Photographer Beautifully ‘Breaks the Rules’ With Abstract Fireworks Photos

A vibrant, abstract burst of colors including teal, pink, orange, and white, radiating outward from a central bright point, resembling an explosion or a firework viewed through a soft, dreamy lens.

When we think of fireworks, most of us picture familiar, vibrant bursts of color lighting up the night sky, each explosion a momentary spectacle in a blossom of color. But for photographer Bryan Szucs, fireworks aren’t just about capturing a fleeting display, they’re a chance to defy convention and create something abstract, unpredictable, and uniquely beautiful.

A Tamron 70-180mm camera lens is shown on the left, and a Nikon Z-series mirrorless camera body without a lens is on the right, both against neutral backgrounds.

The Nikon Z8’s New Firmware Borked Tamron Z-Mount Lenses

The Nikon Z8's feature-packed firmware update 3.0 is now available, but photographers with Tamron Z-mount lenses may want to hold off on the update, as Tamron has confirmed that the new firmware update negatively affects the performance of at least some of its lenses.

Lens Fungus: What It Is and How to Deal With It

Thin, branching white filaments spread across a dark background, resembling fungal hyphae or root structures, with a few bright, out-of-focus circular spots in the corners.

Pick up a dusty old lens from a flea market, an estate sale, or even your own forgotten storage bin, and you might notice something strange glinting beneath the surface of the front element: delicate white threads, odd patterns like spiderwebs or frost creeping across the inside of the glass. That eerie substance is lens fungus -- an unwelcome guest in the world of photography that quietly invades optical systems, thrives in darkness and moisture, and, if left untreated, can cause permanent and costly damage to your equipment.

UGreen Nexode 500W GaN Charger Review: Charge Everything, All at Once

A UGREEN charging station with multiple USB-C and one USB-A port sits on a wooden shelf. The Petapixel Reviews logo appears in the bottom right corner.

Over the last couple of years, the number of computers, headphones, cameras, and portable batteries that charge with USB-C that I've acquired has ballooned substantially. I've resorted to using batches of individual USB-C plugs cobbled together in my aging infrastructure, but it's an inelegant solution. That's where the UGreen Nexode came in.

A bright spiral galaxy is seen edge-on, with vivid red and orange clouds of gas and dust radiating outward, surrounded by stars and cosmic dust against a dark space background.

Super-Bright Galaxy Photo Shows How Webb Compares Against Hubble

The James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST) latest target is Messier 82 (M82), also known as the Cigar Galaxy. The nearby galaxy is five times more luminous than the Milky Way. It has previously been photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope, providing a great way to measure the two active space telescopes against each other.

A family of four, two adults and two young girls, kneel and hug each other, smiling and laughing together in an outdoor urban alleyway. The image is shown side by side in different lighting or filter styles.

Imagen’s New AI Profile Shop Empowers Photographers of All Levels

Imagen, the AI-driven post-production platform for photographers, has launched the Profile Shop, a new digital marketplace featuring AI editing profiles. Through the new marketplace, seasoned photographers can monetize their curated styles, and up-and-coming photographers can more easily develop a personal style all their own.

The United States Capitol building with its white dome and columns, set against a blue sky with scattered clouds and surrounded by green lawns and trees.

Public Lands Sell-Off Stripped From ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ in Hard-Fought Win for Conservation

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has announced that he is withdrawing his latest public lands sell-off plan from the Senate budget reconciliation bill, one which would have mandated the sale of millions of acres of public land throughout the Western United States. The original plan would have been a massive blow to outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, and nature photographers.

The image is split in two: on the left, a dancer in a wide hat and flowing skirt leaps against a pale textured background; on the right, a black-and-white photo of a man and woman riding a motorcycle, the scene slightly blurred.

Dimensions of Reality: Alternative Views at PHotoESPAÑA 2025

In an era when AI and digital manipulation seem to be facing off with the veracity of traditional photography, it’s worth noting that image making has always been an interpretive art. Several historic exhibitions at PHotoESPAÑA 2025 in Madrid remind us that photographic depictions of the real world stem from the eye of the beholder.

Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 Review: G Master Vibes at a Fraction of the Price

A black 85mm f/1.4 camera lens sits upright on a grid-patterned surface, with the text "Petapixel Reviews" in blue and white in the lower right corner.

Did Christmas come early? It’s the middle of the summer, and I am testing my favorite lens focal length. Not only that, the lens also happens to have a fast f/1.4 aperture and this comes just days after having tested the very impressive Viltrox 85mm f/1.4 Pro. I must be really lucky because the Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 is lightweight, well-built, and a very affordable $600.

Three smartphones display an astronomy app interface, each showing vibrant images of nebulae, star details, and user comments against a dark background. The screens highlight colorful space photography and app features.

Picastro Is Social Media for Astrophotographers

Astrophotographers are a passionate bunch, and they now have a new dedicated social media and web platform to share their work, find inspiration, and learn how to improve their craft. Picastro is all about showcasing genuine astronomy images from astrophotographers worldwide, whether they are beginners or seasoned pros.

The Panasonic Lumix GM-5 Is the Greatest Digital Camera Ever Made

A man with gray hair and a beard is holding a camera up to his face, preparing to take a photo. He is outdoors, wearing a blue shirt, and the background is blurred greenery.

Recently, at the Bild Expo in New York City, I asked some prestigious photographers and creative professionals an important question: What is the greatest digital camera of all time? Some said the Fujifilm X100 series, some said the Nikon D780, and I even heard the DJI Pocket 3. Of course, they were all wrong. The correct answer is, of course, the Panasonic Lumix GM-5.

How Love for Earth and Each Other Fuel Photographers Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen

A collage with three images: a close-up of a puma in black and white; two scuba divers in wetsuits smiling, holding gear labeled "SeaLegacy"; and a vibrant underwater scene with a school of colorful fish.

Conservation and nature photography power couple Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen are the focus of the first episode of National Geographic's 2024 nature documentary series, Photographer. The episode won an Emmy this week for Outstanding Nature Documentary, demonstrating not only the compelling nature of the duo's photography but also the widespread appeal of their incredible stories.

A bright orange planet appears in the upper right of the image, orbiting a central star obscured by a black circle, with faint blue rings of dust and gas surrounding the star against a dark background.

Webb Captures Its First Direct Image of an Exoplanet

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured what scientists believe is its first photograph of an exoplanet. If the findings are confirmed, it would mark the first time Webb discovered a planet through a direct image and the lightest planet ever seen using this imaging technique outside the solar system.