Each year, my photographic instrumentation students build very simple focus stacking systems. After several years, I decided to construct a more advanced version that could move a stepper-motor-driven stage to precise positions, automatically collect a series of images, and then manually use a stacking program for combination into a single high-depth-of-field image.
Apple’s launch of the iPhone 17 Air, the thinnest iPhone in history, has drawn attention not only for the device itself but also for a subtle but crucial change in its marketing approach for South Korea.
This week on the PetaPixel Podcast, Jordan Drake and I are without Chris Niccolls who is on assignment in Japan. That's okay though, because this past week was huge in the video and broadcasting space with the launch of the Canon C50 and the Nikon ZR.
After the finalists of Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, now it can be revealed that Indonesian-based macro photographer Yury Ivanov has been named the winner for his vibrant image of two synchronized 'ladybugs of the sea.'
The Pixless Camera is a new compact, retro-inspired digital camera that transforms everyday photos into playful, Game Boy–style pixel art. Photographer Mathieu Stern recently got his hands on one and put it through its paces to see how it performs.
Beverly Hills residents are increasingly worried about “palm tree tourists” who stop -- and sometimes lie down -- in the middle of the street to take selfies with the city’s palm trees.
Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy used a specially designed solar telescope attached to an astronomy camera to capture a unique image of a SpaceX rocket blasting off into orbit in front of the Sun.
To mark its 100th anniversary, The New Yorker magazine commissioned six photographers to reimagine its historical illustrated covers as photographs.
They said AI wouldn't come for wedding photographers, but a new trend driven by Google's Gemini image generator sees couples create fantastical pre-wedding pictures, without going anywhere.
Meta unveiled "Meta Ray-Ban Display," its first pair of AI smart glasses with a built-in augmented reality (AR) display, at the company’s annual developer event.
An Airbnb guest says he was fined $10,000 for taking a selfie inside the viral Invisible House in Joshua Tree, California.
The minuscule Kodak Charmera keychain camera sold out in just one day, as Reto reveals it sold 10 times more of the blind boxes than it expected to.
Wetzlar Camera Auctions is set to take place on October 11, and it features both the pretty standard fare of unusual or limited edition Leica cameras from the company's history of production runs, but this next auction also includes some lots that are not meant to be functional photographic tools -- by design.
In July, PetaPixel spoke with photographer Dave Herring, whose $10,500 Leica went missing at a UPS Store. Now, he has given his opinion on what he believes happened to the precious camera.
Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra Macro APO, a tele-macro lens that it says delivers a 1.5:1 magnification ratio to capture life-size subjects in "extraordinary detail."
The USGS has just released the 2025 images from its Repeat Photography Project, offering a striking visual record of how Glacier National Park’s landscapes, and the planet itself, have changed over more than a century.
Ricoh Imaging not only manufactures the extremely popular GR series of cameras, but the company also operates three GR Space locations in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing, which are designed to serve as dedicated community hubs for photographers. Brisbane, Australia, is set to be the fourth global location for a GR Space when it opens in October.
The winners of the 2025 Audubon Photography Awards have been announced, with the competition crowning 15 still image winners.
ACD Systems has announced ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2026, the latest version of its flagship photo editing and digital asset management software, bringing new AI tools, workflow upgrades, and flexible pricing options for photographers and creatives.
Pattern Recognition Company (PRC) has released Excire Search 2026, the newest version of its AI-powered post processing plugin for Adobe Lightroom Classic.
A large-scale analysis of underwater videos revealed how octopuses control their eight arms to carry out some of the most complex movements in the animal kingdom.
The makers of the F1 movie have revealed how they made one of the film's most shocking scenes when Damson Idris's character has a monumental crash at the Monza circuit.
The band Massive Attack used live facial recognition and tracking on their audience during a recent concert in a powerful warning about the technology.
Arguably, a smartphone is the most important piece of tech most of us own, considering how integrated it is into our daily lives. However, they are also capable picture takers, and it is in this spirit that I look over the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
DJI has unveiled the Mini 5 Pro drone, a significantly upgraded version of the company's flagship compact drone series. The Mini 5 Pro features a larger image sensor, a much better gimbal, improved sensing performance, and much more.
Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros Discovery have jointly filed a lawsuit against popular Chinese video generator Hailuo AI, over what they claim is “wilful and brazen” copyright infringement.
Wacom's new entry-level One 14 Pen Display features a larger 14-inch pen display, a refined design, and still costs just $299.
Evoto AI, the software company known for AI-powered retouching and workflow tools, has announced a major expansion of its product line during its first-ever brand event, Evoto One, introducing new desktop, mobile, and video offerings.
While it is not surprising that the Fujifilm X-E5, X half, and X-M5 were the three best-selling new cameras at major Japanese retailer Map Camera in August, it is very surprising that the luxurious medium format Hasselblad X2D II 100C cracked the top 10.
Tether Tools has unveiled the AeroTrac Workstation System, a portable, foldable, and highly configurable workstation designed for photographers, videographers, and digital content creators who need to work efficiently on the move.
We spoke with Aga Karmol, a UK-based fine art equine photographer, to explore how she combines classical fine art techniques with her love of horses to create her striking signature images.
SongRaw -- a relative newcomer to camera lenses based out of China -- has announced the AF 85mm f/1.2 Moonlit full-frame lens for Sony E-mount, Nikon Z-mount, and (eventually) Leica L-mount.
Street photographer Phil Penman is most associated with New York City having lived there since the early 2000s. But for his latest project, he expanded his gaze to all around the world.
Polaroid and Thrasher have teamed up to release a limited-edition Polaroid Now camera and matching film, celebrating skateboarding’s creativity, grit, and community-driven spirit.
Solora has released a major iOS 26 update that brings AI-powered forecasts, system-level alarms, and a redesigned interface to its all-in-one astronomical planning app.
Six professional models have filed a lawsuit against a nightclub for using and altering their photos in ads without permission or compensation.
A wingsuit pilot captured a breathtaking video as he jumped above the famous Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert.
Some of China's most popular tourist landmarks are now employing attendants with timers to ensure each visitor has only one minute to take photographs.
President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the removal of photographs related to slavery from national parks in the U.S.
Timelapse photographer Kirill Neiezhmakov has turned his attention to Valencia, using clever transitions to tell the story of the Spanish city.
Photographers know the difficulties of having to crop an image to a specific aspect ratio, and social media users are using this conundrum for a trend that is not exactly new.
Italian photographer Gianluca Rubinacci transforms vast landscapes and night skies into emotional narratives. A master of the panoramic composition, Rubinacci shares his journey and insights with PetaPixel.
Hasselblad is one of the most storied names in photography. The company was founded in Sweden in 1841 as a trading business, but by the early 1900s, Victor Hasselblad began producing cameras that defined the brand and set a new standard for precision and design.
The United States and China have reportedly agreed on the framework of a deal to bring TikTok under majority U.S. ownership.
National Geographic's new documentary series, Top Guns: The Next Generation, combines thrilling visuals and takes viewers inside the U.S. Navy's elite aviation program. Here's how the team brought the incredible sights and sounds of fighter jet training to the small screen.
Pixboom is set to release the Spark this week, a compact video camera that touts some seriously impressive specifications at an even more impressive price. Pixboom says the camera will be capable of shooting 4K resolution at up to 1,000 frames per second, even in low light, with unlimited record times via its global shutter.
Major Japanese camera retailer Map Camera just published its August sales rankings for new and used cameras. Not for the first time this year, Fujifilm has achieved the top spot in the sales rankings. In July, the X half was the most popular new camera. In August, Fujifilm retained its title but the X half dropped its crown.
MasterBeast, a new player in the display field, has launched an ambitious pre-calibrated 32-inch QD-OLED monitor designed to serve creators, gamers, and other professionals with a single, high-performance display.
An unexpectedly strong geomagnetic storm triggered aurora lights in skies across the US last night, seen as far south as Arizona.
Sirui has announced the Aurora 35mm f/1.4, the second lens in its lightweight and fast prime series that will eventually include five focal lengths, following the success of the Aurora 85mm f/1.4.
