-white photographySlow down and simplifyWhen approaching minimalist photography, take your time. Slow down, observe your surroundings, and look for simple compositions. Its easy to overcomplicate a shot, but with minimalism, less is always more.Shoot in monochrome modeMany digital cameras allow you to shoot in black-and-white mode, which can help you see your compositions in terms of light, shadow, and contrast without the distraction of color. While you can always convert to black and white in post-processing, shooting in monochrome mode can help you visualize the final image more clearly. Minimalism in black-and-white photography is a celebration of simplicity. By focusing on clean compositions, strong lines, and the interplay of light and shadow, you can create powerful images that speak volumes without saying too much. The key to success in minimalist photography is restraintletting the subject and the space around it do the talking.Not on 500px yet? Click here to learn about Licensing with 500px.The post Minimalism in monochrome: Less is more appeared first on 500px.

In a groundbreaking broadcast on November 5th, 2024, Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), in collaboration with Vertigo, was one of 13 broadcasters worldwide to use Zero Density technology to air the US Elections live. This milestone broadcast utilized the latest in virtual production technology, offering audiences worldwide a highly immersive and interactive viewing experience.Virtual production & technical realization: VertigoProduction: Macedonian Radio Television ()#vr #tvbroadcast #uselections

Dragon Age: The Veilguardisnt going to get any expansions, but BioWare is continuing to roll out patches for the game, with another one now available. The third patch for the action RPG since its release, it brings several bug fixes and quality-of-life changes, including the addition of new Photo Mode filters.Other than tweaks related to the Photo Mode, other quality-of-life improvements include being able to cmpare new rings with both equipped ring slots, new weapon icons, and more. A decent number of bug fixes are also included in the patch notes, from bugs related to specific quests to glitches related to character animations, facial animations, cutscenes, visual issues, and more. You can view the full patch notes below.BioWare says its currently working on another patch for the game that it intends to talk more about soon, though theres little word yet on what to expect. Stay tuned for more details in the coming days.Dragon Age: The Veilguardis available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Read our review of the game through here, where we awarded it a score of 7/10, praising the combat and visuals while reserving criticism for the story, writing, quest design, and more.PATCH NOTES:Quality of Life Changes:Arrow keys can now be bound to input mappings.Filters added to Photo Mode.Screenshot file names from Photo Mode have been simplified, showing the date the photo was taken.The File Path where screenshots are saved is now shown in game when a screenshot is taken through Photo Mode.It is now easier to identify where an Enchantment has been applied to a companions equipment.Adjusted the Glint option description in Settings.New rings can now be compared against both equipped ring slots.A notification now appears when the Crossroads Spirit Merchant is available.Added new icons for some weapons.Bug Fixes:Eliminated the causes of a small number of crashes.Rooks body shape no longer changes unexpectedly after a cutscene with Emmrich.Adjusted an odd facial expression when Rook first meets Emmrich.Fixed a rare issue where some of an existing Rooks settings got unintentionally reset after making and saving a new Rook. This fix is now also on consoles and retroactively affects saves on all platforms.Adjusted the volume level of Spites voice in some scenes.Fixed some instances where music would incorrectly stop playing.Fixed some instances where unintended music or sound effects would play.Antaam Champions now correctly do slightly more damage.Mage Rooks no longer shift to the right awkwardly after performing an extended dodge.The Rogue Skill Underdogs Bite now correctly lists Enhanced Damage instead of Empowered Damage.Fixed some instances where enemies could get stuck or were unreachable in some areas.Fixed some instances where companions could get stuck on balance beams.Bellara can no longer endlessly charge Rooks Ultimate outside of combat.Emmrichs attack stat is now displayed correctly at the start of the Where the Dead Must Go quest.Fixed a bug where Emmrich was sometimes not available on the ability wheel during the Where the Dead Must Go quest.Companions revives are now correctly refilled at the start of The Last Gambit quest.The Kataranda now has its correct unique coloring.Fixed an issue with the critical hit and penetration modifiers on the Twin Edged Pick Warrior weapon.Taashs cape on the Rivains Legacy armor no longer stretches in cutscenes.The Grey Warden Recruits Simple Tunic appearance no longer clips uncomfortably through Rooks neck.The Mythals Light Mage weapon now does the intended amount of physical base damage (0).The Mythals Light Mage weapon now does physical damage to enemy health if a physical damage enchantment is applied.Fixed instances where stat bonuses from some Treviso valuables were applied incorrectly.Fixed instances where valuables with stat increases were not all visible in merchant stores.Improved textures on various characters and environment objects.Fixed an issue where VFX could become extremely bright.Fixed several distance pop-in issues.Fixed an issue that caused the camera to stutter when closing the eluvian interface.Fixes several instances where quest objectives would not update correctly during some quests.The On Deadly Wings quest can now be completed even if the A Slow Poison quest has not been fully completed.The Mayor of DMetas Crossing no longer appears in two places at once during the Lives Spared quest.One of the Revenants will no longer fail to appear in the Crossroads.Fixed an issue where a door would not open during the Heights of Athim memory in the Regrets of the Dreadwolf quest.The intended 2D cinematic scene now plays after the Shadows Crossing quest.Fixed an issue where the path forward could become blocked in the A Murder of Crows quest.Fixed a blocking issue during the In Entropys Grasp quest.Companions are now present when loading the first autosave made in the Isle of the Gods quest.The HDR Calibration setting is now saved correctly between game sessions.Prevented multiple instances where Rook could get stuck while exploring Thedas.One of the Watchers Robe appearance variations is now correctly granted after completing the Disrupt and Conquer memory.Fixed a place in Arlathan Forest where Rook could get stuck in a drowning loop.Fixed instances where Rook forgot they already had the lyrium dagger and could not interact with treasure chests and altars.Codex entries that were already read will no longer be re-marked as unread.Fixed an issue where the scrollbar could get stuck in the Codex screen.Enchantments on abilities are now reset correctly when Skill Tree nodes are reset.The Crossroads Spirit Merchant now shows the intended faction reputation gained for whichever city was blighted when selling valuables.Fixed a rare issue where some Skill Tree nodes were sometimes unable to be unlocked.Some adjustments to the game credits.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthwas a game of excess (in the best possible way). Square Enix proudly filled its massive world full of things to do, and that included a large and varied collection of minigames, and though those minigames were a highlight of the experience for many, the game also did receive criticism from some for having maybe a fewtoomany minigames. Thats something that the development team is looking to remedy with theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogys final instalment.The same was confirmed byFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthdirector Naoki Hamaguchi in a recent interview with Daily Star. When asked if there was anything fromRebirththat he would change for its sequel, Hamaguchi stated that though he wouldnt make too many changes to the overall structure, following feedback from players, the roster of minigames in the next game will be a bit more manageable size.I think that what we did with Rebirth, the structure of the game, the balance of everything in it, was very good and it was received very well by the fans, he said. So I dont think theres any need for major changes there really.One thing perhaps that maybe needs looking at, is that there was a certain number of people who said there were too many minigames in Rebirth, and ultimately I can see their point of view but I do think we made the right decision in terms of the breadth and the volume of content for the minigames in Rebirth.Obviously, the more different types of content, the more minigames you put into a title, the more likely it is that people will like some and not others.Obviously, it comes down to personal taste in a lot of ways. Everyones going to have some of the minigames that they really liked and really enjoyed, and maybe some they didnt get on with so much, and that will depend on the player, and itll be different for different players.So I dont think we failed at all in that decision of having such a broad amount of content there. It was what was needed for the game, but certainly looking forward to the third game and to other games, if you asked me would I do the same number of minigames, I dont think I would.Well work out how maybe we can cut it down to maybe a bit more manageable size for the group of players who quite rightly said that maybe there was too much there for them.Though it looks like the remake trilogys final instalment will be going relatively easier on the minigames, Hamaguchi has previously stated that the game as a whole will be even bigger thanRebirth. Meanwhile, specifically where minigames are concerned, we also know that the fan-favourite card game Queens Blood will be returning with a revamped and better version, as per Hamaguchi.Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 or whatever Square Enix ends up calling it is currently in development, and recently exited the pre-production stage. Its development team is targeting a 2027 release.

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