Remembering Wildlife reveals winning images for its 10th Anniversary book

Copyright: © Tristan Dicks/Remembering Wildlife

Remembering Wildlife, a book series focused on conservation, has revealed the 20 winning photos that will be featured in its forthcoming 10th anniversary edition, 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife. The new book, set for release on October 6th, will be the series' most ambitious project yet. It'll bring together images spanning a decade of photographers' work to raise awareness for endangered species.

For the first time, the project will spotlight multiple species rather than focusing on one. This book will showcase not only the winning competition entries but also standout images from the previous nine titles. It will also feature a dedicated section highlighting the plight of the world's most trafficked mammal, the pangolin. The cover image of a pangolin was captured by Tristan Dicks.

All profits from the sale of the book will fund pangolin conservation efforts. Since launching in 2016 with Remembering Elephants, the entire series has sold over 55,000 copies and donated over $1.5 million to 79 conservation projects across 34 countries. This competition drew over 4,500 entries from photographers worldwide, with winners representing Australia, Brazil, the United States, Kenya and Namibia, to name a few.

Founded by British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett MBE, Remembering Wildlife was founded in response to a personal encounter with a poached elephant in North Kenya. For more information and to browse books and prints, check out the organization's website.

"Clash of the Titans" by Alessandro Marena (Italy)

Copyright: © Alessandro Marena/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Rhino, Solio Game Reserve, Laikipia, Kenya

About the image: Illegal poaching of rhinos for their horns means they remain under huge threat. Remembering Wildlife has donated funds to several rhino protection units and conservation projects, helping to provide smartphones fitted with cameras and GPS systems, fuel for patrol vehicles and clothing for rangers.

"A touching moment" by Jagdeep Rajput (India)

Copyright: © Jagdeep Rajput/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Elephant, Corbett National Park, India

About the image: “A young Asian Elephant calf asking for a drink, as mother drinks water from Ramganga river, during hot summer afternoon.”

"Age of Innocence" by Julie Oldroyd (UK)

Copyright: © Julie Oldroyd/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Polar bears, Baffin Island, Canada

About the image: “Baffin Island is one of the most majestic and pristine environments in the world to see polar bears, especially in March and April when the sea ice has frozen. However, with temperatures between -30 to -40 it is also one of the most challenging to ensure you keep your hands warm to press the shutter. We had spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon with this mother and her COYS (Cubs of the year) which were likely a week or so out of their den.

However, just as they were settled the mother got spooked and she and the cubs ran off towards a nearby iceberg. We set off to see if we could spot them and when we got to this iceberg I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mother and cubs were huddled together on top of the iceberg. To witness such intimate moments, such as this one, between the cubs whilst their mother sleeps is something that is a once in a lifetime sighting.”

"Monkey business" by Pedro Amaral (Portugal)

Copyright: © Pedro Amaral/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

About the Image: “High in the canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, two young mountain gorillas dangle from the branches, locked in a playful game of chase. Their world is one of curiosity and mischief—tugging, teasing, and tumbling through the treetops as they learn the skills they'll need to navigate life in the wild. But this lighthearted moment is also a testament to a serious conservation success.

Once critically endangered, mountain gorillas are now the only great ape species whose population is increasing, thanks to anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and responsible eco-tourism in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a world where every life counts, these two remind us that the future of their species isn’t just about survival—it’s about thriving, playing, and living wild and free.”

"Bengal Tiger reflection" by Bircan Harper (UK)

Copyright: © Bircan Harper/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Tiger, Bandhavgarh National Park, India

About the image: Weighing up to 260kg and measuring up to 3 metres in length, the tiger is the largest of the big cats. It is found in Asia, from India – where two-thirds of all wild tigers live – through to the Russian Far East and into China.

"African Black Bellied Pangolin" by Alessandra Sikand (USA)

Copyright: © Alessandra Sikand/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Black bellied pangolin, Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha

About the image: National Park, Central African Republic. The landmark book 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife has a special focus on pangolins – also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet.

"5 at blue hour" by Johann du Toit (Kenya)

Copyright: © Johann du Toit/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Cheetahs, Shompole Hide, Kenya

About the image: “Five cheetahs at the Shompole Hide at blue hour.”

"Carried away" by Vicki Jauron (USA)

Copyright: © Vicki Jauron/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Lioness and her cub, Maasai Mara, Kenya

About the image: “A lioness carries one of her two little ones to a new hiding spot in early morning. Taken in 2021 when vehicle traffic was light and we were able to follow without impacting her movements.”

"Leopard enjoying morning sun break" by Ifham Raji (Sri Lanka)

Copyright: © Ifham Raji/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Leopard, Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka

About the image: “After three days of heavy downpour this leopard took the opportunity to enjoy the first morning sun break.”

"Puppy love" by Marcus Westberg (Portugal)

Copyright: © Marcus Westberg/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: African Wild Dog puppies, Tswalu Kalahari Nature Reserve, South Africa

About the image: Projects that Remembering Wildlife supports include vaccinating domestic dogs to help prevent the spread of rabies to African wild dogs; GPS collars to track their movements and even helped facilitate the translocation of 14 African wild dogs from South Africa and Mozambique to Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, in a historic project to reintroduce this endangered species to Malawi. Since the successful translocation, pups have been born.

"Enjoying the sunrise" by Mark Meth-Cohn (UK)

Copyright: © Mark Meth-Cohn/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Tigers, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India

About the image: “Two sub-adult tiger brothers enjoying the early morning sunrise” Margot Raggett MBE, founder and producer of Remembering Wildlife, said: “It’s an oft-quoted fact that there are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than there are left in the world, a stark reminder of how the future of tigers might end if conservationists do not continue their focus and their fight. Tigers are a bellwether for the health of an ecosystem. For every tiger protected in the forest, there are plants, trees, insects, birds and other mammals who thrive.”

"In the arms of eternity" by Kim Paffen (Netherlands)

Copyright: © Kim Paffen/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Mountain Gorilla and her baby, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

About the image: “A mountain gorilla mother cradles her infant – a portrait of tenderness etched in shadows and light. Here, where Dian Fossey’s legacy still whispers through the bamboo, every touch is a lesson, every gaze a vow. Her quiet strength shields not just her child, but the fragile future of species reborn from the brink.”

"Cold callers welcome" by Mark Meth-Cohn (UK)

Copyright: © Mark Meth-Cohn/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Sloth bear, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, India

About the image: “Sloth Bear making use of an abandoned building.”

"Sunset scales" by Armand Grobler (South Africa)

Copyright: © Armand Grobler/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Pangolin, Manyeleti Game Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa

About the image: “The vibrant colours of a winter dusk highlight the gentle spark of life in our planet’s most trafficked mammal.”

"Mbili bora in the rain' by Xavier Ortega (Spain)

Copyright: © Xavier Ortega/Remembering Wildlife

Subject: Cheetahs, Masai Mara, Kenya

About the image: “The famous coalition of 5 cheetahs that ruled the Masai Mara, during a storm.”

There's always an epic amount of work that goes on behind the scenes with any movie, far beyond just the filming portion. In a recent video shared on Kodak's YouTube, director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) provides unique insight into some of that process, breaking down the different film formats and aspect ratios in conjunction with the release of his new movie, Sinners.

It's been an incredibly popular video on social media, with people saying it's like "a masterclass" in filmmaking and even making them want to go to film school. One Instagram user, redbikebluebike, even said, "Straight up film school for the public. Free tuition." On YouTube, TheUltimateKawai1 said, "I love this. This didn't feel like a throwaway thing where he was forced to do anything he wasn't comfortable with, this is a guy nerding out over film, educating people about the different formats and then explaining how they apply to his movie."

Indeed, Coogler covers a lot of ground in the video, offering information that goes well beyond this movie in particular. He shows off film strips representing each of the different film formats, from the tiny Super8 film used for home movies all the way up to large format (65mm) film. He even touches on the importance of perforations, explaining that they filmed with two different camera systems for the movie and that this is the first time a movie combines 2.76:1 "Ultra Panavision 70" and 1.43:1 "IMAX" aspect ratios.

Impressively, he also details the different ways the movie will be exhibited, with some theaters showing it in different aspect ratios, different projection methods, and even with different experiences, like 4DX. You can tell that Coogler is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about what he's talking about, and it's both fascinating and inspirational to watch him explain all of this information.

It's firmware Friday. Once again, Sony and Nikon lead the charge with firmware updates. Nikon even surprised us with an update to a discontinued model. The Coolpix P1000, which has become a meme in photography circles for its insane zooming capabilities, may have been discontinued in March 2024, but that doesn't mean it's been forgotten.

We've rounded up the latest firmware changes for Sony's a7CR, a7S III and a7C II, along with updates for Nikon's Z50 and Zfc cameras. Lenses from Chinese manufacturers TTArtisan and 7Artisans also received improvements. Here's what came out this week.

Sony

a7CR Ver. 2.00 and a7S III Ver. 4.00 firmware updates are identical

You can download the software update using the Creators' App, which is available for iOS and Google Play.

Benefits and improvements

Shooting & Playback functions:

• Allows you to set Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals.
• Introduces support for the Framing Stabilizer feature, which automatically adjusts the composition to keep the tracked subject in the same frame position during movie recording mode.
• Adds Dynamic Active mode to SteadyShot for movie recording.
• Allows you to add OK/NG/KEEP flags to clips during or after movie recording.
• Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings.
• You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
• Improves image quality when applying user LUTs.
• Allows the use of Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF while using the Bright Monitoring feature.
• Adds a function that allows you to narrow down played-back images using multiple filters (e.g. Rating).
• Adds the Golden Ratio Grid option to the Grid Line Type setting menu.
• Adds support for the Custom Grid Line feature.
• The Custom Grid Line feature is available as a paid license. Availability depends on country and region.
• Increases the maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder to 9,999.
• Adds support for importing/switching multiple IPTC Presets.

FTP Transfer & Network functions:

• Allows scheduling of FTP transfers while writing data to the camera's storage media.
• You can now automatically schedule FTP transfer of protected movies and still images.
• Movies/still images transferred via FTP transfer can now be automatically protected.
• You can now continue shooting while transferring captured photos and videos to a smartphone or tablet.
• Transfer to smartphones and tablets can now be resumed even if interrupted in the middle of a transfer.
• You can now transfer only the differences that have not yet been transferred to your smartphone or tablet, or add videos to be transferred during the transfer process.
• Adds support for the Network Streaming function.
• Allows you to upload camera images directly to the Creators' Cloud.
• Displays the Wi-Fi signal strength when the Wi-Fi function is On.

Please note that Ver. 2.9.0 or later of the Creators’ App is necessary for some of the above FTP Transfer & Network functions. The Creators’ App may not be available in some countries or regions. For more information, visit the Creators’ Cloud support website.

Others:

• Allows notifications to be displayed when the latest software is available for your camera.
• WPA and WEP functionalities are no longer supported.
• You will no longer be able to select WPA or WEP when connecting to Wi-Fi.
• Please use the more secure WPA2 or WPA3 moving forward.
• Fixes an issue where the camera operation may become unstable when Pixel Mapping is performed.
• Improves the operational stability of the camera.

The a7C II also got a Ver 2.00 update, with a difference in the benefits and improvements.

Shooting & Playback functions:

• Allows you to set Recognition Target to Auto, enabling the camera to automatically select subjects such as humans and animals.
• Introduces support for the Framing Stabilizer feature, which automatically adjusts the composition to keep the tracked subject in the same frame position during movie recording mode.
• Adds Dynamic Active mode to SteadyShot for movie recording.
• Allows you to add OK/NG/KEEP flags to clips during or after movie recording.
• Adds a function that automatically creates still images with Shot Marks from movie frames after recordings.
• You can add a Shot Mark while shooting or playing a movie and use it as a mark for selecting, transferring, or editing the movie.
• Improves image quality when applying user LUTs.
• Allows the use of Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF while using the Bright Monitoring feature.
• Adds a function that allows you to narrow down played-back images using multiple filters (e.g. Rating).
• Adds the Golden Ratio Grid option to the Grid Line Type setting menu.
• Adds support for the Custom Grid Line feature.
• The Custom Grid Line feature is available as a paid license. Availability depends on country and region.
• Increases the maximum number of images that can be recorded in one folder to 9,999.
• Adds support for importing/switching multiple IPTC Presets.

Nikon

Image: Nikon

Z 50 updates for Version 2.60 (Mac) and (Windows)

• Fixed an issue where browsing other pictures would not function as expected after using a stretch gesture to zoom in on a picture taken in portrait orientation.

Z fc updates for Version 1.80 (Mac) and (Windows)

Fixed the following issues:

• The values on the control panel would remain on even after the camera was turned off and the lens was removed if [On] was selected for [Connect to smart device] > [Upload while off] in the [SETUP MENU] while the camera was connected to SnapBridge via Wi-Fi.
• The viewfinder display would sometimes be disrupted if the shutter-release button was pressed halfway right before entering playback mode by pressing the playback button while looking through the viewfinder with the monitor closed.
• The viewfinder display would sometimes be disrupted when Picture Control settings were displayed in the i menu.

Coolpix P1000 updates for Version 1.8 (Mac) and (Windows)

• Fixed an issue where the camera would in rare circumstances stop responding after burst shooting.

Lens firmware updates

TTArtisan FUJI-X AF 35mm F1.8 Mark II V1.0.2 update

Image: TTArtisan

• Improved corner vignetting performance.
• Fixed firmware version display errors and focus reset issues on some cameras.
• Improved slow or abnormal autofocus performance on some cameras.
• Must be upgraded with Windows system.
• Do not update this firmware on the AF 35mm F1.8 Mark I.

7Artisans AF50mm f1.8 Z V1.01 update

• Added a feature where switching to full-time AF (AF-F) allows direct transition to manual focus (MF) by rotating the focus ring.
• Reduced power consumption and minimized heat generation.
• Enhanced system stability.

That's all for this week. Make sure you check in every Friday for the latest news on firmware updates for cameras and lenses. Happy updating!

Read last week's firmware roundup

It's not a secret that many people are frustrated with the direction of Instagram. Its list of infractions is long: its default algorithmic feed isn't chronological and pushes content from people you don't follow, the content is over-commercialized, it can't accommodate certain crops, there are too many ads, too many videos and so on. But for so long, Instagram has been the primary platform for photographers and creatives to share their work and build a community. So, where does that leave us?

For those interested in staying involved with social media, Instagram's shifted focus has resulted in anything but a vacuum of options for photographers. Plenty of apps have popped up, and there's even been something of a resurgence of some old-school platforms.

Foto app

Images: Foto

The Foto app is one of the newest kids on the block that has popped up as an alternative to Instagram. It doesn't crop your photos or support videos, it's completely ad-free and the feed is chronological. Photos have the option for captions, and you can add and respond to comments on each post. Unlike other alternatives, you can publicly see the like count on each image, though some may consider that a negative. There are no public-facing follower counts, however.

Foto partly stands out from other Instagram alternatives because you can use it for free. In fact, at the time of writing, it is entirely free. There will be a paid "Pro" subscriber plan in the future with features like a portfolio, shop and more. However, the website says that there will always be "a high-quality free tier so anyone can freely use Foto." The app is available on Android and iOS devices, but there is no web-based version at the time of writing.

I've been using Foto a little bit, and I have been impressed by the clean user interface. There isn't a long list of things to check when posting, so it's much simpler and straightforward compared to Instagram. You're also limited to three preset tags on posts, which helps reduce the noise when looking for certain types of content. It's a simple, easy-to-navigate platform that feels refreshing compared to Instagram.

Of course, Foto is quite new, so there will be growing pains as they continue developing the app. That also means lots of opportunities for exciting new features as it improves; you just need to be patient for those. Additionally, while Foto makes it clear that the app is for everyone, even non-photographers, it is inherently going to attract those interested in photography, thereby limiting your audience.

VSCO

Images: VSCO

VSCO is perhaps best known as an editing platform with its expansive list of presets and editing tools. However, it also functions as a social media platform that fosters creativity and expression over social metrics. It doesn't display likes, follows or repost metrics publicly, aiming to keep competition and comparison out of the experience. In fact, unless you manually count each like or repost, you can't even see a total on your own images.

There are no ads of any sort and no promoted posts getting pushed to your feed. Put simply, VSCO pared things down to keep the focus on the photos. There aren't even comments on VSCO, so the only text that exists is in the caption field. One of the platform's unique features is the ability to reshare work from others to your profile, allowing you to create your own curated gallery of sorts.

There is a completely free version of VSCO, which allows users to access basic editing tools and share on the platform. However, memberships, at either $30 per year or $60 per year, unlock more features and tools. It's available on Android and iOS devices and there's also a web version.

I've been a VSCO user for years, and one of the things I appreciate is the way the company works to foster creativity and community. Monthly photo prompts and various open calls get you to try new things or share your work. These prompts are an opportunity to gain visibility or even get paid for your work, with VSCO selecting some to promote and license for upcoming campaigns. There's also lots of educational and inspirational content available through the app, making it a place to learn and grow. Plus, the web version of VSCO serves as a platform for people to hire photographers, so it could be a way to connect with clients.

Glass

Images: Glass

Glass officially launched in August 2021, shortly after Instagram lead Adam Mosseri said the platform was "no longer just a square photo-sharing app". It initially launched exclusively for iPhones, but is now available for any iOS device, Android, Windows and web. Glass is unique because it is focused on features that appeal to serious photographers, including full EXIF data, camera and lens insights, minimal image compression and support for P3 wide color. Whereas Foto is meant as an app for anyone, Glass is geared toward dedicated photographers.

Like Foto, Glass is ad-free and algorithm-free. Instead, it shows your feed in chronological order. As with VSCO, there are no public likes, shares or follower counts, helping photographers keep comparison and competition out of the equation. It also highlights the work of its members and hosts monthly challenges based around categories.

The downside to Glass is that you can't use it without a subscription. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial, but will need to input credit card information right out of the gate, even if you just want to test it out. Then, the basic membership costs $40 per year. You can also opt for the Patron level, which provides additional support to the team in return for exclusive perks for $131 per year. The founders of Glass explain that because they charge for the platform, they can keep it free of ads and data tracking.

Flickr

Image: Flickr

Flickr is one of the original social media platforms for photographers. It was popular when I was just starting out in photography back in the early 2000s. Of course, at the time, it was exclusively a website (the only app I had on my phone was the Snake game). Times have changed, though, and a Flickr app is now available for just about any device.

The feed of work you follow on Flickr is chronological, with no algorithm dictating what you see. You can see stats on images, including views, favorites and comments, so Flickr won't be the place for you if you're trying to avoid those things.

When you favorite an image, it shows up in a gallery on your profile, much like VSCO's Republish feature. You can also create galleries of more specific categories from work you like. In terms of your photographs, they all show up on your Photostream, which is like your Instagram grid. You can break it into Albums as well to categorize things if you like. Flickr can also serve as a backup for storing your work, and it even offers a plugin for Lightroom.

You can use Flickr for free, but it will be somewhat limited. The free version also features ads. FlickrPro lets you see more stats on your work, removes the ads and gives you unlimited storage space. The Pro membership also gives you the option to change the privacy settings of your photos, unlocks 6K display options and unlocks discounts for various companies.

What made Flickr stand out in its heyday was the ability to build community and connections.

What made Flickr stand out in its heyday was the ability to build community and connections. I met two of my good friends through the site as a result of regularly interacting with their work. Those two friends also met through Flickr, coming together from different parts of the country and eventually getting married.

While today's Flickr isn't quite the same as it was back then (what is?), it has seen a resurgence lately, thanks to the frustration with Instagram. That community aspect is still there, and, thanks to the endless groups based on any photographic interest you may have, it is easy to find like-minded people. A quick glance at the groups I am still part of shows that they are very much still active in terms of photos being shared and comments being made.

What are you using social media for?

Earlier this year, a photographer I follow on Instagram shared some posts to their Stories about why they aren't moving to an app dedicated to photographers. They explained that they want their work to be seen by a broader audience and not only exist within a bubble of people who are highly invested in photography. Unfortunately, I can't recall who this was or what type of work they make, but it made me pause and reflect. Their posts raised a valuable question: Why do we share our work on social media?

Of course, the answer to that question will be different for everyone. But it's worth considering, no matter who you are. That's especially true if you're debating moving to a different social media platform since each may cater to a slightly different audience or provide unique tools. Reflecting on why you share your work and what you hope to get out of doing so can help you better understand which type of platform(s) may make the most sense for you.

If your goal is to join a community of (relatively speaking) like-minded photographers, then something like the Glass app, Flickr or VSCO may be the right answer. But if you, like the person on Instagram mentioned above, want to reach a broader audience of non-photographers, apps that cater specifically to photographers likely aren't the best place for you. After all, something like the Glass app could be intimidating for non-photographers, while the subscription adds an extra hurdle, so it likely isn't going to attract those without at least some interest in the medium.

Sharing on a platform designed for photographers is a bit like preaching to the choir or sharing your work only with close friends. There can certainly be benefits to getting validation and speaking the same language as others. After all, sometimes it's just nice to have your work appreciated by those who understand photography. But it will inevitably be a bit limiting in terms of broadening your audience.

Image: Skylum Software

Today, Skylum Software released version 1.24.0 of Luminar Neo, its AI-powered photo editing application. Dubbed its "Spring Upgrade," four new features have been added to streamline editing and improve photographers' workflows. This upgrade includes Auto Adjust tools, a Catalog Cache Cleaning option, an update to Atmosphere AI and a cleaner Export Menu that now supports DNG file formats.

Screenshot: Kara Murphy

Auto Adjust is a new addition to the Developer and Developer Raw tools. Powered by AI, it analyzes your image and automatically adjusts the Exposure, Highlights and Shadows sliders. It may also change the tone curve if necessary. These are minor tweaks, but they're meant to provide a stronger starting point for editing an image.

Catalog Cache Cleaning has been added to the Preferences menu. It offers a simple way to manually clear out cached data stored by the Luminar Neo catalog. Over time, cached files can build up and slow down an operating system's performance, especially if you're working with an extensive library of images. Clearing it should help speed things up.

Image: Skylum Software

The Atmosphere AI tool, designed to add fog, mist or haze to an image, has gotten a revamp to one of its components. Users were dissatisfied with the fog slider, so the company tweaked the depth map handling to give it a more realistic look when applied to images.

The Export Menu has been redesigned with a cleaner layout. Most importantly, it now includes support for exporting DNG files, making it possible to transfer Raw files edited in Neo to other editing software tools for further adjustments.

Screenshot: Kara Murphy

Luminar Neo is available on MacOS and Windows and as a plug-in for Adobe's Photoshop and Lightroom Classic software. Updates rolled out today and can be accessed by annual and lifetime subscribers.

Image: Adobe

Adobe Max London is underway, and with it comes announcements from Adobe for its editing platforms. Some of the changes were previously revealed in a blog post from the company. The rest are mostly subtle, but, as usual, aim to streamline and simplify the editing process.

First, a new Select Landscape feature is coming to Adobe Lightroom. This tool will automatically detect and create masks for common landscape elements like plants, sky, water and more. Such automatic masking tools in Lightroom (and Photoshop) were previously limited to obvious subjects like people, so selective edits on landscapes still required more time-consuming manual edits. This should speed up the editing process for landscape photographers.

The Select Details actions can save you some tedious manual work. Image: Adobe

For Photoshop users, Select Details will make it easier to select finer details like hair, facial features and clothes. Masking out hair is a tedious task that can be difficult to get right. Portrait photographers will appreciate anything that eases that process, so if this works as well as Adobe promises, it will be a welcome update.

Adobe says the Select Background tool will provide even more precise results, even with complex images. Image: Adobe

Adobe says it updated the Remove Background tool in Photoshop, promising much more precise results and sharing an impressive demo of it cutting out a fish in a net. It should allow for much more accurate selections when dealing with complex images or colors that blend into each other, like a subject wearing a black shirt against a dark background.

You can now control colors from the Contextual Taskbar. Image: Adobe

Adobe also updated the Contextual Taskbar with an Adjust Colors option. When clicked, it automatically samples the colors for you and creates an adjustment layer. That way, you don't need to create multiple adjustment layers or manipulate individual color changes when adjusting colors in your images or designs.

Image: Profoto

Swedish lighting company Profoto has announced the release of the Spot Small. This compact light shaping tool is built for photographers looking for precise control over their lighting and is aimed at professionals in the fashion, portrait, product and fine art industries. Profoto says the Spot Small delivers a crisp, artifact-free beam with its 115mm focusable lens.

Features

• Projects a clean beam of light.
• Focusable high-quality 115 mm optical lens.
• Four integrated adjustable metal leaves.
• It has an optional Iris and Gobo Holder (no Gobos included).
• Compatible with Clic light shaping tools.
• Compatible with both protruded and flat fronted 100mm lights.

Integrated adjustable leaves allow photographers to fine-tune the shape of the light, while optional add-ons like the Iris and Gobo Holder allow for the production of custom shapes and dramatic effects. A magnetic front ring ensures compatibility with Profoto's Clic light-shaping accessories, something users looking for more ways to experiment might be interested in.

Profoto says the Spot Small is built for longevity. It features fully vented 360-degree housing to withstand the demands of professional work. The device is compatible with both flat and protruded flash heads. Images of the product and its accessories can be viewed on the brand's official Instagram page.

The Spot Small is positioned as a tool for pro photographers who wish to work with intentionality and creativity, confidently shaping light with precision. Currently, there is no listed price.

Profoto Spot Small speficiations

Image: Helium Design Lab

There's no denying the bold, unique look of the Sigma BF mirrorless camera. It's unlike any camera currently available, with a body milled from a single block of aluminum. The minimalistic design lacks a grip, though, which some may take issue with. Helium Design Lab, a company started by photographers Ed Palisoc and Hugh Brownstone, has stepped up to the plate, with a grip worthy of the BF, as PetaPixel reports.

It takes a special design for any grip to look even somewhat right on such a distinctive-looking camera. The Helium Design Lab HeBF handgrip keeps the aesthetics of the camera intact, resulting in what Helium Design Lab says is a "more perfect union between camera and passionate photographers like ourselves." Like the camera, the grip is made of precisely machined aluminum, and each is hand assembled and inspected. It is designed, manufactured and packaged in the US.

Image: Helium Design Lab

The HeBF grip provides access to the battery without removing the grip and features a hidden, anti-tamper AirTag slot so you can keep track of your camera. It also offers built-in Arca-Swiss compatibility, and it's compatible with the Peak Design Capture Clip and Travel Tripod. There are bottom anchor lugs on the left and right, providing multiple options for wrist and camera strap configurations. It's available in natural silver aluminum and anodized black finishes.

The kicker: this is a very limited production run. Helium Design Lab says it is only making 100 units and will not offer it again. The limited nature of the grip, along with the close attention to detail of each one, naturally demands a steep price: $390.

The grip comes in silver and black. Image: Helium Design Lab

As Brownstone admits in the YouTube video discussing the grip, "390 bucks is anything but chump change." But it isn't the company's most expensive offering. In fact, it's actually cheaper than all of the company's other options by $150.

Brownstone explains that they've engineered significant costs out of the grip compared to their other products to keep the price down as much as possible. Still, the grip's nature means it is expensive to produce. "This is not primarily a rational business decision. We're bad. It's an emotional one," says cofounder Hugh Brownstone. "Our ambition is to break even."

You can pre-order the grip from the Helium Design Lab website, provided you get there soon enough.

Photo: Mitchell Clark

This week, Sony announced the FE 50-150mm F2 GM, a fast telephoto lens aimed at sports and wedding photographers. The company has made some big promises about its performance, saying that its theoretical sharpness at either end is comparable to that of modern primes.

We got to spend some time with the lens pre-launch, and took some sample images. We've processed them using Capture One, which lets us use the manufacturer-provided distortion correction profile.

See the sample gallery

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

Image: Logitech

Logitech has announced new plugins for its MX Creative Console accessory, which acts as a control panel for various photo and video editing apps. It now supports Adobe Lightroom, Affinity Photo, Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve, as well as Figma, letting you trigger actions with its multi-function button and control edits using its dial and scroll wheel.

While you could use the console with these apps before, it was in a more limited fashion: you'd have to map keyboard shortcuts to the buttons rather than using pre-made actions that communicate directly with the app. And while a plugin for Lightroom Classic has been available since the Creative Console's launch, this is the first time an official one has been available for the newer version of the app.

Image: Logitech

The built-in actions let you do a variety of things based on which app you're working in. For example, when working in Lightroom, you can use the console to rate photos, filter photos by star rating or flags, open the color mixer and more. You can use the dial to change a variety of parameters and to crop and rotate your image. Meanwhile, in Final Cut Pro, you can use the console to trim your clips, zoom in and out on your timeline and access color correction tools. You can configure the wheel to scrub through your timeline by a single frame at a time or by several frames at once.

You can set up several pages of actions and scroll through them; the screens under the buttons will update depending on which page you're on and which app you're using. You currently can't create folders of actions, but the company says it's working on that ability and to expect support for more applications in the coming months.

The update that supports the new plugins and the plugins themselves are free if you already own an MX Creative Console. The accessory itself is $199 and comes in white or black.

Earth Day in Pictures

Photographers posted images of what Earth Day means to them on their favorite platforms. Copyright: © Brandon Dela Cruz

Today, Earth Day was celebrated around the world. What began in 1970 as a grassroots environmental movement has become a global effort to raise awareness about our planet. It encourages people to act on climate change, pollution, deforestation, and other pressing issues.

Photographers took to their favorite online platforms and shared their favorite related images to express what Earth Day means. My feeds were flooded with the loveliest tributes to what makes our planet worth fighting for. Enjoy this slideshow and check out the work these artists produce elsewhere.

'When badlands are good lands' by Larry Ginyard

Copyright: © Larry Ginyard

Description: An aerial photo snapped in the badlands of southern Utah.

Artist statement about Earth Day: Capturing photos of the Earth grounds me. It’s where I go to escape the monotony of day-to-day life. The more isolated the destination, the better. With nothing but the sound of the wind, I can be introspective and contemplative.

I can also just be. Never underestimate the importance of just existing when surrounded by the beautiful sights and sounds of nature. We need to conserve places like this so that generations after us are afforded the same experiences.

'Twilight Reverence: Honoring the Earth Through Story and Light' by Criz Quinn

Copyright: © Criz Quinn

Description: Every journey, every image, every breath… This planet has given me light, wonder, and awe. As a travel photographer, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to witness so much of our world, even its most remote and untouched corners. Every photograph I take is my way of saying thank you for the privilege to explore and share the Earth’s beauty.

This image, captured beneath the twilight sky among the ancient quiver trees of Namibia, is more than a memory. It’s a reminder that even in the quietest, farthest reaches of the Earth, there is magic waiting to be seen, felt, and honored.

The fading light, the silhouette of a friend dwarfed by ancient trees and scattered stone… this is scale, this is perspective. This is Earth reminding us of our place within something far greater than ourselves.

Artist statement about Earth Day: For me, Earth Day is about more than awareness. It is about reverence. A chance to pause and reflect on the extraordinary gift that we’ve been given: a planet that creates scenes like this without asking for anything in return but for us to respect it.

On this day, and every day, I choose to honor her through stewardship, and by continuing to tell her story through my photography with gratitude and awe.

'Atcama desert' by David Neuman

Copyright: © David Neuman

Description: The Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth. In the middle of this arid desert is a laguna home to hundreds of flamingos, grazing about gracefully. The sheer randomness and juxtaposition of the bone-dry climate surrounding something so tropical is as breathtaking as the flamingos themselves.

Artist statement about Earth Day: As a photographer who loves traveling, exploring all of the diverse textures and colors of the earth’s surface is one of my favorite things to do. When I picked up photography in 2017, it offered me a whole new way to discover and seek out those perspectives. Earth Day serves as a reminder of how fortunate we are to have access to all of this. It also reminds us how precious our planet is, and that there is no planet B.

'Monument to the sun' by Justin Wood

Copyright: © Justin Wood

Description: Video Projection.Photograph. Black Hills, SD (South Dakota)

Artist statement about Earth Day: Earth Day invites us to acknowledge our evolving relationship with the planet and the challenge of balancing emerging technology with ecological constraints. Drawing on the earthwork tradition, my projection installations seek to harmonize light and time, revealing fresh perspectives on ancient places.

'Aurora over high falls' by Nathan Klok

Copyright: © Nathan Klok

Description: Vibrant Aurora lights up the night sky over High Falls on the Pigeon River along the Minnesota-Ontario border on August 11th, 2024. This night I chased and photographed the aurora from sundown to sunup during an intense storm of Northern Lights, where they were able to be seen throughout the entire United States.

Artist statement about Earth Day: Earth Day is a celebration of the beautiful planet we all get to call home and a call to protect it for future generations to come.

'Arizona sandstone' by Bayley Jordan

Copyright: © Bayley Jordan

Description: A sunrise flight features the beautiful swirling color and texture of this Arizona sandstone landscape.

Artist statement about Earth Day: Earth Day, to me, is about appreciating and documenting the beautiful world we are so lucky to be surrounded by. If I am not out on a photo session, you will often find me spending time outdoors, whether it be biking amidst the beautiful alpine lakes and forests, camping with loved ones, or exploring a new hiking trail to capture stunning images with my camera or drone. I am outside daily in search of the gorgeous, golden-hour glow as it lights up each of the lovely landscapes we are so lucky to explore.

Multiple images (including header) by Brandon Dela Cruz

Copyright: © Brandon Dela Cruz

Artist statement about Earth Day: As a photographer, Earth Day is a reminder to slow down and truly see. It’s easy to chase the next shoot or scroll past a sunset but this day reminds me to pause and appreciate how breathtakingly beautiful our planet really is.

To me, it’s not just about a single moment of recognition - it’s about honoring what has been here long before us the rugged coastlines, the towering redwoods, the untouched deserts, and all the wild iconic places that have stood the test of time. I think of national parks, not just in the US, but all around the world, as living museums of Earth’s raw beauty. Earth Day is a call to protect that to preserve the wild for the next generation.

I feel a deep responsibility with my camera to capture, not just the views, but the value of these places because if people can see how incredible this planet is, maybe they’ll feel more inclined to protect it. That’s what drives me.

'African Surf and Stone' by Adam Ledoux

Copyright: © Adam Ledoux

Description: I took while in South Africa last year, of waves crashing onto rocks near the shoreline outside of Cape Town.

Artist statement about Earth Day: Earth Day serves as an annual reminder to love, appreciate, and care for the planet that we've been blessed to live on. We only have this one that we can live on (for now), and it comes with the task of keeping it healthy for future generations.

'Blue Earth. Pink sky.' by Sheen Watkins

Copyright: © Sheen Watkins

Artist statement about Earth Day: Earth is a day of celebrating the natural wonders of our earth. It is also a reminder that she needs our protection and care.

'Avalanche Lake' by Karen Walter

Copyright: © Karen Walter

Description: This image was captured at Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park, located in Montana.

Artist Statement about Earth Day: Earth Day to me means preserving our planet for generations to come by doing little things every day. Picking up trash in public places, recycling, planting a tree. Respecting nature by taking only pictures and memories, and leaving only footprints.

Icon: Meta

Today, Instagram released its new standalone free video editing app, Edits. It was introduced earlier this year when TikTok and its companion video editing app, CapCut, were briefly removed from iOS and Android app stores for US customers. The message was clear: Instagram is ready to compete.

Edits is Meta's response to CapCut, the video platform developed by ByteDance, TikTok's parent company. Unlike Instagram's native tools, which have long lagged in flexibility and depth, Edits is designed to give users more control over their editing process. The company acknowledged that "making videos can be challenging, often requiring multiple apps and complicated workflows." Edits aims to give creators a centralized space to produce, edit, and manage content.

Within the app, you can create videos using multi-channel timelines, organize projects through a dedicated tab, and jot down future ideas with built-in note-taking tools. The app supports video capture up to 10 minutes long, an upgrade from the 3-minute recording limit inside the main Instagram app. It also offers advanced effects like green screen replacement, AI-based animation of still objects, and subject cutouts.

Instagram aims to make video editing more streamlined with Edits. Image: Instagram

Users can add captions and royalty-free music to videos and review performance metrics in the app. Unusual for a free app, Edits allows for exporting without a watermark, allowing creators to share the video footage across multiple platforms.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri noted the app will remain free, though paid features could arrive in the future to support more compute-heavy AI functions. "[Edits] will be free. I think over time, we might have some paid features where we’re going to need to cover costs of things," he explained on a recent Instagram post.

Edits is free to download on iOS and Android.

Image: Samyang

South Korean lens maker LK Samyang has partnered with German optics specialist Schneider-Kreuznach to launch its first co-branded lens: the AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE, designed for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras. We covered the recent announcement at CP+, at the end of February, and now more details have emerged.

Its lightweight at 445g (15.7oz), compact at 89mm (3.5") long and weather-sealed, this ultra-wide zoom is the only lens in its FE-mount class to support 77mm front filters, which is a bonus for photographers who rely on polarizers and ND filters. The lens also features a close minimum focusing distance for tighter compositions, along with a customizable button.

The lens is made up of 15 elements in 11 groups, with three aspherical lenses, five high-refractive elements, and three ED elements. It has a nine-blade aperture, and a minimum focusing distance of 0.18m (7").

The 14-24mm focal length provides a 114.2º to 84.1º field of view, making it a strong pick for landscape images. The bright F2.8 aperture makes it suitable for nightscapes and astrophotography.

This marks the first release of a collaboration between LK Samyang and Schneider-Kreuznach. Samyang says the 14-24mm was "co-developed" between the two companies, but the specifics of the relationship haven't been disclosed. Schneider has allowed its name to be used on other optics before, including versions of Pentax lenses sold for Samsung DSLRs. Known for its third-party lenses, Samyang has built a reputation for making affordable and capable lenses for Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and the L-mount alliance.

The Samyang AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE joins the company's expanding Sony FE lineup and is expected to be available in May 2025. There's currently no word on pricing.

LK Samyang AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE specifications

Image: Sony

Sony has announced the FE 50-150mm F2 GM tele zoom: a shorter but faster alternative to the traditional 70-200mm F2.8. Its wider aperture will particularly suit photographers of indoor sports and wedding photographers.

The lens is the same 200mm (7.9") length as Sony's current 70-200mm F2.8 OSS GM II though 17% wider, at 103mm (4.1"). And, while it's a whole stop faster than the (longer and stabilized) 70-200mm, it's only 30% heavier, at 1340g (47.27oz), which feels surprisingly light in the hand.

This comparative lightweight comes despite a design that incorporates 19 elements in 17 groups. There are 2 XA 'extreme' aspherical elements, 2 aspherical elements, 2 Super ED and 3 ED elements making up the design, delivering MTF charts of the theoretical performance that promise sharpness comparable to very good modern primes at both ends of the zoom.

It's an internal zoom design with a short throw zoom ring. It uses four 'XD' high-thrust linear motors to drive focus and can refocus fast enough for use with the a9 III's 120fps mode.

Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM @ 131mm | F2.0 | 1/320 sec | ISO 800 Photo: Richard Butler	Sony FE 135mm F1.8 | F2.0 | 1/320 sec | ISO 800 Photo: Richard Butler

Minimum focus distance is 0.4m (15.7") at the wide end and 0.74m (29.1") at the long end of the range. This is comparable to the working distance of the 70-200mm GM II but yields a lower 0.2x maximum magnification ratio as a result of its shorter focal lengths.

Video users will find the lens exhibits very little focus breathing (and this can be further corrected in cameras with breathing compensation mode). The focus ring can also be set to respond in a linear manner for predictable focus pulls.

The 50-150mm F2 takes relatively large 95mm filters and Sony says these must have an outside diameter of 99.4mm or less if you wish to fit the included hood at the same time.

The FE 50-150mm F2 GM will be available between the middle and end of May with a recommended price of $3899.

Image: Sony

Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM sample gallery

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.

Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM specifications

This morning, Fujifilm unveiled a brief teaser clip on its YouTube channel. Clocking in at less than 20 seconds, the words "Half the Size, Twice the Story" and "See you soon" appear, hinting at a new shooting experience centered around a half-frame format.

Speculation is already swirling in the comments section where the video is posted. Some users are guessing it could be an X-Pro4, a successor to the X70 or the long-anticipated X-E5. Nevertheless, the half-frame concept fits the "Half the Size" theme, and Fuji Rumors recently scribed an entire article on what it thinks will be the Fujifilm X-Half.

Fujifilm has not confirmed a launch date. However, if history is any guide, we won't have to wait long. The GFX100RF was officially announced two weeks after its first teaser dropped. If Fujifilm follows a similar pattern, the new release, whatever it may be, will be revealed in early May. All of this is speculation, not a confirmed rumor. Stay tuned!

Photo: Insta360

Insta360 has unveiled its latest flagship 360-degree action camera, the X5. Compared to its predecessor, the X5 promises improvements across the board with a larger sensor, better low-light performance and some upgraded durability features.

Insta360 increased the size of the twin sensors (one for each lens) on the X5 by 144%. The larger Type 1/1.28 (9.8x7.3mm) sensors should boost overall image quality and provide better results in darker conditions. Beyond that, the camera uses what Insta360 calls a "Triple AI Chip" system to improve image quality even more. That system comprises two image processors for handling noise reduction and processing and an "AI chip" that the company says handles additional processing.

Image: Insta360

Low-light performance is clearly a focus for Insta360 with the new camera. After all, many of the pre-release promo videos featured footage taken at night, and the above updates aim to help with low-light shooting. Insta360 is bringing PureVideo to its 360 lineup for the first time to address the camera's usefulness in dark conditions even more. The mode, which is already found on the Ace lineup of cameras, uses AI noise reduction, presumably more than what's happening in other modes, promising better low-light performance.

The update to the sensor and processing hasn't impacted the video resolution, though. Like the X4, the X5 can record 8K 30p video that is oversampled from 11K. Insta360 did upgrade the capabilities of its Active HDR mode, though, now allowing 5.7K 60p, whereas the X4 topped out at 30p in that mode.

Insta360 also aims to make it easier to share your content with the X5. While the flexibility of editing 360° videos is nice at times, it makes sharing your work more challenging. A new setting called InstaFrame enables instant sharing by producing two files: an instantly shareable flat video and a full 360° video. The flat file doesn't require any reframing or editing, though you do have to choose between a "fixed view that follows a constant direction or a selfie view that keeps you in frame throughout."

Image: Insta360

The X5 also sees upgrades to its build quality. Because the camera's lenses are so bulbous, they are relatively easy to scratch or damage. Previous models offered lens guards to protect against that, though many have reported that image quality suffered quite a bit when using those. So, Insta360 opted for "new, high-strength, scratch-resistant glass" on the X5 to help prevent damage without adding anything extra to the lens.

Should the lenses get marked up or shattered, the company has made it easier to replace them. You won't need to send it in for repairs, putting the camera out of commission for a time. Instead, the Replacement Lens Kit makes it easy and fast to swap out on the go. Of course, that means you need to have one on you at all times. A single replacement lens will cost $30, and can be purchased on Insta360's website.

Photo: Insta360

Insta360 introduced other build upgrades, too. It says it improved the built-in wind guard and audio algorithm, promising to reduce wind noise and improve overall sound quality. The battery life should be better, too. Insta360 says it will support up to 185 minutes of recording at 5.7K in the power-saving Endurance Mode. That's a healthy bump from the 135 minutes of promised recording on the X4. The X5 boasts an IP68 rating, which is slightly improved from the X4's IPX8 rating. Insta360 says you can swim with it down to 15m (49') without dive housing, 5m (16') deeper than the X4.

The Insta360 X5 is available for purchase as of April 22 for $550, which is $50 more than the X4 when it launched a year ago.

Buy now:

Image: Tamron

Tamron has announced that it's working to bring its 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD lens to RF mount and Z mount. While it's only the company's second RF lens, it stands out even more on Nikon's system: it's the first third-party APS-C zoom lens with autofocus announced for Z mount.

That's more groundbreaking than the long list of qualifiers might imply. Nikon's lineup of APS-C-focused zooms includes just four lenses, and those are pretty much the only choices available unless you're willing to buy heavier, larger and more expensive full-frame lenses. Nikon also doesn't offer a lens with this large of a zoom range, nor as far a reach.

Tamron says the 18-300mm was the "world's first lens to achieve a zoom ratio of 16.6x when it was released in 2021 for Sony E mount and Fujifilm X mount." Earlier this year, Sigma announced the 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary, which very slightly beats the Tamron when it comes to zoom ratio. It's also available for RF mount, though not for Z mount.

While some photographers don't find all-in-one zooms exciting, they can provide a lot of versatility to shooters who don't want to buy or carry around multiple lenses. Even though this type of lens generally doesn't have the greatest image quality or light-gathering ability, it's hard to argue that it's not a good fit for more entry-level systems, especially given its massive zoom range. In equivalent terms, its a 27-450mm for Nikon and a 29-480mm for Canon.

The RF mount version of the lens has a few extra switches. Image: Tamron

The RF mount version of the 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD will have switches to toggle optical stabilization and autofocus on and off, as well as a lock switch to keep it from extending. Like the E and X mount versions, the Z mount model will have the lock switch, but not the other two.

Tamron says pricing and availability "will be announced at a later date." The lens retails for around $700 for other mounts.

Z mount

RF Mount

Image: Fujifilm

Fujifilm has said that it's temporarily pausing pre-orders for several of its cameras in the United States thanks to tariffs. A spokesperson for Fujifilm North America Corporation told DPReview that it is "currently not accepting new pre-orders for the X100VI, GFX100RF, and X-M5 (Black) models" so it can "assess various changes including tariffs, and their impact as cost-increasing factors."

The company didn't mention other cameras that are already for sale, such as the X-T5 or the X-H2 series, nor did it say what to expect if you had already placed a pre-order. You can read the full statement below:

"In the U.S. market, we have temporarily suspended orders for some digital camera products in order to assess various changes including tariffs, and their impact as cost-increasing factors. As a result, we are currently not accepting new pre-orders for the X100VI, GFX100RF, and X-M5 (Black) models."

PetaPixel reports that B&H, a major camera retailer in the US, has turned off pre-orders for those models, though other retailers continue to accept them. Fujifilm made no mention of when it expects to unpause pre-orders, or whether the products will end up costing more when they become available again.

The tariffs have made things complicated for manufacturers and retailers

Despite Fujifilm's latest statement, the company's stock issues in the US pre-date the tariffs. The X100VI has been on backorder ever since it launched early last year, and we noticed that the silver X-M5 – launched in November 2024 – was out of stock at most retailers in late March, weeks before the initial tariff announcements.

However, there's no denying that the tariffs being levied by the US government have made things complicated for manufacturers and retailers. The initial plan called for tariffs ranging from 24 to 46% to be imposed on imports from countries where most camera manufacturing takes place.

A few days after the initial announcement, President Trump said that most of those tariffs would be knocked down to 10%, though he billed it as a temporary pause for the next 90 days. However, as part of an escalating trade war, the tariffs on Chinese imports have ballooned to 145%. Both the X-M5 and the X100VI are produced in China.

Fujifilm isn't the only company to have reacted to the instability. BlackMagic and Harman – makers of Ilford film – both blamed the tariffs for price hikes on some of their products. Outside of the camera space, Nintendo delayed taking pre-orders in the US for its upcoming Switch 2 game console, though it has since said it intends to start taking orders this week. While the console will be available at its originally announced price, the accessories for it have all gotten price bumps.

It seems likely that we'll see more similar moves as the situation evolves. When we asked economic experts about the impacts of the tariffs on the camera markets, Anjali V. Bhatt, Communications Manager and Research Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told us: "the bottom line is that all photography equipment not made in the US, which is a significant majority of it, will be more expensive."

Click to read about the tariffs' impacts on camera gear in the US

US Public Broadcasting Service's (PBS) outdoor photography show is back for a third season with a broader, national scope and nationwide availability. View Finders has grown from a quiet regional favorite into a nationally distributed, Emmy-nominated PBS series. The show, which is only viewable in the US, is hosted by professional photographers Chris Greer and Paul Daniel. It follows the duo as they explore breathtaking landscapes across the United States, seeking stellar shots while sharing tips on lighting, composition and storytelling through photography.

What began as a YouTube project focused on Georgia's natural beauty has evolved into a cross-country adventure. Season three premiered on March 17th and takes viewers to Grand Teton National Park, the Wind River Range and the White Mountain National Forest, among other destinations. View Finders' mission remains unchanged: celebrate the outdoors, educate the public about these places' ecological and cultural importance and inspire others to connect with nature through photography.

"The show has grown tremendously," Greer, who is also a Georgia College & State University professor, told Flagpole. "It's kind of transformed from a Georgia-based television show to a national television show, and this season reflects that national footprint."

The road to national syndication began after two successful seasons on Georgia Public Broadcasting. In 2023, Greer pitched the series to 300 PBS stations nationwide and received a warm reception. In Greer's opinion, what sets View Finders apart is its unique blend of adventure, photography, and conservation, an angle not often explored on traditional travel shows.

The show also addresses the growing urgency around public land preservation. With interviews from park rangers, ecologists and historians, View Finders integrates expert commentary into each episode. Beyond seeing beautiful places, viewers learn why they matter and must be protected, "so they don't turn into developments and condos."

The View Finders crew captured footage using lenses like SIGMA's SPORTS 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS. Image: Sigma

Another signature element of the series is its music. The soundtrack features a blend of independent southern artists and nationally known names like Hozier and Bon Iver. This season highlights music from Athens, Georgia-based acts including Grassland String Band, Family and Friends, and Hotel Friction. Greer believes the combination of powerful music and visuals creates an immersive experience and resonates emotionally with the audience.

All third-season footage from Greer, Daniel, and camera operator Nathan Burnett was filmed using Sigma lenses, as the company is the official lens sponsor. You can watch episodes from all seasons, including the current season, on PBS' official site. The final three episodes for this season will air soon. Greer told us that distribution for the UK, additional European and worldwide markets isn't finalized at this time, though the show could potentially find international audiences at some point.

The Sigma BF and a trio of lenses fitted nicely in the sort of bag I'd have thrown over my shoulder anyway. Photo: Al Power

During the three weeks I've been shooting with the Sigma BF, a surprising number of people asked me what I thought of it. I'm not necessarily going to suggest you should go out and buy one, but I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. Partly because it prompted me to think more about the photos I was taking than I have done in a long time.

In principle I was on vacation, but I thought it might be an opportunity to rekindle my love for photography, distinct from my job that requires that I take photos all the time.

Winters in Seattle are particularly hard: the skies are reliably gray and I've lived here long enough that I'm rarely surprised by a photo opportunity I've not noticed before. For the past few years, all my best sample galleries have been shot while traveling.

So I set myself a challenge: in keeping with Sigma's claims that the Sigma BF is intended as a device to help you capture everyday life, I decided to try to take at least one photograph every day, to document my trip.

There are very few contexts in which you can use this combination of words, but the Sigma BF proved it to be an almost perfect tool for the job.

One photo a day

I should start by saying that I failed the 'one photo a day' challenge I'd set myself. I arguably failed it in two ways: there were a couple of days where, either due to spending the day in transit, or because I was catching up with friends, I decided to leave the camera in my shoulder bag. But I failed in the opposite way, too: although the challenge was to take one photo a day, there were days on which I couldn't narrow things down to a single photo.

For instance, a day spent shooting with a friend from the the Oxford Flickr group (circa 2007) meant shooting too diverse a range of images to be able to limit myself to a single shot. It was one of those days where the act of having a camera with me prompted me to recognize a wealth of photo opportunities I'd have otherwise missed.

Photo day with Al

And I'm quite comfortable with these failures: the 'one photo a day' concept was meant to be a source of motivation: not a chore. There was no room in my luggage for a straightjacket.

On which subject, I think there was only one occasion on which I found myself feeling restricted by the choice of the Sigma: it was a grabbed shot of a vintage bus, which I was hoping to take for a friend who loves historical transport. It started to pull away in the same instant I'd decided to take a photo. The camera turned on quickly enough but, in the split second I had to adjust the shutter speed to cope with the bright sunshine and its sudden movement, I turned the dial the wrong way, made my overexposure worse and missed the moment.

The rest of the time, the BF felt like the right tool for the job. Its exposure-focused interface and pleasantly clutter-free screen constantly asked the questions: "what are you trying to photograph, and how do you want to capture it?"

It constantly asked "what are you trying to photograph, and how do you want to capture it?"

I packed the BF, a 35mm F2, 24mm F3.5 and 90mm F2.8 into a small bag I could hang off my shoulder, pretty much all the time. There was still room to carry a warm scarf or a jumper, along with my sunglasses: the essentials for spring in the UK, so carrying a bag felt necessary, rather than burdensome.

For me, these lenses made an excellent trio. I quickly grew to love the outrageous vignetting of the 24mm, rarely bothering to engage corrections and instead often adding a similar effect to some of my 35mm shots, using the in-camera processing. The 90mm makes an excellent portrait option, letting me capture friends and strangers alike and, like the 24mm, is a suitable small, lightweight addition to the camera body.

There are a couple of ways in which Sigma could improve the BF, and I've sent some feedback, following my trip (why isn't it quicker/easier to toggle a setting between automatic and manual control, for instance). But overall, I found the considered approach to shooting that it demands was exactly what I needed to remind myself what sets photography as a hobby apart from smartphone snap shooting.

The best thing about the BF isn't its external design

The Sigma BF isn't trying to be a rival or a substitute to most of the cameras on the market, and if judged on their terms, it comes up short. But as a device for encouraging you to capture the world as you pass through it, and engage with the process of doing so, it's an absolute delight. Irrespective of its looks, the way it's so focused on exposure, composition and nothing else is inspiring.

Despite what you might assume, if you've not used it, the user interface isn't a series of compromises to fit with the camera's minimalist look, it's an original and seriously-considered attempt to answer the question: 'what do you really need to take photos?' It makes Leica's very exposure-focused UI look cluttered and conventional by comparison, though it's unarguably a little slower and occasionally fiddly, if time's against you.

Strangers would literally ask me what I was shooting with. Which would give me an excuse to ask to take their picture. They would also tend to ask what I thought of it, which kept that question front-of-mind. Sigma 90mm F2.8 DG DN |F5.6 | 1/500 sec |ISO 200 Photo: Richard Butler

What kept catching me off-guard is how good the autofocus is, both in performance and implementation. I was able to leave the camera in AF-C, knowing that eye detection would do its job if there was a person in the photo and that tapping on the screen would focus on something specific if I wanted, even if I continued to adjust my composition. As with the rest of the interface, it's not a complex system that can be adapted to cope with every possible eventuality: it's a system that's so simple but effective that you don't need to think about it, for the type of photography the BF is intended for.

So, what did you think of it?

Overall, I loved my time with the BF. A little like the Fujifilm X100 series, it's one of the few cameras it might make sense for me to buy, because it's not trying to do the same thing as most of the cameras I have to use for my job. It's the unusual, though-provoking (and, apparently, comment-worthy) device that lets me capture my life in the gaps between having to take photos for work.

Putting together a gallery while on vacation usually risks being something of a busman's holiday. And yet despite spending a couple of weeks constantly thinking about photography, I've arrived back in the office refreshed and ready to see what's arrived in my absence.

A one-photo-per-day* view of a vacation

*Approximately