Guest Author

Articles by Guest Author

A black-and-white photo showing two blurry figures walking or cycling on a curved path, overlaid with a semi-transparent white swirl graphic. Sparse trees and poles line the empty, sunlit area.

Time Machines Exist — They Are Called Photographs

The concept of a time machine was first described by H.G. Wells in his book The Time Machine in the year 1895. That was 57 years after Louis Daguerre invented his photographic technique, the daguerreotype.

Close-up of a person holding a camera with a large lens among orange leaves (left), and a person in a brown sweater and beanie using a camera in a snowy mountain landscape (right).

7 OM SYSTEM Deals Worth Grabbing This Holiday Season

OM SYSTEM's Holiday Savings Event runs through January 11, 2025, and the deals are compelling. The Micro Four Thirds system has always offered a distinct advantage: professional-grade performance in a package that weighs half as much as full-frame equivalents. With savings up to $500 on flagship cameras and lenses, this is an ideal time to build or expand a travel-ready kit without compromising image quality.

A promotional graphic for AI-powered image matting shows three examples: a woman in a veil, a woman with curly hair, and a dandelion, highlighting alpha matting for transparent objects, hair, fur, and complex details.

One-Click AI for Precise Photo Background Removal With Aiarty Image Matting

Every professional photographer understands the frustration of a complex mask. When you’re dealing with fine hair against a busy background, the sheer fabric of a wedding dress, or even highly detailed product shots, traditional selection tools quickly become a time-sinking ordeal. Hours spent painstakingly refining edges in post-production translate directly into lost studio time and increased labor costs. It’s a tedious, manual bottleneck that hinders the creative flow.

Left: A man in a plaid shirt, cap, and lanyard looks to the side at an outdoor event. Right: Black-and-white photo of a person standing in a grassy field under a cloudy sky.

How a Photographer From a Tiny Town Gets Big-Time Assignments

Mt. Olivet, Kentucky -- named after the biblical Mount of Olives -- is a hamlet in the smallest county in Kentucky. Population estimates vary, from 155 in 2023 to a bit higher number in the 2020 census. Photojournalist Michael Swensen, based in tiny Mt. Olivet, gets big-time assignments. His work has been seen worldwide via The Associated Press, Getty Images, The Washington Post, and more.

A split image shows a portable card reader with multiple SD cards on the left and the same card reader connected to a laptop with several SD cards inserted on the right.

Why Choosing the Right Camera Card Is Essential for Professional Photography

In modern photography, nearly every part of the workflow has evolved at an incredible pace. Sensors are larger, resolutions are higher, and video formats now reach deep into 8K and beyond. Yet one of the smallest pieces of gear in your bag plays one of the biggest roles in whether your camera can take full advantage of that power: the memory card. For professional photographers, choosing the right media is not a convenience. It is a critical decision that affects performance, reliability, data safety, and ultimately the quality of the work you deliver.

A church with a tall steeple stands on an island surrounded by a calm lake, with forested hills and mountains in the background at sunset. The scene is bathed in warm golden light.

Why Every Photographer Needs To Visit Slovenia

When someone says Slovenia, what comes to mind? Dragons, mountains, craft beer? Maybe so, but Slovenia is a country that no one really talks about. Originally part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia became independent in 1992, and few travelers have mentioned whether they’ve been to Slovenia.

Two action shots from an ice hockey game: on the left, a player in a red uniform skates with the puck; on the right, two players, one in red and one in white, battle for the puck along the boards.

Photographing Professional Hockey with the Sigma 135mm f/1.4 Art

Sometimes it is the least obvious choice that produces the most striking results. That is why I ended up photographing a hockey game in the Swiss National League, with a Sigma 135 f/1.4 Art and a Lumix S1 II and not your standard f/2.8 zoom -- and boy was I up for an exciting shoot!

A smiling woman examines a camera with a large lens next to an orange drink, while the right side shows a close-up of a camera lens against a blurred background.

Tamron Lens Buyer’s Guide: All New and Holiday Instant Savings

Capture the season’s best moments with incredible savings—Tamron’s Holiday Instant Savings event is here, bringing exclusive deals on some of their most advanced and versatile mirrorless lenses. From the all-in-one travel favorites like the 18-300mm and creator essentials including the 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 and 70-180mm F/2.8 G2, these limited-time discounts make it easier than ever to upgrade your kit.

A black DSLR camera with a large lens and an external microphone attached sits among festive decorations, including silver tinsel, red berries, and a wrapped gift, against a white background.

Sennheiser’s Holiday Deals Are On

Get ready to elevate your sound—Sennheiser’s holiday sale brings premium audio performance within easy reach. Whether you’re upgrading your headphones, capturing crisp vocals with portable mics, or building a versatile mobile gear kit for content on the go, this event is packed with pro-level tools at can’t-miss prices. It’s the perfect moment to refine your setup and sound your best, wherever creativity takes you. The sale is on through December 31, 2025.

A person in winter clothing adjusts a camera on a tripod, standing on snow with snow-covered mountains and a clear sky in the background.

The Best Gear for Winter Photography

There is a duality to shooting during winter. Cold, snowy days can be the catalyst for some amazing photos and adventures, but this can come at the expense of your gear. We’re going to cover some of the best gear from ProMaster to get you through the coldest months of the year, without sacrificing your ability to create images and video.

Promotional graphic for Aiarty Image Enhancer showing a bird photo improved through three steps: denoise, deblur, and upscale; the bird's feather details become sharper and clearer in the final image.

Aiarty Image Enhancer 3.5 Upscales Photos Faster with Better Results

High-quality photography requires more than just a good camera. It demands post-processing that preserves detail, clarity, and color fidelity. For photographers looking to upscale images, recover lost detail, or bring older digital files back to life, Aiarty Image Enhancer has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best AI image upscalers available today. With Version 3.5, it now delivers even faster processing and greater control, helping photographers achieve professional-quality results more efficiently than ever.

Six sections show festive gift arrangements: top row features gifts and Christmas items on red, pink, and brown backgrounds; bottom row has blue, stacked multicolored, and red gifts on blue, yellow, and green backgrounds.

Shoot, Share, Surprise: Photo Gifts They’ll Love

Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned pro or someone just discovering the joy of capturing moments, the right gear can make inspiration come to life. This curated gift guide highlights photography products that elevate creativity, sharpen skills, and make shooting more enjoyable -- ranging from essential tools to delightful extras any photographer would love to unwrap.

A split image showing two scenes: on the left, a woman and a man laugh and clap in a stadium; on the right, two men in casual clothes chat and smile while holding drinks, surrounded by fans in yellow shirts.

Celebrities Are Changing How Pro Sports Photographers Work

Photographer Tammy Ljungblad has worked at The Kansas City Star for 36 years. She has never seen anything like the impact of megastar Taylor Swift on NFL games at Arrowhead Stadium and the broader Kansas City community.

Top 10 ProMaster Gifts Under $100

From stocking stuffers to picture perfect presents, ProMaster is making gift giving easy this holiday season! This list of 10 ProMaster products under $100 has something for everyone on your list, from beginner photographers and content creators to professional shooters and videographers. Or, shop for yourself and take advantage of the holiday savings. Save 20% on these gifts through December 24, 2025!

A 512GB Delkin Devices BLACK SD memory card lies on soil and dried pine needles next to two rocks. The card’s label displays its capacity, SDXC logo, UHS-II speed class, and a serial number.

11 Years & 1M Cards Strong: RUGGED and Warrantied for Life!

For more than a decade, Delkin BLACK has been synonymous with rugged, professional-grade memory — trusted by photographers who shoot in the harshest environments on Earth. Since the line’s debut in 2014, over one million BLACK cards have gone into the field, empowering photographers from the Arctic tundra to the Sahara dunes — and everywhere in between.

A hiker with a large backpack walks toward a scenic mountain vista, framed by a tree and a large rock, under a partly cloudy sky.

The Best Video Cameras to Take On Long-Distance Backpacking

It was sunset on top of the tallest mountain in the continental United States, and I had two immediate priorities. One was dinner. As a long-distance backpacker on the Pacific Crest Trail, I was burning between 4,000 and 6,000 calories a day, and losing too much weight was a constant concern for myself and my friends. The other priority was 32.4 ounces of metal and glass clipped to the shoulder strap of my backpack: my camera. And as the sun sank towards the horizon, I kept neglecting my dinner in favor of keeping up with the ever-changing lighting.

A woman kneels with a camera, photographing a wedding ceremony outdoors. She is surrounded by camera equipment, with guests, floral arrangements, and a decorated archway visible in the background.

Your Camera Gear Isn’t Your Only Asset: Why Every Professional Photographer Needs an LLC

As photographers, we often obsess over our gear. We meticulously research the latest mirrorless bodies, spend hours comparing lens charts, and invest thousands in lighting, tripods, and editing software. Our camera bags are often brimming with highly valuable assets, assets we diligently protect with insurance, cases, and careful handling.

A wooden sign reads “Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra National Forest” among tall pine trees. Next to it, a serene lake reflects a rocky mountain and more pines under a partly cloudy sky.

A Photographer’s Guide to California’s Ansel Adams Wilderness

Four miles into my hike in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, I started daydreaming about Adams’s mule, that stalwart equine that carried his large-format camera, developing equipment, tent, provisions, and other supplies on his excursions into California's high country.

Google homepage on a laptop screen with "Petapixel" typed in the search bar. A black banner below reads, “Add as a preferred source on Google,” with a colorful Google ‘G’ logo on the left.

How to Add PetaPixel as a Preferred Source on Google

Google's search engine has undergone some major changes in recent times, from AI summaries that dominate search results to new algorithms that might bury the news sources you actually care about.

A photographer uses a large-format camera covered in a cloth to take a portrait of a serious man in a martial arts uniform sitting outdoors; the resulting close-up black-and-white portrait is shown beside the scene.

The Father of MMA Captured in Wet Plate Collodion Photography

Most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans can recall the first event, held on November 12, 1993, at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. It was the dawn of a new era in combat sports. Born from Vale-Tudo (“Anything Goes” in English), UFC 1 was an event that would change the world forever. What was at stake was the determination of which martial art discipline would be most effective if they all came together to fight.

A Nikon camera hovers above an open Amazon box on a blue background. Text reads, "Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. The best photography deals.

The Best Photography Deals of Prime Big Deal Days 2025

Amazon just kicked off its major Prime Big Deal Days for 2025, the fall version of its popular Prime Day sales. During the next two days, from October 7th through 8th, Amazon Prime members will enjoy exclusive deep discounts on a wide range of products, including photography-related items.

Four overlapping versions of a Renaissance Nativity painting are shown, with each layer revealing different restoration or imaging techniques, including color overlays and digitally enhanced sections.

New Digital Art Restoration Method Can Save the World’s Dying Artworks

Most of the world’s art is locked away and will never be seen. This isn’t due to any nefarious reason, simply the ravages of time -- historical paintings are degraded and can require months, years, or even a decade of sluggish, painstaking restoration. As a result, about 70% of paintings in institutional collections are not on public view.

A collection of various camera lenses of different sizes and types arranged in rows against a black background, reflecting slightly on the surface below.

LUMIX S Series Lenses Explained: What Shooters Need to Know

When LUMIX launched its first full-frame mirrorless cameras back in 2019, it wasn’t starting from scratch. The company already had a great reputation among filmmakers with the GH series -- compact Micro Four Thirds cameras that punched well above their weight. But the S Series was different. LUMIX wanted to show it could compete with the top lens companies in full-frame photography and video.

A lioness crouches and drinks water from a pond, staring directly at the camera. The photo is in black and white, highlighting her intense gaze and muscular form.

It Took a Photographer 10 Years to Finally Nail the Perfect Lion Photo

Some photographs happen in an instant. Others take years to arrive. For more than a decade, I carried a very specific picture in my mind: a lion at complete ease, drinking from still water, everything calm and in balance. I knew how it should look, the light, the posture, the mood, but in the field, the moment always slipped away.

A backpacker walks on top of a rusty pipeline surrounded by bushes with mountains and a clear blue sky in the background. Large white text reads "BACKPACKING PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE.

The Best Cameras for Photography to Take On Long-Distance Backpacking

I sat on the floor surrounded by backpacking gear like I was in the middle of a summoning circle, carefully setting a headlamp on a gram scale in front of me. 47 grams. Not bad. I kept weighing items one by one, trying to find any unnecessary weight to cut, before I hefted my heaviest single piece of gear onto the scale and winced. 915 grams.

A split image shows a silhouetted person by a tree at sunset, a bearded man in a dark jacket, and a man standing in a sunlit, leafy area. Bold text reads: “FILM GRAIN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.”.

How to Emulate Film Grain in Your Digital Photos

Every few years, I write an updated version of the Film Grain Emulation guide. I do this because my passion drives me to learn more, and my understanding of film grain changes significantly.

A close-up of an electronics workbench with a circuit board, wires, a linear rail system, a magnifying glass, and various electronic components arranged on a wooden surface.

How to Build a ‘Simple’ Focus Stacking System

Each year, my photographic instrumentation students build very simple focus stacking systems. After several years, I decided to construct a more advanced version that could move a stepper-motor-driven stage to precise positions, automatically collect a series of images, and then manually use a stacking program for combination into a single high-depth-of-field image.

A black Hasselblad camera with no lens is centered inside a glowing golden ring with sparkles and light effects on a dark background.

How Hasselblad Lost Its Luxury Status (And Then Got It Back)

Hasselblad is one of the most storied names in photography. The company was founded in Sweden in 1841 as a trading business, but by the early 1900s, Victor Hasselblad began producing cameras that defined the brand and set a new standard for precision and design.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a white blouse smiles brightly in soft, golden sunlight, with an out-of-focus natural background.

Stop Making Digital Look Like Film

I shoot digital. I don’t do film, and I have never touched a film camera. I have never spent hours in a darkroom waiting for a print to appear under red light. My photography career began entirely digital, and I have grown to appreciate the possibilities it offers. Every modern camera provides clarity, precision, and control that film could never fully deliver. Every detail, every color, every expression is there, ready to tell the story as it happened.

Split image: On the left, tortoiseshell sunglasses with blue lenses on a dark background; on the right, three metallic necklaces with unique geometric pendants on a green background.

How to Photograph Challenging Products Like Eyewear and Jewelry

In e-commerce, photography isn’t just a picture—it’s the customer’s only connection to the product. A shopper can’t hold the glasses, feel the texture of the frame, or judge the true glossiness of the metal. When the image doesn’t reflect reality, the result is disappointment, higher return rates, and ultimately, a loss of trust in the brand.

A tree stands by a rustic wooden fence in a grassy field at sunset, with the sun near the horizon and a cloud-capped volcano in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

I Got My Camera Drone Confiscated in Nicaragua. Lesson Learned.

As I passed through the airport security in Managua, Nicaragua, on December 30th, 2024, my heart sank -- the LowePro camera bag had been flagged and was being taken aside for checks. The handler found what he was looking for: my DJI Mavic Pro Drone.

Two hands hold up a newspaper with a blue header and a camera, while two other hands hold a newspaper with a black "DAILY NEWS" header, against a pink background.

Photographers Are Finally Getting the Credit They Deserve In News Media

When The Washington Post sent a reporter to Utah to cover the shrinkage of Great Salt Lake, the writer collaborated with local independent photographer James Roh who knows the territory, and helped with crucial reporting. This is increasingly the norm.

Two elderly people sit on a bench outdoors, looking at a photo album filled with black-and-white pictures. Sunlight casts shadows on the wooden path beside them.

Why Are There No Digital Photo Albums?

It is hard for anyone to deny the positive effect that the transition from film to digital has had on photography. The sheer number of photographs taken each year has increased exponentially in the digital age, particularly now that cameras are included on nearly every cell phone. But we have lost one aspect of photography: the photo album.

Three photos of the northern lights: the first shows green auroras over icy terrain, the second has a person standing beneath vivid green lights, and the third displays green and pink auroras over snow and water at night.

Photographer Upends His Whole Life to Chase Auroras Around the Arctic

One night in 2018, I was viewing the international space station through a telescope in the observatory of Helsinki. Suddenly, I looked into the opposite direction and there, for the first time ever, I would see the northern lights dancing over the city below. The experience was otherworldly and I wanted to see them again and again.

A person in a suit holding a DSLR camera up to their face, looking through the viewfinder and preparing to take a photo. The image is in black and white.

Photographers Are Helping Newspapers Win Prestigious Awards

An enduring legacy of broadcasting hero Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965) is the prestigious Murrow award, a highly sought-after honor bestowed by a media association with a name that starts with “Radio.”