Photography News

Compact, affordable, and surprisingly capable—pancake lenses are a popular choice for their lightweight design and versatility. The new Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens is no exception. With its ultra-slim build, this lens is ideal for travel, street photography, and situations where you need to keep a low profile without sacrificing image quality.

[ Read More ]

As a landscape photographer, my passion is usually capturing the natural beauty of the outdoors. However, having versatile and powerful lighting is crucial when working in controlled environments, like in my studio or during indoor shoots.

[ Read More ]

Getting the perfect shot often comes down to lighting, but sometimes, natural light just doesn’t cooperate. Instead of relying solely on what’s available, you can take control and shape the light yourself.

[ Read More ]

Every photographer has faced it—that sinking feeling of disappointment when things just don’t go as planned. Maybe it’s a matter of expectations, or perhaps a missed opportunity. But these moments are part of the process. Understanding how to handle these frustrations is crucial for anyone serious about photography.

[ Read More ]

© Leica

 

In 2015, Leica Camera AG launched the Q-Series and introduced a completely new family to its collection. Now in its third generation, the compact full-frame Leica Q3, with a fixed focal length of 28mm, inspires people all over the world. In addition to the unrivalled standards of design, workmanship, image quality and operation, the success of the Q-Family is especially attributed to its close dialogue with its users, and so with this new launch, Leica fulfils a frequently expressed wish by introducing the Leica Q3 with a 43mm fixed focal length.

At the heart of the new Leica Q3 43 is the specially developed lens. The APO-Summicron 43 f/2 ASPH. not only joins the family of the legendary Leica APO lenses, which rank among the best in the world, but also stands out in the current Leica portfolio, as the focal length mirrors the natural perception of the human eye. This allows for the realistic composition of distortionfree motifs through the high-resolution OLED viewfinder. As a result, the versatile 43mm focal length is perfectly suited for street photography and portraits.

The Leica Q3 43 creates extraordinarily sharp, high-contrast images in any lighting condition and still maintains its compact, lightweight form, even with the complex construction of the apochromatically corrected lens with four aspherical lenses. Also, as with its sister model the Leica Q3, the Leica Q3 43 also features an integrated macro mode for close-ups.

 

© Leica

 

The new APO lens delivers superior performance at its maximum aperture of f/2. making it possible to separate subjects from the background with a harmonious bokeh. Combined with its outstanding ISO performance, the APO lens enables short exposure times, even in low light.

Photos and videos can be taken at the 43, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 150mm focal lengths by using the frame lines displayed in the 5.76MP OLED viewfinder, or on the tiltable monitor with the touch function. That way, an image with a resolution of approximately 5 megapixels is created with the highest selectable sensor resolution of 60 megapixels. This high resolution is maintained even at the maximum 150mm focal length, offering exceptional flexibility for photography and filming in an extremely compact form.

In addition to having a different lens than the original Leica Q3, the Leica Q3 43 also has a new grey leather outer, which contrasts elegantly against the black camera body whilst honouring the timeless design for which Leica cameras are globally renowned.

With easy-to-use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the Leica Q3 43 ensures a seamless mobile workflow, especially with iOS devices. Certified as a 'Made for iPhone® and as an iPad®' accessory, it offers an exceptionally smooth connection experience. When connected to the Leica FOTOS app, data can be transferred quickly and reliably, and creative Leica Looks can be easily loaded onto the camera. The launch of the Leica Q3 43 is complemented by the introduction of a new Leica Look: Leica Chrome, which can be applied to the JPEG and gives images an analogue charm. The expanding range of Leica Looks allows for the creation of unique, creative and striking images directly in the camera, ready to be instantly shared with the world via the Leica FOTOS app.

Both Leica Q3 models carry the same DNA. Like the Leica Q3, the BSI CMOS full-frame sensor with Triple Resolution Technology in the Leica Q3 43 gives you a choice between a resolution of 60, 36 and 18 megapixels. The camera's ISO range of 50 to 100,000, coupled with a highprecision, fast hybrid autofocus system, and a tiltable 3-inch high-resolution touchscreen, makes this robust IP52-rated device the perfect tool to capture your unique perspective. In addition, the Leica Q3 43 offers the possibility to connect external RØDE microphones via USBC. Whether you're shooting in 8K resolution or capturing stunning photos, this Germanengineered camera seamlessly integrates into your daily creative routine, allowing you to capture stylish shots with unparalleled Leica quality in any situation.

 

© Leica

 

The Leica Q3 43 fits comfortably in your hand, especially with the new optional multifunction protector crafted from sleek black leather. It features an integrated grip, provides direct access to the battery, and can be swiftly mounted on tripods with a compatible quick-change clamp thanks to its Arca-Swiss compatibility. The Leica Q3’s practical, comfortable and stylish accessories are also available for the Leica Q3 43. These accessories include a unique wireless charging handgrip that works with the elegant Drop XL Wireless Charger for inductive charging, a range of protectors and carrying straps in various leather colours, and a selection of stylish thumb rests, soft release buttons, and colourful round retro lens hoods, all of which enhance the individual look of the Leica Q3 43.

The Leica Q3 43 is available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers from today, for the retail price of £5,900.00 including VAT. The retail price for the new multifunction protector with integrated handgrip is £220.00 including VAT.  

For more information, please visit the Leica website.

 

Color grading can take your landscape images from good to great. This video tutorial walks through how to use Photoshop's Color Balance feature to enhance highlights, midtones, and shadows, creating depth and contrast in a natural and subtle way.

[ Read More ]

Macro photography often brings to mind extreme close-ups and tight compositions, but what happens when you pair it with a wide angle lens? This setup offers a new perspective, giving your images context by incorporating the surroundings. Understanding how and when to use a wide angle macro can help you capture more dynamic and story-driven shots.

[ Read More ]

    1. Be Patient  Photographing lively animals like cats is all about patience – try not to get frustrated if your animal won't do what you want. Remember, it is at heart a wild animal and they won't always do what you want them to do. You might want to sit around with your camera without taking photos a few times too so they get used to seeing the camera and won't attack it or run away when you take it out of its bag.   2. Be Ready The most difficult thing about photographing animals, no matter how large or small, is that they move at the most inopportune moments. Setting your camera to continuous shooting mode may help you capture a good shot as they run off in a different direction. DSLRs feature quick continuous shooting modes but don't worry if you're not a DSLR owner as many compacts also have a continuous shooting mode built-in. Compact camera owners can also switch to sport/action mode to increase your chances of getting a blur-free shot.    

 

3. Ask For Assistance 

If you are looking to capture some action or movement shots, get someone else to play with your cat, distracting them so you can get some shots of them swiping and jumping without them going for your camera. Try getting your cat to run by throwing a toy or treat, and snap it in full run. Quicker shutter speeds or switching to sports/action mode will help you freeze your cat's movement. To further enhance the feeling of speed, pan your camera, following your cat as they run. This will, hopefully, keep your cat sharp while the background is thrown nicely out of focus. If you don't want to have a go at panning, pre-focus on a spot where you know your cat will run through and hit the shutter button when they come into frame.

 

4. Candids & Close-Ups

Another technique, to create a more wild effect, is to watch your cat outside for a while and snap more candid style shots of it hunting or climbing on a wall. Try shooting side-on so you can get a shot just as it leaps into action.

If you want some close-up shots of your feline friend, try dangling a toy above it to get it to look up from the ground. You could also try getting your cat to paw at you to give the impression that it's leaping. Dangling a toy will also encourage your cat to keep still and keep its attention focused, to stop it from wandering off. For less action-based shots, why not try capturing it lying down or stretching. Some really lovely shots can be taken while they're resting/sleeping, for example.

 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition  

Connecting with nature can have a profound impact on your well-being. Whether you’re standing in front of a tranquil lake or hiking through a dense forest, these moments provide a sense of calm that can’t be replicated elsewhere. While many people see landscape photography as a way to capture beautiful scenes, it’s also a way to experience the healing power of nature firsthand.

[ Read More ]

© Artur Stankiewicz / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

 

Nikon is delighted the announce the highly anticipated shortlist for the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. The selection from this year's finalists features 40 standalone images, 4 portfolio images, and 3 video entries – each capturing the remarkable beauty and humour found in the world's most extraordinary wildlife.

Once again, the world's most entertaining wildlife photography competition has attracted a record-breaking number of exceptional and amusing entries. Nearly 9,000 submissions from 98 countries are competing for this year's top prize – a once in a lifetime, one-week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in the Masai Mara. Among this year's standout entries include a cheetah playfully hiding behind a tree, a pair of bears sharing a warm embrace, a fish in pursuit of an eagle across the sky, and even a tiny flying squirrel exuding the confidence of a Mafia boss.

Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe Senior General Manager Marketing says: "We are thrilled to unveil the finalists for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity of photographers from all around the world. These images capture not only the humour and charm of wildlife, but also highlight the importance of conservation in a way that resonates with people of all ages and from all different walks of life. At Nikon, we are immensely proud to be part of a competition that brings both joy and awareness to the wonder of our natural world."

 

© Jörn Clausen / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

 

The final shortlist will be reviewed by a panel of industry-leading photographers, including Nikon Creators such as Cameron Whitnall, Lara Jackson and Roxy Furman, along with Nikon Ambassadors Daisy Gilardini and Charie Hamilton James. The public can also have their say and vote for their favourite entry online, as voting is now officially open for the People's Choice Award, sponsored by Affinity Photo. This offers the public the opportunity to vote for their favourite comedic photo from the finalists, whilst also entering a free prize draw for the chance to win £500! Simply head to the website and vote via the People's Choice link.

The overall winner, along with the category and highly commended winners, will be announced on Tuesday 10th December at a dedicated awards night in London. This will be followed by a glorious, free exhibition, taking place for one week only from the 10th - 16th December, where Nikon will showcase the magnificent work of the 2024 Award Finalists at the Gallery@Oxo.

Each year, the competition supports a sustainable conservation organisation and once again, Nikon, in partnership with the Comedy Wildlife Awards, is delighted to be working with Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN - a UK charity that supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South.

 

© Philippe Ricordel / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

 

Competition Categories include: 

• Alex Walker's Serian Mammals Category 
• Spectrum Photo Birds Category 
• ThinkTANK Reptiles and Amphibians Category 
• Fish and Other Aquatic Species 
• Insects Category 
• Nikon Young Photographer (up to 25yrs.) 
• Nikon Junior Category (up to 16 yrs.) 
• Amazing Internet Portfolio Category 
• Video Category 
• Affinity Photo People's Choice Award (after Finalists announced)

 

The punchy shades of autumn give a photographer the perfect opportunity to capture images with a much more arty feel. For those who enjoy playing around with Photoshop there's a way to turn your autumn forest shots into streaks of bold colour in a few easy steps, or you can create a similar look in-camera if you prefer. If you're out on a breezy day there's a third way you can create autumn abstracts by capturing the movement of leaves. 

 

1. Move Your Camera And Lens

This technique is better known as a drag landscape and we have tips on how to do this in a previous article we published back in the spring. To summarise, you set the exposure going then drag/pan the camera in a particular direction. By doing so the trees will be turned into strong lines of colour that give a twist to the normal autumn shot.

You can also focus in on the leaves and play around with your panning directions to create movement in the image. Moving in a circular motion can work particularly well when you're working with the canopy which tends to have less prominent lines and hard edges. Experiment with the size of the circle you 'draw' as again, this will alter the shapes in the image. 

  2. Create The Look In Photoshop

If you've got a few autumn shots hiding away in your computer's folders you can recreate the look the above technique creates in Photoshop. For step-by-step tips on how to do this, take a look at this tutorial: Abstract Autumn Shots In Photoshop

While you have Photoshop open, why not turn your Autumn drag landscapes into a Triptych too? 

  3. Take Your Images On A Windy Day 

Instead of worrying about wind movement of trees spoiling your shot, take advantage of the weather and emphasise the movement. A long exposure will render the autumn leaves into a creative blur. If you're going for a landscape shot where trees are featured but you do have other parts of the scene you don't want to be so blurred, do make sure you take plenty of images as you don't want to head home and find out nothing was actually sharp in frame. You can then just delete the ones you don't want to keep. You will also have to experiment with shutter speeds to ensure you get movement in the leaves but not in other parts of the image. You could achieve the desired result with multiple exposures, too.    

[COMMENT_IMG]portfolio|344332|3736749[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to CarltonR (Day 15 - High-Up).

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 10

Music Photography

[COMMENT_IMG]portfolio|253884|3666104[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 11

Shopping

[COMMENT_IMG]portfolio|51734|3274201[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 12

City Skylines

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|6144|6144_1726121504.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 13

Stairs & Steps

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|332115|332115_1726318660.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 14

Lights

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|344708|344708_1726345262.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 16

Rugged Landscape

[COMMENT_IMG]portfolio|294692|3148229[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

Improving your landscape photography isn’t just about finding a stunning scene—it’s about how you approach that scene with your camera. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking to refine your skills, these three essential tips will elevate your work.

[ Read More ]

Quite recently, Viltrox introduced the AF 40mm f/2.5 lens from the “Air” series at a very budget-friendly price, considering the quality of images the lens produces. Viltrox is known for their glass quality and as a budget-friendly third-party manufacturer, and again they haven’t disappointed with this lens for both.

[ Read More ]

Every photographer, no matter how experienced, makes mistakes. This video outlines seven common mistakes in photography and provides practical tips to correct them.

[ Read More ]

5DayDeal is back with a photography bundle that's better than ever. This year, Fstoppers is including our tutorial with Elia Locardi, "Photographing the World 2." The full bundle only costs $166 and is 95% off the total value of the bundle.

[ Read More ]

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|85831|85831_1727251713.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to Techno (Day 25 - Motion).

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 24

Market Stalls

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|344708|344708_1727177918.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 26

Good Weather

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|332115|332115_1727333931.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 27

Mountain Landscapes

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|84628|84628_1727441699.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 28

Forests

[COMMENT_IMG]portfolio|134495|3800319[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 29

Arboretum

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|7853|7853_1727614436.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

Day 30

Autumn Close-Ups

[COMMENT_IMG]direct|44488|44488_1727689279.jpg[/COMMENT_IMG]

 

You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

 

When buildings are illuminated at night their shapes and features are enhanced in a very different way than by daylight and it's a great time to take photographs. The most challenging thing is getting the exposure and colour balance right, which we'll help with, otherwise, the standard rules of composition apply which we'll cover briefly first.

 

1. Composition - Don't Forget The Basics 

When shooting upwards expect the building to slope inwards at the top, especially when a wide-angle lens is used. Move to a higher position to reduce the distortion or use a special shift lens that's designed to correct perspective but these are expensive and aren't really a sensible option for the casual shooter.

Try to include the whole building by using a wider angle lens or stepping back to a more suitable viewpoint. Choose the position carefully. The same building could be shot head-on, at an angle of, say, 3/4 or by using a telephoto to capture a section with a more graphical feel. Don't forget you can zoom with your feet as well as your lens, too. When it comes to focusing, manual is your best option. 

  2. Exposures

When the sun goes down the light changes in two ways; firstly the exposure time required increases and secondly the colour of the light becomes warmer. Let's first look at the exposure. In low light, the shutter speed that's necessary to ensure a good exposure will usually be too long to avoid camera shake when hand-holding the camera. Using a tripod enables you to shoot at these long exposure times of between 1/15sec and several seconds or even minutes. If you don't have a tripod you can usually find a wall, lamppost or tree to support the camera, which can help considerably. Or you can try switching to a higher ISO as most cameras now cope well in the higher ranges. This means that in low light situations, such as shooting buildings at night, you can take photos with minimal noise or blurring. You'll also want to put your camera's self-timer into action or use a remote release if you have one as even pressing the shutter button can introduce shake that'll leave your with blurry shots. Consider using the Mirror Lock-up function, too which can be accessed via your camera's menu. 
 

3. Metering

Low light can also fool the camera's meter and this happens because it looks at the mass of dark and tries to compensate to make it mid-grey. By doing so, you get an exposure time that is too long for all the illuminated parts of the scene, such as neon lights, street lights or spotlit areas of a building as they become grossly overexposed.

To avoid this, you need to compensate for it. As a guide, use your exposure compensation setting to reduce the exposure by a couple of stops when most of the area is in darkness and by one stop when the building has a medium coverage of illumination.

 

4. Colour Balance

Illuminated buildings offset against a dark sky can look great, but you have to be careful with the colour as there can be a slightly orange or yellow cast created. Buildings illuminated by artificial light can also be problematic, depending on the lighting used in them. Two popular types are Fluorescent and Tungsten. Fluorescent tend to be used inside in offices and Tungsten in spotlights that part illuminates buildings.

With digital cameras, you can preview the image to check the colour balance and if it doesn't look right, just change the white balance setting you're using. Cloudy will warm your shots up while the Tungsten options will give your images a more blue tone. 

  5. Security

Take care when carrying a camera around at night, especially if you're venturing off the beaten track. Keep alert and where possible, take a friend with you.

  6. What To Capture 

Look for tall buildings you can shoot from. From up high you'll be able to shoot skylines as well as focus on single buildings. For something different, try to shoot the same location in daylight and in the evening. You'll soon see how buildings have a very different feel at night. Cropping in on illuminated buildings can make the image more striking and reduce the black from the surrounding, unlit areas. To give streetlights a 'starburst' use a small aperture which will also give you front-to-back sharpness in your shots too. Exposure times will be longer but if you have your tripod, this won't be an issue. If people are still exploring the city you can use them to add more interest to your shots. Get creative with silhouettes against well-lit structures or how about using slightly longer shutter speeds, say 1/2 a second, to blur the movement of people who pass through your shot. Don't increase your exposure times too much if you want to keep the patterns people create passing through your images though as anything above 15 seconds will probably remove them from your image. Bridges can be used to draw the eye through the image to a particular structure or focus your attention on famous buildings and landmarks which are guaranteed to be lit-up at night.

 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition  

Editing mistakes can lead to images that don’t look polished or professional. Editing is not just about pushing sliders around—it's about recognizing and correcting issues that might not be obvious at first glance. This video addresses some of the most common editing mistakes in Lightroom and how you can fix them.

[ Read More ]

Black and white photography has a unique way of bringing out the essence of a scene. It’s not just about eliminating color—it’s about mastering light, contrast, and texture.

[ Read More ]