As the leaves turn brilliant shades of red, gold, and orange, autumn becomes a stunning canvas for photographers. Leaf photography is more than capturing foliage, its about exploring shape, detail, and emotion in the smallest subjects of the season. Whether youre out for a walk or planning a dedicated shoot, learning to photograph leaves with intention can help you craft images that are both timeless and striking.Why Leaves Make Great SubjectsLeaves offer endless variety: no two are ever the same. From fiery maples to earthy oaks, each species carries its own story through shape, vein structure, and hue. In autumn, nature offers a palette rich in saturated tones and crisp detail, the perfect ingredients for compelling compositions.Playing with Light and Texture with Leaf PhotographyLighting can dramatically change the mood of your leaf shots.Backlighting: Shoot with the sun behind the leaf to reveal intricate vein patterns and translucency.Side lighting: Highlights texture and creates dramatic shadows.Overcast light: Softens contrast and enriches color saturation, perfect for flat-lay arrangements or forest floors.Try experimenting at different times of day to find your preferred light style. Leaves shot in early morning fog will feel vastly different from ones captured at golden hour.Composing with IntentionWhen photographing leaves, consider:Isolated details: Use a macro lens or your cameras close-focus setting to zero in on leaf edges, frost crystals, or rain droplets.Pattern repetition: Capture piles or rows of similar leaves for a rhythmic, graphic feel.Color contrast: Look for leaves that pop against their environment, a red leaf on green moss, or a yellow one on dark pavement.Use a wide aperture (f/2.8f/5.6) to create shallow depth of field and direct the viewers attention where you want it.Bonus Idea: Try Flat LaysFlat lays can turn everyday leaves into creative art. Arrange different shapes or colors into a pattern on neutral backgrounds like wood or paper. Add autumn props (acorns, pinecones, or a steaming mug of tea) to tell a seasonal story.Bring It Together in PostEnhance contrast and clarity in your post-processing to bring out the textures of each leaf. Boost vibrance slightly, autumn tones love a little extra pop, but avoid oversaturation. Play with split toning or subtle vignettes to add mood.Leaf photography is a reminder that beauty doesnt need to be grand. With a little creativity and attention to detail, even a single fallen leaf can hold an entire story.Extended reading:Capturing fall foliageThe post Mastering Leaf Photography: Colors, Textures, and Patterns appeared first on 500px.

Rather than tearing up the blueprint, Ghost of Ytei brings a suite of thoughtful refinements, iterating on Jin Sakais adventure in Tsushima whilst carving space for a new protagonist: Atsu. Stoic and cold, she embodies the spirits of Japanese folklore to strike fear into those who wronged her. Her vengeance story might be a familiar one, but Sucker Punch are using it as a canvas for fresh ideas across a world which feels richer, deeper, and more immersive than its predecessor. Here are 15 things we cant wait to do in Ghost of Ytei.Before we continue, please note that all information and footage in this video comes from official sources.Embody Atsus MotivationAtsu is not a samurai. She has no meaningful stature in 17th-century Japan, and she doesnt belong to tradition. Its 1603 sixteen years after her family were murdered by the hands of a brutal gang and on her return to Ezo, in the shadows of Mount Ytei, shes already a ghost. The sword she carries is her propulsive force; its the same blade her attackers used to pin her to a burning gingko tree, leaving her for dead. Turning this symbol of trauma into an instrument of vengeance is a bold, cinematic stroke of character building, making her quest feel both personal, unstoppable, and one we cant wait to embody.Channel the Onrys PersonaOne of Japanese folklores most recognisable ghosts is the yurei; pale women in white kimonos, black hair cascading their faces. Among them is the onry, or vengeful spirit, a figure of revenge who relentlessly pursues those who wronged them in life. Atsu channels the persona of onry deliberately, and as a lone mercenary driven by vengeance she becomes an onry of flesh, terrifying the men of Ezo who whisper her existence.Her onrys list a roll call of those marked for death is rendered through shod, the delicate art of Japanese calligraphy written with brush and ink. This detail reframes her vengeance as a meditative practice, suggesting Atsus killings are ritualistic as much as bloodlust. Channeling the onrys persona isnt just Atsus process for revenge, but also a symbol of the emotional toll itll take, questioning the probability of her emerging from the quest unchanged.Relive Atsus ChildhoodEstablishing a strong emotional bond between Atsus motivation and the player is one of Sucker Punchs core focuses for this sequel. Upon returning to her homeland, players can switch between Atsus present-day perspective and moments of the past, stepping foot into her memories. At the press of a button, her ruined childhood home blossoms into its former beauty; a sunlit, welcoming place where players relive the warmth of Atsus familial embrace before tragedy struck. This mechanic not only invites players to see what Atsu has lost, but to feel it.Set up Camp AnywhereOne of Ghost of Yteis most elegant open world systems is the ability for Atsu to pitch camp almost anywhere. Being able to stop, rest, and reflect wherever she may roam keeps the momentum of her nomadic journey flowing. More than just a place to eat, sleep, and prepare for battle, camp is also a hub where vendors arrive to trade goods and wandering senseis approach to teach new weapon skills. This mechanic imparts a quiet revolution on the open world genre, alleviating the tedium of backtracking and immersion-breaking jolt of fast travel to keep players invested in Atsus world.Explore Yteis Meditative DiversionsHot springs provided essential moments for Jin Sakai to reflect in Ghost of Tsushima, whilst practicing bamboo strikes improved his resolve. ButAtsus journey provides even more ways to slow down. First person Sumi-e painting and playing the Shamisen by firelight are just new mindfulness exercises inviting players to step away from combat for a moments meditation, sharing Atsus quiet reflections as our own.Chart New Paths with the SpyglassSucker Punch has described Atsus spyglass as the best way to play Ghost of Ytei and its easy to see why. Raising the spyglass to the horizon reveals new locations glinting in the distance, smoke stacks spiraling into the sky, or waterfalls cascading down mountainsides. Marking these sights as destinations before letting the wind guide Atsu creates a natural, unhurried sense of exploration. The spyglass provides a living map, organically attuning players to the landscape.Dress to ImpressAs described in Ghost of Yteis State of Play presentation, Atsu will discover new armour and clothing as she explores Ezo, and players will be able to combine items to create outfits that match their playstyle. Plus, to fix one of Ghost of Tsushimas limitations, each outfit appears to have three pre-build save slots which Atsu can instantly swap between. Likewise, her attires appearance is customisable too, with players able to choose from a broad palette of colours and materials to ensure each outfit and its unique perks can be picked even if their base design isnt appealing.Equip CharmsAtsus outfits are her identity, and with Ghost of Yteis returning charm system players can shape that identity to match their playstyle. With the right combination of charms, stealthy players can amplify their presence in the shadows, melee-focused warriors can sharpen their strikes, and ranged fighters can perfect their precision. Like in the first game, charms are acquired through exploration: honoring Alters of Reflection, completing side quests, and growing Atsus legend across Ezo, tying exploration to Atsus growing empowerment.Befriend the WolfThe wolfs presence in Ghost of Ytei remains mysterious given details on its specific role are limited. We know the wolf wont be a constant companion but will dynamically appear depending on Atsus situation. Itll accompany Atsu in stealth and combat, and it has its own skill tree.Hunt Down BountiesAn oft-seen side activity in open world games, Ghost of Yteis bounty system is an opportunity for players to eliminate the environments wanted outlaws for monetary recompense. However, the game treats bounties as a chance to explore Ezos ruthless underbelly. Accepting bounties leads to unique encounters, with each deposition demanding specific skills and strategies to execute. Seen in the gameplay deep dive, Black Powder Ippei protects his camp with ramshackle artillery, whilst Crow Genzo an assassin who feeds his victims to crows provides a life-or-death duel within the tranquility of a lilac-blue meadow.Master the BladeAtsus arsenal spans five main weapons the katana, spear, the mace-like kusarigama, long-blade dachi, and dual swords each being effective against specific enemy types. Further, battles are never static with enemies switching weapons mid-fight, forcing Atsu to adapt in real-time. The real draw though is the ability to study enemies and learn their techniques. Throughout Atsus quest, shell seek out areas where certain weapon-wielding enemies harbour powerful samurai or deceptive ninja, for instance hunting down their knowledge as well as their blood.Interrogate Atsus EnemiesInformation is as valuable as steel in Ghost of Ytei, with Atsus tendency to interrogate defeated opponents tying directly into the games Clue Card system. On their knees with Atsus cold blade against their neck, beaten enemies will give up information on hidden locations, key targets, or important story details. Each clue takes the form of a physical card in Atsus journal, and players can choose which cards to collect and when, effectively self-curating their own path through Atsus story.Kill the Ytei SixThe pounding drum of Atsus vengeance is the Ytei Six. Led by the rogue samurai Lord Sait, they are the gang who slaughtered her family, destroyed her home, and left her for dead. Alongside Sait, its members are the Snake, Oni, Kitsune, Spider, and Dragon, each a personality, a challenge, and a piece of the puzzle framing Atsus trauma. Hunting them across Ezo is like preparing Atsu for six climactic showdowns, and as she strikes each name off her onrys list she gets one step closer to healing her soul.Play the Special Director ModesCementing Ghost of Yteis cinematic appeal is the suite of special director modes, set to mould Atsus story into homages of mid-century Japanese cinema, violent romps exuding dark humour, or a potentially polarising mashup of chillhop mixtapes and Edo-period imagery. Kurosawa Mode borrows the celebrated directors grainy, high-contrast black-and-white imagery, whilst Miike Mode reframes combat to tight, claustrophobic encounters reminiscent of Takashi Miikes best. Shinichir Watanabes Watanabe Mode takes the anime directors penchant for cultural experimentation by marrying lofi beats with Atsus open world exploration. These modes arent filters, but options to reshape how the game is experienced.Team Up in LegendsWhen the main story is done and Atsus journey is complete, Ghost of Yteis world wont stop turning. Sucker Punch has confirmed that Legends the beloved cooperative multiplayer mode from Ghost of Tsushima is making its return, this time with all-new challenges. In two-player story missions and four-player survival matches, friends can team up to channel their mastery of Atsus skills against mythological enemies including giant, demonic versions of the Ytei Six. Itll be the perfect way to keep the drums of vengeance beating when its released as a free update in 2026.

From incredible hand to hand combat with knives and guns to fighting with horses and guns, John Wick Chapter: 3 featured all sorts of creative and unbelievable, places to have a bit of a scrap.Yes, modern-day VFX allow storytelling (and fight scenes) to get crazier and crazier, while at the same time still looking, somehow, believable.One good example of those incredible VFX sequences is the infamous bike chase over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Image Engine delivered only 8 VFX shots for this scene. But that didnt mean that there wasnt much work involved. With shots as long as 1000 frames, full of extensive and complicated CG, plate stitching and comp integration, Image Engine certainly had their work cut out.Creating assets that had to be photoreal while also matching practical ones. Creating seamless camera transitions between the Verrazano bridge footage and greenscreen shots while, at the same time, matching the animation style to the live-action stunt shot. As well as adding extra realistic-looking VFX elements and executing perfect 2D integration.The sequence was made by combining on-location shots of professional stunt drivers riding at 100km/h, as well as some rigged crash stunts with dummies, on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and some less impressive-looking shots of Keanu and the guys sat on bikes in front of a green screen while being pushed around by some other guys in green zentai suits, for the close-up shots.In order to allow for seamless transitions between shots, they paid careful attention to both action and camera movement choreography. To get a seamless transition between the riders and bikes, they took cues from the shots of the Verrazano Bridge stuntmen. Of course, Keanus face also needed to be added in some shots. But, unfortunately, only one take of Keanu riding on the real Verrazano bridge was filmed so that take was inevitably the one that was used for the base of the 2.5D face replacements as it had the correct lighting on it.They also created a 3D face replacement of Keanu using cyberscan and some texture photography while creating his hair in Houdini.Stitching together the real shots with the greenscreen ones required a mix of cutting out bikes frame by frame and tracking CG objects and backgrounds all to the live-action footage.Getting the animated CG background to perfectly match the real moving one is really where the magic of this shot lies and Image Engine have absolutely nailed this! Like the music in this video?Music By: Monkey MediaAlbum Title: MonkeyLinks:Get it on Google PlayGet it on iTunesBuy it on AmazonListen on Spotify:Follow us on TwitterThe post John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum Without VFX [Image Engine VFX Breakdown] appeared first on Fame Focus.

Various Canadian architecture firms have announced the promotions of members of their staff.Each of these individuals have made contributions to the firms, and are being recognized for their hard work, experience, and talent.The following are a list of recent promotions.Adele Rankin. Photo courtesy of Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and PlanningKasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning has announced the appointment of Adele Rankin as principal and vice president, interior design.With over 20 years of design leadership and business development experience, Rankin brings a track record of delivering projects that blend functionality, creativity, and cultural impact. Her career spans hospitality, senior living, and multifamily residential sectors, with notable projects including The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel at Grand Lisboa Palace Resort in Macau, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, The Dorian Autograph Collection in Calgary, and the REN residential tower in Seattle. Adeles ability to shape exceptional user experiences aligns perfectly with Kasians vision of enriching lives through our design philosophy of in-between thinking,said Don Kasian. Her leadership will elevate our interiors practice and strengthen the connections across our disciplines.Left: Marc-Olivier Deschamps, right: Marc-Olivier Blouin. Photos courtesy of dificadificadifica has announced the appointment of Marc-Olivier Deschamps as vice president, urban planning and development, and Marc-Olivier Blouin as director, urban planning and urban projects.Their leadership ensures continuity while confirming a structured succession, integrated into the shareholder group and focused on long-term impact. Andr Brodeur, who previously led the team as vice president, will remain actively involved as strategic advisor to support continuity in ongoing projects.Michael Attard (left) Doron Meinhard (right). Photo courtesy of Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA)Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA) HPA has announced the addition of Michael AttardandDoron Meinhard as partners. This advancement reflects HPAs commitment to nurturing talent from within while maintaining the design excellence and cultural integrity that have defined the practice for over 30 years.Were proud of what weve built, but even more excited about what lies ahead, said Siamak Hariri, founding partner. This partnership represents our commitment to continuitynot as mere tradition, but as thoughtful evolution. Our culture remains strong, our voice clear, and we are just beginning to realize our full potential.Left: Khat Baharikhoob, right: Trish Clarke. Photos courtesy of Brook McIlroyBrook McIlroyBrook McIlroy has announced that its leadership team has grown with the addition of two new principals. Trish Clarke and Khat Baharikhoob will be stepping into new leadership roles on the landscape architecture and urban design teams, respectively.These two emerging design leaders share a commitment to community-oriented sustainable design geared to impactful change; a commitment shared by the rest of the leadership team and studio.As Brook McIlroy celebrates its 25th anniversary, its expanded leadership team will provide new opportunities and capabilities as it continues to foster the values that have made the firm successful over the years.The post Architecture Firms Recognize Talent with Staff Promotions appeared first on Canadian Architect.

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 is a United States federal law that was passed by the 89th Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, 1965. The act formally removed de facto discrimination against people of various ethnicities from the country's immigration policy and created a system giving priority to various categories of people such as relatives of US citizens, skilled professionals, and refugees. Previous policy consisted of the National Origins Formula of the 1920s, whose aim was to preserve American homogeneity by promoting immigration from Western and Northern Europe, an approach which came under attack during the civil rights movement for being racially discriminatory. This photograph shows President Johnson officially signing the Immigration and Nationality Act in a ceremony on Liberty Island in New York City.Photograph credit: Yoichi OkamotoRecently featured: Epinephelus marginatusSarah Forbes BonettaChild labor in the United StatesArchiveMore featured pictures

October 3Siegfried& Roy with a white lion1792 Spanish forces departed Valdivia to suppress the indigenous Huilliche uprising in southern Chile.1953 Vancouver's Holy Rosary Cathedral was dedicated by Archbishop William Mark Duke, fifty-three years after it first opened.1963 Oswaldo Lpez Arellano replaced Honduran president Ramn Villeda Morales in a violent coup, initiating two decades of military rule.1992 Sinad O'Connor tore up a photograph of Pope John PaulII on live television.2003 Roy Horn of the American entertainment duo Siegfried& Roy (both pictured) was mauled by a tiger during a performance at the Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip.EliasI of Antioch (d.723)Gabriel Lalemant (b.1610)Caroline Brady (b.1905)Carl Nielsen (d.1931)More anniversaries: October 2October 3October 4ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Originally posted on 4 August 2025 for early access, and updated for the final release.Escape Motions has released Rebelle 8, the new version of the natural media painting software.Its a wide-ranging update, particularly in the Pro edition, which gets a new set of Bristle Brushes, and support for environment lighting and ray traced soft shadows on thick paint.Pro users also get better AI image upscaling, better import and export of PSD files and even support for the WebSocket API, to make it possible to use Rebelle in live performances.Both standard and Pro editions get a new RYB color wheel, Color Harmonies system, intelligent symmetry painting, and a lot of workflow and performance improvements.A natural media paint package that accurately mimics the behavior of real-world paintsFirst released in 2015, Rebelle mimics the behaviour of real watercolor, acrylic and oil paint, complete with fluid flow and pigment-based color mixing.It can also mimic dry media, including pencil, pastel and marker, while commercial add-on packs replicate the textures of real-world papers, canvases and lithography stones.Recent updates have rounded out the feature set with more conventional drawing and image-manipulation tools, including AI-based Liquify and Warp tools.Rebelle 8 Pro edition: new particle-based Bristle brushesFor users of the Pro edition of the software, key changes include the new Bristle Brushes.Unlike the existing Texture brushes, which use textures to imitate brush strands, theyre based on a new particle brush system, which simulates the movement of each strand individually.Strands can respond uniquely to color and pressure, and can even affect one another.According to Escape Motions, the new system improves the realism of impasto paint effects, and the underlying changes improve the responsiveness of painting in general.Pro only: thick oil paint is now rendered with environment maps and soft shadowsAs well as providing new tools to create them, Rebelle 8 changes the way in which Rebelle renders impasto effects.The release introduces RealShader, a new generation of Rebelle materials using real photos as environment maps.The maps are used for image-based lighting in the same way as in 3D software, generating more realistic lighting effects on raised paint surfaces.In addition, a new SoftShadows setting enables raised brushstrokes to cast ray traced shadows, giving them a better sense of 3D volume.Escape Motions told us that RealShader and SoftShadows are only applicable to oil paint, as the only medium thick enough to benefit from the rendering effects. Pro only: Smooth Scaling preserves fine lines even when zoomed out fullyThe changes to Rebelles rendering engine that power RealShader also power Smooth Scaling, a new anti-aliasing system.It is intended to ensure that thin strokes, like pencil or ink lines, remain smooth even when the canvas is zoomed out to the full extend.Pro only: NanoPixel 2, better Metallic materials and expanded PSD supportThe NanoPixel AI-based image upscaling system introduced in Rebelle 5 has been updated, raising the maximum increase in resolution from 16x to 20x.Export size is now capped at 32,000 x 32,000px for most file formats, but is unlimited for TIFFs.For exchanging files with other digital painting software, support for Photoshops PSD file format has been extended to preserve layer arrangements and masks more faithfully.You can see a list of PSD properties currently supported in this blog post.Photoshop live link plugin Escape Motions Connect also now runs natively on current Apple Silicon Macs, rather than in Rosetta emulation mode, as in the initial release.Other updates to existing features include the option to use custom reflectivity patterns for the metallic materials introduced in Rebelle 7.Pro only: WebSocket support may make it possible to use Rebelle in live performancesAnother interesting, more speculative feature in the Pro edition is support for WebSockets.The WebSocket API enables two-way communications sessions between a software application and a remote server: in this case, making it possible to control Rebelle remotely.Escape Motions says that the workflow could be used for interactive installations or live performances, although it is genuinely curious to see how artists use it in practice.The system is built on Motion IO, the firms scripting system for VFX and motion graphics studios, used by Sony Pictures Imageworks on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.Both editions: New RYB color wheel and Color Harmonies toolBoth editions of the software get new color picking features, including a RYB color wheel.Rebelle has supported the RYB (Red Yellow Blue) color model, which mimics the subtractive color mixing of real-world pigments, since version 4.The current release also introduces a new Color Harmonies tool, which generates color palettes based on Complementary, Analogous Complementary, Triadic and Tetradic harmonies.The Gradient preview, which displays a hue along a black-to-white gradient, has been reintroduced as a slider to make color picking more intuitive.Both editions: new Symmetry tool mirrors paint strokes intelligentlyBoth editions of the software also get the new Symmetry tool, which mirrors brush strokes intelligently from one side of the canvas to the other.Rather than just mirroring the pixels, it clones the entire brush engine, meaning that the stroke interacts independently with the paint and paper texture on each side of the canvas.Both editions: workflow and performance updatesThere are also a lot of workflow and performance updates, particularly to the brush engine.The maximum brush size has been raised from 700px to 3,000px, and recently used brushes are now stored in a new tab in the Favorite Brushes tool to make it easier to find them again.It is also now possible to control more properties on a per-layer basis, including impasto settings and filter layer properties including brightness, contrast, hue and saturation.Other changes include the option to move the anchor point when transforming a layer or selection, making it possible to scale or rotate it around a specific point.There is also a self-descriptive View at Print Size option for previewing art work, You can see a complete list of new features on Escape Motions blog: most of the smaller workflow improvements are covered in either this blog post or this one.Price, system requirements and release dateRebelle 8 is compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 10.15+. The Rebelle 8.0.x releases were the early access releases, so the stable release is officially Rebelle 8.1.The standard edition costs $89.99 for a perpetual license; Rebelle 8 Pro costs $149.99.Read an overview of the new features in Rebelle 8 on Escape Motions blogSee a feature comparison between the standard and Pro editions of Rebelle.Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

We hit the ground running at Unreal Fest Stockholm with a peek at UE 5.7, new features for Fortnite developers, and an expansion of the Epic Developer Assistant.

Tolkien Illustrated: Deluxe Special Editions Save big on The Hobbit, LOTR, and The Silmarillion. Get deals at Amazon Amazon has all three Deluxe Tolkien Illustrated Editions on sale in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days (October 7-8). Prime members can get the beautiful slipcased editions of The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and The Lord of the Rings for up to 60% off. All three books include drawings, paintings, sketches, and maps made by the author, and the Special Editions have high-end features like cloth board covers quarterbound in leather, custom slipcases, and collectible inserts. The Hobbit Deluxe Illustrated: Special Edition is on sale for $79 (was $195), The Silmarillion is $80 (was $195), and The Lord of the Rings is $111.56 (was $250).Each Tolkien Illustrated Edition is also available in a standard hardcover edition that costs far less, but only The Hobbit has an official Prime Big Deal Days promotion right now. The Hobbit: Tolkien Illustrated Edition is on sale for $30.39 (was $75).Continue Reading at GameSpot

Hunter X Hunter: Nen X Survivor is an upcoming survival roguelike game set for release in 2026 as a free-to-play mobile title. While Hunter X Hunter has seen several video game adaptations, Nen X Survivor stands out because it appears to be a first for the series.