Meet Peter Swan

Home base: Durham, England

Peter Swan, known as TheDispossessed in the forums, is a Durham-based nature photographer who has found a hidden world of subjects in the small things many people overlook. His compact Micro Four Thirds kit is built around an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and a 60mm macro lens. The selectively chosen diffused flash helps him reveal the color, texture and character of insects and other smaller creatures – from garden regulars to rare British butterflies.

“I first got into photography properly when I purchased my first digital camera, a Canon PowerShot S60, back in 2004. Back then, my main subjects to photograph were landscapes and cityscapes. I got my first DSLR a couple of years later (a Canon 350D) in 2006. This led me to become interested in photographing subjects that required specialized lenses – for example, those capable of 1:1 macro. Since then, I’ve steadily built up a collection of photographic gear but have gravitated towards the micro four-thirds format for its overall convenience.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Lester has to share.

What’s in Peter’s bag

Peter Swan

Favorite cameras(s): Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Favorite lens(s):

• Olympus 60mm F2.8 macro (“my favorite lens”)
• Olympus 100-400mm F5-6.3
• Olympus 25mm F1.2
• Panasonic 12-32mm F3.5-5.6
• Panasonic 35-100mm F4-5.6

“All five lenses and the camera can easily fit in my backpack with space for food, waterproofs, etc. If need be, I can even squeeze in my Panasonic GX9, which semi-permanently has the 7-14mm F4 lens attached – such are the benefits of the micro four thirds system!”

Must-have accessories: “A Nissin i40 flash that is held together with duct tape, Marumi DHG Achromat 200 close-up lens and a Cygnustech diffuser – all alongside a couple of polarising filters.

I usually bring food, water, waterproof clothing, and most importantly, a tick remover. When you’re out searching for minibeasts in the undergrowth, it is only a matter of time before you pick up a tick, so it’s best to get them out quickly and safely to minimize the risk of picking up a tick-borne disease.

All of it is put into a Tarion rolltop camera bag. It has plenty of space for my lenses and camera(s), a laptop if needed, and the rest.”

What about insects is so attractive to photograph?

Peter Swan

“I have a passion for photographing insects and other invertebrates, which emerged shortly after getting my first macro lens in 2015. I love being out in nature, but I didn’t have the patience to sit for hours in a bird hide.

With minibeast photography, you can go out to any park, nature reserve, or even into your garden, and you’ll find something to photograph – even in the middle of winter. Even in a nature-depleted, highly populated country with a cool maritime climate (the UK), you’ll be surprised at just what you can find when you go out looking for it.

Along with butterflies and dragonflies, some of the most interesting species, such as springtails, are only a few millimeters long and are typically overlooked by most people, yet can be brilliantly colorful.”

What’s changed since the beginning?

Peter Swan

“When I first started with macro photography, I was photographing subjects using natural light with a non-stabilized macro lens. To get sharp enough photos, I wasn’t stopping down enough to achieve adequate depth of field, and I was frequently shooting at very high ISO, so the detail wasn’t there.

Upgrading to a stabilized lens helped somewhat, but what really made a difference was when I started to use diffused flash. This is not harmful to the insects while allowing the use of a low ISO and a deeper depth of field to get more of the subject in focus. I initially made my own simple flash diffuser using a transparent folder with white paper glued to it before buying a custom-made one (Cygnustech) after seeing the results other people were getting with theirs.

The next steps for me would be to become more proficient in focus stacking; however, this requires a lot of time and patience (some stacks require 50+ shots) and, ideally, your subject to remain still for a few seconds. My photo of a very accommodating cellar spider in my house involved 15 images stacked using Zerene.”

What places have helped you to better understand photography?

Peter Swan

“While macro photography can be done anywhere, the best places for biodiversity are dedicated nature reserves. However, if you look closely, you can find minibeasts everywhere. For example, now that I know what to look for, I often see ruby-tailed wasps (some of Britain’s prettiest insects) slowly patrolling the walls outside my house and workplace.

I have had a few memorable experiences when photographing some of Britain’s rarer butterfly species – for example, visiting Arnside Knott in Cumbria to photograph Brown Hairstreaks (Thecla betulae), Hickling Broad in Norfolk to photograph old world swallowtails (Papilio machaon), and Fineshades Wood in Northamptonshire to photograph Purple Emperors (Apatura iris).

Sometimes you go somewhere and spot an interesting species immediately, while at other times this happens at the end of the day when you’re just about to pack up and go back home.”

What would help other photographers zoom in on nature’s tiniest of creatures?

Peter Swan

“Generally, the early morning is the best time for photographing insects before they get a chance to fully warm up. If photographing creatures later in the day, be very patient when sneaking up on them, as many species can be extremely skittish!

One of the most important things is to have a clean background. Sometimes I might gently encourage the subject to walk onto an isolated leaf or stem, helping it stand out nicely. Other useful techniques include the use of diagonals. Having lines (e.g., stems) parallel to the edges of the photo is not ideal, aesthetically.

Find something you enjoy photographing, and get out there with your camera to capture it. Or find something that you don’t usually photograph and give that a try, if not just to help move you outside your comfort zone – you never know, you might prefer that particular genre of photography!”

Peter really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

You can check out Peter’s other work at flickr.com.

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

We’ve been running this Question of the week series for over a year now, and yet have not covered the most fundamental, and perhaps most important, question yet… what sparked your interest in getting involved in photography?

Compared to many of our veteran community members, I’m still deep into grasping the finer points of taking great shots with a standalone camera, and I’m still intimidated by what I see as more advanced cameras like the Sony a1 II or Canon’s EOS R1.

For today’s question and related to my journey, I feel that joining the DPReview community was the true spark that led me to take my photography seriously. I couldn’t have gotten this far this fast without your insight. Because of our community’s support for each other, I hope new photographers find their spark here, too.

So, with that said…

What sparked your interest in getting involved in photography?

Drop a reply in the comments section below, and if you’ve got a photo to include from your mentioned forum sections, it may be selected for next week’s showcase article on this topic!

Meet Stefan Pfeffer

Home base: Manila, the Philippines

I’m always drawn to photographers who treat their camera as a way to explore a scene from a humanistic perspective.

Known in the wider community as stipphoto, Stefan Pfeffer photographs the energy and small human interactions of everyday life, particularly across the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia. Working with a preference for wide-angle lenses and direct, unplanned encounters, Stefan embraces the reactions his presence can bring. In this edition of What’s in your bag?, he discusses his compact Sony a7CR kit while exploring his favorite stops in Europe, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

“I have always been curious about my surroundings and have photographed almost everything I encounter. During the days of film photography, I was somewhat restrained by the limited number of exposures; with digital photography, that restraint has largely disappeared.

My photographs are neither carefully planned nor intended to have particular artistic value. They are simply snapshots of moments in time.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Stefan has to share.

How do you get a good angle from others?

Stefan Pfeffer

“I’m drawn to documentary-style photography, with a particular focus on people and everyday life. Asia, with its crowded markets, densely developed residential areas, and vibrant street life, offers an endlessly rewarding environment for photography.

Whenever possible, I try to insert the camera into a scene rather than simply record what is in front of me. This is why I prefer wide-angle lenses: the wider the lens, the more immersed I feel in the environment.

My choice of focal length also depends on how approachable people are in different places. In Europe, they tend to use a 50mm lens; in Hong Kong, a 35mm lens; and in the Philippines, a 24mm lens. This approach makes it difficult to photograph people discreetly or unnoticed, but I see that as a positive thing. It often provokes a reaction and creates a kind of dialogue between the people I photograph and me. They may reject the photograph, which is perfectly fine, or, as is sometimes the case, give me the dreaded V-sign and pose for the camera.

I never stage my photographs or instruct people on how to pose. I prefer to capture people and situations as they naturally unfold, allowing the interaction between the photographer, the subject, and the environment to shape the image.”

What’s in Stefan’s bag

Stefan Pfeffer

“Gear does matter. A sharp lens and a snappy camera, such as the fantastic but ultimately disposable Sony a7CR, make the difference between capturing a moment and missing it.

Fast autofocus was the liberation from Leica rangefinder focusing, as digital imaging was the liberation from film. However, as objects, a Nikon F3 is infinitely more desirable than a Nikon ZF. Instagram and YouTube reviews of equipment confuse the correlation between gear and achieving a photograph.”

Favorite cameras(s): Hasselblad X1D II and Sony A7CR

“I’ve been through a lot of camera gear over the years. The perfect camera does exist, for me at least. It’s the Contax G2, paired with its wonderful lenses. Today, however, my preferred camera is the Sony a7CR.”

Favorite lens(s):

• Sony Zeiss 55mm F1.8 in Europe
• Sigma I-Series 35mm F2 in Hong Kong
• Sony 24mm F1.4 GM in the Philippines

“My three-lens kit consists of the 24mm GM, Sony 50mm F2.5 G, and Sigma 90mm F2.8, a compact combination that gives me the flexibility to photograph at different distances while keeping the kit relatively light. My choice of lens depends largely on where I’m photographing and how close I can get to my subjects.”

Do accessories matter, or do you just bring the camera?

Stefan Pfeffer

“Accessories absolutely matter. For starters, I like the Crumpler 6 Million Dollar bag. It’s simple and functional. However, for a photo walk, I much prefer inconspicuous shoulder bags that I sourced from flea markets. My latest find is a Converse bag. Equipped with a cheap camera bag insert, these are perfect for a three-lens setup.

Otherwise, a plastic bag for my camera is always part of my kit. My main criticism of Sony cameras is their sensitivity to humidity and rain. The Multi-Interface Shoe is my main source of frustration. The design may make sense on a computer, but on a camera that is used outdoors, it’s infuriating. Sooner or later, all my Sony cameras have displayed the dreaded message: “This accessory is not supported by the device and cannot be used.” Infuriating.

An air blower and a spare battery are also essential. Fortunately, Sony’s battery life is fantastic, so I rarely have to worry about running out of power. If I need anything else, the beauty of roaming any Asian city is that there is always a convenience store or Sari Sari for a refreshment.”

How has your photography changed over the years?

Stefan Pfeffer

“Although I have always loved black-and-white photography, my digital photographs are almost exclusively in color. For me, this is simply because reality is in color. Since my photographs are essentially snapshots of the world as I encounter it, I prefer to preserve that sense of reality rather than reinterpret it.

Digital photography has also greatly improved both the number and quality of images I’m able to capture. Modern autofocus is remarkably capable, allowing me to shoot wide open at short shutter speeds.

What has perhaps changed – or, more accurately, developed over time – is my ability to overcome the hesitation to approach people and ask to photograph them. After doing this for a number of years, I’ve learned that the worst that can happen is being rejected.”

Why is Asia so special for your photography?

Stefan Pfeffer

“I like to wander and discover whatever happens to be around me. In many parts of Asia, the boundaries between public and private space are less clearly defined, making places that might otherwise feel inaccessible surprisingly open. People are generally quick to let me know when I trespass – somewhere, sooner or later.

Twenty-five years ago, what was meant to be a one-month trip turned into a year-and-a-half journey through Asia, with China in particular. It was a very different time to travel. The lack of internet and smartphones created a sense of freedom and spontaneity that is difficult to experience today.

In China in particular, the relative lack of surveillance at the time made it possible to travel extensively with a sense of anonymity. Walking around with a camera was generally met with curiosity rather than suspicion. People would ask where I was from or what I was photographing, but there was usually an openness toward a foreigner simply wandering around with a camera.

That freedom and unpredictability became an important part of how I experienced and photographed Asia.”

How do you plan out capturing a great photo?

Stefan Pfeffer

“My photographs are rarely planned. They are more often a matter of seeing what happens and responding to it.

The Sony a7CR’s excellent autofocus, combined with its high megapixel count, allows me to shoot short bursts of three or four frames at a moderate drive speed. The quality of lenses such as the Sony 24mm GM and Sigma I-Series 35mm also gives me enough resolution to crop heavily and refine the composition later in Capture One.

In a way, going out to photograph has become about collecting the raw material for an image. The final framing and interpretation happen later on the computer. It’s close to the analog process: going out and exposing the negative, then returning home to make the photograph.”

Stefan really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

You can check out Stefan’s other work at stefanpfeffer.com.

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

We all have that moment where we pick up a camera, go out to shoot something, and… nothing. You look around, recognize all the places you’ve already taken great photos of and don’t have the energy to drive across town to find something fresh. Instead, you decide to walk back into the house to work on some other non-photography project.

During these times, you miss that spark of creativity and inspiration that keeps you energized to take great photos. You know what it feels like when it’s around. Those are the times when it’s clear as day what to do with your camera. You end up shooting countless fantastic scenes with little effort.

So, how do you rekindle that spark of inspiration? Read on to discover how the DPReview community finds fresh inspiration and gets their creative instincts flowing again.

Dave in Wales: What you don’t do is sell all your gear.

Spid: This is what the nifty fifty was designed for. Strip back to basics. Shoot less, one focal length. Get the mojo back.

TOTodd: Nothing sparks inspiration more than a client beating on your door asking if it’s done yet.

zak99: Stop chasing technical perfection, dig out some old cameras, digital or film, limit my options and carry only one lens. I’m currently using an Olympus 7070 from my digital childhood. It’s challenging, it’s satisfying and it’s cool.

Simple-joy

Maoby: By taking self-portraits (in response to Mathew’s self-portrait lead photo :)).

Jaberg: As a practical solution, take part in the currently running month-long challenge. It’s not important that each (or any) entry be a gem. The important thing is to make a picture – any picture – for each topic. To pick up the camera and engage the photography muscles. You never know when creative inspiration will strike.

AshleyMC: I always have a camera on me and create photographs daily. My “default” subject is flowers, which are not hard to find: in my garden, in the neighborhood church’s garden, or in the city’s botanical gardens and greenhouses. Other than flowers, I usually see “something” in any scene.

Gato Amarillo: If I waited for inspiration, I’d hardly get anything done – in photography or in any other part of life. It’s been said many ways by many people: “Amateurs wait for inspiration; real artists just get to work.”

AshleyMC

Zeee: I do what works best. I let GAS get the better of me.

milo006: I have been doing this since I was 12 years old, now I am 81. I think every day can be inspirational, as far as life is concerned. When I was a young man, my inspiration came from my work, military service and other experiences. After I married and had children, they became the inspiration.

I do admit that I have had long periods when I was not active as a photographer, due to other hobbies that took up a lot of my time. However, now that I am older, retired and have the time, I find it easy to be inspired on a daily basis.

KPM2: Photography is often a matter of being in the right place at the right time. When you’ve been doing it for a long time, you’ve naturally found yourself in that sweet spot often enough – and you might just lose a bit of your enthusiasm as a result, and more so, when the weather is not optimal.

What always works for me in those moments is experimenting with flash, outside or inside at home, because it breaks the rule of being in the right place at the right time. Because the time doesn’t matter.

There are many other stories from our community. They all deserve praise and to be shared, so be sure to visit the forum discussion and share your own if you like. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share unique ways you get out of an inspiration rut.

Meet James Fawcette

Home base: Los Altos Hills, CA USA

For this spotlight series, we sometimes get a variety of photos from an individual to share with you, and then there are also specialist photographers like James Fawcette, known as JimLosAltos in the forums. James has spent decades since junior high school covering sports games. He started with the NBA (basketball) using a Kodak Tri-X, and is now aiming a Nikon Z9 at professional tennis events.

“When camera companies use the term ‘prosumer’, I suppose that’s what I am. I’m an amateur photographer who extends my enjoyment of tennis by capturing photos of pro tennis players. And I’ve been able to sell enough of these to more than pay for generations of my camera equipment.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what James has to share.

What got you into photographing sports?

James Fawcette

“Since the 1960s, as a junior high school student, I sold my first photos of the Boston Celtics and Killington, Vermont ski resort to the local newspaper, the Rutland Daily Herald. I first worked in the Herald’s darkroom, where I learned to develop negatives “by observation.” I had to learn how to “push” the Tri-X from 400 to – who knows. There were no numbers to guide us, so we had to do it by eye. We had pushed the boundaries of that era’s film to its limits.

I managed to get more time behind the camera after the Herald published an on-court shot I took of Wilt Chamberlain. Then I got assignments, first to shoot Killington when it was sub-zero and the NYC tourists were getting frostbite, when my lens literally froze. I couldn’t turn the focus ring. Then I turned an assignment on a new shopping mall into something publishable by getting a private plane ride. I asked the pilot to help me “shoot straight down”. So, he did a wingover, and I was looking literally straight down. Nearly threw up right then and there.”

What’s in James’s bag

James Fawcette

Favorite cameras(s): Nikon Z9 & Nikon Z7

Favorite lens(s):

• Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S
• Nikkor 24-140mm F4 S
• Nikkor 105mm F1.4 F1.4E ED
• Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II
• Nikkor Z 400mm F4.5 VR S
• Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 Evo

“When I first started, I used what I’m pretty sure were Herald’s Honeywell Pentax reflex cameras that had a long lens of 100m or 135mm, I think. When I had more time for photography years later, I started using lower-end Nikon film equipment, then progressed from the D810 to the D850, and finally to the Z7 and Z9.

Most of my pro tennis shots have been taken by rentals from the likes of old Borrow Lenses to Lensrental, because I do events sporadically, and the physical location varies so widely. My go-to lens for many of my most successful shots after moving to the Z-mount was still an F-mount lens: the 500mm PF on an FTZ converter with a Nikon Z7, then my Z9. It’s remarkably sharp, compact enough to fit in a transparent NFL bag and quick focusing.”

What’s your favorite bag and accessories?

Must-have accessories: “Tile trackers (for theft prevention and tracking) and rubber lens hoods from Kurvd. And of course, the more expected items like backup storage, batteries and a MagSafe Tripod for the phone.”

Favorite bag(s): “I’m totally not satisfied here. This is an endless quest. Frankly, I have a Peak bag I ‘bought’ from that company’s first Kickstarter program. Loved it at first, then the knife-edge shoulder strap, combined with having to spend so much time reconfiguring it every time I changed lenses, turned me off.

Being plenty frustrated with specific camera bags, I now use a regular Tumi or Oakley, which is just a bag with no dividers. I place foam dividers around whatever combination of equipment I put in there.

What’s probably my most unique setup? That’s tough to decide, but freezing on a Killington chairlift in sub-zero temperatures or on my nose looking down from an airplane, I think, qualifies.”

What do you like to shoot?

James Fawcette

“My main focus is professional tennis. I’ve captured images of players from Roger Federer to Jannik Sinner and from Serena Williams to Coco Gauff, which have appeared in all sorts of media. Since I like tennis, my focus is more on playing tennis than on reaction shots, which bore me (sorry). I attempt to capture the energy, the technique, the athleticism of these great players. That passion evolved into photo-illustration.

Sometimes I have media credentials and shoot from the edge of the court. Other times, I shoot as a ticket-buying fan (something that is becoming near impossible, as another subject of your spotlight series stated in his article. I find that very sad and short-sighted.)”

How do you photograph constantly moving objects, such as sports players?

James Fawcette

“It’s kind of impossible to keep up with the quick movements of professional athletes, so knowing the sport well enough to anticipate action helps. Also, I’ve learned a few tennis-specific tricks, but I imagine they have parallels in other sports.

One such example is trying to time the ball’s impact with the racket’s strings. Pros are so precise, and their skills make them so consistent, you can often watch for the ball to get in the right position with confidence that’s where they’ll make contact. I suppose another example would be that of a high cross in soccer (a pass kicked through the air from one side of the field to the other), which will lead to a header (when a player uses their head to play the ball).”

What would you say to other photographers about building a lasting career?

James Fawcette

“As photography gets commoditized, being able to add value to the photo has helped me. The photo-illustrations differentiate my work. In some cases, I’ve created cover images for a set of photos using typography on the names or headlines that graphically overlap the image. But if I’m trying to get an image published, rather than simply for fun, the illustration or abstraction has to serve a purpose.

For example, a photo-illustration I called “Sinner Hydra” was inspired by a tennis analyst, the excellent Brad Gilbert, saying “He gives you nowhere to go. Everywhere you look, Sinner has a weapon”. So, I created an image of Sinner with four arms holding a racket. Point made.

Another tactic that has worked for me is to understand the publication’s or site’s mission and create packages that fit that. A more pragmatic example is a set of images where I overlaid pop-up windows showing close-ups of how tennis players grip their rackets for a website that caters to teaching tennis pros. That’s added value. Differentiating your product is key.”

James really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

You can check out James’s other work at jfawcette.myportfolio.com/work.

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

Last month, we asked who your biggest photography inspirations were. From family and friends to distant colleagues, you expressed a wide array of people you follow to build the courage and excitement for taking that next great photo. Related, our Features Editor, Abby Ferguson, wrote about her strategies for overcoming a creative drought through innovative photo projects.

When I’m in an inspiration void, as cliché as it may sound, the first thing I grab is an extra-sized cup of coffee. If that doesn’t do it and the opportunity presents itself, I’ll take a good long walk outside during a thunderstorm or blizzard (it’s like a cold shower that snaps you out of your morning stupor – just more adventurous and unpredictable).

I think one of the problems we run into when we look for inspiration is that it can feel forced. We want it to go so well that we end up overplanning and causing a creative drought where there may not have been one at all. The importance of planning the next shot to make it great has even been called into question by several community members in our What’s in your bag? spotlight series.

So, with that said…

What do you do when your photography inspiration runs dry?

Drop a reply in the comments section below, and if you’ve got a photo to include from your mentioned forum sections, it may be selected for next week’s showcase article on this topic!

One evening, as sunset approached, I was on my normal walk around nearby streets. I cover pretty much the entire neighborhood on a daily basis, so everyone knows my schedule, and some even come out to say hello. I mainly walk to exercise and enjoy the outdoors, so I’m not always at the ready with a camera. Sometimes I’ll even forget to bring my phone, to my partner’s annoyance.

After several minutes of wandering around, I turned the street corner to head toward the lake. Shining back at me was the most beautiful of sunsets gracing the sky. It was gorgeous with swirling deep yellows, oranges and intense tomato reds that seemed to glow and bounce from cloud to cloud. As I approached the lake, the sunset’s reflection on the water was just as intense. We get a lot of great sunsets around here, sometimes nearly every day, but never before like this one.

And all I had was my iPhone 12 Pro.

Mathew Anderson

“All I had”… I felt ashamed as I held the phone in my hand to take a few opportunistic photos. “I work at DPReview with a community of photographers that have proper equipment they carry with them wherever they go, and here I am whipping out my phone as if I were too lazy to bother bringing along anything else, convenience be damned”, I thought to myself.

The main struggle is that I sometimes struggle to find a moment when my standalone camera is with me, unless I’ve planned the trip in advance. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about when it makes sense to grab a standalone camera. Should I always have a camera with multiple lenses ready, or is sometimes “just my phone” ok, and why do I feel like the phone is somehow deficient (even if it’s all I have at that moment)?

Camera technology in phones these days is truly impressive. Sure, they have the limitations one would expect of such a compact device, but some of the photos I’ve taken are, in my opinion, as pleasant to my eyes as if I were seeing them directly (more or less). At some point, we have to ask ourselves when the technology is important enough to keep it at the ready, or when the moment, combined with our skills as photographers, outweighs the equipment.

These thoughts have been preoccupying me during my outdoor walking sessions, so I want to talk with you about them.

Mathew Anderson

Should phones be revered as much as a full-on standalone camera with multiple lenses, but in their own useful way? Or should they be relegated to those convenient moments when one doesn’t have their normal gear setup on hand? And aside from their obvious convenience, in what situations does having a phone on hand match or even outperform a more complex setup?

I also asked these questions to my team, and here are a few interesting quotes from what they had to say.

What others at DPReview have to say

“I love dedicated photography gear, but one lesson I’ve learned over the years is that, in many cases, being discreet is more important than using the best camera or lens. In some places, carrying a camera gets you noticed. Lifting it to take a photo gets you noticed even more. People react to it, and it changes their behavior. At that point, you’re no longer capturing a candid moment because, in effect, you’ve become part of the scene. You’ve changed it.

On the other hand, smartphones are so common that you can lift one up and take a photo, and almost nobody will notice. You’re just part of the landscape. That makes phones a great tool for activities like travel photography.” – Dale Baskin

“As one of our reviewers, I’m always fighting for enough time to shoot all the cameras, lenses and, yes, smartphones I have to test, so it’s rare for me to leave the house without some work-related gear. And yet there are still times when I’ll pull out my personal phone to document moments that may not make for a great picture, but that I want to remember.

With a camera, I know I’ll spend more time making sure the composition and lighting are as good as they can be, or that things or people are posed in a way that makes the moment worthy of a capital-P Photograph. And sure, I’ll sometimes take a second or two to make sure whatever picture I’m taking with my phone looks nice – I’m still a photographer, no matter how small or plastic a lens I’m behind – but I don’t feel the same sense of obligation. I know that photo will just be for me, my friends and my family.

This was essentially the same way I treated the divide between my phone and my X-T3 before I worked here; if I thought I’d run into something interesting worth photographing, I’d take my camera. Otherwise, my phone was good enough, the way a compact would’ve been back in the day.” Mitchell Clark

“A part of the decision for me is the fact that photography is what I do for work. While I love the medium, sometimes I want to give myself a little separation and not think about photography for a bit, so I purposefully leave the camera behind (though it inevitably seeps into my brain anyway).” – Abby Ferguson

Meet Afzal Khan

Home base: Kathmandu, Nepal

I’m always interested in the way photographers describe their relationship with their camera, and Afzal Khan’s story is a particularly thoughtful example. What began with film rolls and childhood self-portraits evolved into a nearly 16-year photographic journey, influenced by a search for calm amid a demanding advertising career.

From Kathmandu, Nepal, Afzal now uses photography to take it slower and notice the people around him, finding deep stories in their solemn faces, old homes and the majestic landscapes of Nepal. In this edition of ‘What’s in your bag?’, he also talks about his move from a Sony A7R IV to the Hasselblad X1D II.

“Photography has been close to me since childhood. During the film era, I used to buy film rolls and take photographs of myself, usually with the help of friends. It was just something I enjoyed, without really thinking that photography would become such an important part of my life. What started as something I enjoyed as a child has now been with me for nearly 16 years, and I am still continuing the journey.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Lester has to share.

How did you get started as a photographer?

Afzal Khan

“When I started working in advertising in 2004 as a creative, I slowly found myself getting involved with photography from the other side of the camera. As a creative director, I worked with many reputed photographers in Nepal and spent a lot of time observing how they worked and how they saw things through the lens.

Around 2009, I carried a friend’s camera on a trekking trip, and that was probably when I started to feel I might have an eye for photography. Then, around 2010–11, I bought my first camera, a Sony A230, and started taking photography more seriously.

At that time, my advertising career was at its peak, and the work was quite hectic. I needed a break, some peace and a little calmness in my life. Photography gave me exactly that. It became almost like a medicine for me. I could step away from the pressure of work, go somewhere, observe things and just spend time with the camera.”

What’s in Afzal’s bag

Afzal Khan

Favorite cameras(s): Hasselblad X1D II and Sony A7R IV

Favorite lens(s): Sony Zeiss 55mm FE ZA, Sony Zeiss 135mm F1.8 and a Lensbaby Sol 45.

“Just a few months ago, I switched brands. I am currently shooting with a Hasselblad X1D II and Hasselblad XCD 65mm lens. It is a new chapter for me, and I am enjoying the change.”

Must-have accessories: “One accessory I really like is the Peak Design Capture Clip, especially the limited edition made with Carryology. I also like the Peak Design backpack from the Coyote series. Apart from that, I prefer not to carry too many things. For me, the simpler the setup, the easier it is to concentrate on what I am seeing and photographing.

I love writing and reading, too, so my camera bag usually has one or two books in it. I also carry a wired earphone, a pen and a small box of natural solid perfume. They are not really photography essentials, but they are things I like having. My camera bag is not just a camera bag; it carries a few things that are part of my everyday life, too.

I am also looking forward to getting the Chinotech waist-level viewfinder, which is currently on my wishlist.”

What do you like to shoot?

Afzal Khan

“I never really believed in dividing photography into genres. A camera doesn’t say, “I only capture landscapes” or “I only capture wildlife.” For me, a camera is simply a tool that allows me to capture what I love to see. I am usually more attracted to things that people tend to ignore, forgotten places, ordinary people and small moments of life that may look insignificant but actually have many stories hidden inside them. There are so many moments happening around us that we hardly notice, and I think I am always looking for those moments.

If I had to describe myself as a photographer, I would probably say I am a storyteller. I am always hunting for a story, whether it is in a person’s face, a place, a small detail or a particular moment. I enjoy many kinds of photography, but if I had to pick my favorites, portraits, macro, and more artistic and experimental work are what attract me most. They give me the freedom to look at things a little differently and tell a story in my own way.”

What’s changed since the beginning?

Afzal Khan

“I have gone deeper into searching for stories and understanding life and nature. I think most of my improvement came from regular practice. I never really made photography my profession, and I was never behind followers or trying to become popular. I simply kept doing it because I love photography.

That regular practice not only refined my skills of capturing things, but also improved my observation. I became more curious and more of an observer. I started noticing things, moments and stories that I might have ignored before. I think photography has not only made me a better photographer, but it has also made me a better observer and, in some ways, a better human being.”

What places have helped you to better understand your photography?

Afzal Khan

“I believe I can find stories in almost every corner, though I am not really a crowded-place or festival-kind-of photographer. I need some breathing space to observe things, understand the surroundings and create or capture some stories. I usually feel more connected to quieter places, where I can slow down and look around.

In recent years, two places that really stayed with me are Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and the Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang. Both places helped me understand my subjects in a different way.

In Mustang, I started to feel stories even in the landscapes. The sand, land and mountains create a kind of magic that makes you look at the landscape differently. Lumbini gave me something completely different. Its spirituality and calm made me look at human life in a quieter way, and that was reflected in the pictures I took there. Both places were not just trips for me; they changed the way I saw and photographed the subjects around me.”

What would you say to other photographers about their work mattering?

Afzal Khan

“I feel many photographers today are trying to capture photographs with their brain, thinking they can make everything later on a computer or through an app. But for me, the photograph is actually created at the time of the shoot. So I would say, shoot with your heart, not just with your brain. Cameras already have enough brains these days.

What we need is the heart to understand and feel the subject, to observe before pressing the shutter, to feel the moment, and to hunt for your own kind of light. Getting good light and capturing a photograph is not enough. Look for ‘your’ kind of light, the light that is pleasant to your eye and makes the subject feel more like yours. That, for me, is where photography becomes personal.

It may sound a little weird, but I actually talk to my camera sometimes. I might say, “It’s good, let’s capture,” or after taking a photograph, “That’s great, well done.” I think this little friendship between my camera and me actually makes a difference.

Afzal really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

You can check out Afzal’s other work at behance.net/afzalkhanvisuals.

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add DPReview as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

Close-up wildlife encounters are one of those things you tend not to forget, especially if you’re a photographer and always have your camera at the ready. From massive bison to tiny birds, our community certainly impressed us this week with the encounters they shared for our Question of the Week series.

See below for some of those photos and stories. Even our own team got in on the fun! Click a member’s photo to see more.

Vladimir Nogin

David Lal

“I live in a rural English village which is in a national park. We get a lot of animal visitors to the garden. I care for them: feeding in the winter or offering water in our current drought. One winter morning, I was putting out the rubbish bin for collection. On turning round to walk back up the drive to the house, I noticed a young vixen on the drive staring at me. She was cold and wet – and hungry. I spoke gently to her and told her to follow me to the kitchen door. Blimey me, she did!

I keep a camera always ready. I threw her some dog biscuits, then offered her one with my left hand while my right held a Nikon D300 with an 18-35mm lens.”

Krusty79

Krusty79

“My friend and I were driving around some hills on the rural roads around Hollister, CA. We had spotted a golden eagle and had photographed it from a distance. Another golden eagle started following the first one. It must not have noticed us, because it came over a small hill right towards us! It got so close that my camera couldn’t focus on it. If I didn’t have my camera, I might have been close enough to touch a wingtip.”

dgbinpc

dgbinpc

“My first trip to Yellowstone National Park in winter was amazing. Snow everywhere. Bison covered in snow. Pillows of white piled along the rivers. It was a trip that exceeded all my expectations. We were told we might see wolves, and we did – miles away, through a spotting scope. It was exciting, but hardly intimate.

A few years later, I returned to Yellowstone in winter. As our snowcoach took us into the park from West Yellowstone, our driver pointed out wolf tracks that left the roadway and climbed the hillside beside us. He suggested we drive a little farther down the road. Maybe, if we were lucky, we would see them.

And see them we did. The wolves emerged from the trees several hundred yards behind us and dropped onto the groomed road. Apparently, the road was a pretty good travel route for them, too.”

RichDitch

RichDitch

“I had been in Arizona a bit over one year when there was a surprising report of an Eared Trogon seen about 2 hours north of Phoenix along Christopher Creek. Elegant Trogons are sparse nesters in southern AZ; Eared Trogons are very rare vagrants near the border with Mexico.

I had to go to Christopher Creek, hoping to see the reported bird. I waited around with a few other birders for over an hour after they had given up when I heard an unfamiliar call. I looked up in the tree I was standing under, and there it was! This is my best shot of the bird, on Fuji slide film with an N90 (probably) and my manual focus Nikkor 400 F5.6.

The species is now known as the Eared Quetzal. This shot was used as the Cover of the Western Birds Journal.”

CaseyD

FujiRon

“When my girlfriend and I moved from a small town in California to an even smaller town in rural Oregon, we were amazed by the amount of wildlife that came out of the forest and wetlands behind our home. We’ve had Black Bear, Bobcat, Black-tailed Deer, Coyote, Raccoons, too many species of birds to account for, frogs, snakes, newts, and who knows what else goes through at night.

As a cat owner, I particularly enjoyed my backyard encounter with a young Bobcat that stopped to pose for pictures, eventually got bored, and walked back into the forest.”

elliottnewcomb

elliottnewcomb

“I stepped out of my front door, exactly when the cicadas came out of the ground, emerged from their shells, and were drying their wings, so I could get within inches of them. I used a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 M1 – close focus and no macro setting or macro lens.”

fuji_phile_e

fuji_phile_e

“Being an inner-city dweller, we don’t see much other than gulls, sparrows, blackbirds and jackdaws on a regular basis, though I sometimes see various tits, occasional dunnock and robins, and once a dinky Eurasian wren.

I’m sharing some juvenile jackdaw images here. It was waiting for its mam, by the looks of it. I kept out of sight to avoid stressing it, using a window angled obliquely to obscure me, my XF100-400mm on my X-T3 poking under the window.

This first pic is what I call the Marilyn Monroe shot.”

Nigelpitt13

Nigelpitt13

“While on an early morning walking safari in Southern Africa, I came across four young cheetahs in my path approximately thirty yards from me. I was standing in long grass because there had been heavy rain the previous week. I stopped, raised my camera lens and focused on the Cheetah closest to me. The Cheetah stopped in the open and stood and looked straight at me while I took a few shots. I then focused on the others as they made their way down to the open riverbed and crossed into Botswana.

A beautiful moment in close contact. Luckily, there were no lions, leopards, or hyenas nearby (The cheetah would’ve known). In a matter of minutes, all four cheetahs had moved off. Two things one never does when encountering wild animals: never show fear (they can sense it); two, never ever run (they’ll see you as prey).”

FuhTeng

FuhTeng

“My family and I (wife and two pre-teen boys) had a wonderful road trip to Grand Teton National Park (and then Yellowstone and then Badlands) this summer. We kept hearing from everyone about how they’d seen bears, but we hadn’t seen one yet. We were in the Colter Bay visitor center area and went for a hike, knowing there was a grizzly who’d been around the area. We hoped to see him from a nice, safe distance.

I was grumpy from not seeing a bear, and tired and warm from the hike, so I just wanted to get back to the car. At that moment, I came to a land bridge between the near-island we’d hiked around and the mainland. It’s only a few yards wide, maybe 8 or 9, when THIS appears. I didn’t believe it at first. I remember pausing and going, “That’s not real.” Then instincts took over, and I dropped to my knee and got my long lens up for a couple of shots.

Then I realized – THERE’S NO WHERE TO GO. He’s coming right at us…”

BenGauthier

BenGauthier

“I spent the summer in a coastal small town of Britanny, Trébeurden. I like to fish nearly every day. For a couple of years, I have been admiring seals that live on rocks around the location, 1 mile from the coast. It seems that they became used to my small boat. On the first encounter, they were difficult to see from less than 150 feet away. This year, they stay on their rocks even though I can see them from 50 feet away.

Here is a picture taken with a 100 mm equivalent (Sony RX100). One of the seals came close to the boat. These animals are beautiful and sometimes noisy, and their song sounds like a wolf’s.”

There are many other photos that we unfortunately couldn’t fit into this article. They all deserve praise and to be seen, so be sure to visit the forum discussion. Thanks to everyone who took the time to step outside and capture the unique wildlife encounters of your region.

We’re celebrating Save Your Photos Month in September with a new type of photo-taking mini-challenge. We’d love for you to participate to show off your photography.

Save Your Photos Month is all about treasuring life’s moments and experiences captured in your photography, whether they are mundane, magical or melancholic. Expect this mini-challenge to support this idea throughout the month as we reveal daily challenge updates.

Here’s how it will work

Every 48-hours this September, we’ll announce a new photo theme. Your challenge: shoot and upload a matching photo to our community album before the period ends. At the end of the month, we’ll feature our favorite photos in a front-page DPReview spotlight.

The photo album we create at the start of the mini-challenge will be the same one you use for submitting each period’s themed photo. As soon as we announce the update for the new period, submissions will no longer be possible. Think of it as an advent calendar of sorts, where we reveal the next period’s theme every 48-hours.

We will reveal the next theme at 8pm PDT / 3 am UTC, 48-hours after the prior one (see schedule below).

Steps to share your photos

• Stand by for the 48-hour’s announcement here on this post (see the schedule below).
• Take a photo that supports the theme. It must be taken during that period.
• Upload that photo to the shared album with at least a one-sentence caption. Feel free to write more if you have a story to tell.
• Feel free to announce your photo upload and discuss the mini-challenge below (but please only share the actual photo in the album).

Notice: If you are a new forum member, you need TWO normal posts before you can upload photos to the album.

That’s it!

To share your photos outside of the forums and on social media, be sure to use the hashtag #SaveYourPhotosMonth. DPReview has an Instagram channel you can mention as well (thank you).

Daily theme reveals

Watch here daily at 7 pm PDT / 3 am UTC to see the next 48-hour’s theme announced.

We’ve already revealed the opening theme, so you can prepare to upload once the album opens on that morning:

• September 1: What’s on your dinner plate
• 3: Something interesting on or around the outside of your home
• 5: When the light hits just right (indoor photo of an amazing lighting and shadow scene)
• To continue…

We’re excited to see your photos, so get ready for Tuesday’s mini-challenge kick-off. Have fun!

Meet Lester Lefkowitz

Home base: New York State, USA

Community member Lester Lefkowitz is a frequent contributor to two notable DPReview forums: Fujifilm X System Talk and Macro & Still Life Photography. Once we told him that his photography and story would be featured, he also provided a really great look at his gear, which you can check out below. His gear bag has one of the most unique spreads of accessories we’ve seen yet in this series.

“A moderator of the Fujifilm X System Talk forum asked me to create a special post about the automatic focus bracketing feature of Fuji cameras, so I was happy to oblige. I enjoy discussing photography and showing my work in the community.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Lester has to share.

How did you get started as a photographer?

Lester Lefkowitz

“I taught myself photography while working on my college yearbook. After graduate school, I ran a technical and scientific photography service at a university with occasional needs for macro photography.

Eventually, I transitioned to teaching at the college level, then became the Director of Education at The International Center of Photography, and eventually went into commercial photography (30 years), specializing in industrial, scientific and medical fields (again with an occasional need for macro work).

Along the way, I was recommended to write a major textbook on macro photography (the bestseller in the Popular Photography Book Club, back in the day). Recently, I decided to make a total rewrite of the macro book, resulting in the recently published two-volume set The Manual of Close-Up and Macro Photography, Volumes I & II, which has become the definitive work in the field.”

What’s in Lester’s bag

Lester Lefkowitz

Favorite cameras(s): Fujifilm X-T4

Favorite lens(s): Fujifilm 80mm macro, 18-55mm, 70-300mm,
Fujifilm 1.4X and 2X teleconverters and a Laowa 65mm 2X macro

Must-have accessories: “I laid out in the photo all of the main accessories I will consider taking with me on a photography trip. There’s quite a bit of stuff, so here’s the list for your perusal:

• Raynox DCR-150 and DCR-250 achromat close-up filters and adapter rings
• Godox V350 flash with a X2T wireless remote and spare batteries
• Swebo focusing slide
• Vello mini-softbox for flash
• Gitzo carbon fiber tripod
• Benro geared head
• SmallRig cage
• Wired remote shutter release
• Bracket with a magic arm for off-camera flash
• And a bunch of plant ties, garden snips, a homemade adjustable ground-level pod and a rocket blower.

Not shown in the photo above: ThinkTank backpack (at least 25 years old) and even more miscellaneous items: paper towels, lens wipes, sweatband, sun hat, water bottle and insect repellent.”

Do you recognize these accessories and have them in your gear bag?

What do you like to shoot?

Lester Lefkowitz

“I spent many years with film, and then digital changed everything (I was a very early adopter), especially the ability for immediate feedback. As digital technology progressed, high ISO has become a godsend, as has modern noise reduction and sharpening. Though focus stacking is really the greatest thing to happen to macro photography since the invention of color film.

Macro photography requires patience – lots of it. Another strategy for getting a good photo is to experiment with the same subject, studying it from different angles and magnifications. DPReview folks: if you’re interested, I would be happy to provide examples!”

What draws you to Costa Rica?

Lester Lefkowitz

“Anything small is of interest. As you can see in the photographs I am sharing with you today, I enjoy taking close-up photos of insects and flowers, as well as seashells, minerals and fungi. Nature is amazing and infinitely interesting. But there are lots of things around the house that look pretty cool too when photographed close-up, like food.

There are interesting and unexpected things to photograph all over the world. Some worry that inclement weather will get in the way of their experience, but even then, there are many great subjects I can photograph indoors. When the weather is good, I go to Costa Rica. The variety of flora and fauna is extraordinary there – just be careful exploring around, as there are critters out to get you.”

Take a moment to visualize the scene

Lester Lefkowitz

“As I said before, macro photography requires patience – it cannot be done well casually. There is no such thing as a poor macro lens, and old macro lenses are often a bargain. Just start with an inexpensive set of close-up filters to see if you like the endeavor.”

Lester really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

You can check out Lester’s other work at macrophotographer.net.

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

For several years, I lived in the western part of Austin, TX. A beautiful area covered with forested rolling hills and a couple of big lakes. It’s close enough to the edge of town that local wildlife sometimes walks right up to your front door.

A beautiful wildlife encounter happened to me a few years ago during a once-in-a-century snowfall across the area. Intending to shovel the walkway to the road, I opened the front door, and right there was an adult doe (a female deer) and two of her fawns, sheltering from the weather. Unfortunately, they bolted as soon as they saw me, so I never had a chance to take a photo.

Yesterday, we published an article about the National History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year sneak peek of the 100 winning images of this year’s contest. To celebrate the amazing talent in the wildlife photography community, as expressed in places like the history museum mentioned above, we want to see your unique and artistic captures of local fauna.

So, with that said…

What interesting, and perhaps even unexpected, wildlife have you encountered?

Special thanks to community member swimmy for allowing us to use one of his Yellowstone National Park photos as the lead article image. It’s a majestic depiction of a bison, one of the park’s flagship wildlife encounters.

Drop a reply in the comments section below, and if you’ve got a photo to include from your mentioned forum sections, it may be selected for next week’s showcase article on this topic!

Meet Johan O E

Home base: Sweden

Community member Johan O E, known as Ocoloy in the forums, has a passion for minimalist black-and-white photography. Many of his photos are portraits of ordinary people going about their daily lives, each with a unique angle that tells a particular part of their story.

“Since as long as I can remember, I´ve been in love with photography. From the album covers I saw as a child in the 80s to the surf and music magazines in the 90s. I´ve been photographing for nearly 30 years, but the last 15 years have been more intense. My dad is a photographer as well, but he has never influenced me in any form when it comes to photography. I was never allowed to use his cameras.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Johan has to share.

What draws you to a minimalist view?

Johan O E

“I shoot whatever inspires me. Preferably, there needs to be a person in the shot, but some of my best shots are free from people. I tend to go more for a minimalistic black-and-white vibe when I’m out and about. Been photographing all over the world. New Zealand has been my favorite by far. I also love portraits and candid moments.

I am in my third year with one camera, one lens, and a one-year project, OCOLOY. This time it is the Nikon ZF and the Voigtlander 40mm F1.2, and I only shoot in black and white. Accepts 36 images in color. I made a list of 36 things I love, which I will later print in color A4 and save.”

I like rough, wild and different environments. From stormy seas to deep jungles or the backstreets of towns in Europe.”

What’s in Johan’s bag

Johan O E

Favorite cameras(s): Nikon Zf

Preferred camera bag: “I carry with me the simplest Caselogic bag available on the market. It has just enough space for the camera and barely anything more. I have two different camera bag setups, depending on my mood. My main bag is just my camera, an extra battery, a CPL and a mist filter. If I am out working, I also bring my tablet for editing and an Instax printer for special moments to give away prints.”

Must-have accessories: “I always bring music. I make playlists for different moods and photowalks. In fact, I am recording a song about photography at the moment in my recording studio. I got a crystal from a chandelier and sometimes put it in front of my lens to create different images. I try to carry as little as possible when I am out and about.”

Why is New Zealand on your visit list?

Johan O E

“I have been on the road for the past 26 years, spending many years in New Zealand, Spain and Sweden. I’ve seen remote places in Asia, done a total of 12 months of van trips throughout Europe, spent 5 months in Sri Lanka, and taken surf trips to Hawaii and the Lofoten Islands. My most memorable photography trip was probably the COVID year, when I was 6 months into my time in New Zealand. I made a bucket list and got most of the shots, which later on boosted my photography career.”

Any strategies you’d pass along to your fellow photographers?

Johan O E

“It builds confidence to capture something unique and what I have not seen before. I use my eyes rather than predefined or scripted techniques. I almost always shoot in M mode, mostly with manual lenses, to create exactly what I want. I want a photograph to create emotions and make people look again.”

Photograph what you love and do not photograph purely for likes. Also, a good professional photography lesson will give you way more than any new camera or lens.”

Do you peer into Johan’s photos and see another person’s unique life looking back at you? He enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography in the comments below.

You can check out Johan’s other work at www.stayuntilforever.com,

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

We love to celebrate world events and special days as they approach. Last Friday, we asked the community what type of landscapes are near them and to share a photo with the rest of us. A key objective of the ask was to take a fresh photo only after our announcement. We wanted to see what people experience right outside their doors. It’s always fun to see the different places our community calls home.

“The journey of preserving images in time, which began with the invention of the daguerreotype, has evolved to the point where even the fleeting fury of lightning can be captured and immortalized. It bears witness to a powerful response from nature in an age when urban sprawl narrows the sky, and concrete stands in opposition to the natural world. The photograph makes visible the striking encounter between humanity’s desire to reshape nature and nature’s enduring power to remind us of its presence.” – Hicret

Here are some of the photos and comments they shared. Even our own team got in on the fun! Click each photo to see more within the forum conversation.

Vladimir Nogin

Vladimir Nogin

Ofer Agiv

Ofer Agiv

DNZM

DNZM

Slass

Slass

gpwitteveen

gpwitteveen

CaseyD

CaseyD

keepreal

keepreal

Joe Explore Photography

Joe Explores Photography

Abby Ferguson

Abby Ferguson

tranceliner

tranceliner

Gayle159626

Gayle159626

leunam

leunam

There are so many other photos we couldn’t fit in this article that are shared in the forums. While not all met the requirements for inclusion in this article, they all deserve praise. Thanks to everyone who took the time to step outside and capture the unique landscapes of your region.

Feel free to share your local landscapes to continue to celebrate the day with us. We can’t wait to see more!

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add DPReview as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

Getty Images

Attention photographers: Wednesday, August 19th, is World Photography Day!

World Photography Day is a global celebration that honors Louis Daguerre‘s invention of the daguerreotype.

In 1884, George Eastman of Rochester, NY, helped advance photography by developing a practical, flexible roll film, building on earlier photographic processes. Rather than relying on heavy glass or metal plates, Eastman’s approach used a light-sensitive gelatin emulsion on a paper backing – an early flexible film, though not yet the transparent film we know today.

Just a few years later, in 1888, Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, helping make photography accessible to a much wider audience.

If you want to learn more about the origins of the World Photography Day, check out our article from last year’s mini-challenge.

Take a landscape photo and celebrate with us

We’ve decided to celebrate World Photography Day by taking pictures, and we’re challenging you to do the same. But this time, have the photo represent your local landscapes.

• Take a new photo representing your local landscapes sometime after this announcement. Landscapes can mean anything from mountains, an urban park environment, an interesting retention pond, or even something in your backyard.
• Submit your photo in a comment reply below. Tell us something about it (at least 25 words), along with what camera you used.
• Photos need to be submitted by 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 7pm UTC on Monday, August 17th, to be considered for inclusion in our honorary photo album.
• Please only submit 1 or 2 photos

That’s it! We’ll pick our favorites and publish them in an exclusive album on the DPReview homepage next week, along with similar photos taken by DPReview’s staff. The article will also be mentioned in an upcoming newsletter.

You can use any camera or technique, but if you manage to shoot a daguerreotype between now and then, we can pretty much guarantee your submission will be selected.

Bring on the photos!

Meet Mikael Aguirre

Home base: Paris, France

Community member Mikael Aguirre, known as Orioto in the forums, loves hanging out among the crowds in his local area of Paris, France. The streets are where his photography comes alive. In the following chat we had with Mikael, it quickly became clear that the excitement and unpredictable nature of a crowd brings up some great opportunities for unplanned but unique photography.

“I studied cinema at university, and as I had bought a Canon EOS 550D for that filming need, I figured I would try photography one day out of curiosity. Love at first sight. I then started documenting my experiences, and soon after, fell in love with French humanist photographers and street photography. I also experiment a lot with video too.”

Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Andrew has to share.

How did you get started as a street photographer?

Mikael Aguirre

“I love to shoot in Paris, as there is a special sort of photography history there. Now I love to shoot young people being alive and messy. Seeing the motion and excitement is rejuvenating. To me, the mixed kids playing with cardboard in Robert Doisneau’s 50’s-era photography are teens and young adults being crazy in the street nowadays.

To illustrate the point, the above photo shows teens running in the middle of the road after PSG won the Champions League. I have others where teens are diving in the Canal St Martin (which is against the law).”

What’s in Mikael’s bag

Mikael Aguirre

Favorite cameras(s): Sony A7III with a Sony FE 35mm F1.8 lens

Preferred camera bag: “I carry with me the simplest Caselogic bag available on the market. It has just enough space for the camera and barely anything more.”

Must-have accessories: “An umbrella sometimes, because the rain always seems to surprise. And of course any snacks that I can get my hands on.”

For these spotlights, we often receive long lists of cameras, lenses and all sorts of accessories. But sometimes we’re surprised by the simplicity of a photographer’s setup, reminding us that great photography doesn’t necessarily require fancy equipment.

How has your photography changed since University?

Mikael Aguirre

“I love to shoot events where people get wild, and whenever Paris gets different, unique. It can be heavy rain, snow, pride or anything.

“At first, I was mimicking old black and white photos, trying to find humanist type stuff, such as cute and melancholic. I needed years and years to discover and appreciate modern street photography.

I started wanting to get closer, wider, with less blur and more colors in my photos. It isn’t just for aesthetics, but cause I realized that’s what humanism should be nowadays. Nothing artificial or dated, it should be raw and make you feel like you’re there in the scene. So, I went from a 70-300mm to an 85mm, and several other sizes. I found that 28mm is too wide for how I want to fill the frame.”

How do you optimize for a great shot?

Mikael Aguirre

“I’m not yet an expert in the Webb-type multilayered approach, and my photography is subject-centered rather than visually driven. By that, I mean I’m not necessarily looking for visuals; I’m looking for interesting subjects or moments. Then I try to create the best visual I can with them, depending on the subject.”

“I rely quite a bit on intuition. I’ll try to frame my subject in a way that allows the surroundings to contribute to the overall effect I intend, but most of the time I shoot very quickly, so I can’t really focus on everything unless I’m in a slower situation. It’s more about optimizing on the fly and relying on quick intuition.

Also, I tend to move very quickly to find a better angle. The goal is to make things like figure-to-ground relationships, the rule of thirds and the golden ratio automatic enough that they appear naturally in your mind without requiring too much conscious thought.”

Why street photography?

Mikael Aguirre

“I think street photography was born from literally documenting the streets, and it feels a little narrow when some intellectuals want to turn it into something more abstract. You can’t remove the core idea from something and then say that’s what it is now.

Street photography has become a niche bubble, but photographs that stand the test of time generally show us something. They aren’t just the product of an aesthetic challenge. As for me, I’m going to keep documenting life in Paris!”

Mikael enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography. He’s happy to answer any of your questions in the comments below.

You can check out Mikael’s other work on Instagram @oriotophotography.

Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.

I’m a big history buff when it comes to all things civilization, so I was excited when a community member suggested we ask everyone who their biggest photography inspiration is. The question initially got me thinking about the deep history of cameras and how our use of them can shape future generations, so I took our community member’s advice last week and asked you all who inspires you.

Today, we’re sharing some of the results of that conversation, which is still ongoing in the forums. I encourage you to jump in and join the conversation with your own inspiring stories.

Inspiration from family

Inspiration can come from many sources. As was anticipated, many folks thought of their parents, or a friend or colleague.

Sergii Lakhno: When I was a kid, one of my dad’s friends was a professional photographer and worked for the news agency, who taught me a lot. Actually, he taught me everything, starting from EV choosing and ending with composition, light settings and more. Working on the big events or in the studio, I always remember his advice and follow it.

Inspiration from famous photographers

Photography’s greats were also mentioned. Topping the list was Ansel Adams, the American landscape photographer and environmentalist best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West. Close behind was Galen Rowell, an American wilderness photographer and mountaineer. Both have helped shape our community’s perception of great photography.

sirhawkeye64: Ever since I was a kid, I liked to take pictures. When I feel like I’m not making much progress on some days, I remember something many photographers have said over and over again: not every shot has to be a hero shot, and if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying. My favorite quote, though, is from Ansel Adams: “Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop. [“crop” meaning selection]”

Ernst Haas

Your stories

Here are several other community stories that mention over a dozen famous photographers, ranging from 1950s magazine portraits to 2026 Instagram hits.

Klaus dk: My first thought was Annie Leibovitz for making the iconic picture of Whoopi Goldberg in the bath of milk, and Gregory Heisler for his magazine portraits. Then it dawned on me that the inspiration from those top-shelf photographers (and I have an even longer list) all filter down to my level through layers of professional fashion and portrait photographers that are only known in small circles.

T-Schaeffer: Henry Turner. I’ve been following his YouTube channel for several years. Henry’s photography skills, combined with his infectious enthusiasm for the art, have inspired me to improve. I appreciate his down-to-earth approach and personable live-time narrative style. It makes one feel like they’re right there with him, experiencing the realities and joys of landscape photography.

egk4260: Bill Fuller, my science teacher near retirement in the late 1960’s. As a side project, Mr. Fuller got me interested in the basics of optics and film. We even did work in his home darkroom. Imagine the teacher who dared, or the parent who allowed that in the current era! My favorite early image, a surprisingly detailed image of the house across the road, was taken with a pinhole camera, a shoebox with a pinhole in the aluminum foil aperture.

Nicolas Alexander Otto: First, I would cite Kilian Schönberger, one of my photography colleagues and friends, who pretty much influenced a whole new style during the early days of Instagram. I do not share his stylistic trades even though we work together, but simply because I think his work ethic is absolutely commendable.

RetCapt: When I started in photography, I was living on the Monterey Peninsula in Calif. Despite being brand new and limited to 35mm film, I was drawn to the works of Adams, Edward Weston and the others who were part of the F64 group. Their images had to be razor-sharp, which meant maximum depth of field. I started making my own prints, using a great old Leitz Focomat 1c enlarger. The die was cast for me then.

Galen Rowell

Dale Baskin: I’ve loved cameras my entire life. In at least half the photos from my childhood, I’m holding some type of camera. Growing up, I took photos for years and loved it – some of them were even pretty good – but beyond trying to take great photos, I never quite figured out what to do with photography.

When I got older and started reading books and magazines about photography, I instantly fell in love with Galen Rowell’s work. He wasn’t just a photographer: he was a skilled writer and a legitimate explorer, one who went on expeditions and made first ascents of Himalayan peaks. He was doing the things I dreamed of: exploring remote places, taking photos, and writing about them.

But perhaps the most important thing I learned from Rowell is that it’s not enough just to get a nice photo or visit an unexplored place. You have to tell the story. Whether it’s a photo essay, an article, or some other medium, the story is what matters and what people remember.

Share who’s inspired you

Do you have a favorite photographer who’s inspired you? Share your photos and story in the forums.

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