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This is the Most Iconic Image of the Australian Wildfires

As bushfires consume nearly 20 million acres in Australia, killing 24 people and an estimated one billion animals, it seems somewhat trivial to contemplate which image will end up defining and representing this apocalyptic event – especially considering the dry season will continue for a few more months. The scope of the fires has been difficult to comprehend, and indeed, the world largely ignored the first two months of the conflagration.

A Bell Isn’t a Bell Until It Rings

The scene through the viewfinder was one of pastoral beauty: a thatched and jettied cottage, with colorful Gertrude Jekyll borders full of Lupins.

Instagram is Now Hiding Photoshopped Photos

In an effort to combat misinformation and fake news, Instagram recently rolled out a new feature that flags fake photos. But now some photographers are wondering whether the system is going too far and making it harder to share and view certain types of photography.

Could China Take Over the Camera Industry?

After the Second World War, if you were a professional photographer, then you would have used cameras from companies like Hasselblad and Leica. Photojournalists tended to shoot predominantly with Leica cameras, and they were essentially the standard.

How I Succeeded at Doing a 365 Photo Project

Three years ago, I attempted a 365 Project. About 90 days in, I had to accept the fact that I wasn’t going to make it to 365 days, so I turned it into a 100 Day Project. I know that a 365 Project sounds pretty simple -- take and post one photograph each day. My standards for the images I post on my social media are very high, but in the end, I had to accept the reality that I wasn’t going to strike gold each day. I really did try though.

Is Fujifilm Losing Its ‘Kaizen’ Mojo?

After launching its X-Series line of cameras with the X100 back in 2011, Fujifilm began developing a reputation for 'Kaizen' (literally "change good" in Japanese), or pushing out frequent major firmware upgrades that breathe new life into older cameras.

Don’t Get Burned by Fake Camera Gear, This Video Warns

A couple of years ago, Canon USA and the National Crime Prevention Council launched a contest called "Stop Fakes" to raise public awareness about the dangers of using counterfeit power accessories. This 26-second video by Anthony Pegg was selected as the winner.

5 Worst Editing Mistakes in Landscape Photography

Photographer Mark Denney has put together a helpful video for beginners, in which he points out five of the most common photo editing mistakes he's seen and made when it comes to shooting landscapes.

First Impressions: Using the Canon 1D X Mark III for Family Photography

It’s a brilliant start to the year for Canon with the full announcement of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. Updating their flagship DSLR in time for the Olympics, it’s an announcement eagerly awaited by photographers across different genres who are looking for the best camera on the market.

Fuji X-T4 with IBIS Will Be Announced Next Month: Report

While rumors and releases of new cameras from Nikon and Canon have been swirling over the past several months, Fuji has remained relatively quiet. No more. Recent reports indicate that a replacement to the Fuji X-T3 is coming very soon, and it won't be the only camera announced.

Stop Romanticizing Medium Format — There’s Nothing Magical About It

When it comes to image quality, there are very few cameras that can compete against a good medium format system. The resolution, detail, and colors they produce are difficult to match using cameras with a smaller sensor. This is one of the reasons manufacturers can charge what they do for these types of cameras. The issue, however, is that many people tend to romanticize what medium format cameras are. And for the most part, it’s complete nonsense.

Turn Your On-Camera Flash Into an Off-Camera Softbox

Wondering how to make the most of the gear you have on hand? Here is a quick tutorial on how you can use your on-camera flash and a simple 5-in-1 reflector to create the look of an off-camera softbox.

How I Use My GoPro Cameras for Landscape and Travel Photography

As a landscape and travel photographer with more than a decade of experience, I always found myself carrying a ton of gear. With huge wide-angle and telephoto lenses, multiple DSLR camera bodies, heavy-duty tripods, and occasionally drones in my backpack, my mobility while trekking to locations was often limited. However, things changed dramatically in 2016 when I started working at GoPro and discovered its amazing cameras.

5 Primary Light Patterns and Their Purposes

In this 8.5-minute video, we’ll explain the 5 primary key light patterns and the ‘why’ or purpose behind each of them. It's all about “key” or main light positions and namely, understanding the why or purpose behind each one of these 5 primary lighting patterns.

This Browser Extension Shows if Books on Amazon Are at Your Local Library

Want to learn photography from some good ol' physical books? Before clicking the Checkout button on Amazon or other online bookstores, you might want to check out the handy browser extension called Library Extension. It adds a box to Amazon book listings to show you if that book is available for free at your local library.

I Worked with the Canon 1D X Mark III for Two Days

Last month, as a Canon Ambassador, I had the opportunity to try out the new DSLR flagship camera, the Canon 1D X Mark III, for 2 days. This is neither a technical review nor a test report. The video above will show you how I worked with the new camera.

Twenty Meters of Rocks: Revisiting the Same Spot Multiple Times

Tyrifjorden is one of Norway’s largest lakes. Along its shores, I have found a spot that I have visited frequently over the past few years. It has become my favorite location for sunrises, especially during winter when the sun rises right in front of me.

Low Contrast Lens Filters: What They are and Why You Should Use Them

As the name of the filter alludes to, these lens filters do indeed lower the overall contrast of a shot. To clarify what that means in relation to photography: these filters will reduce the darkness of the shadows by allowing light to bleed into them from surrounding highlights.

This is What it Looks Like When You Spin a GoPro at 1800rpm

25-year old YouTuber Mr. Michal of the Czech Republic recently took his GoPro for a spin... literally. He strapped his GoPro to a lathe, centered the camera, and captured a dizzying set of shots while it spun at everything from 14 all the way up to 1800rpm.

Advice for Beginner Photographers in 2020

Seeing that it's a new year and a lot of folks have recently gotten cameras, I thought it might be helpful to put down my thoughts and advice for beginners.

Ep. 332: Predictions for 2020…and 2019’s Hits and Misses – and more



Episode 332 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
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Featured: Fine art photographer, Julia Anna Gospodarou

 

A Helpful Gear Guide for New Event Photographers

Event and wedding photographer Mik Milman has released a handy buying guide that lists all of the gear a beginner needs if they want to get into this niche. From camera bodies, to glass, to flash guns, he covers all the bases so you don't waste money buying stuff you don't actually need.

New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Could Quadruple Camera Battery Life

Researchers at Australia's Monash University have developed what they're calling "the world’s most efficient lithium-sulphur (Li-S) battery," an ultra-high-capacity design that could quadruple camera battery life and run a smartphone for 5 consecutive days without a charge.

Hands-On with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 for E-Mount and L-Mount

Back in mid-2017, I was tasked with reviewing Sigma's first 24-70mm lens, the 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM IF Art lens, and I was extremely disappointed. You can read my whole review here, but in summary, I found it to be sadly inconsistent with its sharpness. Most notably, I found that edge sharpness was really quite bad.