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.
A hand holds a black film camera with a large lens and a viewfinder, outdoors in front of a blurred airplane and the word "SPACE" partially visible on a building in the background.

This 3D-Printed Camera Can Make You Fall in Love With Panoramic Analog Photography

I love panoramic photography. There is just something special about a super-wide aspect ratio that flexes my creative muscles. I'm far from the only one. Photographer Jace LeRoy, who goes by analog_astronaut on social media, has also been bitten by the panorama bug. He recently showed off a camera he built, the Infidex 176, which uses 35mm film to capture 72 x 24 millimeter frames, and it's awesome.

A triptych showing close-ups of fashion accessories: left, a person holds a green utility bag filled with red-handled tools; center, a foot in a black shoe and blue disposable shoe cover; right, a belt with tools and cords over denim.

‘Assistants’ Celebrates the Unsung Heroes of Fashion Photography

Behind nearly every iconic studio fashion photo is a stylist assistant. These unsung heroes often go entirely unnoticed to the outside world, but they are essential to the photographic process and vital members of the team. A new photography book, Assistants, brings fashion stylists from the background and puts them front and center.

A Canon EOS R10 digital camera body without a lens is mounted on a tripod, with a blurred background showing shelves and equipment.

DIY Digital Iris Animates and Customizes Lens Bokeh

Adapters to use DSLR lenses on modern mirrorless cameras are very common parts of photography kits. They are extremely useful tools that enable photographers to use their existing, older lenses on new mirrorless cameras. However, as New Zealand builder James, who goes by Ancient on YouTube, shows, these adapters can be so much more and capture photos and videos that would otherwise be impossible.

A bat flying against a clear blue sky, its wings fully outstretched showing the veins and structure in the wing membranes. The bat is viewed from below, centered in the image.

Photographer’s Unique Image of a Flying Fox Carrying its Pup Mid-Flight

High above the rainforest canopy of Christmas Island, a fleeting silhouette crossed a narrow gap in the trees. To the naked eye, it was little more than another bat passing briefly through the afternoon sky. To photographer Chris Bray's camera trained patiently upward, however, the moment revealed something far more intimate, a mother flying fox carrying her newborn pup mid-flight, now photographed for what many believe to be the first time.

A collage of three wildlife photos: a bobcat pouncing on a bird, a close-up of a polar bear's face in snow, and a green insect with textured skin perched on a red plant.

The Final 24 Images of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

Photographers from 113 different countries entered a record-setting 60,636 photos to the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2025. The outstanding contest winners were unveiled last fall, but now it's time for the people to have their say. One of these 24 beautiful wildlife photos will win the prestigious People's Choice Award, and voting is open now.

A triptych of black and white photos: left, a woman in a robe sits by a window; center, close-up of ballet feet en pointe; right, a dancer in a leotard sits on the floor with a leg raised high.

3 Photographers Capture Ballet’s Artistry in 3 Unique Ways

Leica Gallery New York’s upcoming exhibition Ballet pulls back the curtain on one of the most demanding art forms, revealing the discipline, vulnerability, and devotion behind life in movement. The show features never-before-seen photographs of Misty Copeland from her final performance and offers an intimate look at a historic moment in contemporary ballet. Through the work of Henry Leutwyler, Diana Markosian, and Kylie Shea, Ballet captures what remains when the performance ends.

A collage of three images: a house engulfed in flames, a red sun in a smoky sky above homes, and two people wearing masks sifting through rubble in a burned area.

Filmmaker Uses His Camera to Preserve Life, Loss, and Love

From intimate family stories to documentary and vérité filmmaking that captures life in motion, Myles Matsuno has spent decades turning everyday moments into unforgettable narratives. The photographer discusses the influences that shape his creative vision, the flow states that bring an image to life, and the deeply personal projects that preserve memory and history for generations.

A collage of three photos: a horse standing in clear water, a group of monkeys grooming each other, and soccer players leaping for the ball in front of a goal during a match.

These 10 Up-and-Comers Are Vying to Be ‘Youth Photographer of the Year’

Alongside the shortlisted Student photographers, the Sony World Photography Awards also announced the 10 Youth photographers who are vying to be named Youth Photographer of the Year in the Sony World Photography Awards 2026. These 10 photographers are all 19 years old and younger, and each demonstrates artistic talent far beyond their years.

A woman carefully cleans an elderly man's ear as he sits in a chair near a lit lamp in a softly lit room. The scene is captured in black and white.

Award-Winning Black and White Photos Celebrate Craftsmanship

Photography competitions arise in all sorts of places, including sometimes very unexpected ones. Portuguese wine maker Dow's recently announced the winners of its 2025 Black and White Photography Competition that challenged photographers to capture people's dedication and patience, which Dow's says is a common thread that connects both black and white photography and winemaking.

A hand holds a black Leica camera in the center of a park pathway lined with benches and autumn trees, with yellow leaves scattered on the ground.

Photographer Transformed a Panasonic Lumix G9 II Into a Leica Look-Alike

"Programmer by day, photographer by weekend" Cristian Băluță could not find the precise camera he wanted in the market, so he made it himself. Băluță expertly took the internal components from the Panasonic Lumix G9 II Micro Four Thirds camera and put them inside a Leica M replica body he made. It was a labor of love, and while the photographer admits the result isn't necessarily the dream camera he imagined, the project is incredible.

Three photographs of the Great Wall of China are displayed side by side against a pale background, each showing different angles and lighting of the wall winding through mountains.

Uncovering the History of How China Fell in Love With Photography

China is one of the world's biggest photography markets, even besting the Americas in terms of camera and lens sales earlier this year. However, China's rich photographic history is not well known in the West, something American photographer Ben Fraternale, who runs the excellent photography YouTube channel "In An Instant," hopes to change through his new three-part documentary series, "Inside China."

Two cheetahs rest closely together in tall grass on the left, while a close-up of a cheetah’s face with its mouth slightly open appears on the right, both set against blurred natural backgrounds.

Postman-Turned-Cinematographer Films Cheetahs In Brand New Ways

In National Geographic's latest documentary, "Cheetahs Up Close," Emmy Award-winning wildlife photographer and cinematographer Bertie Gregory travels to the Serengeti to capture jaw-dropping close-up footage of cheetahs as they rest, hunt, and of course, run. Gregory and fellow Emmy Award-winning wildlife cinematographer Tom Walker use long lenses, drones, and specialized equipment to capture remarkable shots, ensuring "Cheetahs Up Close" is as beautiful as it is exciting.

A collage of three images: a gloved hand examining a photo with a ruler, a close-up of a vintage camera viewfinder and lens, and a black Leica 110 camera showing its lens and viewfinder.

The Most Special Cameras, Lenses, and Photos in Leica’s Archives

Leica counted down the days to Christmas in style, delivering daily videos that showcase "the most special things" in the company's archives. As is tradition, the photographic advent calendar of sorts concluded yesterday, Christmas Eve, and we thought a nice little Christmas present to our passionate readers was a recap of Leica's Christmas countdown.