3 Ways to Use a Collapsable Reflector for Naturally Lit Shots
Many filmmakers have issues shooting under natural light, as they often neglect to utilize one of the most basic tools available to them: the collapsable reflector.A collapsable reflector is often thought of as a photographer’s tool, but in many instances they’re just as useful for filmmakers… especially those working with limited budgets. A decent sized, high-quality collapsable reflector typically runs between $50 – $100 and can make a huge difference in the overall production value of a video project.If you’ve been shooting for a substantial amount of time, there’s a good chance you already have one of these in your kit. If not, I highly recommend picking one up and making use of it in the following ways:1. Diffuse the SunImage from zachandjody.comMany reflectors are designed with a reversible sleeve, allowing you to remove it completely and use the white, silk-like disc that sits inside. While you can certainly use it as a bounce under the right lighting conditions, I’ll typically use the disc to diffuse direct sunlight. For instance, if I’m shooting an interview outdoors and the sun is directly overhead, I’ll set up the disc on a stand (or have a PA hold it) to diffuse the harsh sun on the talent’s face.2. Bounce Your BacklightWhen shooting outside, it can be best to use the sun as a backlight in order to avoid harsh shadows on the faces of your actors. That said, in many cases that will result in a back-lit shot and ultimately your talent will be underexposed. Using your reflector on either the white or silver side is a great way to bounce that sunlight back into the face of your actor, effectively bringing up their exposure. The silver side will bounce a harder and brighter light back onto the talent, while the white side will be softer and more forgiving.3. Create a Rim LightSometimes when you shoot outdoors you’ll be able to get away with no lighting or grip gear whatsoever – such as golden hour. In these cases you don’t necessarily need to use your reflector to fix any lighting issues in your shot, but rather use it for a stylistic effect.One of my personal favorite techniques involves placing the reflector behind the talent (and off camera of course) and bouncing the sunlight against the back of their head. This creates a beautiful rim light that emulates the look of a more thoroughly lit scene, even though no lights are being used at all.Have any tips for using a collapsable reflector? Share them in the comments below!
RED builds a breathtaking custom camera for Michael Bay. The BAYHEM features the company’s all new 8K Super 35mm sensor.Top image via RED/Jarred LandLeave it to Michael Bay to get the latest custom RED camera, one that looks a bit like a Transformer itself. The BAYHEM camera features an eye-popping lime green paint job — but its most impressive feature is an all-new RED sensor.Image: Michael Bay’s custom 8K Super 35mm RED Camera via Jarred Land The 8K super 35mm sensor has been nicknamed Helium, which is the first of a new 3.65 micron sensor line of cameras. The 8K super 35mm Helium will soon be available for WEAPON sensor upgrades, with plans for a new Epic-W using the new tech. Image: Michael Bay’s custom 8K Super 35mm RED Camera via Jarred LandAs many of you might have noticed, our new Helium 3.65 micron pixel is complete and ahead of schedule… WAY ahead of schedule. Helium’s first sensor is the 8K s35 build on a completely new sensor line and will be available to WEAPON customers in the coming months. (Or the coming weeks for those that know where to look.) Helium will take pressure off our DRAGON sensor lines and allow those lines to completely focus on RAVON and SCARLET-W sensors. — Jarred Land, President RED Digital CinemaHere’s a great look at the sensor tech matched up to RED’s other sensors and other popular film formats from Phil Holland via the RedUser forum.Image via PHFXCompared to the new 8K Vista Vision sensor being tested on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the Helium has much smaller and denser pixels. Guardians director James Gunn is on record expressing his excitement for the 8K Vista Vision because of the massive amount of data they could get for VFX heavy films.The large sensor size and super high resolution offered by the new WEAPON 8K, combined with its lightweight and compact size open up a whole range of new creative possibilities. — James GunnAs far as custom builds go, Bay isn’t the only one getting awesome cameras from RED. David Fincher recently scored the Alien-inspired RED Xenomorph for his Netflix original, Mindhunter.What are you thoughts on this new Michael Bay beast? Let us know in the comments below.
3. Claire MathonImage via AFCinema.Claire Mathon is an up-and-coming French cinematographer who studied film at the prestigious École nationale supérieure Louis-Lumière. She’s already made waves with her work on four films: Three Worlds (2012), Stranger by the Lake (2013), My King (2015), and Staying Vertical (2016). She is poised for a big jump in 2018. You can check out more of her work on UniFrance’s website here. 4. Andrew Droz PalermoImage by Whitney Hayward (via Filmmaker Magazine).A native of Columbia, Missouri, the young Palermo has broken out in a big way in 2017 by serving as director of photography on David Lowery’s A Ghost Story, which showcased his natural talents and limits in a 1:1 format. Before getting his break with Lowery, Palermo shot documentary content for Independent Lens and worked in the Sundance Documentaries Edit and Story Lab on his film Rich Hill. You can check out the full scope of his work on his website here. 7. Anette HaellmigkImage via IMDB.While not necessarily a new name to those in the know, Haellmigk has been an unsung hero of the vaunted Game of Thrones franchise, with ten episode credits to her name (you can read a great interview about how she landed the GoT gig here). The German-born director of photography is primed for continued TV prominence by jumping into new shows like Insecure and Snowpiercer.8. Ruben ImpensImage via Cinevox.If you go to his filmography (or IMDB page), you’ll see that Impens has been busy over the last few years, shooting a ton of narrative features and shorts. While most notable for his work with fellow Belgian filmmaker Felix van Groeningen, Impens was behind the camera for the breakout sensations The Broken Circle Breakdown and the duo’s upcoming Beautiful Boy — along with Raw. You can check out his full site here. Looking for more on the filmmaking industry? Check out these articles.Exclusive Interview: The Secrets Behind RED Sensors and ResolutionA Conversation with the DP of The Confession TapesInterview: Director of Photography Jake Swantko of Netflix’s IcarusInterview: Director of Photography Behind HBO’s The Defiant OnesInterview: Last Chance U Director of Photography Gabriel Patay 5. Charlotte Bruus ChristensenImage via IMDB.Enjoying her second stint on our list, Christensen deserves the honor based on the strength of her work on Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game in 2017 — and the already-buzzing John Krasinski project A Quiet Place, to go along with her previously mentioned credits for The Girl on the Train and Fences. You can check out all her work here. Take a look at these nine up-and-coming directors of photography whose work you’ll definitely want to follow throughout 2018.Cover image by Bret Curry (via Filmmaker Magazine).It is with great respect and excitement that we get to follow up on our past list of up-and-coming cinematographers with nine new additions for the new year. You may have heard of a few of these men and women before, or at least seen some of their work, but for the ones who seem new, check out their work and keep their names in mind, as they will undoubtedly be tearing it up for years to come.So, let’s meet our fab 9 and highlight some of their outstanding cinematography.1. Alexis ZabeImage via The Lift.With a Moonlight-esque Oscar run potentially in the cards for Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, Zabe, a Mexico City native, is primed for a big year. Zabe has honed his craft over the years since relocating to Los Angeles, DPing commercials for the likes of Adidas, films for lauded filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch, and (perhaps most notably) music videos including Pharrell’s “Happy.” You can check out his full filmography on his Lux Artist page here. 6. Brian BurgoyneImage via Brian Burgoyne.Already an established veteran of comedy and television, with credits that span several series, including SMILF, Crashing, and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Burgoyne has made a major jump with his work on Kumail Nanjiani‘s breakout The Big Sick, which could experience a very celebrated award season. You can see Burgoyne’s full array of commercial, TV, and film work on his site here. 9. Mandy WalkerImage via European Independent Film Festival.Mandy Walker, who has already enjoyed a celebrated career so far, has recently caught fire with some major jobs shooting Hidden Figures and The Mountain Between Us — as well as her recent tapping to serve as director of photography on the live-action remake of Disney’s Mulan. You can check out her full filmography on her site here. 2. Larkin SeipleImage from ASC (via Larkin Seiple).For an established commercial and music video cinematographer like Seiple, his recent narrative feature work has been a very impressive transition — to say the least. In the past three years, he’s DP-ed the indie smasher Cop Car (2015), DANIELS‘ fiercely insane Swiss Army Man (2016), and the recent Macon Blair directorial debut I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017). With two more features already lined up for 2018 (Luce and Kin), Seiple is in a pretty good spot already. You can check out more of his work on his website here.
CineMatch demo’d their sensor matching tool, which instantly matches footage from the different cameras you may be working with in your edit.FilmConvert owns a company called CineMatch, which is now a plugin for Premiere Pro that allows you to color match when working with multiple cameras. Right now, the plugin is only for Adobe Premiere Pro, but it will eventually be available for DaVinci Resolve, FCPX, Avid Media Composer, and so on.The plugin isn’t just a bunch of LUTs; rather, it’s a collection of dedicated color profiles based on the sensors from the cameras you set it up with (which, right now, includes Sony a7III, BMPCC4K, GH5, Fujifilm X-T3, and Nikon Z6 — this list will obviously grow over time.) There is a demo of the software you can check out here.The way it works, you tell the plugin which camera you want as your standard, and then it matches footage/shots from other cameras accordingly. The plugin is very new, and color grading is always a mixed bag — especially if you didn’t shoot the footage yourself. So since the plugin is about reading the sensor, if the image is exposed properly on each camera, the science should check out, and you’ll get the same look.Cinema5D sat down with Sam Wiles from FilmConvert to talk about the software, how it works, and why it will save you hours of grading.Pretty interesting stuff. It looks like this could be huge (matching cameras can be one of the biggest time sucks). Hopefully, they work out all the bugs before release. (Speaking of, current Film Convert users will get a discounted rate once CineMatch goes live by the end of the year.)If you’re interested in learning how to match two cameras yourself, we have a nifty tutorial just for you! Images via CineMatch.Looking for more coverage of NAB 2019? Check out these articles.NAB 2019: Teradek Introduces an Inexpensive Wireless System NAB 2019: Aputure’s Secret Party and What They AnnouncedNAB 2019: Atlas Reveals Anamorphic 25mm Lens and LF ExtenderNAB 2019: Polar Pro’s New Peter McKinnon Variable ND FilterNAB 2019: LaCie Drops Their New 8TB Rugged RAID Shuttle Drive
Let’s take a look at some creative and affordable options into finding, purchasing, and utilizing vintage lenses in your film and video projects.I recently went to a filmmaker meetup in Austin, Texas, to chat and hang out with some other videographers, documentarians, and film professionals. I’d been several times before, but was looking forward to this meetup because many of us were planning to bring our cameras and share our go-to lenses, gear, and favorite build-outs.While it was cool to try out some different rigs and talk shop with how others had problem-solved many of the same camera and lens issues (for their unique production experiences), one of the most intriguing aspects about the event was checking out everyone’s go-to lenses.And a surprising amount of those lenses were vintage.Now, I’ve shot on vintage lenses several times. However, I don’t own any myself. But to hear everyone talk, more often than not their prize lens possession was a cool vintage lens they either found in an attic, was handed down to them by a parent or grandparent, or was purchased at a thrift shop. Several others were purchased on Ebay or online elsewhere, but the majority of the videographers had a lens with some personal significance.For those who have a vintage lens in their possession, or for those looking to get one of their own, here are some of the best places and resources for finding and purchasing vintage lenses, as well as tips on how to work with them once you have one.Mom and Pop Camera StoresIf I could suggest one place every video professional should look first for vintage lenses (or cameras, gear, etc.), it’d have to be your local mom and pop camera store. These shops are constantly in danger of closing down — many have already shut their doors for good. Not only should you do your duty to support these shops while they’re still around, they actually can be treasure troves for vintage lenses, which you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.Sure, there might be a mark up as compared to buying online (more on that below), but you’re also getting both the convenience of walking out the door with your purchase, as well as a chance to try out your vintage lens on your camera(s) of choice. You can also spend time chatting with your resident video expert about the vintage lenses, find out more info about when and where they came from, and even advice on how this equipment might help you on your next shoot.Online and Marketplace OptionsImage by bogdandimages.Yet, for many, there are no mom and pop stores around the corner anymore. So, purchasing a vintage lens online might be your best — and only — option. There are drawbacks to finding vintage lenses online, namely that you can’t test them out on your camera or rig right away.But, if you’re patient and are willing to check back often — especially on the online auction sites — and consider making returns, you can find some quality and rare vintage lenses. Here are some different online options.Mainstream Options:EbayAmazonB&HIndustry Options:LensAuthorityKehUsedPhotoProMarketplace Options:CraigslistFacebook MarketplaceShopGoodwill Your Family’s Attic or GarageAs a result of the previously mentioned filmmaker meetup, four out of five filmmakers must apparently have filmmaking relatives with stockpiles of vintage lenses — and in some cases cameras — stashed away in attics and garages.Personally, all I’ve ever found from my parents is an old camcorder from the ‘90s, but if you do have parents or grandparents who shot amateur photography (or better yet, videography) in their youth, you might be lucky enough to stumble upon some vintage hand-me-downs that not only have their own unique bokeh and stylings, but also some cool personal stories, as well.Thrift Stores and Estate SalesImage by vetkit.Similarly, for every filmmaker heir out there, there has to be countless other attics and garages where vintage lenses are burdened upon uninterested parties, who would just as soon sell or get rid of their vintage lenses — often for bargain prices.If you consider yourself a seasoned thrifter, hitting up used goods and thrift stores can be a fun Saturday afternoon activity — diving through electronics bins looking for vintage finds. You can also make the morning rounds of estate sales at houses in affluent neighborhoods, in search of vintage lenses there, as well.Lens Mounts and AdaptersUnless you’re searching for vintage lenses to go with your vintage 16mm film camera, you’re probably going to need to research and invest in lens mounts or adapters. Here’s a good article on working with vintage lenses on modern cameras, as well as a good resource for finding the right lens adapter for you.Cover image by tomertu.For more tips and insights into working with vintage camera lenses, check out some of these articles below.Should You Use Vintage Lenses on Your Next Project?Explore the Ultimate Vintage Lens Library10 Things to Know About Shooting with Vintage LensesGear Basics: Is Filming with a Pancake Lens a Viable Option?Using Vintage Film Lenses on Micro 4/3 Cameras
I am writing this from the backseat of a car as my driver takes me to the airport. When I booked this trip, I looked at a couple of choices of companies to provide transportation from the airport to the hotel. It is a one hour trip from the airport to the hotel, and because I am leaving right after I speak, I don’t need a car of my own.The price difference between the two options I explored was $80. Compared with the overall price, that’s a lot of money because it is a high percentage of the total. Remember, it’s only a ride from the airport to the hotel, from point A to point B.One thing is for sure; the driver smokes in the company’s car. The air fresheners designed to mask the smell only remind you that someone has been smoking in the car. I noticed it as soon as the driver showed up. She was ten minutes late and told me she was stuck in traffic. At 9:30 PM. In Jacksonville, Florida.My driver is a very nice, pleasant person. It isn’t her fault that the car has a severe suspension problem. We are driving down the freeway at 75 miles per hour into very high winds. The car is all over the mostly empty road. But when we pass trucks, it’s a bit of a safety issue. We are very close to bumping into the trucks next to us when the wind gusts. The steering wheel has a lot of play.I tell her, “Wow, the suspension on this thing needs work.” She says, ” The owner just replaced the shocks.” That might have solved one problem, but there are clearly more problems.My outcome wasn’t the cheapest ride from the airport to the hotel. My outcome was a comfortable, safe ride to the airport. As priorities go, I would have given up comfort for safety. That’s the difference between price and cost.Just now, as I am writing these words, we ran over someone’s bumper. The driver was going to swerve, but the suspension was so bad, she couldn’t. She said, “You think that there is a problem with the suspension?”Price and cost are different. Essential Reading! Get my 2nd book: The Lost Art of Closing “In The Lost Art of Closing, Anthony proves that the final commitment can actually be one of the easiest parts of the sales process—if you’ve set it up properly with other commitments that have to happen long before the close. The key is to lead customers through a series of necessary steps designed to prevent a purchase stall.” Buy Now
This video is about Iannarino Everyday – Episode 13 Fearing the Wrong Danger
The Union Home Ministry and the Election Commission on Wednesday discussed security measures to be undertaken for the bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to be held in May, amid continued violence in the Kashmir Valley. The Ministry had earlier said that the Srinagar bypoll on April 9 had “vitiated the atmosphere” and they had requested the EC to defer the polls. Following the violence during the bypoll, the Anantnag elections were postponed to May 25. The EC was informed that post April 9, more than 700 incidents of stone pelting have been reported across the Valley.Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and his two Election Commissioners held talks with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who assured them of providing adequate security forces for the bypoll. The assurance from the Ministry assumes significance as there were voices within the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government for postponing the bypoll, citing law and order situation in the Valley.
The South Goa police on Saturday arrested Francisco Pereira(50) from Curchorem for his alleged involvement in vandalising of crosses.South Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas told The Hindu on Saturday that Pereira is a habitual offender of desecrations of religious symbols and has allegedly admitted to 150 cases so far. He has been doing it for 14 years, since 2003.Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who rushed to South Goa on learning about the arrest, said he appreciated the efforts of the police in probing the case.The accused said he did it to “release the Souls, not with any enmity,” police said. The suspect, a taxi driver, was nabbed in a moving car “with evidence” at Macazana in north Goa.Seven cases had taken place of desecration of religious symbols in over last month, which included one temple as well. He will be produced before the Court soon for police remand.
Rifleman Jaidrath Singh of the Rajput Rifles Regiment, who was killed on Friday in unprovoked firing by Pakistan across the LoC in a ceasefire violation in Jammu and Kashmir, was supposed to be with his wife Mamta in two weeks.The 28-year-old solider belonged to Bhagwanpur village in Deoband area of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. The news of his martyrdom has shattered his family and fellow villagers.According to Jaidrath’s younger brother Sahdev, who is also a rifleman with the Rajput Rifles Regiment, the unit of the (RRR) in which he was posted, was transferred to Jaipur last month. But after the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims, the unit was asked to stay for another month.Passionate soldier“My brother was a passionate and brave solider who never was scared of facing biggest challenges. He had joined Army when he was just 19. So, when he was told that the transfer of his unit will be delayed by a month he happily informed us about that,” said Sahdev, who joined the RRR in 2010.Sahdev told The Hindu that when he got the call from Jammu and Kashmir that Jaidrath was no more, he could not believe it. “We are proud that son of this soil sacrificed his life to defend the country. But at the same time the pain of seeing him leave, is too much to bear for us,” he added.Rifleman Jaidrath Singh’s body is expected to reach his village on Saturday evening and he is to be cremated on Sunday. His family has demanded that Chief Minister Adityanath visit Bhagwanpur and announce development works.
A Haryana police head constable was shot dead after three men reportedly open fire in the court complex in Siwani town of Bhiwani district on Monday.The police said the incident prima-facie seems an attempt to free an undertrail facing criminal charges, who was being produced before the local court.”Three men open fired in the court complex, killing one head constable, who was escorting the undertrail,” Sanjay, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Siwani, told The Hindu.The deceased head constable has been identified as Bhagirath, a resident of Gorchi village in Hisar.Mr. Sanjay said while two accused were arrested by the police on the spot, one of the accused managed to flee. “Our teams are searching for him and would soon arrest him as well.”
The crucial Lok Sabha bypoll in Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh is expected to settle many things regarding a possible opposition unity alliance for the 2019 general election.Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary has been campaigning extensively for his party’s candidate, Tabassum Hassan, whose candidature has been supported by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, aggressively making the point that the poll is about livelihood issues rather than communal flashpoints.Ear to the ground“We have been doing a micro campaign for the last few weeks, and we have not held a single large meeting. Our feedback is that this election is about ganna (sugarcane) rather than Jinnah (referring to the controversy over a picture of Pakistan’s founder being hung in Aligarh Muslim University),” he told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.Ms. Hassan has been pitted against Mriganka Singh of the BJP who is also the daughter of the late MP from Kairana, Hukum Singh, whose death necessitated the bypoll. “I have not used a single bus to cart crowds to big meetings. We have been deliberately going to villages and holding corner meetings for a more hands-on campaign. What we have seen gives me confidence that we will win. In fact the issues we have flagged have forced Yogi Adityanath to talk about sugarcane dues and employment, subjects that his government is defensive on, rather than communal subjects,” he said.Riots and afterOn being asked about the fracture of his party’s vote bank in the aftermath of the Muzaffarnagar riots in 2013, Mr. Chaudhary said that his party had been doing bhaichara(amity) meetings in small panchayats across western Uttar Pradesh for more than a year. “I don’t feel brushing things under the carpet works, we found that people are ready for a rapprochement, and agrarian distress is spurring them back to the old organic social equations that were there before. We also learned that before the big riots in 2013, there were a series of small incidents that led to the big one, and that we need to nip these in the bud,” he said.He remarked that he had been questioned a lot on why the party had fielded Ms. Hassan, a Muslim, where a Jat candidate may have sufficed to attract back the vote of the community in the face of a unified Hindu vote that the BJP had been able to garner. “I want to break the dangerous idea that no political party in this country is interested in giving representation to Muslims. This is a seat with a sizeable population of Muslims, and we have given the seat to a Muslim,” he said.The poll in Kairana is scheduled for May 28 and counting for May 31.
Normal life was affected in Kashmir on Friday due to a strike called by separatists to protest killing of a civilian during a cordon and search operation in the city on Thursday. Authorities have imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar to maintain law and order. Educational institutions, shops and private offices remained closed due to the strike called by Joint Resistance Leadership, an amalgam of separatists, to protest against the killing of a 24-year-old youth in Noorbagh area of the city on Thursday during an anti-militancy operation, officials said.Public transport remained off the roads in most parts of the valley but some private vehicles could be seen plying the roads in the city and elsewhere, a police official said. He said restrictions have been imposed on movement of people in five police station areas of the old city as a precautionary measure. The situation across Kashmir so far is peaceful, he added.
The administration of Governor Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday constituted a committee of secretaries to look into the demands of people of Kargil, where a shutdown was observed for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday over the demand of rotational offices. A Kargil-based civil society group, Joint Resistance Movement, decided to continue with a protest shutdown against the Governor administration decision to set up divisional commissioner’s office at Leh after Ladakh was declared a division recently.Work in offices and court was suspended for the day. Hundreds of people marched on the streets to press for their demand to have “rotational headquarters at both Kargil and Leh”. Rejecting the constitution of a committee, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Naeem Akhtar said, “The measure is a mere delaying tactic. The Governor’s administration didn’t feel need to consult anybody in granting divisional status and why a committee now?” He alleged that the Governor’s move was “thoughtless with grave consequences and at the behest of the BJP”. “It has a potential to flare-up. The Governor must immediately rescind the order and set up six monthly full rotational of all offices,” Mr. Akhtar said. Former chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah also backed the demand of people of Kargil. “It seems the decision was taken in a haste and is contrived to pitch one community against the other. Had the idea behind this act been to empower the people of Ladakh then the governor would have held deliberations,” said Mr. Abdullah. He said divisional headquarters at Leh only will serve no good. “The distance between Leh and Kargil is greater than what it is between Srinagar and Kargil. It was rather easier for them to visit Srinagar than to visit Leh. What people of Kargil are demanding is not laced with communal overtones. The decision will impede the developmental prospects of many adjoining areas of Kargil including Zanskar and Dras,” said Mr. Abdullah.
The sensational kidnapping of six-year-old twin brothers from a crowded school bus just outside the Sadguru Public Higher Secondary School at Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district on February 12 came to a tragic end on Saturday night with the recovery of their bodies from the Yamuna in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. The police have arrested six persons in connection with the murder, including the brother of a regional convener of the Bajrang Dal.The six accused have been arrested on charges of abduction, killing and conspiracy. Five of them are from U.P. and one from M.P., Satna Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh Gaur told media persons.Those arrested are Lucky Tomar, Pintu Ramswaroop Yadav, Ramkesh Yadav, Rohit Dwivedi and Raju Dwivedi, all belonging to U.P., and Padma Shukla from M.P.Mr. Gaur said some vehicles, including motorcycles and an SUV, have been seized. According to photographs being circulated in the social media, of the four motorcycles, two do not have number plates and have colours of a political party painted on them. The seized SUV carries the flag of a political party.According to the police, Padma Shukla’s younger brother Vishnukant alias Chhotu is a regional convener of the Bajrang Dal. However, so far, the police have not found any link between Chhotu and the abductors.Protests in ChitrakootAfter the bodies of the twin brothers were found, violent protests erupted in Chitrakoot town forcing the district administration to clamp Section 144. A large number of locals held a protest against what they called “police’s inaction” and the Sadguru Seva Trust which runs the school where the children studied. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has condemned the incident. Speaking at the State hangar before leaving for Umariya district, Mr. Nath said: “The police will expose those behind all this… whose flag was there on the vehicle in which they were travelling.” The children, both in kindergarten and sons of oil merchant Brijesh Rawat, were kidnapped at gunpoint by two masked persons. The kidnappers had later demanded ransom from the children’s father, Chitrakoot’s Nayagaon police station in-charge K.P. Tripathi said. The M.P. police had announced a reward of ₹50,000 for information on the twins. (With PTI inputs)
Cyclone Fani continued to wreak havoc on Friday morning, after making landfall in Odisha, with capital Bhubaneswar bearing the brunt of it.The storm showed no sign of receding, leaving denizens in a state of panic.Hundreds of trees were uprooted, even as fire service personnel and members of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force struggled to make a move due to the heavy rain and winds.
Earth’s changing climate is already having an impact on ecosystems, agriculture, coastal infrastructure, and a host of other human and natural systems. And a host of serious risks await as global warming intensifies, although nascent efforts are under way to adapt and prepare for a hotter, more uncompromising planet. Those are the takeaway messages of a major new report released 31 March by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international group of scientists convened by the United Nations to report on the science and policy implications of a changing climate every 7 years or so.“Climate change has altered systems from the equator to the poles, from the ocean to the mountains,” ecologist Christopher Field of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Palo Alto, California, told reporters earlier today from Yokohama, Japan, where hundreds of the report’s authors and government representatives negotiated the final wording of the 44-page summary of the mammoth document.Field is a lead author on today’s so-called assessment report, which surveys the voluminous literature published since 2005 on climate impacts and possible adaptation strategies. Titled Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, it is the second of three volumes put out by the IPCC. The first, with focus on the physical changes related to climate change, appeared last September. The third, on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, will be published next month.Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*)Today’s report, from the IPCC’s Working Group II, showcases some of the biggest changes that have occurred in climate science since the previous version, published 7 years ago. It says many of the impacts identified in the 2007 report continue to be of concern; they include shifts in the ranges of thousands of terrestrial and marine species, reductions in yields to maize and wheat, and threats to marine ecosystems from acidification and warming of surface waters. But some threats have become more pronounced, it notes, including impacts on agriculture. The main difference between this year’s report and the 2007 version is an emphasis on more specifically identifying risks to people and ecosystems and examining possible ways to reduce those risks through adaptation. This year’s report includes four chapters on adaptation, for example, compared with one in 2007. They discuss how humans could make coastal cities more resilient in the face of rising seas, for instance, or prepare for shifts in agricultural or fishing areas.The main finding, Field told reporters, is that “we’re starting to see adaptation happening.” Actions range from ramped-up planning efforts in dozens of U.S. cities and states to European adaptation investments that are adding up to billions of euros. But, Field said, “it’s early days.” And funding appears to be insufficient: “Limited evidence indicates a gap between global adaptation needs and the funds available for adaptation,” the report notes.Field told reporters that focusing on the often frightening impacts of climate change “can be a downer.” But he acknowledged that the world has a long way to go in terms of adaptation and that the assessment found few current or projected positive impacts from climate change. (The few pluses the report mentions include “modest reductions in cold-related mortality and morbidity in some areas.”)Early reaction to the report fell along predictable lines, with those who reject climate change science dismissing it as alarmist, and those convinced that climate change is real welcoming it as a clarion call for action. “This comprehensive report lays out very clearly the evidence that climate change is already having many impacts across the world,” said economist Nicholas Stern of the London School of Economics and Political Science, who warned of climate change’s dangers as a senior official in past U.K. governments, in a prepared statement. “The report warns that, during this century, climate change will increase the risk of human populations being displaced to escape shifts in extreme weather, such as floods and droughts, as well as relatively slow-onset impacts, such as desertification and sea level rise.”Some researchers welcomed the report’s broad scope, which pulled together both physical and social science. “IPCC used to be an institution dominated by physical scientists. Now you don’t see that pure domination, at least in Working Group II, anymore,” social scientist Susanne Moser, an independent adaptation expert in Santa Cruz, California, told ScienceInsider. Bringing in social scientists to analyze the socioeconomic challenges of climate enriches the analysis on risk, she says. “You get at the interactions of stressors, as opposed to purely ‘Here’s what the physical science does, and that’s the risk we face.’ Well, not quite so.” Weighing in at more than 2000 pages, the tome encompasses the work of 309 authors and reviewers, aided by more than 400 so-called contributing authors. The scientists needed all the help they could get: The number of scientific publications assessing climate impacts, vulnerability, or adaptation “more than doubled” between 2005 and 2010. More than 1700 reviewers from the government, academic, or nonprofit sector offered comments on the draft report, which assessed literature published up until last summer.
Ebola, flu, and colds have given viruses a bad rap. But there may be a good side to these tiny packages of genetic material. Researchers studying mice have shown that a virus can help maintain and restore a healthy gut in much the same way that friendly bacteria do.The work “shows for the first time that a virus can functionally substitute for a bacterium and provide beneficial effects,” says Julie Pfeiffer, a virologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas who was not involved with the study. “It’s shocking.”Our bodies are mostly microbes, with each of us hosting a hundred trillion bacteria as our so-called microbiome. These bacteria appear to play a role in everything from our weight to our allergies. But viruses also lurk in and around those bacteria—and they vastly outnumber the microbes.Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*)Like the microbiome, this “virome” may be important for human health. One recent study, for example, found that viruses that are abundant in saliva may weed out harmful bacteria. Kenneth Cadwell, a virologist at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, wanted to know what viruses in the gut might be doing. In particular, he was interested in a group called noroviruses. Although they are notorious for causing epidemics of diarrhea on cruise ships and disease in lab mouse colonies, some noroviruses infect mice with no ill effects.Indeed, he and his postdoc Elisabeth Kernbauer have now found that some noroviruses have a good side. In the lab, the researchers had been breeding mice in sterile environments, so the rodents and their young lack the typical portfolio of microbes and viruses that other mice have. Germ-free mice are abnormal. They don’t make enough of certain T cells, which are important for immune function, and they make too many of other immune cells implicated in allergic reactions. They also have abnormally thin villi, the microscopic fingerlike projections on the gut wall that help absorb nutrients. Other researchers had shown that giving bacteria to germ-free mice can rebalance the immune cells’ numbers and fatten the villi. Adding a norovirus to germ-free mice has the same beneficial effect, report Kernbauer, Cadwell, and Yi Ding, a pathologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, online today in Nature. Two other types of noroviruses similarly help make the gut healthy again, they discovered. In a follow-up experiment, the researchers treated normal laboratory mice with antibiotics for 2 weeks and then gave them a norovirus. The antibiotics had upset the balance of immune cells and damaged the gut lining, shrinking the villi, but as with the germ-free mice, the guts of these mice recovered with the help of the norovirus. Kernbauer and colleagues then performed the same experiment, but instead of adding the virus they replaced various bacteria knocked out by the antibiotics. Each bacterium helped restore some aspect of gut health, but not the full complement as did the virus.In a final experiment, the team infected antibiotic-treated mice with a pathogen that causes weight loss, diarrhea, and damage to the gut wall. Treatment with the virus lessened those effects. The virus also helped protect mice against tissue damage from a toxic chemical.Cadwell, Kernbauer, and Ding have begun to track down how the virus lends a helping hand. They found that it stimulates an immune response that involves a signaling molecule called interferon. “We have interferon as a starting point; now we want to know how interferon is conferring these benefits,” Cadwell says.”The idea that this virus may be beneficial in some way will be hugely controversial,” given that most people think of viruses in general and noroviruses in particular as harmful, says Juris Grasis, an immunologist at San Diego State University in California who was not involved with the work. Nonetheless, the study “might give us clues to human health as to what might be important in the immune system to combat or utilize noroviruses.” The work has implications beyond noroviruses, Pfeiffer adds. Surveys of the human virome are finding lots of viruses that don’t cause disease. “Maybe in some situations, they may be beneficial.”
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