In a move that feels equal parts marketing stunt and dream assignment, Icelandair is searching for what it calls a “really bad photographer.” Not aspiring, not improving, and definitely not professional, but genuinely bad, with a 10-day trip to Iceland and $50,000 on the line.
Marine biologist Dr. Nathan Robinson went viral over a decade ago for a video of him removing a straw from a sea turtle's nostril. However, Dr. Robinson is so much more than that viral moment. He has dedicated his career to studying and helping marine life. One way he does so is through TurtleCam, cameras safely attached to sea turtle shells that capture their behavior and habitat in remarkable detail.
When Ricoh announced the GR IV Monochrome, many fans of the format first cheered because it was a long time coming, then cried in dismay at the cost. Many voiced opinions that it was a "cash grab," but Ricoh explains that matching optics to the specialized sensor was just very costly.
Sam Altman has always cut a strange figure to me; like a teenager in many ways. Even his Twitter bio, "AI is cool I guess," is a sullen and petulant remark.
I flew to Atlanta expecting to cover a lens launch and came away with something far more meaningful. The debut of the Zeiss Otus ML 35mm f/1.4 was framed as a first look, but what Zeiss created was not a traditional showcase. Instead, it became an evening centered on artists, storytelling, and a sense of community that rarely takes the spotlight in this industry.
By and large, big tech executives love AI. There is some reporting that executives now say "AI" more than they say "earnings," so the love affair is real. Thankfully, camera brands see the same line in the sand: not one of them thinks generative AI belongs in a camera.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Hubble Space Telescope joined forces to deliver the most comprehensive view of Saturn ever captured. JWST contributed infrared light data, peering at the planet's surface, while Hubble's visible light imagery showcases the gas giant's atmosphere and cloud cover. Together, the strikingly different views deliver a greater understanding of Saturn and fantastic portraits, no less.
A well-known Pentax leaker with a strong history of being right has said a new Pentax DSLR is coming this year. That's certainly possible, but based on very recent conversations with company leadership, you should probably temper your expectations.
Drones have become part of the photographer's toolkit, but they can be daunting. This is where the Micro Drone 3.0 Neo by Extreme Fliers comes in.
High-profile artist and photographer Rashid Johnson has captured rapper Jay-Z for the latest cover of GQ magazine.
Is there room for a new full-frame 35mm film camera? When the Pentax 17 half-frame camera came out, it represented a serious risk to see if beginner photographers would be willing to buy a new camera. When you consider the saturated used camera market with all of the options that are still available, it’s hard to imagine much demand for a camera that will cost substantially more.
Tamron has announced a significant price hike for three of its lenses in Japan, but Tamron Americas tells PetaPixel there is no accompanying price increase to announce in other markets.
A Christian wedding photographer will be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees by the city of Louisville, Kentucky, after a years-long case over a law requiring her to photograph same-sex weddings.
A Los Angeles jury has found that Meta and Google are liable for harm caused to a young woman who says she developed an addiction to their platforms as a child, awarding her a total of $6 million in damages.
LK Samyang kicked off its "Prima" series of lightweight, affordable prime lenses in late 2024 with the AF 35mm f/1.4 P. After launching the Prima AF 16mm f/2.8 and AF 85mm f/1.8 lenses last year, LK Samyang is revisiting the 35mm focal length with a smaller, lighter, and more affordable AF 35mm f/1.8 Prima prime for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras.
DJI has announced the Avata 360, an 8K immersive drone that is equipped with dual Type 1 sensors and all of DJI's top-end sensors and transmission technology. With the promise of "exquisite clarity" in video and up to 120 megapixel photos, DJI is clearly aiming to take down Insta360's Antigravity.
Caitlin Clark has become the latest sports star to pick up a camera and try capturing the action instead of being in it, appearing last night at an NBA basketball game.
Like its flagships, Vivo focuses on mobile photography with its mid-range V Series, and the V70 aims to carry that torch. While not a dramatic shift, key moves with the user experience make this a likeable device for several reasons.
AI-powered post-processing platform Aftershoot has published what it describes as binding public commitments, outlining three key pillars for how the company will develop, implement, and utilize artificial intelligence as part of its product offering.
Photographers would be forgiven for thinking that Panasonic is no longer committed or interested in developing new Micro Four Thirds products, but as the company told PetaPixel at CP+ 2026 in Japan, it is still very much interested in developing new MFT products that capitalize on the format's core strengths.
This week, ON1 announced Restore AI for its Photo RAW MAX software. The company says the goal is to give photographers the ability to restore old photos using a "powerful new AI photo restoration module," but what it appears to do instead is dramatically change the photos into AI hallucinations.
Harlowe has introduced an expanded lineup of Max Bi-Color LED monolight kits, built around a 120W fixture with Bluetooth-based wireless control, an included Fresnel zoom lens, and a magnetic accessory mounting system. The range includes Creator and Master kits with both AC-powered and battery-powered options, addressing different production needs from studio setups to on-location production.
A new exhibition explores how group photography has shaped and reflected ideas of community across history and into the present.
A recent survey found that more than half of mothers are “almost never” in their own family photos.
Photographers often feel like certain camera technology has plateaued. Sure, sensors get a little better, autofocus improves with each generation, and cameras are faster than ever. However, camera tech rarely improves by leaps and bounds like it once did. Canon believes AI may fuel many of the biggest camera tech breakthroughs in the coming years.
The Audubon Photography Awards has selected its 10 favorite videos from its 2025 competition, which capture various fascinating bird behaviors.
This week on The PetaPixel Podcast, Chris Niccolls, Jordan Drake, and Jaron Schneider discuss Panasonic's response to its plans for L-mount. While the company is working on a successor to the S1H series, it isn't very interested in trying to compete with Nikon, Canon, and Sony on the sports, action, and wildlife front.
Meta has been ordered to pay $375 million after a New Mexico jury found the tech giant liable for failing to protect children from exploitation and harmful content on its platforms.
The wheels are quite literally falling off NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover, which is still trundling over the Red Planet some 13 years after it was dropped off there.
The largest newspaper in the Netherlands ran an AI-generated photo of a woman on its website alongside a made-up story about her attempting to book a flight out of Dubai.
A satellite captured a "unique view" of the International Space Station as two astronauts were engaged on a spacewalk above Argentina.
A photo of a lynx in Spain playing with its food has won the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026.
In September, OpenAI launched the newest version of its generative AI video model, Sora 2, to significant initial fanfare and equally big copyright concerns. Today, just months later, OpenAI killed Sora.
For the last couple of years, PetaPixel has asked OM System executives about the company's plan for the beloved Pen series. Previously, the response has been tepid, so it didn't ask again this year. Surprisingly, OM System executives brought it up instead.
Alongside the new Kodak Ektapan 100, 400, and P3200 black and white films, Eastman Kodak also released Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160, 400, and 800 daylight-balanced color negative film. The new Ektacolor Pro films appear to be rebranded versions of Kodak's extremely popular Portra films, which have long been distributed by Kodak Alaris rather than Eastman Kodak itself.
Eastman Kodak has continued its torrid pace of film releases by announcing two new professional film lines, Ektacolor and Ektapan, comprising six films in total, five of which are available in both 135 and 120 formats. Kodak Ektapan is a continuous-tone panchromatic black-and-white film available in ISO 100, 400, and P3200 variants.
In 2017, I picked up a Surface Book II to review. While, as a photographer, I didn't like it, I had to admit that it did tick a lot of boxes for the average user.
The Nature Photography Contest announced the winners of its 2025 contest, showcasing powerful photos that capture nature's beauty and exemplify why protecting the environment is so important.
Saramonic has introduced the Air SE, a dual-channel wireless microphone system designed for smartphones, tablets, and computers. The system emphasizes compact size, simplified operation, and a feature set that aligns with current expectations for mobile-first audio workflows.
A photographer was questioned by the FBI at his own home about photos he took of anti-deportation protesters, including whether he could identify any of the individuals involved.
Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of sperm whales headbutting each other, documenting a behavior long described by sailors but never previously confirmed.
A photographer has finally recovered his iPad months after losing it in a snowbank while covering a January winter storm, just as spring arrives.
UGreen has announced the Maxidok 17-in-1 and 10-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 docks, a significant expansion to the company's Thunderbolt 5 product portfolio. The pair of new docks promises to give professional creators the ports, performance, and multi-display support they require in demanding workflows.
Panasonic Lumix makes fantastic hybrid cameras that perform well in a variety of situations. However, many argue that most aren't particularly good-looking cameras.
Panasonic has unveiled the Lumix ZS300, a successor to the Lumix ZS200 announced back in early 2018. Like its predecessor, the ZS300, also known as the TZ300, combines a 15x optical zoom lens and a 20.1-megapixel Type 1 CMOS image sensor inside a compact, pocket-sized body. However, it also features a major downgrade in user experience.
Instagram has begun rolling out an update that allows users to change the order of photos and videos in a carousel post -- after it has already been published.
As smart glasses begin to unleash havoc on society -- largely thanks to their clandestine cameras that bad actors use to make mischief -- one startup is addressing the problem.
Processing thousands of photos on a computer can be a cumbersome task, especially when the task at hand is tedious and unimaginative. Could agentic AI be an answer to that?
A new legal battle between the co-founders of Lux Optics, the company behind acclaimed iPhone camera apps Halide and Kino, sheds new light on not only Lux itself but also Apple's interest in the company.
If you ask me, some of the worst smartphone photos are those people take with front-facing cameras. Smaller sensors, smaller lenses, and fewer resources are big reasons why, and as rear cameras continue to evolve (some more than others, anyway), products are released to encourage users to turn their phones around and use the rear lenses instead.
