Accurate and efficient background removal is vital for professionals in photography, design, and e-commerce, as cluttered backgrounds can detract from the subject. Whether it’s for advertising, e-commerce listings, or social media content, seamless matting is crucial for adapting images to various platforms while preserving quality.

In September, Rode announced the $250,000 Creator of the Year Awards. The competition awarded creators across 22 categories, including one overall winner, Gawx Art, taking home $20,000 in cash and $30,000 worth of prizes. Rode has announced winners, including a familiar face and friend of PetaPixel, Becca Farsace.

Despite being ahead of its time, the Pentax K-1 (and its Mark II upgrade) was a camera system that promised so much yet appears to have run out of road. Born seemingly from an R&D department whose chains had been freed, the engineers went wild, strayed off-script, and produced a camera full of innovation. Fast forward to 2024, and a lack of lens support paired with no upgraded models in over six years leaves Pentax owners in an unwanted state of limbo where even the most loyal customers are now compelled to look elsewhere.

Lexar announced two new portable SSDs today, each with a maximum 2TB capacity and the promise of high-speed transfer speeds via USB 3.2 Gen 2. Both are also under $200, making them a compelling option for the traveling photographer or as an on-site backup option.

A US federal appeals court today upheld the law passed earlier this year that requires ByteDance, a China-based company, to sell TikTok or face a ban.

German artificial intelligence software company PRC announced the latest version of its AI-powered photo management program, Excire Foto 2025. The software promises to help photographers, even those with massive image libraries, keep their photos organized. The app also uses AI to help photographers with one of the most arduous tasks of all: culling.

A missing local news photographer has been found dead in his vehicle in Houston outside a Burger King.

A wedding photographer has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from brides after she allegedly took their fees and failed to show on the big day.

With 2024 winding down, various apps and services are launching "year in review" recaps. Many people have first-hand experience with this feature with music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Some photo-oriented platforms do it, too, including Google Photos, as of this year.

A suspect allegedly broke into a house, stole a homeowner's trail camera, and then foolishly took a selfie with it.

Chinese optics company Kipon, known for its lenses and optical adapters, released two new 0.62x focal reducers for medium-format cameras.

The holiday season is officially here, which means family portraits galore. Many people seek out a professional photographer around the holidays to get images for Christmas cards. For others, it could be one of those rare times when everyone is together, and they want to commemorate that with photos. Or, maybe you just want to document your own family through the special holiday season. No matter the situation, you'll want to do everything you can to produce quality, wall-worthy images. It can be overwhelming if you're new to family or portrait photography, but here are some easy tips to help you get the best out of each session.

When a lake-effect snowstorm hit Erie, Pennsylvania after Thanksgiving, Pittsburgh-based freelancer Jeff Swensen drove 130 miles to make widely published photos for Getty Images.

After a slight hiccup and one-day delay, the European Space Agency's incredible Proba-3 mission successfully launched into space. The Proba-3 mission will do something never seen before: it will precisely and repeatedly create solar eclipses in orbit using two satellites. Lining up these satellites is a remarkable technological feat and relies heavily on breakthrough imaging technology.

Google announced a long list of new features coming to its Pixel lineup, some of which will also be available for additional Android phones. While none of the updates will drastically change how users make images, there are some noteworthy new features related to the camera, photo apps, and audio.

iOS 18 has been out for a couple of months now but as users have updated their iPhones, many are complaining about the newly-designed Photos app.

Earlier this year, Canon USA initiated a round of layoffs that affected multiple departments and included Rudy Winston, who had been the most prominent face of Canon’s US-based brand for many years. He is now back with the company on a consultation basis.

The gunman at the center of the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing in New York yesterday was wearing a premium photography backpack.

Samyang announced the AF 35mm f/1.4 P, the first lens in what it is calling its Prime Series. Made for Sony E-mount, Samyang says the new lens sets the standard for its manufacturing technology as the first in its third generation of products.

Earlier this year, Canon made the (great) decision to allow third-party manufacturers to bring autofocus-equipped lenses to RF mount, albeit only RF-S (APS-C) lenses. Since that announcement, companies like Tamron and Sigma announced RF-S lenses. Now South Korean lens maker Samyang is getting in on the action by bringing its 12mm f/2 ultra-wide prime to RF mount.

Professional cinema company Arri announced a new Alexa camera, the Alexa 265. This new-generation 65mm camera is significantly smaller and lighter than the standard Alexa 65 and features an improved large-format image sensor.

Researchers have developed an AI model that gives users a "digital mask" to protect them from facial recognition technology.

The FBI is investigating sightings of mysterious, large drones that have been hovering in formation almost every night over New Jersey.