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Inside the Mind of Street Photographer Alan Schaller

"Streets in Mind" is a new short film by SmugMug Films that looks at the life and work of London-based street photographer Alan Schaller. Walking the streets of NYC, Schaller offers thoughts and insights on shooting street photos in major cities.

A Dance Photographer’s Take on the Tayla Harris Photo Controversy

As a dance photographer, I’m paying close attention to the response regarding an action photo of the Australian Football League’s Tayla Harris. This shot of her shows her leg extended after kicking the ball that would be the first goal of an AFL game.

To Stage or Not to Stage in Travel Photography

With the recent polemics surrounding a certain image that won a photography competition this week, I feel like we need to talk about travel photography. About people photography, in our case. And to set up boundaries as to what’s acceptable in both cases. Honestly, in my opinion, it’s a matter of common sense – but it seems that’s not enough. We still witness some shocking scenes in the world of travel photography these days.

Why Do I Hate My Portrait Photography?

Portraiture has never been a genre that resonated with me as a creator, which is odd because there are many examples of portraiture that I enjoy, and I’d absolutely love to be able to create meaningful portraits of people in the same way that I feel I’m able to create meaningful images in other genres.

Photographers crowding a woman and child in Vietnam

The Problem Isn’t the Photo Contest, It’s Us

Eye-rolls, shrugs, and barbs greeted the $120,000 Grand Prize winner of Dubai’s HIPA Photography Prize. Malaysian photographer Edwin Ong’s photo of a partially blind Vietnamese woman carrying her baby was derided for representing yet another “poverty porn” contest winner before it was suggested that the image was staged by photographer Ab Rashid.

This Clever Timelapse Blends Seasons in Central Park Into One Frame

Emmy-winning cinematographer and time-lapse photographer Tyler Fairbank visited Central Park in New York City over the course of two years and shot photos from the same locations with the same framing. Afterward, he blended the images into this mesmerizing 2-minute time-lapse titled, "The Seasons of Central Park."

How to Light Glass in a Studio

What is the best way to light glass? Glass doesn’t look good when you shine light directly at it. It soaks up the light it doesn’t define it. It just gives you specular highlights little pinpoints that don’t photograph well.

A Photo Project Blueprint: 21 Questions to Ask Before Starting

It would be safe to say that the gap between the number of interesting project ideas I've had compared to the number of photo projects I've produced is a wide one. In order to hold myself accountable in executing some of my project ideas, I've created a blueprint that helps me get past ideation and into producing new content.

Why Lens Focal Length Matters

Thinking about which lens to buy next? You might want to take a look at this 9-minute video first. In it, photographer Jamie Windsor argues that choosing the right focal length is more than a technical decision based on what type of photography you want to do -- your choice affects the dynamic and meaning of your photos.

The Art of Seeing as a Photographer

When I look back at my journey as a wildlife photographer especially as I scroll through my images on my editing screen a few things become apparent. Firstly, most of my pictures were either action or close up portrait, and secondly, the editing was awful.

Behind the Scenes of a Travel Assignment for the New York Times

What is it like to shoot a travel assignment for a major publication? What’s the process from start to finish? Every publication is a little different but I’ll speak from my experience shooting dozens of assignments for The New York Times travel section throughout Southeast Asia for over a decade.

Tourist Posing for Photo Gets Blasted Off Rock by Huge Crashing Wave

A tourist visiting Bali just received a scare while posing for a photo at a popular spot known as "Devil’s Tears." While standing on the edge of a cliff, a gigantic wave crashed against the rock and blasted the woman off her feet. The frightening incident was captured in a video that's now going viral in China.

My Bad Experience with Drobo as a Wedding Photographer

I hate it when I see photographers writing articles like this. I always think, "why bother?… just let it go, this isn’t going to change anything." But here I am anyway, tapping away to release some of this pent up anger. And I don’t expect this to change anything for me, but I sincerely hope it can stop at least one other person making the same mistake I did: buying a Drobo.

Shooting Street Photos in Ethiopia

My first time in a Sub-Saharan African country was in Ethiopia, and to be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, yes I know, I was expecting to get ‘in the zone’ at all times and take hundreds of great pictures like I expect from all my photography trips. Not too much to ask, is it?

10 Tips to Speed Up Your Photoshop

Is your Photoshop running a bit sluggish at times? There might be a way to speed things up. Here's a helpful 10.5-minute video by photoshopCAFE that goes over 10 tips that will help you squeeze the fastest possible performance from the program.

Why Size Matters: Lens Compression at 400mm in Landscape Photography

Most the time when I am out doing landscape photography, I have a Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS and Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS with me. On road trips, I try to bring my Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II -- it’s a fantastic lens with great image stabilization and impressive image quality. Unfortunately, it is a bit too big and heavy for me to bring out more often!

This Music Video is About Camera Gear Lust

Canadian photographer Taylor Jackson just dropped this new music video for a song titled "Gear Lust." It's about the never-ending desire some photographers have for getting more and more camera gear -- something popularly referred to as Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.).

Photos Inside the Art Institute of Seattle After it Abruptly Closed

I photographed the Art Institute of Seattle 3 days after it was abruptly shut down. I taught photography at AiS since October 2007. I think it is important for these images to get out as this is what it looks like when a school closes.

Confessions of an Autistic Photographer

Photography is a broad church. It is an art form, it is a tool of the press, it is a form of recreation, it is a business. It is a social record. It is a medium for pornography and it also records family history, sometimes at one and the same time.

NYC’s New Vessel Landmark Has a Big Photo Copyright Grab

Hudson Yards, the largest private real estate development in the United States (by square footage) just opened to the public in New York City, and the centerpiece of the Yards is a permanent art installation and giant public structure called Vessel. It's a 16-story landmark with 154 flights of stairs that visitors can climb, but beware: by reserving a ticket to Vessel, you hand over rights to photos shot within.

Why I Share My Contact Sheets

One of the major shortcomings of sharing work online, especially on social media, is that it is often a highlight reel of incredible work. That's not a bad thing if your only goal is to enjoy work, but for people looking to learn, it can offer some unrealistic expectations.

The Winning Photo of the $120K HIPA Prize Was Apparently Staged

The prestigious Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) has announced its 2019 winners, and Malaysian photographer Edwin Ong Wee Kee won the $120,000 Grand Prize with a photo shot in Vietnam showing a mother carrying two children. But the win is proving controversial today after a behind-the-scenes photo revealed that the shot was apparently staged.

Ep. 316: Don’t Mess With Profoto ‘Round Here – and more


Episode 316 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
Download MP3 -  Subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, email or RSS!
Featured: Photographer and Author, Gary Hershorn

Photographing the Epic Beauty of New Zealand’s South Island

New Zealand’s South Island is known for its picturesque landscapes, breathtaking high peak alps, and ever-changing weather. It is a world heritage for its untouched wilderness, clear night skies, and adventure tourism. After traveling through the North Island, it was time for me to jump south.