Culture

Photography is about far more than capturing an image. How photos are shared and what social issues are impacting the profession are just as important. PetaPixel regularly covers the stories around the culture of photography, how it affects society, and what cultural changes affect the art.
A person with a light brown backpack stands in a white-walled gallery, looking at framed black-and-white photographs displayed on the walls. The floor has a geometric tile pattern.

Engaging With the Arts Slows Biological Aging

Researchers in the United Kingdom found that people who engage with the arts biologically age more slowly than those who do not. These results echo others over the years that show a correlation between exercising creative muscles and improved health outcomes.

A tweet overlaying a Monet-style painting reads: “i just generated an image in the style of a Monet painting using AI… what makes this inferior to a real Monet painting.” Below, bold text says: “It’s garbage.”.

Someone Shared a Real Monet Painting as AI and Asked for Critiques

A fascinating art social experiment unfolded on social media this week after someone shared an actual Monet painting as an AI-generated artwork and asked people to explain what makes the "AI image" inferior to a genuine Monet piece. There was no shortage of "sharp-eyed" critics eager to chime in.

Instagram interface displaying a "For you" section with trending photos and short videos, including people dancing, selfies, clothing, winter scenes, and creative shots. Below is a "Popular with Friends" section with more images.

New Instagram Policies Target Reposted Content

Instagram is widening its efforts to prioritize original creators with a new algorithm update that directly targets accounts built on reposted content, not just in Reels but now across photos and carousel posts as well.

A round pin with the Flickr logo in blue and pink text is centered in focus, with several blurred pins featuring the same colors in the background.

Flickr: The First and Last Great Photo Platform

As the global population of photographers swells, so do their digital libraries, leaving everyone with the same question: where and how to share their best work. Flickr was among the first online communities designed to address that dilemma, and it remains one of the best. Some demand sweeping overhauls or argue the price isn't justified.

Two men walk and talk on a path surrounded by greenery. Both are wearing dark shirts and jeans, smiling as they enjoy the outdoor setting. Shrubs and tall grasses line the walkway.

Tim Cook Is Giving Up The Reins at Apple

Tim Cook has announced that he will step down as the CEO of Apple on September 1, handing over the reins to Apple's head of hardware engineering, John Ternus as he transitions to the role of executive chairman.

On the left, a black-and-white vintage portrait features two women, one standing behind the other. On the right, a headless flamingo stands on white sand near gentle blue ocean waves.

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography

This March, Spanish conceptual artist and photographer Joan Fontcuberta published a new book in Italy. Immagini Latenti concludes with a chapter on AI and photography, referencing the debates surrounding Boris Eldagsen’s submission of an AI-generated image to the Sony World Photography Awards in 2023 and Miles Astray’s submission of a photograph in the AI category of the 1839 Award in 2024.

A man holding a camera with a large lens stands outdoors. Beside him, a green sign reads "Photographer No. 24 Masters" with the Masters golf tournament logo.

New Doc Follows Ken Griffey Jr.’s Photography Journey at The Masters

Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr.'s passion for photography is well known. The slugger-turned-photographer is a mainstay at major sporting events, including NFL games, soccer matches, and last year's Masters Tournament at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club. Griffey's experience behind the camera at The Masters is the focus of a new documentary, "Photographer No. 24."

Mario and Princess Peach stand together on a rooftop at night, gazing at a sky filled with colorful shooting stars and glowing trails. The scene is vibrant, magical, and illuminated by the falling stars.

Anamorphic Lenses Are Everywhere in Hollywood, Even Animated Movies

Anamorphic lenses are everywhere these days. From the small screen of television to the big screen of IMAX theaters, cinematographers often reach for anamorphics. These lenses not only deliver an ultra-wide, cinematic look but also feature distinct oval bokeh and exaggerated flare. The look is so prevalent in live-action filmmaking now that even animated movies, like the brand-new "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," are following suit and simulating the "look" of anamorphic lenses.

Three posters: left shows small, clear camera lens adapters labeled "4.1g" with the word "Air"; middle has a colorful quilted backpack on a tripod outdoors; right displays a white CineMaster-V 16K cinema camera.

The Best April Fools’ Day Photography Jokes of 2026

April 1 has once again delivered a fresh roll of photographic absurdity, with brands and creators leaning into the strange, the impossible, and the technically questionable. While some years feel phoned in, 2026’s crop of April Fools’ Day gags shows the industry still has a sharp sense of humor about its own obsessions.

Two groups of soccer fans cheer in stadium stands; on the left, fans wear red and black, while on the right, fans wear blue and yellow, all with arms raised, celebrating excitedly.

Momento Captures Photos of Sports Fans Celebrating All the Big Plays

Sports fans are plenty familiar with cameras at sporting events. 4K broadcast cameras catch the action from every angle, and specialized overhead cameras deliver dynamic angles for instant replays. Even referees sometimes have body cams to complement coverage. However, some venues also have an array of HD cameras pointed at fans rather than the sports action, capturing souvenir photos of people celebrating key plays and moments.

A smiling man in a short-sleeve button-up shirt kneels outdoors by the ocean, holding a vintage movie camera, with palm trees and a building in the background.

Documentary Celebrates Legacy of Ice Skater-Turned-Photographer Roy Blakey

The late photographer Roy Blakey (1930-2024) lived an incredibly interesting life wholly unlike anyone else. A world-traveling professional ice skater-turned-pioneering photographer, Blakey's life and legacy are captured in a new documentary film, "Uncle Roy," directed by his mentee and niece, award-winning director, cinematographer, and photographer Keri Pickett.

A special edition 18mm F6.3 camera lens themed after Ultraman is shown in packaging with an Ultraman figure on the left and a close-up of the lens with Ultraman graphics on the right.

Ultra-Thin SG-image Pancake Lens Gets the Ultraman Treatment

The famous Japanese science fiction franchise Ultra Series, also known as Ultraman, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The relatively new lens company, SG-image, is getting in on the party with an Ultraman-themed limited edition version of its 18mm f/6.3 pancake lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras.