Michael Archambault

Photographer Lindsay Adler is teaching a CreativeLive course this month on the basics …

Stock photography has provided business and individuals with a method of acquiring imagery without the need to hire a photographer. However, has any bit of stock photography ever truly captured the complex nature of a New Yorker? Apparently the folks over at New York radio station WNYC didn’t feel that the need was being addressed and, as a result, have crafted 35 “quintessential photos of true New York City.”

The photo above is titled: "Woman Texting at Top of Subway Stairs While Others Try to Exit."

This week, software developer and photographer Dan King introduced the world to the DAKboard: a customizable display for showcasing your photographs, calendar events, and weather. The actual wall display isn’t currently available for purchase, but the software is in the beta stage, so anyone can test it out via their web browser or tablet device.

Camera rigs can be large and difficult to carry around when on the move; once you add on additional components, the problem intensifies. Now, Scratch Ideas from the UK has introduced ‘LOKI’ on Kickstarter with a $38,910 fundraising goal. An ultra-portable and modular piece of equipment, LOKI can transform between a shoulder rig, a camera cage, an underslung rig, and a dolly with a few twists and clicks.

Hold Fast is a camera accessory company most well known for their MoneyMaker Luxury Leather Multi-Camera Strap. While the MonkeyMaker is a beautifully crafted piece of gear that allows you to quickly access your cameras, the price tag is a bit out of the price range of what some photographers are willing to spend. Enter the Camera Swagg, a non-leather variation of the MoneyMaker with a much lower price tag.

The folks over at Seaport Digital have released the Volta battery Power Station and Ring Light case for Apple iPhone 6 devices. Powered by an internal 3800mAh battery, the Volta can charge your smartphone when needed via an attachable lighting cable... or it can act as a handy ring light to brighten your subject in dimly-lit situations. Of course, we won’t judge you if you choose to make it your personal selfie light.

Have you ever wondered if you were getting the best performance out of Adobe’s Photoshop Creative Cloud? Depending on your particular workflow and individual needs, your favorite image editing software can be tweaked and adjusted for optimal performance. Today, we are taking a look at some of the settings available in Photoshop to get you running more efficiently on your personal computer.

Have you ever wished you could remotely control your smartphone’s camera with a trigger remote disguised as a 35mm film canister or a mini twin-lens reflex camera? If so, then your wish has been granted by the Japanese company Gizmon. For a small price, you can pick up one of these cute and colorful gadgets and pair it with your iOS or Android smartphone.

B&H published this 9-minute video in which portrait photographer Peter Hurley opens up his camera bags to give us a tour of the gear he uses on a regular basis.

If you’ve been waiting for the chance to convert your 4x5 large format camera into something that can produce instant results, then you are in luck. A company called CatLabs has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to introduce their Instant Pack Film Holder for 4x5 camera systems.

Linus of LinusTechTips just published the 9-minute video above that explores whether shooting video at 4K resolution is worth it. Using both a Panasonic GH4 and a Sony FS700, Linus and his team take to discovering the links between video resolution, video bitrate, and downsampling.

Camera gear can be expensive, but one way to work around this issue is to purchase equipment used from online auction websites such as eBay. But it can be tough trying to determine the exact condition of an item without getting your hands on it. We will be going over tips to help you purchase both digital and analog film cameras without throwing your money down the drain. Here are some practical pointers to staying smart and safe on eBay when buying your next bit of kit.

If you need an accessory for mounting your camera to random places, instead of purchasing a Gorillapod (or something similar), you can go a thrifty do-it-yourself route. For just $8, Instructables member Megan Yeomans crafted her own affordable solution that uses vinyl tubing and copper wire. The result is a three-foot flexible 1/4” piece of kit that can be used as a standard tripod, a selfie stick, or an articulated mount.

They say to learn about a person you should look at their bookshelf to see what they read. Similarly, we believe that delving into a photographer’s bag sheds light on their personality and style. Today’s article is the first in a series that explores the bags of professional photographers and, of course, your friends here at PetaPixel. Step inside my bag to see what I carry on a daily basis and the significance of each item.

Many photographers unfortunately know the horror of editing a photograph and accidentally saving over the original copy all too well. While Lightroom implements a non-destructive system for saving files, Photoshop can be a bit more dangerous, and accidents do occur. Today, we will show you how to set up a safe workspace area on your Mac that will back up photographs as you edit them.

A new letter published by Kensington Palace in the United Kingdom sheds light at the extreme measures paparazzi are taking in order to capture valuable photos of Prince George, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Prince George was born in 2013 and has endured the prying lenses of paparazzi photographers since day one.

The letter was addressed to “leaders of media industry bodies and standards organizations" around the world. It argues that tactics being used to photograph Prince George are becoming “increasingly dangerous” and have become distressing.

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the world through the eyes of a wild animal or insect, then you happen to be in luck. A team led by scientist Jolyon Troscianko at the University of Exeter in the UK has developed an application that processes RAW image data and then converts it into a result that showcases the way various animals might view their surroundings. Best of all, the software is open source and you can download it today.

Facetune is one of the most popular photo tools in both Apple’s iOS App Store and Google’s Play Store -- to such a great degree that Apple officially branded the app as an “Essential” download a short while back. Facetune is known for its ability to smoothen skin, emphasize eyes, fill bald patches, reshape facial structures, brighten teeth, and much more. Now, the Jerusalem-based company behind it, Lightricks, is ready to go a step farther after securing $10 million in new venture funding.

In September 2014, a new law in New Hampshire made it illegal to take a photograph within a voting booth in the state. If you decided to share a photo of yourself and your ballot, the state could have issued you a fine of up to $1,000. Today a judge struck down the law in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Before you head out for your next vacation, you may want to consider what your photos on Flickr reveal about your travel plans. A new study published in the Royal Society Open Science journal used machine learning algorithms to model the mobility of individuals.

By analyzing the embedded timestamp and geographic information within photographs, the researchers were able to accurately predict where a person is most likely currently located and where they may be headed in the future.

If you enjoy injecting analog warmth into your digital photographs, then you may want to check out the new RNI Films app for iOS. Developed by Really Nice Images, the application allows mobile photographers to apply realistic film simulations to their images with a few taps. Similar to the company’s film pack for Lightroom, RNI Films comes with a collection of real negative, slide, instant, vintage, and monochrome film stocks for you to simulate.

It is not a new notion to challenge the need for pro photographers in the 21st century when just about everyone has a smartphone and a high-resolution camera in their pocket. Just last year, Facebook released a video asking “Why have one photographer when can have a hundred?”. Now, a new application called Ceremony is looking to help collect all of your favorite moments by crowdsourcing images from the guests at your party.

Any photographer who travels understands the hardship of being able to identify their bag amongst a sea of similar looking black travel kits. Luckily for us, the folks at Think Tank Photo have come up with a solution that they are calling ‘Roller Flair’. Easily decorate your Think Tank brand roller with a splash of color to make it stand out amongst the bags around it.

Corel has just announced ParticleShop, a plugin for Photoshop, Lightroom, and PaintShop Pro that allows users to create photo-realistic effects with a set of ‘life-like brushes’.

It is the first time that the company has introduced their brush technology outside of Corel Painter, which also received a recent upgrade to the ‘2016’ edition. ParticleShop can emulate a number of different effects with only a few brushstrokes, making it a powerful tool for the creative photographer.

An unfortunate truth about shooting in public places is that people around us often get in the way of …

It is said that eyes are the windows to our souls and when focusing in on a portrait, we do our best to make sure they are razor sharp. With a bit of help from Photoshop, we can take the beauty of the eyes a step further. Today, we will be examining a method that I have personally used over the last few years to truly make eyes pop and give them another dimension of depth.

We are on the fringe of widespread virtual reality that can truly captivate our minds and take us places we've only dreamt about. Services such as Roundme continue to bring these worlds a step closer every day. By utilizing a network of 360-degree imagery and a platform designed for professionals, advanced virtual tours are only a tap away.

Every week, Apple selects an application from the iOS App Store and makes it available for free to anyone with an Apple ID. This week’s app is ‘Matter’ by Pixite, which is normally $2. It allows you to add surreal 3D objects to your photographs. With only a few taps, you can add three-dimensional effects to your pictures with realistic shadows and reflections.

A few months ago, Nikon released a stainless steel hot shoe cover, the ASC-01, to help you spice up the look of your DSLR and protect its hot shoe mount contact points. Now, the company has released a new leather variation with gold writing. The ASC-02, as it is called, is only being sold in Japan for a price of ¥3,500 (~$28), but we're pretty sure it'll appear on eBay soon, just as the last model previously did.

Have you ever wished for a video camera that could somehow sift through all your footage and tease out only the most memorable portions? If so, then the new Graava camera is designed just for you. Using a variety of sensors, Graava is automatically able to detect what it believes are “the best or most exciting moments." The result: three hours of boring video quickly becomes five minutes of (possibly) fascinating content.

When your finger presses down on a camera's shutter button and captures a photograph, that photo is instantly copyrighted with you as the rightful owner. However, there are benefits to formally registering your work with the United States Copyright Office. Today, we are going to take a look at the process involved in registering your visual artwork, along with the benefits of doing so and why you may want to consider it for photos you value.

Photographer Dave Hill released this behind-the-scenes video that documents a recent advertising photo shoot for the Japanese carmaker Toyota. Hill shows us how various elements of the photographs are first taken then composited together in postproduction.

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.

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.

Getty Images has added a brand new feature to their stock photo and video service iStock. Customers who purchase content can now have their media automatically synced to their Dropbox account. The new ability makes working on the go a tad bit easier and allows buyers to quickly centralize their purchased content in a single location.

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.

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 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.”

Giles Penfound is a photographer with an engrossing past and a story to tell. Penfound began his journey as a professional photographer over 25 years ago and spent most of his time documenting military operations from within the British Army. Documentary photographer Neale James approached Penfound to produce a short film about his life and work, and the result is the inspirational 30-minute video above. (Note: the video contains some strong language.)

Lensbaby has been producing creative art lenses since the company was established in 2004. They have since released a number of different products for both SLR and Mirrorless camera bodies, as well as mobile smartphones. Recently, Lensbaby released the ‘Creative Mobile Kit’ which features two unique lenses: the LM-20 and LM-30. Today, we are taking a look at the kit to see if it truly delivers on its creative promises.

Submersible action cameras are nothing new to the marketplace, but two brothers have teamed up to design a unit specifically geared at those who fish, and they are turning to KickStarter to get it funded. The unit is aptly named the ‘GoFish Cam’ and sits on your fishing line while capturing footage down to 100m without wobble. Additionally, built-in night vision ensures that you’ll never miss the shot.

The Pentax 645D has received yet another major drop in price. Originally retailing for $10,000 when it was introduced five years ago, this 40 MP medium format monster is now selling for $4,000, less than half the price. We may not all be ready to whip out our wallets, but at less than $4,000 the 645D boasts one of the best digital medium format values on the market.

The next time you roll your eyes at yet another photograph of two couples embracing on social media, consider this: they are more likely to remain together than a couple who doesn’t plaster their love across the Internet.

Camera drones piloted by unidentified individuals have been interfering with multiple firefighting operations led by firefighters in Southern California over the last couple of months. Now, San Bernardino County supervisors are seeking to identify the pilots and are offering up to $75,000 in rewards to anyone able to assist them in their search.

Getting into analog photography can be an exciting proposition; maybe you find the medium more delightful, or you just want to learn more about the times of yesteryear. Either way, we have assembled a list of some of our favorite rangefinder-style analog cameras, ranging from the friendly and affordable Canonet QL 17 GII to the pricey yet exuberant Contax G2. We know that we may not have everyone’s personal favorites, but the list below is filled with cameras we know you’ll enjoy.

Yesterday, LumoPro released the LightSwitch: a flash case with the ability to morph into three different light modifiers. Continuing on the theme of "multi-purpose gear," the company has also just launched the new LumoPro LP605M light stand, which boasts the ability to convert into a monopod whenever needed. Standing at 7.5-feet-tall, the LP605M is aimed at location photographers looking to lighten their load while on the move.

Nokia has announced that they will be releasing ‘OZO’, the first commercially available virtual reality camera, later this year. The company says the device has been “designed and built for professional content creators, and [is] the first in a planned portfolio of digital media solutions.” The unit features eight synchronized global shutter sensors, eight integrated microphones for spatial audio, and a design reminiscent of the Star Wars training remote.

Creatives utilizing Adobe’s software suite who have yet to buy into the company’s Creative Cloud will soon find some of their updates coming to an abrupt halt. Adobe has announced that the upcoming release of Adobe Camera Raw v9.1.1 will be the last version available for CS6 users. Those looking to continue receiving the latest updates will need to upgrade to a monthly or yearly Creative Cloud subscription.

Users of VSCO Cam for iOS and Android know that the app is more than just another photo editing suite; it is a social gateway for sharing photographs with others around the world. VSCO’s mobile application employs the company’s famous analog filters for retro styling on the move. Now, newly introduced ‘Collections’ will allow users to assemble their favorite images into one package and share their curations with others.

We spoke with the founder of Sphericam, Jeffrey Martin, on the future of the company’s 360-degree spherical camera lineup and where virtual reality imaging may be headed in the next decade. The Sphericam 2 has already surpassed its Kickstarter funding goal of $150,000, collecting over $400,000, with two days of the campaign remaining. Dive into this interview to learn what challenges the team faced and what they have around the corner.