Photography News

Removing dust spots from photos is one of those chores you probably put off until it’s absolutely necessary. The process has always been slow and repetitive, especially if you’re dealing with an image riddled with tiny sensor spots. These small marks can ruin an otherwise perfect shot, so finding a quicker way to handle them matters.

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The Nikon Zf manages to fit into an unusual category, as it’s both a dependable professional tool and a camera you actually want to carry with you. You might reach for it at a wedding shoot just as easily as when heading to the park with your kids. That balance between capability and personal appeal is rare, especially for a model that can be found for under $2,000.

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Using long exposure can create some cracking shots when used correctly but the smooth, almost dry-ice look using longer shutter speeds gives to water isn't everyone's cup of tea or idea of fun when they're heading off for a day of photography outdoors. So, if you've never tried this technique before and are wondering if it's for you, have a think about the following questions to help you decide.

 

1. Are you a fan of the outdoors?

This technique is all about leaving the shutter open long enough to turn movement into creative streaks and blur to give you a landscape with an almost graphical twist. For this reason, many types of these shots are taken where there's a wide expanse of water (the coast mainly) but you can also capture inland landscapes when you have a sky dotted with clouds or scenes with waterfalls that can add a feeling of movement and direction to the shot when taken with longer shutter speeds. The coast does give you many other still objects you can use to guide the eye and add interest to your shots though. Think tall piers sat in a mist of water, rocks adding foreground interest and several groynes or even a jetty leading the eye.

If you prefer city shooting, you can use the same technique to create streaks of colour from traffic.

 

2. Do you have a tripod?

If the answer to this is 'no' and you don't intend purchasing one anytime soon then long exposure photography isn't for you. Why? Well, with exposures in access of 30 seconds, these types of images aren't something you can really successfully take hand-held as shake will just ruin your shots.

 

3. Do you have a remote / cable release?

This isn't as important as owning a tripod but owning and using one will mean you don't have to actually touch the camera's shutter button, reducing the chances of shake spoiling the shot. However, if you want to use your camera's Bulb mode, you really need to have a remote / cable release in your kit collection. If you have a camera you've purchased more recently then it may have the option for the shutter to be controlled via an app from your Smartphone, eliminating the need for a remote to be purchased.

 

4. Do you have an ND filter?

To get the really long exposures, particularly when working out of the hours of dawn and dusk, you'll need an ND filter. These come in various strengths and will extend your shutter speeds to the length needed for capturing silk-like water and clouds streaked across the sky.

If you don't own an ND filter but do have a polariser you can still try this technique but you'll have to do it at the start or end of the day when light levels are lower. You'll also need to use a low ISO and keep your apertures small.

Polarising filter can work if just starting out or shoot at dusk with a low ISO and narrow aperture.

 

 

5. Do you have patience?

This technique isn't for someone who likes to take a quick snap and move onto the next thing as you will end up standing around for a while waiting for your camera to capture and process the image. With exposure times that can often extend well beyond a minute, you can find yourself twiddling your thumbs quite a lot of the time. However, if you enjoy quiet moments of contemplation or just like to watch the world go by, then maybe playing around with longer shutter speeds is for you.

 

6. Do you have an eye for composition?

When working with longer shutter speeds, landscape scenes can often take on a more graphical feel/composition and you have to ensure there are elements in the frame which will show movement as well as items to guide the eye and add balance. Without clouds moving across the sky or some form of water element, there won't be any movement which when combined with a slower shutter speed is what gives you the nice streaks and soft, blurry water effect.

 

7. Do you mind working out calculations?

Although this statement isn't relevant to everyone any more, if you don't own a smartphone or forget to take it out with you, you'll find yourself scribbling down shutter speed calculations when working with Bulb mode. So, if you're not a fan of maths, you'll need to invest in one of the many apps that will work out calculations for you.

  8. Do you have Live View?

Cameras that have a Live View function make the set-up for this technique much simpler as it often still works even with a strong ND filter attached to your lens. If you look through a viewfinder with an ND filter attached you won't be able to see anything which means to set-up, you have to remove the filter to compose and focus (manually) before carefully fitting the filter back in-place which is obviously doable but not as straightforward as using Live View.  

 

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You're about to drop thousands on a new camera system, convinced that flagship body will transform your photography overnight. But here's the brutal truth: most photographers sabotage their success before they even click the shutter, making expensive mistakes that leave them with gear they can't use effectively and budgets too depleted to fix the problem.

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Demarchelier. Eggleston. Avedon. Penn. Mann. Leibovitz. These names are etched into the history of photography. They are the figures whose work appears in museum retrospectives, on coffee tables, and in academic textbooks. But will photography ever produce universally recognized legends like this again?

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Two new 85mm f/1.4 lenses for Sony have hit the market, each promising sharp optics and fast performance. One comes from a brand known for solid, affordable glass. The other is a newcomer to the lens world, entering with a smaller, lighter design and a few unique touches that stand out.

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A 12mm f/2.8 full frame lens opens the door to images that feel bigger than life. You can pull entire cathedrals, sprawling streets, or the curve of a canyon into a single shot. It’s also easy to go wrong with focal lengths this wide, which is why learning how to control perspective distortion is key. If you don’t, you’ll end up with scenes that look stretched and unnatural instead of immersive.

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The Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 Air lens offers a bright, wide angle view in a compact, lightweight body. At 0.4 lbs and just over 2 inches long, it’s easy to keep on your camera without adding bulk. For travel, architecture, or tight interior spaces, having a fast 15mm that fits in a small bag makes a difference in how often you actually bring it along.

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Many people assume that building a capable Micro Four Thirds kit requires investing in expensive pro-grade glass, but that’s not the only route. Affordable lenses can still give you sharp, versatile results without stretching your budget, and knowing which ones to choose can open up creative options you might otherwise overlook.

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MPB, the largest global platform for buying, selling and trading used photo and video kit, is proud to announce a renewed and expanded partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club as the Official Camera Equipment Partner for the 2025/2026 season. 

This new multi-year agreement builds on the success of MPB’s role as Official Highlights Partner during the 2024/2025 season. That collaboration delivered standout results, generating over 220 pieces of content, 51.9 million impressions and over 900,000 engagements.  MPB will now play a deeper role in connecting Albion fans to the stories and moments that matter. 

As part of the expanded deal, MPB will gain enhanced access to players and behind-the-scenes environments across the men's and women's teams. This access will power the creation of exclusive content that reveals the emotion, personality, and preparation behind top-level football – and the people who make it happen. 

 

This includes a new slate of series and features, such as: 

• Picture Perfect Moment – a social-first series spotlighting unforgettable and unseen moments from each match, both on and off the pitch. 
• Behind-the-scenes content at key club events, including Media Days and Official Team Photo Shoots. 
• Exclusive content collaborations with players from both teams throughout the season. 

 

MPB will also play a central role in delivering key moments directly to fans - from team news and matchday insights to pivotal VAR decisions and post-match highlights - through dynamic content shared across Brighton & Hove Albion’s digital channels. By capturing and sharing these high-impact moments, MPB helps deepen the connection between the club and its supporters, while continuing to tell its own brand story, one rooted in creativity, community and the power of visual storytelling. 

Commenting on the partnership deal, Matt Barker, CEO of MPB, said:

“Storytelling is at the heart of both football and photography - two worlds full of passion, drama and unforgettable moments. As a fellow Brighton-based business, we’re especially proud to continue our partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion and take on this new role as Official Camera Equipment Partner. It’s a brilliant collaboration that brings together two organisations rooted in the city’s creative and sporting culture, with a shared ambition to inspire and connect. We’re excited to go even deeper behind the scenes to bring fans closer to the club, and to share MPB’s mission with an even wider audience.” 

Russell Wood, Head of Commercial at Brighton & Hove Albion FC, said:

“We’re delighted to expand our partnership with MPB. They understand the power of great visual storytelling, and their creativity has helped us bring the club to life across digital channels. With this new agreement, we’re excited to build on that success and continue producing compelling content that resonates with our fans.” 

MPB’s support of the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation will also continue, including camera kit donations and creative guidance to empower more people to tell their own stories through photography and film. 

As a Brighton-founded business, MPB is committed to giving back to its local community and championing inclusion, sustainability and accessibility in everything it does. These shared values remain at the core of the partnership, which celebrates what’s possible when creativity and sport come together.

For more information, please visit the MPB website.

 

Most of the time, when you're out taking photographs, even if it's a quick snap, make sure your shot has a strong point of interest as if it doesn't, you'll find anyone who looks at your image will look at the image, their eyes won't find anything to settle on and they'll simply move on to look at another shot. Without a focal point, there's nothing to draw them into the photograph so they'll simply lose interest with it. Of course, the more interesting the focal point is, the better your shot will be but there are a few other things you can do to make sure your focal point draws the viewer's attention.

 

1. One Main Focus Point

Images can have various points of interest but don't let them pull the attention from the main subject as your shot will just become confusing and the viewer will be unsure what to look at. Less attention-grabbing points of interest can be used on lines to draw the eye to a final resting point.

 

2. Lead In Lines

As mentioned above, by placing minor points of interest along a line you can guide the eye to your main point of interest. Straight lines such as fences or paths work well but other shapes, as talked about in our beginner's composition guide, can work equally as well. The spiral of a staircase will guide the eye up or down while positioning items along an S curve with the main point of focus at the end will lead the eye through the image. There's also the triangle where key features appear along the sides and points of the shape and when it's used correctly, you can create balance in your shot and also guide the eye through the photograph. Repetitive or symmetrical objects such as lamp posts lining either side of a street, a line of palm trees, statues or a series of arches can also be used to guide the eye to a single point.

 

3. What's In Focus

By using a larger aperture if you're working manually or by selecting Portrait Mode or Macro Mode if you're working close-up, which lets the camera know you want to use a larger aperture, you'll be able to throw the background out of focus, leaving all the attention on your main subject which will be sharp. By putting more distance between your subject and the background you'll be able to make the effect more prominent too. If you're a DSLR user, switching to a longer lens (zoom or prime) with wider maximum apertures will make it easier to get the blurry backgrounds you're looking for.

 

Photo by Joshua Waller 

 

4. Blur

When your main subject is moving, be it a pet, a person running, a car or bike, try using a slower shutter speed and pan with them, blurring the background into streaks but leaving them sharp. This will mean all focus falls on your main subject and the sense of speed is increased thanks to the horizontal streaks the background now has.

 

5. Size

A more obvious way to make sure you have one main point of focus is to fill the frame with it. This works particularly well when photographing flowers but can be applied to portraits too.

Photo by Joshua Waller 

6. Colour And Pop

Use contrasting colours or take it one step further and have a go at colour-popping, where you leave your main point of focus in colour and turn the rest of the image black & white. If you're shooting portraits, positioning your subject against a dark background will really make them 'pop' from the image.

 

7. Frame

By adding a frame you guide the eye to one main focal point in the scene that you want highlighting. You can also hide other objects you don't want to be in the shot behind your frame and it does have the added effect of just making your image more interesting generally.

 

8. Crop

If you have images on your computer that seem a little busy try cropping it to see if removing some of the elements makes it less busy and as a result, you get a main point of focus.
 

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Canon has released a set of lenses that carry the abbreviation VCM, short for Voice Coil Motor, a fast and silent autofocus system. The first three primes of this series are the RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM, the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, and the RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM. Let’s have a look.

The first lens with a Voice Coil Motor is the RF 24-105mm f/2.8L VCM. It’s a large lens, similar to the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L VCM. Both are similar in size and feature a built-in zoom...

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Finding the right camera for a single, high-stakes shoot can be a balancing act. When you’ve only got one night to capture a specific scene for a client, there’s no margin for error. Resolution, reliability, and adaptability all matter, especially when the final images will be printed at large sizes where every detail counts.

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Starting a photography business feels like stepping into a dream job where creativity meets entrepreneurship, but the harsh reality is that most new photography ventures fail within their first two years. The difference between thriving photographers and those who crash and burn isn't talent or expensive gear. It's avoiding these five business mistakes that rookie photographers make over and over again.

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Retro-inspired cameras aren’t just about nostalgia. They offer a tactile shooting experience and physical controls that many modern designs have lost. If you value the feel of metal dials under your fingers and a body that recalls film-era craftsmanship, the two models here are among the most talked-about options in that space right now.

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A 20mm full frame lens at f/1.4 isn’t something you pick up without a plan. It’s a specialty tool, one that opens up creative shots you can’t easily get with other focal lengths. The ability to capture dramatic wide scenes in low light without sacrificing detail makes it valuable for landscapes, interiors, and astrophotography. You also have the option to get surprisingly shallow depth of field if you work close to your subject.

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The Canon EOS R50 V takes a different approach from what you might expect at its price. It’s compact, lightweight, and aimed squarely at content creators who want strong video performance without hauling around a heavy setup. Its balance of portability and image performance make it worth a look.

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Shooting an A to Z photo project is a more versatile area of photography than you might first think. You can, of course, shoot items that begin with each letter of the alphabet, but it's much more fun and testing at times if you shoot things that are shaped like letters.

 

What Gear Do I Need?

As letters can be found in various locations at different heights and angles you'll probably want to take a zoom lens out on your journey with you so you can shoot wide and also at longer focal lengths without the added weight of multiple lenses weighing your bag down. 

 

The Search

Some letters will jump out of the subject at you with ease while others will take a little more thinking about. Make sure you carry a checklist to keep a track of letters you've captured and you may find it easier to think about one letter at a time rather than hunting for several in one go. 

This project will have you walking all over so wear a comfy pair of shoes and of you have kids, this is a great thing to get them involved in, too.

 

Some Suggestions 

Branches make good candidates and also rocks with holes in can make great 'A's or 'P's. Anything that looks even remotely like a letter will create a quirky and fun piece of photography. A lamp-post, for example, will make a great 'I' while the end of a bench looks like an 'L' if you look closely enough. Once you've found all of your letters, try turning them into one big collage that you can hang on your wall. You'll probably find yourself capturing the near and far, the small and large, the straight and the curved, in sunshine and shade so this project is a great way to challenge yourself and your photography skills.

 

 

A Twist On The Theme

The other thing that you could try with this theme is an A - Z of photography styles. B for Black and White, S for sepia, etc. This is probably suited to more experienced photographers who know more terminology, though.

Another more fun thing you can try is getting a group of friends to pose as all the letters of the alphabet or as mentioned above, capture objects that begin with each letter of the alphabet. If you've already tried an alphabet project why not take on a number challenge instead? 

Be experimental with this - there are no real rules other than that the photos must represent the alphabet in some way. You could make it more challenging by limiting yourself to inside or outside objects, for example. But most importantly, though, it's about having fun and enjoying your photography!

 

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It’s been an exciting few weeks for photography-gear enthusiasts, with product-announcement rumors coming in from every direction. But among all the speculation, as you might already know, DJI has officially entered the 360-degree-camera market with the launch of the Osmo 360.

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