Photo Contests, Apple M3 Chips, and Trade Show Horror Stories

Overview

This episode of the Petapixel Podcast features Jordan Drake and Chris Nichols, joined by guest Ted Forbes. The team covers significant industry news, including Apple's latest chip releases and a bizarre controversy surrounding a staged winning photo in a major competition. They also share personal anecdotes from their experiences at trade shows and press trips.

Key Topics

Apple M3 Announcement

• Apple has unveiled the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, featuring 3nm technology.
• The new hardware supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, signaling a potential push into the high-end gaming market.
• The updated iMacs were discussed, though the hosts noted the lack of HDR-certified displays and Pro-tier chip options.

Ethics and Photo Competitions

• A major controversy arose after a photographer won a $25,000 top prize in a global photo contest using a staged workshop photo.
• The hosts debate the nature of "staged" photography versus the importance of honesty in contest entries.
• There is an ongoing discussion regarding how AI and machine learning are often misrepresented as "AI innovation" within camera marketing to sell hardware.

Trade Show Horror Stories

• Jordan and Chris recount bizarre and uncomfortable experiences from industry trade shows, such as NAB.
• Highlights include outdated marketing stunts (such as jelly beans and bikinis for slow-motion demos) and strange experiences with "hypnotist" keynote speakers at media events.

Recommendations & Tech Support

• Jordan: Recommends the A24 film Past Lives.
• Ted: Highly recommends the upcoming film The Iron Claw.
• Tech Support: Detailed technical discussions on the utility of ProRes RAW external recording versus internal log profiles and the relevance of fixed-lens camcorders in modern documentary filmmaking.

"I think if you're looking for pure truth in photography, I think pretty much all of it is staged to some degree because it's interpreted by a photographer." — Ted Forbes