Features

PetaPixel's Features are in-depth, heavily researched stories designed to answer the most important questions on a topic. Where we flex our journalistic muscle, expect to find the best storytelling and original reporting the photo industry offers.
Jeremy Gray
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.

Jaron Schneider
Close-up of a hand adjusting the shutter dial on a Nikon Zf camera on the left; on the right, a man holds a Nikon camera with a large telephoto lens, aiming it outdoors.

The Three Moments That Brought Nikon Back From the Brink

PetaPixel has written at length about how impressive it is that Nikon was able to turn its business around. From teetering on the brink to its now soaring success, the last five years have been an incredible journey for the company. Speaking to PetaPixel, Nikon attributes its phoenix-like revival to three key moments.

Matt Growcoot
A woman in a light-colored dress stands on a city sidewalk, reaching into a large bag. She wears sunglasses and is surrounded by tall buildings, with two people walking away in the background.

This Photographer Shot 1970s New York From the Hip

In July 1973, Mark Cohen spent a month living in a dorm room at New York University (NYU) while taking part in a film production workshop. His daily classes were short so he used his free time to walk around the city with his camera.

Matt Growcoot
A black-and-white split image: on the left, a child stands by the river with a bridge in the background; on the right, an older man in a suit stands indoors, laughing.

Photographer’s 10-Year Project Captures the Charm of Paris

Paris is perhaps the most important city in photography's history. As the birthplace of the medium, it has long been a haven for iconic photographers. It’s no surprise, then, that contemporary documentarians continue to turn their lenses on the City of Light -- Mathieu Bitton being one of the most notable, capturing its essence over the last 15 years.

Jaron Schneider
A person with dark hair and a beard holds a Nikon Zfc camera up to their face, ready to take a photo. The background is blurred with warm, glowing lights.

Nikon Is Open to Making More Vintage-Inspired Cameras

Once it got its foothold in the mirrorless camera market, Nikon didn't waste too much time tapping into its visual heritage and releasing vintage-inspired cameras. The Zfc hit store shelves in 2021, its full-frame brother the Zf came out two years later, and if photographers want more, Nikon says it is happy to oblige.

Matt Growcoot
A triptych image with a skateboarder mid-jump in front of a building, people walking by a canal under a bridge with birds flying, and a historic tall building. The entire image has a red-orange filter with an inset of the "HARIMAN RED ISO 50" film branding.

Harman Red 125 Film Review: Paint the Town Red

It appears that Harman Technology's foray into 35mm color film series has been a success, following the release of Phoenix 200 in late 2023 -- which is still widely available despite being described as limited edition upon release --- Harman followed up with another color negative film, Red 125.

Matt Growcoot
A person holds a giant light blue sneaker with a blue swoosh. To the right, two mannequins, dressed in athletic wear, are on treadmills in a metallic lab environment.

Surreal Photos Taken Inside the Sprawling Nike Factory

Photographer Alastair Philip Wiper is no stranger to entering spaces rarely seen by others -- having previously visited a cryogenic chamber and a doomsday underground house. Wiper continued his modus operandi of taking viewers inside restricted locations when he was invited to document the inside of Nike.

Jeremy Gray
A collage with four images: two people with textured cards obscuring faces, a diverse group of people marching in a forest, hands reaching out to touch, and a close-up of two people embracing affectionately.

How Four Award-Winning Women Change the World Through Photography

On March 8, International Women's Day, Leica announced the four winners of its annual Leica Women Foto Project Award. Each woman's award-winning project demonstrates the power of visual storytelling and exemplifies this year's competition theme, unity through diversity. PetaPixel spoke to each winning photographer to learn more about their work.

Radomir Jakubowski
A split image comparing two water scenes. Left: Calmer water with a subtle wave and a green check mark. Right: More turbulent, splashing water with a red X. An arrow points from left to right.

I Was Disqualified by a Nature Photography Competition… Again

Everyone who knows me is aware that I love pushing the limits of what’s possible and creating the “makeable” from both the possible and the impossible. This time, however, I didn’t succeed, and the Glanzlichter nature photo competition disqualified me.

Will Burrard-Lucas
Close-up of an elephant's face, highlighting its textured skin and tusks. The light and shadow create a dramatic effect, while its eyes gaze forward. Lush greenery is faintly visible in the background, adding depth to the scene.

Photographing Forest Elephants in the Congo

Deep in the Congo Basin, in a remote corner of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, lies Mbeli Bai, a vast forest clearing where wildlife emerges from the dense jungle. Unlike open savanna landscapes, the rainforest hides its inhabitants behind thick vegetation, making photographing species like forest elephants particularly difficult.

Jaron Schneider
Close-up of a digital camera's sensor, surrounded by a metal mount. The camera's body has a textured black surface. The sensor is rectangular, with electronic contacts visible along the mount's inner edge.

Canon Commits to Continuing In-House Sensor Development

Image sensor research and development is notoriously costly, which is why so many manufacturers have opted to work with an existing sensor fabrication company, like Sony Semiconductor, rather than develop their own in-house. Canon has been one of the few exceptions and, according to its executives, that will remain the case.

Jaron Schneider
Close-up of a person holding a vintage-style camera by its strap, with green trees blurred in the background. The person is wearing blue jeans, and the focus is on the camera lens.

OM System Says It Prioritizes Computational Features Over Megapixels

The biggest benefit of Micro Four Thirds is size: cameras and lenses can be significantly smaller than APS-C or full-frame options. One perceived downside, however, is lower resolution. OM System says it could look into higher-resolution sensors but wouldn’t select them if it meant sacrificing computational performance.