On Photo Contest Controversy and Criticism

I'm Allen Murabayashi, the co-founder of PhotoShelter. We recently launched our Guide to Photo Contests 2019, an annual look at contests around the world that we think are worth your consideration. Here's an excerpt from this year’s guide that looks at the sometimes controversial world of contests.

Creating Surreal Photo Art of Flying Whales in Space

In this article, I'll share how I created a photo art piece titled, "Flying Whales." The idea was to create surreal artwork using only toys and some handcraft and make it as real as possible.

How NASA’s Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Photo Was Shot

"Earthrise" is an iconic photo of Earth rising up from the Moon's horizon that's considered one of the most important environmental photos ever made. Here's a fascinating 3-minute visualization by NASA that recreates how the photo was shot in real-time.

10 Lessons from Street Photography That I Apply to Set Stills Photography

One of the questions I am asked most frequently is “how do you make money from street photography?” So far, aside from print sales and teaching courses, the answer has been that I approach street photography as a form of “practice” -- a space in which I can experiment with new techniques, work on my style, and rehearse different fast-paced scenarios.

How Do You Thank the Strangers Who Saved Your Child’s Life? I Shot Portraits

On January 17 of this year, I suddenly found myself in a terrifying, all-too-real nightmare. I was standing on the edge of a frozen lake near my home on Mount Desert Island, Maine. In front of me were snowmobile tracks that disappeared into the blackness of the frigid night. I knew that my 13-year-old daughter, Jolie, was a passenger on that snowmobile; and I had just received word from local firefighters that the tracks ended in open water.

Stop Using Tape to Attach Your Gels: How to Use Magnets Instead

If you’re like me and you’ve tried to attach gels to your lights in the past, you’ve likely resorted to using one of the many types of sticky tapes available. When I used to manage a studio, I would see all manner of tapes being used to attach gels to hot modifiers.

Leica is Selling M Camera LEGO Sets

If you love both Leica and LEGO, today is your lucky day: Leica Store Miami has started selling Leica M camera LEGO kits that you build yourself. The resulting creations look like Leica's revered rangefinder line.

Ep. 307: Shhhhh You’re in the Library Now – and more


Episode 307 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
Download MP3 -  Subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, email or RSS!
Featured: Photographer and PhotoGeek Weekly host, Don Komarechka

Film Photos Captured with 5 Seconds of Sound Before and After

Photographer Mario Cipriano has started a new project titled "Light Sounds Light" using a technique he calls audiophotography. Cipriano is using a digital audio recorder to capture the sound context behind each of his film photos, resulting in a fascinating way of experiencing the photographer's work.

A Chat with Photographer Steve McCurry About His Life and Work

Renowned photographer Steve McCurry recently sat down with journalist Kate Snow for a drink and to chat about his life and career. This 15-minute segment by NBC Nightly News offers a peek into the mind of the celebrated (and recently controversial) photographer of Afghan Girl fame.

10 Tips on How to Improve Your Photography Game in the Next Year

The year is coming to an end. It has been a nice year for me and I feel I am still improving in regards to photography. Not only skill-wise but also on the business side of things, which is currently important for me as I am living off of photography. I'm writing out some tips that always help me in becoming better, and I hope they're useful for you as well.

Take a Trip Through Paris in the Late 1890s

Want to see what life in the streets of Paris was like over a century ago in the late 1890s? Film restorer Guy Jones collected old footage shot between 1896 and 1900, slowed it down to a natural speed, and added sound for ambiance. This beautiful 6-minute experience is what resulted.

How to Make and Shoot a Bokehlicious Tin Foil Backdrop

I love bokeh and wanted to incorporate it into some upcoming holiday-themed beauty shoots. Well, I didn't want to shoot in the cold and I really didn't want to buy strings of lights (or generally spend any money at all) so I put together this great backdrop with basically just tinfoil.

Are These Photographers Cheating?

Where is the line between acceptable photo manipulation and cheating in photography? That's the question photographer Jamie Windsor asks and explores in this new 12-minute video.

7 Ideas Motivating Me in My Photography Right Now

A huge part of my photo practice is not taking photos. Photography is an inner game. What comes out in our photography is the total expression of who we are, how we think, and what we see.

9 Signs You Might be Turning into a Lifestyle Photographer

It started out innocently enough. You were a landscape photographer, a solitary scenery hunter, a planet-loving, tree-hugging, mountain-climbing, river-crossing, track-scrambling wanderer in the wilds. You loved documenting our planet and all of its hidden little nooks and crannies.

Nikon: It’s the Z 6 and Z 7, Not Z6 and Z7

One of the biggest announcements in the camera industry this year was the Nikon Z Series and its first two cameras, the Z6 and Z7. That's how the camera models are usually spelled out when you see them across the Interwebs, but did you know that they're officially the Z 6 and Z 7? Yes, with a space in the middle.

The Dark Truth Behind the Sensor Size War

Want to learn about the history of digital camera sensor sizes? Camera Conspiracies made this entirely serious and fantastically educational 11-minute video on the dark history behind the digital camera industry's sensor size war (warning: it contains profanity).

Photos of Babies with Grown-Up Teeth

If you need a chuckle today (or a nightmare tonight), there's a strange new photo project you can check out called Babies With Teeth. As its name suggests, each of the bizarre photos shows an infant with grown-up teeth 'Photoshopped' into their tiny mouths.

How to Shoot ‘Underwater’ Portraits Without Anyone Getting Wet

For a long time, I have been building sets or props for my images, which in time developed into making and selling furniture as a hobby business. I thought it about time I made videos detailing the process of those builds and the “high budget” results that can be achieved with little financial outlay and a little DIY.

This is the First Photo Shot Inside the Sun’s Corona

A photo captured by a NASA probe from within the Sun's corona

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is on a mission to explore the Sun's corona (basically its atmosphere), and the robotic spacecraft recently made the closest-ever approach to a star. NASA just shared a remarkable photo share by Parker: the first photo ever shot from inside the Sun's corona.

sRGB vs Adobe RGB vs ProPhoto RGB: Color Spaces Explained

Have you ever exported a photo, uploaded it to the Web, and then noticed that the colors looked off on your monitor? The reason is likely the color space of your photo. Here's a helpful 15-minute video by PHLEARN that provides a crash course on color spaces and how to use them.

How NOT to Photograph an Elk

When photographing wild animals in the great outdoors (especially big ones), it's important to stay at a safe distance for the good of both you and the animal. But one sightseer in a Canadian national park was recently seen giving a masterclass in how NOT to shoot from a reasonable distance.

Find Your Creative Style With Split Toning

In my opinion, the most under-appreciated tool within all of Lightroom has got to be Split Toning. Not only is this a great option to solve many photo-related problems, but it’s also an excellent way to work towards developing your own creative editing style.

Meyer Optik Görlitz is Back from the Dead with a New Owner

After years of running hugely successful Kickstarter campaigns but widely failing to deliver on its promises, net SE (the company behind the revivals of Meyer Optik Görlitz and other vintage brands) filed for bankruptcy this year. Now a German company called OPC Optics has announced that it has acquired the rights to the Meyer Optik Görlitz brand and will be bringing it back to the market.

A Simple Hack for Easier Focusing with TLR Cameras

If you have a TLR camera, here's a simple trick you can try to help you to focus more easily. All you'll need is some rubber bands, scissors, aluminum foil, and a ruler (optional).