• An intimate portrait series shot exclusively by renowned photographer, Ben Weller, on the all-new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which revolutionises the way photos can be captured, even in the lowest of light.

• Images have been brought to life with ‘The Light Shift Gallery’, a virtual experience narrated by Samsung Ambassador, Broadcaster, Author and Founder of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton.

LONDON, UK – 28^th February 2023 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd: Night shifts are on the rise, with nearly half (44%) of UK night workers now preferring to work alternative hours versus a traditional 9-5.

The research commissioned by Samsung (for the launch of the Galaxy S23 Ultra) also revealed that when it comes to the benefits of overnight grafting, 18–34-year-old night workers said the hours suit their lifestyle (49%), they feel joy from experiencing moments they wouldn’t usually in the day (37%), and they are more creative (23%).

Other key motivators behind this workforce ‘shift’ include peace and quiet (39%) with less or no people in the workplace, earning more money (35%) from getting more done and avoiding rush hour madness (33%).

However, whilst these shifts are on the rise, surprisingly, over a third (38%) wouldn’t consider working overnight as they deem the traditional roles ‘boring’. But they are about to be proved otherwise.

This comes as Samsung partners with specialist portrait photographer, Ben Weller, renowned for shooting celebs such as Saoirse Ronan and Josh Hartnett for the likes of Vogue and GQ, to shine a light on the inspiring stories of everyday people burning the midnight oil in unexpected ways.

The nation can explore these images in ‘The Light Shift Gallery’, a virtual exhibition narrated by Samsung Ambassador, Broadcaster, Author and Founder of Happy Place, Fearne Cotton. This launched today at: SamsungLightShiftGallery.com.

From the farmer caring for a new life at dawn, to the florist making overnight masterpieces. Armed with the new Galaxy S23 Ultra and its standout low light capabilities, Ben and Samsung scoured the country to capture an exclusive series of compelling portraits, of some of the nation’s most inspiring characters having all kinds of epic experiences whilst the rest of the world sleeps.

Helping to spread the word to young adults across the UK, Fearne Cotton, Samsung Ambassador, Broadcaster, Author, and Founder of Happy Place said: “Through my long career in broadcast, I understand the creativity and joy that can take place during the darker hours or morning twilight. From my early days radio presenting and now doing the Happy Place podcast and writing books – I get a real buzz seeing all the varied and creative work that happens before the sun is up. 

“I hope this beautiful series of smartphone portraits inspire others who don’t work conventional hours. They’re shining the light on all those who work hard when many others are sleeping.”

Of the collection, Ben Weller, Portrait Photographer, commented: “I’m passionate about my photography having a strong sense of narrative, so when I learnt about all the interesting things our ‘Light Shift’ grafters were doing, I couldn’t wait to help share their stories. I normally shoot my projects on film, so this was my first time using a smartphone, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Night Mode allowed me to take crystal clear images, even on the darkest of shoots. I’m excited for the nation to get a real sense of the overnight magic I’ve experienced.”

The ‘Light Shift’ Characters

Fearne Cotton, Samsung Ambassador, Broadcaster, Author and Founder of Happy Place, Richmond

• Fearne has long been an early bird, working irregular hours to suit her busy entertainment career. She now enjoys getting up pre-sunrise to get some writing away, using her Galaxy S23 Ultra to scroll for inspiration.

Photo credit: Priit Palumaa

Eric Emms, ‘The Stargazer’, Baker Street Irregular Astronomers, London 

• The founder of Baker Street Irregular Astronomers, where like-minded star gazers meet once a month at London’s darkest point in Regent’s Park, to explore the wonders of the night sky.

Nicky Paul, ‘The Twilight Florist’, Paradise Blooms, Birmingham

• Working her magic through the night during busy periods, florist Nicky Paul uses bright colours and textures inspired by her Jamaican heritage to add vibrancy to her epic floral displays.

Tom Shaw, ‘The Modern Milkman’, Leeds

• With a mission to help reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans, one sustainable milk delivery at a time, Tom Shaw co-founded the Modern Milkman and enjoys taking in the scenic routes on his revolutionised milkround.

Charlie Beaty, ‘The Night Watch Farmer’, Meridan Farm, Coventry 

• Working alongside her father and uncle on their family farm, Charlie Beaty is passionate about driving positive change in the agricultural industry.

Dannee Mcguire, ‘The Creative Confectioner’, Roly’s Fudge, St Ives

• Waking up pre sunrise to whip up mountains of fresh fudge for locals and tourists afar, Dannee McGuire gets a real kick out of continuing her family-run pantry in the west country.

All portraits were shot in low light surroundings and powered by the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s dynamic Nightography feature, which enables users to take vivid, highly optimised photos, even in the dark. Thanks to its innovative AI multi-frame processing, which combines 30 images into just one epic shot, colour and detail are optimised in every pixel.

To experience The Light Shift, please visit: SamsungLightShiftGallery.com

About Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

• The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra makes it easier for any level of photographer to capture phenomenal content. It offers Samsung Galaxy’s most advanced camera system, tailored for nearly any lighting conditions, and engineered to render incredible detail.
• Improved Nightography capabilities transform how the Galaxy S Series optimises photos and videos in a wide range of ambient conditions. Filming a favourite song at a concert or grabbing a group shot of friends at dinner — users can get sharper images and videos. Visual noise that usually ruins low-light images is corrected by a new AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm that enhances object details and colour tone.

About Ben Weller

• Ben Weller’s photography is distinctive for its strong sense of narrative. From high-end fashion, to documentary, he is renowned for creating imagery that is simultaneously strong, beautiful, and cinematic.
• Ben has collaborated with Burberry, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Emporio Armani. His work is regularly featured in global tastemakers such as Vogue, WSJ, and GQ and has captured famous faces including Saoirse Ronan, Michaela Coel Webb, Gillian Anderson Bill Nighy to name a few. Ben received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Brighton, where he was awarded first-class honours in photography, and now divides his time between London and New York.
• Ben took all images during the night and twilight hours using the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra device to showcase its sharp night image capture functionality.

Methodology

• Research was commissioned by Samsung UK & Ireland and conducted by
• OnePoll surveyed 2,000 Employed UK Adults (400 of whom work night/sunrise shifts) workers in February 2023.

• New research identifies Britain’s most seldom spotted creatures
• The nightjar, the pine marten, and the golden eagle among the UK’s most elusive species
• Over a third of Brits (36%) weren’t aware deer could be found in urban areas and four in ten (41%) didn’t know bats were native to the UK
• Report commissioned by Samsung UK, who has partnered with wildlife photographers Kyle Moore and Ian Wood to document a series of nocturnal animals using the Samsung Galaxy S22’s Night Mode feature
• Video guide to spotting and safely snapping nocturnal wildlife presented by television and radio presenter Angellica Bell

Millions of Brits have never seen common native animals in real life such as owls, hedgehogs, and badgers, according to a new report released today.

The research identifies Britain’s most elusive animals with the easily camouflaged nocturnal bird the nightjar topping the list with only 7% of Brits having seen one in the wild.

Protected species and woodland native the pine marten came in as second least seen (11%) alongside the solitary pygmy shrew (11%).

The new study, which surveyed 2,000 Brits, was specially commissioned by technology giant Samsung UK, who has partnered with wildlife photographers Kyle Moore and Ian Wood to document a series of the UK’s nocturnal using the Samsung Galaxy S22’s Night Mode function.

Other creatures’ adults haven’t seen in their natural habitats include the dormouse (87%), muntjac deer (82%) and pipistrelle bat (84%).

Grass snakes remain a mystery for 71% whilst 76% haven’t set eyes on a tawny owl and only 28% claiming to have seen a badger.

The top 20 most seldom spotted creatures are revealed as:

1. Nightjar (7%)
2. Pine marten (11%)
3. Pygmy shrew (11%)
4. Hazel dormouse (13%)
5. Beaver (15%)
6. Golden eagle (15%)
7. Otter (15%)
8. Pipistrelle bat (16%)
9. Stoat (17%)
10. Water vole (17%)
11. Puffin (17%)
12. Muntjac deer (18%)
13. Cuckoo (19%)
14. Mole (23%)
15. Tawny owl (24%)
16. Sparrowhawk (26%)
17. Kingfisher (28%)
18. Badger (28%)
19. Roe deer (28%)
20. Grass snake (29%)

Respondents were asked which the UK’s most elusive creatures they had seen in the wild with two thirds (66%) revealing they have never seen Britain’s native red squirrel and 47% claiming to have never seen a hedgehog.

Four in ten (41%) of those surveyed said they didn’t know bats were native to the UK, despite the nocturnal creatures representing a quarter of all indigenous mammals in Britain.

Almost a third of Brits (36%) weren’t aware that species of deer could be found in cities, even though the deer population in the UK is at the highest it’s been for over 1,000 years. Does and stags are regularly spotted in urban areas and villages around the UK, from Glasgow, to Sheffield and London.

Over a quarter of respondents (27%) admitted they’d only had the opportunity to see wildlife like owls, bats, and badgers when at wildlife sanctuaries or zoos.

Wildlife populations are growing across UK cities making it easier than ever to spot critters in the back garden or crossing city roads, with London alone being home to more than 15,000 known species across birds, insects, and mammals.

When it comes to capturing pictures and video of wildlife in their garden, 62% believe they don’t have the right access technology to snap animals, with 59% wishing they had access to high quality cameras for this reason.

Samsung UK has partnered with TV and radio presenter Angellica Bell to create a video guide to help the public spot and safely capture photography of British wildlife using the Galaxy S22 and its Night Mode and Pro camera functions.

The guide follows wildlife photographers Ian Wood and Kyle Moore as they spot and snap pictures of a Britain’s most elusive animals including badgers, hedgehogs, and deer.

Dr Bryony Tolhurst, Lecturer in ecology at the University of Brighton said:

“It’s no surprise that the Nightjar and the Pine Marten are named as the UK’s most elusive animals as they only live in certain places and are secretive and hard to spot. Despite popular belief, UK towns and cities aren’t devoid of wildlife at all and in fact are home to a wide array of mammals, birds, and insects. Some of the animals on the list are nocturnal and live on our doorsteps, so some of the best opportunities to see the animals is when the sun starts going down.”

Ashrita Seshadri, Head of Brand Marketing at Samsung UK added:

“When developing the Samsung Galaxy S22, we wanted to give our community the most advanced camera experience possible. Night Mode allows users to capture amazing shots in lowlight and night-time conditions making it the ultimate tool for the urban wildlife photographer just as these illusive animals come to life.”

Angellica Bell said:

 “In the UK’s built-up urban cities, it’s easy to forget just how many amazing animals are living alongside us. From the urban fox on the prowl to a herd of deer living in a housing estate, it was incredible to work with two talented wildlife photographers who were able to capture unbelievable footage of these animals. Following their simple tips, you could be on your way to becoming an accomplished wildlife snapper in no time, and capture some of our incredible wildlife too!”

The Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone series features Night Mode technology which takes ultra-high-quality Nightography photos and videos in low-light conditions.

The new Samsung Galaxy S22 range is available now on Samsung.com and selected retailers including Selfridges, Harrods, and Samsung KX.

For more information Samsung KX