Ep. 138: Pointed Photography Predictions For 2017 – and more
Episode 138 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
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Featured: Astrophotographer Ian Norman from Lonely Speck
The 10 Most Popular PetaPixel Posts of 2016
Another year has come to a close. As we wrap up 2016, here's a look back at the 10 most popular posts published on PetaPixel over the past 365 days.
Photographer Captures Wacky Facial Expressions on His Dog
When photographer Tamás Szarka of Budapest, Hungary, takes his down Strawberry for walks, he often brings a camera to capture the 6-year-old boxer's crazy facial expressions as she sprints around.
Don McCullin Knighted for His Services to Photography
British photojournalist and war photographer Don McCullin was knighted this week for his "services to photography."
How to Shoot Street Portraits With Permission
If there is one genre of street photography I specialize in, it is street portraiture. I love talking with my subjects, engaging with them, and focusing on their faces. If I started shooting street portraits all over again, this is the advice I would give myself.
Mesmerizing Long Exposure Photos of Traffic Lights in the Fog
Fine Art photographer Lucas Zimmermann's long exposure photographs of traffic lights in the fog are oddly satisfying. At once creepy and serene, his 2013 series Traffic Lights and this month's follow-up Traffic Lights 2.0 are both worth checking out.
Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810 vs Sony A7R II: Side-by-Side Comparison
If you're in the market for a high-end full-frame camera, chances are good the Canon 5D Mark IV, Sony A7R II, and Nikon D810 are all contenders. Check out this side-by-side comparison if you're having a hard time deciding which of the three is best for you.
This Designer Created Adobe-Inspired Chocolates to Win Potential Clients
As a professional photographer, getting noticed by potential clients means getting creative. Don't just send out postcards or basic mailers to the art directors you want to work with; take a leaf out of designer April Hansen's playbook instead.
Quick Tip: Use Lightroom to Figure Out What Your Next Prime Lens Should Be
Have you ever asked yourself what the best focal length for your first (or your next) prime lens should be? If you use mostly zoom lenses, Adobe Lightroom may be able to help.
F-Stops vs T-Stops: The Difference Explained in Plain English
Ever wonder what the difference between an F-stop and a T-stop is? If you've never bothered to look up and understand this bit of light transmission trivia, listen up: this simple video does the work for you.
Magic Lantern Breakthrough Lets You Shoot Lossless 14-bit DNGs In-Camera
Magic Lantern may soon release their most popular feature since RAW video. A few of the folks who constantly improve the Canon software add-on have just found a way to generate 14-bit lossless DNG RAW files in-camera!
Some iPhone 7/7 Plus Users Reporting Camera ‘Black Screen’ Issues
Complaints are starting to surface online from iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users who are experiencing serious issues with their new smartphone's camera. So if your iPhone cam has been showing a black screen, generating strange tinted photos, or experiencing unfounded 'overheating' issues, you're not alone.
The SFPD Cop Who Became the Official Historical Photographer
Peter Thoshinsky joined the San Francisco Police Department back in 1982. After serving as a cop for 31 years, his career in the department took a major turn: he became the official "historical photographer" for the SFPD.
The State of Photo Theft in 2016
The folks over at the image tracking service Pixsy have released an infographic about the state of photo theft in 2016. As 64% of you have personally experienced, photo theft remains a serious and widespread problem in our digital age.
Don’t Fetishize This Image
Burhan Ozbilici’s stunning photo of a gunman moments after assassinating the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov spread like wildfire over social media. While many within the photojournalism community quickly declared the image as the “photo of the year,” and worth of top prizes, one voice offered dissent.
Heartwarming Photos of Little Kids and Their Big Dogs
Photographer Andy Seliverstoff over St. Petersburg, Russia, has been working on a heartwarming photo project that will put a smile on your face, particularly if you're a dog lover. It's titled, "Little Kids and Their Big Dogs."
reVision: Share Before and After Views of Your Photo Editing
reVision is a simple new web service that lets you share interactive before-and-after views of your photo edits with other people.
Here’s the Golden Ratio in Ansel Adams’ Photos
Artists have long used the golden ratio as a guide for creating aesthetically pleasing art, as it's believed that the human brain is hardwired to find the proportions inherently beautiful. Take a look at the work of legendary photographer Ansel Adams, and you may find the golden ratio tracing out many of their notable features.
Deal Alert: Amazon Offering 75% Off Photo Prints
Back in September 2016, Amazon launched its own photo printing service, instantly sinking Shutterfly stock by undercutting competitors' prices. Now, to celebrate the new year, Amazon is offering a crazy 75% off coupon code to cut its already industry-low prices.
Ep. 137: More Bad Advice From a Popular Publication – and more
Episode 137 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
Download MP3 - Subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, email or RSS!
Featured: Lensrentals founder, Roger Cicala
The Excuses Photographers Make
Photographers make all kinds of excuses, whether out of lack of experience or just because they thought something to be common knowledge (which it often isn't). Taking ownership of your work and communicating expectations is crucial on the path to success and professionalism.
This 76-Year-Old Has Spent His Entire Life Repairing Cameras
Milan-based filmmaker David Drills made this short film titled, "Master of Camera". It's a beautiful 2-minute portrait of Gian Luigi Carminati, a 76-year-old man who has spent his entire working life repairing cameras.
Shoot This 52 Week Photo Challenge in 2017 to Improve Your Skills
My original 52 Week Challenge in 2016 was a huge success, with tens of thousands of photographers participating from around the world. In celebration of those who have completed the first challenge, a new challenge is now here!
Tip: Use the 3-2-1 Rule to Safely Back Up Your Precious Photos
We recently shared the story of a photographer who had hard drives containing virtually all her professional work stolen from her home shortly before Christmas. If you don't want this type of devastating data loss to happen to you, look into the 3-2-1 strategy of backups.
Canon G-Series MegaTank Printers Use Refillable Ink Tanks, Not Cartridges
Canon USA has launched a new line of printers called the PIXMA G-Series MegaTank. It's the first line of PIXMA inkjet printers that use built-in refillable tanks rather than cartridges.
This Woman Tried to Publicly Shame a Photographer, and It Backfired
One woman just received a big lesson on how NOT to treat photographers, and one photographer is being praised for how she handled an extremely difficult client.
Republicans Propose $2,500 Fine for Photography on House Floor
House Republicans have put forward a proposal to fine representatives who shoot photos or videos on the floor of the chamber -- a move widely viewed as a response to House Democrats staging a sit-in in June to demand a vote on gun control legislation.
Brides Magazine: Make Sure Photog is Using ‘Cannon or Nikon’
Brides magazine recently published an advice article titled "Essential Questions You Need to Ask Your Wedding Photographer," and some of the "pro tips" may raise eyebrows among wedding photographers.
A First Look at Sigma’s Monster Prime, the 500mm f/4 Sport
Sigma’s new 500mm f/4 Sport is getting a lot of attention. It might be because it’s the first telephoto prime in its new ART/SPORT series of lenses, or it might be because of the price tag of $5,999. That’s $3,000 less than the Canon and almost $4,300 less than the Nikon, while only being $1,000 more than the older Sigma 500mm f/4.5.
Summarizing My Wedding Photos This Year… Without the Bride and Groom
Who thinks wedding photography has become a bit predictable this year? Boring, even? Sure, the first time you see a teeny tiny couple lost in a massive landscape, it's impressive. Or a backlit couple in profile. Or a couple shot through loads of out of focus lights. Or hand in hand, silhouetted, between fairy lights, having just stepped over a prism and climbing a mountain (because that’s what happens on a wedding day).
Sphere is a Lens That Turns Your DSLR Into a 360-Degree Camera
Sphere is a new lens that's designed to turn any DSLR camera into a 360-degree camera. It captures a full 360-degree view horizontally and a 180-degree field of view vertically.
U.S. Now Asking Foreign Travelers for Instagram Usernames
The U.S. government is now asking certain foreign travelers about their social media accounts prior to entering the country. Among the various services listed in the new "optional" section is Instagram.
Double Portraits Reveal Celebrities’ Public and Private Personalities
At the Toronto Film Festival this year, Shutterstock staff photographer Andrew H. Walker set up a photo booth for a different kind of celebrity portrait. Every time a movie or TV star sat down, Walker asked them to show two different sides of themselves to the camera.
Photoshop Timelapse: A Snowy Self-Portrait by Bella Kotak
England-based fine art and fashion photographer Bella Kotak made this 10-minute video that shows how she shot and retouched a recent self-portrait.
Aerial Photos of Wildfire Victims Lying in Their Burned Down Homes
In November 2016, wildfires broke out near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and devastated the town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, claiming 14 lives and over 2,000 homes and businesses. Nashville-based photographer Jeremy Cowart recently decided to use his camera to help bring healing and awareness to the area's victims.
Photo Idea: Spin a Christmas Tree with Your Camera Shutter Open
Christmas 2016 has come and gone, but if you still have access to a Christmas tree, here's a quick and neat photo idea you can try. Turn down the lights and your shutter speed, and shoot a long exposure photo of a lit Christmas tree while turning the tree.
Photographer Finds Her Backup Drives Stolen on Christmas Eve
Christmas is often called "the most wonderful time of the year," but for one Canadian photographer, this year's holiday season has been anything but. On Christmas Eve, Johany Jutras returned home and found that burglars had stolen her precious backup hard drives and photo archives.
Photographer Spots an Uncontacted Tribe in the Amazon
Brazilian photographer Ricardo Stuckert recently had a helicopter flight diverted due to a storm, but the change in plans led to a set of remarkable photos: Stuckert spotted and photographed an uncontacted Amazonian tribe.
What a Double Rainbow All the Way Looks Like with Different Lenses
Just before sunset a few days ago, a gorgeous double rainbow appeared over the San Francisco Bay. I happened to have a fisheye lens attached to my camera, so I ran outside and snapped the shot above.
Benjamin Von Wong: From Mining Engineer, to Viral Photog, to Environmentalist
Photographer Benjamin Von Wong gave this inspiring 20-minute talk at the e.g. conference this year about his personal journey from being a mining engineer, to a well-known photographer behind several viral hits, to a "wannabe environmentalist."