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 Beginner’s Guide to Buying Camera Gear on eBay

Camera gear can be expensive, but one way to work around this issue is to purchase equipment used from online auction websites such as eBay. But it can be tough trying to determine the exact condition of an item without getting your hands on it. We will be going over tips to help you purchase both digital and analog film cameras without throwing your money down the drain. Here are some practical pointers to staying smart and safe on eBay when buying your next bit of kit.

Recreating an Apple Watch Product Picture

Apple has a distinctive style when it comes to product images promoting its gadgets. After seeing the teaser image for the new Apple Watch, photographer Jared Polin of FroKnowsPhoto decided that he would try his hand at recreating the shot as closely as possible.

Roberto Salas’ Front Row Seats to Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution

Yesterday, NBC News aired this short but interesting look into the life and career of photographer Roberto Salas. At the age of 15 in 1955, Salas met an activist named Fidel Castro during a photo assignment with Salas' photographer father. The encounter ended up giving Salas front-row seats to the revolution that was about to unfold, allowing Salas to capture intimate photos of Castro that other photojournalists in the country could only dream about.

One Woman Photoshopped by 18 Countries: Beauty Standards Revealed

Last year, journalist Esther Honig published a viral series of images showing how photo retouchers in 27 countries around the world "enhanced" a portrait of her according to their cultural preferences. Inspired by that project, the UK medical website Superdrug Online Doctor just published a similar experiment that explores body image.

How to Copyright Your Photos in 2026

When your finger presses down on a camera's shutter button and captures a photograph, that photo is instantly copyrighted with you as the rightful owner. However, there are benefits to formally registering your work with the United States Copyright Office. Today, we are going to take a look at the process involved in registering your visual artwork, along with the benefits of doing so and why you may want to consider it for photos you value.

This is How Fujifilm Recycled Disposable Cameras in 1998

What happens to used disposable cameras once the film has been processed and printed for customers? Well, oftentimes the camera company is able to get its hands on the discarded shell, load it up, and sell it to customers again. If you want to see exactly how this recycling process is/was done, check out the fascinating 15-minute video above, which shows how Fujifilm recycled and reused disposable cameras back in 1998.

‘The Bigger Picture’: Flashcards and an App for Photo Challenges and Inspiration

Photography can be a thrilling way to explore the world around us, but sometimes we need a bit of inspiration to get moving. ‘The Bigger Picture Cards’ are a way to not only get inspired but to also learn new photographic skills along the way. Sold as a $15 set of flashcards, the deck includes 50 cards to get you out and shooting. Just draw your selection, accept your challenge, and you are on your way to learning by doing.

How Nikon Film SLRs Were Made in the 1990s

Want to see how Nikon SLR cameras were made two decades ago? Back in 1998, the Japanese TV show "The Making" -- an international predecessor of How It's Made -- aired this 15-minute-long segment showing how Nikon manufactured its F70 film SLR (known as the N70 in the US), which was first introduced in 1994.

This is a Stereograph Photo Viewer from 1896

Australian toy photographer Ray of ToyShoots recently purchased this old school stereoscope that was apparently manufactured in 1896. It's the device people used to view stereoscopic photos as one 3D image (the View-Master, which was released in 1936, is also a stereoscope).

This is a Rooftopping Photographer From the 1920s

Rooftopping photographers have gotten a lot of attention and notoriety in recent days for climbing to extremely high points in cities and shooting photos while often teetering on the edge. It turns out photographers were already pulling similar stunts nearly a century ago.

6 Excellent Film Rangefinders For the Beginning Photographer

Getting into analog photography can be an exciting proposition; maybe you find the medium more delightful, or you just want to learn more about the times of yesteryear. Either way, we have assembled a list of some of our favorite rangefinder-style analog cameras, ranging from the friendly and affordable Canonet QL 17 GII to the pricey yet exuberant Contax G2. We know that we may not have everyone’s personal favorites, but the list below is filled with cameras we know you’ll enjoy.

Baby in China Blinded by Camera Flash? Probably Not

Earlier this week, China's official state newspaper People's Daily published a story on its website about how a 3-month-old baby had been blinded in one eye by a camera flash. The report said that a family friend forgot to turn off the camera's flash before taking a picture from around 1 foot away from the baby's face, causing permanent blindness in his right eye and a loss of vision in his left.

‘Eadweard’ is a Biopic About Photographer Eadweard Muybridge

Eadweard is a new indie biopic about the life of English photographer Eadweard Muybridge, who's considered to be one of the godfathers of cinema due to his early experiments with capturing and projecting motion. The film is a 104-minute psychological drama that tells the story of Muybridge's life, from his controversial photos of nude and deformed subjects, to the murder of his wife's lover, to his work as one of the earliest "filmmakers."

Sony RX100 IV Sample Shots at 100fps, 250fps, 500fps, and 1000fps

Earlier this month, we shared some sample 1,000fps footage captured with the new Sony RX100 IV. If you'd like a closer look at the slow-mo capabilities of the camera, photographer Mathieu Gasquet of MirrorLessons just posted this 3-minute-long video that contains various clips shot at 100fps, 250fps, 500fps, and 1000fps (and played back at 25fps). Keep in mind that the Sony RX100 IV is a sub-$1,000 compact camera.

How to Hold Your Camera: Tips from a Chiropractor

As a chiropractor, I’m always looking for improved biomechanics that reduce injury and fatigue. Proper camera technique increases stability, improves capture quality and protects your joints from repetitive microtrauma.

A Brief History of the Canon Canonet Rangefinder

In January of 1961, Canon introduced the Canonet, a consumer-friendly 35mm film rangefinder camera aimed at the average person. Over fifty years and fourteen variations later, film photographers still look back on the Canonet as an excellent choice for beginning and experienced photographers alike. Let’s travel back in time to see how it all began and why the Canonet remains popular even today.

Why I Stopped Using the DNG File Format

A couple of years ago, when I switched careers and moved into photography full time, I did a lot of research on multiple aspects of running a photography business. One of those areas, digital asset management (DAM), deals with, well, managing your digital assets, your image files.

This is How Our Photos of Pluto Have Improved Over the Years

Pluto was first discovered on February 18, 1930, by a 23-year-old man named Clyde Tombaugh, who compared photos captured 6 days apart and discovered the dwarf planet moving between the two shots. Since then, scientists have created numerous photos of Pluto over the years, but none clearer than the ones NASA made over the past week with the New Horizons space probe.

Look for Leading Lines When Shooting Street Photos

Early on in my street photography career, I went on YouTube and searched for some inspiration on other street photographers. I came across the work and approach of Bruce Gilden, who absolutely blew me away. He would photograph people at very close proximities (about an arm's-length away), while shooting with a flash on a 28mm lens.

Video: An Intro to Polarizing Filters in Photography

If you're unfamiliar with the subject of polarizing filters in photography, here's an educational video that can bring you up to speed. Mark Ryan Sallee of Michromatic just released this 12-minute primer that covers the purpose of polarizers, the science behind them, and tips for purchasing a polarizer for yourself.