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Toem 2 turns photography into a whimsical adventure game

The upcoming game Toem 2 melds photography and play. The surprisingly delightful and cozy game is due out in September.

Toem 2 casual indie adventure photography game screenshotSomething We Made

I’m just as passionate about gaming as photography, so you can imagine my elation when my team mentioned to me Toem 2 is about to release. Toem 2 is an upcoming casual indie adventure about photographing a character’s world as they adventure through it. Something We Made, the developers behind the game, recently announced that Toem 2 will be available to play on major consoles and PC on September 29, 2026.

Here’s how Something We Made describes the game: “Step back into the shoes of a curious photographer and set off on a brand new adventure all about uncovering hidden details, helping friends along the way, and documenting the world’s little wonders in Toem 2.”

Toem 2 is meant to be a relaxing adventure through a monochrome world filled with whimsical characters. I enjoy playing these types of games because you don’t feel pressured to compete with others for space or points as some arbitrary clock ticks down to zero. The game is single-player and can be played in short increments as you have time.

Toem 2 casual indie adventure photography game screenshot
Toem 2 casual indie adventure photography game screenshot
Something We Made

What’s been revealed of Toem 2‘s gameplay so far reminds me of a blend between Beasts of Maravilla Island, Lush foil Photography Sim and even a sprinkling of Lake. These other games also have photography-related leanings. Toem 2 aims to offer a wide variety of fun events to explore. Its casual, cartoony style isn’t an emulation of professional photography like the tools built into some other games, but sometimes it can be nice to take off our Serious Photographer hats.

Check out the 30-second trailer below. The gameplay is truly a unique blend I personally can’t wait to explore. I especially love how they styled the voices to be language independent, fitting perfectly with their fun character themes:

As soon as Toem 2 is released on September 29, 2026, we’ll get our hands on it and show you all what it’s about. If you don’t want to wait, the original game, Toem 1: A Photo Adventure, is available now on Steam.

About the Author: Mathew Anderson is a proud Community Manager for the technology industry and a past visitor to DPReview.com for all his camera needs. He is currently the lead of DPReview’s community and primary communication link between the community and DPReview’s team.

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VSCO is turning 50 photographers’ images into public art across the US

VSCO is selecting one photographer per US state to have their image on a public billboard. Here’s how to enter before the September 10 deadline.

VSCO app logo with a circular black geometric design above the word “VSCO” on a soft, blurred gray backgroundVSCO

VSCO is selecting one photographer from every state to have their work licensed for use on public billboards across the country. The campaign, called The Fifty, is a free open call for VSCO members with submissions running through September 10, 2026.

To enter, photographers simply post an image to VSCO using the hashtag #TheFifty with a hashtag for your state, such as #Kansas. There should also be a short caption, and you’ll need to add your state to your bio in the app. VSCO suggests submitting three to five images, especially if they are part of a series. It says it’s looking for “strong, impactful images with a story that extends beyond the frame” and wants to see photographs that prompt people to slow down and look closer. 

The brand says it will curate selections from submissions and compensate the 50 chosen photographers, though exact compensation details have not been publicly specified. Each selected image will appear on a billboard in the photographer’s home state. It also says that selected images may also be showcased through editorial features, curation and licensing opportunities, giving even more exposure to photographers and helping them grow their careers. 

Images may also be showcased through editorial features, curation and licensing opportunities

The campaign fits a pattern VSCO has been building for the past several years of actively spotlighting the work of creatives who share images on its app. The company has made a point of surfacing and celebrating that work through editorial features, curated in-app showcases and now physical placements. It also acquired a freelance mentorship platform in 2025 to expand career support for photographers, and The Fifty extends that same direction into public space, fitting VSCO‘s mission of helping creators grow and be seen.

For the millions of US-based photographers already using VSCO, the barrier to entry is low: you’ll need a VSCO account (the free version works), then post a photo, add the hashtags and your state to your bio, and submit before September 10. For those outside of the US, VSCO says opportunities will be coming in the near future.

About the Author: Abby Ferguson holds an MFA in photography and blends a fine-art background with extensive editorial and commercial experience. She built and led an in-house imaging program for a large vacation rental company and has served as an associate editor at Popular Photography. She also teaches at a local community college and serves on its Photographic Technology Program Advisory Board, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the medium.

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Télex

Dark Souls et Super Monkey Ball m’ont toujours laissé indifférent, mais j’avoue que Marble Souls, le mariage impie entre ces deux univers proposé par cet idiot de Stuffed Wombat (Qomp, Mosa Lina) me donne envie. Un peu comme le riz au coca, bizarrement pas mauvais, si vous ne connaissez pas. K.
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Les devs de HOLE fêtent les 100 000 joueurs avec des infos sur un nouveau projet

L’an dernier, nous avions découvert ce petit extraction shooter sans prétention et l’avions trouvé fort sympathique, que ce soit côté gunfeel ou même patte visuelle. Eh bien, preuve que ce monde est parfois juste, le succès est bel et bien au rendez-vous ! Une formidable nouvelle pour le créateur solo du FPS indépendant qui a passé le cap des 100 000 copies vendues. Clairement, pour le prix du jeu, on peut affirmer sans se mouiller que la réussite est amplement méritée. On ne peut d’ailleurs que trop vous conseiller de jeter un oeil à notre test sur le sujet.

Capture d'écran nº 2

Pour souligner l’engouement autour du titre et remercier la communauté de joueurs, le studio NEGAFISH, qui se compose maintenant d’un membre supplémentaire, a pris la parole par le biais d’un billet de blog Steam. On y retrouve ainsi, après les remerciements, quelques infos inédites sur le nouveau projet de l’équipe. Il s’agira d’un escape/looter shooter solo réutilisant la base de HOLE en y ajoutant une couche supplémentaire de profondeur de gameplay. Sont notamment évoquées des features liées à l’exploration et des notions de survival, avec une jauge d’hydratation, un inventaire à gérer et de l’équipement à récupérer.

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Comme vous pouvez le constater au dessus, le court extrait de jeu présenté par les devs pour l’occasion est un poil mollasson, mais on a suffisamment apprécié HOLE pour leur accorder le bénéfice du doute en attendant d’avoir des news plus fournies au sujet de ce projet, dont le développement n’est probablement pas encore très avancé. En tout cas, si vous êtes curieux de connaître leur titre précédent et avez quelques heures à tuer, il est actuellement à -10 % sur sa page Steam, et ne vous coûtera ainsi que 4,50 €.

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Piratage sur commande

Êtes-vous un des chanceux qui a réussi à se hisser au sommet des listes d’attentes et à commander une Steam Machine ou un Steam Controller dans les deux derniers mois ? Félicitations ! Mais aussi, prenez garde si vous recevez un mail très renseigné sur votre commande, soi-disant venant de Valve, vous expliquant que vous avez droit à un remboursement partiel sur votre achat ou que le paiement n’est pas passé et qu’il faut transmettre à nouveau vos coordonnées bancaires. En effet, Valve a prévenu ses clients concernés que son prestataire de distribution européen a été victime d’une cyberattaque et qu’un certain nombre d’informations ont vraisemblablement été compromises. Après, en bon ressortissant français qui voit une base de données d’une administration publique se faire pirater une fois tous les quinze jours environ, je suis sûr que vous êtes déjà une personne très vigilante. K.
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How Christopher Nolan used a modified Pentax 67 to make IMAX history with The Odyssey

Shooting in a specialized format requires specialized tools.

A composite image of director Christopher Nolan holding a camera, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and various stars of The Odyssey.Universal

Christopher Nolan’s recent blockbuster hit, The Odyssey, was the first full-length narrative movie shot entirely on 15/70mm IMAX film, with each frame exposed onto a 70×48.5mm negative. There’s been a countless amount of ink spilled over the challenges of working with the massive cameras needed to shoot the format for every scene (and about how few people were actaully able to see it as the director intended*), but recently the Instagram account for Sunny16Labs shared more details on a production quirk that movie buffs noticed in behind-the-scenes footage: Nolan’s strange choice of director’s viewfinder.

Directors and their cinematographers often carry around devices that allow them to compose and block shots before having to set up the actual camera. This is especially important if you’re shooting film, as those cameras tend to be bulkier and heavier than their digital counterparts (and don’t have the same ability to give you an exact preview of your shot). These devices often have a lens mount, so you can see what the scene will look like through the actual glass you’re shooting with.

One small problem, though: IMAX cameras don’t use the same lenses as their Super35 or full-frame counterparts, and the optics need to be much larger and heavier to cover the massive film format, so there aren’t many pre-made solutions. According to Sunny16Labs, the IMAX team solved this by modifying a Pentax 67, removing the shutter assembly and modifying the mount so the camera could accept the same lenses as the IMAX film cameras.

Of course, taking out the shutter means that the camera can no longer capture images. But because it was designed to shoot stills on medium format 56mm x 70mm film, its viewfinder and mirror are capable of showing the entire image from an IMAX lens. The modified camera also includes frame-line previews for the IMAX negative, allowing Nolan and longtime collaborator and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema to choose their lens and framing before having to set up the massive camera rig.

This isn’t actually the first time Nolan and his team have used this kind of setup, as there are also shots of them using it on the set of Dunkirk. Cary Joji Fukunaga, director of the James Bond film No Time To Die, has also been photographed using a 67 with an IMAX logo on the viewfinder. (It could be that it’s the exact same camera; there’s famously only so much IMAX gear out there.) Likewise, cinematographer James Neihouse has discussed using a modified Pentax 67 as a director’s viewfinder, but he says he was able to take pictures with the version he used, suggesting it was a different design that retained the shutter.

When you keep making a billion dollars at the box office, who’s going to tell you no?

In the photography world, the Pentax 67 is famous for being a relatively large and heavy camera, so it’s funny to see it being used as a lightweight alternative. That goes to show the difficulties of shooting with such large format, but, given that Nolan keeps pioneering what can be done with IMAX with each movie he makes, he clearly thinks it’s worth it. And the market seems to agree: according to an IMAX press release, The Odyssey is the “highest grossing IMAX release of all time,” with 70mm screenings accounting for $37.5 million of the film’s billion-dollar box office run.

* – Not to brag, but I actually did make the seven hour drive to a theater that was showing actual 15/70 IMAX projections of the movie. I absolutely appreciated the extra immersion of the giant screen and 1.43:1 aspect ratio, but did feel like I might have preferred digital IMAX GT projection. Sure, it’d likely have a bit less detail – though probably not enough for me to notice – but it also wouldn’t have had the flicker that comes with film projection, which was especially noticeable in bright scenes. Still, it’s hard to imagine that I could’ve picked a better movie for my first real IMAX viewing, and the sound alone made the premium format worth it. 

About the Author: Mitchell started taking pictures at 10 and hasn’t stopped since. It’s been a wide-ranging adventure, spanning a wide variety of genres and locales, and occasionally dipping into fascinations with video and filmmaking. They honed their technical knowledge doing documentation, programing and QA, writing for The Verge, and just generally messing around on the computer to see what breaks.

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