Portraits of Tribal Cultures in Myanmar

The diverse culture of Myanmar is part of the country’s unique identity. I was honored to visit different tribes that amazed me by the variety of their traditions, beliefs, and practices. What I witnessed in Myanmar exceeded my expectations even though I had done my research before I traveled.

Apple Aperture Won’t Work Anymore After macOS Mojave

Apple killed off Aperture back in 2014, but there are still photographers out there who have opted to continue using the beloved photo editing and management app. If that's you, there's some bad news: Aperture will no longer run on Mac after macOS Mojave.

Photos of Tulip Season in the Netherlands

Every year close to 1.5 million tourists visit the famous Dutch flower garden "de Keukenhof." This garden is beautiful, but the real beauty can be seen in the endless tulip fields in the countryside.

How I Ended Up Shooting an Entire Wedding on the Google Pixel 3

I'm 50 years old and I have lived through at least two major photographic revolutions of our time: film to digital and cameras to mobile phones. As a designated "family photographer," I am suddenly a sought-after person whenever there is a birthday, a wedding, a festival, or a gathering. I am also supposed to be "armed" and ready all the time, even on a vacation!

Samsung Unveils a Vertical TV for Viewing Instagram

Samsung has announced an unusual new TV that's designed for "the millennial generation." It's a 43-inch vertical screen that's optimized for viewing the same social media content you enjoy on your phone. In case, you know, you've always wanted to browse your Instagram feed on the big screen.

On the Value of a 365-Day Photography Project

Easter Sunday in Saint Louis was the ideal day for a 365 project. The sky was dialed to maximum blue, and the cirrus and cumulus clouds danced together in celestial harmony, floating lazily above our park’s decked out crabapple, cherry, redbud, dogwood, and other flowering trees.

Sorry, Leica: ‘Tank Man’ was Shot on Nikon

Leica was at the center of a firestorm of controversy in China earlier this month over a video that dramatized the creation of the iconic photo titled, "Tank Man". Now it turns out that all the well-known "Tank Man" photos were actually shot with Nikon cameras.

Multiple Exposures of Neon Lights and Nature Sights

Finnish photographer Christoffer Relander shot a mesmerizing and surreal series of photos in which he used multiple-exposure photography to blend views of Hong Kong cityscapes and Scandinavian nature. With a focus on neon signs, the project is titled, "Neonland: Urban Overload."

Shooting a Luxury Watch Photo… with a $5 Watch

The cheapest watch I could find, that was my mission! I decided I wanted to create a magazine advertising image using a really cheap watch. My goal was to replace the luxurious and expensive aspect of the image with an unknown brand but still maintaining that feel of expense and luxury in the final shot. It was also to focus on the photography and the importance and impact it has on advertising.

My 8 Best Tips for Flower Photography

Freehand flower photography out in nature (or your own neighborhood) is one of my favorite photography genres. In this article and the 8-minute video above, I will give you my 8 best tips for flower photography in the wild.

Inside My Tiny Home Photo Studio

A lot of people seem to think I have a giant photo studio space. I do not. I actually have never had more space than the 2 converted bedrooms I work in now, and not so long ago I was renting a small, bedroom-sized commercial space. And even before that, I used to work in a studio between my bed and my desk. And going even further back, I had to sit on my bed to even be able to shoot a half body.

Photographers, Beware Mindset and Success Coaches

It’s an ongoing joke with my friends and I that I am really not a fan on the current marketing messaging that the “universe has my back” and that the success of my business is down to my “mindset”.

Yashica Unveils Three 35mm Cameras and Two New Films

Yashica's Y35 digiFilm camera drummed up a great deal of excitement on Kickstarter but was universally panned by reviewers and early adopters when it finally launched in 2018. Apparently unfazed, Yashica just returned to Kickstarter with plans to launch three new film cameras and two new films.

Amazon is Bringing One-Day Shipping to Prime Members

Retailers are already having problems competing against Amazon's free two-day shipping for its Prime members, but now the retail juggernaut is planning to cut that standard shipping time in half. That's right: Amazon is planning to offer free default one-day shipping as a Prime perk.

Frustrations in Stock Photography

I should start off by saying that I am not a big contributor to stock photography agencies. I did take the plunge into agencies like Shutterstock and Getty Images when I was moving into digital 10 or so years ago, but I found my niche elsewhere.

Photographing the Last Two Northern White Rhinos on Earth

In 2018, Sudan, the last remaining male northern white rhino passed away of natural causes at the Ol Pejeta conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya thus signaling the end of the existence of their subspecies.

The Tragic Death of My Nikon D850

It is always sad to read stories of how others lose or damage their camera gear, and I guess all of us would say, "That would never happen to me because I am cautious and won't risk my expensive equipment."

Ep. 320: More Free Stuff for Your Camera – and more


Episode 320 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
Download MP3 -  Subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, email or RSS!
Featured: Photographer and digital artist, Erik Johansson

How to Land a Photography Assistant Job

I firmly believe that assisting a photographer whose work you admire is one of the greatest learning opportunities available to us and can provide invaluable experience.

55 Plugins to Up Your Photoshop Game

While developing its Luminar Flex AI-based Photoshop plugin earlier this month, Skylum did research on what plugins are currently available. The software company has now compiled a huge list of 55 Photoshop plugins that photographers may find useful.

3 Camera Settings To Master For Landscape Photography

When you purchase a new camera, how much time do you spend reading the manual? I find most camera manuals rather difficult to follow along with, and I for one very rarely use them. What’s interesting is that camera manuals only describe the technical “how to” side of things, like how to turn on your camera or how to attach a lens, but it doesn’t tell you how to truly become comfortable with your camera.

These Photos Show Why We Need to Preserve the Night Sky

Due to the rapid growth in population, an increasing percentage of the human population lives in cities and suburbs where the night sky is completely obscured by the artificial lights. Skylines littered with lit skyscrapers reach sky high. An endless river of traffic flashing high beams. And the cities are ever-expanding. It is conceivable that most people have lived without having seen the true natural night sky.

Rare Photos of Hitler from Glass Plates by His Personal Photographer

Hitler's personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann, was one of the infamous dictator's primary propagandists, and tens of thousands of the photographer's photos exist on glass plate negatives. Now a large number of those rare photos are being revealed with a new level of clarity through a digitization effort by the National Archives.

Adobe Made a Quiz That Reveals What Creative Type You Are

Adobe just launched a fun little online quiz that helps creatives figure out their creative type. The "simple and relatable yet robust and science-informed creative personality assessment" is inspired by popular personality tests such as the Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram.

An Ode to 35mm Film

I took some of the best photos of my life on 35mm film. It will always have a special place in my heart, even though I haven't shot on film in years.

Six Years of McWay Falls

McWay Falls has been a tourist destination for longer than many of us even heard of the place, but it wasn't until 2012 that photographer Steven Christenson really "discovered" the potential of the site at night. Nestled in the rugged and gorgeous part of the California coast better known as Big Sur, McWay Falls enjoys extremely dark skies.

In Street Photography, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot — Better a Fast Shot Than None

I mess up most of my street photography shots: too far away, background cluttered, subjects not well aligned, subject matter not interesting enough, or simply technically flawed. The Murphy’s Law of street photography: “If you can mess up a street shot, chances are you will.”

How to Bring Something New to Film Photography

A very common piece of advice for photographers looking to take their work to the “next level” is that they must invest time in themselves in the process of developing a “style.” A photographic style can mean many things; a theme within the subject matter, a specific color palette, a certain compositional approach, and anything else that leaves the artist's work with a distinct "fingerprint."