While walking this evening, I stopped to regard one of my neighbor’s flower gardens. Initially passing by, I turned around, pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and shot the Featured Image in Portrait mode, which produces bokeh-like background blur. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/125 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 6:27 p.m. PDT.
Phone photography was on my mind as I strolled sidewalks; yesterday, Google unveiled new smartphones, including the Pixel 9 Fold, Pro, and Pro XL. The latter two are all about the cameras, and the experiences artificial intelligence and software can magically make.
For example: You take a photo of friends and are excluded because you’re the shooter. Google remedies that with feature “Add Me“, which works as described. Suddenly, reality isn’t what was but what you want to make it. Object relocation or removal and unblurring are among the many other reality reshaping capabilities.
I must acknowledge being intrigued, being a Pixel fan. But I also just recently completed a Samsung ecosystem of devices that work well together. Besides, I am not the least dissatisfied with Galaxy S24 Ultra. In fact, the photo experience is oh-so good enough that I consider selling my dedicated camera.