How ‘The Strobist’ David Hobby Has Spent His Permanent Vacation
Long-time PetaPixel readers might recognize the byline above. If you don’t, Hi, I’m David, and from 2006 to 2021 I published Strobist.com, a blog that taught photographic lighting.
How I Lost My Camera Bag and All My Gear in Italy
For ten harrowing minutes, I lost everything in Italy. My beloved backpack of gear was gone.
Flying with Lithium Batteries: What You Need to Know
As many of us, including myself, prepare to travel this summer, we -- as photographers -- tend to carry a lot of lithium batteries for our photography gear. After all, we aren’t going to check our precious and pricey cameras, lenses, and other equipment. Naturally, batteries are a necessary component of any photographer’s kit, whether they be camera batteries, lithium-ion AA or AAA batteries, or something else.
Celebrate a Year of Chris and Jordan by Watching Their Idaho Travel Show
Today marks the anniversary of Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake joining PetaPixel! Celebrate with us by watching their first (and so far, only) travel show as they drive, eat, and photograph their way across Idaho.
Town to Make Mt. Fuji View Worse Because of Misbehaving Tourists
Due to a significant surge in tourism, Japanese authorities will build a large barrier to block views of Mount Fuji within Fujikawaguchiko, a town of about 25,000 residents located in the foothills around Mt. Fuji.
Bird Photography in New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley
Even though the historic flood plains of the once mighty Rio Grande have long been tamed by human dams and irrigation canals, birds keep returning annually to spend winter in the relatively mild climate of New Mexico.
Hands-On With the Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR: One Lens to Cover Them All
Nikon's new Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens is a groundbreaking full-frame zoom lens, offering 14.2 times zoom in a lightweight package. Does it come with unacceptable compromises, or is it poised to be the ultimate all-in-one lens for Nikon Z photographers?
Espresso Display 17 Pro 4K Review: You’ll Never Travel Without It Again
I like to think I have relatively basic needs when I'm traveling for work. But the one luxury I miss when traveling is a second monitor for my laptop, especially when I need to edit The PetaPixel Podcast. But with the Espresso Display 17 Pro 4K, a hotel room can be as effective a work location as my office at home. It's a transformative product for my workflow on the road.
Sigma 500mm f/5.6 DG DN Sport Review: The Perfect Telephoto?
When I heard about the latest Sigma lens, the 500mm f/5.6 DG DN Sport, I wanted to revisit the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. The new lens sounded ideal because it is unobtrusive, lightweight enough to handhold easily, and has the reach to capture these elusive Wolfdogs in their natural surroundings.
Fujifilm X100VI Hands-On: It’s Nearly Everything We Wanted
I'm gonna let you in on a dirty little secret of mine: I never liked the original Fujifilm X100. When it first came out, I was -like many others- enamored by the beautiful styling, but the operation of the camera just never gelled with me. The rather boring -- in my opinion -- 35mm lens didn't help things either. It wasn't until I played with the newly designed X100V that I had my aha moment, and realized the appeal of this camera.
Photographing Idaho: A PetaPixel Travel Doc Featuring Chris and Jordan
Hop in the car and ride along with Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake as they embark on an adventure-filled road trip through Idaho.
OM System OM-1 II Review: Could This Have Been a Firmware Update?
When OM Digital Solutions purchased, and thereby saved, Olympus' incredible photographic history and slate of digital cameras from the brink of collapse in 2021, there were many questions about what would happen to the Olympus Micro Four Thirds system. OM answered these concerns the following year with the OM System OM-1 camera, the most impressive Micro Four Thirds camera ever released at the time.
Travel Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners Celebrate International Beauty
The Travel Photographer of the Year revealed the winners of its 21st annual photo competition. The 2023 winners showcase the best in travel photography and celebrate the diverse landscapes, nature, cultures, and people worldwide.
How to Shoot the Busiest Street Scenes in Asia
Shooting the busiest scenes we encounter while traveling in Asia can be very challenging. After 15 years of running photography tours and teaching in the area, I know that busy markets and streets can either be a photography heaven or a nightmare.
Photographers Find a Spider Weaving Webs in Their Sony a7 IV’s EVF
Dutch visual storytellers and travelers Krista and Ties, known as Bluehill_Stories on Instagram and YouTube, are currently on an adventure in New Zealand and have run into an unusual problem with their Sony camera -- a spider decided to move in.
Why Do My Photos of Famous Places Look Bad?
As part of its long-running "Notes and queries" segment, The Guardian asked its readers why photographs of beautiful scenery "never do it justice?" The following week, reader responses were published, offering great practical advice for amateur shutterbugs seeking to improve their travel photos.
Photographing Idaho’s Picturesque Sawtooth Mountains with Matt Suess
With each passing year, more photographers find themselves exploring the endless miles of pristine rivers, remote backroads, and stunning landscapes of Idaho. Even with the influx of tourism, Idaho still has plenty of solitude for those who seek it. OM SYSTEM Ambassador and photographer Matt Suess recently traveled to the state's Sawtooth Mountains in search of portfolio-worthy images and a distraction from an unexpected change in his personal life.
Skylum’s Luminar Adventures Include Six Global Photography Excursions
Skylum, the makers of Luminar Neo photo editing software, announced an expansion for its Luminar Adventures project by adding six new destinations over the next year.
Photographer Captures Death Valley After an Ultra-Rare Tropical Storm
Death Valley National Park in southern California is well known for being the hottest place on Earth, but is also popular because of its spectacular and incredible photo opportunities.
Randy Johnson: From Hall of Fame Pitcher to Pro Photographer
Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Randy Johnson is a passionate and skillful photographer pursuing wildlife, music concerts, and travel photography. When Johnson retired from Major League Baseball in 2010, he returned to his photography major (photojournalism) from 1983 to 1985 at the University of Southern California.
The Moody Beauty of Monsoon Season in India’s Remote ‘Abode of the Clouds’
Landscape photographer Venkitesh "Venki" Ramachandran has spent the last few years exploring rugged, mountainous regions, primarily around the Himalayas. He was ready for something different.
Chasing Ice and Light in an Arctic Photo Expedition Through Svalbard
In the land where the summer sun never sets, where ice and fire engage in a perpetual waltz, I embarked on the photography journey of a lifetime. The destination? Svalbard—an Arctic realm of mystery and marvel, the northernmost reaches of our planet.
5 Unique Photography Experiences to Have in Alaska
Alaska is known as The Last Frontier, and for those that have visited, it’s easy to see why. As Lindblad Expeditions’ former Director of Photography, travel photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins has photographed Alaska dozens of times in his career.
The Perfect Travel Camera? The Sony a7CR on Safari in Brazil
The wetlands of Brazil’s Pantanal region aren’t as well known as the Amazon, but it’s still home to an incredibly diverse ecosystem. With dozens of species of mammals and rodents and hundreds of species of birds, it is a wildlife photographer’s dream. Jaguars roam the shoes of the river while capybara and caiman flee from the hunting cats. Birds are everywhere you look, and their calls are pervasive throughout the day.
Sony a7C II and a7CR Hands-On: Entry-Level No Longer
The original Sony a7C was very much an entry-level camera. I really liked the minimalistic styling; a strong departure from the boxy DSLR look of the other Alpha cameras, and it was easy to navigate, but suffered from what many entry-level cameras suffer from: a lack of manual control dials, and a bargain basement viewfinder. But now we've got an upgrade. Or rather, upgrades.
Sony and Nikon Say the Camera Market is Booming Thanks to China
Shipments for digital cameras are at their highest point since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and that boom is being largely driven by China, Sony and Nikon say.
Chris and Jordan’s Favorite Travel Camera Gear! | The PetaPixel Podcast
This week, Chris and Jordan join Jaron remotely as they are podcasting from the beach! Given the surroundings, they thought it would be a great time to talk about their favorite travel camera gear.
Mirrorless Camera Sales Are Booming as Global Tourism Recovers
Shipments of interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras are breaking records and sales are booming according to Japan's Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA), an upswing that is being directly tied to an uptick in global tourism.
Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 Review: A Golden Pancake or a Flop-Jack?
If there was ever a focal length that the manufacturers tend to put by the wayside, it's the trusty 28mm prime lens. You see, ultra-wide lenses are dynamic and 24mm lenses are admittedly more versatile. However, the 28mm range is probably my preferred focal length for walking the streets with only one prime lens.
ThinkTank’s Venturing Observer Series is Just Luggage, Not Photo Bags
ThinkTank has announced a new travel set of bags called the Venturing Observer series that aren't made specifically for photographers but instead is more traditional luggage.