Archives

Why I Am Staying with APS-C

After a many year hiatus, I returned to photography as an avocation. In years past, I had been a semi-pro, using primarily Leica gear and film, of course at full frame. In those days the only significant half frame camera was the Olympus, which in spite of the smaller but more useful format gave a good account of itself. It did not hurt that Olympus glass was at that time some of the best coming from Japan, especially for snappy contrast.

Prince Charles: Gary Fong Lightsphere Looks Like an Ice Cream

There was a lighthearted moment during President Trump's visit with the Royal Family in the UK today. As he and Prince Charles walked into Clarence House, one of the photographers in attendance accidentally dropped their Gary Fong Lightsphere flash diffuser onto the ground in front of the two.

Ep. 323: Is It Too Big or Just Right? – and more


Episode 323 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
Download MP3 -  Subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, email or RSS!
Featured: LensRentals and OLAF Optical Testing founder, Roger Cicala

Photos of Venice Canals at Night

The famous canals of Venice, Italy, are usually photographed with the hustle and bustle of tourists and boats. French photographer Thibaud Poirier decided to visit them in the quiet of the night and shoot beautiful photos showing a different side of the city.

Shooting the Stars in Light-Polluted Singapore with the Huawei P30 Pro

The moment I had been waiting for finally arrived exactly 49 days after I got my Huawei P30 Pro. This is one of my final tests for the phone after shooting the Milky Way handheld and a meter. So what’s the big deal about this test? Because photographing the Milky Way in Singapore with a DSLR was deemed impossible by many astrophotography veterans here just 5 years ago.

3 Ways to Boost Your Portraits Using Color

We photographers obsess about finding the right light. We understand how to use hard light, when to use soft light, and get excited by directional light. Portrait photographers learn how to control light using flashes and modifiers, and become experts in getting the most from natural light.

Wildlife Photographer Gets Squashed by a Baby Elephant Seal

Wildlife photographers Chris Bray and his wife, Jess, were leading a photo tour of Antarctica and South Georgia when the duo had a warm and fuzzy encounter with a curious (and huge) baby elephant seal. This 1-minute video shows "the hazards of being a wildlife photographer."

How I Shot My Own Wildlife Short Film for Less Than $100

As a true fan of the wildlife documentary genre, I have been itching to create my own short wildlife video project ever since I started doing wildlife photography. That being said, and despite having some previous experience with videography and video editing, producing a high-quality wildlife video always seemed like a too difficult task for a single person with a non-existent budget and some pretty basic gear, and so I never pushed myself into trying it.

7 Simple Tips for Better Timelapses

In this 3-minute video and article, I want to share 7 tips on how to create better timelapse footage. Those tips are mostly related to your camera and settings.

Canon’s 7D Line Has Come to an End: Report

As Canon turns its attention to growing its mirrorless camera market share, the company is reportedly sunsetting some of its popular DSLR lines such as the high-megapixel 5DS and 5DS R. And the latest word is that the popular 7D line has also come to an abrupt end.

Photojournalism Through the Eyes of a Monk

Being a monk who has photographed monastic communities from many years now, many people have asked me if I have something to share from my experience. Well, there isn't much.

Photographer Gets Nailed by ‘Worst First Pitch Ever’

Before the baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals last night, a White Sox employee was tasked with tossing the ceremonial first pitch. She threw the ball in the wrong direction, striking a photographer in the lens with what's being called the "worst first pitch ever."

How Google’s Handheld Multi-Frame Super-Resolution Tech Works

Since there are physical limits to how large sensors can be in smartphones, companies like Google have been pushing heavily into computational photography, the use of digital rather than optical processes to improve the capabilities of a camera. Here's a 3-minute video that explains how Google's super-resolution technology works.

The NYT’s Poor Caption and Dubious Image Selection of Hope Hicks

Unlike most types of photography, photojournalism abides a more stringent set of ethical guidelines because truth is paramount to accurate reporting. Many newspapers enforce their own ethical journalism guidelines, which tend to focus on retouching and the use of photo illustration techniques (e.g. compositing, timelapse, panoramic, etc).

Why I’ll Never Be a Wedding Photographer

I have seen so many posts across various websites and Facebook groups this week all centered around one theme: wedding photography. Wedding season is well and truly upon us and I guess that everyone who’s getting married this summer has already booked their photographer. But their guests who are getting married next year or the year after? They’re the ones probably starting to think about who’s going to photograph their big day. And it’s a huge decision to make.

Perfect Imperfections: Using a Flawed Camera Lens for Creative Photos

If you were to ask a photographer whether it’s better to invest in a camera or a lens, most would answer lens. After all, no amount of megapixels or camera features can save blurry or ill-rendered images. The lens is the eye of the camera, which is why photographers spend thousands of dollars on them. However, this doesn’t mean that you need an expensive lens to make compelling images.

Automatic Vintage Lens II: A Harmonious Blend of Luxury Timepiece and Vintage Camera

This isn’t the first time Japanese watchmakers, TACS, have launched a camera-inspired timepiece. Last year, they released the Automatic Vintage Lens II (AVL II), which proved to be their best seller. Now, this stunning timepiece is being released with a new variant that photography buffs will love -- and it’s going to be available just in time for Father’s Day!

How to Clean and Mod the Beam Splitter in a Rangefinder Camera

I recently collaborated with Chris from filmismorefun and made a video about how to clean the beam splitter in your rangefinder camera as well as how to improve the rangefinder patch too. This is an advanced tutorial with great results.

Arctic Photos Exhibited Inside Blocks of Melting Ice

During SXSW in Austin, Texas, earlier this month, award-winning Canadian documentary photographer Louie Palu held an unusual exhibition titled "Arctic Passage." His large format photos were displayed on a plaza frozen within large blocks of ice.

Concise Photography Advice for Friends and Family

"Do you have any advice on how to take good photos?" Because I don't make a secret of my interest in photography, it's not uncommon for people around me to assume that I'm the right person to answer this seemingly innocuous question.