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.
An image of four tripods on a cracked white background, overlaid with excerpts of frustrated customer comments about refunds and delivery issues concerning the Theta Max auto-leveling tripod.

Benro’s Self-Leveling Theta Tripod Kickstarter Hasn’t Gone as Planned

In January 2023, Benro shared that it was developing the world's first self-leveling tripod called the Theta. The following March, the company announced its Kickstarter to bring that tripod to life. Today, many backers report that they still have not received their tripod and some even claim Benro is not willingly or quickly processing refunds.

A vivid image of a nebula in space, showcasing bright colors with swirling patterns. Orange and red clouds contrast against a dark background, with a striking blue formation resembling a gaseous arc. Twinkling stars are scattered throughout.

This Astrophotographer Captures the Universe Unlike Anyone Else

Through his fantastic images, Finnish astrophotographer J-P Metsavainio shows how photos can be breathtakingly beautiful when art meets science. One of Metsavainio's recent images, WR 134 as a Rising Phoenix, is a brilliant example of the aesthetic wonders of the cosmos and the extreme technical precision required to do astrophotography.

A vintage-style poster featuring a Panasonic 4K camera lens against a textured, aged paper background with brown border edges. The lens is prominently displayed, emphasizing its details and modern design.

Panasonic’s HC-VX3 Camcorder is a Relic That Is Best Left in the Past

Not long ago, camcorders ruled as the go-to device for capturing life’s moments. Now, they’re relics. Smartphones have stomped out almost every practical use for camcorders, replacing them with better features and internet connectivity. Yet, some manufacturers cling to the past, hoping to squeeze a few bucks from a dying market.

A phone screen shows a photo editing app with a woman in a colorful hallway. Beside it, a woman in white stands on a colorful target in a vibrant, open landscape, aiming a bow upward against a backdrop of mountains and a bright blue sky.

How Apple’s Next-Gen Photographic Styles Transform iPhone Photography

Apple's new iPhone 16 series smartphones are Apple's best-ever handsets for mobile photographers. Among the biggest reasons for this is the suite of next-generation Photographic Styles, which intelligently and precisely adjust tones and colors in images, non-destructively and in real-time while using the iPhone's camera.

On the left, a close-up of a marine iguana resting on a rock. On the right, a fisherman stands by the sea holding a fishing rod and a fish, with boats in the background.

Echoes of Life: Stories of Galapagos

As a multidisciplinary creative, I was brought on by Craghoppers UK a couple of years ago to help execute a brand refresh. The brand’s look and feel had lost its consistency, so my role was to realign its identity. This involved establishing new typefaces, color palettes, and a comprehensive toolkit that would guide future creative decisions.

A hand holding a small wooden pinhole camera with brass fittings and a cylindrical lens. The camera has a simple, boxy design with a polished finish. The background is black, providing contrast to the camera's warm wood tones.

Smaller is Better: My Tiny Wooden Wet Plate Camera

When it comes to camera’s they can come in all shapes and sizes. I want to tell the story of this little, as I call it “Klein Special”, wood box wet plate camera made by my good friend Kevin Klein in Valley City, North Dakota. Coincidently “Klein” means “small” in German. Something that I was unaware of at the time of giving the camera its name.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a white blouse, smiles while sitting with her hands folded. She is positioned next to a large red circular Leica logo on a black background.

Leica’s Art Director on Galleries and Promoting Photography as Art

Since its inception, Leica has made an indelible impact on photography. Whether through its cameras and lenses or its Leica Galleries, the company has consistently demonstrated a passion for photography as an art form. While the Leica Gallery initiative traces its roots back to the 1970s, the company's efforts have been reinvigorated by Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Leica's Art Director and Chief Representative for Leica Galleries International.