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Articles by Guest Author

A person wearing blue gloves and a striped sweater operates industrial machinery processing a bright pink material.

A Close Look at a $100M Piece of Photographic History: Machine E

In a town close to the French/German language split in Switzerland lies a piece of photographic history that is worth taking a look at. In Marly, Switzerland, lies Machine E, a multilayer photographic coating machine that has been used to bring many world-beating photographic products to the market.

A split-screen view showing a large, towering cumulus cloud against a blue sky on the left and a roof with a sign reading "THE WINDLASS" under a cloudy sky on the right.

What Shooting 6×6 Taught Me About Formats and Rules

I recently added a camera that shoots 6x6 to my shelf. Square negatives, twelve per roll. I expected to enjoy the lens, the build, the ritual of loading film backs. What I didn’t expect was how much the shape of the frame would mess with the rest of my photography vision.

A Nikon camera sits in the center of a circular graphic surrounded by several boxes of Rollei Superpan 200 film.

While At First Unimpressive, Rollei Superpan 200 Is a Bag of Tricks

Rollei Superpan 200 is a curious sort of film, making it all the better reason to feature it today. The first impression we would give you of Superpan 200 is that on the surface it can be easily unimpressive, but dig a bit deeper and Superpan quickly reveals that it has quite a bag of tricks at its disposal.

Several CineStill 50D film boxes are arranged on a blue surface with various cameras, including wooden and black plastic models, in the background. The scene is set outdoors in bright sunlight.

CineStill 50D Is a Perfect Slow Speed Film for Bright Summer Days

Cinestill 50D is the less popular sibling to Cinestill’s 800T and 400D emulsions. Because 50D often gets passed over in favor of those other two, we figured it would be a great film to feature on Film Friday. It is a different and lovely film in its own right and deserves a bit more attention than it receives.

A serene mountain lake reflects vibrant pink, purple, and orange hues from a dramatic sunset sky, nestled between two forested mountain slopes.

How Intention Changes Your Photography

I was four years old when my parents took me on my first mountain climb, to the summit of Fairview Peak. By six, I'd climbed my first fourteener, Mount Sherman. Climbing became my proving ground for most of my childhood, and it set a foundation I wouldn't fully understand the value of for another forty years.

Dark storm clouds fill the sky with “THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.” written in large, bold white letters across the center of the image.

Freelance Photographers Balk at New Wall Street Journal Contract

The Wall Street Journal says it is keeping pace with technology and protecting its photography archive. But hundreds of freelancers -- anxious about intellectual property ownership -- object to the Journal’s new contract and are withholding their services.

A bearded man wearing sunglasses stands outdoors among trees with sunlight streaming through leaves. Bold yellow text reads: "Linear Camera Profile MADE CINEMATIC.

How to Leverage Linear Camera Profiles in Your Editing Workflow

Linear Camera Profiles are one of those things that have been floating around the Lightroom community forever, but only a few people seem to use them. And while there are a lot of video tutorials on how to make a linear camera profile for your camera, there is almost nothing on how to use them in your editing workflow.

Aerial views of volcanic landscapes with green moss, dark mountains, winding rivers, and a circular rainbow-like halo in the left image, under a dramatic cloudy sky.

Iceland’s Targeted Drone Ban Is Nature Conservation Theater

For several summers, I have taught drone photography in Iceland’s highlands under permits issued by the country’s nature conservation agency. I applied on time, followed every condition, and never received a complaint from a ranger, another visitor, or the agency itself.

Black and white photo split in two: left side shows a man in a sunlit street holding a can, looking at the camera; right side shows an older man indoors hanging up a backpack, viewed in profile.

Twenty Years, One City: What Tokyo Taught Me About Patience and Glass

Most photographers I know are in constant motion. New cities, new continents, new visual problems to solve. There's truth in it. Unfamiliarity forces you to look. Familiarity gives you permission to stop. But there's another, less-discussed school of practice that works in the opposite direction: stay. Return. Go back to the same streets until the strangeness burns away and something else appears in its place.

A man in a dark coat smiles while holding a cat on a city street. In the background, pedestrians walk near classical buildings, including a domed structure. The scene appears to be in an urban European setting.

The Myth of Intent in Photography

The world of photography is currently navigating a crisis of authenticity. AI-generated images are now indistinguishable from photographs. Judges and audiences alike can’t tell the difference. Even experts are getting it wrong.

A box of Kodak Professional 400 T-Max 120 film sits on a wooden table next to a vintage camera. The film box is yellow with black and green text.

Film Friday: Kodak TMax 400 Is Far From a One-Trick Pony

TMax 400 came into the world in 1986, at the same time as its slower speed brother. You can think of them as near identical twins, in fact. Since its introduction, TMax 400 has helped define a whole new generation of black and white films with its tabular grain structure, high resolution, and sharp image details.

A woman sits at a wooden desk, writing on paper, in a modern white office chair. Behind her are a green dresser, a sofa, books, and decorative items. An orange lamp and computer are on the desk.

Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Chair with Full-Body Adaptive Support Keeps You Comfortable and Creative

Lengthy photo and video editing sessions can take a toll on your body. Sitting for long periods in an uncomfortable, non-ergonomic chair is painful, bad for your long-term health, and it saps artists of their creative energy and flow. The Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2, the first full-body, adaptive ergonomic chair, promises to keep you comfortable whether you're doing a light editing session or working in crunch time.

Banner advertisement for Imagen features a bride in a white dress, sunflowers, and text promoting "Unlimited Imagen" at a limited-time price of $10 for the first month, down from $165. "Peak Season Sale" is noted at the bottom.

Imagen Is Offering Full AI Editing Access for $10, Just In Time for Peak Season

Post-processing has long been the most time-consuming part of a photographer's workflow, and the numbers back that up. According to the 2026 Zenfolio State of the Photography Industry report, about 70% of photographers spend between 26% and 75% of their working time on editing. Only 5% of photographers surveyed feel they are managing the stress of running their business well.

On the left, a woman in a flowing white dress sits on a small rock in calm water. On the right, a woman in a silky cream camisole and beige pants stands indoors near a round mirror, looking to the side.

A Commercial Photographer’s Take on When to Use AI (and When Not To)

Last year, a client came to me with a straightforward brief: they needed a full lookbook for their new clothing line. But there was a catch. “We don’t want a shoot,” they said. “Just take our phone photos and make them look professional with AI.” I could have said no. Instead, I said yes -- and it changed how I think about my entire career.

A lively, elegant party with guests in formal attire watches a performer singing on stage under an ornate chandelier and frescoed ceiling, bathed in dramatic, warm lighting. Musicians play brass instruments in the background.

What Event Photography Is Really Like Behind the Scenes

Early morning. Black t-shirt, dark blazer. I’m dragging heavy bags down from my apartment just outside Stockholm, heading to a taxi waiting outside. In twenty minutes, I’ll be at Stockholm Waterfront, where three intense days of shooting are about to begin. And I love it.

A river with turquoise water flows through a steep, moss-covered canyon on the left, while dense, lush green forest trees with hanging moss fill the scene on the right.

Sunsets Are Bad for Your Landscape Photography

Now, my not-so-piping-hot take is more nuanced, but I still stand by that statement in the title. Because while stunning skies are what drew me to landscape photography, they’ve also held back my development and growth.

A dramatic, dark landscape with rocky hills and a prominent jagged peak in the background. Foreground features scattered stones on a stark, shadowy plain under a moody, cloudy sky with light breaking through.

Addressing ‘Creative Loneliness’

As much as I think that landscape photography is a lone pursuit, it often conflicts with the need for feedback about our work. Learning to take photos is one thing but learning to interact with others, to find connections and build a creative network is often overlooked, but just as vital.

A woman stands in a garden taking a photo with a camera at sunset, surrounded by green plants and purple flowers, with a white picket fence and houses in the background.

Spring Gear Guide: Everything You Need for Great Shots

With these products from ProMaster, a brand known for designing photography gear for every creator, you’ll be ready to spring into action when the weather is warmer. From a supremely lightweight and compact tripod to new straps to sport your camera in style, premium filters for flawless images, Rugged SD cards made to withstand the elements, and a shoulder bag to safely store it all while you’re on the move, this list has everything you need for a spring refresh.

A collage of four digital cameras from different brands, including Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Fujifilm, is displayed against a background with abstract green and white patterns.

Camera Makers Should Share Tariff Refunds With Customers

Canon, Nikon, and Sony raised prices during the tariff period, citing increased costs. Now that the Supreme Court has invalidated the IEEPA tariffs and US Customs has opened a refund process for at least some affected importers, the photography community deserves transparency about whether companies will seek refunds and, if they do, whether any portion will flow back to customers who paid higher prices.

A round pin with the Flickr logo in blue and pink text is centered in focus, with several blurred pins featuring the same colors in the background.

Flickr: The First and Last Great Photo Platform

As the global population of photographers swells, so do their digital libraries, leaving everyone with the same question: where and how to share their best work. Flickr was among the first online communities designed to address that dilemma, and it remains one of the best. Some demand sweeping overhauls or argue the price isn't justified.