While nearly 140 photographers submitted entries from 29 countries, only two carry the distinction of receiving the 2008 Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography. Ian Martin of Oakland, California and Lorena Ros of Brooklyn, New York were the first two photographers selected to receive the award this year.

Four judges met to evaluate the entries in January, while the awards were first announced this Thursday. Simon Barnett of Newsweek, David Griffin of National Geographic, Alison Morely of the International Center of Photography, and Rosanna Sguera of Vanity Fair sat on this year’s panel.

In addition to receiving their $20,000 grants to pursue the work they proposed, the photographers will receive editorial support from Getty Images photo editors. They’re also presented with the opportunity to sign a one-year exclusive-rights deal with Getty, which will promote their work to editorial clients.

Ian Martin, one of the two photographers awarded, will continue coverage of his project, “Hidden Minority: South Africa’s White Poor.” Martin, who began his project in South Africa over a two-week period in January 2007, will continue documenting the lives of white South Africans living on less than $40 (US) a month.

Originally from Barcelona, Lorena Ros plans to use her grant to photograph and interview 30 survivors of childhood sexual abuse throughout the United States. For her project, “Silent Witness,” she will focus on the unique experiences of a diverse group of now adult survivors, both male and female, of this rarely discussed crime, while maintaining a common theme. Fifteen of the survivors will be featured in a traveling exhibition of 60 images. Ros plans to release both a Web site and book after completing the project.

With a total of $100,000 at its disposal, Getty will award three additional grants in September, with applications due by May 15, 2008. Photographers interesting in submitting a proposal can visit Getty’s Web site. Additional portfolio images can be found on the site as well.

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We all use them; from camera flashes to television remotes, AA batteries find their way into every home. But just like other energy sources, batteries can be very costly as well. With a wide range of prices from store to store, a bit of comparison shopping may be necessary to find a good deal. Need a 4-pack of alkaline batteries at a tourist trap? Forget about it — that’ll be 10 dollars please.

With plenty of time to plan ahead, we shopped around for the best prices, dropping two Franklins at Wal-Mart. $200 bought seven sets of rechargeable and seven sets of single-use batteries — 84 batteries in total. With individual single-use batteries ranging in price from 50-cents to upwards of four dollars (purchased in packs of four or eight), our objective was simple: Calculate cost per shot for each battery.

Each set of batteries was put through a series of three tests. Batteries were tested twice using the 8-megapixel Canon PowerShot SX100IS, once with and once without using the built-in flash. The camera was tethered to a computer and fired using Canon’s Remote Capture software, with each and every setting carefully matched before each test to ensure consistency. The camera continued firing until each pair of batteries was depleted, with shot intervals of five seconds for the flash off test and 15 seconds while the flash was on. This portion of the battery test often ran overnight.

In case you’re interested in the technical details — images were captured at full resolution and sent directly to the computer for storage. The camera fired at ISO 400, f/2.8, 1/20 sec. for the flash off test and ISO 100, f/4, 1/160 sec. with the flash on. Focus was locked for both tests and the autofocus assist lamp was turned off. Because the camera did not focus and images were not displayed on screen between shots, the number of shots captured with each battery is significantly higher than you may experience with daily use. Nonetheless, this technique proved accurate for comparing life between different types of batteries.

Please continue on to Page 2 for results from our rechargeable and single-use battery tests.

Rechargeable Battery Test Results

Article Revised on 7/2/08: Original cost-per-shot results were corrected for single-use batteries following a miscalculation which resulted in cost-per-shot results that were double the correct cost-per-shot for each pair of single-use batteries.

With the environment taking center stage in the 21st century, staying green has become a much higher priority. As photographers, we can do our part to reduce waste by using rechargeable batteries whenever possible. While rechargeable batteries may not be the best choice in all situations, for applications that require frequent battery replacement, such as with digital cameras and flashes, their use can help save money and the environment at the same time.

Below are the results from our rechargeable battery point & shoot camera test. Batteries are presented in order from lowest to highest cost per shot. Because of our controlled shooting environment, costs per shot are lower than you will experience in the field, but still offer an accurate comparison of battery longevity. Battery capacity is presented as listed on unit packaging, but high capacity doesn’t necessarily result in high longevity as seen in our tests. Our conclusion: advertised capacity cannot always be trusted.

Some manufacturers offer pre-charged AA batteries, including Duracell and Kodak. Batteries sold with their Value Charger models were advertised as pre-charged, though longevity was significantly shorter than after a full charge. While a nice gesture, pre-charged batteries are not always dependable. Because pricing is based on a single use, Kodak’s Value charger offers the lowest cost per shot for rechargeable AA batteries in our test. Energizer’s 15-Minute charger is our best buy, however, because of its high longevity and quick, 15-minute charge time. Kodak’s 1-Hour charger was unable to charge batteries in 1-hour, requiring over three hours to accomplish the task. Charge times for other models were as described on packaging.

Editor’s Note: Cost-per-shot results for rechargeable batteries include the price of the charger and are based on a single use. Actual cost-per-shot will decline progressively as batteries are reused.

||||||||||| |—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—| | Image| Make| Model| Cost| Qty| Capacity| Flash Off| Per Shot| Flash On| Per Shot| | Kodak| Value Charger| $11.97| 4| 2100 mAh| 2670| $0.0022| 1614| $0.0037| | Duracell| Value Charger| $16.97| 4| 2000 mAh| 3195| $0.0027| 1729| $0.0049| | Energizer| Standard Charger| $21.13| 4| 2500 mAh| 3637| $0.0029| 1962| $0.0054| | Rayovac| Easy Charger| $11.94| 4| 2100 mAh| 2058| $0.0029| 1022| $0.0058| | Polaroid| Superfast Charger| $19.77| 4| 1800 mAh| 2886| $0.0034| 1478| $0.0067| | Kodak| 1-Hour Charger| $18.87| 4| 2400 mAh| 2149| $0.0044| 1250| $0.0076| | Energizer| 15 Minute Charger| $29.87| 4| 2200 mAh| 3731| $0.0040| 1842| $0.0081| Single-use Battery Test Results

Energizer e2 Lithium batteries, our best buy, may be more expensive than any other on the market, but their longevity justifies the price. According to Energizer, they’re also 33-percent lighter than alkaline batteries, cutting back on weight as well. If rechargeable batteries aren’t for you, lithium AA batteries are the next best thing — offering great performance while cutting back on waste.

|||||||||| |—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—| | Image| Make| Model| Cost| Qty| Flash Off| Per Shot| Flash On| Per Shot| | Energizer| e2 Lithium| $16.84| 8| 5213| $0.0008| 2890| $0.0015| | Duracell| Coppertop| $5.27| 8| 1204| $0.0011| 668| $0.0020| | Duracell| Ultra Digital| $7.34| 8| 1456| $0.0013| 782| $0.0024| | Energizer| Max| $5.52| 8| 1059| $0.0013| 566| $0.0024| | Duracell| 2x Power| $4.67| 4| 1898| $0.0012| 939| $0.0025| | Energizer| e2 Titanium| $6.87| 8| 1162| $0.0015| 636| $0.0027| | Rayovac| Alkaline| $4.25| 8| 751| $0.0014| 243| $0.0044| Conclusion

Energizer’s 15 Minute charger and battery set is our top pick in AA batteries. It offers enviable performance, is reasonably priced, and can charge completely in 15 minutes. 15 minutes isn’t too much to ask, making this set a great choice for virtually any photographer. If you need even more power or don’t use your camera on a daily basis, Energizer’s lithium batteries are our second place pick. These batteries offer the lowest cost per shot of any we’ve tested, weigh 33-percent less than alkaline batteries, and last significantly longer than any single-use battery we’ve seen.

While rechargeable batteries are the best pick for green photographers, recycling services are available for single-use batteries as well. Battery Solutions offers their iRecycle Kit for proper disposal of both rechargeable and single-use batteries, as well as batteries from cellular telephones, iPods and laptop computers. Recycling kits range in price from $24 to $74, based on the total weight of the batteries you wish to recycle. Whether recycling your used batteries or sending them to the landfills, it’s always a good idea to place a piece of tape over the battery terminals as a safety precaution. AA batteries are here to stay for the time being, but we can continue our dependence without causing significant harm to our wallets or the environment.

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I like to keep things simple when I travel — cutting back on gear and seldom carrying more than one or two bags. For the past year or so I’ve been doing most of my travel shooting with a pocket-sized digicam, leaving the DSLR kit at home. But on a recent trip to the Midwest, I carried all my gear in a Tamrac Adventure 9 backpack ($125 street), filling every compartment of the bag to capacity to test weight and usability.

At first glance the Adventure 9 looks like your standard medium sized backpack, but opening one of three zippered compartments makes clear that this is one serious camera bag. The largest of Tamrac’s three-bag Adventure series, the Adventure 9 has an empty weight of 4lbs, 3 oz, and comes in red/black, gray/black or camouflage styles.

Of interest to photographers is the bag’s large, easily accessible camera compartment. With enough room for a large DSLR, multiple lenses and accessories, the compartment comes loaded with sturdy adjustable foam dividers, making it easy to accommodate gear of many shapes and sizes. A Velcro strap helps secure your camera body — helpful for when you forget to zip the compartment before attempting to place the bag on your back!

It’s easy to secure small accessories as well. The main camera compartment’s transparent zippered accessory pouch is great for holding battery chargers, a multi-function tool, cell phone and cables. Four smaller compartments can store batteries and memory cards and each compartment features Tamrac’s patented Memory & Battery Management System, which includes a movable red flag allowing the photographer to easily track which batteries and memory cards have already been used. The main compartment can be secured with a zipper as well as three buckle straps, though the straps are not adjustable.

Directly above the main camera compartment is a smaller open compartment with plenty of storage for snacks, additional gear, or a change of clothes. The compartment includes Tamrac’s large zippered Pop-Off Pocket, perfect for storing accessories or even toiletry items. For professional shooters or serious hobbyists, the Adventure 9 sports a large Velcro divider, which when removed merges both front compartments, allowing the photographer to carry larger lenses and equipment. With the middle divider removed, both front compartments combined are large enough to hold lenses up to 400mm f/2.8 size. Both front compartments have water resistant zipper flaps, and though the bag is not completely submersible, a little drizzle isn’t cause for panic.

Looking towards the rear of the bag reveals a roomy laptop compartment, large enough to hold laptops with screens up to 17″. Thick padding keeps your computer well-protected and a plastic covered zipper keeps the weather out. One feature this compartment lacks is an adjustable strap allowing you to change the depth of the compartment, which would offer a more snug fit for smaller laptops. This isn’t much of an issue though, as third party laptop sleeves are readily available and will offer additional protection.

The Adventure 9 offers two mesh side compartments, perfect for holding your beverages. Each compartment is large enough for holding a 20-oz. water bottle, but tight enough to hold smaller items snugly. Elastic keeps the compartment closed, so you can easily store your smaller items without fear of losing them. I walked around with a USB thumb drive in one of the side compartments for a few weeks and felt confident that the device would still be there when I needed it.

The bag is very comfortable and feels tough enough to handle years of abuse. Large rear straps help distribute weight when on your back, and waist and chest straps are provided as well for added comfort when carrying heavy equipment over long distances. The bag is also compatible with Tamrac’s Strap Accessory System (S.A.S.), allowing you to add accessories such as a cell phone case or memory card wallet. Though small enough to fit easily beneath an airline seat, the Adventure 9 provided plenty of storage for everything needed to keep you going for a few days. Multiple large compartments make it easy to keep your expensive camera gear away from your shower gel and toothpaste, and the large upper compartment can easily hold two days of clothes, snacks and toiletries. Throw in the laptop compartment, and you’re all set for that weekend football assignment a few states over.

Unlike over-the-shoulder bags, wearing a backpack like the Adventure 9 won’t draw much attention. To the untrained eye, your camera bag carrying thousands of dollars of equipment is not easily distinguishable from a daypack carrying food, clothing and books. Despite this obvious security advantage, using a backpack as your main camera bag may prove to be awkward, as gear is not easily accessible as with over-the-shoulder sling bags and waist packs. Switching lenses often means removing the bag and setting it down on a flat surface before opening compartments. One issue is that it’s easy to forget to zipper the front compartment before picking up the bag, sending several thousand dollars of glass toppling to the ground. (In this case, my carelessness may be more to blame than the bag’s design!)

For shooters needing hyper-quick access to gear, the backpack’s fundamental design makes it difficult to swap gear on the fly, but for the photographer looking for a well-designed camera backpack with plenty of versatile storage, the Adventure 9 is a great economical choice.

Also see our Think Tank Urban Disguise 50 field test .

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It’s summer vacation season; from Antarctica to Zimbabwe, it’s time to go out and shoot the world. Whether snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef or just spending some time at home with the family, we have the cameras you’ll need to make your summer memories last a lifetime.

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