This is Why You Don’t Put Your Camera on a Ledge

If you ever need to set your camera down temporarily, make sure you choose a safe place with as little gravitational potential energy as possible. It seems one photographer learned this lesson the hard way and paid a dear price.

These Working Cameras Were Made With the Strangest Things

Brendan Barry is a UK-based large format photographer who has a curious passion for creating working cameras out of the most random everyday objects you could think of. ILFORD featured his work earlier this year, and here's a look at some of his cameras and the photos they shoot.

Shooting a Steeplechase Horse Race

Jamey Price is a freelance motorsport photographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but he shoots way more than cars racing. Here's a 6-minute video in which Price takes us behind-the-scenes of shooting a steeplechase horse race at Queen's Cup in Charlotte.

How to Get Over Early Hurdles in Film Photography

Something about the way photographers acclimatize to shooting with film has intrigued me for some time. I think it’s safe to say that film is very much tried and tested -- some of the greatest photography pioneers worked with film and were not limited in their ability to create incredible work, which remains relevant.

Why the Fujifilm GFX 100 is Next Level

There has never been a camera that combines such stunning image quality, resolution, dynamic range, autofocus performance, overall handling, and ergonomics like the new Fujifilm GFX 100 does.

Less Than 1% of People Can Ace This Color Test

How do you think your perception of color stacks up against the general public? If you're a photographer, have your eyes been trained to perceive color better than the average person? Here's a short and sweet test that can help you find out.

3 Ways to Use Plexiglass for Creative Portraits

As a portrait photographer, it can often be difficult to keep thing interesting in the studio. Adding a unique element to your images can help them stand out while also allowing you to have little fun. The unique element that I added for my most recent shoot was just a simple piece of plexiglass. Here are three ways you can use a sheet of plexiglass and some simple household supplies to unleash your inner creative.

Shooting Water Droplet Refractions for Magical Macro Photos

Like tiny crystal balls, water droplets can add a magical element to macro photographs. There are a number of moving parts to consider, but the basic concept is simple: a spherical droplet can act like a lens, refracting light from whatever is behind it.

A Guide to Long Exposure Photography

In the past few years, long exposure photography has become increasingly popular. Images in which the water seems to turn ethereal, the clouds turn into long, wispy streaks, or the lights from cars turn into long lines have an otherworldly quality that can be incredibly appealing. Since I've had a few people ask me how I go about shooting my long exposure images, I decided to write a guide.

The Art of Lighting Porsche Racecars

Photographing a Porsche is a special experience for me, as I am a racing fan, and Porsche is racing. They are the essence of speed on the curving tracks they have graced around the world, and on a photo shoot, they are just as incredible sitting still. It is for this and many other reasons that I count myself lucky to stand behind the camera while photographing the art pieces that are Porsche racecars.

What’s New With the iPhone’s Camera and Photos Apps in iOS 13

The 2019 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference kicked off in San Jose yesterday, and Apple made several major announcements (including the new Mac Pro and 6K display) during the keynote presentation. One of the unveilings was for iOS 13, and a number of big improvements are coming to the iPhone's Camera and Photos apps.

Why I Am Staying with APS-C

After a many year hiatus, I returned to photography as an avocation. In years past, I had been a semi-pro, using primarily Leica gear and film, of course at full frame. In those days the only significant half frame camera was the Olympus, which in spite of the smaller but more useful format gave a good account of itself. It did not hurt that Olympus glass was at that time some of the best coming from Japan, especially for snappy contrast.

Prince Charles: Gary Fong Lightsphere Looks Like an Ice Cream

There was a lighthearted moment during President Trump's visit with the Royal Family in the UK today. As he and Prince Charles walked into Clarence House, one of the photographers in attendance accidentally dropped their Gary Fong Lightsphere flash diffuser onto the ground in front of the two.

Ep. 323: Is It Too Big or Just Right? – and more


Episode 323 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
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Featured: LensRentals and OLAF Optical Testing founder, Roger Cicala

Photos of Venice Canals at Night

The famous canals of Venice, Italy, are usually photographed with the hustle and bustle of tourists and boats. French photographer Thibaud Poirier decided to visit them in the quiet of the night and shoot beautiful photos showing a different side of the city.

Shooting the Stars in Light-Polluted Singapore with the Huawei P30 Pro

The moment I had been waiting for finally arrived exactly 49 days after I got my Huawei P30 Pro. This is one of my final tests for the phone after shooting the Milky Way handheld and a meter. So what’s the big deal about this test? Because photographing the Milky Way in Singapore with a DSLR was deemed impossible by many astrophotography veterans here just 5 years ago.

3 Ways to Boost Your Portraits Using Color

We photographers obsess about finding the right light. We understand how to use hard light, when to use soft light, and get excited by directional light. Portrait photographers learn how to control light using flashes and modifiers, and become experts in getting the most from natural light.