Opinion

Split image: left side shows Earth rising above the Moon's cratered surface; right side shows a full view of Earth from space, with clouds, oceans, and continents visible against the black background.

Our Favorite Artemis II Photos

NASA's Artemis II mission ushered in a new era of space exploration and inspired billions at a time when hope is so sorely needed. The successful mission, more than 50 years after people last orbited the Moon, honored Apollo's rich legacy while charting an all-new path for the future. The four astronauts aboard Artemis II's Orion spacecraft captured many exceptional photos on their journey, and these are our favorites.

A person in business attire stands on a rocky outcrop surrounded by rough ocean waves under a cloudy sky. The person’s head is replaced by a yellow sign with a white upward arrow.

Adobe Has Run Out of Allies

Thirteen years ago, I sat in an amphitheater in Los Angeles as Adobe announced that it would be shifting from Creative Suite to Creative Cloud. I remember being skeptical, but I was also willing to give Adobe the benefit of the doubt. After all, it created a beloved line of tools.

Large white text reading "ALMOST THERE" is overlaid on a blurred screenshot of DaVinci Resolve software, with the DaVinci Resolve logo centered below the word "ALMOST.

The DaVinci Resolve 21 Photo Editing Tools Show Promise but Are Imperfect

Blackmagic Design unveiled DaVinci Resolve 21 this week and alongside the expected types of improvements, like more AI-powered video editing features, Blackmagic shocked the creative world by adding RAW photo editing and organization features to Resolve 21. I've been trying Resolve 21's new photo editing features since it arrived on Monday, and there's a lot to like. There's also quite a bit that isn't quite up to snuff, is just a bit too different for my tastes, or is outright confusing.

A smartphone mounted on a camera is displaying a cityscape with a digital overlay of hexagonal guides. Both devices are set up on a balcony with tall glass buildings in the background.

Sony’s Cutting-Edge XYN Spatial Capture Solutions Arrive Very Soon

When PetaPixel editor-in-chief Jaron Schneider saw Sony's cutting-edge XYN immersive display technology at CP+ 2026 in Yokohama, Japan, he described it as being like seeing through an Apple Vision Pro, but without any of the headgear. But XYN goes far beyond a single display device; XYN is an end-to-end spatial capture solution.

On the left, a black-and-white vintage portrait features two women, one standing behind the other. On the right, a headless flamingo stands on white sand near gentle blue ocean waves.

A Necessary Critique of Fontcuberta’s Algorithmic Photography

This March, Spanish conceptual artist and photographer Joan Fontcuberta published a new book in Italy. Immagini Latenti concludes with a chapter on AI and photography, referencing the debates surrounding Boris Eldagsen’s submission of an AI-generated image to the Sony World Photography Awards in 2023 and Miles Astray’s submission of a photograph in the AI category of the 1839 Award in 2024.

A white circular grid icon with evenly spaced segments is centered on a blue-green abstract background featuring bubbles and organic shapes.

Nearly 90% of Surveyed Working Photographers Are Using AI

VSCO has increasingly incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) into its photography products, including AI Lab, a dedicated AI-based editing platform inside the VSCO app on iOS. To better understand how photographers feel about AI and how they want to use it in their photography workflow, VSCO conducted a survey of photographers across the U.S. and Canada in December, and the results are quite interesting. The company published its report today.

On the left, a view of Earth from space shows continents, oceans, and clouds. On the right, a black Nikon D5 DSLR camera is shown facing forward against a white background.

The 10-Year-Old Nikon D5 DSLR Really Is the Best Camera for Artemis II

While much of the discussion surrounding the Artemis II crew's beautiful photos from their Orion spacecraft has focused on the images themselves, and they are fantastic shots, some of the discussion has surrounded the cameras used to capture the photos. Photographers love chatting gear, after all. While the Nikon D5 DSLR may seem like a puzzling choice as the primary camera on a prestigious space mission in 2026, it's the best tool for the job.

A collage of three black-and-white photos shows circus performers practicing: a woman juggling with shadows behind her, three men preparing backstage, and a man juggling pins in front of a patterned curtain.

Making Peace With the Brutal Math of Photography

A camera projects an illusion of authority. It is easy to mistake the act of framing for the act of creation. We expect the lens to function as a paintbrush, assuming that technical mastery guarantees dominion over a scene. The prevailing mythology insists that vision alone bends reality, and that a trained eye can summon permanent order from spontaneous chaos. The vagaries of the environment dictate otherwise. 

Mario and Princess Peach stand together on a rooftop at night, gazing at a sky filled with colorful shooting stars and glowing trails. The scene is vibrant, magical, and illuminated by the falling stars.

Anamorphic Lenses Are Everywhere in Hollywood, Even Animated Movies

Anamorphic lenses are everywhere these days. From the small screen of television to the big screen of IMAX theaters, cinematographers often reach for anamorphics. These lenses not only deliver an ultra-wide, cinematic look but also feature distinct oval bokeh and exaggerated flare. The look is so prevalent in live-action filmmaking now that even animated movies, like the brand-new "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," are following suit and simulating the "look" of anamorphic lenses.

A person uses a desktop computer to edit a photo of a woman in a white dress; other people and studio lighting equipment are visible in the blurred background.

Most Surveyed Photographers Use AI for Tedious Tasks, Not Creative Editing

AI in photography is a hot topic. It can range from a purely workflow tool to a portrait retoucher and even a full-blown creation tool. According to a survey of 363 photographers who either use AI as part of their workflow or are open to AI retouching tools, the vast majority believe AI should assist but not take over creative control.

Two digital cameras shown from the back, each featuring a large LCD screen, control buttons, and dials. The camera on the left has an electronic viewfinder in the top left corner; the one on the right does not.

Panasonic, Please Stop Removing Viewfinders

Earlier this week, Panasonic unveiled the Lumix ZS300, also known as the TZ300 in some markets. The new compact camera is nearly identical to its predecessor, released in early 2018, except for one big thing: the ZS200's electronic viewfinder has been removed, replaced with nothing but more plastic. There are logical explanations for this, but they do little to stop me from disliking the change.

Six people stand behind a table covered with a white cloth featuring the blue ZEISS logo, displaying cameras and gear, in a modern indoor event space with exhibition panels in the background.

I Flew to Atlanta for a Zeiss Lens Event but Found Something More

I flew to Atlanta expecting to cover a lens launch and came away with something far more meaningful. The debut of the Zeiss Otus ML 35mm f/1.4 was framed as a first look, but what Zeiss created was not a traditional showcase. Instead, it became an evening centered on artists, storytelling, and a sense of community that rarely takes the spotlight in this industry.

Close-up shot of a camera lens, focusing on a rectangular port cover labeled "TAMRON-LINK." The background is blurred, highlighting the lens details and branding.

Every Lens Maker Needs to Do What Tamron Is Doing

Tamron lenses have some very cool capabilities you may not be aware of -- like the ability to pull focus during a time lapse -- and it’s all thanks to its Lens Utility App. I want to talk about what of these abilities are, but I also want to take this opportunity to shame other lens manufacturers for not offering these same features.

A close-up of a blue and amber human eye with a reflection visible in the pupil. The GoPro logo and four squares are positioned above the eye.

The Video Quality of GoPro’s Next-Gen Camera Looks Mighty Impressive

GoPro announced a new GP3 image processor a couple of weeks ago, promising twice the pixel-processing power of its prior system-on-a-chip (SoC) and improved image quality. After showcasing the new chip's prowess with sample photos, GoPro today released a new video, and the next generation of GoPro is looking very good so far.

Four people in black suits hold up Oscar statuettes in front of a red and white patterned background, with only their hands and arms visible.

What Hollywood is Hiding Heading into the Oscars

Think back to this time last year when The Brutalist was being pilloried for using AI to improve Adrian Brody's Hungarian accent. Two other Oscar-nominated movies in 2025 had also confessed to using AI to improve speech.

A smiling man in a suit and glasses stands in front of a dark background with a red fluctuating line graph, suggesting changes in stock or financial performance.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen’s Legacy Differs Dramatically With Who You Ask

Adobe's longtime CEO, Shantanu Narayen, announced this week that he is stepping down after 18 years as CEO and nearly 30 years at the company. If you ask shareholders, Narayen was, for a long time, among the very best in the biz. If you ask Adobe's core customers, the artists who were once indispensable to the company's success, it's a different story.

A white bullet train speeds along tracks in the foreground, with Japan’s snow-capped Mount Fuji towering in the background under a clear blue sky.

Panasonic’s Very Specific Survey Is All About Photographing Kids and Trains

Japan's love affair with train photography is well known, with train photographers, also known as "toritetsu," occasionally causing significant safety concerns as they throw caution to the wind to get better train images. However, most train photographers don't menace society. A new Panasonic survey focuses on a pleasant part of railway photography: Photographing train-obsessed kids enjoying their hobby.

Close-up view of a digital camera's exposed image sensor and lens mount, showing the metallic ring with electronic contacts and the rectangular sensor surface reflecting light.

A Camera’s Dynamic Range Is Interesting but Not That Important

When new cameras are announced, dynamic range is often a significant part of the image quality discussion. When a camera offers particularly fantastic dynamic range, it's big news. Likewise, when a camera's dynamic range takes a big hit in exchange for other impressive features, that's news, too. However, does dynamic range really matter that much?

A logo with the text "YOURS TRULY" in green uppercase letters above the word "media" in pink script, all inside a yellow rectangular border on a light background.

Bankrupt Wedding Photo and Video Company Owes $2.3 Million

There are many talented, respected professional wedding photographers and videographers. A lot of people do great work for their clients and deliver people with treasured photos and videos from one of the most special days of their lives. However, as controversy after controversy has shown, the wedding photo/video industry is also one rife with malice and scandal.

A person sits at a desk using a laptop and two large monitors, working on 3D digital artwork with colorful graphics displayed on the screens in an office with large windows and city views.

Apple’s New $3,299 Studio Display XDR Comes With Some Caveats

Apple's new 27-inch Studio Display XDR looks like a great option for photographers and video editors requiring accurate colors and high peak brightness. However, as eagle-eyed prospective customers are discovering, there are some caveats to consider when it comes to compatibility.

Three camera lenses are displayed side by side on a bright yellow background with subtle curved patterns. The lenses are labeled Meike 50mm, AF 35mm, and Aurora 50mm F1.4.

Nikon Z-Mount Drama Heats Up as Sirui and Meike Lenses Vanish

In January, news broke that Nikon had filed a lawsuit against Viltrox in China concerning patents related to Nikon Z-mount technology. A couple of weeks later, Viltrox said that despite the lawsuit, it was not adjusting its lens development roadmap. New reports this week claim that lens makers Sirui (China) and Meike (Hong Kong) have both stopped Nikon Z lenses, which is quite the coincidence given the ongoing legal situation with Viltrox.

A basketball is about to go through a hoop with a net in an indoor arena; the ball is pixelated and the background shows a blurred crowd.

Why the Biggest NCAA Basketball Game of the Year Was Barely Photographed

In October, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) warned photographers against rights-grabbing credentialing agreements after The Gazelle Group, a major firm known for its sports coverage, offered credentials for sporting events in exchange for irrevocable, free use of photos taken by credentialed photographers. This pay-to-play arrangement understandably irritated photographers and wire services, and the fallout has persisted.

A hand holding a smartphone with a large professional camera lens attached, showing a close-up side view. The background is blurred with indistinct people and colorful lights.

Tecno’s Modular Magnetic Concept Tries Resurrecting a Dead Idea

When it comes to Tecno’s Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology, the company describes it as a “phone that grows on demand”. A magnetic-based system that allows users to stack components -- including various cameras -- onto the back of the phone makes it highly adaptable. At least in theory.

A collage of three vibrant desert wildflower scenes: a sunrise over poppies, cacti among multicolored blooms under a blue sky, and purple lupines with mountains in the background.

The Photographer’s Guide to Capturing Wildflower Superblooms

Once-a-decade superblooms are just starting to turn deserts of the American West into a photographer’s dream. For photographers, the challenge of capturing beautiful wildflower blooms is as thrilling as it is fleeting. Finding the right blooms, capturing their scale and variety, and conveying both their delicate details and the sweeping grandeur of the desert is an exciting opportunity. In this guide, I’ll share my approach to making the most of this extraordinary event, from planning and equipment to timing, composition, and even some scientific insight.

A collage of three night sky photos: a stone hand sculpture with the Milky Way, a gnarled tree under a starry sky, and two boats by a lake beneath a purple aurora.

How to Capture Unique Night Sky Landscapes

Drawing on decades of photographing nightscapes, this guide offers practical tips on Milky Way timing, scouting, blue-hour blends, and crafting strong foregrounds. Learn how to capture distinctive night sky landscapes through thoughtful planning, smart gear choices, and creative field techniques.

A person holds a digital camera with a lens attached, while three additional camera lenses are arranged on a dark surface nearby.

The Tariff Situation Isn’t Getting Better for Photographers After All

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump's global tariffs he instituted last year based on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Hours later, the president announced new 10% global tariffs against most imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Today, the president said he is actually going to raise the tariffs to 15%, the maximum allowed under the trade law he is using for his latest tariffs.

A man in a blue jacket holds up a large camera lens outdoors, examining it thoughtfully. Next to him, the text "f/1.2" is shown with a large red X crossing it out.

You (Probably) Don’t Need an f/1.2 Lens: The Law of Diminishing Returns

Photography is an art form of trade-offs. When the shutter speed goes up, the aperture must come down. Higher ISO raises the exposure but hurts the image quality. A brighter maximum aperture means more cost and more weight. Everything is based on a give-and-take relationship, and balancing these factors is key to success.