Spotlight

Cameras are great, but it’s what is done in photography with that technology that really matters. To that end, PetaPixel regularly shines a Spotlight on the incredible photos and videos created by talented artists from around the world.

How I Took a Photo of the Andromeda Galaxy from My Backyard

I recently shot a photograph of the Andromeda Galaxy that went viral, appearing everywhere from the front page of Reddit to Newsweek. The photo was taken with a four-inch telescope over the course of multiple nights from my backyard near Charlottesville, Virginia, US.

Rescued Photos from Chernobyl Show Life in Ukraine Before the Disaster

Ukrainian photographer Maxim Dondyuk has been collecting and archiving photos and negatives that he has found in the Chernobyl exclusion area for the last six years. He has rescued around 15,000 artifacts, which include films, photos, postcards, and letters, but with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he has been forced to put his Untitled Project from Chernobyl on hold.

Taiwan: A Photographer’s Paradise?

The truth is that when you hear about Taiwan, you probably think of semiconductors, bubble tea, political struggles, and that "Made in Taiwan" sticker on one of your household electronics. Let's forget about all of that and allow me to redefine Taiwan for you and possibly make you add it to your bucket list of destinations.

Shooting a wedding on a smartphone

Photographer Shoots an Entire Wedding Using Only a Smartphone

While smartphones can provide great images in controlled environments, they're not considered to be as versatile as a dedicated camera. Wedding Photographer Jason Vinson decided to see how a Sony Xperia Pro-I would fare in an setting where he had little to no control: a full-day wedding.