Educational

PetaPixel's editorials are in-depth stories, thought-pieces, and opinions on the photography industry led by the minds of our editorial team.
A triptych image of vibrant fireworks in the night sky over a city skyline, featuring bursts of red, blue, green, and gold above buildings, water, and a crowd on a lit walkway.

5 Creative Fireworks Photography Techniques for Dazzling, One-of-a-Kind Shots

No matter what skill level you're at, PetaPixel has educational guides to help you create vivid, masterful fireworks photographs. This how-to offers five creative fireworks photography techniques to elevate your shots beyond the basics, including a Grand Finale trick perfect for capturing unique, expressive images that stand out from the crowd.

A camera screen displays a focused image of two patterned pillows on a blue-striped couch, with green focus brackets over the pillows and camera settings shown at the bottom.

The Anatomy of Autofocus: How Cameras and Lenses Achieve Perfect Focus

Autofocus (AF) is one of the most significant advancements in the history of photography. From the first autofocus camera -- the Konica C35 AF in 1977 -- to the first true autofocus ILC, the Minolta Maxxum 7000. Although manual focus still has its devotees -- especially in genres that reward deliberation, such as macro, landscape, or vintage shooting -- autofocus has become the default expectation for most modern photographers.

Thin, branching white filaments spread across a dark background, resembling fungal hyphae or root structures, with a few bright, out-of-focus circular spots in the corners.

Lens Fungus: What It Is and How to Deal With It

Pick up a dusty old lens from a flea market, an estate sale, or even your own forgotten storage bin, and you might notice something strange glinting beneath the surface of the front element: delicate white threads, odd patterns like spiderwebs or frost creeping across the inside of the glass. That eerie substance is lens fungus -- an unwelcome guest in the world of photography that quietly invades optical systems, thrives in darkness and moisture, and, if left untreated, can cause permanent and costly damage to your equipment.

Close-up of a camera lens with sunlight reflecting off the glass, showing the intricate details of the aperture blades and a warm, golden sky in the background.

Understanding Camera Lens Construction: What Every Photographer Should Know

Photography is as much a science as it is an art, and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction of camera lenses. Behind every sharp image is a complex array of glass elements, coatings, and design choices that collectively shape how light is captured.

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 bright spiral galaxy with a glowing core is shown on the left, surrounded by stars and smaller galaxies. On the right, a colorful nebula displays red, white, and dark clouds in a star-filled black sky.

A Complete Guide to Deep-Sky Astrophotography

While photographing wide-angle nightscapes is a common occurrence for astrophotographers, not many capture the faint nebulae and distant galaxies hidden beyond the Milky Way. Trevor Jones, creator of AstroBackyard, turned his obsession with space into a dedicated passion, teaching himself astrophotography to share the deep-sky he first witnessed through a telescope. Now a successful YouTuber and respected voice in the community, Jones helps demystify the process.

A vintage camera with a silver metal body, textured dark green grip, and a large lens facing forward, displayed on a white background.

Carl Zeiss Werra: An East German Bauhaus Fantasy Come to Life

Carl Zeiss is a legendary name in photography. Though successful in many other areas related to the field of optics, like in microscopy for instance, it is particularly Zeiss camera lenses that have earned a spot in the pantheon of photographic giants through their engineering excellence and luxurious quality.

Various black tripod ball heads with adjustment knobs and level indicators are arranged on a textured red surface. They vary in size and design, showcasing different features and mechanisms.

Unlocking the Power of Tripod Ball Heads with Balanced Mode

Since I started using ball heads in balanced mode, I’ve been a very happy camper. In this article, I'll be sharing a review of multiple ball heads as well as a tutorial about using ball heads in the balanced mode.

A woman in a long, dark gown stands with one foot on a table, holding a gun. A man lies face down on the floor with another gun beside him. A bottle and glass are on the table. The image has a vintage, noir style.

This 1940s Photo Was Made to Defy Hollywood Self-Censorship Rules

The Motion Picture Production Code, more commonly referred to as the Hays Code, was one of the most influential forces shaping Hollywood’s Golden Age. Created to uphold moral standards in cinema, the Code governed what could and could not be shown on screen for over three decades. Yet, as restrictive as it was, resistance to its rules surfaced even from within the industry itself.

A comic-style image with two vintage cameras facing off against each other, separated by a "VS" in the center. The camera on the left has a speech bubble saying "Grr!" and the one on the right says "#@!". The background is bright red and yellow with black lines.

The History of Leica vs Zeiss and the Battle of the Rangefinders

For several decades, there were two big names -- both of which happened to be German -- in the 35mm camera world that stood like skyscrapers among all companies. You’ve undoubtedly heard of both of them: Carl Zeiss and Leitz Camera, more commonly known as Zeiss and Leica.

A vintage Nikon film camera with a 50mm f/1.8 lens is displayed against an orange background. The camera features a black body with manual controls and a classic design.

The Best Budget 35mm Film Cameras in 2025

The resurgence of film photography in recent years has breathed new life into the world of analog cameras and for many, the 35mm format remains the gold standard. Its perfect balance of image quality, convenience, and affordability makes it a favorite among both newcomers and seasoned photographers.

Close-up of an old camera lens with vintage markings. The black and white image highlights intricate details, including a prominent central icon resembling a metallic triangle. Surrounding the glass are mechanical dials and lettering, enhancing its classic look.

A Guide to Camera Shutter Designs: Focal-Plane, Leaf, and the Rest

To take a photograph is to encapsulate a singular moment in time and space in the form of an image. In order to do that, no matter what kind of equipment we are using, we need a sort of tool to divide the past and future from the singular present, the precise moment that we wish to capture – no matter how long or how fleeting it might be.

Image of two black camera mode dials. Each dial includes settings like "P," "A," "S," "M," and "AUTO," along with icons for portrait, landscape, macro, and sports modes. The dials are against a light gray background.

How the Defunct APEX System Inspired Aperture and Shutter Priority Modes

Photography is an art and science deeply rooted in the manipulation of light. From the earliest days of the camera obscura to the digital age, photographers have sought to control exposure—the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor or film—to create compelling images. Central to this control are the variables of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO (no, ISO does not actually change the sensitivity but nevertheless plays an integral role in exposure choices).

Two images side by side: The left image shows two necklaces with pink and blue gemstones on silver and rose gold chains against a light background. The right image shows golden liquid pouring from a bottle labeled "Añejo" in bold letters against a dark background.

Luxury Product Photography Requires Precision, Creativity, and Patience

Arguing the upside of proximity, photographer Robert Capa said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” In-studio commercial photographers, with robotic cameras and high-tech lighting, get plenty close to their subjects.