The Most Expensive Shot in Silent Film History
On July 23, 1926, silent film star Buster Keaton crashed a full-sized locomotive into an Oregon river, setting the record for the most expensive shot in silent film history.
The Leica MP and Monopan 50: The Promise of ‘Mechanical Perfection’
The "MP" in Leica MP stands for "Mechanical Perfection." That’s a big claim that I decided to put to the test with a roll of Leica’s brand new Monopan 50 and a trip to the English Cotswolds.
Christopher Nolan Used Over Two Million Feet of Film for ‘The Odyssey’
Christopher Nolan used more than two million feet of film for his upcoming movie The Odyssey, which will be released in IMAX theaters in July 2026.
The Color Science Behind the Most Popular 35mm Films Available Today
Film photography is popular for many reasons, but chief among them are color and grain: in short, the "vibe." Photographer Pablo Maraver spent the last year and a half focusing on the former, extensively using and testing 14 different 35mm film stocks to build a comprehensive guide to their color science.
Unknown Photo of Great American Essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson is Discovered
A long-lost and unrecorded photograph of one of America’s most influential thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson has been discovered.
Restored World War I Photos Reveal the Horror and Humor of Life on the Western Front
Last week marked 107 years since the end of World War I. In the United States, the day is observed as Veterans Day, while in Britain it is known as Remembrance Day.
Billy the Kid Like You’ve Never Seen Him: Photo Restorer Revives Rare Portrait of the Wild West Outlaw
A photo restorer has breathed new life into the only universally accepted portrait of Billy the Kid, giving viewers a clearer image of the Wild West's most infamous outlaw.
Poignant Photos Show the Remote Scottish Island Where George Orwell Wrote ‘1984’
At the end of his life, English author George Orwell sought refuge on a remote Scottish island to finish his final and most famous book: 1984.
The Best Look Yet at Jeff Bridges’ WideluxX Camera Revival Project
We recently reported that the new WideluxX camera revival project has reached its prototype stage. Now, just a few weeks later, a video that the WideluxX's creators promised is available online, shedding more light on the upcoming camera.
Arri Film Lab Brings Film’s Look and Feel to Digital Cinema
Arri, one of the biggest brands in all of digital cinema, launched a new tool that aims to make digital video look more analog. Arri Film Lab is an OpenFX plugin that integrates into industry-standard color grading workflows and gives filmmakers and editors creative tools to make their digital videos, regardless of what camera they used, look like they were shot on film.
Light Lens Lab Recreated Another Legendary Leica Lens for a Fraction of the Price
Light Lens Lab's latest lens, the 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical "11873" for M-Mount, is now available for preorder. The lens is a modern recreation of the legendary Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 double-sided aspherical lens from the late 1980s, which can sell for nearly $18,000 in good condition. Light Lens Lab's new prime lenses start at $1,399.
Mint Addresses Major Rollei 35AF Complaint: You Can Now Use Filters
Mint has announced a new Rollei 35AF filter kit that successfully addresses one of the last remaining complaints from the original run of the brand-new camera from last year.
‘Bugonia’ Nails the 35mm Photography Aspect Ratio
It's very strange to watch a movie in 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratios. As photographers, those are kind of our aspect ratios, while Hollywood's have traditionally been the ultra-wide 2.39:1. But rules are made to be broken.
This Photographer Successfully Shot 82-Year-Old Film
Photographer Nick LoPresti loves film. As his YouTube channel shows, his adoration for the medium often manifests in "silly" videos centered on wild, ambitious projects. LoPresti's latest video demonstrates the intersection of his passion for analog photography and his willingness to embrace any challenge. LoPresti, perhaps against his better judgment, shot on 82-year-old film.
Pocket Dispo Pro Lens Repurposes Disposable Film Camera Optics
Pocket Dispo has released a new "Pro" version of its popular pinhole lens. The latest version may look similar to the original Pocket Dispo at first glance, but it has been rebuilt from the ground up, introducing some key improvements, including a new adjustable focus ring.
Large Format Photos Show US Military’s Simulated Iraq Warzones
From 2006 to 2023, photographer Claire Beckett embedded herself on military bases in the United States to capture elaborate training camps that simulated war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Eastman Kodak Rebrands More Photo Film as It Regains Distribution Control
When Kodak quietly and surprisingly announced Kodacolor 100 and 200 at the end of September, analog photographers were rightly excited. However, the most interesting part of the announcement was perhaps not the new film at all, but the dramatic shift in how Kodak is selling film. This change is continuing, as Eastman Kodak is now selling Kodak Gold 200 and Ultramax 400 directly to retailers, with new, retro-inspired packaging in tow.
These Historical Figures Lived Long Enough to be Painted and Photographed
Looking at paintings of historical figures, it can be difficult to know whether that's what they really looked like, or whether the painter was being interpretive -- perhaps pressured by the subject.
Nikon’s 40-Year-Old Underwater Film Camera Still Offers a Unique Experience
On my recent trip to French Polynesia, I decided to do something new that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time: I brought along the Nikonos V, Nikon’s legendary amphibious 35mm camera from the 1980s. That meant no live preview, no autofocus, and no confirmation that anything I was shooting would actually turn out; just 36 frames of film, a light meter, and the quiet peace that comes with freediving and taking photos.
A Photographer Spent 18 Months Documenting an LA Psychiatric Hospital in the 1970s
In 1979, photographer Merrick Morton (@merrickmortonphoto) received a California state grant to document the Volunteer Program at a psychiatric hospital in Los Angeles, a project that led him to return again and again over the next year and a half.
The Camera Trick Behind an Iconic 1937 Film Visual Effect
Sh! The Octopus may not be remembered as a great film of the 1930s like King Kong or The Awful Truth, in fact it was named as one of the greatest bad movies of all time. But there is one scene, involving some very clever camera work, that continues to get talked about today.
Sabrina Carpenter Spotted Using a Gorgeous Contax G2 Camera
It is becoming more common to see celebrities and pop stars using classic cameras as the vintage aesthetic continues to burn white hot. However, most tend to stick with digital -- Taylor Swift and Selina Gomez both really like the Olympus EM-10 Mark IV, for example. Sabrina Carpenter is going even further back in time though as she has been spotted sporting a beautiful Contax G2.
Atlanta Film Co. Has Just 350 Rolls of This Gorgeous 120 Format Cine Film
Atlanta Film Company has a very limited quantity of 250D 65mm motion picture film that has been hand respooled to fit 120 format for stills photography. Due to a change in motion picture film availability, this is a very limited run that probably won't be back once it's gone.
‘I Only Shot One Frame’: How a Student Photographer Made an Iconic Portrait of Bruce Springsteen in 1976
Award-winning photographer Joe Vitti remembers the night he encountered Bruce Springsteen in a small-town campus bar in 1976, ultimately capturing just one single shot. But what a shot it was of the rock star known as "The Boss."
Photographer Finds Film Camera in Abandoned House and Develops the Photos
Reddit user dontcountonmee was recently out taking photos of an abandoned house when he found a film camera that still had a roll of film inside. He took the film home and developed it to see what was on the roll.
Some of the First-Ever Photos Taken in Space Have Been Lovingly Restored
After the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into orbit and followed it up by sending the first person into space, the U.S government responded by forming NASA, and later President John F. Kennedy declared, "We choose to go to the Moon." The Apollo missions are famous, but they were preceded by Mercury and Gemini.
Jeff Bridges’ WideluxX Revival Has Reached Prototype Stage and It’s Beautiful
Just over a year ago, Oscar-winning actor and talented photographer Jeff Bridges announced that he had co-founded a new camera company, SilverBridges, to bring back his beloved Widelux film camera as the WideluxX. SilverBridges has now unveiled the first prototype: WideluxX Prototype 0001.
Don McCullin Finds New Depth in Still Life Photography
War photographer Don McCullin is best known for his images of shell-shocked U.S. Marines or harrowing pictures of famine victims. His new book represents a change of pace.
Lomography’s Stylish New Metal 35mm Film Camera Has a 32mm f/2.8 Lens and Costs $549
Lomography has announced the Lomo MC-A, a brand-new 35mm film camera with a built-in 32mm f/2.8 autofocus-equipped prime lens.
The Fight Over Eccentric Arkansas Photographer Mike Disfarmer Continues
A federal judge has dismissed two claims made by a relative of photographer Mike Disfarmer against the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, which holds Disfarmer's negatives.
Antique Retouching Desk Was Photoshop for 19th Century Photographers
Photographer Markus Hofstätter, whose creative analog photography projects have been featured on PetaPixel many times, recently tried his hand at manual retouching using an antique retouching desk from the 19th century.
A War Photographer Reveals What’s In His Camera Bag
War photojournalist Jonathan Alpeyrie has revealed what he packs in his camera bag before going to cover conflicts like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza.
Diane Keaton Had an Eye for Photography and Released Several Books
Actress Diane Keaton passed away over the weekend, and although she was best known for appearing in The Godfather and Woody Allen movies, she also had a keen eye for photography.
Fujifilm Instax mini LiPlay+ Prints Sound On Photos and Has Dual Cameras
Fujifilm has unveiled the new Instax mini LiPlay+, a hybrid instant camera that introduces many new features, including dual cameras, enhanced sound capabilities, and a refined design.
Archive Film Shows Eccentric Brit Crafting a Handmade Large Format Camera
A fascinating archive video from the BBC about Gandolfi -- a camera company that handmade traditional large format analog cameras well into the 20th century -- was recently uploaded to YouTube.
Cinematographer Gives an 8mm Camcorder From the 1950s a New Digital Life
Filmmaker and cinematographer Tom Kucy, who runs the YouTube channel Manual Not Found, took apart a classic 1950s era Sankyo 8-R film camera and gave it a new, surreal digital life.
Light Lens Lab Is Focused On Its Film Project but Cameras Are Important Too
Light Lens Lab's old-school, Oskar Barnack-inspired rangefinder film project is back in the limelight after appearing on numerous photography websites in the past week. The project looks incredible, but although it has popped up again, it is not a current focus for Light Lens Lab, the company confirmed to PetaPixel.
The Flashback ONE35 V2 Lets You Shoot Instantly, But You Still Get the Film Experience
Flashback, the company that makes "non-disposable digital disposable cameras", has today released its second model called the ONE35 V2.
How a Mobile Photography Darkroom Empowers Vulnerable Children
The Sirkhane Darkroom a mobile photography darkroom, brings education, passion, and most importantly, hope, to overlooked communities in Turkey where children face limited access to education and safety, especially in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes that regularly rock the region.
Queen of the Night: CineStill 800T Film Feels Made for Neon
I loaded a roll of CineStill 800T into my camera, knowing exactly what I was after: neon and halations. The kind of light that doesn’t just illuminate, but bleeds, glows, and lingers in the air.
What Happens When You Shoot Film That Expired in 1946?
"Expired film is always unpredictable," says photographer and YouTuber Mathieu Stern, known for his "weird lens" videos. "But what happens when the film expired almost a century ago? Can you still get an image?" To find out, Stern shot with the oldest rolls of film he could get his hands on, including one from as far back as 1946.
Lomography Launches ‘Quietly Vibrant’ LomoChrome Classicolor ISO 200 Film
It's been a great week for analog photographers. A day after Kodak officially unveiled Kodacolor 100 and 200 color negative film, Lomography has gotten in on the action with the new LomoChrome Classicolor ISO 200 color negative film. It promises true-to-life colors and embodies the "timeless charm" of analog photography.
Leica to Auction 120 Famous Photos, Including One Expected to Sell for Nearly $300,000
As part of the ongoing centenary celebration for the Leica I, the first commercially available 35mm camera, Leitz Photographic Auction is putting a collection of dynamic photographs up for sale in a special auction called "Motion."
The First Look at Kodak’s New Kodacolor 100 and 200 35mm Color Negative Films
News broke yesterday that Kodak was launching a new color film, Kodacolor 100. The company has officially unveiled the new film, plus a second one, Kodacolor 200. The 35mm format film is now available and marks a bold change of pace for Kodak. The early sample images look quite striking.
Kodacolor 100 is a New Film From Eastman Kodak Arriving This Week
Kodak has quietly launched a new color 35mm film, Kodacolor 100. It joins existing Kodak film, including Kodak Ektar 100, Gold 200, ColorPlus 200, Portra 400, UltraMax 400, and Portra 800.
25 of the Best Analog Photos of 2025
The Analog Sparks 2025 International Film Photography Awards celebrate analog photography as a medium and elevate the best film photographers worldwide.
The Analogue aF-1 is a New Point-and-Shoot Film Camera With Autofocus
The aF-1 is a brand new film camera design from Analogue, a design agency based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Aiming for release in early 2026, the aF-1 promises to be an accessible, affordable point-and-shoot camera with autofocus and automatic film winding, made from scratch.
‘Life’ Photographer’s Archive and $1M Donated to Center for Creative Photography
The Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona has received the archive of renowned Life magazine photographer Benn Mitchell, as well as a $1 million gift.
DxO FilmPack 8 Takes Your Favorite Photos Back Through Time
French photography software company DxO has announced FilmPack 8, the latest version of its premier film emulation software. The updated app introduces Time Warp mode, an interactive way to explore the rich history of photography, along with new film rendering options.
Influential Photographer Petra Collins Shoots Selena Gomez’s Wedding
Singer Selena Gomez chose photographer Petra Collins -- whose dreamlike pastel aesthetic and soft-focus film images have become highly influential online -- to shoot her wedding.