Photography News

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to AndyPedant (Day 12 - 'Signs).

 

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 9

Skyscrapers

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Day 10

'Fast' Theme

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Day 11

Vertical Lines

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Day 13

'Out Of Focus'

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  Day 14

Summer Trees

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Day 15

Street Photography

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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.

  1. What Gear Is Needed? 

If you plan on taking your none-waterproof camera underwater you'll want to fix a wide-angle or even fisheye lens to it and secure it in a waterproof housing. There are also several waterproof compacts available which don't need housing as they're designed to survive a swim to certain depths.

 

2. How Well Do You Know Your Camera? 

Finding and changing your camera's settings underwater, particularly if your camera's in a waterproof housing, can be really hard work so if you don't want to miss a shot, set your camera up before you put the camera in the water. Fish move quickly, too so if you're fiddling about with your camera, chances are you'll miss the opportunity to capture your shot. Once you've taken your photos do remember your camera, even if it is waterproof, isn't a great fan of saltwater so wipe and dry it down.

 

3. What Are The Weather/Conditions Like? 

You need water that's clear as possible so avoid underwater photography on choppy days when visibility can be poor due to sand and other debris getting churned around in the swell. Light's less even and there's not that much of it underwater so you'll need higher ISOs and wider apertures. You'll also want to put as little distance between you are your subject as you can, otherwise, you'll have blurry shots where you can't make out if you've captured a fish or a piece of seaweed. Water has a habit of refracting light which can mean your subject appears closer and larger than it really is, too.

 

4. Is It Possible To Shoot Near The Surface?

If you can work closer to the surface do as colours are more vibrant as light is less diffused and the reflections on it, like when working above water, can add extra interest to your underwater shots. When you do venture into deeper water do remember to secure your camera correctly, after all, you don't want to watch it sink away from you.

 

 

5. Is Flash Needed? 

You can use your camera's built-in flash to add more light to your shot but it won't work if you're not working close to your subject as it'll light up any tiny pieces of matter floating around which can cause blob-like shapes to appear around your image. Instead of using the built-in flash try taking a more powerful strobe underwater with you as you can move these around the scene so the blobs of light won't make an appearance. You'll also be able to create different effects, adding more light to some areas and creating shadows in others.

Unless you're close to the surface where it's a little lighter, you'll most likely need flash to freeze the movement of the fish and plants you're photographing. Flash is also handy when you're taking a macro shot of coral.

 

6. Are White Balance Adjustments Needed? 

Unless you change your white balance your underwater shots will have the familiar blue/green cast to them. Adding flash can help remove it but the best way to control it is by manually setting the white balance. All you have to do is take a reading off something light and when you alter your depth, take another reading as variables change.

 

7. Is There A Method For Approaching Fish Without Scaring Them? 

If you have the time to learn a little about the fish species that will be around the place you're visiting do as knowing which species will be more willing for you to get close and understanding the behaviour of the more shy species will help you produce more, frame-filling, interesting results.

If you didn't plan on venturing out under the waves just move in gradually when you spot a fish you'd like to photograph and see how it reacts to you. Don't suddenly start flapping your arms or kicking your legs though as this will just cause them to turn around and head to safety. The bubbles you make from breathing out can also scare them but we're not suggesting you hold your breath! Just try and breath out in a different direction to where the fish is. Weights and a buoyancy compensator can help you keep still but these are generally used by more serious underwater photographers.

 

8. What About Backgrounds? 

Where possible, keep the background plain and clutter-free after all, a lot of creatures are designed to camouflage with their surroundings but you don't want your friends to be playing 'spot the underwater creature' when you show them your shots. The best plain background you'll find is the huge amount of water above your head. To get it in shot simple shoot from a low angle. This will also help your subject look more dominant.

 

For more hints and tips, have a look at our complete guide to underwater photography.

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

© Benro

 

Benro has introduced the MSD36CB SupaDupa Black Diamond, a carbon fibre monopod designed for photographers and videographers who want smooth motion, quick adjustments, and reliable support in a lighter, travel-friendly package. It features a 6‑section build that reaches 165cm yet folds down to 42cm, a rotating foot with a bearing for fluid pans, and a 40kg load capacity at just 0.50kg.

 

From Benro

Benro introduces the MSD36CB SupaDupa Black Diamond, a carbon fibre monopod engineered for shooters who need durability, speed and fluid movement in a compact, travel-ready design. Slightly slimmer and shorter than larger models in the lineup, it delivers professional strength and handling without unnecessary bulk – supporting payloads up to 40kg while weighing just 0.50kg.

 

Fast, One-Handed Control

Featuring all-metal twist locks paired with a CNC-machined aluminium flip lock, the MSD36CB allows fast, one-handed height adjustments while shooting. Its compact 6-section design extends to a full 165cm (65.7 inches) for comfortable tracking without stooping, yet collapses down to just 42cm (16.5 inches) for easy transport.

 

© Benro

 

Smooth Panning, Anywhere

At the base, a rotating rubber foot with a built-in V-shaped bearing enables smooth, gliding pans without lifting the monopod. For uneven or outdoor terrain, the foot can be swapped with the included spike foot.

“This is a monopod for photographers and videographers who move fast and shoot on the go. It delivers smooth motion, quick adjustments and reliable support in a lighter, more portable package – so you can stay focused on capturing the moment, not fighting your gear.” said Helen Gibbs, Benro Marketing Manager.

 

Key Features

• Carbon fibre construction – lightweight, rigid and strong enough for heavy camera and lens setups
• Compact yet capable – 165cm (65.7″) maximum height, 42cm (16.5″) folded length
• Fast, one-handed adjustments via a CNC-machined aluminium flip lock and all-metal twist locks
• Smooth panning from the bearing-equipped rubber foot, with a spike foot included for outdoor use
• 40kg load capacity at just 0.50kg – rugged build designed for frequent, demanding use

 

Pricing & Availability

The Benro MSD36CB SupaDupa Black Diamond is priced at £150.00 (inclusive of VAT). UK stock is expected to arrive in August 2026, with the official consumer and website launch scheduled for 5th August 2026.

Fore more information, please visit Benro's website.

© Johanna Alarcón

 

The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award has named its 2026 winner as it celebrates a decade of supporting powerful documentary photography. This year the award goes to the project When the Earth Gives Birth, which explores Indigenous midwifery in Ecuador. By documenting maternal healthcare, cultural resilience, and community solutions, the project highlights how these stories confront inequality and protect ancestral knowledge through compelling visual storytelling. Managed by FotoDocument and supported by Nikon Europe, the award continues to champion narratives that spark meaningful change.

 

From NIKON:

Photographer Johanna Alarcón has been awarded the prestigious Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award for 2026, for her photo essay When the Earth Gives Birth. The winning project documents Indigenous maternal healthcare in Ecuador through the stories of midwives, apprentices, and patients from AMUPAKIN and Partera di Anaku - the first Indigenous midwifery schools and hospitals in the Amazon and Andes.

The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award, facilitated by FotoDocument and supported by Nikon Europe, is celebrating its 10th edition. To mark the occasion, there will be a special event taking place from 18–20 September at POST, Brighton & Hove's new centre for photography and film. The programme will feature a retrospective display showcasing highlights from the past decade of winning projects, including an exhibition of work by the 2026 Award Winner, Johanna Alarcón, accompanied by an Artist Talk.

When the Earth Gives Birth documents midwifery as a response to maternal healthcare inequalities, racial discrimination, land dispossession, and the loss of ancestral knowledge across Ecuador. The project highlights Indigenous-led solutions as acts of reproductive sovereignty, cultural preservation, territorial defense, and resistance, offering globally relevant models for women's, children's, and Indigenous rights.

"It is with great joy that we announce that the 2026 Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award goes to Johanna Alarcón, says Nina Emett, FotoDocument founder, MSFA juror "The entire shortlist deserves recognition, and we are delighted to have awarded several Honourable Mentions. Johanna's work stood out for the strength of its imagery, the original approach to storytelling, the under-reported subject, and her commitment to creating meaningful impact through close collaboration with grassroots Indigenous organisations. We are very proud to support the continued development of this remarkable body of work."

Ruby Nicholson, Senior Communications Manager for Nikon Northern Europe, says: "Nikon is proud to support the Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award – now in its tenth year – which champions photographers creating impactful, solutions-focused stories. Johanna Alarcón's inspiring work shines a light on Indigenous women's resilience and the preservation of vital cultural knowledge, and exemplifies the kind of storytelling we are committed to supporting. We celebrate her dedication and look forward to seeing her project spark meaningful conversations worldwide."

On receiving the award, Johanna Alarcón says: "Thank you FotoDocument and Nikon - I receive this award with the deep joy of knowing that what I love most co-exists - photography, motherhood, and spirituality - coming together in this project to give birth to an intimate story about the work of women and Indigenous peoples to sustain life in a context that destroys it.

Motherhood transformed the way I understand everything. The rage in the face of obstetric violence, the fear of loss, the feeling of not being heard. Becoming a mother taught me that the body, like the land, holds a memory that knows no borders and whose rights are constantly under threat. But it also gave me the love of an army of women who sustain life.

My deepest thanks also go to the communities and organizations AMUPAKIN and Partera di Anaku for opening their doors to this story, and to the Ayün Fotógrafas collective, with whom we began this collective project on access to maternal healthcare in Latin America with the support of Eco Vist Projects and Plena Productions. Thanks for believing in me. Onward we go!"

 

 

Johanna Alarcón - An Ecuadorian independent visual storyteller and educator, Johanna Alarcón (1992) is a National Geographic Explorer, World Press Photo Award winner, CatchLight Global Fellow, Magnum Foundation Fellow, and is a member of Ayün Fotógrafas. Her practice is rooted in long-term collaborative processes that explore collective memory, spirituality, and the relationship between community and territory. Her work seeks to challenge stereotypes and the enduring effects of colonial structures, focusing on the experiences of women, Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, and incarcerated populations. Through intimate and community-centered narratives, she explores resilience, memory and humanity.

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

• Ana Caroline de Lima
• Natela Grigalashvili
• Ranita Roy

 

SHORTLIST

• Ana Caroline de Lima
• Birte Kaufman
• Ginevra Bonina
• Johanna Alarcón
• Laura Pannack
• Lea Greub
• Natela Grigalashvili
• Ranita Roy
• Sara Swaty
• Valeria Luongo

 

For more information, please visit the Marilyn Stafford Photography website.

 

Every desk has one ugly corner: the gray knot of chargers and power bricks that no cable management ever truly tames. The Anker Nano Power Strip (10-in-1, 70W, Clamp) clamps to your desk edge and swallows that knot whole, and after a month running my entire charging setup off it, I'm not going back. 

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Camera gear discounts move fast, and this week has a strong spread of them: a do-everything Tamron superzoom, three phone gimbals and two wireless mic kits from DJI, a pocketable Panasonic full frame body, a compact Canon vlogging camera, and a two-pack of GaN chargers to keep it all running. Here's what's worth your attention right now. 

Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD — $1,044.95 ($254 Off) 

The Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD is down to $1,044.95 for Sony E-mount, $254 off its $1,299 list price.

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