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.
Three newspaper sports covers show a basketball player in a yellow jersey looking shocked or distressed, with bold headlines like "COLLAPSE!", "CHOKE 2.0", and "CHOKE'S ON KNICKS" about the Knicks losing a big game.

Viral NBA Choke Photo Shows How History Repeats Itself

The widely published choke-gesture photo from the NBA playoffs showcases the enduring power of a single image to capture and ignite sports passion. In this case, the photographer had line of sight for a second to make the photo.

Three scenes show groups of photographers taking pictures of people in traditional Vietnamese outfits: two women in fog, a person arranging colorful mats, and a woman in white by a yellow wall and blue window.

How to Start Your Very Own Photo Tour in Vietnam (No Skills Required!)

So… you’ve got a decent following on social media, and you’re looking to cash in? Want to travel for free, get all your expenses covered, and “grow” your portfolio without doing much? Do you want to run your own photography tour, which will make you shine like a famous and successful travel photographer?

An older man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a red jacket and teal scarf, adjusts a camera on a tripod in an outdoor urban garden setting.

Meet the Photographer Who Has Captured London for 65 Years

Clive has been taking photos of people in London for about 65 years. During that time, he has met and photographed many people from all walks of life. A new documentary film by Chocolate Films, as part of the 1000 Londoners series, looks at Clive's career and how his photos paint a detailed portrait of a city and its people changing over the decades.

The image shows a logo with the word "BILD" in bold black letters framed by a black rectangle with a small yellow circle on top, followed by "expo" in lowercase letters. The letters "e," "x," "p," and "o" are colored in orange, yellow, red, and blue respectively.

The New York Bild Expo Adds Cristina Mittermeier and Peter McKinnon to List of More Than 100 Speakers

The Bild Expo, operated by B&H Photo, is returning to New York on June 17 and 18 at the Javits Center. Free for all to attend, the event will combine a show floor attended by major imaging brands such as Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, and DJI with a docket of more than 100 speakers, including Peter McKinnon, Cristina Mittermeier, and the PetaPixel Podcast team.

A collage of vibrant scenes from Southeast Asia, including rice fields, a man cycling with large fruit, monks on temple stairs, fishermen, women in conical hats working in water, and dramatic mountain and sunset landscapes.

The Library of Fake ‘Travel Photos’ in Asia

The following article is a resource to help the world’s photography competition judges work out if the “travel” images they are judging are real or not! Yep, this is the first library of fake travel photos focusing on people photography in Asia. You’re welcome!

A woman and a man run side by side down a long, narrow hallway with pale walls and red lights on the ceiling, creating a dramatic and urgent atmosphere.

How Cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné Crafted the Look of ‘Severance’

Apple TV's hit series Severance is celebrated for its engaging story, incredible acting performances, and striking visuals. PetaPixel spoke with Severance cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné, one of the masterminds behind the show's eye-catching aesthetic, clever camera shots (like the iconic elevator transition zoom dolly sequence), and, as of season two, direction as well.

A helicopter hovers low above a snowy landscape, stirring up a cloud of snow. A polar bear is visible on the ground amidst the blowing snow.

The Disturbing Double Standard for Polar Bear ‘Protection’ in Svalbard

There have been increasingly absurd regulations being imposed on visitors to Svalbard in recent years, particularly surrounding the protection of polar bears. One of the most contentious of these mandates is the requirement to maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from a polar bear (about five American football fields), no matter the circumstance.

A split image: on the left, a close-up of a colorful crystal formation viewed through a magnifying lens; on the right, a person works with scientific equipment in a laboratory filled with tools and devices.

NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Uses His Camera for Science in Space

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his incredible astrophotography, sense of humor, and clever camera contraptions, is scheduled to return to Earth this month after a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Before leaving space, Pettit shared some of the awesome science he has done as part of Expedition 72.

A Nikon digital camera covered in dirt and debris, with mud on the lens cap and body, sits on a white surface. The camera appears weathered and likely found outdoors.

Nikon Camera Buried for 7 Years Reunited With Its Owners

This week, a Nikon camera was found buried in the ground near a footpath on the Isles of Scilly. After checking the SD card, it was estimated to have been lost somewhere between 2017 and 2018. After publishing a few of the photos on Facebook, the owner was found just a day later.

Sunset view of a mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks, tall evergreen trees, a grassy hillside, and a rustic building in the foreground. The sky is clear with a soft, pinkish glow.

How a Photographer Built the Most Realistic Photography Video Game

Photographer turned game developer Matt Newell's brand new video game, Lushfoil Photography Sim, released today on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is a beautiful, brilliant video game, and the most realistic photography game ever. PetaPixel chatted with Newell about his inspiration for Lushfoil, how he built it, and what he hopes the game offers photographers and traditional gamers alike.