Opinion

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?

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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.

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 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 …

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 partially disassembled Sony digital camera is shown with internal components exposed. A blue magnifying glass highlights the alpha symbol on the camera body. The background is a solid teal color.

This Is How an Olympics Photographer Proves the Authenticity of His Photos

Never has photography come under such scrutiny, especially in photojournalism and sports photography. In its history, photography has been manipulated as early as 1846. Still, the launch of Adobe Photoshop in 1987 marked a major shift in the ease of photo manipulation, and by the 90’s, the term “photoshopped” generally came to mean a photo was altered to mask the truth. Here at the Olympics, there are no exceptions to heavily photoshopped or AI-generated images, which mostly end up on …

A triptych image shows: a duck flapping its wings on water, a brown bear holding a red fish in its mouth by a river, and a brown horse running through ocean waves.

How to Capture Unique Wildlife Photos

Photography has never been more accessible, yet truly distinctive images feel harder to come by than ever. With social media reinforcing familiar compositions and popular locations, many photographers find themselves asking how to create work that feels original and fulfilling. This three-part series is designed to explore that question across three genres: wildlife, landscape, and night sky photography. In this first article, the focus is on wildlife and how slowing down, understanding animals …

A clear shadow of a person standing on a stone-tiled pavement, with sunlight casting the silhouette sharply onto the ground.

Street Photography Has a Predator Problem

In her seminal collection of essays, On Photography, Susan Sontag famously argued that "there is something predatory in the act of taking a picture." She described the camera as a "sublimation of the gun," a tool used to "violate" subjects, turning them into objects to be symbolically possessed.

Silhouette of a mirrorless camera with a visible image sensor where the lens would attach, and four question marks above, suggesting mystery or an unknown camera model.

L-Mount Desperately Needs a Great, Everyday, Photo Camera

Earlier this week on The PetaPixel Podcast, we discussed Nikon's lawsuit against Viltrox and both the best and worst-case scenarios for that outcome. As part of it, we found ourselves talking about L-mount and how it was the only option outside of Sony E-mount that has shown itself willing to be "open." Unfortunately, it doesn't offer a compelling solution for the average photographer.

A person wearing a helmet holds a camera with a large lens, aiming to take a photo. The background features a bright yellow and red dot pattern, giving the image a pop art effect.

Photography’s Truth Is Under Attack and Giving Up Is Not an Option

As generative AI technology proliferates, making it easier for people to manipulate real photos or create convincing fake ones from scratch, photography's ability to depict reality has come under increasing attack. A recent Washington Post opinion is among the most notable assaults on the institution of photography yet, garnering strong rebuttals from veteran photographers.

Open cardboard box with a square paper inside displaying the "flickr" logo in blue and pink letters, viewed from above against a white background.

Empty Promises: A Deep Dive into Flickr Pro for 2026

Flickr is one of those platforms that refuses to die, like a beloved old truck that leaks oil but still starts every morning. Flickr is one of the original photo-sharing communities, and if you’ve been around long enough, you probably remember when it was the internet for photographers. I've been on Flickr since the early days, and at one point, it genuinely felt essential. In fact, I had a pro account for over a decade.

Two overhead views of assorted vintage Polaroid film boxes, some in bright colors and bold numbers, alongside photography accessories like filters and lenses, arranged on orange (left) and blue (right) backgrounds.

Thank You Hipsters: Because of You, Film Is Thriving Again

Once upon a time, in the last century, before hipsters and when only restaurants had menus, photography was film and film was photography. Both consumers and pros used film, and every camera jockey had a favorite kind: large format, medium format, 35mm, APS, 126, Disc, etc.

The image features the SEGA logo in blue and white above the word "PENTAX" in bold red letters on a dark, abstract background with red and blue light patterns.

The Path to Pentax’s Survival Is to Mirror Sega

Ricoh Imaging recently revealed to PetaPixel that it was having a difficult time figuring out how to make the DSLR popular among a wider group of people, admitting that the current fan base of the brand wouldn't be enough to keep it afloat. I argue the best route forward is to pull a Sega.

Four mirrorless camera bodies from Nikon, Lumix, Canon, and Sony are arranged in a grid on a marble background, each showing their lens mounts and sensors.

Mid-Range Cameras Have Never Been This Good

We got not one, not two, but three fantastic mid-range full-frame cameras in 2025: the Panasonic Lumix S1 II, the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, and the Sony a7 V. These join the Nikon Z6 III, which launched just 18 months ago. The mid-range mirrorless camera segment has never been this competitive, fresh, and fantastic, which is outstanding news for photographers.

Two digital cameras are shown side by side on a dark green background: the left camera has no lens and exposes its sensor, while the right camera has a classic design with a mounted lens.

2025 Was the Year of the Photographic Experience

There are so many fantastic, capable digital cameras available these days. Nearly every new camera from all the major manufacturers can take great photos, has reliable autofocus, and offers a competitive feature set. Ultimately, the biggest differentiator between most cameras is the experience of using them. 2025 delivered many new cameras that not only provide a great experience, but a different one that celebrates the act of photography itself and what it means to capture photos.

Large, jagged rocks partially submerged in misty, flowing water, creating a surreal and ethereal scene in black and white.

Do Your Images Mean Anything? Should They?

As photographers, we often concentrate on technical perfection and the compositional layout. However, arguably more important than either of those is adding meaning to your photos. It can be challenging, but adding meaning can genuinely elevate your photos to the next tier.

A green and white sign reading "Lovers Point, Pacific Grove, CA" stands near the ocean; next to it is a nautical mast with colorful signal flags at a seaside pier under a clear blue sky.

Kodak Kodacolor 35mm Film Is an Absolute Vibe

When Kodak re-released Kodacolor in 100 and 200 ISO variations a few months ago (which is probably just Kodak Color Plus in a new box), the film community got very excited. Now that dust has settled and I am not hearing a lot about the film much these days, but that should change. This film rocks.