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Wow: This Algorithm Can Separate Reflections from Photographs

Researchers at Google and MIT have figured out a way to automatically remove reflections and obstructions from photographs, and their latest demo of the technology is amazing.

Check out the 6.5-minute video above for an explanation of the algorithm and some examples of what it can do.

Fashion Photos Recreated with an Everyday Woman as the Model

What would fashion photos look like if the models in them were more... ordinary? French fashion stylist Nathalie Croquet recently decided to find out. She took a number of photos from the high fashion industry, recreated the sets, and stood in front of the camera herself as the model.

Govt PSA Video Warns: Don’t Fly Your Camera Drone Near a Wildfire

A month after Union Pacific published a PSA video warning photographers to stay away from train tracks, the US government has published its own PSA video that warns people to keep drones away from wildfires.

The 30-second video above, titled "Drones PSA," was released by the National Interagency Fire Center last week. The center also has a new webpage titled "No Drone Zone" dedicated to warning photographers and videographers that camera drones and wildfires don't mix.

Migrant’s Perilous Journey on Instagram Turns Out to Be an Elaborate Ad

Abdou was a young man from North Africa with a dream; he set out to make his way to Europe in order to create a better future for both himself and his family. Abdou documented his migration from Senegal to Spain on Instagram, showcasing the perils of such travel and his determination for a better life.

After two weeks of travels, finally making it to Spain, and seeing his photos make headlines online, the truth about Abdou emerged: he never existed. It was all part of an elaborate ad campaign.

This is How Fujifilm Recycled Disposable Cameras in 1998

What happens to used disposable cameras once the film has been processed and printed for customers? Well, oftentimes the camera company is able to get its hands on the discarded shell, load it up, and sell it to customers again. If you want to see exactly how this recycling process is/was done, check out the fascinating 15-minute video above, which shows how Fujifilm recycled and reused disposable cameras back in 1998.

‘The Bigger Picture’: Flashcards and an App for Photo Challenges and Inspiration

Photography can be a thrilling way to explore the world around us, but sometimes we need a bit of inspiration to get moving. ‘The Bigger Picture Cards’ are a way to not only get inspired but to also learn new photographic skills along the way. Sold as a $15 set of flashcards, the deck includes 50 cards to get you out and shooting. Just draw your selection, accept your challenge, and you are on your way to learning by doing.

Music Visualized with Light Painting Photography

How do you go about capturing music in a photograph? Photographer Stephen Orlando has an interesting answer: light painting. By attaching LED lights to the bows of violin, viola, and cello players, Orlando is able to capture a creative representation of the sounds created by musicians.

Interview: Michael Kamber on Photojournalism Ethics and the Altering of Images

Michael Kamber is a photojournalist who has been working around the world since 1986; he has traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan, Liberia, the Sudan, Haiti, Israel, and many other countries to capture conflict. Kamber has been published in most major newspapers in both the United States and Europe.

Recently, he took the initiative to create an exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center titled Altered Images, which focuses on exposing documentary photography that has been staged, manipulated, or faked. We spoke to him to learn more about the current state of ethics in photojournalism and where things are headed.

How Nikon Film SLRs Were Made in the 1990s

Want to see how Nikon SLR cameras were made two decades ago? Back in 1998, the Japanese TV show "The Making" -- an international predecessor of How It's Made -- aired this 15-minute-long segment showing how Nikon manufactured its F70 film SLR (known as the N70 in the US), which was first introduced in 1994.

A Glimpse Into the Alliance Between Sony and Zeiss

Sony and Zeiss are two brand names that appear together on many of Sony's cameras and lenses. For the past two decades, the Japanese and German companies (respectively) have had a fruitful partnership in designing and manufacturing gear.

To help clear up any confusion regarding dual-branded camera equipment, Zeiss recently published an interesting article that explains some behind-the-scenes details about the partnership.

Father and Son Take the Same Picture Every Year for Nearly 3 Decades

An anonymous father and son over in China are making headlines in that country and across the Internet after their special photos tradition came to light recently. Ever since the son was born in 1986, he and his father have posed for a picture together every year up through 2013. Together, the photos form a powerful series of images showing this special relationship over nearly three decades of life together.

This Guy Managed to Shoot a Self Portrait with the ISS

Photographer Trevor Mahlmann has a knack for capturing light trails showing the International Space Station zipping across the sky. Back in June, he made headlines by photographing the ISS from the seat of airliner as he cruised at 40,000 feet. Now he's back again with another neat feat: he shot a self-portrait of himself staring up at the ISS as it zipped by overhead.

Sony’s New Photo-Centric Xperia Smartphones Shoot 13MP Selfies

Sony has announced two new Android smartphones: the Xperia C5 and Xperia M5. Both devices come equipped with large Full HD displays and fast Octa-core processors, but most interesting (to us at least) are the integrated cameras powered by Sony Exmor RS sensors. Both cameras feature a 13MP front facing camera for selfies, and the M5 boasts a hefty 21.5MP rear camera.

Fujifilm Announces the X-T1 IR, an Infrared Version of the Flagship Mirrorless Camera

Fujifilm has announced the X-T1 IR, a variant of their flagship X-Series camera that can capture infrared and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Nearly identical to the original X-T1, the new X-T1 IR utilizes infrared technology allowing it to view light not normally visible to the human eye.

The camera is aimed at professionals who may have a need for infrared technology, citing crime scene investigators, fine art photographers, and healthcare, in addition to other “scientific and technical applications.”

This Insane Motorcycle Surfing Shoot was 2.5 Years in the Making

Surf photography doesn't usually feature motorcycles, but this crazy shoot did. For its latest project titled "Pipe Dream," DC Shoes partnered with Australian stunt bike rider Robbie Maddison for dirt bike surfing. The team spent 2.5 years working on making the idea a reality, creating a modified bike that has boasts special fins for hydroplaning, a waterproof engine, and custom rear tires.

You Need More than ‘Natural Talent’ to Make it as a Photographer

Movies on the big screen sometimes have valuable nuggets of wisdom that can be applied to photography (and life). We recently shared one such clip from the movie "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty." Here's another one from the movie "Boyhood."

In this 3-minute clip, the main character, Mason, has a conversation with his photography teacher, Mr. Turlington, in the class darkroom. It turns out to be a fatherly lecture about the importance of adding hard work and other qualities on top of natural talent.

This One Teen Was Behind Two Major Drone Stories

Austin Haughwout has a knack for getting drones featured in news stories... and usually not in a positive light. The 18-year-old's name first appeared here back in 2014 when he captured viral video of himself getting attacked by a woman on a beach. She claimed that he was being a "pervert" and was using his camera drone to photograph girls in bikinis.

This is a Stereograph Photo Viewer from 1896

Australian toy photographer Ray of ToyShoots recently purchased this old school stereoscope that was apparently manufactured in 1896. It's the device people used to view stereoscopic photos as one 3D image (the View-Master, which was released in 1936, is also a stereoscope).

Portraits of Babies in Camera Bags

When photographer Alessandro Della Bella's son Claudio was born in December 2014, he shared the happy news of the new family member by shooting a picture of Claudio sleeping in the main compartment of his camera bag.