Photography News

Stay up-to-date with the latest news within the photography industry. Here we feature new photography gear announcements, creative conferences, and other interesting headlines related to the world of photography and filmmaking.

Preorder Fstoppers Newest Tutorial, 'Photographing the World With Elia Locardi 3'

Fstoppers is heading back out on the road with Elia Locardi to film the latest installment of "Photographing the World." This time time around, the gang will be heading to the Alps, Dubai, and a few countries in South America as they explore even more advanced landscape techniques and post processing. Now is your chance to sign up for early bird access to Elia's new tutorial and to watch a sneak peek video of Elia's crazy travel lifestyle courtesy of Smugmug!

Royal Photographer Lord Snowdon Dies at Age 86

Antony Armstrong-Jones, more commonly known as Lord Snowdon after he married Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away peacefully on Friday at his home in London. He was 86. Snowdon was one of UK's most famous and most respected photographers for more than 50 years. He was already an established fashion photographer when he married into royalty, but after that he became somewhat designated as the official photographer of the royal family.

MotoCrane, the World's First Universal Automotive Camera Crane System

I initially dove into the world of cinema and photography because of my passion for the automotive world and the arts. I have had some plans for more video work with cars in action but I always wanted more than action camera footage that’s stationary on the vehicle. Even with a jib and other equipment, I wanted more production value out of my work. Really, what I had in mind was a vehicle camera crane system.

Lily Robotics Sued for False Advertising and Unfair Business Practices

News came yesterday that the Lily drone would not be released and preorders would be refunded. The company indicated an inability to secure the funds needed for a production run, despite having raised $34 million. However, Lily Robotics failed to mention that they are also being sued by the San Francisco district attorney for false advertising and unfair business practices.

The Lily Drone Is No More, Refunds Promised

Despite $34 million in pre-orders, the Lily drone will not see the light of day. After three years of development, the team has announced that they have run out of funds and will be refunding anyone who pre-ordered the device.

ASUS Zenfone AR Takes 92-Megapixel Photos

Cell phone cameras have undoubtedly advanced to levels that make them legitimate photographic instruments in the right circumstances. ASUS is continuing to push the envelope with their new Zenfone AR, which can shoot massive 92-megapixel photos.

Astropad Studio Aims for Professionals to Use the iPad Pro as a Graphics Tablet

The team that brought us Astropad, the popular iPad-to-Mac graphics tablet, has debuted an all new advanced product aimed at creative professionals. The new Astropad Studio features customizable gestures, keyboard support, unlimited shortcut sets, and sports Liquid Extreme which offers five times faster performance over the standard Astropad.

Kodachrome Might Make a Comeback, And You Could Help

Even after its death, if was there ever one film stock that was the color film, it would have to be Kodak's Kodachrome The last roll was famously given to Steve McCurry, who essentially built his career with the film. To say that was a sad moment for lovers of film would be a gross misrepresentation. This was something that was lost. It would – could – never come back. Or could it? A recent conversation between The Kodakery and a number of Kodak executives including Kodak CMO Steven Overman lead to a glimmer of hope for the resurrection of everyone's favorite color film.

Steadicam Volt Smartphone Stabilizer Blows Kickstarter Goal Out Of The Water

Have you ever been interested in creating professional looking videos but haven’t been able to justify the cost of dedicated professional video gear? You’re in luck considering the remarkable video quality that is achievable using the most current smartphones. Combine the latest smartphone video recording capabilities with stabilization technology developed by the originators of the Steadicam and you’re now able to capture professional looking video easier than ever.

The Dell Canvas Is the Latest Smart Workspace Touchscreen Display Device

Following Microsoft and Apple's fall releases targeted at content creators and artists, this year at CES Dell announced its world first 8K monitor and 27-inch Dell Canvas. Similar in concept to the new Microsoft Surface Studio and Cintiq 27QHD Touch, the Dell Canvas is the latest device in the quickly growing smart workspace technology category.

'Spy in the Wild', a New BBC Series uses Animatronic Animals Rigged with Cameras to Film Wildlife

A new upcoming BBC four-part series titled "Spy in the Wild" uses 34 realistic animatronic creatures, equipped with UHD cameras to observe wildlife activity from closer than ever before. The myriad of undercover animals were placed all over our planet, from deserts, to rainforests, as well as the polar regions. With the intention to record real animal emotions, display their similarities with humans, and acknowledge the links between all living things on earth. The topics discussed for each of the four episodes include love, friendships, mischief, and intelligence.

Dell Unveils World's First 32" 8K Monitor

Dell recently introduced their first 8K monitor at CES 2017 last week. This new monitor has 7680x4320 resolution with 280 PPI. However, the price will also be as high as its resolution.

ExoLens Case With Zeiss Lenses for Your iPhone 7

ExoLens the iPhone case company that is known for its protective cases that are compatible with their range of Zeiss lenses, have just announced a new case for the iPhone 7 at C.E.S. Bringing professional-grade lenses to the iPhone, and now even more protection. The new protective case for the iPhone 7 will be available for purchase during the first quarter of 2017, though a price is not yet released.

Washington Post Makes Egregious Cover Photo Error

As far as typos and editorial errors go, this is a big one, particularly considering the cultural context. The question is: even if it was entirely an innocent mistake, what preconceptions does it indicate?

Bird Photography Technology Makes Great Images Possible

Lisa is not a professional photographer. She started taking photos and learned about photography because she started watching birds and wanted a way to document it. She’s originally from Germany and moved to the US with her American husband. She lives in Michigan now, and although the landscape and weather is similar to what she experienced in Germany, the wildlife, especially the birds, differ quite a lot.

Leading Chinese Drone Company DJI Aquires Hasselblad

While nothing has been announced officially, multiple outlets including Fox Business and Luminous Landscape have reported that DJI has bought a majority share of Hasselblad. Although Hasselblad hasn't really been Hasselblad since 1996, the latest acquisition leaves many photographers scratching their heads. Why would the top drone company want to buy a camera company known now for its medium format, digital still image cameras? Aren't drones used for shooting video? Is DJI getting into the surveillance game? So many questions, so few answers.

Polaroid Pop Brings the 3x4 Instant Film Format Into the Digital Age

Despite the company's unfortunate demise with the advent of a number of technologies that were simply cheaper and better, there's something to a Polaroid photograph that you can't get anywhere else: that tactile, one-copy, 3x4-inch film image seconds after taking the picture. Of course, companies such as Fujifilm with Instax or even Polaroid with some recent releases have seen a comeback with instant-print cameras or mini mobile printers, but now Zink's zero-ink prints come out of a compact digital camera in the iconic 3x4-inch format for the first time with the Polaroid Pop.

Fujifilm Announces X-Pro2 Graphite Edition Kit and X-T2 Graphite Silver Edition Body

Now available for pre-order, Fujifilm announced an X-Pro2 Graphite Edition kit that comes with a matching 23mm f/2 lens as well as a standalone X-T2 Graphite Silver Edition body to complement the standard black bodies of the brand's flagship cameras. The X-Pro2 features a darker, gunmetal-like grey color, while the X-T2's graphite silver color is more reminiscent of the standard metallic of classic film cameras. The new editions promise to add increased protection to the body and unsurprisingly come at a couple-hundred-dollar premium over their standard-edition counterparts.

Photography Contest - Win $100 B&H Gift Card!

Fstoppers is starting a new bi-weekly contest in our Community! Every two weeks we will announce a new contest within a specific group. We are kicking things off in the Compositing and Photo Manipulation Group.

An Update on Brides Magazine's Insistence That Pros Shoot Canon or Nikon

You may have read a recent article in which Brides magazine suggested that its readers only choose wedding photographers who shoot Canon or Nikon. The photographer who was quoted as saying that has received quite a bit of backlash, so I reached out to her for her side of the story.

An Astro Light Pollution Filter that Attaches Directly Over your Cameras Sensor

STC, a Taiwan-based company, has developed and produced a new niche filter for astrophotographers that clips on directly over your Canon or Nikon camera's full-frame sensor. The filter will supposedly reduce the effects of artificial light in your astro images by blocking certain light wavelengths related to city lights, such as mercury and sodium. While it will simultaneously intensifying light spectrums that are naturally present in the night sky.

Save 50% On This iPhone Gimbal Stabilizer Today Only

Most people still find it hard to believe, but the video camera on the iPhone is good enough to be a professional tool. Here at Fstoppers, we use our phones to record video almost every single day but to make the footage look "professional" you're going to need to stable footage.

Is Your Canon 50mm f/1.8 II Lens Fake?

This week Canon sent out an advisory regarding counterfeit 50mm f/1.8 II lenses found in circulation. This issue was discovered by Canon after customers sent the lenses into their service centers for repairs. While looking almost identical to real thing on the outside, once a technician opened it up to fix it, they realized the lenses were not authentic. They were found to be made up of parts and electrical circuits that were not genuine.

Buy the DJI Phantom 4 Today and Save $350

The Phantom 4 is currently the best value in drones today. If you want to get into flying drones for a reasonable price without buying a cheap toy, this is what you have been waiting for. For the next nine hours the Phantom 4 is only $849.

Instagram Introduces New Way to Save Others' Photos, Though It's Been Available for Years Already

Today Instagram adds a feature that allows you to pin, or save, others posts within the app to view them later. This allows you to create a well curated section of photos you have liked or wanted to reference back to later. Something many have done for years now is simply screen captured the image and hidden it away to a folder on their camera roll. I have no idea if this is as widely wanted as they pitch but here is why I think its important for the future of the platform.

NSFW: A Student's Hard-Hitting Trump Quote Photo Series Goes Viral

Ad hominem is often the type of fallacy rolled out when Trump has come under-fire for his misogynistic quotes in the past. The problem is, Trump's words about women and his political acumen are not easily separated out. This wide-spread difficulty has lead to backlash manifesting itself in a number of ways. One of the recent and most powerful ways has been Student Aria Watson's photo series.

Photographer Recreates Famous Brand Adverts to Highlight Lack of Diversity in the Industry

Does the world of advertising suffer from a lack of diversity? One photographer certainly thinks so, and to highlight the issue, has faithfully recreated some of the best known advertising campaigns of recent years to imagine what they would look like with a black model instead of the white models predominately used within the industry. Entitled "Black Mirror," the project is the work of Los Angeles-based photographer Raffael Dickreuter and his girlfriend, model Deddeh Howard. Dickreuter believes it was being part of an interracial couple which first opened his eyes to the lack of diversity in the photography of many of the world’s leading brands.

Apple's iPhone Photography Tips for Shooting in Portrait Mode

Apple just released some quick tips from professional photographers for shooting in Portrait Mode on the iPhone 7 Plus. For those that thought you'd find some tricks in the Tips app on your iPhone, you thought wrong. But Apple is finally sharing a few tips online. Although fairly easy to use, these tips can help an unfamiliar user to better understand the dual-camera system and how to get the best out of Portrait Mode.

Instagram Introduces New Features Designed for Better Control

It's no secret that Instagram is a bit of a free-for-all in some respects. Every day, I fend off the usual swarm of bots and comments offering me services of questionable legality. Instagram seems to have recognized this, introducing several new tools today, all designed around increased control and positivity in the app experience.

Jain's 'Makeba' Music Video Displays Incredibly Creative Thinking in South African Culture

Jain is a musician from France, but she's lived all over the world during her teens, from Dubai to the Republic of Congo and even in South Africa, where the music video for 'Makeba' was shot. The song's name is a reference to Miriam Makeba, a well-known South African singer and songwriter during the 50s and 60s. Her mother used to play it at home, and she noticed how different the African beat and rhythm is to that of the Middle East and Europe. In the music video, it's smart editing and visual effects that bring simple ideas together to give the video the rhythm that perfectly taps into the African beat.

Really Right Stuff Tripods and Photography Accessories Now Available at B&H Photo

Really Right Stuff, the highly regarded camera support manufacturer, now has their extensive line of products at B&H. Before this announcement, the only way to buy RRS merchandise was directly from them through their own website, but having their inventory available at the largest photo retailer in the USA creates a few benefits for the consumer.

Canon Camera and Lens Deals for the Holidays

There are still a few weeks before the Holidays and plenty of time to order that camera and lens before the gift giving starts. Whether you're considering buying a camera for yourself or a loved one, now is the perfect time to check out some of the deals on Canon products which can instantly save you up to $400. Check out the great deals on the Canon Rebel T6i, a fantastic starter camera for anyone interested in photography or who is starting to shoot video, and browse through some other great canon products and kit options.

Joey L Covers the Oil Disaster in Qayyara, Iraq

2016 has been a year that has seen Joey L plunged in to unusual situations. His name is usually associated with is masterful lighting and portrait style of A-List celebrities. Then, in October this year Joey reached out to me about his work for the legendary Lavazza calendar which a more travel orientated series of portraiture. Now, Joey has gone one step further and taken his beautiful image style and applied it to a crisis in Qayyara in Iraq.

Lok Cheung Also Leaves DRTV, the Biggest Photography Channel on YouTube

What on earth is going on with the world? Just when you think everything is as it should be, suddenly it all seems turned on its head, and you are left wondering if the old certainties were so certain after all. Hot of the heels of Kai Man Wong’s announcement a few days ago that he was leaving Digital Rev, one of the most popular photography channels on YouTube, long term co-host Lok Cheung has just announced he, too, is going it alone.

Save 25% On Your Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription Plan

Creative Cloud has become a staple of nearly any photographer's workflow. The version of Creative Cloud designed specifically for photographers is a sensational deal in itself, offering access to both Lightroom and Photoshop for only $9.99 per month. Today you have an opportunity to drop a quarter off that price bringing it down to an impressive $7.50 per month. B&H Photo is offering a 25% discount on an Adobe Creative Cloud for Photographers one year subscription. Act immediately to take advantage of a great offer that expires at 11pm PST on December 1st, 2016.

Phase One Introduces Capture One Pro 10

It’s become a tradition for Phase One to announce a major new version of Capture One during the last quarter of the year. 2016 is no exception, and the tenth edition of the professional image editing software was just released today. The already fast and very complete application is now even better thanks to a couple of new tools and enhancements.

GoPro Aims at Restructuring In Hopes of Turnaround

It's been a tumultuous year for GoPro. The company, whose name is still as synonymous with "pocket-size- action-HD-video-camera" as Band-Aid's name is with "adhesive bandage," has had a rocky time recently. From its drones falling from the sky to its stock losing half its value just this year, things have been rough for the once market-driving manufacturer. Today, steps were taken in an attempt to right the ship.

The Truth Behind Why Casey Neistat Stopped Vlogging and Started a Media Technology Company With CNN

You heard it all across the internet last week as YouTube legend Casey Neistat ended his daily vlogs after nearly a year and half and sold his company Beme for an outstanding amount of money. Jumping to a new project of this scale can only be described as scary and empowering. With many articles and stories being told around the world right now its easy to get caught up in the news and speculation as to why he moved and what brought it on. Here is the story from the man himself, Casey Neistat.

pirelli calendar natural beauty photoshop

The 2017 edition of the Pirelli Calendar has finally been revealed in Paris, and in the words of Al Green, it is simply beautiful. Shot by German Photographer Peter Lindbergh, it features actresses Robin Wright, Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman, and Lupita Nyong’o amongst others. It has been titled “Emotional.” Expect to see nakedness in a different way, because the calendar of this year was all about “stripping down to the very soul of the sitters” without shedding all their clothes.

VLC Media Player Goes 360-Degrees for Video and Photos

VLC, created by VideoLan, is a free and open source media player that is both extremely lightweight and can play almost every video format on the market. What makes VLC one of the best options is the fact that it is also available on almost every platform. Now the company is taking a big step forward with its cross-platform compatibility by introducing 360-degree video and photos.

Kai Leaves DigitalRev, The #1 Photography YouTube Channel

Kai Man Wong, better known by viewers solely as Kai, announced a few days ago that he will be leaving as host of DigitalRev. DigitalRev is of course the most subscribed to photography channel on YouTube, with currently over 1.7 million people signed up. It is run by the Hong Kong based photography retailer of the same name, and has been a staple of entertainment in the online photography community since 2009.