BREAKING NEWS: Photography

Fashion and Narratives with Manuela Fraioli and the Lomourette Half-Frame Camera

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Fashion and portrait photographer Manuela Fraioli tested out the Lomourette with some LomoChorme Purple and Lomography 400 CN 35 mm film to see how shooting in half frame changed her creative approach.

Cyanotype Week: Julia Whitney Barnes

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 10:00:42 +0000

This week we are celebrating the artistry of five unique artists exploring the frontiers of cyanotype. For our last installment, we introduce the mix-media and site-specific installation project Planting Utopia by Julia Whitney Barnes. An interview with the artist follows. Julia Whitney Barnes is an artist living in Poughkeepsie, NY who works in a variety of media from cyanotypes,

View the rest of Cyanotype Week: Julia Whitney Barnes on LENSCRATCH.

Week in wildlife: an orphaned sloth bear, swimming hippos and cheeky New Forest donkeys

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 06:00:08 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 04:47:50 +0000

An interstellar expanse of glowing gas and obscuring dust presents

Laowa updates its 12mm F2.8 Zero-D lens with autofocus for some mounts

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:20:00 +0000

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Image: Laowa

Venus Optics has announced the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D FF, an updated, mirrorless version of one of its popular ultra-wide-angle lenses. The new model is slimmed down (hence, the Lite in the name), introduces autofocus capabilities for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts and brings additional upgrades over the original 12mm F2.8 Zero-D.

The 12mm F2.8 Zero-D lens's claim to fame was that it was one of the widest non-fisheye lenses for full-frame cameras. Like the original model, the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D offers an ultra-wide 122° view with a rectilinear optical design, which Laowa says results in "virtually zero distortion." The optical design includes 16 elements in 9 groups, with 4 extra-low dispersion elements and 2 aspherical elements. It can focus as close as 14cm (5.5"), making it possible to capture close details.

Image: Christopher Frost / Laowa

Laowa says that the new model offers improved image quality, with better sharpness all the way to the edges and "excellent control of chromatic aberration." It is also more compact and lightweight than its predecessor, coming in at just 377g (13.3oz) for the E mount version. For comparison, the original model weighed 609g (1.3lbs). The lens sees the addition of a filter thread, using 72mm filters, whereas the old model required a filter holder system.

The autofocus version (left) and manual focus version (right) feature slightly different body designs.
Image: Laowa

The 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D is available for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF and L mounts. The Sony E and Nikon Z versions offer autofocus, while the RF and L mount models are manual focus only. The autofocus versions offer an MF/AF switch but no aperture ring, while the manual focus models feature an aperture ring.

Making things more complicated are the two aperture blade configurations. You can choose between a 5-blade or 14-blade aperture. Laowa says the 5-blade creates a 10-point sunstar effect when you stop down the aperture. If you want the 14-blade aperture, though, you'll need to opt for the manual focus lens no matter what mount you have. The autofocus versions are only available with the 5-blade aperture.

The new Laowa 12mm F2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is available for purchase for $699.

Image: Bastian Kratzke / Laowa

Buy now:

Buy at B&H Photo

Press release:

The Legend Returns for Mirrorless Systems: The Legend Returns for Mirrorless Systems: Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF

Anhui, China – June 26, 2025 – Laowa announces the launch of the new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF for mirrorless systems. The original 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D was one of Laowa’s bestsellers, known as the widest non-fisheye lens available on the market at the time. Now, in the mirrorless era, the new Lite version is optimized specifically for mirrorless systems, featuring 122° ultra wide angle of view with a more compact and lightweight design. It also supports autofocus on Sony E and Nikon Z cameras.

Equipped with a fast f/2.8 aperture and maintaining Laowa’s signature “Zero-D” (zero distortion) optical design, this lens delivers natural-looking results. A built-in ⌀72mm front filter thread further enhances its portability. This lens is a versatile choice for landscape, architecture, astrophotography, aerial shots, vlogging, and more.

Key Features:

Ultra-wide 122° Angle of View
“Zero-Distortion”
Fast & Accurate Autofocus
Compact & Lightweight
Bright f/2.8 Aperture
14cm Close Focusing Distance
Excellent Image Quality
⌀72mm Filter thread
10-Point Sunstar

Ultra-wide 12mm with f/2.8 Large Aperture

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF offers an ultra-wide 122° angle of view paired with a fast f/2.8 aperture, making it an excellent choice for landscape photography—especially in low-light conditions such as sunrise, sunset, or starry nights. The wide perspective helps capture vast, expansive scenes with dramatic scale and depth, while the f/2.8 aperture allows more light to enter, enabling faster shutter speeds and better performance in dim environments. This also offers creative flexibility for foreground emphasis and environmental storytelling. Whether you’re exploring rugged mountains, shooting seascapes, or capturing the night sky, this lens is built to handle it all with ease and clarity.

“Zero-Distortion”

While most 12mm full-frame lenses on the market are fisheye, Laowa continues to break boundaries with a rectilinear design. Building on the legacy of the original 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D, this new Lite version inherits its acclaimed optical performance. Thanks to Laowa’s advanced optical engineering, distortion is kept to a minimum, ensuring straight lines stay true, even at the edges of the frame. This makes it a powerful tool for architecture, cityscapes, interiors, and any scene where accuracy and perspective matter.

Compact & Lightweight

Designed with portability in mind, this lens is both lightweight and compact, weighing just around 377g ( 0.83 lb). It’s an ideal companion for creators on the move, whether you're shooting handheld, flying with a drone, or mounting it on a gimbal. Its minimal weight makes it perfect for street photography or travel scenarios where mobility matters and heavy gear is a hassle.

Close Focusing Distance of 14cm

With a close focusing distance of just 14cm (5.5 inches), this 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF lens lets you capture stunning details up close, opening up exciting possibilities for wide-angle macro photography.

Excellent Image Quality

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is engineered with exceptional optics, resulting in outstanding image sharpness and excellent control of chromatic aberration (CA). Compared to the original 12mm f/2.8 version, it shows significant improvement in sharpness, even at the corners.

Fast and Accurate Autofocus

As the second autofocus lens in Law's lineup, the 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D delivers fast, precise focus tracking for both Sony E and Nikon Z mounts. It combines the convenience of reliable autofocus with the exceptional optical quality Laowa is known for, ensuring you never miss a moment.

*RF and L mount are fully manual.

Built-in Filter Thread

The Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF comes equipped with a built-in ⌀72mm filter thread, providing photographers with the flexibility to easily attach a wide range of filters and adding greater convenience to your shooting setup.

Stunning 10-point Sunstar

This lens is available in both 5- and 16-blade versions. The 5-blade version creates a distinctive 10-point sunstar effect when you stop down the aperture, adding a striking visual element to your photos.

Pricing & Availability

The new Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Lite Zero-D FF is currently available via Venus Optics official website (http://www.venuslens.net/) and authorized resellers.

The US price for Laowa 10mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF is USD699 for all mounts for both AF and MF versions. Pricing varies in different countries.

Principal specifications
Lens type	Prime lens
Max Format size	35mm FF
Focal length	12 mm
Lens mount	Canon RF, Canon RF-S, L-Mount, Nikon Z, Sony E, Sony FE
Aperture
Maximum aperture	F2.8
Minimum aperture	F22
Aperture ring	Yes
Number of diaphragm blades	5
Optics
Elements	16
Groups	9
Special elements / coatings	XLD, aspherical elements
Focus
Minimum focus	0.14 m (5.51″)
Maximum magnification	0.21×
Autofocus	No
Distance scale	Yes
Physical
Weight	377 g (0.83 lb)
Diameter	77 mm (3.03″)
Length	77 mm (3.01″)
Colour	Black
Filter thread	72 mm
Tripod collar	No

Sony launches Camera Verify to help newsrooms prove photo authenticity

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:45:00 +0000

Sony has announced a new feature for its Camera Authenticity Solution, expanding options for newsrooms looking to address the challenge of authenticating digital images. The beta release of Camera Verify allows for the creation of dedicated URLs for authenticity information so that third parties can view the information directly.

The new Camera Verify Beta feature allows news organizations to issue external URLs for images with embedded digital signatures. That means that third parties, such as readers, partners and other media, can view verification directly through reliable URLs issued by Sony's verification site. Organizations also have the option to select which authenticity items they want to share during content publication and distribution.

The Camera Verify feature is based on Sony's digital signature system, which it has been developing for the past few years. When created with compatible cameras, images can be embedded with C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) digital signatures and Sony’s proprietary 3D depth information at the time of capture. That feature was previously only available to select organizations, though.

Now, the Digital Signature Upgrade License is available for purchase through the Camera Authenticity Solution website, meaning more professionals will be able to use it. It's only compatible with the Sony a1 II (Ver. 2.00 or later), a1 (Ver. 3.00 or later), a9 III (Ver. 3.00 or later), a7S III (Ver. 4.00 or later) and a7 IV (Ver. 5.00 or later), though. Sony says that the Image Validation Site, where authenticity information can be viewed, will initially only be available for select news organizations, and availability varies by region.

Sony also added that it plans to add support for video content "after fall 2025." Given that generative AI videos are becoming better and easier to produce, this is an important additional step for content authenticity.

Press release:

Sony Electronics Launches "Camera Verify" Feature for Its Camera Authenticity Solution for News Organizations

The beta feature enables external sharing of image authenticity information via a dedicated URL

June 26, 2025

SAN DIEGO, June 26, 2025 – Today, Sony Electronics announced the beta release of Camera Verify, a new feature of its Camera Authenticity Solution*1 that enables external sharing of image authenticity information via a dedicated URL. This has been developed to help news organizations address the growing challenge of verifying the authenticity of digital images in the age of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

As AI-generated and manipulated content becomes increasingly sophisticated, the need for trusted, verifiable imagery has never been greater, especially for media professionals. Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution is designed to meet this need by embedding C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity)*2 digital signatures and Sony’s proprietary 3D depth information directly into the image at the moment of capture.

This solution records C2PA digital signatures and Sony's proprietary 3D depth information in the camera at the moment of capture, allowing the image's authenticity information to be verified on the Image Validation Site*3. With the newly added "Camera Verify" Beta, news organizations can issue external sharing URLs for images with embedded digital signatures, allowing third parties to view verification results through reliable URLs directly issued by the verification site*4. With this feature, the organizations can select specific authenticity items to share during the content publication and distribution process, enabling faster dissemination of credible, verifiable content.

In addition, the Digital Signature Upgrade License—which allows for embedding digital signatures directly into images captured with supported Sony cameras—is now available for purchase via the Camera Authenticity Solution website*3, expanding accessibility to more professionals*5.

Sony plans to expand support for video content after fall 2025 as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting trusted digital media. Together with activities on the C2PA steering committee, Sony aims to further contribute to improving content reliability in the media field.

Notes:

*1 https://www.sony.net/cas/

*2 A standards organization that develops open standards and technical specifications for the origin and authenticity of digital content.

*3 The Image Validation Site (paid service) provided by Sony will initially be offered to select news organizations. Service availability varies by region/countries. For more information on Sony’s Camera Authenticity Solution, visit: https://www.sony.net/cas/

*4 Verification cannot be performed by third parties.

*5 Compatible camera models for this digital signature license are Alpha 1 II (Ver.2.00 or later), Alpha 1 (Ver.3.00 or later), Alpha 9 III (Ver.3.00 or later), Alpha 7S III (Ver.4.00 or later), and Alpha 7 IV (Ver.5.00 or later) (as of June 26, 2025).

Edward Burtynsky: ‘My photographs are like Rorschach tests’

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:13:39 +0000

The photographer’s images of environmental degradation are both stunning and haunting, and make up a captivating new survey

Few if any photographers have done more than Edward Burtynsky to shape our view of the large-scale industrial production that is a constant, ever-expanding part of the capitalist system. Since the 1980s, he has created more than a dozen multiyear series, tackling extractive industries like mining and oil refining in India, China and Azerbaijan, traveling to such disparate places as Western Australia, Chile’s Atacama desert and the so-called ship graveyards of Bangladesh.

Often taken from high in the sky, his photos offer views of industrial landscapes that attend to color and pattern with a sophisticated eye reminiscent of abstract expressionism, while also forcing us to contend with the devastating transformations to the natural world required to sustain our way of life.

Leica celebrates 100 years with special edition cameras and photo book

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:06:00 +0000

Image: Leica

One hundred years ago today, Leica unveiled the Leica I – the first mass-produced 35mm camera. Leica has been hosting celebrations and releasing special editions all year, but today has announced a range of special edition cameras to mark the official 100th anniversary. Those include the M11-D, M11, D-Lux 8 and Sofort 2, along with a photobook commemorating 100 years of Leica.

Leica says that the M11-D included in the Centenary Set pays "homage to the original 1925 model in terms of both design and materials." The rangefinder uses the same internal components as the standard M11, including a 60-megapixel sensor, though the exterior is quite different. Most notably, it lacks a rear display. Leica also omitted the eyelets for a strap and the red Leica logo, in keeping with the original Leica I.

The anniversary edition of the M11-D does away with the rear display.

Image: Leica

The special edition of the M11-D features a solid brass top and base plate with a high-gloss black finish, mirroring the original model. The body uses a genuine leather covering. There are nickel-colored anodized controls made from aluminum with the same cross knurling as the Leica I. The conical collar around the shutter release and semi-circular shutter button also make reference to early Leica cameras. Finally, the camera features the "100" logo on the hot shoe cover and a white "Ernst Leitz Wetzlar" engraving on the conical collar.

The M11-D special edition also adds another milestone for Leica: one of the editions is Leica's millionth Leica M-camera. That camera will be engraved with the serial number #6000000, and will be displayed alongside the Leica I #126 from 1925 at Leitz Park’s Leica Welt.

The Leitz Anastigmat-M 50 F3.5 references back to the original fixed lens on the Leica I.

Image: Leica

The M11-D Centenary Set also includes two special lenses: the Leica Summilux-M 50 F1.4 ASPH. and the Leitz Anastigmat-M 50 F3.5. The Leitz Anastigmat 50 F3.5 was the original fixed lens found on the Leica I in 1925. Now, Leica has reimagined it, equipping it with an M mount. It keeps key characteristics of the original, though, including a retractable design. The modern lens is made from aluminum, though it features a nickel-colored finish.

The anniversary set also comes with the Leica Summilux-M 50 F1.4 ASPH. lens.

Image: Leica

Leica says the Summilux-M 50 F1.4 ASPH. lens balances "timeless design with cutting-edge optical performance." It offers a vintage-inspired design, including cross knurling on the aperture ring and a nickel-colored surface.

The M11-D Centenary Set comes with a glossy black case and other accessories.

Image: Leica

The M11-D Centenary Set also comes with special accessories. These include a glossy wooden box for storage and an SD card case. It also comes with a leather case and a leather carrying strap.

While the M11-D is the most dramatic of the special editions, Leica also announced three other anniversary editions. The D-Lux 8 also pays homage to the Leica I with nickel-colored accents and black leatherette covering with a texture similar to Leica M cameras. It features the conical collar around the shutter release button and cross knurling on the top controls. The Sofort 2 instant camera anniversary edition includes a nickel-colored lens cap and a glossy black finish with the "100" logo on the camera's top plate.

Leica also released special editions of the D-Lux 8 and Sofort 2 cameras.

Images: Leica

Leica has been releasing special edition M11 cameras throughout the year, each engraved with the name of the city where the celebration takes place, for a total of six cities. Today marks the release of the "Wetzlar Germany" edition, with "Wetzlar" engraved on the top plate. Only 100 are available, and they can only be purchased in Leica stores in Germany for €9500.

Finally, alongside the cameras, Leica has unveiled the 100 Leica Stories Book. It features 100 stories of personal moments, iconic photographs, technical achievements and behind-the-scenes looks.

The Leica M11-D 100 Years of Leica set won't be available until spring 2026 in select Leica stores. The other anniversary editions are available as of today. The Leica D-Lux 8 edition is priced at €1850 ($2166), while the Sofort 2 edition costs €495 ($580). The book is available in Germany as of today, and internationally on July 14 for €70 ($82).

Press release:

Leica is celebrating 100 years of the Leica I with exclusive special editions and marking another significant milestone in the company’s history by producing the millionth M-Camera.

Wetzlar, 26 June 2025. Exactly a century ago, Leica unveiled the Leica I at the Leipzig Spring Fair, thereby changing the world of photography forever. By introducing the first mass-produced 35 mm camera in 1925, the company established new benchmarks and profoundly influenced the way people documented their surroundings through photography. To commemorate the centenary of this technological milestone, Leica Camera AG is introducing a collection of exclusive special editions under the title “100 YEARS OF LEICA”.

These include the D-Lux 8, the SOFORT 2, 10x40 binoculars from the Trinovid series and a truly unique M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA set featuring two lenses. A very special distinction is being conferred upon the M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA set: one of the 100 M11-D Anniversary Edition models is more than a homage to the Leica I – as the millionth Leica M-Camera ever manufactured, it marks another significant milestone in the company’s history. This camera, designated with the serial number 6000000, stands as a testament to a hundred years of precision, innovation and craftsmanship. To properly honour this historic achievement, the M11-D #6000000 will be displayed alongside the first series-produced Leica camera, the Leica I #126 from 1925, at the Leitz Park’s Leica Welt.

The M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA Showcased in a Special Set

The Leica M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA impressively bridges past and present with dramatic impact, accompanied in a special set by two lenses that are both extraordinarily unique and historically significant: the Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH. and the Leitz Anastigmat-M 50 f/3.5 – a modern interpretation of Leica’s first camera lens from 1925, the Leitz Anastigmat 50 mm f/3.5. This M11-D anniversary edition honours the Leica I, paying homage to the original 1925 model in terms of both design and materials. Its top and base plates are crafted from solid brass and feature a high-gloss black finish. The eyelets for a carrying strap have been omitted, along with the red Leica logo, in keeping with the design of the Leica I. The nickel-coloured anodised controls – including the shutter release, on/off switch and exposure time setting wheel – are made from aluminium and incorporate the Leica I’s classic cross knurling. The conical collar encircling the shutter release, the semi-circular shutter release button and the genuine leather covering with its notably textured finish – reminiscent of early Leica cameras – all incorporate authentic design elements from the original model. Additional refined details, including the “100” logo on the hot shoe cover and the white “Ernst Leitz Wetzlar” engraving on the conical collar, complete the design of the M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA limited edition. The true proof of the camera’s limited edition status lies in the engraving on the accessory shoe. This follows the same style as the original Leica I serial numbers: no. 001 to no. 100, whereby the camera
bearing no. 000 holds the distinct honour of being designated serial number 6000000. The lenses accompanying the set bear the same edition number.

M11-D Centenary Set: the Leitz Anastigmat-M 50 f/3.5

When Leica unveiled the Leica I in 1925, it was equipped with the Leitz Anastigmat 50 mm f/3.5 lens, which was permanently affixed and lacked the interchangeability of the later M39 screw-mount lenses. This initial pairing of the Leica I and the Leitz Anastigmat was manufactured approximately 150 times before the Elmax lens succeeded the original lens. A hundred years after its brief yet significant appearance, the Leitz Anastigmat 50 mm f/3.5 is making a return, reimagined for modern times while preserving its historical essence. The contemporary iteration of this lens, now equipped with an M mount, preserves key characteristics of the original, including its retractable construction, ensuring optimal compactness just as it did a century ago. A distinctive aspect of this lens is its exterior, crafted from aluminium for the first time, allowing for an anodised nickel-coloured finish that echoes its origins from a century ago.

M11-D Centenary Set: the Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH.

With the Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH., the second lens in the set, Leica has seamlessly united heritage and innovation, balancing timeless design with cutting-edge optical performance. Delivering remarkable lens speed, outstanding image quality even with a wide aperture and an exceptionally soft bokeh, this M-Lens fully harnesses the capabilities of modern camera sensors, with a minimum focus distance of just 45 cm. Design elements like the classic cross knurling on the aperture adjustment ring, a nickel-coloured lens surface on aluminium base material and a grip milled from aluminium set the anniversary edition apart from the current series model.

M11-D Centenary Set: the Accessories

The anniversary set is further enhanced with carefully curated accessories, including a specially designed protector featuring a securely attached carrying strap, reminiscent of Leitz’s earliest leather accessories. Accompanying this is an SD card case. All these accessories are crafted from exquisite cognac-coloured leather. A strikingly elegant, glossy black wooden box, produced in Germany,completes the ensemble, underscoring this centenary set’s exclusivity and special sophistication.

The D-Lux 8 100 YEARS OF LEICA

Alongside the Leica M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA, three additional anniversary editions will be unveiled on 26 June 2025. One of these, the Leica D-Lux 8 100 YEARS OF LEICA, pays homage to the Leica I with its distinctive design language and nickel-coloured accents. It also features black leatherette covering, textured similarly to Leica M-Cameras, and incorporates a conical collar around the shutter release button as well as cross knurling on the camera’s top control elements. The compact camera’s minimalist aesthetic has also been refined by omitting the thumb rest, the model name engraving on the top plate and the signature red Leica logo. The “100” logo embellishes the hot shoe cover, serving as an additional stylish design accent.

The SOFORT 2 100 YEARS OF LEICA

The SOFORT 2 hybrid instant camera also features a distinctive anniversary design, incorporating exclusively elegant details. Available solely in black, the Leica SOFORT 2 100 YEARS OF LEICA showcases sophisticated details to celebrate the centenary, including a nickel-coloured lens cap, a sleek glossy black frame for the photo output and the distinguished “100” logo adorning the camera’s top plate.

The Trinovid 10x40 100 YEARS OF LEICA

The legendary Trinovid 10x40 binoculars are being reissued as a special edition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Leica I, with only 100 units available for purchase. With hand-polished black-anodised housing, premium and resilient leatherette covering, and nickel-coloured accents with cross knurling, it integrates harmoniously into the “100 YEARS OF LEICA” design concept. In place of the traditional red Leica logo, the “100” logo takes pride of place on the front of the lens barrel. A matching binocular bag and carrying strap round off this special set.

100 Leica Stories Book

The centenary of the Leica I is also being celebrated in literary form with the book 100 Leica Stories. Through 100 compelling stories, this book chronicles personal moments, iconic photographs, groundbreaking technical achievements and behind-the-scenes perspectives that weave together acentury of Leica’s history. This commemorative book showcases the Leica I’s enduring legacy and cult status – not only as a technical masterpiece, but also as witness to a whole century of history.

The Leica M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA set, including the Anastigmat-M 50 f/3.5 and Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH. lenses, will be available exclusively in select Leica Stores from spring 2026. The other anniversary editions can be purchased worldwide from Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers starting on 26 June 2025:

Leica D-Lux 8 100 YEARS OF LEICA
RRP: €1,850.00 incl. VAT.
Leica SOFORT 2 100 YEARS OF LEICA
RRP: €495.00 incl. VAT
Leica Trinovid 10x40 100 YEARS OF LEICA
RRP: €2,750.00 incl. VAT.

Available in German and English from Leica Stores worldwide, the Leica Online Store, the LFI Online Store and authorised dealers. Sales will begin in Germany on 26 June 2025 and internationally on 14 July 2025:

100 Leica Stories Book
RRP: €70.00 incl. VAT.

Summary: The anniversary event taking place in Wetzlar on 26 June 2025 will be a landmark celebration featuring four prominent product launches that pay homage to the Leica I. These significant special editions – the M11-D, D-Lux 8, SOFORT 2 and Trinovid 10x40 – will be unveiled as a tribute to this ground-breaking camera. Another highlight marking a major milestone in the company’s history will be the presentation of the millionth M-Camera, the M11-D 100 YEARS OF LEICA, alongside the historic Leica I #126, an iconic model whose introduction in 1925 shaped both photography and Leica’s enduring legacy. The anniversary book 100 Leica Stories tells the story of this trailblazing camera.

100 Years of Leica: Leica – Witness to a Century

Leica Camera AG is celebrating 100 years of the Leica I in 2025. It was presented to the public for the first time at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925 and, as the first series-produced 35 mm camera, exceeded all expectations. Because with its compact and handy format, it opened up a whole new range of new photographic applications. All around the globe, under the motto “100 Years of Leica: Witness to a Century”, Leica Camera AG will be celebrating this camera, which revolutionised the world of photography. At international events held by the Leica national organisations in metropolises such as Dubai, Milan, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo, cultural attractions and outstanding special edition products will be presented throughout the year. The anniversary week, taking place in Wetzlar, the company's headquarters, in June, marks the high point of the celebrations. On top of that, visitors can look forward to top-class exhibitions in the worldwide network of Leica Galleries with works by o

What would you do with a scarily lifelike doll of your own mother? This is what a seven-year-old did

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:00:39 +0000

Polish photographer Aneta Grzeszykowska captured her daughter interacting with an eerie silicone replica of herself in her dark and humorous series Mama

In one photograph taken by the Polish artist Aneta Grzeszykowska, her seven-year-old daughter Francziska stands on the weedy banks of the Liwiec River, dressed in a purple swimsuit and denim shorts. Francziska has her face turned towards the boggy water; beside her, sitting inside a wheelbarrow, is her mother’s torso.

In the next ambiguous image, Francziska holds her mother’s head underwater. In the another, the two float, Ophelia-like, side by side.

The Insta360 Flow 2 smartphone gimbal balances price and features

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Image: Insta360

Insta360 has announced its latest smartphone gimbal, the Flow 2. It shares many features with the Flow 2 Pro, which was released in January this year, yet comes at a more budget-friendly price. The company says the Flow 2 is a "more affordable, creator-friendly evolution" of the Flow smartphone gimbal.

Like Insta360's other smartphone gimbals, the Flow 2 functions as a tripod, selfie stick and gimbal with multi-person subject tracking. The subject tracking features are powered by Insta360's Deep Track 4.0, which "brings sweeping updates to subject identification (even when obstructed by obstacles)."

The Standard Bundle of the Flow 2 only supports tracking in the Insta360 app, and its Active Zoom Tracking only works with compatible iPhones. If you want tracking in any third-party app and full compatibility, even if you don't have an iPhone, you'll need to opt for the slightly more expensive Tracker Bundle. The accessory included in the Tracker Bundle enables tracking in apps like TikTok, Instagram, Zoom and more. It also adds a built-in spotlight, which the Standard bundle lacks.

The Flow 2 is a three-in-one device, with the ability to serve as a selfie stick, tripod and gimbal.

Image: Insta360

The gimbal supports NFC pairing, allowing users to skip the Bluetooth pairing process. Android users get an additional Quick Launch setting in the Insta360 app that automatically opens the phone's native camera app when they unfold the gimbal. It promises 10 hours of battery life, which is down slightly from the original Flow's 12 hours. As with the Flow 2 Pro, you can control the device with an Apple Watch or a second smartphone, unlocking remote use.

The Flow 2 is relatively lightweight and compact, weighing approximately 348g (12.3oz). The magnetic phone clamp adds another 25g (0.9oz). When folded, it's only 97.9x178.4x36.7mm (3.6x7x1.4"), making it easy to pack when traveling.

Image: Insta360

Within the Insta360 app is the company's "golden ratio composition tech" that can suggest shots for you. It will automatically perform barrel rolls, dolly zooms or 360°panoramas with a tap, making it easier for beginners to get more advanced-looking videos.

The Insta360 Flow 2 is available now for $110 for the Standard Bundle, while the AI Tracker Bundle costs $130.

The Mic Air is a tiny wireless mic that works with Insta360's lineup without any accessories, or with other devices with the option transmitter and receiver.

Image: Insta360

Insta360 also recently launched its first-ever mic, rounding out its options for content creators. The Insta360 Mic Air is a tiny device that works wirelessly without additional adapters when paired with Insta360's X5 and Ace Pro 2 (more models coming soon) and Flow series gimbals. It can work with non-Insta360 devices, but you'll need a transmitter and receiver for those.

The Insta36 Mic Air is available for only $49, making it a very affordable audio solution for those sticking to Insta360 products. The bundle with the transmitter and receiver costs $69, which is still significantly more affordable than the DJI Mic Mini, and slightly less expensive than the similar-looking SmallRig S 60 mic.

Buy now:

Buy at Amazon

Buy at Insta360

Press release:

Insta360 Unveils Flow 2: Affordable, All-in-One Smartphone Gimbal for Effortless Content Creation

We’re excited to officially launch Insta360 Flow 2!

A more affordable, creator-friendly evolution of the gimbal we’ve spent years refining. It’s built for anyone with a story to tell, be that playing with kids, group vlogs, video calls, or just a quiet solo trip.

With built-in 3-axis stabilization, NFC One-Tap Shooting, a sturdy selfie stick and tripod, Deep Track 4.0, Multi Person Tracking and Active Zoom Tracking, all with a 10-hour battery, Flow 2 keeps the best of what creators love, now at a price that makes it more accessible than ever.

“With Flow 2, we're taking everything we’ve learned from developing the Flow series, and making it easier for more people to create,” shares JK Liu, founder of Insta360. “It's designed to make smartphone shooting that much better, packed full of features, while remaining portable and accessible.”

A True All-in-One Companion

Folding up to fit snugly in your bag or pocket, Flow 2 comes complete with a built-in selfie stick, a sturdy metal tripod, and a 10-hour battery that can even charge your phone while you shoot.

Flow 2 features NFC One-Tap Shooting* for supported phones, letting you skip the Bluetooth pairing process and jump straight into the Insta360 app’s shooting page. Just tap your phone and you’re in!

For Android users, there's also an optional Quick Launch setting in the Insta360 app that automatically opens your native phone camera when you unfold the gimbal, too.

Smarter Tracking, Smoother Shots

At the heart of Flow 2 is our smartest tracking tech yet: Deep Track 4.0.

The latest rendition of our AI tracking brings sweeping updates to subject identification (even when obstructed by obstacles), and better support for tracking full groups. This works incredibly well if you're vlogging with friends, or filming a group dance or performance, ensuring nobody is left out of shot!

There's also the handy Pro Framing Grid, using Insta360's golden ratio tech to allow for 9 unique angles (simply tap the screen, Flow 2 will accomodate your subject), to ensure you get perfect framing for your environment.

Even better, you can control your Flow 2 remotely via Apple Watch or a second smartphone. It’s perfect for those moments when the whole family wants to be in the shot. No more awkwardly asking strangers for help!

As Max Richter, Co-founder and VP of Marketing, puts it: “Flow 2 is an exciting addition to our gimbal lineup. Its accessible pricing combined with plenty of exciting features really positions it as an everyday gimbal far ahead of the competition."

Vlog-Ready with the New Insta360 Mic Air

We’ve made vlogging easier with tools like the new Insta360 Mic Air for hands-free audio, letting you capture clearer voiceovers or commentary whether you're walking, cooking, or unboxing.

Combined with the new Teleprompter feature via the Insta360 app, you'll have perfect live cooking demos, product showcases, and more! Simply load your script and it’ll scroll while you record with your phone’s camera.

Flow 2 also includes the AI Tracker, which enables subject tracking in third-party apps that don’t natively support it, especially helpful for Android users, offering powerful tracking capabilities across more platforms. Better yet, it includes a built-in spotlight for natural shots even at night!

Once you're done filming, the AI Editing Suite can auto-trim and polish your footage for you as well!

Flow 2 vs. Flow 2 Pro: What’s the Difference?

Flow 2 and Flow 2 Pro share most of the same smart shooting features, but Flow 2 Pro adds some hardware and design upgrades for creators who want even more:

Feature	Flow 2	Flow 2 Pro
Deep Track 4.0	Yes	Yes
Pro Framing Grid	Yes	Yes
NFC One-Tap Pairing	Yes	Yes
AI Tracker (for 3rd-party apps)	Yes	Yes
Built-in Spotlight	Yes	Yes
Insta360 Mic Air Support	Yes	Yes
Teleprompter Mode	Yes	Yes
Selfie Mirror	No	Yes
Tracking Ring Light	No	Yes
Transparent Motor Design	No	Yes
Apple DockKit Native Tracking	No	Yes
360 Infinite Pan Tracking	No (limited tracking)	Yes
Free Tilt Mode	No	Yes

If you want the most advanced mobile gimbal out there, Flow 2 Pro is for you. If you want the best value in the game, Flow 2 hits that sweet spot.

Built for Real Life

We designed Flow 2 with a clear goal: pack in the powerful tools creators love, drop the friction, and make the price more accessible. From the first tap to the final edit, it’s designed to be smooth, powerful, and accessible.

For those looking for the most flexibility in how they approach smartphone filming, or require advanced shots like 360 Infinite Pan Tracking or tilt shots, Flow 2 Pro is not going anywhere, and may be your ideal pick for smarter shots on mobile.

Flow 2 is available now, starting from $109.99 for the Standard Bundle, or $129.99 for the AI Tracker Bundle. Both bundles are available via the Insta360 Official Store, Amazon, and global retailers.

*NFC pairing is supported on select phone models. Further compatibility details available at insta360.com.

Kardashians in Venice and a French Spiderman: photos of the day - Thursday

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:52:38 +0000

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Leica Is Launching Its Own Black And White Film: Leica MONOPAN 50

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Analog photography is something that has been appreciated more in the recent years with many photographers looking to shoot film. Not many companies manufacture film cameras but there are a lot of trusted sites that sell used cameras. One of the companies that still sell analog cameras is Leica and they are launching their own black and white film, the Leica MONOPAN 50.

The post Leica Is Launching Its Own Black And White Film: Leica MONOPAN 50 appeared first on Light Stalking.

Creative Experiments on Expired Film with @charzy, @moongrowl & @erinnonfilm

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

We had a chat with Community members Charlie, Patryk, and Erin about their inspiring expired film projects, including expired LomoChrome Purple collages, film soups and the EBS (Expose Both Sides) technique.

Photos: Decades in, these women's love was 'Hidden Once, Hidden Twice'

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Morgan Lieberman's "Hidden Once, Hidden Twice" is a documentary photo and film project bringing visibility to the lives of senior lesbian couples across the U.S.

(Image credit: Morgan Lieberman)

Photographer Hannah Altman’s Presents a New Vision of Jewish Storytelling

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:43:15 +0000

One Hollow to Another, 2022

Hannah Altman, photographer:

‘We Will Return To You’ is rooted in Jewish folklore, performance, narrative, and material culture. Drawing on traditions of storytelling, it explores how memory and ritual live and expand in narratives, how symbols shift through reinterpretation, and how mysticism threads through the mundane. The work explores how stories are not only told, but embodied, reimagined, and returned to.

The photographs move between portraits and still lifes, each scene offering its own kind of narrative. In Curing, a hand sits distilled in a bag of salt water and hovering over a chair, evoking ideas of preservation, stillness, and remembrance. The project often considers how narrative lives in the body. In Telling You, I sit in the light, mouth open, as a mirror inside reflects a burst of sunlight back into the camera. The glint of light hovers at the back of the throat as a visual interruption that references oral storytelling, reflection, utterance, and revelation.

Telling You, 2021

My body is both speaker and medium. I think of light as a recurring character throughout the work; it has a voice that shifts, sharpens, interrupts, and transforms. She casts long shadows, illuminates skin, and lends each image a sense of heightened presence.

Maybe, too, it’s a way to visualize the idea of the divine shifting through the mundane. In many ways, light is a form of storytelling in these photographs: it directs attention, withholds, and reveals.

Variation, 2022

Ritual objects appear throughout the project not just as symbols, but as punctuation marks that shift tone, mark transition, or reshape the flow of a visual sentence. These objects are recontextualized, often pulled from their primary use and situated within uncanny, surreal environments. I’m interested in how objects can hold narrative weight, how they act as touchstones for both memory and imagination.

Baba Yaga, 2024

The project also engages with text. The accompanying book, published by Saint Lucy Books, weaves a short story between the images. Like the photographs, the story slips between past and present, myth and memory. It reflects Jewish storytelling traditions that honor both written and oral forms, and invites a layered, open-ended experience where the photographs speak to one another, and to the viewer, in echoes.

Molting, 2023

Ultimately, We Will Return To You is about expansion and continuity. It asks how Jewish stories live on, not just through preservation, but through reinterpretation, through embodiment, through return. It explores what it means to move through time with sacred weight, and how performance, gesture, and image can carry forward the rooted narratives while remaining open-ended enough for new meanings to emerge.

Piercing (Talisman), 2024

‘We Will Return to You’ is available through Saint Lucy Books.

The post Photographer Hannah Altman’s Presents a New Vision of Jewish Storytelling appeared first on Feature Shoot.

‘Liam had been drinking all night. Noel was not in a great mood’: photographers pick their best Oasis shot

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:50:23 +0000

Lairy, drunk, fighting, laughing … five photographers who shot Oasis recall what it was like capturing them in depressing pre-fame hotels – and at their Champagne Supernova heights

I didn’t really know the Gallaghers then. I had only shot Oasis at the Q awards and live shows. In 2001, I was commissioned by a US publication for a feature about The US tour of Brotherly Love, with Oasis, the Black Crowes and Spacehog. All the bands had two brothers in them, and I had been asked to photograph the Gallaghers and the Robinsons from the Black Crowes together.

Fujifilm GFX100RF in-depth review: not quite a super X100VI

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:30:00 +0000

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90%

Overall score

Jump to conclusion

Product Photos: Richard Butler

The Fujifilm GFX100RF is a 100-megapixel medium format digital camera with a fixed 28mm equivalent F4 lens.

Key features

102MP Medium format (44 x 33 mm) BSI CMOS sensor
35mm (28mm equiv) F4 lens w/ leaf shutter
5.76M dot OLED EVF
Weather sealed when using included filter ring and filter
Subject recognition autofocus
Aspect ratio dial
3.2" tilting rear touchscreen
4K video up to 30fps
Built-in 4EV ND filter
14 film simulations

The GFX100RF has a recommended price of $4899. It comes in either black or black and silver, and includes a braided strap, filter ring, filter and a color-matched square lens hood.

Buy now:

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Adorama

Buy at B&H Photo

Index:

What's New

Fixed lens medium format body

The GFX100RF occupies a new space in Fujifilm's lineup and comes with a new design. It's essentially the long-rumored 'medium format X100,' in that it takes the formula of classic styling, direct controls and a wideangle prime lens permanently mounted on the front.

Don't take the rangefinder implications of the letters 'RF' too seriously though: this is essentially the world's most ambitious compact camera, lacking not just a rangefinder but also the X100/X-Pro hybrid viewfinder that gives the appearance of a classic rangefinder camera. Instead, the RF's EVF is a relatively standard 5.76M dot affair located in the top left corner of the back of the camera.

While the body is nowhere near as large as the interchangeable lens GFX cameras, it still has a lot of presence. You'll never forget that you have it on you and would be hard-pressed to fit it into a pocket. That's especially true when it's fitted with the included square lens hood, which adds style points but has to be mounted on the adapter ring, adding a substantial amount of depth, substituting flair for flare.

Like the X100VI, the GFX100RF can be weather-sealed with an adapter ring and filter, though this too makes it bulkier. The hood can still be fitted to the adapter ring when the filter is installed.

The fixed lens

Fujifilm says it went with a 28mm equivalent lens to make the camera as compact as possible while also letting users shoot with (to a point) lower shutter speeds without the aid of IBIS or optical stabilization. That ability, which largely depends on how still your hands and subject are, will come in handy given the lens's relatively slow F4 (F3.2 equiv) aperture.

The lens has a minimum focus distance of 20cm (7.9") and can accept 49mm filters when fitted with its adapter ring. It being fixed also allows the provision of a leaf shutter, allowing the GF to sync with flashes up to 1/2000 (technically, it can sync all the way up to 1/4000, but you risk cutting off some of the flashes' burst using such a brief exposure).

Aspect ratio dial

Looking at the back of the camera, the first thing that sticks out is the large dial above the screen. Its sole purpose is to let you apply various crops to your image, changing your JPEG's aspect ratio – and reducing how much of the sensor's area and resolution you're using.

There are nine options to choose from, and the camera gives you a few ways to preview your chosen aspect ratio. It can use black borders, a bounding box or raise the opacity of the portions of the image that will be cut off.

Amusingly, the label for the XPan-emulating 65:24 aspect ratio is a bit too wide for the window; you can see the labels for neighboring aspect ratios peaking through.

There's also a "C" setting that lets you control the aspect ratio via one of the camera's command dials or the menus. If you decide you're unhappy with the crop after the fact, you can use the in-camera Raw reprocessing feature to change the aspect ratio, assuming you've been shooting in Raw + JPEG, as the camera maintains the full sensor Raw file and saves the intended crop as metadata.

Crop zoom


28mm equiv.	35mm equiv.	50mm equiv.	63mm equiv.

GFX100RF | F9 | ISO 80 | 1/125

Photos: Mitchell Clark

In addition to its choice of aspect ratio crops, the GFX100RF has a crop mode that punches in to give the impression of using a longer lens. You physically control the crop using a toggle switch situated under the power switch and front control dial.

As always, cropping reduces the area of the sensor being used, meaning a reduction in resolution and of total light capture. This has a consequent reduction in tonal quality if viewed at the same scale as full-sensor images. The table below indicates the equivalent focal length that each of the crops gives, both with reference to the camera's 44 x 33mm sensor, which is how the camera reports the 'focal lengths' of the crops, and in terms of their full-frame equivalents for reference.

In 44x33 terms		In 'full-frame' terms
Effective focal length	Crop	Equivalent focal length (vs full-frame)	Crop factor	Pixel count (4:3)
35mm	1.00x	28mm equiv.	0.79x	102 MP
45mm	1.29x	35mm equiv.	1.00x	62 MP
63mm	1.81x	50mm equiv.	1.42x	31 MP
80mm	2.28x	63mm equiv.	1.79x	20 MP

As you can see, hitting the lever once essentially turns the camera into a "full-frame" camera with a 35mm F4 equiv lens, before dropping down to nearer APS-C and Four Thirds image quality.

As with the aspect ratio crops, the zoom is only applied to the JPEG, leaving your Raw untouched. You also have the same preview options, as well as the ability to have your chosen crop fill the screen, but doing so won't give you any context to what's outside of your frame.

You can remove the crop using the in-camera Raw reprocessing feature, though you can't select a different crop in-camera: it's the crop you shot the image with or the full sensor, only.

How it compares

The fixed-lens camera market is small but has several strong competitors, especially if you're willing to spend this much money on one. Leica's Q3, with its high-resolution full-frame sensor and 28mm focal length, is the most obvious point of comparison, but Fujifilm's X100VI is also a potential competitor for those who prefer the 35mm field of view or want a substantially smaller, less expensive option.

We've also included the Hasselblad X2D, which has a similar sensor but with an interchangeable lens mount. The Fujifilm GFX 100 S II is perhaps a more direct competitor in both specs and price, but the Hasselblad's size and use of leaf shutter lenses prompted us to include it instead.

	Fujifilm GFX100RF	Leica Q3	Fujifilm X100VI	Hasselblad X2D
MSRP	$4899	$6295	$1599	$8,199
Sensor	102MP medium format (Bayer)	60MP full-frame (Bayer)	40MP APS-C (X-Trans)	100MP medium format (Bayer)
Lens (full-frame equiv.)	28mm F3.1	28mm F1.7	35mm F3.1	Interchangeable - Hasselblad X mount
Stabilization?	No	Optical	IBIS / Optical	IBIS
Built-in ND?	4EV	No	4EV	No
Weather sealing	With included filter	Yes	With optional filter	No
Viewfinder res / mag	5.76M dot 0.84x equiv OLED electronic	5.76M dot 0.79x equiv OLED electronic	3.69M dot 0.66x equiv OLED electronic / optical	5.76M dot 1.00x equiv OLED electronic
Video capture	4K/30p	8K/30p 4K/60p	6.2K/30p 4K/60p	None
Rear screen	3.2" tilting	3" tilting	3" tilting	3.6" tilting
Storage formats	2x UHS-II SD, external SSD	1x UHS-II SD	1x UHS-1 SD	1TB internal, CFexpress Type B
Flash sync speed	1/4000 s	1/2000 s	1/4000 s	up to 1/4000 s*
Battery life (CIPA)	820 shots	350 shots	420 shots	420 shots
Dimensions	134 x 90 x 77mm	130 x 80 x 93mm	128 x 75 x 55 mm	149 x 106 x 75mm
Weight	735g (25.9oz)	743g (26.2oz)	521g (18.4oz)	895g (31.6oz)

*Flash sync speed is lens-dependent

The GFX100RF's sensor may appear to be in a class above many of its fixed-lens peers, and in good light, we'd expect its larger sensor to give it a proportionate image quality advantage.

But it's worth considering raw light-gathering ability if low-light shooting is a big concern for you. Wide-open, the Q3's much faster lens gives it a 1.7EV potential advantage despite its smaller sensor, and there are lenses substantially faster than F4 available for the X2D (though they do come at significant expense). Even the APS-C-equipped X100VI* can gather a bit more light per-whole-image than the GFX can in its 35mm crop mode.

While the difference in focal length is a deal-breaker for some photographers, those who like 35mm equiv may find that Fujifilm's smaller offering provides a more engaging shooting experience thanks to its standout hybrid viewfinder – the GFX100RF, meanwhile, has a good but otherwise standard EVF. It's also the only camera in this lineup without any form of stabilization, which further reduces its capability as light level drops, even if you take into account the reduced risk of shake from its leaf shutter.

*It's impossible to mention the X100VI without acknowledging that, over a year after its announcement, it's still extremely hard to get. Persistent stock issues mean you'll have to be patient or willing to pay a reseller a substantial premium over MSRP if you want one.

Body and Handling

The GFX100RF is relatively wide and boxy, though a small grip helps make it easier to hold. While it's undoubtedly large for a fixed-lens camera, it's not particularly heavy, making it easy to tote around all day.

Paris fashion, Glastonbury and a new dinosaur: photos of the day – Wednesday

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:31:41 +0000

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Moodboard to Masterpiece: How Bobby Flores Creates Conceptual Film Portraits

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

29-year-old Bobby Flores shares how he brings his conceptual portraits to life — from ideation to execution, turning wild ideas into striking visuals.

Something fishy: the best of Belfast photo festival – in pictures

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 06:00:35 +0000

From peat bogs containing centuries of history to the fascinating world of sea creatures’ senses, the theme for this year’s annual event is ‘Biosphere’

Finalists Announced: Wellcome Photography Prize 2025

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 03:47:28 +0000

‘Nemo’s garden’, 2021
By Giacomo d’Orlando
Courtesy of Wellcome
Photography Prize 2025

The Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 has announced its finalists, celebrating powerful visual storytelling at the intersection of global health, science, and human experience. This year’s entries were selected from an extraordinary group of finalists representing 18 countries, with stories ranging from microscopic discoveries to deeply personal portraits.

‘I spend 150 hours alone each week’, 2022
By Madeleine Waller
Courtesy of Wellcome
Photography Prize 2025

Some of this year’s most striking works include:

The world’s first non-invasive image of microplastics embedded in living tissue, captured by P. Stephen Patrick and Olumide Ogunlade using photoacoustic imaging.
An experimental underwater greenhouse in Italy, documented by Giacomo d’Orlando, a futuristic solution to climate-resilient food production.
Portraits of loneliness and resilience in old age, including Madeleine Waller’s tender documentation of her mother’s daily routines in rural Australia, and Oded Wagenstein’s intimate image of grief and concealed identity in a nursing home.
A stark self-portrait of endometriosis scars by Georgie Wileman, bringing visibility to an often-overlooked chronic condition.
A haunting aerial view of a toxic lake in Romania by Alexandru Radu Popescu, where environmental catastrophe reveals eerie beauty.

‘A thousand cuts’, 2023
By Sujata Setia
Courtesy of Wellcome
Photography Prize 2025

Other winners explored climate change, mental health, disability, and biomedical innovation through a range of photographic techniques — from drone footage and documentary styles to cyanotypes and microscopy.

Winners will be awarded £10,000 each, with finalists receiving £1,000. The winning images will be on display at a free public exhibition at the Francis Crick Institute in London, running from July 17 to October 18, 2025. The official awards ceremony will take place on 16 July.

The post Finalists Announced: Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 appeared first on Feature Shoot.

OM System confirms the OM-5 II isn't compatible with the best pack-in flash

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:53:00 +0000

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OM System's latest camera won't work with the FL-LM3, a flash loved by the company's users. There was some question about compatibility: charts on OM System's website said it wouldn't work with the recently-announced OM-5 II, but users wondered whether it was a mistake, since the flash was compatible with the OM-5, a camera that is physically very similar to its successor. (From the outside, the hotshoes look physically identical.) However, OM System has now confirmed the incompatability to DPReview, saying "the decision to not support it was the result of comprehensive considerations on the product's characteristics."

This will likely be a bit of a disapointment to long-time OM System and Olympus users. At DPReview we consider the FL-LM3 as one of the best pack-in flashes. It can tilt and swivel giving you lots of flexibility when bouncing it. That would already set it apart from most included flashes, but it also remains useful even when you buy a bigger flash, as it can be used to trigger other OM System flashes that support its RC system, such as the FL-700 and the FL-900 (both of which are compatbile with the OM-5 II on their own).

While the FL-LM3 hasn't come with OM System's cameras for a while now, it's sad to see that the company's latest cameras dropping support entirely for it, with little explaination as to why. But if you were considering whether to get the OM-5 II and are a big fan of the flash, at least the matter is settled now.

Nikon and Canon move ahead with US price rises in response to tariffs

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:48:00 +0000

This spring, both Nikon and Canon made vague statements about price increases in the US because of tariffs. Nikon gave a date of June 23 for the increase, though it didn't provide any specifics. Canon simply said that it would be increasing prices, with no date or amount specified. The companies have now followed through on those statements, with increased pricing of some Nikon and Canon cameras and lenses as of June 23.

We looked at prices on Nikon and Canon websites, and compared those numbers to price tracking data on Amazon through CamelCamelCamel and Keepa, along with launch pricing information. Of course, pricing data from Amazon can be tricky. Despite that, the pricing history graphs generally show a clear price spike for some Canon and Nikon gear.

While the exact difference depends on each piece of gear, the average price increase for Nikon cameras and lenses is 10.05%. That aligns with the current 10% baseline tariff on all countries. Sigma also increased its prices by 10% on June 2. Not every piece of gear is impacted, at least at this point. That could change as stock currently in the US sells out, but it isn't clear if that will happen.

A screenshot of the Canon EOS R3 pricing history at Amazon via Keepa shows a steep price jump on June 23. The R3 is the most dramatic example of the pricing increases.

Canon's pricing changes range from $100 to $500. That equates to an average percentage increase of 9.7%. Again, that's closely in line with the base tariff rate. There are outliers, such as the R3, which jumped from $3999 to $5399 on Amazon and B&H. However, it was most often selling for $4999, a much less significant increase. Plus, the new price is still cheaper than the $5999 launch price.

Making matters more complicated is the fact that the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is set to expire on July 9. Negotiations are ongoing, but the latest reports show that imports to the US could face tariffs of 24% from Japan, 37% from Thailand, 46% from Vietnam and 20% from Europe. The situation with China is slightly different, with the reciprocal tariffs delayed until August 12. After that deadline, tariffs could jump to 34%.

Companies haven't been willing to say whether prices could increase again if tariffs go up on July 9. Given that we are seeing price increases in the US consistent with the current 10% tariff rate, it seems feasible that we could see additional increases if new deals aren't made. Companies could absorb the 14 to 36% increase, but that seems unlikely given how high those percentages are. If you're looking to pick up a new camera, lens or accessory, now is probably a good time to do so.

VSCO rolls out Capture, its first standalone camera app for iPhone

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:05:00 +0000

Graphic: VSCO

Just last week, Adobe quietly launched a potentially powerful camera app for iPhone users. Now, another familiar name is entering the third-party iPhone camera app market. Visual Supply Co. (VSCO) has unveiled its Capture app, blending its film-like presets with greater camera control, as Bloomberg's Chris Welch reports.

VSCO initially launched as a camera app with film-like filters and basic editing tools. Since then, it has expanded to a community-based platform, while maintaining its expansive list of filters and editing tools. The app still offers a camera, but it isn't the primary focus. The Capture app will be a standalone offering, separate from the main VSCO app.

Exclusive: VSCO is releasing its own camera app — the company’s first new standalone release in a decade.

It’s called Capture, and it will let users pick from 50 of VSCO’s popular photo filter presets when taking a shot.

US release coming this summer. https://t.co/J47XaGIy79
— Chris Welch (@chriswelch) June 23, 2025

Capture stands out from other camera apps because it will allow users to apply presets before even taking the photo. That means you can see how the photo will look before you tap the shutter and, in theory, will not need to do any editing. "Photographers increasingly are moving away from using overly complicated editing software and are using apps that make it easier to get that right moment with a desired aesthetic right at the point of capture," says Eric Wittman, VSCO's CEO, in a statement to Bloomberg.

Users will be able to choose from 50 of VSCO's most popular presets, providing plenty of options. Beyond presets, the app will offer an auto mode for quick snaps and casual users. Those wanting more control will appreciate the manual mode, allowing you to adjust shutter speed, exposure compensation and lighting effects like bloom and halation. It isn't clear how much integration there will be with the main VSCO app.

The Capture app won't require a paid subscription, but you will need a VSCO account. The app isn't available quite yet, but will begin to roll out to Ireland, Australia and New Zealand this week. A broader US release will come later this summer.

The Camera Asked First: Luis Garcia and the Lomomatic 110

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Photographer Luis Garcia uses the Lomomatic 110 to spark candid conversations and spontaneous portraits, capturing quiet yet powerful moments with friends and strangers alike. What started as a film test became a deeply personal study in motion, intuition, and everyday connection.

Fujifilm X-E5 Review

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Ever wanted a Fuji X100 with interchangeable lenses? Then look no further than the brand new X-E5, a classically styled rangefinder camera that is currently the closest thing to Fujifilm's most popular model. Read our in-depth Fuji XE5 review now complete with full-size sample images and videos...

Vera Kleineke on Double Exposures and Lomography Redscale XR 35 mm

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Hamburg-based photographer Vera Kleineke shares her love for analogue photography’s unpredictability, centering her practice on double exposures with Lomography Redscale XR 35 mm film.

Fujifilm X-E5 vs Fujifilm X-E4 - Which is Better?

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The brand new Fujifilm X-E5 and the previous X-E4 look quite similar, so which APS-C sensor mirrorless camera is right for you? We take a closer look in our head-to-head comparison of the Fujifilm X-E5 versus the Fujifilm X-E4.

Lightroom Classic now supports native tethering with Fujifilm cameras

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:54:00 +0000

Image: Fujifilm

Adobe recently announced quite a few updates for Lightroom and Photoshop, including broader availability of its Remove Reflections feature, improved Enhance tools and more. Beyond editing tools, though, the company also added native tethered capture support for Fujifilm cameras in Lightroom Classic.

Previously, Lightroom Classic's tethered capture tool was limited to compatibility with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras. Those using Fujifilm cameras had to rely on Fujifilm's plug-ins, though some have reported poor experiences with those, making them less than ideal. Luckily, with the Lightroom Classic 14.4 update, there is now native support, saving Fujifilm users from jumping through hoops to shoot tethered with Lightroom.

The updated tethered capture tool supports a wide range of Fujifilm bodies, including the X-T1 through X-T5, X-T30, X-H1, X-H2, X-H2S, X-S10, X-Pro2, X-Pro3 and the GFX cameras. Adobe also updated support for new Canon cameras, adding the EOS R1, EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R50 V to the list of compatible bodies.

To use the tethering tool, update your Lightroom Classic to 14.4 and disable any third-party tether plug-ins. You can find further information and support for Fujifilm cameras on Adobe's website.

Rubin Observatory shares the first look from the world’s biggest camera

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:10:00 +0000

This image combines 678 separate images taken by NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory in just over seven hours of observing time. Combining many images in this way clearly reveals otherwise faint or invisible details, such as the clouds of gas and dust that comprise the Trifid nebula (top right) and the Lagoon nebula, which are several thousand light-years away from Earth.

Image: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory was conceived nearly 30 years ago, and now we are finally seeing the first images captured by the world's largest camera. The Rubin Observatory teased a few photos ahead of the official reveal, which is available to watch now via live stream on YouTube.

The observatory is jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Located on a mountain in Chile, it is named after U.S. astronomer Vera C. Rubin, who is famous for her research on dark matter.

Inside the observatory, along with a specially designed telescope, is the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Camera. It has a 3200-megapixel imaging surface and is made up of 189 individual sensors that are each larger than consumer-level medium-format sensors. This will afford new details of space for researchers, and will be used for a decade-long survey starting later this year.

The survey will involve observations of about 40 billion stars, galaxies and other celestial objects. Each will be checked hundreds of times, resulting in 60 petabytes of raw data, which the Rubin Observatory says is "more data than everything that's ever been written in any language in human history."

We'll be sure to share more images once they are released, but for now, you can tune in to the YouTube live stream to hear more about the project and goals for the observatory.

Developing. Please check back later for updates.

Panasonic's second-gen S1 cameras get major firmware boosts

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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The addition of 8.1K open gate shooting will allow us to complete the video section of our S1RII review, shortly.

Image: Panasonic

Panasonic has released firmware v1.2 for its Lumix S1RII high-res hybrid mirrorless camera, bringing the promised video enhancements along with a range of additional features. S1II and S1II users get several of these features in firmware v1.1 for their cameras.

S1RII additional features

The S1IIR gains 8.1K open gate recording capability, along with the ability to output a Raw data stream that can be encoded by BlackMagic or Atomos external recorders. At launch the camera downsampled its open gate output to 6.2K resolution. The new firmware allows the full sensor area output Panasonic said it would add.

It also gains the 'Urban Sports' subject recognition autofocus mode introduced on the S1II models, along with the ability to output 10-bit HEIF images, including HDR images using the HLG response curve. The update also includes an HLG View Assist mode for previewing the effect.

A significant suite of other feature tweaks and enhancements includes additions such as file transfer from internal cards to an SSD, UVC/UAC compatibility and the option to use the focus ring on some lenses as a control ring.

Upgrades for S1RII, S1II and S1EII

The update also includes a range of features that also come to the S1II and S1IIE, as part of their firmware v1.1.

These include an in-camera focus stacking mode, that combines images focused at different distances, to increase depth-of-field, and the abilitly to change the color of the AF focus frame.

Users of all three cameras will be able to install a paid upgrade to shoot ARRI LogC3

Users of all three cameras will also be able to install a paid upgrade enabling the shooting of footage using ARRI's LogC3 color and luminance response, allowing its use alongside ARRI cameras and using LUTs designed for those cameras.

The new firmware also adds seven extra aspect ratio guides and allows up to three to be shown at the same time, to help when composing for output in multiple aspect ratios. All three cameras also gain the ability to communicate via Wi-Fi or wired LAN (via a USB adapter) with Capture One software.

Firmware v1.2 for the Panasonic Lumix S1RII and firmware v1.1 for the Panasonic Lumix S1II and S1IIE will be available from June 24th on Panasonic's Global Customer Support website.

Press Release:

Panasonic Introduces Extensive New Firmware Updates for its LUMIX S Series Cameras: S1RII, S1II and S1IIE

Newark, N.J. (June 23, 2025) – Panasonic LUMIX has introduced a series of new firmware updates for its full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S1RII, S1II and S1IIE, aimed at improving the hybrid shooting experience and enhancing functionality.

Aligned with LUMIX’s ongoing commitment to supporting creators, the latest firmware updates will be available to download free of charge from the LUMIX Global Customer Support website on June 24, 2025.

LUMIX S1RII Firmware Version 1.2 Updates

Advanced Recording Formats
- 8.1K / 7.2K (3:2) Open Gate recording and RAW data video can be output via HDMI for external recording.
- ARRI LogC3 will be available by using DMW-SFU3A Software Upgrade Key (sold separately), enabling the colors to match ARRI’s digital cinema cameras (*1).
- Supports HEIF recording in 4:2:0 10-bit format.
Improved Shooting Assistance Tools
- Urban Sports recognition will be added to the existing human detection capabilities for eyes, faces, and bodies, accurately capturing dynamic movements like breakdancing, skateboarding, and parkour.
- The frame aspect ratio options will be expanded from 10 to 17 and enable simultaneous display of up to three frames.
- Focus stacking function introduces the ability to synthesize images taken at multiple focus positions to produce a single image with deep depth of field and sharpness throughout.
Expanded Workflow Capabilities
- Direct transfers from the CFexpress Type B or SD memory card to an external SSD can be made, giving more workflow options and greater flexibility.
- Supports recording proxy files to the internal memory card during HDMI RAW video data output.
- Supports data transfer via Wi-Fi and wired LAN (USB-LAN conversion) with Capture One.
- Compatible with timecode synchronization via Bluetooth®.
- Connectivity with UVC/UAC devices is supported.
- Compatible with Bluetooth® connectivity with DJI's gimbals (*2).
- HLG View Assist will be available for accurate gradation and exposure checks on the camera's monitor or viewfinder, as well as on external monitors that do not support HLG.
Enhanced customization
- he focus ring can be used as a control ring (*3), enabling for assigning key functions. Additionally, the focus rotation direction can be selected in MF mode.
- The AF frame color can be chosen from 10 colors for better usability.

LUMIX S1II and LUMIX S1IIE Firmware Version 1.1 Updates

ARRI LogC3 will be available by using DMW-SFU3A Software Upgrade Key (sold separately), enabling the colors to match ARRI’s digital cinema cameras (*1).
The frame aspect ratio options will be expanded from 10 to 17 and enable simultaneous display of up to three frames.
The AF frame color can be chosen from 10 colors for better usability.
Focus stacking function introduces the ability to synthesize images taken at multiple focus positions to produce a single image with deep depth of field and sharpness throughout.
Supports data transfer via Wi-Fi and wired LAN (USB-LAN conversion) with Capture One.

*1 ARRI LogC3 is a Log gamma developed by ARRI and used in ARRI digital cinema cameras. Please note: ALEXA 35 uses ARRI LogC4. DMW-SFU3A Software Upgrade Key (sold separately) is required. On the LUMIX S1II/S1IIE, ARRI LogC3 can be used for 10bit recording in video mode.
*2 Compatible models as of June 2025: RS 4 Mini
*3 Compatible lens models as of May 2025: S-E2460, S-X50, S-R24105, S-R2060

CapCut video editing app’s new terms spark rights concerns. We asked a lawyer for guidance

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

CapCut, the popular video editing app owned by TikTok parent company ByteDance, recently updated its terms and conditions, raising concerns among creators about what rights the company is claiming. Legal lingo is complicated and often confusing, though. To help break through the noise, we spoke to attorney Bert P. Krages, the author of The Photographer's Right, who confirms there are reasons to be wary.

First, though, let's establish what the concerns are. Some creators claim that the new terms give CapCut broad rights over your content. That includes the ability to use your content how and when they want, even altering it and profiting from it indefinitely. It also gives CapCut rights to use your voice, face and likeness, along with content you create for clients or brands using the platform. Creators usually have specific rights and usage agreements with those brands, so the waters get a bit muddy when the editing app has its own rights to use your work.

There's a lot to unpack in the terms, of course. The exact language says, in part, that you grant CapCut "an unconditional, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully transferable (including sub-licensable), perpetual, worldwide license to use, modify, adapt, reproduce, make derivative works of, display, publish, transmit, distribute and/or store your User Content." It also clarifies that royalty-free means "that you are granting us the right to use your User Content without the obligation to pay royalties to you or any third party."

"The clause pertaining to the licensing of a user's content to ByteDance, is very broad but is ambiguous"

That may sound nefarious, but it isn't necessarily as bad as it sounds. "The clause pertaining to the licensing of a user's content to ByteDance is very broad but is ambiguous regarding its scope," explains Krages. He says that clause could be limited to CapCut processing content within the app and nothing more. However, he says it could also "be construed to give Bytedance the right to use the content for its own purposes and sublicense it to other parties."

Krages explains that the language that gives the company the right to display your content seems a bit ominous. "It could give Bytedance the right to display content wherever it wishes and thus preclude users from limiting where the content is displayed," he says. "This raises the question of why does the company want the right to display content when the app is intended to edit videos?"

CapCut itself is meant for creating videos that will be shared elsewhere, with no community-facing gallery within the app. However, given that CapCut is owned by the same company that owns TikTok, it's reasonable that it needs the right to display content so it can share your content on TikTok, much like how Meta works with Instagram and Threads.

That's especially risky if you are using the app to create a private video for a client

The terms also say that you "further grant us and our affiliates, agents, services providers, partners and other connected third parties a royalty-free fully transferable (including sub-licensable), worldwide license to use your username, image and likeness to identify you as the source of any of your User Content, including for use in sponsored content." Krages says that this only makes sense if CapCut wants to display user content wherever it wants, no matter a user's wishes. That's especially risky if you are using the app to create a private video for a client, as it could be posted on TikTok without your knowledge or consent, for example.

"I personally would be wary about using the app"

Krages says that it's difficult to say if the agreement is a rights grab or merely there to protect ByteDance from claims associated with hosting content on its servers. That doesn't mean he thinks it's harmless, though. "Considering that merely hosting content for the purposes of using the app doesn't really require an express license, and further considering that the scope of the license gives Bytedance display rights, I personally would be wary about using the app," he warns.

Photos: The rivers and lakes of Eryri

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:46:03 +0000

Rhai o luniau'r ffotograffydd Mike Alexander, o brydferthwch ardal Eryri.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR Review

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR is a super-compact, moderately wide-angle, pancake prime lens for X-series mirrorless cameras. Offering a classic focal range of 35mm in 35mm terms complete with full weather-resistance, an aperture ring and a hood, is this tiny lens the perfect partner for the equally new X-E5 mirrorless camera? Read our in-depth Fuji 23mm f/2.8 review complete with full-size sample photos to find out...

Portrait Fashion in Style with Klang and the Nour Triplet V 2.0/64 Art Lens

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Klang, a Thai fashion photographer rooted in film, brings emotion and style to his portraits. Discover how he adds depth to his work using the Nour Triplet V 2.0/64 Art Lens and its versatile bokeh effects.

‘I was one of the few people able to document it’: shooting the Black Panthers – in pictures

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 06:00:02 +0000

From bustling Free Huey rallies to private moments smoking with Angela Davis, Stephen Shames’s photographs tell the revolutionary organisation’s incredible story

The Weekly Community Wrap Up

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 04:03:46 +0000

Welcome to another weekly wrap-up of all of the happenings on the Light Stalking forums and community. This week has been another wonderful week in the world of creating beautiful photographs. Our community is all about positivity, encouraging people of all levels to reach the next step in their photographic journey. It's a great bunch […]

The post The Weekly Community Wrap Up appeared first on Light Stalking.

Chasing summer: the winners of our June Editors' photo challenge

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The June Editors' photo challenge

The theme for our June Editors' photo challenge was 'Chasing Summer'. We asked you to share photos that evoke the spirit of summer fun and adventure.

DPReview photographers rose to the occasion as usual, and we were almost able to feel the heat coming off our screens. Here are our Editors' picks, presented in random order.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this photo challenge .If you want to participate in some other photo challenges, visit our Challenges page to see currently open or upcoming challenges or to vote in a recently closed challenge.

The secret oasis

Photographer: Giampier

Photographer's description: It was one of those July afternoons when the air is still and heavy, and the sun burns your skin. The city seemed to be slumbering under the oppressive heat. For three young friends, boredom was about to take over, until their parents brought them to a park that held a secret. At first, it was just a path like any other, lined by a wooden fence and topped by a pergola of climbing plants. But then, as if by magic, a thick, cool cloud began to descend from the pergola. It was a tunnel of mist. This photo captures the exact moment when shyness turned into pure joy. After a brief moment of hesitation, one of them darted off, and the others followed without a second thought. They are running not just to find relief from the heat, but to cross a portal into another world.

Equipment: Pentax KP + Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM | C

One more time?

Photographer: Martella Media

Photographer's description: My daughter was deathly afraid of the "swing swinger" at first. Then, after one ride, she kept asking, "One more time?" We bought an unlimited ride bracelet after that.

Equipment: Canon AE-1 Program + Canon FD 50mm F1.8

Sunset at city park

Photographer: Earl Goodson

Photographer's description: People enjoying an awesome sunset in Denver, Colorado, from benches and out on the water. City Park has multiple vantage points where you can see the downtown skyline, along with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains just beyond.

Equipment: OM System OM-1 + Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS

Jumping for joy!

Photographer: Denaljo

Photographer's description: My granddaughter and her friend at a water park. The water was cold enough that they would take breaks to run around and warm up! Life imitating art?

Equipment: Nikon D850 + Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm F4.5-5.6E ED VR

All chasing summer

Photographer: toupia

Photographer's description: A couple that will get divorced shortly after having a baby, an abused wife who was finally left alone with three children, a man who has sailed alone for years and years, and many other lonely people, including the nostalgic photographer, all spending a sunny afternoon in a small summer resort village in central Greece, all chasing the summer.

Equipment: Canon EOS M6 Mark II + Canon EF-M 32mm F1.4 STM

Summer love?

Photographer: softmarmotte

Photographer's description: Taken during the alpine mountain summer at a swimming lake with views over the distant glaciers. A typical scene of young people flirting and maybe falling in love. Savoie, France.

Equipment: OM System OM-1 + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS Pro

Morning stillness

Photographer: ElenaGreen

Photographer's description: Sometimes, timing is everything to capture the moment and essence. Waking up early is definitely rewarding. It was a low tide time of the day, and no wind at all, and the aluminum boat was shining like gold.

Equipment: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Chasing summer in...

Photographer: Jack Simpson

Photographer's description: Chasing summer in the summer of 1988 at the Oasis, a beach just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. A couple of young lads take turns riding in and pushing a huge inner tube into the manmade beach.

Equipment: Pentax MX + Pentax SMC 85mm F1.8

Beach sprint

Photographer: LuMa

Photographer's description: A great afternoon with the kids, family and some wonderful beach fun. I was just lying around in the shallow waters and snapping away at my kids fooling around with their games. It's always more fun when the camera is waterproof.

Equipment: Olympus Stylus Tough TG-860

Ipanema beach vollyball

Photographer: poppyjk

Photographer's description: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilians know how to do summer. The Ipanema and adjacent Copacabana beaches may be the best examples. On the weekends, the city closes the frontage road to vehicles, so it is filled with skateboarders, rollerbladers, cyclists, runners, and walkers. In addition to the many volleyball courts, there are countless small groups on the packed beaches just passing a ball around, trying to keep it in the air. Several hours earlier, there were hundreds of swimmers in the water 75-80 meters offshore competing in a triathlon. The whole scene is a feast for the eyes and a light for the soul.

Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Running down a dream

Photographer: Samantha Guillotte

Photographer's description: While studying abroad in Rome, my photography class walks around every day in hopes of capturing something. As we were walking, I captured this car driving down the lane, and it reminded me of my home, where driving with windows down to the beach and blasting 80s makes for the perfect summer.

Equipment: Nikon Z5

Summer innocence

Photographer: hanij

Photographer's description: Summer brings so many joys. Most beautiful of all is seeing my kids enjoying the long sunny days by the beach. Taken a few years ago at Tod's Point in Greenwich, Connecticut, this photo captures my two sons sharing their pure joy on a beautiful day.

Equipment: Apple iPhone XS

In Depth: Do We Really Need to Print Our Film Photos?

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Do you still print out your film photos? In this In Depth article, we're laying out the case for printing film photos, and why it remains a crucial part of evaluating, archiving, and appreciating analogue images.

Photoespaña 2025: colonial legacies, transitional landscapes and chance encounters

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 06:00:31 +0000

A summer of photography gets under way in the capital, featuring more than 80 contemporary and historical exhibitions

PhotoEspaña, Spain’s premier festival of photography, has opened in Madrid and other locations across the country including Barcelona, Santander and Zaragoza. The capital is hosting more than 80 contemporary and historical exhibitions in a range of venues that include the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Prado, a former water tower and an old sawmill.

Top left: Adelita: She Was Not Only Brave She Was Beautiful, 2023. Top right: Adelita: I Would Follow Her by Ground and Sea, 2023. Above: Toward a History of African American Women on New Spain’s Far Northern Frontier, 2023. Photographs: Ayana V Jackson/Mariane Ibrahim.

Photos: Why it took courage for these women to pose for the camera

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:34:12 +0000

Sahy Rano, on display at the Photoville Festival in Brooklyn, New York, through this weekend, draws its title from a Malagasay phrase translated in a wall label as meaning "someone who is not afraid to dive into the water, even if there is a strong current." The photographer wants to bring attention to female genital schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by a waterborne parasitic infection, whose symptoms can be stigmatizing because they resemble symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases. From left to right: former patients Rahama Abdallah, Sylvia Razanaparana and Suzanie Yolandrie. They were photographed in September 2024 in the district of Ambanja in Northern Madagascar.'/>

Wearing traditional cosmetic face masks from their homeland of Madagascar, they agreed to be photographed to take a stand.

(Image credit: Miora Rajaonary)

We discuss OM-5 II, Sigma's new F1.8 zoom and a surprise camera app from Adobe

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Photo: Mitchell Clark

This week kicked off with a few announcements, bringing new options for those searching for compact gear. Sigma released the 17-40mm F1.8 DC Art, a lightweight and fast standard zoom for APS-C. The lens raised some questions about the speed of the lens, and frustration for Nikon users left out of the party. On the same day, OM System unveiled the OM-5 II, a Micro Four Thirds camera with an IP53 dust and water resistance rating, resulting in division about how significant the updates are.

The entire DPReview team had a chance to sit down and chat about this week's releases and the community's discussion around both. Plus, we were able to talk about something fresh off the press: Adobe's potentially powerful camera app for iPhones. You can check out our thoughts on the new gear and Adobe's app in the video below.

By the Sea with Élodie Pichot, La Flemme and Lomography Color Negative 400 film

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Élodie Pichot captures the softness and authenticity of analogue photography on the Lomography CN 400 film in collaboration with a crochet accessories brand La Flemme.

2025 summer solstice at Stonehenge – in pictures

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 12:42:18 +0000

Thousands attend annual festival at prehistoric structure in Wiltshire to mark the longest day in the northern hemisphere

Thousands attend solstice sunrise at Stonehenge

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 10:24:28 +0000

English Heritage say 25,000 witnessed the sunrise Stonehenge.

‘I want my viewer to ask – what is happening here?’: Meysam Hamrang’s best phone picture

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 10:00:07 +0000

This image captures the passion and solemnity of an Islamic ritual in Iran

For Meysam Hamrang, this image was years in the making. The Iranian photographer took it in 2019 at a religious ceremony in the village of Masuleh, part of a historic city in the northern province of Gilan, Iran.

“On the sixth day of Muharram – the first month of the Islamic calendar – Shia Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in a ritual called Alam Bandan,” says Hamrang. “It’s held in a 1,200-year-old shrine. People from surrounding villages gather to participate in, or observe, the ritual.”

The week around the world in 20 pictures

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 06:00:01 +0000

Iranian missile strikes on Israel, protests in Los Angeles, teenagers training in Lviv and Kneecap in court: the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists

Warning: this gallery contains images that some readers may find distressing

Parties, pyres and pharaohs: Africa's top shots

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:48:13 +0000

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond.

Nick Hedges obituary

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:08:14 +0000

Photographer who took harrowing images of the conditions in which poor British people lived in the 1960s and 70s

The work of the photographer Nick Hedges, who has died aged 81, revealed the reality of the atrocious living conditions of the UK’s urban poor in the 1960s and 70s. His compassionate work transformed perceptions, and helped galvanise social change.

In 1966, a new charity was launched: Shelter, the National Campaign for the Homeless. That same year, Ken Loach’s revelatory drama documentary Cathy Come Home highlighted the problem of homelessness in a country that complacently believed in the rose-tinted idea of the swinging 60s.

Simple tricks to get more out of your smartphone camera

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Photo: Oleksii Karamanov / Tetra images via Getty Images

Smartphones have become quite capable, compact cameras that offer a lot of convenience. After all, most of us rarely go without our pocket-sized devices. While the cameras inside phones don't equal the quality possible from dedicated cameras in most circumstances, there are some easy tricks to help you maximize your phone camera's quality. Some of those tips are related to settings, but there are also more general things you can pay attention to to improve your results.

Keep your lenses clean

The first – and easiest – way to improve image quality from your phone is to keep the lenses clean. A smudge on a lens can have a surprisingly large impact on the final image. Having a soft, clean cloth (such as a microfiber lens cloth) on hand (or the hem of a cotton shirt) to wipe down your lens will help you get sharper, clearer results.

Don't forget about composition

Your phone's grid can help you with composition.

Image: Finn Hafemann / E+ via Getty Images

Paying attention to composition – the way individual elements are arranged in a frame – is critical no matter what camera you're using. It's easy to forget that when picking up your phone to take a photo, but remembering to do so will always help you produce stronger images.

There are plenty of rules and tricks related to composition, the most common of which is the rule of thirds. Most camera apps offer optional composition grids to help frame your images according to those principles, if you want a gentle reminder.

While compositional rules are helpful, they are not a surefire way to create an interesting image. The key is to consider where you want the viewer to look and how you can guide their eyes there with elements in the scene. Slowing down and looking around the entire frame, including the edges, is always a good idea to ensure you create a thoughtful composition.

Find good light

Good, bright light is helpful for making any photo better.

Image: Mitchell Clark

While smartphone companies keep adding new tricks to improve low-light capabilities, the small sensors inherent to smartphones are generally quite lacking in dark situations. Because of that, photos taken in brightly lit situations will always give you the best results from your phone.

If there isn't enough natural light, you can also add artificial light. Many phone-specific lighting tools, from companies like SmallRig, Neewer, Lume Cube and Godox, are available these days. These tools can make adding additional light easier and produce better results than your phone's built-in flash.

Use a tripod in dim conditions

There are lots of mini tripods available, such as this Peak Design option, which folds down flat.

Image: Abby Ferguson

A tripod can make all the difference if you're capturing photos in dim light. Alternatively, if you don't have a tripod on hand, look to your environment for stable surfaces to lean your phone against, such as a rock or light pole. The phone will compensate for the lower amounts of light by slowing the shutter speed, which makes it more likely you'll end up with blurry images. A sturdy surface stabilizes your phone during the exposure, so you are more likely to get sharp results even in low light.

Keep your subject's face towards the light

I got lucky with the light on this particular occasion, as it was shining perfectly on my dog's face.

Image: Abby Ferguson

Speaking of light, if you're taking portraits, one easy way to get better images is to ensure the sun isn't behind your subject. Backlighting is hard to work with, especially with phones. It also doesn't provide any flattering light on the person. Instead, when possible, turn your subject so they are facing the light, thus illuminating your subject so they are the star of the photo.

Add a lens

Image: Sandmarc

Your phone's main camera offers the best quality, but you likely won't want that field of view for every photo. If you're looking to switch things up but need the higher quality of your main camera, opt for add-on lenses. These can unlock new capabilities like macro, ultra-wide, cinematic or telephoto views.

The key here is to get quality lenses, not bargain ones. Putting cheap glass (or plastic) in front of your camera will only reduce quality, which is the opposite of what you're after. Sandmarc, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig all make worthy options that will help you .

Use a telephoto lens for portraits

While we're on the topic of lenses, there's one type in particular that will help when creating portraits: a telephoto lens. Many phones have one built-in, or you can add one as mentioned above.

Telephoto lenses are often called portrait lenses for good reason. They typically result in distortion that is more pleasing to a person's face. They can also help you blur the background more naturally than using Portrait Mode, keeping the focus on your subject without an over-the-top processed look.

Final thoughts

Photo: Abby Ferguson

Your phone is a camera you likely have with you all the time, so it makes sense to try to level up your smartphone photos. The most important thing to remember is that no amount of gear, accessories or settings can replace basic photography principles. Considering composition, lighting, color, etc., will help you get stronger images even with a basic phone. As with anything, practice and experimentation are crucial to improving.